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The draws have been made for the two $500,000 3YO slot races at Addington Raceway on Show Day (Friday, November 14). In the Hill, Lee and Scott THE VELOCITY Marketplace has got the early advantage, drawing two with  arch rival Got The Chocolates at 6 (the outside of the front row). Australian visitor Fate Awaits is at 5, with Rubira one the second row. Of the four fillies in the Majestic Horsefloats THE ASCENT the two highly-rated Australians Gatesys Gem and Tracy The Jet have drawn one and three with Tarragindi and Rogue Hero the two geldings to start off the front row. In both THE VELOCITY and THE ASCENT there will be six off the front and four off the second row. Both races will be over 1980 metres.       View the full article

A big mishap last start hasn’t halted Stonybreck’s (Tavistock) preparation for the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m) and he’ll lead the three-pronged attack for Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson in Wednesday’s $250,000 feature at Riccarton. A six-time winner on synthetic tracks, Stonybreck has brought that form onto the turf this campaign in the South Island, headlined by a dominant five-length romp at the Christchurch venue in late September. The focus was firmly set on the TAB Mile and he lined-up against many key rivals over 1400m last month only to knuckle badly as the gates opened and dislodge top hoop Opie Bosson in the process. Despite the missed run, Te Akau’s South Island-based assistant trainer Hunter Durrant couldn’t be happier with the gelding and has him on top ahead of stablemates Perfect Scenario (NZ) (Iffraaj) and Cognito (So You Think) in the race. “He’s come through it really well, he hasn’t shown any sign of that affecting him and he’s probably had more life in him since, his work has been the best I’ve ever seen it,” Durrant said. “His work on Saturday was great, he’s bouncing around like a two-year-old so I’m expecting a bold run. “He’s probably my pick of the three.” Durrant isn’t discounting the chances of the latter pair, with Perfect Scenario returning for his second shot at the feature after finishing a close third under the topweight last year. He will contend with a 60kg impost again this time, albeit with a far better spread across the handicap than 12 months ago. “He’s been pretty unlucky this prep, he’s had a few runs where things didn’t go his way and last start he just got back and it’s hard to make up ground when you’ve got 60kg-plus,” Durrant said. “He hasn’t had a big gut buster so I’m expecting a bold run as always, he’s always thereabouts and his work this morning (Monday) was good. He came jogging off the track and we couldn’t have him in better order, he’s just an old marvel.” Cognito has been a two-time winner this campaign and defeated all but an impressive Sir Albert (NZ) (Savabeel) last start in the Listed Sothy’s Spring Classic (2000m). “He was really good on face value there, he probably just peaked on the run a bit at the finish so stepping back to a mile is the key,” Durrant said. “I’ve kept him fresh and he drops in weight again, so he’s another that I’m expecting a bold run from.” Te Akau has made the juvenile event on the middle day their own in recent years and will aim for a fourth-straight win with Zaharias (NZ) (Super Seth), who finished second on debut to Silhouette (NZ) (Armory) at Trentham. Durrant said the Super Seth filly has shown maturity beyond her years since arriving in his care and is expecting a good showing in the Elmwood Tavern Two-Year-Old Premier (1000m). “She’s like an older horse, she’s got a great mentality and the North Island team have done a great job preparing her, she’s come down in great order,” he said. “You wouldn’t think she’s a two-year-old, I think she has a bright future based on that mentality. “I rode her myself on Saturday with the blinkers on and they’ve really improved her so I’m expecting a bold effort.” Last-start winner One True King (King’s Legacy) rounds out their representatives at the meeting, favouring the Majestic Horse Floats Premier (1600m) at MAAT grade over Saturday’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m). “Up to the mile I think is the key for him, he’s a big type with a big stride and I think he’ll see out the mile really well,” Durrant said. “He’s getting better and better with racing, he’s lightly tried but he’s taking it all in his stride.” That leaves stablemates He Who Dares (NZ) (Snitzel) and War Of Silence (Snitzel) for the