V’Landys issues subpoena to Hazzard
NRL CEO Peter V’Landys has issued a subpoena to NSW government minister Brad Hazzard. The subpoena issued to Hazzard directs him to turn over any communications he had with The Thoroughbred Report’s co-owner Vicky Leonard and associates of hers about V’landys as well as submissions made to him during the review into The Thoroughbred Act that mention V’landys.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that a furious Hazzard is challenging it, as is the state government, who were represented by separate lawyers during a brief appearance in the NSW Supreme Court on Tuesday.
Brad Hazzard | Image courtesy of ACA NSW
“As a former NSW health minister and attorney-general, I agreed to undertake a review of the Thoroughbred Racing Act for the NSW government. At all times, the review process was predicated on those making submissions feeling confident that their submissions would be treated confidentially,” Hazzard told smh.com.au.
“I expected and believed that the process would be respected by all in the industry and until receipt of the subpoena I believe that is precisely what had happened.”
V’Landys declined to comment when asked by Sydney Morning Herald reporters.
Inglis Spring Carnival Sale closes on Wednesday
The new Inglis Spring Carnival Sale closes on Wednesday October 28 around 4pm, with shares in G1 Melbourne Cup contenders Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) and Wine Dark Sea (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) on offer as well as a share in Brindavan (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) who has his sights set on the $2 million G3 Five Diamonds at Rosehill Gardens on the 7th of November.
"It's a unique sale because you might buy a share this week and be on the biggest stage next week. There is no waiting needed." Inglis Digital Business Manager Nick Melmeth said
Nick Melmeth | Image courtesy of Inglis
"We want this sale to grow and build momentum; it's not a one-off. We want people on board, and hopefully, it can become a really notable sale at this time of the year."
"It really is an opportunity for people to tick off potentially a bucket list item, have a runner in a big race, and do so for the rest of their career. We have seen the popularity of these shares grow through Inglis online, notably with the recent sale of a share in Ninja, who went on to run well in The Everest.
"It suits both vendors and buyers; vendors want to sell, and buyers want to buy. It also provides an opportunity for sellers to capitalise and maximise profit and at times downsize so they aren't missing out either."
Vauban resumed this spring with a ninth placing in the G3 Geelong Cup. He is the winner of 10 of his 33 starts with earnings over $2.6 million. Wine Dark Sea made his Australian debut in the G1 Caulfield Cup where he finished an unlucky 11th. Both are guaranteed a start in the G1 Melbourne Cup as Vauban sits 14th in the current order and Wine Dark Sea is 19th in the order.
Brindavan has been in great form from the Tony Gollan stable having won two of his last three starts in Queensland, including a dominant victory at Eagle Farm last Saturday over 1600 metres.
Natural Fling to emulate Sunlight
Trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy think 3-year-old filly Natural Fling (Home Affairs) can emulate former stable star Sunlight (Zoustar) in winning the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes. “She trialled super. We didn't want her to do too much as we know she can trial fast and sharp. We had ear muffs on her,” Calvin McEvoy told racenet.com.au.
Natural Fling | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Although it didn't look a lot to the eye, we had the heart rate monitor on her and she went very fast. It was a very hot trial … everything trialled really well. She has bounced through it and she will be taking her place on the weekend. I'd love her to draw near Paradoxium and get on the back of him.”
Jackson hoping to join jumping mates
Jumps jockeys turned trainers Ciaron Maher, Gavin Bedggood, and Andrea Leek are having a massive spring and dual Tommy Corrigan medal winner Shane Jackson hopes he can join them with King Snitz (Snitzel) in the G1 VRC Derby. “He exceeded my expectations in that race, to be honest,” Jackson told racenet.com.au about his last start Group 3 win.
“Over the 2000(m), I thought those quality horses might be a bit sharp for him but he had a beautiful ride and it was a great surprise to have. I have no doubt that over the further trip, he's going to be better. I think he stays all day.
“I know he's by Snitzel but the dam's side, they were real stayers. His mother won an Australasian Oaks and a Bendigo Cup as well so she was a real staying type and I just can't get to the bottom of this little horse. He's not overly big and he's going to be better in six months' time but we're just very excited to have a runner in the Derby.”
He is the first foal of Group 1 winner Princess Jenni (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) who is out of winning mare Glitzabeel (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) whose five wins include three at 1950 metres and 2100 metres.
Beaten 30 lengths into a Derby prospect
The first time Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Icy You (Pinatubo {Ire}) went to the trials he was beaten over 30 lengths, but fast forward to Saturday and he’s running in the G1 VRC Derby. “It seemed forever to get him to the trials and every time I rang Trent about the horse, he would say: ‘Oz, it’s so slow’. He actually said, ‘I am not sure you want this one in your (racing) colours – I think I could beat it,” part owner Ozzie Kheir told racing.com.
