NEWS UPDATES Cox Plate Star El Segundo Returns In Cranbourne Trial Aust 2YO Champ Sebring Returns In Friday Trial Gr3-Winning Filly Stripper Retired South Aust Breeder Jim O'Connor Dies Aged 80 Vic Jockey Ben Smith 6-Months Ban For Facial Attack Vic Jocks Sam Hyland & Dale Smith Also Banned After Clash Racing Vic Extends Deadline For Directions Paper Feedback NZ Gr1 Star Princess Coup Retired NZ Shuttler Elusive City 1st-Season Champ In Europe Darley Sire Librettist Moves To Logis In France (more>>) Take a minute to visit our new Luxury Leisure & Lifestyle portal, the complete guide to all things luxury. INDUSTRY NEWS — FEBRUARY 2003 Viking Ruler Retires to Stud Warwick Farm trainer Clarry Conners announced his stallion Viking Ruler will not be racing this Saturday, but will instead retire to stud. "His leg has started to come up a little,” Conners told racenet.com.au. "It's not too bad, but we have decided not to take any risks with him. He'll now go off to Cambridge Stud in New Zealand for Sir Patrick Hogan." Viking Ruler (Danehill-Tristalove) won the AJC Spring Champion Stakes (1800m) in 2001. But the 4YO was off the scene for 12 months last year, after damaging a tendon & the same leg has caused his premature retirement. Hogan, who inspected the colt at the stables prior to his resumption, said: “You would travel many miles to see such a horse. He is such a magnificent individual that he makes you hold your breath." Viking Ruler has a blue-blood pedigree: he is out of the mulitple Gr1 winning mare Tristalove (ex Diamond Lover, by Sticks and Stones), who is a half-sister to Gr1 AJC Derby winner Don Eduardo (by Zabeel), Gr2 winner Peruzzi & Listed winner Antwerp (dam of the young sires Dangerous, by Danehill, & Viscount by Quest For Fame). (Feb 28) Sydney Super-Club: Proposal Gathers Momentum The AJC-STC amalgamation debate has expanded to consider addition of Sydney’s 5 provincial clubs. “A super race-club may span the entire Sydney basin with provincial organisations highly interested in the proposal,” reported The Daily Telegraph. “The 5 provincial clubs (Gosford, Hawkesbury, Wyong, Illawarra & Newcastle) all expressed interest in the proposal which could see amalgamation of the Australian Jockey Cub, Sydney Turf Club & other clubs. The move would save administration costs, releasing funds that could double weekend prize-money figures to $100,000 a race.” AJC chief executive Tony King said he was “open-minded” about the super-club proposal involving more clubs than just the AJC & STC: “If you accept the idea – & all the people involved do – you would think it would be a logical plan to go down.” Racing NSW chief executive Merv Hill added: “From our point of view, there are some synergies with the AJC & STC & some savings & it could go even further. The issue of race programming, & individual issues such as attracting local sponsorships, would remain with the clubs. But if there was one very strong race-club looking after a larger area, rather than several with vested intetests, that would help racing in this state.” (Feb 28) Sydney Super-Club: 5 Provincials Also Considered Last year the STC approached the 5 provincial clubs to open discussions over possible mergers. The Daily Telegraph sought their comments on the latest ‘AJC-STC-Provincials Super-Club’ proposal. Gosford secretary Michael Beattie said: “It is on the record that we have had talks with the STC & I couldn’t see any reason why we wouldn’t talk to them again about this. We would be happy to be involved in any talks that would benefit the industry.” Wyong secretary Tony Drew said: “We haven’t had a Board meeting about it – that’s a few weeks away – but it could be quite exciting; $800,000 in prize-money every weekend is enormous & it would bring people back to racing.” Illawarra secretary Michael Craig said his organisation would be interested but “would just see how the idea develops at this stage.” Newcastle secrertary John Curtis said his club had not been interested in the STC’s previous approach “but any club would be silly not to look at something where money can be saved.” Hawkesbury “indicated its likelihood to remain independent in the long-term”. (Feb 28) Queensland Strike 1: Trainers Split On Racing Boycott What a shemozzle! Queensland trainers “seem to be split down the middle in relation to the proposed boycott of race meetings at Doomben, Gold Coast & Toowoomba” reported racenet.com.au. In a day high of drama, Radio TAB’s Stephen Hewlett yesterday went to Eagle Farm track-work & found “most trainers were not going to nominate horses” for the meetings. However later on air he telephoned 10 trainers & obtained mixed responses: Rob Heathcote: “No. It has got to the stage that the Government has to be made to take notice of how tough we are doing it.” Barry Miller: “No. I was going to have Forest Jim resuming on that day, but he will have to wait for another day.” Dan Bougoure: “No. The situation is just getting worse & worse, so we have to stand up & be counted.” Ron Maund (President of Australian Trainers Association, Queensland Branch): “Yes. The last thing we should be doing is striking, not the first thing.” Alan Bailey:” Yes.” Rex Lipp: “Yes.” Gerald Ryan: “Yes. I will nominate & then discuss the situation with the individual owners.” John Hawkes: “Undecided. I will wait until Monday to see how it is shaping-up.” Lawrie Mayfield-Smith: “No.” Bevan Laming: “No. I don’t think I will have any runners, but feel that I should support the trainers. The problem is that we have both the Australian Trainers Association & the Queensland Trainers Association & they can’t seem to agree on things.” (Feb 28) Queensland Strike 2: McLachlan Blasts Fellow Trainers Meanwhile prominent Brisbane trainer Bruce McLachlan has written to Queensland Premier Peter Beattie, Racing Minister Merri Rose & Queensland Racing Board chairman Bob Bentley slamming fellow trainers advocating strike action. His letter declares: "In my 35 years as a trainer in Queensland I have never felt more contempt or dismay for some of my colleagues than I do right now. I can no longer sit back & watch the damage they are doing. I am angered & disappointed by the militant approach being adopted by a lobby group that is certainly not representative of the industry in this State, nor does it have the best interests of racing at heart. It is my opinion, & that of many other trainers & owners, that the new Board of Queensland Racing, under the leadership of Mr Bob Bentley, is heading in the right direction. Unfortunately, there are individuals & groups within racing that only want to derail the process. They are the ones who are loading the bullets for this poor, misguided group, to fire. If we don’t rationalise the number of race clubs & race meetings in Queensland the industry will struggle to survive. We need financial assistance to boost prize-money, but have to go about it the right way. I am totally opposed to the industrial action being planned for Doomben, Gold Coast & Toowoomba on Saturday week. It is a hasty, stupid decision. Horses from my stable will certainly be starting & my stable jockey Brad Stewart will be riding. I have to consider what is in the best interests of the 40 owners connected with my stable & the 50 horses that I currently have in work. I cannot see where a strike will achieve anything. This group has rushed in & after one meeting about country racing they want to take the industry over & have a strike. I wonder who is paying the feed bills while the trainers decide not to nominate? Are they going to train the horses for nothing because it was their decision to go out on strike? I would suggest that few have even bothered to consult the majority of owners. As my training colleague Pat Duff said, some of the instigators of this industrial action should take a cold shower. What makes matters worse is that the Queensland Trainers’ Association & the Queensland Racehorse Owners’ Association are certainly NOT representative of the industry in general. Yet they are the ones making decisions to strike & bring the industry to its knees. I make this plea to the Government, the Premier, the Racing Minister, the Board of Queensland & all those who follow this great sport of ours: don’t be misguided by the ranting & raving of a few, many of whom have jumped at the chance to push political agendas." (Feb 28) Queensland Strike 3: Retaliatory Legal Action Threatened By Raceclubs And the proposed boycott took a further twist when both the Gold Coast Turf Club & Toowoomba Turf Club confirmed they “may take legal action for loss of revenue if the meetings do not go ahead,” reported racenet.com.au. Gold Coast chairman Bill Millican (himself a barrister) & Toowoomba chairman Neville Stewart confirmed they “have sought advice & may take action against any parties that cause the clubs to suffer a loss of revenue.” Brisbane Turf Club chairman Ian Baxter also confirmed that his club “is considering legal action as well, if the Doomben meeting does not go ahead.” (Feb 28) HK Stewards Deny ‘Bias Against European Jockeys’ In an equally dramatic brouhaha in south-east Asian racing circles, Hong Kong Jockey Club new chief steward Jamie Stier “has denied charges of his panel showing bias against European jockeys,” reported The South China Morning Post. “Stier was put into an uncomfortable & unnecessary situation this week when forced to defend the integrity of his panel. The Australian, who chairs a panel that comprises other experienced Australian stewards Kim Kelly & Martin Knibbs, was accused of ‘double standards’ & of ‘showing favouritism’ to jockeys' premiership contender Shane Dye by a Hong Kong Chinese-language newspaper.“ The allegations in the Apple Daily newspaper were “met with a firm but emotionally controlled rebuttal” from Stier, who has only been in charge for 2 months since the retirement of internationally-renowned former AJC chief steward John ‘The Sheriff’ Schreck. Stier retorted: “Obviously I completely reject any suggestion of bias or favouritism & I am very happy to explain any of our decisions. But I don't have to justify them to anyone but my employer (the HKJC).” The offending story referred to the "majority Australian stewards' panel" demonstrating bias against jockeys of European heritage after Austrian-born German star Andreas Suborics was suspended for 4 meetings for careless riding last Sunday at Sha Tin; Dye had been one of the central players in an interference incident in the same event & emerged from a subsequent inquiry with his riding licence intact. Stier said he had not been asked for an explanation of the decision, but noted negative publicity went "with the territory" for a chief steward, whose “key roles are to oversee the safety of all jockeys & the general integrity of the industry. We don't want to be dragged into a public debate on an issue like this, but clearly we absolutely deny any suggestion of bias or favouritism." But Stier emphasised: "They were 2 entirely different sets of circumstances." Irish rider Jamie Spencer & Australian Dwayne Dunn were also suspended by Stier's panel on Sunday for careless riding offences. (Feb 28) Dye Takes Lead in HK Jockey Title Race Meanwhile Shane Dye rode a double at Happy Valley on Wednesday evening to move ahead of arch-rival South African Douglas Whyte at the top of the HK jockeys’ premiership. Dye now has 50 wins to Whyte’s 48. Former South Australian jockey Dwayne Dunn is on 20. (Expatriate trainer John Size continues to lead the trainers’ title with a 14-win lead over his nearest rival.) (Feb 28) Dittman Lands First Winner In Macau And on Tuesday evening in Macau, former Australian champ Mick Dittman rode his first winner during his current 3-month riding stint. (Feb 28) Beasley & Robinson Return To The Track On the local front, Len Beasley returns to race riding with 3 mounts at Rosehill Gardens tomorrow, after 4 months away from the track with a broken leg suffered in a race-fall last year . And Alan Robinson returns from a 1-month suspension to ride at Newcastle. (Feb 28) American Gr1 Riviera To Fairdale Stud Riviera (Kris-Manureva, by Nureyev), a millionaire Gr1 winning sprinter-miler in North America, has been purchased by New Zealand’s Fairdale Stud at Longburn near Palmerston North. Riviera will stand alongside Rex & Gerald Fell’s exciting young sire Howbadouwantit. Gerald Fell, who flew to the US last month to complete the purchase, told thoroughbrednews.co.nz: “There was strong interest in Riviera from Canada, Ireland & Australia when he became available for stud duties, but we acted quickly to secure him for NZ.” Fell noted Riviera “has all the right credentials to be a successful stallion in NZ. The whole world wants Gr1 winning sprinter-miler stallions. Riviera is importantly a turf performer with a very fashionable pedigree. He has bloodlines & race form that have proven a successful formula in southern hemisphere racing conditions. He possessed a wonderful turn of foot to win at distances ranging from 6.5 furlongs to one mile & his ability to win races across 5 seasons demonstrated his ability to train on & his soundness.” Riviera won the $US1 million Gr1 Atto Mile Stakes at Woodbine as a 6YO in 2000 (an event regarded as one of the major lead-up races to the Breeders’ Cup Mile). “He beat home 4 Gr1 winners in what was considered a very strong field & ran an incredibly smart time (1min 33.18secs, just 0.2secs outside the course record),” Fell said. Top US trainer Bobby Frankel commented: “Riviera was one of the most genuine racehorses I have ever trained. He never knew when he was beaten, as he ran his heart out every time he started.” Riviera also won the Gr2 Firecracker Breeders’ Cup Handicap & Gr3 Morvich Handicap. Overall he won 10 races and more than $US1 million in prize-money during his 21-start career. His sire Kris: was champion UK sire of 1985; sired 5 champions in Europe during his career at stud in England; has sired 38 group or graded stakes winners & 76 stakes winners