Chief Stipe

Angel Of Truth may have earned a shot at next week’s Australian Derby, while runner-up Madison County lost no admirers in a thrilling finish to the Tulloch Stakes. The Gwenda Markwell-trained three-year-old led throughout, fending off a chase by Kiwi raider Madison County, to take out the 2000-metre Group Two race at Rosehill this afternoon. Markwell said she had been quietly confident of the horse’s chances, adding that he took benefit from his run over a similar distance last start. “When the horse got off the truck today he had a spring in his foot, I thought he’d race well,” Markwell said. “I thought his runs were very, very good, you know he hasn’t got that many miles or that much racing under his belt to sort of compete in these staying races. “He cantered in front and I thought ‘they’re walking here – so it’s going to be hard to run him down, because he just keeps coming’. We will speak to the owner, we may go to the Derby – let’s hope so.” Markwell was full of praise for winning jockey Corey Brown, saying he was one of her luckiest riders – and it may well have been his experience that won them the race. “I did suggest the first two races have been up on speed on the fence, I said I think that’s the best part of the track,” Brown said. “I felt like I bogged down more when I got out there so he was definitely in the right part. “(We were) thinking more of a Queensland Derby, but he showed today that he’s definitely taken that next step and he deserves a shot.” Madison County was beaten as favourite but his connections were happy with his performance on an unsuitable track. The gelding holds a nomination for next Saturday’s Derby (2400m) and Doncaster Mile (1600m) with co-trainer Andrew Forsman favouring a start in the former. “I know some people are keen to see him run in the Doncaster, but I’m just not convinced he’s that sort of horse and I know (jockey) Tommy (Berry) shares the same opinion,” Forsman said. “We’ll have to go through the process and talk to everyone and see what they want to do.” The two other New Zealand runners in the Tulloch were the New Zealand Derby placegetters In A Twinkling and Platinum Invador, who finished fifth and eighth respectively. “He went alright and boxed away,” In A Twinkling’s jockey James McDonald said. “The track wasn’t to his liking really. He’s a big actioned horse but he’s going okay.” Blake Shinn believes Platinum Invador also struggled in the heavy conditions. “Had a nice run throughout and travelled well but couldn’t quicken on the ground,” he said. View the full article

Last season’s champion jockey Sam Collett guided The Bandito to a brilliant front-running win in today’s Listed Bramco Marble & Granite Flying Handicap at Awapuni. Drawn in the extreme outside gate, Collett allowed the $17 outsider to roll forward and take the lead after 300 metres. The Pins gelding was loving his work in front and travelled smoothly up to the home turn, then produced a kick to go two lengths clear at the 350-metre mark. Beefeater began to eat into that margin through the last 200 metres, and the defending champion Magnum got warmed up out wide, but The Bandito held on strongly in a driving finish. The 1400 metres were run in a quick 1:22.36. “It was a great ride by Sam, and you’ve got to ride this horse that way,” Hastings trainer John Bary said. “She let him slide forward, then dictated terms with a light weight. “He’s a tough horse and he’s been good all season. He also ran 1:22 when he won a race at Wellington earlier in the summer, so he’s shown that he can do it. “Big thanks to my staff, who have done a great job with him. I’m really happy for the owner, Heath Newton, who’s in Australia and is an absolute champion bloke.” The Bandito was a $50,000 yearling purchase at Karaka in 2013. He has now had 42 starts for four wins, 18 placings and more than $139,000 in prize-money. Today’s win continues a remarkable season for Waikato Stud’s late stallion Pins. Since August 1, he has sired 61 winners including nine at stakes level – Madison County (New Zealand 2000 Guineas, Levin Classic), Pinmedown (Eight Carat Classic, Sunline Vase), Emily Margaret (Wellington Guineas), Princess Kereru (Waikato Stud Sprint, second in the Railway), Residential (South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes), Flamingo (Wairarapa Breeders’ Stakes), Sir Plush (Gosford Gold Cup) and The Bandito. View the full article