He won his maiden over a mile at start two and was second in the G3 Geelong Classic last start having never been worse than fourth in five starts to date. “We’d been trialling him over shorter trips like 800 metres and over that trip you don’t know. You don’t see them because they get beaten 30 lengths in trials over that trip.
“Now, he’s improving and we know he stays and the 2500 metres will suit. To add to our confidence, Craig Williams wants to ride him. It just goes to show with Derby horses especially, you actually never know how things are going to turn out.”
Osborne to pair with Amazing Journey in Eagle
British jockey Saffie Osborne will ride Ciaron Maher-trained Amazing Journey (Ire) (Starspangledbanner) in Saturday’s G1 Golden Eagle. “It was very kind of Ciaron to ask me to come down and ride him,” Osborne told racingnsw.com.au. Her father Jamie Osborne originally trained him.
“I think I first sat on him when he was a yearling, I’m fairly familiar with him, he’s a top quality horse and he’s really grown up this year. His 2-year-old career was slightly checkered, he showed he had plenty of ability, but it wasn’t until this year after he was gelded he really started to put it all together.
“Unfortunately Ciaron stole him away from us before he got the opportunity to be a top class stakes horse and that’s what we always thought he’d turn into. This has been my sixth season riding and it’s been incredible. Even without winning the St Leger it’s been a brilliant year.”
Lloyd hoping to keep lead in Sydney
Jockey Zac Lloyd currently leads the NSW and Sydney jockeys premierships and has six rides at Warwick Farm on Wednesday. “Very happy with how the season has been going, so it's just head down, bum up, and just keep turning up and working as hard as I can,” Lloyd told racenet.com.au.
Zac Lloyd | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“It's probably unachievable to maintain the very high strike rate we've started the season with, but we'll be doing our best to keep it as high as we can for as long as we can.”
Far Too Easy has been unretired
Gold Coast trainer David McColm has unretired fan favourite Far Too Easy (All Too Hard), who will be aimed at the Magic Millions carnival in January. “We moved to the Gold Coast primarily for our son Archie who wanted to be a jockey,” McColm told racingqueensland.com.au.
“It was always my dream for Archie to ride Far Too Easy in his races, but we didn’t think Archie would be experienced enough when I decided to retire him. I never thought Archie would be advanced as what he is now. He’s only been riding since April and he’s ridden around 60 winners including the Lismore and Murwillumbah Cups.
“Far Too Easy spent some time in a paddock at Murwillumbah, but he loves the stable life, so I brought him here to the Gold Coast. He’s been here for about two months and has been going over the jumps out the back here and he had a trial recently when he ran fourth behind Spicy Martini and Yellow Brick. He had a lot of feet problems throughout his career, but his feet have come good after his long break.”
El Pablo wins on debut
At Hawkesbury on Tuesday, Scott Aspery-trained 3-year-old colt El Pablo (Trapeze Artist) won on debut. Endeavour Bloodstock paid $30,000 for him from Widden Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft. He is the final foal and only winner for Drappier (NZ) (Pins) who is a non-winning half-sister to three stakes winners being Glam Slam (NZ) (Pins), Crepe De Chine (NZ) (Pins) and Arenti (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}).
Town Planner wins on debut
In Victoria at Swan Hill, Patrick Payne-trained 3-year-old gelding Town Planner (Written By) won on debut. John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) paid $60,000 for him at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale from Twin Hill Stud’s draft. He is the fifth winner from five to race for Anyana (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}).
The Barber resumes with a win
Last season’s good juvenile The Barber (Barbaric) took his record to three wins from four starts when resuming at Rockhampton on Tuesday for trainer Alisha Taylor. He took his earnings over $100,000 and was a $90,000 buy for One Syndications, Walsh Racing and Salvadore Bloodstock from Eureka Stud’s Magic Millions March Yearling Sale draft.
He is one of eight winners, from eight to race, for Red Dazzler mare Plumage who won five races, three in Brisbane.
Hong Kong wagering up 12.5% so far
Hong Kong Jockey Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges announced on Tuesday that wagering was up 12.5% year on year at the same point. “The increase of significantly more overseas racing fixtures has led to an increase in simulcast/World Pool turnover of per cent 61 per cent to HK$7.9 billion,” Engelbrecht-Bresges told scmp.com.
“The local turnover on these races is up by 55 per cent and overseas turnover has risen by 92.8 per cent. When looking at the total turnover from Hong Kong customers, while we see a decrease of HK$624 million on local races, this is by far overcompensated by a growth of HK$2.3 billion from Hong Kong customers on overseas races.