from 18 racing crops; & is the sire of more than 400 individual winners from around 580 starters & has life-time progeny earnings of about $25 million. Riviera will stand at a fee of NZ$5,000. (Feb 28) NSW TAB’s Major On-Line Betting Revamp The NSW TAB “has stepped up development of its new $8 million on-line betting site & is expected to sign contracts for the construction of the portal in the next 3 weeks,” reported The Australian Financial Review newspaper. The TABnet project was put to tender late last year “following an exhaustive bench-marking process & the company is now in contract negotiations,” TAB wagering chief executive Peter Kadar confirmed. He added the new website was “expected to be up-&-running late this year or early next year” & noted that, with 5% of TAB’s racing turn-over & 20% of sport turn-over (the company’s highest growth business) generated on-line “the enormous growth rate in sports & racing are pretty good reasons to do it now.” In the 2002 financial year, on-line racing wagering grew 54% & on-line sports betting surged 130%. The newspaper commented: “In a testament to the internet boom the company is enjoying, TAB expects $270 million to go through its RaceTAB & SportsTAB sites this financial year.” Among the key functions of the new site will be 24-hour-a-day & 7-days-a-week account access for on-line punters, multi-lingual functionality & multi-currency facilities. TAB’s existing site (launched in 1996) can take on-line bets only in normal business hours (when its betting sytems are open). TAB is licensed to offer wagering on 23 sports on-line. (Feb 28) Handicapper Reveals Doncaster & Sydney Cup Thinking Racing NSW handicapper Mark Webbey releases weights on Monday for Sydney’s Randwick autumn feature double Doncaster Handicap & Sydney Cup. Webbey confirmed to The Daily Telegraph that Defier & Lonhro would receive “within the vicinity” of 58kgs weight-for-age &, when asked if either would be top-weight, replied: “Yes. These 2 horses are the best-performed within the nomination.” Pressed whether he felt “under any pressure to give Defier & Lonhro handicaps that will entice connections to target the Doncaster”, Webbey replied: “No. When allocating weights for the Doncaster I am mindful of numerous factors & consistency within the ratings for each edition is paramount. I am also mindful of historical factors, such as weights carried. However, in my opinion, the Doncaster is the premium event in NSW & arguably the best in the nation, & as such should attract the best possible field.” For the Sydney Cup Webbey revealed that “the 2 top-rated horses nationally within the nomination are last season’s leading 3YOs Carnegie Express & Don Eduardo.” (Feb 28) Sydney Hen Party At Rosehill Silver Slipper Day Tomorrow’s Silver Slipper meeting at Rosehill Gardens will be accompanied by "Sydney's Biggest Hens’ Party". Among the novel entertainment planned by the Sydney Turf Club are: a Hens’ Fashions-On-The-Field competition (the winner receives all table wines for the bride’s wedding day courtesy of BRL Hardy); live musical performances; free clairvoyants & tarot card readers; & a free glass of sparkling wine for the first 2,000 ladies through the gates. (Feb 28) Stars Aligning For Dubai World Cup Program It’s called “the Olympics of horse racing” & the Dubai World Cup program on March 29 at Nad al Sheba racecourse “could well fulfill that promise - with or without a war in nearby Iraq,” reported thoroughbredtimes.com. Although some American trainers are waiting until the last possible moment to decide whether to ship their runners to the Middle East, “one of the strongest US contingents since the event was inaugurated in 1996 could take on top runners from around the world.” US handicap stars Congaree, Harlan’s Holiday, Medaglia d’Oro, Lido Palace & Pleasantly Perfect all remain eligible for the world’s richest race, the US$6 million Gr1 Dubai World Cup, although only the connections of Pleasantly Perfect have definitely committed at this point. Grundlefoot also is a World Cup definite (although he will be running for his new Saudi Arabian owners); Grundlefoot won Saudi Arabia’s most prestigious event, the King’s Cup, on January 24 (defeating Sei Mi & Crimson Quest, who finished 2nd & 4th in last year’s World Cup). Other global stars currently aimed at the program include South African champion Ipi Tombe in the US$2 million Gr1 Dubai Duty Free Stakes; US champion mare Xtra Heat in the US$2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen; German classic winner Boreal in the US$2 million Gr1 Dubai Sheema Classic; & English high-weights Nayef & Aquarelliste in either the Sheema or the World Cup. And multiple Gr1 winner Grandera is expected to join stablemates Moon Ballad & Sulamani as part of the Godolphin Racing contingent headed to the Dubai World Cup. The son of Grand Lodge won last year’s World Series Racing Challenge (as well as individual victories in the Singapore Gr1 International Cup at Kranji racecourse, the Gr1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot in England & the Gr1 Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown) & trainer Saeed bin Suroor confirmed: "There is a great chance he will run in the World Cup. If he stays sound & healthy, we’ll look at the World Series & the same races he ran in last year." He summed up: "So far, it is certainly possible that we will run Sulamani, Grandera & Moon Ballad in the World Cup. It is a very difficult race to win & we always try to send the best Godolphin horses for the race. All 3 horses have the class to run in the race." (Feb 28) North Boy Returning To Singapore For Krisflyer Sprint Meanwhile last year’s Krisflyer Sprint champion North Boy will return to Singapore to defend his crown in May. Trainer Tony McEvoy declared “full speed ahead for Kranji”, reported aapracingandsports.com.au, after the bay finished 2nd in last weekend’s Gr1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield. McEvoy hopes to have a strong team for the Singapore international weekend, with the S$3 million (A$2.93 million) Singapore Airlines International Cup principal target for Australia’s most improved racehorse Fields Of Omagh. The Rubiton 5Yo ran a strong 2nd to Australia’s weight-for-age champ Northerly in the St George Stakes (1800m) last weekend. (Feb 28) Coolmore Buys Half-Interest in Serena's Song Colt Irish-based Coolmore Stud has bought a half-interest in Serena's Song's 2YO son Grand Reward from Robert & Beverly Lewis who bred the colt, reported bloodhorse.com. “The son of Storm Cat is in training at Ballydoyle in Ireland with Aidan O'Brien & will race for Beverly Lewis & Coolmore associate Michael Tabor in partnership with Sue Magnier, whose husband John is Coolmore's managing partner.” Coolmore showed interest in purchasing Grand Reward last year “primarily because of the success achieved by the colt's older full sister Sophisticat, who was Gr1 stakes-placed as a 2YO in 2001 & a Gr1 winner & classic-placed in 2002.” Coolmore associate Demi O'Byrne paid US$3.4 million for Sophisticat at the 1999 Keeneland July yearling sale. Grand Reward was sent to Ireland last year at the request of Coolmore & the deal involving his sale was completed this month. Eleven-year-old Serena's Song (dam of the full siblings) was a millionaire prize-money winner & recently foaled her 6th offspring, a Storm Cat filly, at Craig & Holly Bandoroff's Denali Stud in Kentucky. Serena's Song (Rahy-Imagining, by Northfields) is kept at Denali. Grand Reward will run in the Coolmore colors while racing in Europe. (Feb 28) Stakes Winner For Coolmore Shuttler Celtic Swing Meanwhile it was also good news for Coolmore when Ionacolumba (Celtic Swing-Maybe An Angel) sprang an upset win in the Listed $97,950 Tasmanian Oaks (2100m) at Mowbray. Gr1 winner Celtic Swing (by Damister) shuttled to Collingrove Stud in Victoria 3 years ago & stands at the Irish National Stud in Kildare. (Feb 28) Chinese Companies Propose US$326 Million Track On Shanghai Island A group of 6 Chinese companies (led by Shanghai Industrial Investment) has proposed building a $326 million racetrack complex on Chongming island in Shanghai. The 21st Century Business Herald reported Shanghai Industrial “is seeking overseas investment in the project.” If finances are secured, then the companies will seek government approval. China’s State Development Planning Commission, Ministry of Public Security & 3 other government organizations “have prohibited gambling on horse racing in China. Tracks in Shenzhen, Beijing, Guangzhou & Ningbo have been shut down because of gambling activities,” noted thoroughbredtimes.com. “Breeders in the US, Australia & other nations have long eyed China as a tremendous potential market if the government allows racing to grow with the assistance of gambling.” (Feb 28) Zubaran & Bryce Canyon Triumph At India’s Biggest Raceday Top British jockey Martin Dwyer (who rode 103 UK winners last year) steered 3YO colt Zubaran to victory in India's most prestigious race, the Gr1 Indian Turf Invitation Cup at Hyderabad. Dwyer told racingpost.co.uk: "It's the biggest race on a card that is really India's equivalent of the Breeders Cup, bringing together the best horses from the country's different states. The sport is big in India & there were a hell of a lot of people there. It was great to win it as, although the crowds go mad when you win, they throw flip-flops at you if you get beat!" In the other major event on the program, 5YO gelding Bryce Canyon (Serious Spender-Academic, by Riyahi) won the Sprinters Cup over 5 furlongs, reported thoroughbredinternet.com. Bryce Canyon is a half-brother to the ill-fated Her Excellency, winner of the Indian 1000 Guineas. Their dam Academic won an Indian Oaks. Bryce Canyon’s sire, the Gr3 winner Serious Spender (by Seattle Slew) stands at Poonawalla Stud in India & is also the sire of Calcutta Derby winner Touch Of Silver. (Feb 28) ‘Suspicious Incidents’ Uncovered In UK Betting Study A 6-month study of betting patterns on Britain's racecourses & on internet betting exchanges has uncovered “suspicious incidents that are to be reported to the Jockey Club” revealed racingpost.co.uk. The confidential report “is certain to reinforce criticism of the exchanges on the ground that the websites - which in the space of 2 years have revolutionised punters' choice - increase the opportunities for malpractice.” In one recent case, the place odds offered about a horse on an on-line exchange drifted from 3-1 to 30-1 although, on-course, the horse only drifted from 12-1 to 16-1, to win. As expected by its alarming drift in the betting, the horse ran unplaced, raising suspicions that privileged information about the horse's well-being, or lack of it, had been used for financial gain. Three other horses in the last month ran in the same disappointing manner after exchange betting on the place market followed a similar pattern. The study was carried out by Racefax Monitoring Service, headed by Clive Reams, who as a former chief executive of the UK National Joint Pitch Council was charged with control of the betting rings on Britain's 59 racecourses. Reams confirmed: "There are a number of individual examples of peculiar betting patterns that have emerged from the report, particularly with regard to the place betting market. The prices made available for a place on certain horses often exceeds the price available in the ring to actually win the race. However, more intriguing is the clear pattern of horses' performances in races when analysed by trainer, jockey and owner. These must be closely monitored.” Reams would not identify any of the owners, trainers or jockeys concerned, but “the information is bound to be of interest to the Jockey Club's security department as it seeks to investigate any evidence of corruption in racing. The incidents were far from isolated, as the Racefax study has identified 52 ‘major incidents’ during the last 6 months, all related to the place betting market.” Mark Davies, communications director at leading exchange Betfair, which can identify through an audit trail who places bets or lays horses to lose, gave his support to the findings of the report: "If the study is right, then we will be delighted to help the Jockey Club with any investigation. We have all the information here." Jockey Club public relations director John Maxse said: "We would be interested to see any information on betting patterns that might cause concern & are developing a memorandum of understanding with exchanges to enable us to follow suspicious betting patterns to a greater extent than at present.” (Feb 28) UK Ponders Introduction Of Barrier Trials & Schooling Races Meanwhile the UK Jockey Club is considering introduction of barrier trials & schooling races into British racing. “Proposals have been made to the National Trainers' Federation by the Jockey Club, who are awaiting feedback from the relevant parties before the establishment of concrete plans,” reported racingpost.co.uk. “But it is hoped that the use of all-weather tracks to hold stalls tests & schooling races for Flat - and possibly for National Hunt - horses could bring many benefits to the sport.” Jockey Club public relations director John Maxse confirmed: "The proposal is no more than an idea at present, but in our eyes there would be many benefits if such schooling races were to be introduced. For Flat horses there would be an opportunity to go through stalls in a situation which mirrored that of a race. Most foreign turf authorities have some form of barrier trials, which unraced horses must pass prior to entries being accepted. We are not proposing such a system in Britain, but we hope that trainers might appreciate the opportunity to educate their horses prior to their formal racecourse debut. This would hopefully help maiden races avoid delays at the start & decrease the chances of horses misbehaving and upsetting others." Maxse added schooling races could take place either on a raceday or