Daily News Wrap

6 min read

Racing to resume in Britain

Racing in Britain will resume as scheduled after a six-day shut-down despite four new positive tests to equine influenza in horses at Newmarket.

The sport has been on hold since last Thursday, after three cases of the highly contagious virus were identified at the yard of Grand National-winning trainer Donald McCain in Cheshire.

Hopes of a resumption this week appeared to fade late on Sunday night when it was revealed four positive tests had been discovered at Simon Crisford's stable in Newmarket.

But the BHA says racing will return on Wednesday as scheduled amid strict biosecurity protocols

Major weekend cards are scheduled for Ascot, where the Ascot Chase is the feature, Haydock, which will host the Grand National Trial, and Wincanton, where the Kingwell Hurdle is the headline attraction.

EI is endemic in the UK and Ireland where horses are vaccinated.

Pinn gives it away

Talented Taranaki apprentice Wiremu Pinn has walked away from a potentially lucrative career.

“I just got sick of it and was not enjoying it. I was doing stupid things and making bad decisions,’’ the 20-year-old said.

“I was getting frustrated really quickly and I know I need to mature a bit more.”

Wiremu Pinn

Pinn has taken a job working on a dairy farm near Rotorua and his decision has left his former employer Allan Sharrock stunned and disappointed.

‘’He just left without saying a word and it took eight days for him to contact me, but at least he’s done that now,’’ Sharrock said.

“He has walked away from his employment and I am bitterly disappointed, not only for me but also everyone who has tried to help him. But it’s his decision.”

Pinn said his early success had been too much to bear. ‘’When I got all those winners early on I was put on a pedestal and I just didn’t handle the pressure.”

Arcadia Queen to miss autumn

Star Western Australian filly Arcadia Queen (Pierro) will miss the autumn, with her owner/breeder Bob Peters electing to give the 3-year-old a spell.

Arcadia Queen was a last start winner of the G1 Kingston Town S. at Ascot, and has grown significantly in her break according to Peters.

But the leviathan owner, renowned for his patient approach to his horses, has told Racenet that he would wait until the spring before putting her back to the track.

“Our carnival is just a little bit too tight to make the autumn. I’ve done it before and it hasn’t come off. I got away with one, Delicacy, but she was abnormal,” Peters said.

“So we’ve kept Arcadia Queen at home and it’s probably been a blessing too because she’s grown and developed a lot in the two months since she raced.

Peters said he didn't have any firm plans for an eastern states campaign for Arcadia Queen.

Arcadia Queen winning the G1 Kingston Town S.

Major sponsorship deal

Racing Queensland is confident it will be in a position to announce widespread sponsorship deals with Tabcorp in the coming months.

Tabcorp has confirmed a major sponsorship deal with the Brisbane Racing Club and RQ chief executive Brendan Parnell expects it will be the first of several in the state's racing industry.

"RQ is thrilled to see Tabcorp jumping out of the stalls with a significant sponsorship," Parnell said.

"Under the agreement struck by Racing Queensland with Tabcorp last year, our codes can expect to prosper further with additional announcements on the horizon.”

The TAB will become the naming rights sponsor of the BRC's three premier Group 1 sprints at Eagle Farm and Doomben as well as becoming a presenting partner of the Brisbane Racing Carnival.

The partnership will run until June 2020 and includes naming rights to the Group 1 Doomben 10,000, Kingsford Smith Cup and Stradbroke Handicap, and naming rights to other select Group and Listed races.

Twilight trials a test for Flemington

The VRC will take a major step in its bid for twilight racing with two trials set to be staged after Saturday's G1 Black Caviar Lightning S. meeting at Flemington.

The VRC has indicated it would look to stage twilight racing in the next two years, with a view to some meetings being held under lights at the famous Melbourne track.

The finishing post at Flemington

A major test in the viability of the concept will occur this week, with the VRC's Executive General Manager - Racing Leigh Jordon confirming to Racenet that trials will be held into the setting sun this Saturday.

"We are doing this to test running twilight meetings through the summer period," Jordon said. "We've been looking at ways of improving what we do, particularly on New Year's Eve, and the option of twilight meetings is something we'd like to explore."

"The setting sun is the major issue as far as racing itself is concerned - we've had assistance from jockeys and the trials on Saturday will take us a step closer to establishing the best way forward."

Jockeys to be quizzed in betting enquiry

Racing Victoria stewards will speak to Tasmanian-based jockey Craig Newitt as part of an ongoing betting enquiry.

Newitt confirmed to RSN that he had been asked to front stewards in the next two weeks as stewards step up what has been described as a 'wide ranging' investigation.

Newitt, who won the G3 Hobart Cup aboard Eastender (Tickets) on Sunday, was quoted as saying he wasn't worried about answering any questions.

"Racing Victoria Stewards and the Tasmanian Office of Racing Integrity have been conducting a joint betting investigation over recent months. That investigation is ongoing and thus we won’t be commenting on the subject of our inquiries at this time," a Racing Victoria statement said.

Waller pair chasing Derby

The Chris Waller-trained pair of Botti (NZ) (Jakkalberry {Ire}) and Nobu (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) are scheduled to arrive in their land of birth on Wednesday to prepare for next month’s G1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby.

They will further their preparations for the Ellerslie Classic in Saturday’s G2 Schweppes Avondale Guineas.

A half-brother to the ill-fated multiple Group 1 winner Lion Tamer (NZ) (Storming Home {GB}), Botti has won two of his eight starts and last time out was third at Rosehill.

Fourth in that event was Nobu, a half-brother to the dual Group 2 winner Saavoya (NZ) (Savabeel), who has won once from his eight appearances.

Aussie jockeys head to G1 features

Australian trio Damien Oliver, Hugh Bowman and Tommy Berry are headed to Hong Kong for Group 1 rides on Sunday.

Hugh Bowman

The trio has been granted approval to ride at the Hong Kong Gold Cup meeting at Sha Tin, with Bowman to ride Furore (NZ) (Pierro) in the G1 Hong Kong Classic Cup up against Oliver on board Solar Patch (Stratum).

Berry is looking to maintain his perfect record aboard pin-up galloper Pakistan Star (Ger) (Shamardal {USA}) in the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m), having won the G1 Champions & Chater Cup aboard him last May.