Government warned of black market gambling
Acting Racing NSW boss Graeme Hinton, Racing Victoria CEO Aaron Morrison, Racing Australia's Paul Eriksson and Thoroughbred Breeders Australia CEO Andrew Hore-Lacy represented the racing industry at Monday's inquiry into gambling advertising reforms.
“This bill is the single largest suite of gambling reforms in Australian history,” Hinton said.
“What concerns us though is notwithstanding the protections afforded to racing in this bill, is that any further reduction in advertising or increased regulation could not only destroy the viability of our industry and takeaway livelihoods, it could result in increased harm.
“The question needs to be asked if the further changes that are proposed to this bill will actually benefit problem gamblers. Or are they being driven by a false narrative that all gambling causes harm, and a lack of focus on the unintended consequences that can follow.
“What we propose is proportionate responses, focusing on supporting those in need.
“The minute you compress a market through overregulation and high taxation, the black market will always find a way. We're seeing that every day with the tobacco excise levy disaster which has shown what happens when regulations and cost settings push consumers to illegal markets. The result can generate far worse outcomes, not better ones.”
The full senate discussion can be viewed below:
Cornerstone Stud dispersal for Inglis Digital
Cornerstone Stud will disperse all their bloodstock via next week’s Inglis Digital Sale.
“The decision to conclude the breeding operation has not been taken lightly. However, by conducting a complete dispersal through Inglis Digital, buyers will have a genuine opportunity to access the quality bloodstock that Cornerstone Stud has assembled over the past three years,” General Manager Sam Pritchard-Gordon.
Sam Pritchard-Gordon | Image courtesy of Cornerstone Stud
John Frankhuisen acquired Cornerstone Stud in 2017 and has built a commercially focused broodmare portfolio which was punctuated by recent Group 3-winning juvenile Shiki (Too Darn Hot {GB}).
“Cornerstone Stud has been an incredibly enjoyable and rewarding part of my life. I'm immensely proud of what we've built, the people I've had the privilege to work alongside, and the horses we've bred. While it's time to close this chapter, I sincerely hope the mares and young stock go on to enjoy continued success for their new owners. I thank everyone who has supported Cornerstone Stud over the years and wish them every success in the future,” said Frankhuisen.
Finalists announced for NZ Horse Of The Year
The 2025/26 New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards will be announced in Auckland on Sunday, September 6. The finalists were announced by New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) on Monday.
“This year’s finalists represent the very best of New Zealand thoroughbred racing and the outstanding performances we have witnessed throughout the season,” NZTR CEO Matt Ballesty said.
Matt Ballesty | Image courtesy of Race Images
“We have seen some genuine stars emerge, established champions reach new heights and performances that have captured the imagination of racing fans both here and overseas. The Awards also provide an important opportunity to acknowledge the jockeys, trainers, owners, stable staff, media and many others whose skill, commitment and hard work underpin those achievements.”
Champion 2-Year-Old Finalists: Dream Roca (NZ) (El Roca), Lara Antipova (Russian Revolution) and Seize The Day (I Am Invincible)
Champion 3-Year-Old Finalists: Belle Cheval (NZ) (Savabeel), Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}), Road To Paris (NZ) (Circus Maximus {Ire}) and Well Written (Written Tycoon)
Champion Sprinter-Miler Finalists: First Five (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}), Jaarffi (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}), Jigsaw (Manhattan Rain), Provence (NZ) (Savabeel) and Waitak (NZ) (Proisir)
Champion Middle Distance Horse Finalists: Kingswood (GB) (Roaring Lion {USA}), Legarto (NZ) (Proisir), and Waitak (NZ) (Proisir)
Champion Stayer Finalists: Manzor Blue (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}), Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}), Paradise Storm (FR) (Masked Marvel {GB}) and Road To Paris (NZ) (Circus Maximus {Ire})
Racing Victoria announce Victorian finalists
Racing Victorian announced the finalists for Victorian Horse Of The Year on Monday and the winner will be announced on Saturday. Half Yours (St Jean {Ire}), Observer (Ghaiyyath {Ire}), Tentyris (Street Boss {USA}) and current title holder Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) have been selected as the four contenders for the prestigious honour, which recognises performances on Victorian racetracks throughout the 2025-26 season.
