NEW Gaulois Wins Listed Rowley Mile
Thursday, 22nd August 2019
- Track: Hawkesbury
- Race: $150,000 Listed Rowley Mile (1600m)
- Winner: 5YO gelding Gaulois (Street Cry-Celts, by Lonhro)
- Placings: 5YO horse Supernova & 5YO gelding Love Shack Baby
- Winning Sire: Street Cry (Machiavellian-Helen Street, by Troy)
- Stud Farm: Darley
- Trainer: James Cummings
- Jockey: Tim Clark
- Race record: 6 wins and 13 placings from 27 starts for $613,625 in earnings
- Sales Info: N/A
NEW Cummings Says Winx A Step Up For Avilius
Thursday, 22nd August 2019
Godolphin head-trainer James Cummings, whose forthright musings on his horses are respected for invariably being close to the money, is upbeat about Avilius’ prospects in Saturday’s Gr1 Winx Stakes (1400m) first-up. Although understandably buoyed by the fancied Cox Plate entrant’s stellar winning trial at Rosehill over 1000m where he finished in front of Special Missile, Cummings however concedes the bar will need to be continually raised by the dual Gr1 winner (see below), telling godolphin.com, “By my estimation and without getting too carried away, he will run a nice race. But the effort he put in last season will be hard to replicate. He’ll be matching it with better horses every start – there’s nowhere to hide.” Cummings noted, “The pressure of a G1 return at 1400m is a bit different. It’s one thing to expect him to run a nice race and sail home in a Gr3 like he’s done previously, but it’s another thing to saddle up in a Gr1; it’s another dimension, it’s about how he copes.” Although still favourite, Avilius has eased marginally to $3.40 in the face of sustained support for Happy Clapper who was reported by racingnsw.com.au as undergoing a late gear change to sport blinkers. With two wins and a placing over the distance, Verry Elleegant has also been strongly nibbled at in Winx markets.
NEW Betfair Australia Ruffles HKJC Feathers
Thursday, 22nd August 2019
In what is seen as a provocative move, betting exchange Betfair Australia has thumbed its nose at Hong Kong Jockey Club officialdom by deciding to run markets on the Club’s racemeetings at Sha Tin and Happy Valley for the forthcoming season, without approval of the HKJC. According to SCMP, Betfair Australia (owned by Crown Resorts) announced on Wednesday that it will be offering markets on all Hong Kong Racing, starting on September 1. That will, in effect, allow its clients in Australia, and potentially in any other jurisdiction where Betfair operates, to lay horses to lose – at a cost of 6 percent commission. Given the massive turnover on Hong Kong racing, the HKJC is highly agitated by the move which it is concerned could lead to possible market manipulation. That is not the case, says Betfair Australia CEO Tim Moore-Barton, alluding to the transparency it has with stewards as being world-class. By way of example he points to the Flemington control room’s BetMon, “a live alert monitor, a bespoke product Betfair has built – which gives you real-time access to all the transactions. That level of transparency is actually what racing bodies need and want.” Moore-Barton added, “Nearly every racing body in Australia and others globally that have access to the integrity tools we provide say it’s a key part of piecing together the big picture in their fight to keep the sport clean.” HKJC’s Jockey Club executive director of customer and international business development, Richard Cheung Che-kit, responded via a statement: “Betfair Australia’s announcement that it intends to offer wagering on Hong Kong racing has been made without any consultation with the club and is without our permission. “It is disappointing that a listed company does not respect our intellectual property rights.”NEW Team Rogerson Could Have Three in Tarzino
Thursday, 22nd August 2019
New Zealand’s Rogerson stable looks to have a strong hand in next week’s Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings with a potential trio of runners in the country’s first G1 race of the season. This past weekend’s Gr2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) placegetter Comeback is assured of a start in the race, reports NZ Racing Desk, while trainers Graeme, Debbie and Bailey Rogerson will wait until Monday before deciding whether new recruit Aalaalune and More Wonder will contest the first leg of the Hawke’s Bay triple crown. “Comeback will definitely go to the Tarzino,” Debbie Rogerson said. “He is hard fit and went a fantastic race on Saturday.” More Wonder, meanwhile, didn’t hurt his chances of starting next Saturday with his 1100m trial win at Taupo on Tuesday. The four-year-old son of Mossman finished fourth in two Gr1 races last season and Rogerson is pleased with how he has returned after a lengthy spell “We won’t make a decision (on the Tarzino Trophy) until Monday.” Rogerson said recent stable addition Aalaalune has settled in well to her new environment at Team Rogerson’s Hamilton barn and a Tarzino Trophy tilt remains on the cards for the Gr1 performer.
