Chief Stipe

Group I-winning trainers label Synthetic track unsafe Colin Little described the Pakenham Synthetic track as unsafe on Sunday. Photo: Darryl Sherer. Article Author Brad Waters 9:14AM22 July 2019 Safety concerns stemming from significant kickback from the track prompted a pair of Group I-winning trainers to pull horses out of Sunday’s Pakenham Synthetic meeting. Stewards granted Caulfield trainer Colin Little permission to scratch the favoured runner Peko from the second last race of the day less than 20 minutes before the scheduled start time. The withdrawal of Peko prompted significant betting reductions but Little told Racing Victoria the Pakenham Synthetic track was not up to standard for safe racing. “I’ve scratched the horse because I think the track is unsafe,” Little said. “I’ve been a disciple of this track, it’s been through a lot, but it has gone pear-shaped.” Australian Derby-winning trainer Pat Carey scratched Habesha on behalf of the owner 27 minutes before the last race of the day. The stewards’ report noted Carey also withdrew his charge because of “his concerns regarding the condition of the synthetic surface and the kickback being experienced”. The Pakenham Synthetic track held four races on Sunday after the first six races of the day were jumps events conducted on the venue’s turf track. Pakenham’s Synthetic course will host another nine-race card on Tuesday.

As far as I know on-course punters betting off-course don't benefit the club in any way. Retaining people on course to eat and drink more is as simple as providing amenities and prices commensurate with the local pub!

On Line holds off his challengers to claim his first win on Sunday. Odds-on favourite On Line did not let his backers down after he posted a convincing win courtesy of another textbook ride from champion jockey Vlad Duric on Sunday. The O’Reilly three-year-old was stepping up to the mile after his closing head-second to Quadcopter in a Novice race over 1400m last Friday week. Eased back down to Restricted Maiden company in the $75,000 Infantry 2017 Stakes (1600m), On Line vindicated trainer Michael Clements’ decision to back him up within nine days with a solid three-quarter length win from Forever Win (Ben Thompson). Duxton (William Pike) took third place another short head away. Backed down to $8 favouritism, On Line clocked 1min 36.1secs for the mile on the Long Course. Raced by prominent Thai outfit Falcon Racing No 7 Stable, On Line was opening his account after coming close with two seconds at his previous three outings. Clements was obviously delighted his little gamble has paid off, especially on an individual who had given good vibes from Day 1. “We’ve always been wanting to get him up to the mile. Backing him up from last week was a question mark, but he’s such a big strong horse that I thought he could take it,” said the Zimbabwean-born mentor. “At the start, he took a bit of time to get going, but once Vlad got him up and travelling, he was fine. “The mile was not really a concern, especially with the inside barrier. I thought he’d be okay.” Duric was on the other hand a little worried about barrier No 1, but once he had On Line on the bit and coasting behind leader and longshot Champagne Finale (Joseph Azzopardi), the two-time Singapore champion jockey could relax better. Loath to be stuck behind a fading horse, Duric popped On Line off the fence at the 500m and once they straightened up, they just went whoosh hard up against the rails. While On Line did fade a little late, they were never really threatened by the closing duo of Forever Win and Duxton. “He was in the right race, but there was a question mark on his inside gate, how I would have to navigate him early,” said Duric. “He was also backing up from last week, but he got the job done. He wanted the mile and a bit further down the road.” The Falcon Racing No 7 Stable has already pocketed around $70,000 in stakes money from On Line’s record of one win and two seconds. View the full article

Wecando scores back-to-back wins in Race 7. It’s been a long time between drinks for talented apprentice jockey Amirul Ismadi, and the thirst quencher could not have come on a more auspicious occasion than Singapore Derby day. The brakes had indeed been slammed on the win counter for the Ipoh-born rider since Spur Me On on May 5, but riding Wecando (NZ) (Per Incanto) for his master Stephen Gray in the $70,000 Chase Me 2012 Stakes, a Class 3 race over 1400m on Sunday, he was bouncing back into the winner’s enclosure. Riding the rails from the start, Amirul bided his time on the previous three-time winner by Per Incanto until the gap presented itself as the weakening leader Crown Gift rolled off at the top of the straight. The better-fancied China Horse Club pair of Nationality and Karisto were still in the vicinity but were not pinging as expected. Wecando could not ask for more as he kept making a beeline for the post. The China Horse Club duo had a last-ditch attempt but Nationality and Karisto could only settle for the placegetting spots, separated by an identical margin of a half-length each. The winning time was 1min 23.53secs for the 1400m on the Long Course. “It’s been quite some time since I visited the winner’s circle,” said a relieved Amirul at the lead-in. “I’m really thankful to the boss and Mr Chen (owner of Wecando) who supports the stable with a couple of good horses. “Wecando was at his first start in Class 3, I thought it would be a big task for him, but I’m proud of what he has done. “I really didn’t expect him to run so well. He can progress through his grades.” Gray, who part-owns Wecando, was pleased as punch his stable apprentice jockey has found the line after such a long drought. “It was a beautiful ride by Amirul. I’m really pleased for him as he’s had a bit of a lean run,” said the Kiwi handler. “I told him to just stick at it, stick at it. He’s a good boy and a good rider. “I was a bit concerned by the step-up in class for the horse. He picked up eight points and was running in a good field, but he won a nice race in the end.” A last-start winner in a Class 4 Division 2 race over 1400m on June 15, Wecando was bringing up his fourth win in nine outings and more than $165,000 in prizemoney for the Elaine Chen Stable. -STC View the full article

The Racing 20 is novel. Given most of the punting is off-course this might attract more revenue as it will detract from the flood of Ozzie races that we get between NZ ones. You might find some of the jockey's complaining though! My understanding is that NZ is not totally in control of it's raceday scheduling as there are TV tradeoff's with the Aussie jurisdictions.