non-raceday, provided that necessary health & safety measures were in place. "We are hopeful that trainers will see merit in such proposals, as any scheme would be dependent upon their support to make it worthwhile,” he said. (Feb 28) UK Trainers ‘Polarised’ On Trials Proposal However similar initiatives in the past from the UK Jockey Club have not met with universal approval. While “hopes are high that this new initiative could fill a gap for trainers who are keen to educate their horses, without the worry of breaching existing guidelines for races run under Rules,” reported racingpost.co.uk, “opinion among the training community is polarised as to the benefit of such races.” Leading jumps trainer Henrietta Knight welcomed any such move: "I am sure they will be much appreciated by many trainers with fewer facilities & a smaller number of horses. I know that they have been quite successful in Ireland. For a smaller trainer, who wants to give their horses some experience of the hurly-burly of a race, they would be ideal." Flat counterpart Gerard Butler agreed: “They would be an absolutely fantastic idea, more so at the all-weather tracks. They give young horses the chance to learn the ropes & young jockeys the chance to build some experience before they ride in races. In some countries they have barrier trials for 2YOs before they are allowed to race & that is a system that works very well.” However Mark Johnston (who has the largest string of Flat horses in Britain) was not keen on the idea: "I am not the slightest bit interested in racing without prize-money. My horses wouldn't be taking part in schooling races when there are real races to go for with real money." And Seven Barrows handler Nicky Henderson said: “Personally I'm not a fan of it. If you can have schooling races, why can't we have proper races? I can't see any point. We are desperate for more bumper races, so when the ground is suitable at the turf tracks, then why not just have another division of the bumper? Most of the time, we can do all of the work we want to on (training) gallops." Harvey Smith concurred: "Why should we run for nothing, when you should be running for prize-money? We are short of races in the north, so why don't they put on a few more for us? We just can't get a run (currently)." (Feb 28) Singleton’s Sunday Silence Filly Wins On Debut John Singleton's latest success is the optimistically named Touched By God, a striking filly by the late superstar sire Sunday Silence from the well-related Sally Klaire. Singleton purchased Sally Klaire (an unraced daughter of Salieri & Great Klaire) while in foal to Sunday Silence, from Arrowfield Stud 2 years ago. When Touched By God was born, Singleton hung onto her instead of selling her at the Magic Millions Sale. That decision paid off yesterday at Randwick when, on debut, she wooshed home from midfield around the bend to win a 2YO event for trainer Gai Waterhouse trains & jockey Chris Munce. Touched By Gold is a half-sister to the Waterhouse trained multiple city winner Miss Anna Louise (by Brocco). (Feb 27) $200 Bargain Returns $600,000 Prize-Money Veteran Tasmanian stayer St Andrews, who cost just $200 as a weanling, took his prize-money to nearly $600,000 when he won his 3rd $195,000 Gr3 AAMI Launceston Cup (2400m) at Mowbray yesterday. The George Blacker-trained 8YO gelding, who previously won the Cup in 2000 & 2002 also finished runner-up in 2001. The son of Aliocha (from Flying Regent, by Northern Regent) also won the 2002 Gr3 Hobart Cup. Blacker told aapracingandsports.com.au: "He's been a great horse to us & he's done a great job today. He's a great stayer, a very easy horse to train." Ridden by Noel Callow, St. Andrews carried top-weight of 58.5kg & conceded 6kg to the runner-up, the David Hall-trained favourite Arena Valadora (by Flying Spur), with Saturday Fever from the Tony McEvoy stable 3rd. St Andrews has now won 11 races (including 6 stakes races) from 47 starts. (Feb 27) St Andrews Highlights Aliocha Legacy Meanwhile St Andrews is proving “a wonderful legacy for his sire Aliocha, whose final crop of yearlings pass through the sales rings this year,” reported racenet.com.au. Aliocha had to be put down in 2001 at his Armidale Stud home in Tasmania after developing back problems. To date Aliocha has sired 123 winners, 15 stakes-winners & 9 stakes-placed for prize-money over $5.1 million. His progeny have won just about every stakes race on the Tasmanian calendar. But in company with most Tasmanian-based stallions, Aliocha struggled to gain acceptance on the mainland & his only stakes winner outside Tasmania was sprinter Windigo (who defeated Piavonic & Flavour) in the Gr3 Bletchingly Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield. Himself a Gr3 winner in France, Aliocha is by Umatilla’s sire Miswaki (by Mr Prospector) out of the stakes winning Ribot mare Chatterbox. He is a half-brother to Bonhomie (by What A Pleasure), winner of the UK’s Gr2 Royal Lodge Stakes & Gr2 King Edward VII Stakes, & 2nd in the Gr1 Irish Derby. One of few runners in Australia to carry Sheikh Mohammed’s maroon & white silks, Bonhomie finished 2nd in the 1988 Gr1 STC Segenhoe Stakes to Beau Zam & 2nd to Wong in the Gr1 AJC Chipping Norton Stakes. (Feb 27) Prized Gem’s Shock Retirement To Stud Connections of Brisbane Cup winner Prized Gem, who had just resumed racing for an autumn campaign after finishing unplaced in the last Melbourne Cup, announced her shock retirement yesterday. The 5YO mare was “found to have heat in a foreleg when she was brought into her box at trainer Murray Baker's stables” at Cambridge in New Zealand. Baker confirmed to thoroughbrednews.co.nz: "I've been in touch with her owner & she has agreed that she be retired." Prized Gem is owned in Australia by Mrs Billie Morton, but is expected to remain in NZ for her pending stud career. The Prized mare scored a brilliant Prime Minister's Cup-Brisbane Cup double in Queensland last winter. Baker added: “The hard part is that she was going so well. Still, I guess we've got to be thankful for what she did achieve." (Feb 27) Distant Music Returning To Yallambee As a star juvenile, Distant Music (Distant View-Musicanti) ended his debut racing season crowned Champion 2YO of Europe following victory in the stallion-making Gr1 Dewhurst Stakes & prestigious Gr2 Champagne Stakes in England. As a 3YO he won the Gr3 Park Stakes at Doncaster & as a 4YO he added the Gr2 International Stakes. He was retired to stud at Morristown Lattin Stud in England & over the past week his first foals have started arriving - & the first 6 are all colts! Distant Music stood his debut southern hemisphere season at Yallambee Stud in Victoria last year & served 80 mares. He is coming back again this season at a fee of $16,500. (Feb 27) Springsteen To Stand 2003 Season At Royston Stud Springsteen will stand the 2003 breeding season at Royston Stud in Queensland. The stakes winning half-brother to Marauding covered 164 mares in his first 2 seasons at Attunga Stud in the Hunter Valley. Attunga Stud owner Brian Nutt said the foals by Springsteen “are typical Danehill stock” & other breeders who have Springsteen foals “have also been delighted with the quality Springsteen has thrown.” It was always intended to stand Springsteen at Royston Stud early in his career to give Queensland breeders access to him & qualify his stock for the very successful QTIS Scheme. Springsteen will return to Attunga Stud for the 2004 Breeding Season. Breeders eligible for ‘Free Returns’ can elect to do so in either 2003 at Royston Stud or 2004 when Springsteen returns to Attunga Stud. Springsteen’s service fee for the 2003 breeding season has been set at $6,600 (including GST) with “transportation subsidies” available to southern state breeders seeking to have their mares covered by Springsteen. (Feb 27) Racing Industry Booming In Australia A report on the status of thoroughbred racing in Australia shows “a growing industry that has pumped billions of dollars into the nation’s economy.” According to the Australian Racing Board study: racing contributed $4.66 billion to the Australian economy in 2001; 240,000 Australians are employed in the thoroughbred industry; 1.7 million patrons attend Australian race meetings at least once a year; total purses have increased every year since the 1996-97 season & reached $163 million during the 2001-02 season. (Feb 27) Jolley Pays US$1 Million For Storm Cat Filly US Hall-Of-Fame trainer LeRoy Jolley paid US$1-million to purchase a filly by Storm Cat at the Fasig-Tipton Calder Selected 2YOs-In-Training Sale on behalf of “a partnership that just wants to race a Storm Cat,” he told thoroughbredtimes.com. Consigned by Danny Pate's Solitary Oak (on behalf of Kathleen Schonefeld, Rick Imbert & Roger Baugh), the filly is a half-sister to stakes winner Relinquish & is out of the winning Ogygian mare Sun Blush (a half-sister to Mariah’s Storm, dam of one of Storm Cat's best sons, Giant's Causeway). Pate commented: "She's always been a very sound filly, very precocious & she has a great mind. We really thought she would bring a lot of money." (Schonefeld purchased the filly for just US$115,000 at the 2002 Keeneland September yearling sale.) Jolley was one of America’s leading trainers during the 1960s, 1970s & 1980s; his stars included 1980 Kentucky Derby winner Genuine Risk & 1975 Kentucky Derby winner Foolish Pleasure. (Feb 27) US 2YO Market Steady At Fasig-Tipton Calder Overall, the “geopolitical situation may be threatening, & the equities market is still in decline, but the market for thoroughbred racing prospects maintained somewhat surprising strength” at the Fasig-Tipton Calder Select 2YOs-In-Training Sale, reported thoroughbredtimes.com. With 139 horses sold for US$29 million, the 2003 average declined by only 1.4% to US$209,187, while the buy-back rate (which soared over 45% last year) declined slightly to 43.5%. Fasig-Tipton’s president & chief auctioneer Walt Robertson summed up: "Considering the situation, it’s fine. We’re right on last year’s average. If the buyers are on, they’ll give you twice what you want; & if not, they’ll give you half what you need." Consignor Eddie Woods added: "The selectivity is more severe than ever. It’s all top-end & if you’re not there, you know it before you come up to the sales ring. There’s no room for mediocrity. Absolutely none." (Feb 27) King Of Kings Continues 2YO Speed Blitz Coolmore’s stallion King Of Kings (by Sadler's Wells) has certainly produced top quality speedsters from his 2nd crop. San Simeon’s effortless 5-lengths win over 1000m in Adelaide (57.68secs in dead going, the last 600m in 33.58secs) for the McEvoy stable certainly captured the attention of 2YO clockers across Australia. Especially since King Of Kings has already produced the best 2YO in New Zealand this season in King's Chapel (winner of NZ’s richest 2YO race, the Mercedes Classique, & boasting an unbeaten record of 3 starts for 3 wins as he heads into Saturday's Gr1 Ellerslie Sires' Produce Stakes). In addition King Of Kings’s talented filly Gaelic Princess finished a solid 5th in Victoria’s premier 2YO sprint, the $1 million Gr1 Blue Diamond Stakes, last weekend. (Feb 27) Tale Of The Cat’s Youngsters Grab Attention Meanwhile Tale Of The Cat, who stands at Coolmore's Ashford Farm in the US and is possibily going to stand at Coolmore Australia this year, also seems set to grab plenty of attention with his youngsters. Having taken America's 1st-crop sire list by storm in 2002, Tale of The Cat’s NZ 2YO son Ubiquitous (from his solo stud season at NZ's Windsor Park) recently landed the Listed Ford Fairview Slipper. And the same day, his daughter Purrfection ran 3rd in the Gr2 Breeders Stakes for 2YO fillies. Meanwhile among his headline-grabbing progeny in the US, 3YO colt Aristocat may now be Kentucky Derby-bound after his impressive victory over 1700m at Gulfstream Park last week, the same day another 3YO son Quick Draw won over 1200m & 3YO filly Tale Of A Dream went within a neck of winning the Listed Vallejo Stakes. (Feb 27) Roedean Is Latest Success For Newlands The Alteri family’s Newlands Thoroughbreds Farm at Seymour in Victoria is only 5 years old & eagerly chasing customers. So Roedean’s win in the $1 million Blue Diamond Stakes last weekend was a huge shot-in-the-arm. Roedean was bred by Newlands & is the 2nd living foal from her dam Queen Kathleen (a daughter of Melbourne Cup winner At Talaq). The stud offered a half-brother to Roedean by Rory’s Jester at the recent Melbourne Inglis Premier Yearling Sale which was purchased by trainer Tony Noonan for $90,000. Roedean (a daughter of Golden Slipper Stakes winner Flying Spur) was a $50,000 bargain from the 2002 Melbourne Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. Other successes from Newlands in the last year include: Gr2 winner Lady Marion; Listed winner & Gr1 & 2 place-getter Fuji Dancer; Gr1 & 2 place-getter Dane Choice in NZ; dual Listed place-getter Bluewin in South Australia; & city winners in Victoria & Queensland. (Feb 27) NSW Trainer Disqualified 4 Months Following Positive Swabs Racing NSW stewards have disqualified Dubbo trainer Garry Lunn for 4 months after Microdot returned a positive swab following a race at Gilgandra last month. Lunn was disqualified for 2 months after pleading guilty to a charge of “bringing Microdot to race in a Class 2 Hcp (1100m) on January 5 when a pre-race urine sample subsequently revealed the presence of the prohibited substances Phenylbutazone & Oxyphenbutazone.” He was disqualified for another 2 months, to be served cumulatively, after pleading guilty to “administering the prohibited substance Furosemide, which was also detected in the urine sample, to Microdot.” Stewards said Lunn could reapply for his licence on June 26. (Feb 27) Holiday Inn Hotels Sponsor NSW Country Racing Holiday Inn hotels yesterday announced a major sponsorship partnership with the NSW racing industry. Holiday Inn will be a feature or supporting race sponsor