More Wonder shades Volpe Veloce in a Taupo trial (pic: Trish Dunell)
NEW Hawkesbury CEO Set To Step Down
Thursday, 22nd August 2019
Greg Rudolph, the chief executive officer of NSW provincial Club, Hawkesbury, has announced he will leave the historic provincial club after three and a half successful years at the helm, reports Racing NSW. The former NSW deputy chairman of Stewards NSW joined the club in the autumn of 2016, where he has overseen a prosperous period in the Hawkesbury Valley, progressing major capital works programs including installation of the Polytrack training track, administration, jockeys’ and stewards’ rooms as well as grandstand renovations to meet metropolitan standards. Rudolph is also credited with boosting corporate sponsorship for the Club and provincial sector, securing sponsorship for both the Polytrack Provincial Championships and inaugural Sky Racing Spring Provincial series, as well as overseeing the most successful Saturday stand-alone in the Club’s history. In announcing his decision, Rudolph reflected, “I have thoroughly enjoyed my tenure as CEO of the Hawkesbury Race Club, which continues to go from strength to strength… The time is right for me to complete my business studies and to put some more time into other positions I hold, in charity fields, for example.”Japan Lifts Juddmonte International In Thriller
Thursday, 22nd August 2019
British–bred 3YO colt Japan (Galileo-Shastye, by Danehill) continued his seemingly relentless ascent with a thrilling victory in the Gr1 Juddmonte International Stakes (2063m) at York yesterday after the Aidan O’Brien-trained runner had already won the Gr2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Gr1 Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp in July. His latest Gr1 triumph came at the expense of the world’s highest rated horse Crystal Ocean (Sea The Stars) and Elarqam (Frankel) – all UK-bred. Joining battle with favourite Crystal Ocean with two furlongs to run, Japan was equal to the task with a hard-fought head win. Also placed in the Gr1 Epsom Derby, the 1.6 million guineas Tattersalls October Book 1 graduate has an obviously bright future at stud, underpinned by being out of one of the most in-demand broodmares in the world, the Newsells Park-owned Shastye whose progeny are commanding telephone figures through the ring. O’Brien, who also saddled the winner’s 3.4 million guineas full-brother Mogul for a debut second a week ago, said of Japan’s future prospects for the season: “The race we were thinking of after this was the Irish Champion Stakes. The Arc and the Breeders’ Cup are also possibilities.”
Memsie Start Possible for Regal Roller Winner
Thursday, 22nd August 2019
Last weekend’s Listed Regal Roller winner, Begood Toya Mother (Myboycharlie) could be tested soon in Gr1 company by trainer Daniel Bowman. The exciting prospect, who is now the winner of 7 of his 11 starts, is starting to build a cult following due, only in part, to his quirky moniker. With half a dozen concecutive victories, Bowman told racing.com that he has purposefully been conservative with his placement of Begood Toya Mother to date. On a pathway to the Gr1 Rupert Clarke Stakes, the gelding is likely to be nominated for both an open handicap and the Gr1 New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes on 31 August, with Bowman keen to roll the dice after discussions with handicapper Greg Carpenter regarding what impact positive results in each race could have on the horse’s rating.Baker-Forsman Arsenal Targeting Australia
Thursday, 22nd August 2019
All honey-pots ultimately attract big bears, and the Cambridge training partnership of Murray baker and Andrew Forsman are relishing the opportunity to plunder Australia's vast racing riches. No stranger to what's required for success after 21 Gr1 wins across the Tasman Sea, Baker is honing-in on lucrative spring targets across the Tasman. According to NZ Racing Desk, the stable's squad ranks equally strongly with previous years. First out of the blocks will be Listed winners Rhaegar and Quick Thinker, both a chance to compete in the Gr3 Ming Dynasty (1400m) on Saturday-week after heading to Sydney over the weekend. With the Gr1 Spring Champion Stakes the key target for that duo, a second wave of runners is bound for Melbourne, including dual Gr1 winner Madison County who showed he was up to the elite level in three Sydney races last season. The son of Pins is likely to be joined by The Chosen One, also a 4YO that the stable believes is capable of winning a big Spring race.