Yourdeel stormed home from a near-hopeless position to win today’s Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes at Awapuni, delivering a 20th Group One win for rising star Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards – and certainly one of the most satisfying. The Dundeel gelding became the first horse to complete New Zealand’s two-year-old Group One double (Sistema Diamond Stakes and Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes) since Anabandana in 2011. Like Yourdeel, Anabandana was ridden in both races by Opie Bosson. On the strength of Yourdeel’s outstanding campaign, that Group One double comes as little surprise. He made a huge impression with a five-length debut win at Te Rapa in December, then placed twice behind star stablemate Probabeel including in the Karaka Million. Yourdeel scored a dominant six-length win in the Gr. 3 Waikato Stud Slipper at Matamata in February, then bravely fought off Aalaalune and Aretha to take out the Sistema Stakes at Ellerslie earlier this month. However, confidence was dented when Yourdeel produced a gallop on Tuesday morning that was well below his usual standard. “After the way he worked on Tuesday morning, I wasn’t sure if we’d be here today or not,” Richards admitted. “But it was a great effort by the whole team to get him here today in such great order, and that man on top (Bosson) is such a massive part of all of our successes as well.” Bosson was at his brilliant best today on the $1.70 favourite. After settling just behind midfield, he drifted back and had only two behind him as he rounded the turn a huge margin behind the leaders. But Bosson gave Yourdeel time to get balanced up in the straight, then turned him loose. Yourdeel went into overdrive, charging down the outside and reeling in the front-runners First Rock and Bella Mente. Again the classy filly Aretha tried to go with him, but again Yourdeel had too much quality and beat her by a long neck. “Jamie’s a champion trainer who’s done a great job to get him back on track after an ordinary gallop on Tuesday,” Bosson said. “Once he got balanced up in the straight, he changed leg and really charged to the line. I actually dropped my inside rein and couldn’t get at him with the stick, so he did it all on his own. He’s a top-quality horse, and he’s going to be exciting as a three-year-old.” The win continued an astonishingly dominant run by Te Akau runners in New Zealand’s two-year-old features. They have won the last three editions of the Karaka Million (Melody Belle, Avantage, Probabeel) including two quinellas and a trifecta, three of the last four Sistema Stakes (Heroic Valour, Sword Of Osman, Yourdeel) including a quinella, and the last three Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (Melody Belle, Avantage, Yourdeel). Richards has marvelled at the development of Yourdeel, who began the season as something of a problem child. “He’s taken a fair bit of making,” he said. “He was very colty in the spring. But he’s really stood up and raised the bar. He’s quite an incredible horse. “Big thanks to Chris Rutten and his fellow owners, they’re all getting a big thrill out of this.” Rutten paid $100,000 to buy Yourdeel as a yearling at Karaka from Little Avondale Stud, who had previously bought him for $30,000 as weanling. Raced by Rutten, John Norwood and Rod Preston, Yourdeel has earned more than $375,000 in prize-money in his six-start, four-win career to date. “He and Equinox (fifth, 1.4 lengths from the winner) will both spell now,” Richards said. “I thought Equinox was right in it halfway up the straight, but it’s possible that 1400 metres is a bit too far for him at this stage. I think he can develop into a lovely three-year-old.” Aretha’s second placing caps a remarkably consistent campaign for the Charm Spirit filly, who placed in the Gr. 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes on debut before winning the Gr. 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes and placing in the Sistema Stakes. The third placegetter was the El Roca filly Bella Mente, who began her career with a third placing and a win before finishing fourth in the Matamata Breeders’ Stakes in her only other start. She stuck on gamely today after racing on the speed. View the full article