QUEENSLAND harness racing has the horse it so desperately needs. It well-known the Queensland industry has been through some tough times, but Colt Thirty One is a star pacer they can all unite around and who can fly the flag for the state around Australasia. Potential turned into performance when he stormed to victory in the $250,000 Group 1 Blacks A Fake at Albion Park last night (Saturday). And it was a buzz to see so many locals trackside, sporting Colt Thirty One caps, and cheering loudly and he finished over the top of some of Australia’s best pacers in race record time of 1min53.7sec for the gruelling 2680m. “It’s fantastic to win the race, particularly with a four-year-old against the older horses, and I think it’s a true sign of even better things to come,” owner-breeder Kevin Seymour said. “To win the race tonight in race record time shows you how good the horse will be in the future. “I was hoping to take him to America to race on the Grand Circuit there, but my wife Kaye has overruled me. She said he’s a Queensland horse and he’s staying here to represent Queensland and race in Australia. “He’ll have a short spell now and then get ready for the big races down south.” Colt Thirty One appreciated going back to his sit-and-swoop racing style after being beaten when bustled to lead in last week’s Group 1 Sunshine Sprint. It was certainly a hotly contested Blacks A Fake with Sunshine Sprint winner Ohoka Punter blasting out from a wide draw to lead and holding out challenges from the two favourites – first Our Uncle Sam then Tiger Tara – in the early and middle stages. It was obvious with a lap to go the leaders were sitting shots and swoopers Colt Thirty One and Alta Orlando came from a mile back to fight the race out. Tiger Tara’s effort to be beaten just 9.5m in sixth spot was huge, while Our Uncle Sam (beaten 29.5m) and Ohoka Punter (beaten 31.2m) dropped right out. X X X MARK Purdon not only posted his 100th Group 1 training win aboard Self Assured in the Queensland Derby, but he snared a Group 3 pick-up drive win on the night as well. Purdon drove Darrel Graham’s Kiwi import Bill Haley to an narrow and upset win in the 4YO Championship. Bill Haley is still owned by NZ by Jay Abernethy and the move to Queensland has been fruitful with five starts netting three wins. Another impressive win on the night came from David Thorn’s NSW raider Expensive Ego, who did plenty wrong and worked hard on his way to a slick win in the Group 1 Qbred Triad final for two-year-old colts and geldings in a sharp 1min52.9sec mile rate for 1660m. X X X THE Chris Alford show rolled on again at Melton’s feature meeting last night (Saturday). Alford landed both Group 2 Australian Gold 2YO Championship finals, teaming with the exciting filly Treasure for Emma Stewart and Sahara Sirocco for popular husband-and-wife team Gary and Debbie Quinlan. Sahara Sirocco upset Stewart’s buzz youngster Mirragon on his way to an eight-metre win in a brisk 1min53.9sec mile rate. Treasure made it seven wins from nine starts with an easy win in 1min54.9sec mile rate for 1720m. Stewart jagged four wins on the night, including the speedy Phoenix Prince scoring easily in the free-for-all. The other eye-catching win came from Craig Demmler’s emerging Somebeachshadow, who posted a slick 1min52.1sec swooping win in the Group 3 Winter Championship final. View the full article

Robbie gets Matua Tana home. Recently-engaged Canterbury horseman Robbie Close was in the winner’s circle on Friday night, but not where you’d think. Rather than his usual haunt, Addington, Close was back at his original home track in Auckland, winning behind Matua Tana at Alexandra Park. Close and fellow ‘Cantab’ Jonny Cox are on a working holiday in the north for a month looking after the sizeable team of Bernie Hackett and Michelle Wallis, who train Matua Tana. “They went to the Calgary Stampede in Canada and are now down in America, I think,” said Cox, who brought a handful of his own horses north, too. Close has a longtime association with Hackett and Wallis and is very familiar with their stable and training style. “It’s a little bit warmer than down south, but a lot more rain. “But Bernie and Michelle have a very nice house that I’m staying in to make it easier.” Matua Tana, bred and co-owned by Burnham’s Ben Smith, is a half-brother to ill-fated champion youngster Kahdon and closely related to the immortal Lyell Creek. He joined Hackett and Wallis in Waiuku after racing for Paul Nairn on his annual West Coast pilgrimage at Christmas. After a couple of impressive workouts, he went out well-supported by punters in his first two northern starts, but let the side down with costly early errors. He was favourite again this week but Close got him round in one piece, ultimately leading to a very comfortable and impressive five-length win. “He’s quite a nice horse in the making,” said Close soon after hosing the giant son of Love You down. “You have to chase him the first hundred metres and then take a hold of him for the next hundred but once he’s balanced, he’s fine. “He’s just big and lanky and will keep getting better with time. “Once he learns what it’s all about, I can see him making open class; he’s a very good stayer.” ****** Team effort behind Akarana Prince win. Tim Vince was quick to defer the credit for the maiden win of Akarana Prince on Friday night. The son of Auckland Reactor capitalised on a cushy lead against a moderate field to win comfortably in the hands of Brent Mangos, one of three driving wins on the night for him. The horse had proved problematic at times and Vince’s partner, Sheryl Wigg, who is also a co-owner, had been key in getting him heading in the right direction. “It’s all Sheryl’s doing, this win,” said Vince post-race. “I just have my name in the book and will claim the trainer’s percentage,” he quipped. Akarana Prince found a field of promising two and three-year-olds a bit too hard to handle seven days earlier, but appreciated the drop in company this time. “Last week was a bridge too far for him, but that race tonight suited him. “He’s got plenty of maturing to do, so he can go out for a spell now.” Wigg described the Auckland Reactor gelding as “silly” and always very keen early on. A stint with Andre Poutama in Pukekohe also helped the horse. “We sent him to Andrew for a month because we couldn’t stop him from pulling. “He really did a lot for the horse and sent him back in good shape.” Vince and Wigg, who have 14 in work at the Kumeu track at present, rounded out the night by claiming Destined For Heaven for $4,000 out of Logan Hollis and Shane Robertson’s stable. View the full article