Golden Eagle target for Roulette King
Trainer Trevor Rogers will set G2 Alister Clark winner Roulette King (Casino Prince) for the G1 Golden Eagle. He has won four of his five starts and will resume in the Listed Tontonan Stakes at Flemington on September 12.
“It's hard to go past a race like the Golden Eagle,” Rogers told racingandsports.com.au.
“I'm going to probably give him a run in a benchmark 100 or the Tontonan over 1400 at Flemington to see if he's got enough ping in his step when he's fresh to take on those type of horses. If he can race well in that, that gives me plenty of time to freshen him up and take him to Sydney for the 1500.
“We'll obviously experiment here first to make sure we're not going up there for no reason. This preparation is going to tell us a lot about the horse. Everything we've asked him, he's done everything and beyond, so who knows?”
Mr Brightside comes through jump out
Lindsay Park were pleased with Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) after he had a jump out at Flemington on Monday.
“It was his first trial after a long time off, he blew the cobwebs out and seems to have come through it in really good order,” JD Hayes told racenet.com.au.
Mr Brightside (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He's come back great and he's really appreciated the time off. I couldn't be happier with him and all guns blazing to Friday week where he's going to have a more serious trial.”
McGuire named Coolmore Australia's Racing Manager
Coolmore has announced that Brian McGuire has been appointed Racing Manager at Coolmore Australia.
“Brian brings a wealth of experience to the role, and we look forward to his continued contribution to the team,” Coolmore’s Tom Magnier said.
The Irish National Stud graduate has worked for Aquis, Ciaron Maher Racing, and Annabel and Rob Archibald Racing. He replaces John Kennedy who is moving to Ciaron Maher Racing.
Williamson joins Middlebrook Valley Lodge
Scott Williamson has been announced as Middlebrook Valley Lodge’s new stud manager. He was formerly with Musk Creek Farm until mid-2025 when he moved away from farm work into other bloodstock roles.
“I’ve had a year away from being a stud manager and when I saw the job advertised, I guess it was a bit of an itch I needed to keep scratching,” Williamson said.
“You know. I miss the horses, I miss the hands-on, and that’s what I know and what I love. The opportunity for me and my family was too good to turn down.”
Queensland’s apprentice intake for 2026
On Monday, Racing Queensland announced the six new apprentice jockeys who have been accepted as part of the Queensland Apprentice Jockey Program’s inaugural intake. Alex Gorey, Bethany Allday, Harry Cahill, Hope Rees, Jessica Black and Maddy O’Grady are all now part of the QAJP following the commencement of the 2026/27 season on August 1.
“The QAJP is an important investment in the future of our sport, providing emerging riders with the structure, support and high-performance environment they need to build successful careers in racing,” Acting RQ CEO Lachlan Murray said.
“By combining accredited training with practical development, mentoring, athlete support and industry oversight, the program will help prepare apprentices for the demands of race riding and the opportunities that come with a long-term career. This initiative strengthens RQ’s commitment to attracting, developing and retaining the people who will shape the future of our industry, while supporting apprentices from across the state to reach their potential.”
Spring debutant wins for Waterhouse and Bott
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott took 3-year-old filly Savvy Diamond (NZ) (Savabeel) to Goulburn for her first raceday outing on Monday and she delivered with a one length victory. Her trainers and Kestrel Thoroughbreds paid NZ$300,000 for Savvy Diamond from Carlaw Park’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale draft.
Savvy Diamond becomes the fourth winner for winning mare Irish Cream (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}). This is the family of Group 1 winner Dantelah (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}).
The Autumn Sun’s Lover wins maiden
Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained 3-year-old filly Autumn Lover (The Autumn Sun) won her maiden at Pakenham on Monday. Placed at two, she was resuming and won by a third of a length. Dalziel Bloodstock and Moody Racing purchased her from Glenbeigh Farm’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft for $200,000.
Autumn Lover is the fifth winner for Courtesan (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) who is a half-sister to G1 Victoria Derby and G1 Spring Champion Stakes winner Monaco Consul (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}).
