New era to begin
Lindsay Park Racing announced on Thursday that JD Hayes will officially join brother Ben in partnership effective Monday, June 21.
“As we eagerly anticipate the next racing season led by Ben and JD in partnership, the Hayes family thank Tom Dabernig for his tireless efforts in the training partnership since 2014 and wish him all the very best of success in his future endeavours,” a Lindsay Park statement read.
“In these changing times and in 2021 with the younger generation now paving the way, we feel the future is here, for we have planned for it.”
Well-bred filly wins
Tangier (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}), a daughter of blue hen mare Essaouira (Exceed And Excel) broke through to claim her maiden success at Wyong on Thursday.
The James Cummings-trained 3-year-old finished 1l the better of the Mark Newnham-trained Angela Sistina (All Too Hard) in the 1600 metre event.
A Godolphin homebred, Tangier is a full sibling to G1 Golden Rose S. winner and Darley freshman sire Astern. She is also a half-sister to the three-time Group 1 winner Alizee (Sepoy), G2 Silver Slipper runner-up and Newgate Farm sire Tassort and the Group 3 placegetter Mogador (Lonhro).
O’Brien slams Cup regulations
Leading European trainer Aidan O’Brien has confirmed that last year's G1 Cox Plate runner-up Armory (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is unlikely to return to Australia this spring in the wake of Racing Victoria’s Melbourne Cup deaths review.
O’Brien said it wasn’t viable for international runners to undertake the state's stringent new safety protocols and pre-quarantine testing regimes, saying “very few horses are likely to pass” a nuclear scintigraphy scan.
“So really it’s probably impossible for us to go there with horses if that is one of the new things this year,” O'Brien told ITV Racing following Thursday morning's running of the G1 Prince Of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot.
“Very few horses we would ask to do that nuclear test. You really only do that with a horse that’s injured or has some kind of an injury you can’t find.”
Macdonald injured
Hall of Fame trainer Leon Macdonald will undergo x-rays on his hip after being injured in a trackwork incident at Morphettville on Thursday morning.
The 79-year-old was treated by paramedics and taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital after being knocked off balance when a horse slid into him.
Neasham fined, Zaaki disqualified
Trainer Annabel Neasham has been fined and her dual Group 1-winning gelding Zaaki (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) disqualified from his second-placed effort in the G3 JRA Plate at Randwick in April after returning a positive pre-race swab to anti-inflammatory Meloxicam.
In a statement issued by Annabel Neasham Racing on Thursday, the stable accepted full responsibility and was subsequently fined the sum of $7000.
“I am extremely disappointed to get this news, not only because it undermines the standard of integrity and professionalism the stable represents and that everyone in the team strives to achieve, but also for Zaaki’s owners who are great friends and supporters,” Neasham said in a statement.
“Meloxicam is a widely used veterinary-prescribed therapeutic medication that is given to horses as an anti-inflammatory, and often given post galloping. Zaaki was routinely given this treatment after his final Tuesday gallop, as is common practice for many stables. Subsequently, the results have been returned from his wins in Queensland were negative.
“I have the utmost respect for the Racing NSW Stewards and their integrity process and accept full responsibility for this unfortunate result. It is a steep learning curve and to mitigate future risk I will be reviewing all our processes to ensure this does not happen again, which will include lowering our dosage level of meloxicam.”
Crucial talks to commence
The Melbourne Racing Club is set for crucial meetings with state treasury officials that could shape the decision to sell Ladbrokes Park Sandown and redevelop Caulfield.
The club was told in meetings with Racing Minister Martin Pakula yesterday that the impact of a developer tax is not as great as they fear and that the treasury believes the tax will not be the floated figure of $200 million.
Pakula said the Victorian government would support a sale if it was in the best interest of the wider racing industry.
“It’s difficult because the land is all owned by the MRC, not by the government and not by the industry,” Pakula told RSN927.
“There would need to be an arrangement between the racing industry and the MRC where any possible sale could benefit the industry as a whole and Racing Victoria would need to be signed up for that. So, if it got to that point, I certainly wouldn’t be opposed to it.’’
Moody to train promising stayer
Pakenham-based trainer Peter Moody has been entrusted with exciting staying prospect Incentivise (Shamus Award) after prominent owners Brae Sokolski and Ozzie Kheir recently acquired a 50 per cent stake in the 4-year-old.
Current trainer, owner and breeder Steven Trega will remain in the ownership of the gelding who turned heads when winning his last start at Eagle Farm by 9l.
“I have fallen in love with the horse this preparation and after his last start, I basically pursued him,” Sokolski told Racenet.
“I think he is one of the most exciting and progressive stayers in the country and in the context of an environment this year where there will probably be a paucity of international raiders and horses acquired from Europe, it is probably the right time for a local stayer to put his hand up as being a major chance in a staying race here.”
McNeil sidelined
Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Jye McNeil will remain sidelined for the next three to four weeks after undergoing minor ankle surgery earlier this week.
The 26-year-old who returned from a three-week stint in Queensland on Sunday said the surgery was to remove metal from an incident in 2016 that saw McNeil suffer a fractured lower left leg and dislocated ankle.
"There is no good time, but I felt if there is a quiet time it's probably at the moment, so I bit the bullet, as I have held off for four years," McNeil told Racing.com.
Jye McNeil
Boost for country tracks
The NSW Nationals Party and Racing NSW were on course at Scone on Thursday to announce $67 million in State Government funding for regional racecourse infrastructure.
The Scone Race Club was allocated $20 million to assist with the development of projects such as the construction of a polytrack and on-course stabling.
Boss’ big call
Champion hoop Glen Boss has declared rival jockey James McDonald to be the best rider he has ever seen.
Boss said the 29-year-old “doesn’t know how good he is” and is only just getting started.
“James McDonald is probably the best jockey I have ever seen. I think potentially he is going to break all the records,” Boss said in a video interview with Ladbrokes.
“He has got unbelievable rhythm, incredible balance and incredible timing. He has got something that people can’t teach.”
James McDonald
Awards set for September
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing has announced that SENZ will partner the 2021 New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards to be held in Hamilton on Sunday, September 12.
The awards recognise the country’s top performers, as voted by an independent panel of industry experts.
“We are excited to have SENZ on board for the Awards and having worked closely with SEN in Australia over the past 12 months we are looking forward to their impact on the New Zealand market,” NZTR CEO, Bernard Saundry, said.
Kiwi hoop banned
Jason Waddell, one of New Zealand’s top jockeys has been banned for 10 years after threatening to kill a racing official.
Waddell also posted an insulting social media message about another leading racing figure and threatened him in a phone call.
The 35-year-old has ridden more than 700 winners during his career with 13 successes at Group 1 level. His major wins include the 2020 G1 NZ Oaks, 2018 G1 NZ Derby and the 2010 G2 Blamey S. at Flemington.