at 4 major racing events in country NSW & Canberra in 2003. The sponsorship commitment will also see the hotel group associated with promotions at a number of other feature race meetings in country NSW during the year. Feature races the company will sponsor in 2003 are: Canberra Racing Club’s $75,000 Listed Holiday Inn National Sprint at the Black Opal Stakes meeting on Saturday March 22. Albury Racing Club’s Holiday Inn Cup at the Albury Gold Cup carnival on Thursday April 3 & Friday April 4. Clarence River jockey Club’s $30,000 Holiday Inn Guineas for 3YOs at the Grafton Cup carnival on Wednesday July 16 & Thursday July 17. Wyong Race Club’s Holiday Inn Sprint at the Wyong Cup carnival on Wednesday September 3 & Thursday September 4. Additionally, Holiday Inn will provide accommodation packages as promotional prizes for feature race meetings conducted by other race clubs including Queanbeyan, Nowra, Scone, Taree, Port Macquarie, Muswellbrook, Gundagai & Dubbo. Holiday Inns are part of the international Six Continents Hotels group. Six Continents Hotels NSW director of marketing Bruce Ryde said: “The NSW racing industry is a vast & exciting market. We are delighted to be a supporter of the industry through our sponsorships & look forward to a long & successful association with regional racing in NSW & Canberra." NSW Country Racing Council chief executive Brian Judd added: "It is most gratifying when such a high profile corporate identity as Holiday Inn becomes involved with country racing." (Feb 27) NZ Forum Debates ‘Governing Body’ Make-Up The “differences between the NZ Racing Bill & working party recommendations in respect of the make-up of the racing industry’s proposed governing body” was the major issue, reported thoroughbrednews.co.nz, at yesterday’s industry forum attended by 400 people at Te Rapa racecourse. The working party was given the task of devising an industry business plan in the wake of last year’s PriceWaterhouseCoopers report commissioned by the NZ Minister for Racing. One of the working party’s most interesting assertions, that a restructured industry could generate a revenue increase of NZ$50 million over the next 5 years, was elaborated on by working party member Steve Thompson, who pin-pointed the following initiatives: To successfully address the inequitable taxation on racing industry betting revenue; Bring in cost savings by eliminating duplicated administration; Overhaul the betting product by providing alternatives to compete with more simplistic casino, gaming machine, etc, types; Reorganise programming to increase betting turnover; Increase other income sources, notably gaming machine ownership; Implement one overall organisational structure to convey industry funds more effectively. (Feb 27) Serena's Song Foals Storm Cat Filly Champion & prize-money multi-millionaire Serena's Song produced her 6th foal, a Storm Cat filly, at Craig Bandoroff's Denali Stud in Kentucky, reported bloodhorse.com. Bred by Robert Lewis, the new-born filly is a full sister to English Gr1 winner Sophisticat & a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Serena's Tune. North America's second richest mare, Serena's Song (Rahy-Imagining, by Northfields) is booked back to Storm Cat. (Feb 27) Soaring Softly’s Dam Wings Of Grace Dies Wings Of Grace, dam of champion & inaugural Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Soaring Softly & also Gr1 winner Plenty Of Grace, has died after foaling complications at Darby Dan Farm near Lexington in Kentucky, reported thoroughbredtimes.com. The 25-year-old daughter of Key To The Mint (out of Far Beyond, by Nijinsky II) aborted a foal by Darby Dan stallion Repriced prior to developing complications. Wings Of Grace produced 16 foals during her broodmare career, including 7 winners from 10 starters. In addition to Soaring Softly (winner of the 1999 Eclipse Award as champion turf female), Wings of Grace also produced Plenty Of Grace (winner of the 1990 Gr1 Yellow Ribbon Invitational Stakes) & multiple stakes producer Jody G. Wings Of Grace herself won 6 of 20 starts at the track. (Feb 27) Nines Wild Moves To Tomorrow Bloodstock New York-based sire Nines Wild has been relocated to stand the 2003 season at Al Martin’s Tomorrow Bloodstock near Thompson Ridge, reported thoroughbredtimes.com. The 14-year-old son of Wild Again (out of Family Affair, by Honest Pleasure) stood in 2002 at Pond View Farm near Bullville in New York state; Nines Wild had stood 3 seasons at Pond View after starting his career in Florida. Nines Wild is the sire of Allen’s Oop (winner of the 2000 Gr3 New Orleans Handicap) & Shed A Tear (multiple stakes winner & 2001 champion imported 2YO colt in Puerto Rico). He has sired 64 winners from 84 starters from his first 5 crops. (Feb 27) US ‘Thoroughbred Championship Tour’ Framework Established The US National Thoroughbred Racing Association & the Breeders' Cup organisation have “formed the framework to look at the Thoroughbred Championship Tour, a for-profit, televised racing series the Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders Association hopes to launch,” reported bloodhorse.com. The proposal “comes at a time when more thoroughbred racing than ever is on television & broadcasts have posted viewership gains of about 50%.” NTRA commissioner Tim Smith said the proposed ‘TCT’ was discussed during a joint NTRA/Breeders' Cup 2-day retreat. Smith said: “The board of directors endorsed formation of a committee that would include racetrack operators, owners & breeders, & representatives of horsemen's groups. We've not yet finalized the make-up of the committee. It will be a pretty small, but high-end, group." Smith added the concept "is an important topic: what's the best way to create nationally televised racing linking the Triple Crown & Breeders' Cup? We don't fully understand all the details, but we respect the owners' investment in the game. I'm in a recruiting mode to see if people will agree to serve on the committee." Darby Dan Farm's John Phillips & owner Robert McNair are among those working on the project for TOBA. Others involved in the process are prominent US owners John Amerman, John Ed Anthony, William Condren, Donald Dizney, Steven Duncker, Eugene Melnyk, Kenny Troutt, Tom VanMeter & TOBA president Dan Metzger. Economist Dr Richard Thalheimer has been hired to help put together the business plan. (Feb 27) Melbourne Cup Runner Returns To Track In Dubai Melbourne Cup runner Pugin will have his first outing since November at Dubai’s Nad Al Sheba meeting tonight. He will be ridden by Kerrin McEvoy in the Khas El Dhaheb handicap over 2,800m on turf for Prestige class horses. (Feb 27) UK Grand National Ban Draws Strong Criticism On Tuesday we reported: “Pre-post betting markets across Britain on the UK’s most famous race, the Grand National, have been thrown into uproar after Davids Lad – 2nd favourite on most charts – was sensationally ruled out of the big race after trailing in last in the Paddy & Helen Cox Memorial Newlands Chase at Naas. Stewards ruled the racecourse had been used as a training ground for the 9YO & rider Timmy Murphy had made insufficient effort . . . & imposed a 42-day ban, which finishes on April 6 - one day after the Grand National.” Amid the ensuing public outcry, legendary Grand National trainer Ginger McCain has declared he would be “hung” if current rules had been in place when he trained Aintree immortal Red Rum to win the race 3 times in the 1970s. McCain told racingpost.co.uk: “I think it is very, very sad & entirely unnecessary. What’s the man expected to do? Davids Lad has a wind problem & there can’t be any more sympathetic rider than Timmy Murphy & I think they have done it awfully well. At the end of the day you have got a horse with a problem & you are trying to get him to run a big race in a big race. Without being dishonest, there is no way any trainer worth 30 bob is going to have his horse knocked about to just pander to the betting-shop punter - there is no reason whatsoever why he should do that. They want to get a few old horses to train, these silly stewards, & then see how they get on. To be quite honest, they’d have hung me with Red Rum. We never stopped him, but the races were just a step along the road to get to Aintree as fit as you possibly could. His last run before every National was the Greenall Whitley & I don’t think he ever got closer than fourth. I remember the last time he ran in it Tommy Stack was beaten maybe 30 or 40 lengths on him, but he came in & laughed at me & said: ’Don’t worry, we’ll win the National.’ If you have a horse that has a chance of doing well in the Grand National you have got to nurse them. If he has a problem you say: ’Ride him like you are sitting on eggs’. That’s what they have been doing & you can’t condemn them for it. The public are not paying the bills.” (Feb 27) All UK Jockeys To Undergo Aust Concussion Test UK jockeys will be required to undergo an Australian-developed computerised brain function test to determine their fitness to resume riding after suffering concussion in a race fall. The Jockey Club has directed that all its 1,325 registered jockeys undergo a “baseline neuropsychological test” as part of their annual medical examination. After a concussion, the test is repeated & the jockey will not be permitted to resume riding until their performance is back to normal. The scientifically validated CogSport test was developed by Australian-based biotechnology company CogState. The computerised playing card test assesses cognitive abilities such as memory, attention, decision-making & information processing, to provide a highly sensitive measure of brain recovery after concussion. The test is used by high profile sporting organisations around the world, including the Australian Wallabies & South African Springboks international rugby teams, Notre Dame University & many Australian Football League & Australian National Rugby League clubs. In a study published in the latest edition of British Journal of Sports Medicine, the chief medical adviser to the UK Jockey Club, Dr Michael Turner, found the incidence of concussion was considerably greater in horse-racing than most other sports. In response, the Jockey Club has become one of the first sporting organisations around the world to implement a complete concussion management system, including the CogSport test. Dr Turner's co-author on the paper, leading Australian neurologist & sports physician Dr Paul McCrory, emphasised the risks of resuming contact sport too soon after a concussion: "There is a real risk of further injury if sportspeople return to sport before fully recovering from a concussion, including the potential for long-term cognitive impairment." Concussion testing is not currently required for Australian jockeys, but a proposal similar to that adopted in the UK is under consideration by the Australian Racing Board. (Feb 27) Japanese Star Grass Wonder To Eliza Park Victoria’s Eliza Park has added star Japanese sire Grass Wonder to its stallion roster for the 2003 Breeding season. Grass Wonder, by successful Roberto line sire Silver Hawk out of Danzig mare Ameriflora, was the undefeated champion 2YO of his year in Japan, winning 4 races including a track record victory in the Gr1 Asahi Hai Sansai Stakes (Japan’s equivalent of the Golden Slipper). Overall Grass Wonder raced 15 times, winning 9 races (7 at Group level defeating champion gallopers Agnes World, T.M. Opera O, Special Week, Air Jihad & Stay Gold) & US$5.9 million prize-money. His victory highlights included back-to-back wins in the Gr1 Grand Prix Arima Kinen (Japan’s Cox Plate Equivalent) & he was awarded the Special Award by the Japan Racing Association in 1999 for his outstanding racetrack performances. Grass Wonder comes to Eliza Park having served 2 seasons in Japan at Shadai Stallion Station with books of 189 & 178 mares at a service fee of 4 million Yen (A$56,800). His first crop foals sold to A$265,000. Grass Wonder will stand at Eliza Park for a service fee of $13,750 inc GST (with a Live Foal guarantee applicable). (Feb 26) Black Hawk Returning From Japan To Eliza Park Grass Wonder will be joined on the trip from Japan’s Shadai Stallion Station by Black Hawk, who returns to Eliza Park in 2003 following a successful 2002 season where he served a book of 110 mares. (Feb 26) Wattle Brae To Stand Argentine Sprint Champ Taimazov Dual Gr1 winning sprinter & 2001 Argentine Champion Taimazov is joining the stallion roster at the Turkington family’s Wattle Brae Thoroughbred Stud at Nobby in Queensland. Wattle Brae has purchased the horse outright & confidentially syndicated him to leading Queensland breeders. Taimazov is named after Atlanta Olympics Gold Medal weight-lifter Timur Taimazov (the horse was born in 1996, the year of the Atlanta Olympics). Taimazov had 28 track starts for 8 wins, 6 2nds & 2 3rds, including victories in: the Gr1 Carrera de las Estrellas (‘Race Of The Stars’) in the sizzling time of 55.03 seconds for the 1000m journey; the Gr1 Gran Premio Suipacha (1000m in 55.42secs); & the Gr2 Classico Pippermint (1000m in 57.29secs). Taimazov will be the 2nd major son of Southern Halo to venture to Australia; the champion sire of more than 30 Gr1 winners (12 carrying Champion status in their own right), Southern Halo is also represented at stud locally by Vinery’s More Than Ready. (More Than Ready had an advertised service fee of $22,000 & served 108 mares in 2001 & 70 mares in 2002.) Pedigree Dynamics analyst Jane Henning commented on Taimazov’s arrival: “There are many points in the pedigree of Taimazov to suggest he will find plenty of mares to his liking in Australia.” And Taimazov’s full-sister Igreja raced in South Africa where her host of leading black performances included victory in the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas & 2nd in the Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes. Taimazov is expected to arrive in Australia in April & will stand his first season (alongside fellow Gr1-winning sprinters Easy Rocking & Mr Innocent, as well as Dolphin’s Ace) at a service fee of $10,000. (Feb 26) Pernod Injury May Hasten Stud Career Pernod will this week have arthroscopic surgery for a knee chip at the Goulburn Valley veterinary clinic, trainer Mike Moroney told aapracingandsports.com.au. Moroney said the Centaine 5YO had “filling in a knee” after running 5th in the Orr Stakes & X-rays “revealed a fresh chip.” While not career threatening, Moroney revealed Trelawney Stud, which leases the mare to a group of owners including managing owner Warren Huntly, was “keen to put her to stud next spring” even though the lease doesn't expire until the end of next season. (Feb 26) O'Byrne Pays US$1.4 Million For Tale Of The Cat Colt Overnight in the US, Irish bloodstock agent Demi O'Byrne paid US$1.4 million (on behalf of Michael Tabor) for a colt from the 2nd crop of Tale Of The Cat at the Fasig-Tipton Calder Selected 2YOs-In-Training Sale. The colt is out of the stakes-winning Mr Leader mare Satin Sunrise, already the dam of 2002 Gr3 French Oaks winner French Satin. O’Byrne told thoroughbredtimes.com: "He breezed very well & I like the stallion. He'll stay here in America & will go back to (consignor) Bobby Scanlon before we decide who will train him." Scanlon noted: "I didn't really expect that much, but I thought he'd bring a million.” (Last year, O'Byrne purchased the highest-priced horse of the sale, a US$1 million Seeking The Gold colt, also from Scanlon. And O’Byrne paid US$1.2 million earlier this year for a Montbrook colt that topped the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s Calder Selected 2YOs-in-training Sale.) (Feb 26) Sekiguchi Pays US$850,000 For Kris S. Colt At the same sale Fusao Sekiguchi, who campaigned 2000 Gr1 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus, purchased a colt by Kris S. for US$850,000. Consigned by M.W.Miller III, the colt is out of the Mr Prospector mare Key To My Heart, a full sister to champion & Gr1 Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Eillo. The colt is also a full brother to Gr3 winner Love n' Kiss S. Southern California-based trainer Neil Drysdale, who handled the bidding for Sekiguchi, told thoroughbredtimes.com: “This horse will go to Japan. He looks like he'll be a 3YO, so we'll give him some time off & let him grow to himself. We expected to pay about that much, but I think Mr Sekiguchi was prepared to go a little higher. Being by Kris S., he's doing something he's not supposed to do, showing a lot of speed early.” (Miller had purchased the colt for US$200,000 at the 2002 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Selected Yearling Sale.) (Feb 26) Fulton Pays US$600,000 For A.P.Indy Colt And Stanley Fulton paid US$600,000 for an A.P. Indy colt out of Gr1 Alabama Stakes winner November Snow (by Storm Cat). The colt was consigned by Ciaran Dunne's Wavertree Stables. (Feb 26) US$450,000 For Elusive Quality Filly Among the female lots, a filly by hot young sire Elusive Quality sold for US$450,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Calder Sale. The smooth-striding filly, out of stakes winner Prying (by Farnesio), worked a furlong in 10.20secs during the pre-sale breeze-up. Bloodstock agent J.B.McKathan, who made the winning bid on behalf of Robert & Beverly Lewis, told thoroughbredtimes.com: "They're the greatest people in racing. And this is a nice looking, 2-turn horse; a beautiful moving filly with a lot of scope & quality." (Feb 26) Byrne Returns from Macau To Brisbane Former champion Brisbane jockey Jim Byrne will be returning home from a successful riding stint in Macau after his final meeting there last night. Byrne is currently 3rd in the Macau jockeys’ premiership, but failed in a bid to have his riding licence extended & is disappointed he was not granted the extension, as he has formed a successful recent combination with former Brisbane trainer Barry Baldwin. Byrne told Radio TAB it will “probably be a couple of weeks” before he resumes riding in Brisbane, noting "I've got a lot of things to sort out with my house." (Feb 26) Rodd Back From Dubai & Off To NZ Meanwhile champion Queensland apprentice Michael Rodd returns home to Australia briefly today, after his short stint riding in Dubai & visiting Godolphin’s UAE stable. Rodd notched 2 2nds & a 4th from 5 rides in Dubai. However he heads off almost immediately to New Zealand “where he will reunite with Prized Gem in the weight-for-age Gr1 Lion Red Stakes over 2000m” reported racenet.com.au. Rodd had great success on the mare last year with wins in the Gr1 Brisbane Cup (3200m) & Gr1 Kelt Capital Stakes 2040m, as well as the Gr2 Prime Minister’s Cup (2400m). (Feb 26) Didham Suspended For 3 Months And Racing Victoria stewards have suspended Victorian jockey John Didham for 3 months, following an inquiry into his riding of Del’s Obsession at Yarra Glen on February 7. After taking evidence from Didham, trainer John Symons, stable employees & several of the horse’s owners (plus written evidence from veterinary surgeon Dr M.Brain from Kilmore Equine Clinic), Didham was found guilty of a charge that “when he rode Del's Obsession in the Carlton Draught Class 4 Handicap he failed to take all reasonable & permissible measures in that he did not improve his position from after passing the 600 metres until approaching the 250 metres.” (Feb 26) Wolfe Appeals 2-Year Ban Over Jockey’s Death In Western Australia, trainer Steve Wolfe has appealed against a 2-year ban imposed by WA Turf Club stewards following the inquiry into the death of jockey Jason Oliver. Oliver sustained head injuries in a barrier trial at Belmont Park racecourse on October 28 & died the next day. His mount Savage Cabbage, trained by Wolfe, tested positive for the anti-inflammatory medication phenylbutzone. Wolfe’s lawyer Tom Percy told aapracingandsports.com.au: "Someone had been killed & the stewards were trying to apportion liability for someone’s death. But the question is what is the appropriate penalty under the rules." Wolfe’s appeal has been filed with the WA Racing Appeals Tribunal. (Feb 26) Victorian Breeders Night: ‘OCD In The 21st Century’ The Equine Centre & Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria are conducting an information evening with Professor Leo Jeffcott for all thoroughbred breeders on Monday March 17 at Moonee Valley racecourse to discuss “Osteochondrosis Disease in the 21st Century”. Professor Jeffcott, a recognised international leader in OCD research, is Dean of the Veterinary School & Professor of Veterinary Clinical Studies at Cambridge University in Britain. Professor Andrew Clarke, Chair of Equine Studies at Melbourne University, noted: “The introduction of x-rays for yearling sales has highlighted the number of preventable developmental diseases which are occurring in our young thoroughbreds. This seminar could not be more timely, as it provides a unique, once in a lifetime opportunity for Victorian thoroughbred breeders to receive state of the art international information on OCD with one of the best OCD researchers in the world.” (Feb 26) California Prepares For Arrival Of West Nile Virus Most US breeders have found 2 years dealing with the mysterious causes of Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome bad enough. Now the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito & Vector Control District in California “is taking steps to ensure that horse owners throughout the state are ready for West Nile virus, a disease that kills 30% of the horses it infects & is expected to arrive in California this spring (Australian autumn),” reported thoroughbredtimes.com. As a result, the California Department of Health Services has recommended that horses be vaccinated. At Santa Anita Park, track veterinarian William Bell said most horses are vaccinated, but the final decision rests with the owner. "There’s a lot of money invested in these racehorses," Bell told The Pasadena Star-News. "So everything that can be done to protect them is being done." Vector Control Education Specialist Kelly Middleton advised horse owners to contact their veterinarian & begin the vaccination process, & to eliminate potential mosquito breeding sources such as areas where standing water develops around their property. (Feb 26) Equine Herpes Virus Detected At Penn National Meanwhile a small outbreak of equine herpes at Penn National Racecourse has prompted management of Philadelphia Park to bar horses shipping in to race, as well as horses shipping out to "race & return", reported bloodhorse.com. Penn National general manager Richard Schnaars emphasised the situation was "very localised," with only 3 horses from the stable of trainer Bob Wolfe testing positive for the virus (which is transferred from horse-to-horse by contact, usually through the nostrils). A 10-14 day quarantine is typical, advised Schnaars, adding: "The 3 horses are contained in the same barn &, hopefully, that's all there is." In some forms, the equine herpes virus can cause respiratory & neurological problems. Philadelphia Park chief executive Hal Handel said the ban on in-coming & out-going horses is a "cautionary measure" & would be evaluated on a day-to-day basis, noting: "The worst thing we could do would be to cause it to spread. Until the dust settles, we're playing it safe." (Feb 26) McKee Bringing New Star To Aust Sunline's New Zealand trainers Trevor & Stephen McKee are heading back across the Tasman this autumn with their latest stable star. With Sunline now retired to the broodmare paddock, the Takanini stable's attention is focused on promising 3YO Live By The Sword. The son of Volksraad made it 4 wins on end when he lead throughout in the St Leger Trial (2100m) at Otaki - defeating some of NZ's most promising stayers. Stephen McKee confirmed Live By The Sword will be aimed at one of the major Derby races in Australia before the end of the season: "Sydney with its million-dollar prize-money is the most attractive option, but the risk there is that he doesn't like wet tracks. In that case Adelaide or Brisbane are the most likely options." (Feb 26) NZ Stars Arrive For Autumn Plunder Meanwhile several top NZ horses will cross the Tasman this week, aimed at Australian autumn carnival riches. Manawatu trainer Wayne Herbert will head multiple Gr1 winner Tit For Taat (by Faltaat) for Melbourne for the 5YO’s tilt at the $402,000 Gr1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday. NZ Thoroughbred Marketing reported: “He appears to have taken no harm from an incident during the early stages of last Thursday’s Family Hotel Weight-For-Age at Otaki in which he clipped heels with another runner. Herbert believes that problem caused him to over-race & eventually proved his undoing in finishing only 3rd.” Tit For Taat, who has won 3 Gr1 events in NZ this season, will be ridden by Michael Walker in the Futurity. Provided he performs well, he will remain in Melbourne to contest the $377,000 Gr1 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on March 22. And trainer Andrew Scott is also aiming Matamata stablemates & last-start winners Ubiquitous (by Tale Of The Cat) & Talking Heads (by TV Heart Throb) toward Melbourne. Ubiquitous will be nominated for the Gr1 Ford Auckland Sires’ Produce Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie this Saturday before flying out to Melbourne 48 hours later & targeting the $402,000 Gr1 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on March 10. Major mission for Talking Heads will be the $151,000 Duke Of Norfolk Stakes (3200m) at Flemington on March 15. (Feb 26) Magic Millions Perth Premier Yearling Sale & Raceday A week of festivities will accompany the up-coming Magic Millions Perth Premier Yearling Sale. They include: Saturday 8 March: Magic Millions Raceday (conducted in conjunction with the Malaysian Racing Association) featuring the Sportingbet Magic Millions Perth 2YO Classic at the Western Australian Turf Club’s Ascot track. Open only to graduates of the Magic Millions Sales, the race carries prize-money of $105,000. Sunday March 9 & Monday March 10: Official inspection days at the Magic Millions Belmont sales complex. Monday March 10: Western Australian Bloodhorse Breeders Association cocktail party (from 6pm) at Paddy Hannans Bar in Burswood Resort. Tuesday March 11: Magic Millions Perth Premier Yearling Sale (commencing at 6pm) with lots 1-130. Wednesday March 12: Premier Sale continues (from 4.30pm) with lots 131-307. Friday March 14: Autumn session of the sale (beginning at 5pm) with lots 308-438. (Feb 26) Magic Millions Perth Premier Yearling Sale Magic Millions Perth Premier Yearling Sale is set for its Belmont sales complex on Tuesday March 11 & Wednesday March 12. Marketing & media manager Annie McDonald advised that, among the interesting lots catalogued, are: Serheed-Wild Spirit colt; Bletchley Park-Zamelina colt; Scenic-Ahava colt; Dr Johnson-Anemone filly; Citidancer-Anonym Girl colt; Second Empire-Ballet Girl filly; Lomond Bay-Bibiana Mist colt; Metal Storm-Bonny Guest filly; Scenic-Born With Wings filly; Magic Of Money-Calophylla filly; Corporate Raider-Cash Conversion filly; Don’t Say Halo-Charmed Luck colt; Key Business-Cherokee Lass filly; Bletchley Park-Corporate Dancer filly; Scenic-Couldn’t Watch filly; Serheed-Dance Spirit colt ; Umatilla-Ease And Comfort filly; Bletchley Park-Enlighten colt; Charwood Forest-Export Gold colt; Bletchley Park-Fabulous filly; Bletchley Park-Final Impact colt; Scenic-Fine Arcade colt; Don’t Say Halo-Gale Force colt; Lomond Bay-Getting Better colt; Scenic-Glitter Star colt; Rubiton-Go Lady colt; Scenic-Honey Petique colt; Metal Storm-Inception colt; O’Reilly-Irish Flirt filly; Laranto-Khaddad colt; Laranto-Lady Elegante filly; Woodman-Lady Fidelia filly; Rubiton-Lady Icon filly; Grand Lodge-Luna Belle colt; Chanteclair-Medical Gem filly; Serheed-Medic’ Pride filly; Bletchley Park-Meliantha colt; Piccolo-Memphis Magic filly; Metal Storm-Moonrake filly; Dr