Guineas, the former coming off a fourth placing in the Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) while the latter was luckless into third in the Gr.3 War Decree Stakes (1600m). “He Who Dares flies down on Wednesday, my understanding is that he’s going really well,” Durrant said. “I think War Of Silence is quietly going under the radar, his run was really good in the War Decree and Opie believed that if he wasn’t caught wide, he wins. “He’s improved since, his coat looks great and his work was outstanding. He hasn’t always been the greatest trackworker, it’s taken him a bit to work things out, but he knows his job now.” Durrant confirmed that both Court Of Appeal (NZ) (Eminent) and I’m A Dirty Rascal (Galileo) are on track for the Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) at that meeting, having taken different paths to the race. I’m A Dirty Rascal lies a $6 equal second-favourite after winning the Road To The Jericho (3000m) last start, while Court Of Appeal has bounced out of a tough run for sixth in the Listed Metropolitan Trophy (2600m) on the first day of the carnival. “She (Court Of Appeal) was just caught wide but has come through it really well,” Durrant said. “She had a buck and a squeal coming off the track this morning which is always a positive sign. “We’ll press on to the Cup, you wouldn’t think she’d had a run as of Monday afternoon. “I’m A Dirty Rascal was super last start, it was a very long time between wins for him there but he’s trained on really well. He had a gallop on the course proper last week and has been out to the beach, just doing a few different things to spark him up. “I couldn’t be happier with him.” Meanwhile, Riccarton has seen the last of Captured By Love (Written Tycoon) this spring after her dominant win in the Gr.3 Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) on Saturday. “It was a real full circle moment, getting her Group One here last year then going to Australia, and now coming back where she was pretty dominant after doing it the hard way,” Durrant said. “She was just too good for them, she’s such a good left-handed horse and loves this track. “She flies home (to Matamata) this afternoon and will have a nice freshen-up.” View the full article

It might not be the Cup they were aiming for this spring, but trainers Peter and Shaun McKay are looking forward to heading south to Christchurch this week to contest the Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) with their handy stayer Wolfgang (NZ) (Puccini). The seven-year-old gelding was campaigning towards the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), but they abandoned that mission following three unplaced runs in Melbourne. He returned to New Zealand and made an instant impact, winning under 62kg in the Waikato Cup Prelude (2400m) at Te Rapa on Labour Day, which sealed his ticket south to contest the New Zealand Cup. “Things didn’t quite go right for him in Melbourne, but it (New Zealand Cup) is a good Plan B, and it is a nice race to try and chase,” Peter McKay said. “He had a really good kick on the corner (last start), but his fitness gave out a little bit. He did spend eight days in a paddock in Melbourne, and he was only back here just short of a fortnight, hence it was a pretty good win carrying the weight. “A couple of horses in behind him have gone a good race next start in the Group race (Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes, 2000m). “He is going to cart a bit of weight, which is to be expected, but we are very happy with the way he is going into the race.” Wolfgang is proven over two miles, having won the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham earlier this year, and McKay is looking forward to stepping him out over the distance once more this weekend. “The further he goes the better he is,” McKay said. “But there are some nice chances in the race, so he is going to have to be at the top of his game to carry 59kg and beat them.” Closer to their Matamata base, the father-and-son training partnership will head to Te Aroha with a handful of runners on Tuesday, including Giacomo (NZ) (Puccini), who will ready for next week’s Gr.3 TAB Counties Cup (2100m) with a run in the Nicola Hudson Thames Harcourts Gold Star (2200m). “We were going to wait and run him in the Counties Cup, but we will give him this run tomorrow and if he can go close or win, we can go in a little more confident into the Counties Cup,” McKay said. He is also looking forward to lining up last-start runner-up Los Santos (NZ) (Tivaci) and Scaredoheights (NZ) (Preferment) in the Harcourts Te Aroha (1600m), while Just Call Me Johnny (NZ) (Eminent) will bid to return to winning form in the Celebrate Xmas 26 November & 7 December (1600m). “I have been very happy with Los Santos’ last two runs, but he is still learning,” McKay said. “It is a bit of a close back-up, but we just wanted to hopefully see if he can clear maidens and then look forward to a three-year-old race in three weeks’ time. “Scaredoheights’ first run was a little ordinary, but it was a good run last start. She is learning and she is a nice stayer in the making. If she can run in the first three or four tomorrow, she is stepping in the right direction. “Just Call Me Johnny was a little bit disappointing last start, but I had two runners that day and both went poorly, and one came out two days later and just about won. I will just put it down to a bad day out. “He was working up well before that and we have been happy with him after. He has got a good draw (1) and hopefully he can go close tomorrow.” View the full article

The Radiant One (NZ) (Darci Brahma) ran home well to finish runner-up behind Captured By Love (Written Tycoon) in Saturday’s Gr.3 Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton, and trainer Robert Dennis is hoping she can go one better when she returns to the Christchurch track on Wednesday. The Ascot Park horseman was rapt with her weekend effort and said she has come through the race well and will back-up in the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m). “That was her target when she went out for a spell at the end of last prep. To run a great second to a very good horse was very pleasing,” Dennis said. “She is staying at Anna Furlong’s stable, who has been a great host, and she seems to have come through it well, I don’t need to do much with her in between times.” The Radiant One will carry just 53kg on Wednesday and will jump from barrier five, and Dennis believes she will handle the step-up to a mile. “The weight helps and she has got a good draw in barrier five,” he said. “It never really looks like she has seen out a strong mile, but she is older now, is more mature, and the way she rounded it off over 1400m on Saturday, the mile doesn’t look like it is going to be a problem.” On the undercard, Dennis will also line-up Sacred Dream (NZ) (Sacred Falls) in the Wuhan Jockey Club Premier (2000m) and Roc ‘N’ Ready (NZ) (El Roca) in the Halls Cold Chain Logistics Three-Year-Old Premier (1400m), with both runners also taking last-start second placings into the midweek meeting. “Sacred Dream went within a half-head of winning last time,” Dennis said. “It’s good to see her back to her best on top of the ground. She has come through it really well. She is an awesome horse that goes out and tries her best every time. Bruno (Queiroz, jockey) sticks with her, which is good. “It was great to see Roc ‘N’ Ready back to form last time as well. She is a three-year-old filly with a lot of ability, but she still trying to work things out. “We served it up to her a bit as an early season two-year-old and then backed off and gave her a bit of time. She looks to have come through that last run really well and has taken a lot of confidence from it. She is marching around the stable like she owns the place now. Hopefully she is going to be a good chance on Wednesday.” Looking ahead to the weekend, Dennis is set to have a few of representatives on the final day of the New Zealand Cup Carnival at Riccarton on Saturday, but the weather will dictate what number that will be. “If it does rain, On Song will go for the 75 1200m, otherwise we have The Cluster in the 75 1600 and Stolen Magic in the 82 2600m.” Dennis is currently up in Auckland inspecting two-year-olds ahead New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready To Run Sale, which commences at their Karaka sales complex on Wednesday. “The vendors all seem pretty upbeat and there seems to be enough people around,” Dennis said. “Hopefully we are a chance of picking up one or two that we will have available for syndication.” View the full article

Yes they have already taken a couple of hits on this one.  AUSTRAC is funded by their own success and they have already nailed the low hanging fruit.  Eventually they'll start losing legal talent like most Government agencies.

Good to hear that the mediation remains ongoing with 12 months available now to settle matters. I have a hunch that AUSTRAC may be the one to end up with even ore egg on their face here.