In the feature race at Ellerslie this afternoon, a jockey nearing the end of his stint at Te Akau Racing’s Matamata stable scored a brilliant win on a horse who is a recent addition to the team. Nik Bakar rode his first Ellerslie winner in the $35,000 Electrolux Sprint, guiding the Australian Group performer Kingsguard to an all-the-way win. After leading for most of the 1200-metre journey, the 14-to-one outsider was headed in the straight by Te Toro Pearl. Rikki Tikki Tavi and Media Sensation joined in out wide in a desperate four-way finish, but Kingsguard fought back powerfully for a gutsy long-head win. “It was a very good ride by Nik Bakar,” Te Akau’s racing manager Libby Richards said. “It’s great for him to get his first Ellerslie winner before he heads back to Singapore on Monday to ride for Mark Walker.” Bakar has made a big impression at Te Akau’s Matamata stable this season, winning 13 races from just over 60 rides including 12 for trainer Jamie Richards. He picked up a placing earlier this afternoon on stable runner Griffin. Kingsguard, a son of Rip Van Winkle, carries the colours of his co-breeders and part-owners Windsor Park Stud. He began his career under the name His Majesty in Chris McNab’s Cambridge stable, placing in three of his six starts. That included a second to Te Akau star Xtravagant in a three-year-old race at Ellerslie on Boxing Day that is now the Listed Uncle Remus Stakes. He was also fifth behind subsequent Group One winner Valley Girl in a race at the Karaka Million meeting Transferred into the Hawkes stable in New South Wales, Kingsguard won five races including the Gr. 3 Hawkesbury Cup. He also placed in the Gr. 2 Shannon Stakes in Sydney, plus the Listed Rowley Mile and Scone Cup. Kingsguard’s last start was an unplaced finish in the Gr. 3 Festival Stakes at Rosehill in December, after which he joined Jamie Richards’ stable. He trialled at Rotorua on March 5 and Matamata two weeks later. “He won five races in Australia and he’d had two encouraging trials for us leading into this,” Libby Richards said. “We’re still learning about him, but he’ll definitely go on from this when he stretches out to 1400 metres.” View the full article

The Chosen One may have earned himself a last-minute ticket to next week’s Australian Derby in Sydney after heading a stable quinella in today’s Gr. 3 Higgins Concrete Manawatu Classic at Awapuni. One of four highly rated three-year-olds from the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman stable in today’s $70,000 race, the Savabeel colt bounced back in style following a luckless last-start 11th in the New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie where he was badly hampered at the 700-metre mark. Ridden today by Troy Harris, The Chosen One sat in midfield before showing a classy change of gears in the home straight. The well-bred colt sailed past stablemate Spring Delight in the last 75 metres and went clear to score by half a length. The Anne Herbert-trained outsider Blue On Black stuck on well for third after working forward from a wide gate to take the lead in the early part of the race. Australian bookmakers reacted quickly to today’s performance, trimming The Chosen One to $14 for next Saturday’s Australian Derby at Randwick. Stablemate Madison County, who runs in today’s Gr. 2 Tulloch Stakes, is also prominent in the Derby market at $11. “We’d have to fly him over on Tuesday, so there’s not much time, but it’s something we’ll have to think about,” Baker said. “But we were confident of a big run today and he won it well. “It was a very good effort from Spring Delight as well, especially for a filly up against the male three-year-olds.” Today’s Group Three quinella was a satisfying result for Hall of Fame trainer Baker, who began his training career in the central districts before relocating to Cambridge. “It’s always good to come back and race here,” he said. Bred by the Dennis brothers, The Chosen One is out of the Flying Spur mare The Glitzy One – a multiple-stakes-placed daughter of their dual Group One winner The Jewel. The Dennis family shares ownership of the colt with a number of others including Janine Dunlop, who put the colt through the Karaka sale ring under her Phoenix Park banner. He didn’t meet his $150,000 reserve. The Chosen One has now had nine starts for three wins, two of them at stakes level. He took out the Listed Zacinto Stakes at Riccarton in October in only the second start of his career. He has placed in another two appearances and has now earned more than $112,000 in stakes. Sadly, the talented Matamata filly Taming The Shrew broke down badly in the straight in today’s race and fell. Jockey Jake Bayliss reported slight stiffness in an elbow, but he was cleared to take his remaining rides. View the full article