Vale Monty Roberts
Monty Roberts, the ‘horse whisperer’, died at his Flag Is Up Farm in California on Saturday. He was 91. Famous for his ‘join up’ method, his core belief was one of kindness.
“Monty had an affinity with horses that I have never seen in anyone else. When he worked with a horse, he was almost like a magician. He truly was a horse whisperer,” Gai Waterhouse told racingandsports.com.au.
“Carlton House was a rogue in the barriers. So, I asked the Queen if could enlist the help of Monty Roberts and was given special approval to reach out to him. Monty came to Sydney specifically to work with Carlton House and it took him only a few minutes - not days or weeks - and suddenly this horse connected with him.
“I remember he used to say I will get the horse to 'join up with Monty' and before we knew it he had Carlton House dropping his head, relaxing and walking straight into the barriers. I couldn't believe it.” Waterhouse has implemented his methods for barrier work ever since.
One of Roberts’ early successes was with Lomitas (GB). “My grandfather, Walther Jacobs, recognised Monty’s extraordinary talent at a time when he was still largely unknown in Europe. He invited him to Germany to work with our exceptionally talented stallion Lomitas, whose future appeared uncertain because of his refusal to enter the starting stalls,” Dr Andreas Jacobs told sportingpost.co.za.
“With endless patience, remarkable empathy and his unique ability to communicate with horses, Monty earned Lomitas’ trust. He achieved what many believed impossible: Lomitas returned to racing, resumed his winning career and went on to become one of the finest racehorses in German Thoroughbred history. He later became an internationally influential stallion whose descendants continue to make their mark around the world.”
Queen Elizabeth II invited him to demonstrate his system and he was appointed a member of the Royal Victorian Order for services to Her Majesty's racing establishment in 2011. His book “The Man Who Listens to Horses: The Story of a Real-Life Horse Whisperer” was published in 1996.
Lane and Lloyd to compete in All-Star contest
Jockeys Damian Lane and Zac Lloyd will head to Japan for the World All-Star Jockeys contest on August 22 and 23.
“It’s a great honour to be invited to go and ride in Japan. I’ve always taken an interest in Japanese racing, and I even studied Japanese at school. I knew that if I wanted to go and ride in Japan, I need to be able to speak the language,” Lloyd told racing.com.
“My goal is to be an international rider, so it’s good to be dipping my toe into all of these different jurisdictions. Hopefully I can do well in Japan.”
Jaarffi to stay in training
Cambridge Stud’s Group 1-winning mare Jaarffi (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) won’t be retired just yet.
“Jaarffi has come back into work this season, which I am thrilled about. There was talk about sending her to stud, but she is going to have another season,” trainer Lance Noble told Loveracing.nz.
“She has been such a slow-maturing horse, we haven’t over-raced her. She never raced at two and she only had a couple of starts at three. For a 7-year-old mare she is comparatively lightly raced.
“It is very hard to get genuine weight-for-age Group 1 horses. They are not stacked with runners most of the time and once you are at that level you seem to be able to hold that level. There have been a few retirements and hopefully she can get back to that top level. Brendan and Jo love racing and they love the big days, and she is a horse that can take us there.”
The Jockey Club quits the Racecourse Association
The Jockey Club has announced it is quitting the Racecourse Association (RCA) and will join Ascot in giving up its membership of the racecourse trade body. The decision follows the completion of the RCA's governance review, which began in March this year.
Jim Mullen, The Jockey Club's Group Chief Executive, said, “While acknowledging the work that has taken place since March, we have consistently set out throughout the review that it needed to address not just the racecourse voting shares within the RCA, but the organisation's role in representing racecourses politically through its 50% holding of member shares in the BHA.
“This review has addressed the RCA's internal arrangements, but not the constitutional arrangements through which racecourses collectively exercise their influence over the governance of British racing. The RCA's proposals fail to address our fundamental concern that the RCA can continue to act to stifle the necessary changes needed in the industry.
“Nothing proposed would displace the RCA as the political representative of British racecourses and in our view, confirmed by recent discussions, the RCA would continue to vote against necessary changes such as the introduction of an independent BHA board and substantive changes to the fixture list.