It may not just be how Franco Santino travels in the running which could decide his fate in the Rangiora Winter Cup on Sunday. The Nathan Williamson trained and driven pacer drops massively in class for the 2600m handicap after clashing with U May Cullect in his last start in the Uncut Gems Classic at Addington. Franco Santino disappointed Williamson with his run for eighth behind his freakish provincial counterpart. The trainer-driver put the horse’s below par run down to the horse not handling travelling from Invercargill to Christchurch well. And that is his main concern ahead of Franco Santino returning to Canterbury on Sunday. “We were a little bit disappointed with his run at Addington,” Williamson said. “I think his run at Invercargill fresh up was a good run going forward and we were quite happy with him.” “The big concern was he didn’t travel particularly well.” “Being a colt he got himself quite worked up.” Williamson has put a different travel routine in place in an effort to get Franco Santino to settle better on his return trip to Canterbury. “We are going to travel through the day before and just try to keep him as relaxed as we can.” Williamson has absolutely no concerns about what order Franco Santino will be in when he sets off for Rangiora. The horse has thrived since his last run at Addington. “I am really happy with the horse,” the trainer-driver said. “He is in a really good space and his work has been great.” The Rangiora Winter Cup conditions looks to have given Franco Santino a big winning chance. The pacer is clearly the highest rated horse in the event and starts from the 10m mark. “It sets up well, the small fields should help him,” Williamson said. “They can be quite tactical, but he is quite versatile.” “He can sit off them and sprint pretty good or he can do a bit of work and can still stick it out.” Nimah Franco looks one of Franco Santino’s main rivals on the strength of her good last start second behind A Bettor Act at Addington. The Terry and Glenys Chmiel trained mare has the manners to be able to pinch a handy break on Franco Santino at the start. Jay Tee Tyron and Doitson finished third and fourth, respectively, behind Nimah Franco in their last starts. They, too, look strong chances in Sunday’s feature. View the full article

Arna Donnelly. Arna Donnelly capped off her career-best season with another double at Alexandra Park on Friday night. The win of Bella Veloce in the night’s feature, the $25,000 Franklin Country Cups Final, ticked her stable’s seasonal earnings over $400,000 for the first time, eclipsing her previous best by nearly $200,000. And the win of Bella Roza a couple of races later took her to 33 victories for the year, third amongst exclusively North Island trainers behind only Tony Herlihy and Barry Purdon. Naturally she has been blown away by the results this term. “It’s been an absolutely fantastic season – quite surreal, actually. “Support from so many owners, all over the world, including America, has made this happen. “I’m just so grateful to them and my loyal staff.” Donnelly was sent Bella Veloce by her good friends, Terry and Glenys Chmiel, after the horse had won one race in Canterbury for them. Three wins have followed for his owners, Glenys Chmiel and fellow Cantabrians, Barry Smith, Murray Keir, John Nish and Russell Crossen. “He’s the perfect little tradesman – he’s got gate speed, he’s good from the stand and he relaxes well. “I thought he was a top four chance tonight but when they started going at each other up front, I started to think we might have been half a chance of winning.” In the hands of regular stable reinsman, Scott Phelan, Bella Veloce snuck up the passing lane to win in a competitive finish over veteran Imajollywally and the back-marker, Mogul. A solid mid-race tempo, thanks to a duel between M T Pockets and Red Reactor, ensured those from off the speed would have the chance to get in to the race late, and so it proved. Even so, Phelan needed plenty of luck to get the winning run – he was four back on the markers at the half-mile marker. “You need a little bit of luck sometimes and ours came when the horse in front of us (All Yours) moved off the markers in to the one-one,” he said. “We managed to track in to the passing lane at the top of the straight and the horse did the rest.” Donnelly isn’t sure where she’ll go next with the former southerner, but expects it will get a lot harder for him now. “Being a $25,000 race, they’ll probably whack him with 10 points so I’m not sure. “We’ll just enjoy the win tonight and then sit down and reassess things.” It was Phelan’s first win in a month – the last also coming on Bella Veloce – after he and good mate Jay Abernethy took a few weeks off to go on a cruise with their partners. “Never again,” he joked. “It was non-stop eating and drinking for two weeks. I put on six kilos. “I’ll be going to the gym every day next week to make up for it.” View the full article