Johnson-My Satin colt; Thunder Gulch-My Trisha filly; Serheed-On Silent Wings foal; Hennessy-Our Cutey filly; Corporate Raider-Pago Paradise colt ; Don’t Say Halo-Partner Me colt; Bletchley Park-Penny Lane colt; Tayasu Tsuyoshi-Playtoss colt; Second Empire-Princess Sentosa colt; Key Business-Prospect Sky colt; Zedrich/Reverse Pass filly; Metal Storm-Sharika colt; Citidancer-Solo Walk filly; Rory’s Jester-Songs Of Araby colt; Second Empire-Sovereign Lady colt; Corporate Raider-Swift Along colt; Bletchley Park-Talk With Her Eyes colt; Honour And Glory-Terevega filly; Laranto-Tipples colt; Corporate Raider-Todtona colt. (Feb 26) Volksraad Extends Lead Over Zabeel Windsor Park stallion Volksraad has extended his lead in the NZ general sires' premiership in the past week. Chasing back-to-back wins in the premiership, Volksraad's progeny earnings this season are currently NZ$935,435. He now leads arch-rival Zabeel by NZ$102,135. (Feb 26) Windsor Park Stud Leading NZ First Season Sire Race Meanwhile Windsor Park Stud is also poised to claim another champion first season sire title. Windsor Park has previously had the honour of standing champion first-season sires Star Way, Volksraad, Kaapstad and Casual Lies. In the current season, the 2 top positions on the NZ freshman sires' list are held by Tale Of The Cat & Danske, sires who resided at Windsor Park in the 1999 breeding season. Tale Of The Cat (leading first season sire for winners in America in 2002) is in the top spot with progeny earnings of NZ$111,500. Danehill’s son Danske lies 2nd, having produced 2 winners, 2 stakes-placed horses & 2 3rd place-getters from only 6 starters. (Feb 26) Black-Type Double For Waikato Stud And it was 48 hours of unexpected ‘black-type glory’ for New Zealand’s Waikato Stud last weekend, with the Matamata-based operation gaining recognition as the breeder of Critic (by Centaine) who won the Gr1 Family Hotel (1400m) at Otaki at odds of 10-1, & then River Chant (by Danasinga) who registered her first black-type win in the Listed Tracs Bar-Mount Tauranga Classic at Tauranga at 35-1. River Chant’s sire Danasinga (by Danehill) stands at Waikato Stud & has had a successful season with several new black-type winners, including South Island-trained Chestpeak & South African stakes winner Danziga. Danasinga covered 120 mares at stud last spring & continues to be popular with breeders. (Feb 26) Waddell to Represent NZ In Macau Subject to Macau Jockey Club approval, Woodville apprentice Jason Waddell will be Michael Walker’s replacement in the international apprentice jockeys’ series in Macau in May. Waddell is currently 2nd to Walker with 49 wins on the NZ apprentice jockeys’ table & in 4th place overall. Walker is unable to take part in the series due to the obligations of his 3-month Hong Kong riding contract, which begins in mid-March. (Feb 26) Gold Allure Takes Japanese Gr1 Japan’s 2002 Champion Dirt Horse Gold Allure (Sunday Silence-Nikiya, by Nureyev) has won the Gr1 February Stakes, reported thoroughbredinternet.com. The 4YO defeated Biwa Shinseiki (Forty Niner) & Eagle Cafe (Gulch). Gold Allure won both last year’s Japan Dirt Derby & Derby Grand Prix. His granddam Reluctant Guest is a Gr1 winner (Beverly Hills Handicap) & a half-sister to Graded winner Dowery. (Feb 26) US Breeders Cup Winner Skywalker Dead Skywalker, who won the 1986 Gr1 Breeders' Cup Classic & whose champion son Bertrando finished 2nd in the same race in 1993, has died after a heart attack at Arthur Hancock III's Stone Farm in Kentucky. The son of Relaunch was foaled & raised at Stone Farm, where he stood at stud since the 1996 breeding season. He was 21. Hancock told thoroughbredtrimes.com: "Skywalker was a grand individual & very beloved here at the farm. His death was a shock to all of us.” At the track, Slywalker also won the 1985 Gr1 Santa Anita Derby & retired with 8 wins from 20 races. He entered stud at Cardiff Stud Farms in California. Bertrando, one of 40 stakes winners for his sire, set a track record in the Gr1 Pacific Classic & took the 1993 Gr1 Woodward Stakes by 13.5 lengths. He since has become one of the US West Coast's most successful sires. (Feb 26) Like The Prospects To Castle Peak Stud In Canada Like The Prospects, a winning son of Mr Prospector out of Gr1 winner Likeable Style (by Nijinsky II), will stand at Castle Peak Farm near Ottawa in Canada, reported bloodhorse.com. The 6YO is a half-brother to stakes-placed Special Times. (Feb 26) Tagish To Hidden Lake In Virginia Dave Reynolds & Marti Taylor have bought 17-year-old Tagish & will stand him at their Hidden Lake Farm near in Virginia, reported bloodhorse.com. Tagish, a son of Mr Prospector out of champion Waya (by Faraway Son), has sired 6 stakes-placed runners. He formerly stood at O'Sullivan Farms in West Virginia. (Feb 26) Tumbleweed Ridge’s New British Base Multiple European Group winner Tumbleweed Ridge (Indian Ridge-Billie Blue, by Ballad Rock), retired in January after injuring a tendon, has begun a stud career at Elsenham Stud in Hertfordshire. The 10-year-old won 10 races from 58 starts, including the Gr3 Ballycorus Stakes 3 times as well as the 1995 Gr3 Horris Hill Stakes & 1999 Gr3 Prix de la Porte Maillot at Longchamp. Elsenham proprietor David Owen told racingpost.co.uk: “He's a lovely kind horse & we're really happy to have him on board. We're standing him free to approved mares for 2003 because we need some foals on the ground." Elsenham is also home to Silver Wizard; it previously belonged to prominent UK owner Dorothy Paget & is the former base of stallions Risk Me & Bijou d'Inde. (Feb 26) Injured Delago Brom May Be Retired To Stud Australian Guineas winner Delago Brom “has a tendon injury & is likely to be retired to stud”, reported The Daily Telegraph. (Feb 25) Son Of Encosta De Lago To Stud At Hollylodge Victoria’s Hollylodge Thoroughbreds, home of top former racer & current stallion Durbridge, has just secured another stallion for the 2003 stud season. His name is Tuscanos (from Palace Fire), he’s the first son of Encosta de Lago to stand at stud & he’s already arrived at Hollylodge outside Avenel in preparation for his debut season. Retired after only 15 starts from a bowed tendon, Tuscanos was a smart 2YO sprinter who won over $235,000 in stakes & was Gr1 placed when 2nd to Spectatorial in the 2001 VRC Sires' Produce Stakes. Tuscanos is the image of his dam-sire Palace Music, including the big bull neck & white markings. His introductory price this season only will be $3,300. (Feb 25) Telesto To Stand At Tasmanian Stud Tasmania’s Armidale Stud will stand Telesto, son of champion sire Mr Prospector, in 2003 reported racenet.com.au. A winner over 1200m in England, Telesto is out of Gr1 winner Aviance (by Northfields) & is a half-brother to multiple Gr1 winners Chimes Of Freedom & Denon, while his Group-winning half-sister Imperfect Circle is the dam of multiple Gr1 winner & sire Spinning World. Telesto’s 3rd dam Best In Show (by Traffic Judge), America’s Broodmare-Of-The-Year in 1982, is “one of the most outstanding broodmares of the past century”, her descendants including: dual classic winner & sire El Gran Senor & his brother, the Gr1 Dewhurst Stakes winner Try My Best (sire of Last Tycoon): Champion 2YO & shuttle sire Xaar (a great-grandson of Mr Prospector); multiple Gr1 winner Yagli (by a son of Mr Prospector); Gr1 Kentucky Oaks winner Blush With Pride; & in Australia the Gr1 winners Hurricane Sky, Umatilla (by a son of Mr Prospector), Redoute’s Choice & Platinum Scissors. Telesto (foaled in 1999) was trained in England by Sir Michael Stoute & won over 1200m in a career shortened by injury. On the dam-line, Aviance (Northfields-Minnie Hauk, by Sir Ivor) earned a Timeform rating of 111 as a 2YO (wins included the Gr1 Heinz 57 Phoenix Stakes) & 112 as a 3YO. She has had 8 winners from 9 foals to race (2 of them Gr1 winners & 2 Gr1 placed) while 2 of her daughters have already produced Gr1 winners. (This Telesto is a different horse to the Telesto who raced in Australia & is currently standing at Royston Stud in Queensland.) (Feb 25) Success Express Moves To Noble Park Stud Success Express, Australia's leading sire of individual juvenile winners & now ranked among the stars of the breeding barn, will have a new address this season. The son of Hold Your Peace & Au Printemps, has stood his past 2 years at Chatswood Stud in Victoria. This year, however, he will stand beside his much-in-demand son Mossman at Noble Park Stud in Queensland (which was his former home) at a fee of $10,000 plus GST. This year he has 11 individual juvenile winners - 5 more than his nearest rival. And he is 8th on the 2YO list. He also has a solid Golden Slipper chance in Polar Success, currently 5th favourite at 14-1. Incidentally, this current batch of Success Express flyers were concieved while he stood previously in Queensland. (Feb 25) Arc Winner Sakhee Attracts First Season ‘Full Book’ Sakhee, winner of the 2001 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, has a “full book of 80 mares” for his first breeding season, reported racingpost.co.uk. The 6YO, standing at Shadwell Stud for a fee of £20,000 (A$56,000), has attracted high-class mares including: UK 1,000 Guineas winner Harayir; Irish Guineas victor Matiya; French Guineas winner Ta Rib; multiple Gr1 winner Sierra Madre; In The Wings' dam High Hawk; Italian Oaks runner-up Bright And Clear; & Coronation Stakes 3rd place-getter Dolores. (Feb 25) Quinton Urges ‘Culture Change’ To Minimise Jockey Injuries Former top jockey turned trainer Ron Quinton believes the “culture of racing” needs to be changed to alleviate the growing list of rider injuries & fatalities. Following yesterday’s similar call from experienced Sydney jockey Brian York, Quinton believes “intense media pressure & over-zealous stewards have lead to riders pushing the limit of their skills”, reported The Daily Telegraph. Quinton noted that, as well as being able to penalise riders for being too aggressive, stewards also suspend riders for not taking all permissible measures to provide their mount with a winning chance. This is an interpretation Quinton believes is made too liberally: “I have always said that the stewards are too tough on jockeys. The penalties are too tough. The stewards have jockeys operating in a way where you can’t ride a patient ride. The slightest interference & stewards put jockeys out; but the moment they hesitate, stewards say jockeys aren’t giving their mounts the best possible chance. I agree with Brian York. I reckon the media, stewards, owners & trainers have to take some of the blame.” (Feb 25) 4 Wins In 5 Starts For $6,500 Bargain Bargain Buy Of The Week: Country trainer Rado Boljun, based at picturesque Rush Park near Moruya on the NSW south coast, purchased 6YO gelding High Life for just $6,500 at the 2002 Inglis December Thoroughbred Sale at Oaklands in Melbourne. High Life won again at Randwick last weekend, making 4 wins from 5 starts - & close to $50,000 in prize-money - since joining Boljun’s stable. (Feb 25) Danehill-Savana City Yearling Tip For Sydney Easter Sale It was good news at exactly the right time for Tyreel Stud, when Gunnamatta won his 2nd Listed Mornington Cup. Trained on the track by Tony Noonan, the 5YO gelding by Snippets from AJC Oaks winner Savana City, lifted his prize-money to $302,850. Savana City has been a fabulous asset for Tyreel Stud, producing Hong Kong champion Mr Vitality & top mare Rose O’War, as well as the dams of stakes-winners King Of Danes & Citirecruit. “Savana City’s yearling Danehill colt will be one of the stars at Easter 2003,” predicted Inglis marketing manager Melissa O’Gorman. (Feb 25) Sibling To HK Gr1 Winner Also At Easter Sale Equally well-timed was the victory by Ivan Allen’s latest star 4YO Self Flit in last week’s HK$8 million (A$1.752 million) Gr1 HK Classic Mile at Sha Tin. It was Self Flit's 4th win from 9 starts & he has never finished out of the top 3. A half-brother to Self Flit will be offered at the Inglis 2003 Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Prepared by Motto Farm as agent, the colt is by Red Ransom from Pretext, whose only other foal to race is smart HK galloper Quick Speed. (Feb 25) Inglis Graduates Snag 6 Weekend Stakes Wins And Inglis itself was, amid all the eastern seaboard rain, awash with good news as Caulfield & Randwick provided stakes wins for 6 of their sale graduates: Roedean ($50,000 at 2002 Premier Sale) won the $1 million Gr1 MRC Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield. Conspectus ($75,000 at 2001 Easter Sale) won the Listed MRC Schweppes Cup; he was bred by the late John Suduk & offered for sale by Philippa Duncan Bloodstock as agent. Galapagos Girl ($155,000 at the 2000 Easter Sale) won the Gr3 MRC Mannerism Stakes for the Holmes A’Court family (in the maroon & white colours made famous by their Melbourne Cup winner Black Knight); she was bred & offered for sale by Lisa Randall’s Pine Lodge Thoroughbreds. La Bella Dame ($30,000 at the 2001 Classic Sale) landed the Gr2 MRC Angus Armanasco Stakes at Caulfield; she is a product of Don Beard’s Middlebrook Valley Lodge at Scone in the NSW Hunter Valley & the stud will offer a half-brother to La Bella Dame by Danzero at the up-coming Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Athelnoth ($5,000 at 2000 Australian Select Weanling Sale) scooped the Gr2 AJC Royal Sovereign Stakes at Royal Randwick; Athelnoth is another product of Don Beard’s Middlebrook Valley Lodge at Scone. Miss Helterskelter ($105,000 at 2000 Australian Breeze-Up Sale) took the Listed AJC Breeders’ Classic at Randwick; she has already returned $126,820 in prize-money for owners Bruce & Helen Reid. (Feb 25) Inglis Lands 4th Blue Diamond Winner In Succession Roedean’s weekend victory in the Gr1 Blue Diamond Stakes enables Inglis to boast that it has sold the last 4 winners of Victoria’s premier 2YO event. Roedean ($50,000 at the 2002 Premier Yearling Sale), joins previous winners Bel Esprit ($9,000 at