“We feel that that despite seeing an overall increase of the total turnover on racing, we will review the number of simulcast races before our Hong Kong meetings because our customer survey shows that some of our customers feel we have sometimes too much content, which left not much time to study form for upcoming Hong Kong races.”
Zarak share heads Arqana Online Sale
The catalogue for the 2026 Arqana Online November Sale has been released, and the 17 total lots so far are topped by stallion shares and breeding rights to noteworthy sires like Zarak, Thunder Moon, and Galiway.
Zarak | Standing at Aga Khan Studs
Set for Tuesday, November 10 and running from 3-5:00p.m. French Time, 13 stallion shares and breeding rights for both flat and jumps sires will be on offer–led by the Aga Khan Studs stalwart Zarak. With one share on offer, the Group 1 winning son of Dubawi claims a fleet of accomplished, elite-level runners to his credit, including the likes of G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero Metropolitan, Haya Zark, and Zagrey.
Second group winner for Baaeed
Cheveley Park Stud's Coaxed (Baaeed) made a breakthrough for her freshman sire when shedding maiden status at Kempton in August and joined G3 Weld Park victrix Curracloe on the Beech House Stud resident's roll of honour with a pillar-to-post success in Monday's G3 Darley Prix des Reservoirs at Chantilly.
“She relished the soft ground and loved being in front, but that will be that for the season now,” said Cheveley Park Stud's Chris Richardson. “When she won first time out she went from the front, but she had her ears pricked here and enjoyed herself. Now we can maybe dream of going back to France for the French Guineas or the French Oaks in due course. We have a full-brother to Coaxed who we took to the sales, but didn't sell, and he goes into training now which is quite exciting.”
Goff is new chair of The Thoroughbred Group
Tom Goff will take over the independent Chair role from Julian Richmond-Watson, whose three-year term comes to an end following his appointment in October 2023, The Thoroughbred Group announced Monday.
The appointment will see Goff step down from the Racehorse Owners Association Board to ensure independence of the Thoroughbred Group's membership. Goff had been serving on said board since 2019.
“I am very much looking forward to taking on the role of Chair of the Thoroughbred Group,” said Goff. “Racing and breeding obviously face significant challenges, and I believe we need to focus on our shared priorities going forward. The Thoroughbred Group needs to provide strong and united leadership. Alongside Britain's racecourses and the BHA, we must work together to find practical ways to help our great sport grow.”
Rubaiyat gets fee rise for 2027
Rubaiyat (Fr) (Areion {Ger}), on course to be crowned Germany's leading first-season sire, will stand for a fee of €8,500 (AU$13,500) at Gestut Ohlerweiherhof in 2027, up from €4,500 (AU$7200) this year. The son of Areion has made an impressive start with his first crop of runners, recording a 45% winners-to-starters strike rate in Germany. His progeny have earned €234,200 in prize-money.
His first crop is headed by Mahasti (Ger), winner of the Listed Junioren-Preis at Hannover and a BBAG auction race at Baden-Baden. She subsequently finished runner-up in the G3 Preis der Winterkonigin. Taylor Made (Ger) has also been placed at Group 3 level, finishing second in the G3 Preis des Winterfavoriten, while other winners include Zauberflote (Ger), Nyela (Ger), Naxio (Ger) and Barca (Ger).
Racecourse fined after injured jockey trucked to hospital
Sedgefield Racecourse has been fined ₤6,500 (AU$12,300) after a jockey was taken to the hospital in a horsebox due to a lack of ambulance cover last March.
The unnamed rider suffered a fall in the fifth race at a meeting Mar. 19 that resulted in the jockey initially complaining of pain in his left collarbone. After assessment by the racecourse doctor, he was cleared to ride the following race, the final on the card, but afterwards reported increased pain and was given an analgesic.
The doctor later decided the best course of action was to send the rider to A&E, but all ambulance crews had left the track. The jockey reportedly was in too much pain to get into a car, and thus was taken to a hospital in the horsebox.
Vale Howard Belvoir
Trainer Howard Belvoir, for six decades a fixture in horse racing in the Pacific Northwest, died Oct. 23 from heart failure at the age of 82, according to a post on the Emerald Downs website.
Based mainly in Washington, but having also done stints in California, Oregon and British Columbia, Belvoir won 2,192 races in a career dating back to 1963, per Equibase stats, and included his induction into the Washington Racing Hall of Fame.
Belvoir bred and trained Washington Horse of the Year Wasserman to victory in the GIII Longacres Mile Handicap in 2008 and won the marquee race on the calendar on two other occasions with Assessment (2009) and fan-favourite Barkley (2018).