MARK Purdon’s 100th Group 1 training triumph marked the arrival of his next superstar. All who watched Self Assured roar through four stunning Queensland Winter Carnival wins were convinced he’s poised to become the sport’s next big thing. As if last week’s narrow but mesmerizing South-East Derby win wasn’t head-spinning enough, Self Assured raised the bar again with the first of what should be many Group 1 wins in last night’s (Saturday) $100,000 Group 1 Queensland Derby. Self Assured used a good draw to lead, but copped plenty of pressure, most notably from Lochinvar Art down the back straight, but still left his rivals standing in track record time. Unbeaten in six runs, he smashed the race record and Self Assured’s 1min54.2sec mile rate for the 2680m was only 0.5sec slower than they ran in the Group 1 Blacks A Fake – a Grand Circuit race – on the same night. Just as he did the week before, Self Assured smashed the clock with closing splits of 53.8 and 27.1sec. “I was a little bit worried (when the pressure came on). Either one of those horses, you could’ve let go, but he’d worked so good during the week I didn’t want to take any risks,” Purdon said. “I was a little bit concerned when we straightened for home, but when I pulled the plugs he went into another gear. “He’s a really good horse and he showed that tonight.” Self Assured, the latest All Stars’ gun to be owned by Australian Jean Feiss, is not Breeders Crown eligible so it’s spell time now. “Heads to Melbourne with Princess Tiffany and Jesse Duke, then onto to Auckland where he will agist and have a bit of a break with a view to having him back in November for the support races at Cup time. It’ll be a.8/27 nice introduction to Cup class racing for him.” The All Stars’ also grabbed third and fourth in the Derby with Jesse Duke (third) and Our Princess Tiffany (fourth) and that pair now head to the Breeders Crown. The run of Lochinvar Art to finished second after powering the pressure on Self Assured down the back straight in a 26.7sec split was enormous and he looks the horse to beat in his Breeders Crown division despite a long season. View the full article

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Group One performer Endless Drama will spearhead Cambridge trainer Tony Pike’s Hastings Spring Carnival team. Despite constant speculation over the past few months, Cambridge trainer Tony Pike is adamant he is no closer to confirming whether he will establish a satellite stable in Australia next season or not. Pike admits the buzz around the venture has ramped up in recent weeks but while he is considering his options, nothing has been put in place as yet. “I’ve been questioned about the situation a fair bit in the last three months but at this stage there is nothing to report,” Pike said. “It is an option we have been thinking about for a wee while but, to be honest, I haven’t even looked at any potential properties yet. “To make the move you need the right set-up and until we find a property that is suitable it is all just wishful thinking. “I guess if we were going to go anywhere it would ideally be in New South Wales somewhere but Queensland could also be a possibility. “At this stage I’m just concentrating on getting our spring team ready for the new season.” Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) placegetter, Endless Drama will spearhead Pike’s team for the Hawke’s Bay Spring carnival, with the rising eight-year-old entire holding nominations for both the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) and Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m). “He (Endless Drama) has come back from his Queensland campaign in great order and looks ideally suited to those races at Hastings,” Pike said. “He had a week in the paddock in Queensland after the Stradbroke and then another week off when we got him back home. “He’s a big gross horse who we couldn’t afford to give too much of a break and he has been working along slowly since he has been back in the stable. “He will kick-off in the Foxbridge Plate (Gr.2 1200m) at Te Rapa and then go to the Tarzino from there.” While Pike’s dual Group One winning sprinter Bostonian will miss the Hastings carnival in favour of either a Melbourne or Sydney spring campaign, he is looking forward to the prospects of two of his talented rising three-year-old fillies in Loire and Kali as they prepare for a tilt at some of the early spring classics. “Bostonian won’t be going to Hastings as we favour taking him to Australia instead,” he said. “We are just working on whether he will go to either Melbourne or Sydney at the moment. “We have some lovely young horses coming through including both Loire and Kali who impressed towards the end of the season. “They will both trial at Te Teko on August 6 and then we will assess where they are at from there. “The 1000 Guineas (Gr.1 1600m) at Riccarton is the main aim for both of them and they will take a similar path to get there. “There are some nice races at Hastings during the spring carnival for them including the Gold Trail Stakes (Gr.3 1200m) so that will be the initial focus.” View the full article

Exciting galloper More Wonder is ready for a break-out season in 2019/20. Trainer Graeme Rogerson believes his talented galloper More Wonder is ready for a break-out season in 2019/20. The Mossman gelding won twice during his three-year-old campaign but looked unlucky not to register a victory at the highest level, finishing in the top five on four separate occasions at Group One level. “I think he is a very good horse who didn’t get a lot of luck in those bigger races,” Rogerson said. “He probably should have won a Group One but the way he is coming up for his new campaign, I think he will be able to rectify that. “I got the feeling something wasn’t quite right with him towards the end of the season and when we had him checked out, he needed a minor operation to remove a chip off a fetlock. “He has had that cleaned up and looks a million dollars.” Rogerson, who prepares the gelding with wife Debbie and grand-daughter Bailey under their Team Rogerson banner, will adopt a patient approach with his charge as he eyes the three Group One features during the Hastings Spring carnival, which kicks off on August 31. “We’ve got him nominated for all three of the Group One races at Hastings so that is what we are working towards with him,” he said. “He will most likely trial in August and then we will go from there. He won’t be starting in the Foxbridge Plate (Gr.2 1200m) at Te Rapa so we will look at something else for him.” While Rogerson is looking forward to getting More Wonder back on the track, he also has high hopes for his rising two-year-old half-brother by Tavistock, who has excelled in recent jump-outs at Rogerson’s Tuhikaramea property. “I think the Tavistock half-brother to More Wonder is a very very nice horse,” he said. “We have had a couple of jump-outs at home and he has done everything right. “He’s coming along nicely so he will be one to watch when he gets to the track.” Rogerson was also thrilled to put a win on the board for jumping legend Ann Browne, when Raisafuasho took out the maiden steeplechase at Te Rapa on Saturday. “It was just fantastic to get that win for Ann as she is very close to our family,” Rogerson said. “We’ve had a lot to do with Ann and her late husband Ken over the years so I really wanted to put that win on the board. “He will be set for the Pakuranga Hunt Cup (4900m) in late August and then the Great Northern Steeplechase (6400m) after that. “Steeplechasing looks to be his forte now so if we could win either of those races, that the Browne’s dominated so many years, it would be a fairy-tale result.” View the full article