the 2001 Classic Sale), True Jewels ($28,000 at the 2000 Classic Sale) & Road To Success ($18,000 at the 1999 Classic Sale). (Feb 25) Inglis Graduate Treble At Happy Valley Inglis graduates also landed a treble at Happy Valley in Hong Kong: Bargain buy Dashing Champion ($9,000 at 2001 Scone Sale) landed the feature Craigengower Cricket Club Challenge Cup; the 3YO gelding by Carry The Crown has now won 2 of 3 starts at the track. Sir Octavius ($130,000 at 2001 Easter Sale) from the powerful John Size stable, became the first of Octagonal’s progeny to taste HK success when the 3YO won over 1200m. Thunder Man ($135,000 at 2001 Breeze-Up Sale), a 3YO by Thunder Gulch from Poetique, scored his first victory for the Lawrie Fownes stable; he’s a half-brother to handy HK runner Snippedydooda & also closely related to class sprinter Solid Contact. (Feb 25) Octagonal 3YOs Land Double In Hong Kong Octagonal wasted no time following-up with a 2nd HK winner when debutant Octa Lucky Star won the opening race at Sha Tin on Sunday. The 3YO is from the Danehill mare Newport Beach, a half-sister to stakes-winner Sir Midas from the ‘Hula’ family of Gr1 winners Hula Chief & Hula Drum. (Feb 25) Coolmore Imports Sire 4 Stakes-Winners Four stallions “originally imported to Australia by Coolmore sired stakes winners” on the weekend, noted racenet.com.au: Honour And Glory, Royal Academy, Dehere & Woodman. Only Royal Academy still stood at the famed Jerry’s Plains property last year, while Dehere now stands at Arrowfield. Honour And Glory sired his first Australian Graded Stakes winner when his 2nd crop daughter Only Glory took the $151,400 Gr2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) at Randwick, her 3rd win in 6 starts. The 3YO filly is the 2nd foal & 2nd winner out of the Rancher mare Range Belle (winner of 2 races in Sydney from a 10-start career. Gr1 winner Honour And Glory (Relaunch-Fair to All, by Al Nasr) made an immediate impact at stud in the US where he was not only the champion first season sire, but also champion juvenile sire. His first crop daughter Caressing won the Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. In Australia, his stud career began with 6 winners from 18 runners (including How About That, winner of the Listed VRC Lady Mayoress' Plate & 2nd in the Gr3 VRC Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes. But after 5 years at Coolmore, Honour And Glory did not return to Australia following the completion of the 2001 breeding season. (We reported yesterday the announcement that Honour And Glory will stand in Argentina during the 2003 Southern Hemisphere season as part of an agreement between Ashford Stud in Kentucky & 4 of Argentina's major studs.) The Mr Prospector stallion Woodman (who entered stud in Australia in 1997, the same year as Honour And Glory) scored with 3YO colt Conspectus, a $75,000 purchase at the 2001 Easter sale who landed the Listed Schweppes Cup. Conspectus, from Woodman’s 2nd Australian-born crop, has started 7 times for 4 wins & a 3rd; he is the latest stakes winner from the Holiday Scene family that includes Denise’s Joy, Euphoria, Joie Denise, Great Lover, Christmas Tree, Amusement Park, Fun For All, Light Up The World, Jewel In The Crown, So Gorgeous & Kenconcarne. Woodman exploded onto the international scene with his first crop born in 1998: at one stage he had France’s best 2YO in France Hector Protector; America’s best 2YO Hansel; & Britain’s best 2YO Mutahid. Woodman has 74 stakes winners world-wide, including 11 Gr1 winners. Woodman did not return to Australia after the 2001 season. The Australian career of Royal Academy looked to be at an end when chopped from the Coolmore roster at the end of the 1999 season. But that coincided with an explosion of stakes winners including Phoenix Park, Quays, Prince Of War, Regal Kiss, Royal Courtship, Tears Royal & Sarson Trail. And when Blue Diamond Stakes winner Bel Esprit emerged from that final 1999 crop, it triggered a recall for the son of Nijinsky, who returned to a book of 141 mares in 2002 after serving half that in 1999. Another member of that 1999 crop is La Bella Dame, successful in the $201,000 Group 2 Angus Armanasco Stakes at Caulfield on the weekend. The 3YO filly is the first foal of the unraced Snippets mare Nobellocove. From 10 starts La Bella Dame has won 5 & finished 2nd twice. Royal Academy has sired at least 78 stakes winners, including 9 Gr1 winners (Oscar Schindler, Val Royal, Bel Esprit, Kenwood Melody, Ali-Royal, Sleepytime, Lavery, Zalaiyka & Carmine Lake). Dehere landed an international stakes double when Galapagos Girl (out of the Century mare Reigntaine) won the Gr3 MRC Mannerism Stakes at Caulfield & Grandiser (from Staremma by Famous Star) took the Listed Reb’s Policy Handicap at his 2nd race start in North America. Dehere, who was the 2nd Leading Sire of North America in 2002, is now the sire of 45 stakes-winners internationally. (Feb 25) Flying Start To 2003 For Collingrove It’s been consistent good news for Victoria’s Collingrove Stud in the first 2 months of 2003: Danzig shuttle stallion Bianconi continued the strong pace he set at both the Gold Coast Magic Millions & Melbourne Inglis Premier Yearling sales with his first crop yearlings averaging $73,375 (including a top of $142,500 for his colt from Tudor Primrose) at the just completed Adelaide Magic Millions Yearling sale. With a 100% clearance on his 4 lots offered, Bianconi’s return was far above his 2002 service fee of $7,700. Collingrove also sold the top lot at Adelaide Magic Millions, a colt by Danehill from the Sir Tristram mare Cherry Garden for a sale record $250,000. And on the track flying filly Rosarino gave Collingrove stallion Perugino (sire of Testa Rossa) his 2nd winner of the Listed Talindert Stakes at Flemington, the imported stallion having also produced previous winner Sudurka (a subsequent dual Gr1 winner of the Oakleigh Plate & Salinger Stakes). Rosarino is the first foal of Gr3 Merson Cooper Stakes winner Rosa’s Joy, a daughter of Collingrove’s greatest sire Rory’s Jester. A $120,000 purchase by John Foote Bloodstock from the Collingrove draft at last year's Gold Coast Magic Millions Sale, Rosarino hails from only the 2nd crop of Perugino bred in Australia (the crop also boasts winners Paint The Stage & Fresh Boy & stakes-placed performer Neo). (Feb 25) Jockey El’Issa Has Conditions Attached To Return Bobby El'Issa's riding future is “in the balance, after a decision by the Board of Racing NSW not to automatically reinstate his licence when he finishes serving a 3-month suspension”, reported aapracingandsports.com.au. Racing NSW directed that El'Issa can ride track-work & barrier trials only until June 30, when licence renewals are due & he can re-apply to ride in races. El'Issa was outed from December 13-March 13 after pleading guilty to having “dishonestly appropriated property in the form of a body protector belonging to another rider” at the Queanbeyan race meeting on November 11. He also pleaded guilty to a charge of “giving false evidence to a stewards' inquiry.” In order to reapply for his licence El'Issa, who has a history of run-ins with officialdom, must also remain under the supervision of trainer Malcolm Johnston. The variation to El'Issa's licence comes as a result of undertakings the jockey had previously made to the Racing NSW Licensing Committee in August 2002 regarding his future conduct as a licensed person. (Feb 25) Queensland Meetings Face Strike Action The newly-formed Queensland racing lobby group, The Racing Industry Participants Group (comprising representatives of trainers, owners & jockeys), has threatened industrial action at Queensland race meetings on March 8 unless the state government provides a massive injection in annual funding. RIPG held a meeting “attended by approximately 100 people at Eagle Farm racecourse & now will seek an audience with Premier Peter Beattie to intervene prior to a meeting between Queensland Racing officials & provincial & country clubs on March 7,” reported aapracingandsports.com.au. The meeting passed a motion to boycott meetings at Doomben, Gold Coast & Toowoomba on March 8 unless the government increases prize-money & abandons plans to rationalise country & provincial race clubs. Spokesman Kevin Vizer declared: "If the Queensland government is not prepared to provide further funding to the racing industry, then trainers & owners will not nominate horses for TAB meetings on March 8. We want prize-money increased to a comparable level to NSW & Victoria." Keynote speakers at the meeting were Vizer, Wayne Purchase from the Queensland Racehorse Owners' Association & Richard Pratt from the Queensland Jockeys' Association. Purchase said it was "incumbent on the government to turn the Queensland racing industry around. Whatever savings have been made have gone into administrative costs. The purchase of the Northern Territory & South Australian TABs has not seen one extra dollar increase in prizemoney. If the government can spend $300 million on Lang Park, surely they can invest $20 million a year on an industry which produces on-going turnover & jobs." Pratt added racing in Queensland was at the crossroads: "There has been a 48% loss of jockeys from this state & hundreds & hundreds of jobs will be lost unless the government acts." However Queensland Racing chairman Bob Bentley replied structural reform of the industry needs to continue before the Government is approached for extra funding & the clubs have been given an opportunity to voice their concerns: “We are listening to what is being said at meetings in the country & fully understand that emotions are running high among those most affected. But we have to make decisions based on current circumstances. We cannot afford to let sentiment compromise the structural changes needed to grow our wagering product & benefit the industry in general." (Feb 25) Catalogues For March Thoroughbred Sale At Oaklands Catalogues for the Inglis Melbourne March Thoroughbred Sale at Oaklands will be available later this week, offering 297 lots including 164 broodmares, 94 racehorses, 8 unbroken stock, one stallion (Famous Nick) & 29 yearlings by popular sires including Rory’s Jester, Spectrum, King Of Kings &Dolphin Street. The sale has been boosted by substantial reductions from Woodlands Stud (22 broodmares), Lynden Park Stud (22 broodmares), Lindsay Park (11 racehorses) & Contract Racing (4 broodmares & 15 racehorses), as well as a dispersal from The Oaks Stud at Whittlesea (6 broodmares). The Woodlands Stud draft includes Beyond Price, a full sister to the dam of recent stakes-winner Pearly Kings, offered with a positive test to Canny Lad. Lynden Park Stud’s draft is highlighted by former stakes-winning juvenile Station Mistress, dam of Play Station (a stakes-winner of 9 races & more than $450,000 in prizemoney); she comes with a positive test to Danzig’s Gr1-winning son Golden Snake in his first season at stud. And Blue Gum Farm has entered metropolitan winner Seaside Attraction, a half-sister to Gr1 winner Pride Of Rancho; she has the added appeal of a Last Tycoon filly at foot & a positive service to Rubiton. The racehorse section features metropolitan performers Admiral Robinson, Bond, Crazy Date, Deputy Head, Marchark & Mawhoob. (Feb 25) Dubai’s Inaugural Super Saturday Draws Top International Horses Dubai’s inaugural Super Saturday, comprising 7 events on March 8 at Nad al Sheba racecourse as lead-ins for the Dubai World Cup meeting on March 29, has attracted nominations from top stables worldwide. Godolphin’s World Series Racing Championship winner Grandera & English multiple group winner Zindabad (including 2002 Hardwicke Stakes) head horses entered for the Gr3 Dubai City Of Gold (in which Grandera finished 2nd to Narrative last year). And Godolphin’s Sulamani, winner of the 2002 Gr1 Prix du Jockey-Club (French Derby), has been nominated to the Gr2 Maktoum Challenge Round III. Emirates Racing Association & World Cup Committee chairman Les Benton commented: "Super Saturday is an exciting concept to provide trainers with an opportunity to give their horses a run at Nad al Sheba leading up to the Dubai World Cup meeting - & looking at the nominations, many have taken up the opportunity." South African trainer Mike de Kock has nominated Gr2 UAE Derby winner Victory Moon for the Al Bastakiya (2nd leg of the UAE Triple Crown) & his champion 3YO filly Ipi Tombe for the Gr3 Jebel Hatta (a lead-in for the Gr1 Dubai Duty Free). Irish trainer Dermot Weld has nominated One More Round for the The Burj Nahaar (lead-in for the Gr2 Godolphin Mile) & Mutakarrim for the Dubai City Of Gold. French-based trainer John Hammond will send 2002 UK Diadem Stakes winner Crystal Castle against top UAE sprinter State City in the Gr3 Mahab al Shimaal (a lead-in for the 6-furlong Gr1 Dubai Golden Shaheen). (Feb 25) Connections Ponder Dubai Raid For Harlan’s Holiday Meanwhile, less than 24 hours after emerging US star Harlan’s Holiday “delivered an explosive victory” in the Gr1 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park, his connections “are debating whether the threat of war in the Middle East is enough to derail plans to ship the 4YO son of Harlan to Dubai for the US$6 million Dubai World Cup” on March 29. "That’s a question we’ll have to answer," trainer Todd Pletcher told thoroughbredtimes.com. "The first factor is how the horse is doing. Then, it will be how things are in the Middle East." Starlight Stable principal Jack Wolf said the decision would be up to Pletcher, but also admitted it would be difficult to pass up the world’s richest race. "It could be dangerous, but you only live once," Wolf declared. "Also, it could work to our advantage if some of the other horses don’t ship for the race because of the situation." Harlan’s Holiday became the first horse in Gulfstream history to win the US$1 million Gr1 Florida Derby & Gr1 Donn Handicap in back-to-back seasons. "He looks great this morning," Pletcher said. "He ate