Court date set in late 2026 for Entain/AUSTRAC case – The Straight thestraight.com.au   The case brought to the Federal Court by financial regulator AUSTRAC against global wagering giant Entain has been scheduled to begin on November 30, 2026. While there is still an opportunity for the civil case to be settled via mediation before it reaches the Federal Court hearing, Justice Moore last week ordered that two weeks be set aside for a hearing from November 30 next year. That would mean that the uncertainty that has hung over Entain’s Australian business, which is headlined by the Ladbrokes and Neds brands, would extend for at least another 12 months, unless the case is resolved beforehand.https://bitofayarn.com AUSTRAC, which brings the action under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing Act, must submit its evidence by April 10 with Entain’s evidence submissions not due until August 6. https://bitofayarn.com Entain entered its defence to AUSTRAC’s revised statement of claim last month, saying it would be prepared to contest the claims in the Federal Court should a settlement of the matter not be achieved. Should it go to court, it would be the first time that the AML/CTF Act would be tested by an online betting provider. A previous case in 2017, involving Tabcorp, only involved a contest of the financial penalty, not the finding itself. https://bitofayarn.com The Entain action began when AUSTRAC issued its initial application to the Federal Court in December last year. AUSTRAC chief executive Brendan Thomas said at the time that the agency considered there were systemic failures in Entain’s approach to its AML/CTF obligations. “AUSTRAC’s proceedings allege that Entain did not develop and maintain a compliant anti-money laundering program and failed to identify and assess the risks it faced. We are alleging this left the company at serious risk of criminal exploitation,” he said. “Money laundering is often a symptom of serious criminal activity, including fraud, scams and corruption, all of which have equally serious effects on our communities,” he said. AUSTRAC’s case centres on the use of 17 “high-risk” accounts, after an investigation found Entain allowed thosecustomers to spend more than $152 million without proper checks and balances in place.  https://bitofayarn.com However, AUSTRAC altered its statement of claim in August, removing references to Entain as a “high-risk remittance provider”. It was discovered that the regulator’s own rules excluded wagering operators from liability in that category. https://bitofayarn.com Responding to the new statement of claim, Andrew Vouris, chief executive of Entain Australia and New Zealand since June, acknowledged past failings, but said it had followed the external advice it received at the time. “We sincerely regret that our old program didn’t meet expectations. We followed expert advice at the time but, looking back, we recognise the old program missed the mark,” he said. “We’ve acknowledged our shortcomings, taken responsibility, and spent the last two years learning from them and fixing them.” Vouris described Entain’s new approach to compliance as “fundamentally transformed…. underpinned by a compliance-first culture – to “win, but not at all costs”. Entain faces the possibility of fines in the hundreds of millions plus associated legal costs should it fail in its defence in the Federal Court. In 2017, Tabcorp was fined $45 million in the Federal Court for breaches of the AML/CTF Act with the penalty and not the charges determined in court. AUSTRAC has previously brought action to court against Crown, which paid $450 million in penalties, and SkyCity, which paid a $67 million penalty for breaches of the AML/CTF Act.