Des Friedrich (left) and Robbie Hewetson have been employed to help with the racing management of a state-of-the-art racecourse at Hohhot, the capital of Inner Mongolia. A couple of New Zealanders are at the coalface helping develop an exciting new venture in China. Des Friedrich, who has a wealth of Australasian experience in thoroughbred administration, and Robbie Hewetson, a former assistant trainer, have been employed to help with the racing management of a state-of-the-art racecourse at Hohhot, the capital of Inner Mongolia. Friedrich, who has been appointed the CEO of Racing, and Hewetson, the Senior Racing Steward, arrived at Hohhot on May 8 and the venue was officially opened with the China Inner Mongolia Horse Racing and the 6th Inner Mongolia International Equestrian Festival on June 29. “It truly is a world-class facility and it really impressed everyone,” Hewetson said. “It’s a brand new track which has been built within the last couple of years. “There’s a 2200m grass track, a sand track of 1750m and it’s a lot like Sha Tin. It’s the same profile and there’s stabling for 348 horses at this stage. The Inner Mongolia Racecourse is located in the north suburb of Hohhot and has the largest scale in Asia, covering an area of 320,000 square metres. It is a combined venture under the name Mengxing Rider by an Inner Mongolian Government company, which owns 51 percent, and Mr Lin Lang, the Inner Mongolia Rider Horse principal known as “Mr Wolf,” whose company has the other 49 percent. The development of horse racing is also a convenient way to keep alive the heritage of horses and related culture among the Mongolian ethnic group, which used to rely on the animal for transport and survival, Lang said. With stints as Secretary of the Egmont Racing Club and Counties Racing Club and chief executive of Hawke’s Bay Racing and the same roles in Australia at Darwin and Alice Springs, Friedrich was looking to ease into semi-retirement when the opportunity arose to help steer the Hohhot ship. “The offer came out of the blue and it’s a challenge too good to pass up,” he said. “It cost NZ$250 million to set up and the infrastructure is unbelievable. “As well as the racecourse, there is a horse arena alongside a function centre. Truly, it has everything.” The six-story grandstand also caters for accommodation with approximately 100 hotel rooms and the racetrack has already proved a winner. “The horses broke 58 seconds for 1000m on the sand. That’s how good it is,” Hewetson said. “I’m impressed by the class of thoroughbreds up here. There are some very well-bred types who would be good enough to be in Hong Kong. “There are some high-priced yearling purchases racing up here. The breeding of many of them is as good as you get.” The racecourse has been built to cater for all breeds of horses and, of the thoroughbreds, Friedrich said close to 95 percent of them are New Zealand-bred. Though racing officially began for the weekend of June 29-30, the next racemeeting is not until August 3 and racing will then be held each Saturday and Sunday through to early October. “We’ve just had an equine festival, which is a bit like the Olympic Games over here. It’s huge and was a big success,” Hewetson said. “When we have our own racemeetings, the Saturday is for thoroughbreds and the Sunday for standardbreds, home-breds and other horses. There are six races each day with a maximum of 14 runners per race.” A rating system has been created along with a simplified Rules of Racing and the prizemoney has been set for the major races. “The Group One races will be run for the New Zealand equivalent of $225,000 and the Group Twos for $110,000,” Hewetson said. “All the horses have to be registered to come here. It’s a professional operation and has the potential to be huge.” Hewetson’s experience within the thoroughbred industry includes running Mike Moroney’s satellite stable at Randwick as well as stints working for Paul O’Sullivan and Singapore trainer Mark Walker. “I was originally coming to Hohhot to take up a training position when I was asked to be a Steward instead,” he said. It’s something new and a great experience for me. Being here from the start I can see how big this can become. “As it grows there will be more demand for horses. The wealthy Chinese businessmen will be buying more to be involved.” View the full article

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Helena Baby is out on his own as he takes out the Listed Powerworx Opunake Cup at New Plymouth. Progressive galloper Helena Baby took the next step in his burgeoning career in stunning fashion when he simply decimated his rivals in Saturday’s Listed Powerworx Opunake Cup (1400m) at New Plymouth. Most pundits were expecting the four-year-old Guillotine gelding to prove competitive in his first crack in open company but none could have predicted the dominance he would exert on his well-performed rivals. Rider Donavan Mansour, who had been aboard the John Bell-trained runner in all of his six career starts prior to Saturday’s effort, made good use of an inside barrier draw to drive Helena Baby to the front in the early stages of the contest. Allowed to dictate proceedings throughout, Helena Baby was traveling easily as he quickly established a three-length break around the home corner. Mansour never had to draw the whip as he eased his mount down in the final 100m as they cruised to the line over five lengths clear of runner-up Rosewood, who made up good ground from last, with Herengawe out-finishing Red Sierra for third. “It is such a pleasure to ride something like this,” Mansour said. “He is a special boy. “I was doing rain dances all week as the wetter the better for him. He won on the heavy at Rotorua, which was pretty heavy that day, so he has proved himself on this type of track. “He had to win well today as Mr Bell has a nice programme mapped out for him.” Owned by the Hong Kong-based duo of C Y Lee & Tang Hoi Lun, Helena Baby has now won five races in a row after finishing runner-up at his first two starts. Bell has an ambitious plan for his charge with a start in the Gr.2 US Navy Flag Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa his next likely target. Helena Baby is also nominated for the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) on August 31 but would likely have to win or finish runner-up in the Foxbridge Plate in order to make the Hastings field. View the full article