up well & is doing fine. I think he’ll only get better after this race & that he’s probably one of the best 3 or 4 horses racing in this country." Harlan’s Holiday improved his record to 9 wins & 5 placings in 18 starts with the Donn victory. The Ohio-bred also won last year’s Gr1 Blue Grass Stakes. (Feb 25) Grand National Favourite Cops Controversial Ban From Stewards Pre-post betting markets across Britain on the UK’s most famous race, the Grand National, have been thrown into uproar after Davids Lad – 2nd favourite on most charts – was “sensationally ruled out of the big race after trailing in last” in the Paddy & Helen Cox Memorial Newlands Chase at Naas. Stewards ruled that “the racecourse had been used as a training ground for the 9YO & that rider Timmy Murphy had made insufficient effort,” reported racingpost.co.uk. “They hammered the horse, & all those who had already backed him in the Martell Cognac Grand National, with a 42-day ban.” Jockey Murphy was suspended for 7 race days & trainer Tony Martin was fined E1,000 (A$1,840). Davids Lad’s suspension finishes on April 6 - one day after the Grand National. Martin said: "I'll be consulting the owners & we are considering an appeal. Timmy should have been more forceful, but I left it up to him as he knows the horse best.” Davids Lad raced at the back of the field almost from the start & he was losing touch soon after halfway; he plodded on at one pace in the straight but still finished last. (Feb 25) Expanding UK Tattersalls Appoints Greek Representative UK Tattersalls (who last week announced the appointment of Australian-based consultant Rodney Rae as its representative in South East Asia) has appointed prominent owner-breeder Chris Imirziadis as its Greek representative. Athens-based Imirziadis has been involved in racing & breeding in Greece since 1989, & is currently vice president of the Greek Racehorse Owners Union, as well as a member of the Greek Thoroughbred Breeders Association. A property developer & hotelier Imirziadis, 38, is also joint editor of the Greek racing magazine Idioktitis. Imirziadis commented: "Tattersalls is Europe's leading firm of bloodstock auctioneers, already enjoying a strong profile in Greece & I am delighted to be acting as their representative. Greece has experienced significant recent growth in racing & breeding, & as it continues to grow we will be aiming to attract greater numbers of Greek buyers to Tattersalls." Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony added: "Chris' appointment reflects the increasing amount of business we have been attracting from Greece in the last few years. In 2002 Greek buyers were active at every Tattersalls sale except the Houghton & we are looking to build upon this growth with Chris' invaluable assistance." (Feb 25) Keltos To Stand At Alwyn Park In WA One of the world's top gallopers Keltos is coming to Australia & will stand this season at Alwyn Park Stud in Western Australia. A partnership of WA breeders (including De Grey Park Stud, Dawson Stud, Namerick Thoroughbreds, Crathes Park Stud & Key Farm) pitched in to buy the regally-bred & highly regarded European stallion, who will serve 3 seasons in WA. Keltos (by the great producer Kendor from Last Tycoon mare Loxandra) won the prestigious Gr2 Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes in England, beating the Darley sensation & Gr1 winner Noverre. In turn Noverre (who is expected to stand at stud in the NSW Hunter Valley this year) ran the mighty Rock Of Gibraltar to 2 lengths when they met. Keltos retired this year with an international rating of 126 - higher than Northerly & just 2 below the highest rated international galloper Rock Of Gibraltar. Keltos raced 10 times for 6 wins (including a pair of Gr2 victories); he also beat six Gr1 winners during his career. He comes to Australia as the greatest galloping son of Kendor, who is a son of Kenmare - & WA breeders know how good a sire getter Kenmare is. He gave them the runaway WA sire success stories Metal Storm & Tribu. (Feb 24) Newhaven Park Patriarch John Kelly Dies John Kelly, described by The Sun-Herald newspaper as “the patriarch of one of Australia’s great breeding establishments Newhaven Park Stud”, has died after a long illness. Kelly, 86, founded the famous Newhaven Park Stud at Boorowa near Yass in southern NSW, which “became home to a host of champion Australian sires including Wilkes, Vain, Marauding & Luskin Star,” noted aapracingandsports.com.au, tagging Kelly “a revered figure in the Australian bloodstock & racing industry.” Kelly established Newhaven Park as a thoroughbred stud in 1942, after the property had been run as a sheep & cattle station by his family since the 1920s. He imported the legendary stallion Wilkes to stand at Newhaven Park in 1956; Wikes became an immediate success when one of his first yearlings sold was champion race mare Wenona Girl. By 1962-63 Wilkes had displaced Star Kingdom as Australia’s champion sire. His progeny included 89 stakeswinners (among them Vain, John’s Hope, Bogan Road & Vivarchi). “Under Kelly’s guidance the stud grew to boast one of the finest broodmare bands in Australia & built an enviable record on the racetrack with the many top class fillies the stud retained for racing & breeding (including Group winners Visit, Sudden, Parade, Invade, Sun Sally, Worth, Shackle, Specify, Burst & Arborea).” Other top class sires Kelly acquired for Newhaven Park included Imperial Prince, Boucher, Zeditave & Tierce. Newhaven Park sires produced 7 Golden Slipper winners (including 4 bred by Newhaven Park). (Feb 24) $1.34 Million Filly Blitzes Opposition By 13 Lengths Chris Munce piloted $1.34 million blue-blood filly Shower Of Roses to a 13-length blitz of her opposition in the Australian Ladies Variety Handicap (1550m) at Canterbury yesterday. A three-quarter 3YO sister to Octagonal, the filly fetched NZ$1.45 million (A$1.34 million) at New Zealand's Premier sale when knocked down to Eduardo Cojuangco of Gooree Stud. At her only other start, Shower Of Roses won over 1200m at Canterbury on February 12. "All Chris had to do was press the button, it must be like driving a Porsche," Gai Waterhouse's raceday foreman Tania Rouse told aapracingandsports.com.au. "She just flew home. She cost a lot of money, so it's good to see her do so well." Waterhouse said the filly would now take the next step in her campaign - aimed at the AJC Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick - in the Gr2 Surround Stakes (1400m) at Warwick Farm on March 15. (Feb 24) Turform Editor Slams Rock Of Gibraltar’s Top Rating A major controversy has erupted among form experts in Britain, following the declaration by Turform editor Alan Hewison that he “is convinced the international handicappers have under-rated High Chaparral & Hawk Wing, & that they did so to boost stable companion Rock Of Gibraltar.” Hewison has put High Chaparral on the same 128 mark as The Rock in his just published Turform Irish Flat Racing Annual 2002, while Hawk Wing is next on 125. Rock Of Gibraltar is also on 128 in the International Classification, but High Chaparral is on 126 & Hawk Wing on 123. Hewison told racingpost.co.uk: “The international handicappers raised Rock Of Gibraltar 4lbs after the end of the season in an almost unprecedented move. I’m not sure how much of this was due to weight of public opinion, but there was a lot of clamour to make Rock Of Gibraltar the leading horse of the year.” (Feb 24) Sportingbet & Aust Racing Board Exchange Strong Opinions Darwin’s Sportingbet supremo & former leading Sydney bookmaker Michael Sullivan has fired a warning at Australian racing administrators, in reaction to an Australian Racing Board proposal “to extract a product fee from corporate bookmakers based in the Northern Territory.” Sullivan told The Sydney Morning Herald: “Ironically this arrives on my desk the same day Betfair kicks off betting here & it isn’t returning one cent to the Australian racing industry. What are the ARB & the major race clubs doing about betting exchanges? Sportingbet is on track to pay $6 million in tax this financial year, we are contributing nearly $200,000 to the Darwin Turf Club & are currently employing 50 people. We are sponsoring a Magic Millions race in Perth & wanted to do the same in South Australia at an inflated cost but they knocked us back.” The ARB recommendation that corporate bookmakers pay a 1% product fee based on turnover is to be submitted to an up-coming conference of state Racing Ministers. ARB chief executive Andrew Harding told The Sydney Morning Herald the product fee recommendation is “nothing more than fair & reasonable. If it is not 1%, what should it be? Taking their line, they are happy to make a token payment. Fresh air & concerts in the park are free; for anything else in life, if you use it you must pay for it.” Sullivan retorted that any imposed product fee would amount to Sportingbet paying out another $4 million, which is “totally unacceptable” to the publicly-listed UK-based company, threatening that “the UK Board has instructed me that any increase in tax take will result in moving the business off-shore, no ifs or buts. Any product fee should be based on profit, not turnover, & be revenue neutral.” But Harding “scoffed at the revenue neutral line” & said it was “a euphemistic way of saying: I don’t want to pay any more that I am now.” Stay tuned! (Feb 24) TwoFlys Betting Exchange Opens On Aust Sports Meanwhile the TwoFlys Betting Exchange (www.twoflys.com) launched on the weekend its “person-to-person betting exchange dedicated to Australian interests, kicking off with markets on the World Cup Cricket, AFL, Super 12 & NRL . . . with regular racing markets following shortly.” TwoFlys was the first service to introduce the P2P exchange betting concept to Australians, in a successful trial during the 2002 Spring Racing Carnival. In Auckland Derek Handley, managing director of Feverpitch (the NZ company providing the software behind the betting exchange) announced: “Invaluable feedback & encouragement was obtained from punters (during the 2002 tirals) & we’ve taken this into account for now going live, & continual enhancements to the software will be introduced in coming months. We have little doubt that TwoFlys will soon be offering the best odds available on Australasian events & races.” Handley noted: "The TwoFlys business model recognises the industry is entitled to a product fee from those conducting betting on its events & races. As such TwoFlys intends to set aside a sum to be paid to the Australian racing & sports industry. From the outset, TwoFlys will be operating through a company based in England; therefore it is up to the Australian industry to provide a model for income distribution to feed back into the industry, as none exists at present for offshore operators. We are convinced that the betting exchange phenomenon is here to stay & that the racing industry in particular needs to embrace it in order to maintain its share of wagering revenue. As a software developer, Feverpitch is in a position to share our technology with the industry. Launching the TwoFlys exchange demonstrates that we have faith in our own technology for the Australian market.” (Feb 24) Olympic Express Takes Gr1 HK Gold Cup Trainer Ivan Allen’s emerging star Olympic Express (formerly Ecclesiastical in Britain) overcame adversity to grab the HK$8 million (A$1.752 million) Gr1 HK Gold Cup (2000m) - the 2nd leg of HK's Triple Crown series - at Sha Tin yesterday. In a pulsating climax, Olympic Express (ridden by Eric Saint-Martin) defeated expatriate Australian trainer John Size’s Dr More (ridden by Shane Dye) by a neck, with a neck further back to Elegant Fashion (trained by another expatriate Australian David Hayes). Owned by HK Jockey Club steward Larry Yung, Olympic Express (a 5YO son of Bishop Of Cashel) has now won HK$31.1 million (A$6.8 million) after his 4th Gr1 triumph from just 11 starts; he previously took the HK Classic Mile, HK Derby & HK International Mile. Allen is now aiming Olympic Express at the Gr1 Audemars Piguet QEII Cup (2000m) & Gr1 Singapore Airlines International Cup (2000m), the 2nd & 3rd legs of the World Series Racing Championship. (Feb 24) Size & Dye Land 8th Victory For Century Star On the same Sunday card at Sha Tin, the pain of Dr More's defeat was eased for trainer John Size & jockey Shane Dye when 6YO Century Star edged out Anabatik to claim the HK$2 million (A$440,000) Silver Lining Handicap (1200m). Century Star was winless from 25 outings prior to making his debut for trainer Size on March 30 last year. Since then, the Exit To Nowhere gelding has won 8 times from 11 starts accumulating HK$5.83 million (A$1.27 million) for owner Yip Kwok-wai. (Feb 24) McEvoy Lands Moonshell Mile In Dubai Kerrin McEvoy continued his winning Dubai stint with the Godolphin stable when he piloted Sunday Silence filly Danuta to blitz her more fancied stable-mates & grab a sensational 7.5 lengths victory in the US$200,000 Moonshell Mile on the dirt track at Nad Al Sheba. A US Belmont Park winner in 2002, Danuta (Sunday Silence-Polish Style, by Danzig) jumped straight to the front & led through-out to defeat fellow Godolphin runner Ashraaf, with Brazilian-bred Prep winner Escania 3rd. Godolphin’s Simon Crisford indicated Danuta is now aiming for the US$250,000 UAE 1000 Guineas on March 13 & US$250,000 UAE Oaks on April 4, followed by a possible American campaign. McEvoy (who won aboard Naheef for Godolphin in the Listed Al Rashidiya a fortnight ago) also rode 2 2nds on the program. (Feb 24) Rodd Makes UAE Riding Debut On the same Dubai program, leading Queensland apprentice Michael Rodd made his United Arab Emirates riding debut with 3 unplaced mounts. (Rodd is currently visiting Dubai as a prize for finishing Champion Queensland Apprentice last year.) He rode two horses for expatriate Australian trainer John Sadler: Go On My Son (4th) & Nessuno (15th). He also rode Glenmorangie (10th) for trainer Richard A