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    Observations: Oct. 8, 2018

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    • The starter lets the field go with one rider seemingly not even in the saddle? What will happen about that?
    • https://www.bayleys.co.nz/listings/commercial/northland/kaipara/5331-state-highway-14-dargaville-1053969  
    • Acquarello upon winning the Group 3 Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton on Wednesday. Photo: Ajay Berry (Race Images South) Patiently handled mare Acquarello has the looks to match her rich pedigree and she’s now added winning black-type form to her record to boost her future broodmare value. Trainer Tony Pike identified Wednesday’s Group 3 Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton as the ideal race for the five-year-old and she duly obliged with a commanding victory off the front. The Trelawney Stud-raced daughter of Written Tycoon had been in fine touch ahead of her southern venture and she delivered in style, courtesy of a fine ride from Michael McNab. “She’s been competing in very strong Rating 75 races up north and this looked a good chance for her to get black type,” Pike said. “I was sure she would run well and there’s still a fair bit of improvement to come deeper into the season.” Acquarello was only opposed by six rivals and McNab had no hesitation in allowing the mare to bowl along at the head of the affairs. She was travelling easily into the straight and kicked strongly 200 metres off the post to put the race to bed and coasted to the line with a length and a-half to spare. “It looked like a race with no tempo, so Michael had the option to lead and they got it pretty soft,” Pike said. “She’s a beautiful type of mare and she’s only going to get better, it’s exciting to have one like her.” Successful in four of her 12 appearances, Acquarello was purchased on Trelawney’s behalf by Andrew Williams Bloodstock for $400,000 from the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale where she was offered by Sledmere Stud. Her dam is the Al Maher mare River Pebbles who is a half-sister to the multiple stakes winner Kulgrinda and the family of Group One winners River Dove, Captivant and Crown Prosecutor. Acquarello provided McNab with a satisfying Group victory early in his return from injury and he had been in a confident pre-race mood. “She’s a beautiful mare and there didn’t look to be a lot of speed and she flew the lids,” he said. “She got into a nice rhythm and it was never in doubt, I thought she was the best mare in the race.” Southern hope Third Decree raced three back on the outer and finished off bravely for second ahead of Goldie’s Chance with Tanzanite Rose making late ground for fourth. Horse racing news View the full article
    • Cool Aza Rene winning the 2YO (1000m) at Riccarton on Wednesday. Photo: Ajay Berry (Race Images South) Family connections make Cool Aza Rene a filly close to Te Akau’s heart and the youngster again did them proud at Riccarton on Wednesday. The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained representative maintained her unbeaten record for the Matamata stable when she comfortably justified her hot favouritism with Marantelli Bet. She had made a successful debut last month at Otaki, with the third placegetter there Abbakiss a subsequent winner at Tauherenikau, in the hands of Craig Grylls and they were again too good on the middle day of the New Zealand Cup carnival. “She’s a nice filly and just loves being a racehorse,” Bergerson said. “She’s got plenty of condition for a young horse and hadn’t missed a beat since Otaki, she stuck her neck out and really tried hard.” Cool Aza Rene is a daughter and the first winner for former star Te Akau juvenile Cool Aza Beel, who claimed champion two-year-old honours after victories in the Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) and the Listed Karaka Millions (1200m). He was prepared by then head trainer Jamie Richards before the son of Savabeel’s retirement to Newhaven Park. The New South Wales nursery bred Cool Aza Rene and David Ellis secured her from their draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale earlier this year for $55,000. Her dam is Irene, a daughter of Cool Aza Beel’s associate sire Xtravagant who was the two-time Group One winner of the New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and NRM Sprint (1400m) in Te Akau’s colours. Irene is an unraced granddaughter of the former champion Australian juvenile Hasna, winner of the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) and the Group 1 AJC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m). Cool Aza Rene began cleanly at Riccarton to sit outside the leader before taking control 200m from home and proved too strong under hands and heels riding to the post. “She’s the ultimate professional and behind the gates she was walking around like a kid’s pony,” Grylls said. “When she got to the front she was stargazing around a bit, but she was very good.” Next month’s Group 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) at Trentham is now a possible target for Cool Aza Rene. The Andrew Carston-prepared Miss Ziggy jumped smartly to make the pace and fought on gallantly to finish runner-up and the daughter of Brazen Beau is in the mix for a crack at the Listed Karaka Millions (1200m). Quisiera gave another honest account of herself to finish third and trainers John and Karen Parsons may now give the Sweynesse filly a break. Horse racing news View the full article