Madison County will head to Melbourne (pic: Trish Dunell)
Travel Delay For Belmont Newmarket Winner
Thursday, 22nd August 2019
Perth racing fans will have to wait a little longer to see how local sprinter Great Again (Viscount-Free At Last, by Senor Pete) will fare against open class East Coast short-course specialists. Last weekend's winner of the Listed Belmont Newmarket was expected to head to Melbourne, however thewest.com.au reports owner Geoff Evans wants to hold the 7YO gelding back for another couple of runs in WA. Those races are the Listed Idyllic Prince Stakes (1300m) at Belmont on 31 August and the Listed Farnley Stakes (1400m) at the same track two weeks later. Evans, who also owns Trap For Fools and his exciting half-brother Too Close The Sun, intimated that Great Again will most likely stay with dual WA-Vic trainer Lindsey Smith instead of joining Trap For Fools' Victorian trainer Jarrod McLean.Bright Prospects For Supernova in Rowley Mile
Thursday, 22nd August 2019
Today’s Listed Rowley Mile at Hawkesbury, north-west of Sydney, at 4.25pm sees a warm favourite from the Team Hawkes stable in the form of lightly-raced UK-bred entire Supernova (Intello-Carding, by Street Cry). The 5YO has only raced 8 times for 3 wins and 3 placings, with two of his victories coming over 2253m and 2394m at Goodwood and Doncaster, respectively. A runner-up at Rosehill over 1500m before a 1900m win at the same track in a BM 78 was followed by an unplaced run behind Gallic Chieftain in the Gr2 Chairman’s Quality (2600m) at Randwick during April. Supernova has since had a four month spell, and is expected to run well fresh-up. Godolphin’s Gaulois has eased slightly as second elect, with others in the market including stable-mate Duca Valentinois, All Too Soon and Love Shack Baby.
Supernova will be ridden by Brenton Avdulla again (pic: Steve Hart)
Subzero Continues to Improve
Thursday, 22nd August 2019
The veterinarians for Subzero (Kala Dancer-Wiley Trade, by To Market), Victorian Equine Group put an update on their facebook page yesterday (21/8), "We are pleased to report that a repeat examination revealed continual improvement of his kidneys and resolution of the peritonitis. Hopefully with continued TLC he will have a lovely spring ahead of him." Subzero recently turned thirty-one (born in spring of 1988) and was the winner of the 1992 Gr1 Melbourne Cup. Subzero suffered a severe bout of colic on July 22, but recovered enough to be sent home on August 3.Winx Stakes Dominated By Major Stables
Thursday, 22nd August 2019
Eight of the ten acceptors for Saturday’s Winx Stakes, the first Gr1 of the new season, are from the powerful Godolphin, Waller stables and Lees stables. James Cummings has accepted with exceptional local Gr1-winning imports Avilius and Best of Days. Chris Waller, meanwhile, will saddle an imposing quartet that includes the Gr1 winners Verry Elleegant, Unforgotten and Youngstar plus Gr1-placed King’s Will Dream, with the latter having his first start for the stable. Other runners for the weight-for-age contest are Gr1 winner Le Romain and Gr1-placed Invincible Gem for Kris Lees, Samadoubt for Bjorn Baker, and evergreen Pat Webster-trained Gr1 winner Happy Clapper who will be delighted that Winx has departed the scene.