Competitive bidding continued throughout the day Sunday as the Book 4 section of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale opened Sunday with a pair of weanlings by Yaupon leading the way. For the session, 267 horses grossed $10,837,500 for an average of $40,964 and a median of $30,000. The average was up 14.70% and the median was up 20.00% from last year's corresponding session when 270 horses sold for $9,642,400 and the average was $35,713 and the median was $25,000. With 58 horses reported not sold, the buy-back rate for the session was 17.85%. It was 20.35% a year ago. A colt by Yaupon (hip 2054) consigned by Grant and Tracy O'Shaughnessy's Serendipity Farm brought the session's top price when selling for $290,000 to Al Jawzaa General Trading LLC. “We felt pretty good about him because he had 33 vets and 129 looks,” Tracy O'Shaughnessy said Sunday evening. “We were told he was one of the nicer ones today, so we were feeling pretty confident.” Serendipity Farm consigned the weanling on behalf of breeder George Bates, who purchased the colt's dam, Gypsy's Feather (Munnings), for $20,000 at the 2022 Keeneland January sale. The farm also consigned the colt's full-brother who sold for $300,000 at last year's Keeneland November sale. “I think this guy probably had a little more leg,” Tracy said. “But overall, I think they were almost identical.” The Big Bear Bloodstock pinhooking partnership made the second highest bid of Sunday's session, going to $250,000 to acquire another colt by Yaupon (hip 2247) from the Legacy Bloodstock consignment. The Spendthrift stallion was also represented by the highest-priced filly of Sunday's session with Buena Madera purchasing hip 1938 for $140,000 from Scott Mallory's consignment. Yaupon currently sits atop the freshman sire rankings with 25 winners and seven stakes winners. “He looks like he has the numbers and they look to be fast,” Grant O'Shaughnessy said of Yaupon's foals. “They are well balanced with plenty of leg,” Tracy added. “They all seem to have that same kind eye–that's what I've noticed with these guys anyway–and a good brain.” The session topper was one of six to sell from the Serendipity consignment Sunday. The group also included a filly by Taiba (hip 2250) who sold for $85,000 and a colt by Arcangelo (hip 2107) who sold for $80,000. “Everybody is still here,” Tracy said. “We sold a few others that exceeded expectations for us. We had an Arcangelo that sold really well and a Taiba who made about twice as much as we thought she'd make. We heard that comment a lot, that the weanlings in general are just bringing crazy money. And that's just carried on into Book 4.” Grant agreed that the strength of the market through its first week had a trickle down effect as buyers who got shut out through the first six sessions were active into Book 4 Sunday. “It's been very busy. There is a lot of activity,” he said. “The nice horses are going for such high dollars. You have to be cognizant of the fact that, especially pinhookers, you can't go paying crazy money because you have to factor in that you have to try to make that money back next year. I think the market is going to be buoyant into next year, but again, who knows?” Hidden Brook Farm purchased the two top-priced mares of Sunday's session, going to $220,000 to acquire the 4-year-old Ella Elizabeth (Take Charge Indy) (hip 2009) from the Glendalough at Dromoland consignment and returning to that same consignment to acquire She Caught My Eye (Violence) (hip 2226), in foal to Domestic Product, for $170,000. Hidden Brook purchased five head Sunday for $620,000 and was the session's leading buyer. “We are just looking to upgrade the broodmare band at the farm,” said Hidden Brook's Sergio de Sousa. “We are looking for  good-looking mares with a bit of pedigree and hopefully in foal to the right sire, so we can just keep trading.” Ella Elizabeth is a full-sister to graded stakes winner Take Charge Paula (Take Charge Indy), the dam of multiple stakes winner Long Neck Paula (Uncle Mo), and she sold in foal to Uncle Mo's son Golden Pal. “It's a live family,” de Sousa said of the mare's appeal. “We liked the ones that we had by Golden Pal and we like the mare physically. She was a really, really pretty mare. So hopefully she will produce a nice foal.” Of Ella Elizabeth's price tag, de Sousa said, “We were outbid on a few mares before, like everybody else. So we felt like, for the right one, you have to stretch a little bit to buy something good-looking that you don't mind looking at every day.” Hidden Brook was also active as sellers Sunday and of the market into Book 4, de Sousa said, “The mares need to be good physically and in foal to the right sire. If the two match, you did really well. The foals have been the same. It was very strong, but you still had to vet and look decent enough. And then the market was there for it. It's competitive, which is good. And hopefully it will continue.” The Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale continues through Tuesday with sessions beginning each day at 10 a.m. The post ‘Everybody is Still Here’: Yaupon Colts Lead Action at Keeneland Sunday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

How does being a member of a Club make a difference?  The Club model has been broken for decades aka Rugby Clubs, RSA's, WMC's. Those that have survived amalgamated and changed their business models.