    • The Racing Victoria Limited Group (RVLG), incorporating Racing Victoria (RV) and Racing.com Media (RDCM), has released its 2024 Annual Report incorporating its statutory reported results for the 2023-24 financial year (FY24) ending 30 June 2024. RVLG has reported a statutory net deficit of $11.8 million for FY24, compared to a net surplus of $0.2 million in the previous financial year. The FY24 reported result includes one-off industry support costs relating to the Southside Racing merger, and other non-recurring costs. Excluding these costs, the underlying net deficit was $3.0 million versus an initial budgeted deficit of $12.1 million that had pre-empted changes in the wagering market and to the industry funding model, including the transition from the expiring Victorian Wagering Licence and VICTAB Joint Venture (JV). Whilst wagering turnover declined by 10.2% to $7.9 billion, Victorian thoroughbred wagering remained the number one wagering product nationwide. Total turnover in FY24 was down from the peak of $9.1 billion in FY22 but above pre-COVID levels of $7.1 billion. A number of factors contributed to the decline in wagering turnover, including cost-of-living pressures, high interest rates, increased competition from other sports, a reduction in advertising and promotions from Wagering Service Providers (WSPs), and additional wagering regulatory measures introduced by Government. However, stronger than average WSP gross margins drove race fields product fee income and helped to offset the turnover decline. The three-code Victorian Racing Industry (VRI) was also able to execute a settlement during the year, to exit the historic VICTAB JV on more favourable fixed terms. Consequently, total wagering revenue in FY24 increased by 1.0% to $364.4 million. Overall, RVLG’s total revenue from operations decreased by 3.1% to $536.8 million, due in large part to the planned cessation of certain Government funding programs ahead of the transition to the new industry funding framework. Partly offsetting this was a $12 million gross reduction in overall RV operating expenditure. Following the impacts of significant inflation, contract indexation and annual wage review, the net reported reduction in RV operating expenditure was $7 million – a 5% improvement on FY23. RV Chief Executive, Aaron Morrison, said: “After 11 consecutive surpluses, we budgeted for a deficit in FY24 given changing dynamics around the industry funding framework and Australia’s wagering market, and the net underlying result has been better than forecast. “In summary, the RV Executive and Board took the decision to prioritise the maintenance of returns to participants and other industry and stakeholder funding in the face of declining revenues and changes to our industry funding model. “In connection with this, there was a significant realignment of race programming and prizemoney, and we executed on various planned spending cuts across the entire group to help manage the expected deficit. “Through sound management over an extended period our net asset position is $185.4 million which means that the business is well placed to absorb this planned deficit in the short-term, whilst continuing to prioritise returns to the industry through prizemoney and bonuses and ongoing investments in key areas like welfare and infrastructure. “After a material reduction in our operating costs through FY24, we remain focused on further optimising business costs, capitalising on potential efficiencies, and ensuring that we maximise returns on industry funds across the entire group. “We are nearing the conclusion of a highly successful Spring Racing Carnival where crowds have been on the rise. Now is more important than ever to use our industry assets and media business to continue to elevate the promotion of Victorian racing to a wider and more mainstream audience. “This Spring Racing Carnival has shown that racing has a major role to play as a social and economic contributor in Victoria and with that comes the opportunity to continue to grow the sport and return to a more favourable financial position in the near future.” Horse racing news View the full article
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