“While recent talks have focused on the valuable operational services provided by the RCA to the wider racecourse community, it is our view that without change to the political representation, the price of maintaining those operations is sadly too high when judged against the political role the organisation plays and its ability to suppress reform.”
He added, “In stepping away we remain committed to participating in decisions related to British Racing's future. We have therefore begun discussions with the British Horseracing Authority to explore the most appropriate framework for representing the interests of those within the industry who share a commitment to the long-term sustainability and quality of British racing.
“As set out, the BHA articles aim to ensure 'as far as is practicable that the membership and structure (of the BHA) remains as representative of Racing as possible'. It is our intention to work with Ascot Racecourse and other likeminded industry partners to pursue a vision based on the long-term sustainability of the sport and we are in the early stages of establishing a new organisation to do this.
“We accept that other racecourses may wish to pursue different avenues to reform the RCA and we respect their choice, but we believe that at the heart of this debate is the core principle that racing must be able to tackle the challenges it faces, free from self-interest and short-term priorities and this is best achieved by an independent BHA which is able to take input from all stakeholders but ultimately empowered to make timely and effective decisions in the best interests of the sport overall.”
Third consecutive Six Perfections for Head
It was a familiar story in Deauville's first Pattern race of the August Festival as the Wertheimers' Data (Lope De Vega) swooped for Christopher Head in the G3 Sky Sports Racing Prix Six Perfections.
Always comfortable off the solid early pace, the daughter of the 2018 Prix Marcel Boussac runner-up Matematica (Rock Of Gibraltar) who had won her second start at Clairefontaine last month surged to the lead under Pierre-Charles Boudot with a furlong remaining. Strong to the line, the 5-1 shot had 1.5 lengths to spare over Queen Of The Day (No Nay Never), with the winner's stablemate Woot Woot (Wootton Bassett) the same margin away in third.
“This is a race I really like and try to make it a focus,” Head said after greeting his third consecutive winner of the race after Green Spirit and Angeal. “She's definitely a miler in the long-term and we'll dream about October now. We want her to get as many races under her belt as possible before the big ones. It's very possible we'll aim at the Prix d'Aumale before the Prix Marcel Boussac. I'm sure Woot Woot will win a nice one too.”
Group double for Wertheimer
Two Group 3 races in, two winners at Deauville in the famous Wertheimer colours as Kosuma (Night Of Thunder) proves the queen bee in the Prix de Cabourg.
Two-for-two entering this course-and-distance prep for the Prix Morny, the granddaughter of the top-class Aquarelliste had impressed on the second of her starts at Saint-Cloud in May and traded as the 5-2 second favourite. Happy to take a tow under Maxime Guyon, the homebred produced key acceleration approaching the furlong pole and ran down the colt Agamemnon (Mehmas) 100 metres from home en route to a 1.5-length success. Wathnan's Albany third Light Of Dawn (Showcasing) was three lengths away in third.
“We were wondering where the speed was coming from in the family, but it's probably Night Of Thunder,” the owner-breeders' racing manager Pierre-Yves Bureau said of the winner, the first at Deauville August for the new partnership of Andre and Lavinia Fabre and Fabre Senior's ninth in total, bringing him level with François Boutin's record. “There were a lot of questions, but she did it very nicely. I think if all is okay she'll go to the Prix Morny. That's going to be a big step up, but let's try!”
Too Darn Hot mare brings Australian flavour
Gary Barber and Cayton Park Stud's Heat Missile (Too Darn Hot) made her American bow a winning one at Saratoga on Saturday. Bred by TR Ryan, the 5-year-old mare is trained by Mark Casse.
She sold for $200,000 during the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale in 2023. When campaigned in her native Australia, the dark bay won a trio of races, including a brace of handicaps before Saturday's performance. A daughter of South African champion juvenile filly and G1 Allan Robertson Championship heroine Entisaar (More Than Ready), Heat Missile is the fourth foal, one of five runners, and one of three winners for her dam.
Too Darn Hot has been represented by eight winners from 18 runners in North America (44%). His pair of stakes winners there are anchored by G1 Belmont Derby hero Title Role.