Admiral (black cap) leads throughout to win nicely at Te Rapa. Free-going seven-year-old Admiral bounced back to winning form with an all-the-way victory in open company at Te Rapa on Saturday. The Stephen Ralph-trained gelding thrives on winter tracks and found the Heavy10 surface just to his liking as he set his race rivals a merry chase in the 1600m contest. Rider Trudy Thornton had Admiral pinging along nicely in front throughout before applying the pressure with 600m to run. Thornton turned up the heat turning for home as Admiral slipped three lengths from his nearest rival. Despite peaking in the final 50m, Admiral had done enough to stave off the challenge of hot favourite Sultan Of Swing with Crafty Jess battling on gamely for third. Ralph had been confident of a good performance from his charge but had his work cut out keeping co-owner Michael Hislop’s enthusiasm in check during the mid-stages of the event. “We thought he would go well last time but things didn’t pan out with him running midfield but he was bright and ready to turn his form around today,” Ralph said. “I was watching the race with Michael (Hislop) and he started to get pretty excited when he was out by three lengths coming to the home turn. “I kept telling him there was still 600m to run but we were both shouting pretty hard as they got closer to home. “When I saw him prick his ears at the 100m I knew the other horse wasn’t going to get past him and he held him nicely.” Ralph will now look for a similar race in the next two weeks for his charge although he admitted he was a hard horse to place. “He really needs the wet tracks and with so much racing at Ruakaka and here at Te Rapa he often doesn’t get that at this time of the year,” he said. “We will take a look at the programmes and we could send him down the island if we can find something suitable for him.” Ralph also reported stable stars Santa Monica and Speedy Meady were coming to hand nicely as the pair prepared for their spring campaigns. “Santa Monica and Speedy Meady had their first jump-outs at home on Friday,” he said. “They have both come up well and the hit-out will bring them along nicely. “Santa Monica has thrived during her break and we are pretty excited about the prospects for both of them in the new season.” Santa Monica provided Ralph with his first Group One victory when she took out the Sistema Railway (1200m) at Ellerslie while Speedy Meady signed off his three-year-old campaign by dead-heating for first in the Gr.3 Cambridge Breeders Stakes (1200m). View the full article

Sai Fah and Michael Coleman cruise to a comfortable victory at Te Rapa. Speedy two-year-old Sai Fah booked himself a tilt at next weekend’s Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m) with an effortless victory over 1100m at Te Rapa on Saturday. The Rios gelding, sporting blinkers for the first time, settled just off the speed in the six-horse field before issuing his challenge for rider Michael Coleman shortly after commencing the run home. Despite a tendency to lug in over the closing stages Sai Fah dashed well clear of the opposition as he won untouched by a conservative five length margin. Trainer Stephen Marsh was pleased with the effort as he looks to back his charge up in the final black type race for the season at Otaki next Saturday. “He’s a tough little bugger as he won the first two-year-old race of the season and is still going strong,” Marsh said. “His last couple of runs have been good but he lacked focus so we put the blinkers on. “He sat nicely in third then took over and won very well. “We’ll back him up in a week now and run him in the Ryder.” The win also provided Michael Coleman with a belated birthday present after the well-respected horseman turned 50 on Friday. “It was nice of Stevie to give me a birthday present,” he said. “They say you get better every year so now that I’m 50 I will be at my peak form. “He (Sai Fah) improved with the blinkers on this time so it was excellent.” The victory took Marsh to just five short of the magical 100-win mark for the season with another five northern meetings available to reach the milestone. View the full article

If he didn't agree with the recommendations of the Mesara Report then why: A. Apply for the job, and B. Why did he get it?

Read attached report. Recommendation to rationalise the number of racecourses from 48 to 28. I've extracted the relevant recommendations for you (Page 12 - items 12 to 14 inclusive). Note further legislation is being drafted to implement these changes. Read and weep! 12) Clarify legislation to vest Race Club property and assets to the Code regulatory bodies for the benefit of the industry as a whole. 13) Reduce the number of Thoroughbred race tracks from 48 to 28 tracks under a scheduled program. This does not require the closure of any Club. 14) Upgrade the facilities and tracks of the remaining racecourses with funding generated from the sale of surplus property resulting from track closures to provide a streamlined, modern, and competitive Thoroughbred racing sector capable of marketing itself globally. Review-of-Racing-Paper-1-Overview-of-the-New-Zealand-Racing-Industry-and-Identified-Issues-May2019.pdf

I would have thought the TAB and Spark would be better focussing on why the systems crash on a big racing day!