Unforgotten forms part of the Waller quartet (pic: Steve Hart)
All Roads Lead to Rome for Team Snowden
Thursday, 22nd August 2019
Million dollar yearling Rome (Pierro-Dance Card, by Exceed and Excel) had four starts as a 2YO, all in Gr3 company, and was twice placed, but trainer Peter Snowden admitted to racingnsw.com.au he wasn't certain about the colt. After being scratched at the barriers at Canterbury two weeks ago, Rome has been entered in the Robert Oatley Maiden Plate at Hawkesbury today over 1100m. "We were always going to go to a set weight maiden, kick him off and try to get that win first-up then look for better races later," Snowden said. "I'm sure he's up to that class but you just have to tick that box first. Hopefully he runs well and from there we can plan out something. He's a casual horse, his demeanour is very laid back and you'd think the way he gets around he wants seven or a mile. He's a nice horse, I quite like him, and we will work it out as we go.'' Rome is a $5 chance. Sold by Bhima Thoroughbreds at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2018 for $1,050,000 to James Harron Bloodstock, Rome is the second foal of maiden winner Dance Card, a half sister to group winner Kaepernick.Cox Plate for Japanese Gr1 Winner Lys Gracieux
Thursday, 22nd August 2019
Dual Gr1 winner Lys Gracieux (Heart’s Cry-Liliside, by American Post) has been granted permission to travel to Australia by the Australian Government’s Department of Agriculture confirmed Racing Victoria in a statement to racing.com. Because Lys Gracieux had competed in Hong Kong in late April, the 5YO mare was initially barred from entry. It took a joint submission from Racing Victoria and global horse transporters IRT for the Department of Agriculture to conduct a detailed biosecurity assessment, ultimately granting approval on the basis of the existing stringent biosecurity requirements in place for racehorses travelling to Victoria via the Werribee International Horse Centre. Lys Gracieux will be required to undergo additional pre-export testing. Punters reacted quickly to the news, and the mare has moved into third favouritism for the Cox Plate at $9, behind Mystic Journey at $4.50 and Avilius at $7. Racing Victoria's General Manager for International and Racing Operations, Paul Bloodworth, thanked everyone involved, saying, “This decision is a vote of confidence in the Werribee International Horse Centre, our industry-owned quarantine facility for thoroughbred racehorses in training, and the approved pre-export quarantine facilities in Japan. This decision paves the way for the connections of Lys Gracieux to accept an invitation to compete in the Cox Plate, and I’m pleased to announce that the mare’s connections have accepted their invitation overnight.”
British Champion Apprentice Moves to Melbourne
Thursday, 22nd August 2019
Irish jockey Martin Harley will arrive in Melbourne on August 28, reports racing.com. Crowned Champion Apprentice in Britain in 2011, Harley has won five Gr1 races in the United Kingdom, with his first being in 2012 on Samitar (Rock of Gilbraltar-Aileen's Gift, by Rainbow Quest) in the Irish One Thousand Guineas, as well as Goldream (Oasis Dream-Clizia, by Machiavellian) to victory in the 2015 Royal Ascot Gr1 King's Stand Stakes. Harley rode in Hong Kong at the end of last season, on a short term contract, picking up four wins there from limited opportunities, on General Iron (Towkay-Plaything, by Victory Dance), Allied Agility (Star Witness-Spooked, by Scaredee Cat), Indigenous Star (Exceed and Excel-Nandi, by Dynaformer), and High Five (Time Thief-Stand by Your Man, by Nuclear Freeze).Retraining For Retired Singapore Racehorses
Thursday, 22nd August 2019
A delegation from the Equestrian Federation of Singapore (EFS) spent half a day at the Singapore Turf Club on Saturday as part of their new programme of retraining ex-racehorses. According to turfclub.com.sg, a group of 11, including riders, coaches and technical experts, were taken on a guided tour of the veterinary clinic, the equine pool, as well as trainer Michael Clements’ stables. In partnership with key global racing sponsor Longines and the world governing body of Equestrian sports, the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), EFS is conducting a new course based on the FEI Solidarity Retraining Techniques of ex-Racehorses (RTR). The techniques aim to equip riders and coaches with better skillsets and tools to retrain retired racehorses from horse racing to equestrian sport. Singapore Turf Club’s Head of Veterinary Department Dr Koos van den Berg gave an insight into the detection and treatment of typical racing injuries while K Phillip Thomas from Tracks showed them the physical and therapeutic benefits of the equine pool. EFS and the Singapore Turf Club share a common goal, which is to ensure the welfare of racehorses past their racing lives, and a smooth and seamless transition as they embark on a new equestrian career.Just Three to Face Enable in Yorkshire Oaks
Thursday, 22nd August 2019
The smaller the field, the bigger the upset, may be a popular school of thought due to the potential for a false pace, however it’s still difficult to see any of Enable’s three rivals standing in the way of a sixth consecutive Gr1 win when she contests the Yorkshire Oaks on Thursday. In what is likely to be her final hit-out ahead of an attempt to claim an unprecedented third consecutive Gr1 Prix de ‘Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly in October, the daughter of Nathaniel will nonetheless know she’s in a race. The opposing trio comprises 4YO mare Magical, a multiple Gr1-performed globe-trotter whose threat she has already nullified three time. Magical is trained by Aidan O’Brien, who will also saddle promising South Sea Pearl. Enable’s trainer John Gosden has a second entry in the shape of beautifully bred Gr1-performed Lah Ti Dar, bred and raced by Lord and Lady Lloyd Webber out of their champion mare Dar Re Mi whose full-brother to Lah Ti Dar sold for 3.5 million guineas in 2018.