River Radiance (Michael Rodd) scoots clear to an easy first win on Friday night. Mok Zhan Lun seldom makes the headlines, but the soft-spoken trainer was for once basking in the limelight on Friday night after he brought up his 200th winner with New Zealand-bred gelding River Radiance. A former Singapore Training Academy for Racing (STAR) graduate, Mok saddled his first winner Famous Than You on March 26, 2010. While it’s been a long and sometimes grueling journey to reach that milestone, the Singaporean handler was delighted it was behind him and he could now aim for other targets. “I hope I can achieve more after tonight,” said the former Foreign Exchange banker. “I gave this horse a pretty good chance. It all depended on luck. “He had the best jockey (Michael Rodd) on him. Michael told me after his trial that he was pretty confident the horse was in a good shape. “Tonight, I left it to Michael to ride him the way he wanted. There is no definite position he has to be in.” Mok was given a champagne bottle of Moet by Association of Racehorse Trainers Singapore (ARTS) operations manager Debbie Hawkins for his well-earned achievement. A three-year-old by Rip Van Winkle who was sold as yearling through Seaton Park’s 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock draft, River Radiance ran an eye-catching second to Surpass Natural on debut in a Restricted Maiden race over 1000m. In a change of tactics, Rodd took him straight to the head of affairs from Golden Kid (John Sundradas) and Gamely (Joseph Azzopardi) in the S$75,000 Lim’s Racer 2016 Stakes, a Restricted Maiden-1 race over 1100m. Always travelling on the bit, River Radiance never gave his connections any anxious moments from that point onwards, even if Gamely did issue a decent challenge inside the last furlong, but that elusive maiden win for the Donna Logan-trained three-year-old will again have to wait another day. The Macau-owned River Radiance never showed any signs of letting up as he strolled in by three lengths from Gamely (his 10th placing from 16 starts) with Golden Kid third another 1 ½ lengths away. The winning time was 1min 4.8secs for the 1100m on the Polytrack. Rodd, who was at the third pin of an early treble after saluting earlier aboard Bluestone and Boy Next Door, said he could not be too cocky about his winning chances on Friday night even if he knew he had a good book of rides. “I couldn’t be too confident. Bluestone is only a two-year-old and was at his first run and Boy Next Door won by staying on the inside when he usually comes around horses,” said the in-form Australian jockey. “River Radiance was probably my best chance. I went forward just to keep him out of trouble. “He’s a nice horse, even if he can be a bit unsound, but he won a nice race tonight.” In two starts, River Radiance has already picked up prize cheques worth around S$55,000 for Mr Ho Pui Kim. -STC View the full article

Inferno (Michael Rodd) powers home to claim the Aushorse Golden Horseshoe. Exciting two-year-old Inferno lived up to his pre-race top billing to saunter to an authoritative win in the fifth and final Leg of the Singapore Golden Horseshoe series, the S$250,000 Aushorse Golden Horseshoe (1200m) on Friday. An impressive debut winner in the fourth leg, the Magic Millions 2YOs In Training Sale Stakes (1200m) 12 days ago, the Cliff Brown-trained and Michael Rodd-ridden son of Holy Roman Emperor made winning look academic after defying a wide trip without cover to still make light work of his 15 juvenile rivals with consummate ease inside the last 300m. While some enthusiastic quarters might be accused of jumping to hasty conclusions, but the way Inferno obliterated the field in those familiar pink silks did bring echoes of Brown’s semi-retired superstar Debt Collector. It’s not because both are raced by the same combination of Brown, Rodd and Barree Stable of Glenn Whittenbury, but that electric turn of foot as they whip around their rivals from the point of the turn was just uncannily identical. Held in midfield coursing out three to four deep, Inferno was a picture of absolute professional when he let down on cue at the top of the straight, never mind his inclination to hang in a touch – antics forgiven when you are a raw two-year-old who can’t quite tutor the raw power and engine underneath. Hotshots Slam, who actually pinched the $16 favourite tag late from Inferno, was thereabouts from the get-go after breaking from a much handier barrier (three compared to Inferno’s 17), and tried to muster a counteroffensive when Inferno came on terms on his outside at the 300m. But as hard as Shane Baertschiger’s No 1 hope from his quartet of runners tried for about 150m, there was just no stopping that fireball of Inferno. After getting a cart from behind Inferno, Rocket Star kept whacking away when peeled to the outside, but had to again play second fiddle to Inferno, and beaten by the same two-length margin (they finished in that order in the fourth Leg). Hotshots Slam gave his all but wilted late to finish third another head away, a neck ahead of Count Me In, who was ridden for luck from the awkward draw to run a creditable fourth. Undefeated at his first two runs, Big Hearted did himself a major disservice when he bungled his start. The son of Hallowed Crown tried to cut corners by threading a needle through the pack from the 500m, and even looked half a chance when he loomed at the 300m, but the early efforts to recover from the lengths lost at barrier rise proved costly in the end. Michael Clements’ gallant two-year-old ran on sheer courage to cling on for fifth place, beaten only a short head, half-a-length ahead of early race-leader Beer Garden. Inferno, who was sold as a yearling through Westbury Stud’s 2018 New Zealand Book 1 yearling draft, clocked 1min 10.76secs for the 1200m on the Short Course. Brown was as usual not all that effusive in his post-race declarations even if that sense of anticipation and trepidation at Inferno’s future endeavours was palpable. “There was always a concern he was on a 12-day back-up. He had a lot against him going into the race,” said the Australian trainer. “You always get a bit swept in by the emotions after the win, but it was a great win today. I’ll have to have another look at the race, there were a lot of horses who had bad luck in the run. “It was also a tough win and he will go for a break now. I may bring him back for the Saas Fee Stakes (1200m) at the end of the year (November 10). It’s a race for three-year-olds now.” Clearly blessed with the Midas touch on Friday, red-hot Rodd was at his fourth winner in a row (after Bluestone, Boy Next Door and River Radiance scored one after another). The affable jockey was just gobsmacked by the way Inferno pulled his way into the race from the get-go to the line. “I just wanted to keep him out of trouble early. There were a lot of quick horses on my inside,” said the Australian jockey. “I was three and a half wide, but he switched off so easy for me. He just rested out there and just travelled, he was never under pressure. “Straightening up, I just wanted to get closer to JP’s (John Powell) horse (Hotshots Slam) to see what he’s got. We came next to him, and I thought we got there a bit too early, but he just went past him so easily. “I just gave him a backhand. He laid in a little again, but he was better than at his last start. “He’s a remarkable horse, he’s got such long big strides.” With that second win from as many starts, Inferno has already pocketed close to S$175,000 in stakes earnings for the Barree Stable. -STC View the full article

Revolution (Vlad Duric) outsprints his rivals to take out Race 7. Champion jockey Vlad Duric rode Revolution like the best horse in the field and that was how he finished in the S$70,000 Class 3 Super One 2015 Stakes, a Class 3 race over 1200m in Singapore on Friday night. Whilst he was not the most fleet-footed customer out of barrier No 1, Revolution was allowed to settle worse than midfield on the rails before switching out three lanes to improve around runners as they neared the home turn. Wassergeist loomed on the outside with what looked like a winning burst, but the much-hyped debut winner peaked on his run. It was at that very instant that Duric pushed Revolution through a gap from under the favourite for that decisive move. The Unencumbered colt, who was sold through Kilgravin Lodge’s 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run draft, poked his head in front as he got a few tastes of the persuader from Duric. Dragon Duke was still sticking around after he collared leader Burkaan, but Revolution went a shade better before staving off a sizzling finish from Elite Conquest on his outside to prevail narrowly. Well supported into $24, Revolution fell in by a neck from Elite Conquest with Dragon Duke plugging on for third place another half-length away. The winning time was 1min 11.03secs for the 1200m on the Polytrack. Duric, who had earlier seen his nine-win lead on Michael Rodd whittled down to five wins after the latter brought up a four-timer, including the highlight of the night, the Aushorse Golden Horseshoe (1200m) with Inferno, could derive some consolation from that solitary win. The night meeting had not quite panned out all that well for the two-time Singapore champion jockey. He could only muster a fifth place on the well-backed Big Hearted in the feature race, beaten at the start by a slow getaway, and one second with Iron Ruler in Race 2. He later finished third on Ottawa in the last race won by Young Keah Yong’s Mighty Conqueror ($20) with Saifudin Ismail up. “This horse was unlucky at his last start when he ran third to Pennywise. Michael Rodd rode Pennywise beautifully that day,” said Duric. “We got held up in behind, but tonight we got the breaks at the right time. He was the best horse in the race and he had fair luck in the race.” Winning trainer Alwin Tan, who has not saddled a winner for a month – since Atlantean on June 21 – was pleased he had not returned empty-handed this time around. “He carried the topweight tonight. I told Duric he had to be patient, luckily, we won the race,” said the Singaporean handler. “Vlad is a top jockey as is Michael Rodd on my other horse, Robin Hood, but Revolution is a slightly better horse.” The smart three-year-old has turned into a handy moneyspinner for his Thai owners Falcon Racing No 7 Stable, having now brought his total earnings past the S$260,000 mark from his haul of five wins and five placings in 15 outings. -STC View the full article

Elfee will contest the Crombie and Price Ltd Oamaru Cup (1600m) on Sunday. Riccarton trainer Michael Pitman will have a six-strong team contest Sunday’s Oamaru race meeting and is expecting track conditions to soften from the Good3 rating on Friday with some rain forecast. Pitman, who trains in partnership with his son Matthew, will have two runners in the Bracken Print 2YO (1200m) with Chuck A Luck and Where’s The Gold both expected to improve from their debut showings in which they finished third and seventh respectively. “Chuck A Luck lined up the other day without a trial and he went really well and the field was probably stronger than the one he is contesting this weekend,” Pitman said. “He is a nice horse and will probably make a nicer three-year-old. He is quite tall and has done everything right since that run. He has got to be a big chance and he should probably start favourite or second favourite. “From the inside draw we would expect Where’s The Gold to go forward and she shouldn’t be far away really.” Handy seven-year-old Nowhere Man, a half-brother to Where’s The Gold, will represent the stable in the Glenmoa Farms Ltd River Plate (1200m). “Nowhere Man is honesty personified and is probably stepping up to 1500m at Riccarton after this. “He hasn’t got a very good draw though (barrier 10), that is the only thing, but he does go his best races when he gets the opportunity to come down the outside of the track.” Stakes-performed mare Elfee carries 60kgs in the Crombie And Price Ltd Oamaru Cup (1600m) but Pitman believes the 10-race winner deserves the impost as she builds towards the Gr.3 Winning Edge Presentations 122nd Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton on August 3. “The 60kgs is a lot of weight for a mare, but she is the best horse in the race and I understand that. She has to give away 6kgs to virtually half of the field. “We thought about claiming but we decided she was due for a senior rider. “She will go to the Winter Cup and run the last day of the National meeting and that will be her swansong. She will make into a beautiful broodmare.” Pitman said Heartoheart looked to be one of his best chances on the day, while So Brazen would also be competitive. Meanwhile, Pitman confirmed Group One sprinter Enzo’s Lad would be returning from his English campaign shortly. “He goes into quarantine this week. He has to have three weeks in quarantine in the UK and then he flies on the same plane as the shuttle stallions. “He will then do two weeks quarantine in New Zealand. “He has been staying at the National Stud in Newmarket and has been on the walker each day there. “He has five weeks off then goes straight into work when he gets here so he isn’t missing too much. He has certainly had an easy winter by New Zealand standards.” Fellow speedster Sensei is back in work and Pitman has earmarked him as the horse to take him back to Royal Ascot. “He will get ready for either the Pegasus (Listed, 1000m) or the Stewards (Gr.3, 1200m) on the way to the Telegraph (Gr.1, 1200m).” After replenishing heavily at the sales, Pitman is looking forward to the coming years with plenty of rising two and three-year-olds coming through. “I truly believe we have the best team we have ever had in our lives going forward.” View the full article