Rock On Wood (Ryan Elliot, left) fights off Beauden (Chris Johnson) to win at Awapuni. Exciting galloper Rock On Wood delivered a special result for Leanne Elliot and her son in today’s $30,000 Ricoh Premier at Awapuni. Trained by Leanne Elliot at Levin and ridden by leading apprentice jockey Ryan, the four-year-old son of Redwood dropped out to last in a 10-horse field for the 1600-metre Rating 82. He produced a scintillating finish in the straight, weaving through gaps and bursting into contention in a handful of strides. Second favourite Beauden fought back gamely on his inside, but Rock On Wood extinguished that challenge and won by a short head. Based in the northern region, Ryan Elliot has limited opportunities to ride for his mother, but he has now won five races for her from 17 rides. Four of those have been on Rock On Wood. “It’s very special riding a horse for Mum – especially when it wins,” he said. “It’s a great feeling.” The 20-year-old was highly impressed by Rock On Wood’s performance today to beat Beauden, who is trained by his employers Team Rogerson. “I just wanted to get him to relax today and make sure he ran out the mile,” he said. “I worked my way through, everything opened up in the straight and he just let go. He sprinted really well. He got into a fight with Rogie’s horse and dug deep. He’s quite a special horse.” Rock On Wood has now won four of his eight starts, and he is unbeaten in two impressive appearances this season. He showed his quality as a three-year-old last season with eye-catching fourth placings in the Gr. 1 Levin Classic and Gr. 2 Waikato Guineas. “He’s a lovely horse to have around the stable,” Leanne Elliot said. “I thought he was going to get held up in the straight today, but he got out in time and finished it off really well. “He’ll definitely improve with this race today, so it’s exciting. We’ll get him home now and just wait and see what comes next.” View the full article

The Awapuni track was upgraded from Dead4 to Good3 immediately after the first race on today’s Gr. 1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes programme, which was won by course specialist Korakonui. The upgrade came as no surprise to the winning jockey in the opening event, premiership leader Johnathan Parkes. “There’s some very slight give in the track, but it’s such a nice day and I think you’ll probably see it end up a Good3,” he said. Korakonui is trained in Cambridge, but Awapuni is her home away from home. Following a dominant victory in today’s $30,000 Landmark Homes Premier, the All American five-year-old is unbeaten in three starts at the track. A last-start fourth in the Listed New Zealand St Leger at Trentham, Korakonui stepped down to Rating 72 grade this afternoon and had only four opponents. After trailing the early leader Vittachi, Korakonui put her head in front at the 600-metre mark and swung around the home turn with a clear lead. The favourite Hoist moved up on her outside 300 metres from home, but Korakonui kicked again and drew out to win by three and three-quarter lengths. Trained by Ralph Manning, Korakonui has now had 30 starts for five wins, five placings and more than $82,000 in prize-money. “She usually gets back in the running, but she jumped pretty well today,” Parkes said. “Being a five-horse field, I decided to ride her handy. We quickened up a bit at the 600, and she’s just outstayed them. “I think she’s a pretty progressive horse, and I think the further she goes, the better she’ll be. She might be a New Zealand Cup horse next season.” View the full article

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English trainer Charlie Appleby expects his Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter to prove “very hard to beat” in tonight’s Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan. The four-year-old will be a hot favourite to make a winning return in his first competitive appearance since becoming the first British-trained horse to win the Flemington showpiece. “This will be his first start of 2019 and we are looking forward to it,” Appleby said. “The horse has wintered well and his preparation has gone well. “He is a proven stayer at the trip and if he brings his A-game to the table, he will be very hard to beat. “We felt he came out of the Melbourne Cup really well. He only travelled back to Dubai and not to England, so he didn’t have such a long haul back. He has had all winter on the easy list, but we have freshened him up well and he has taken the travelling well. “We have sat a bit on the fence as regards targets all winter, as we didn’t know how he was going to take all the travelling. All the signs have been good. This is very much a starting point and we will get a gauge of where we are for the rest of the year.” One of Cross Counter’s biggest threats is his stablemate Ispolini, who is stepping up to two miles for the first time following successive wins at Meydan over a mile and three-quarters. “He is the horse in the field that could be the progressive stayer. He has won two starts over a mile-six this year and stepped up in class and won the Nad Al Sheba Trophy impressively last time over the course,” Appleby added. “He is stepping up to two miles and we hope that will see further improvement. He is a horse that has got a progressive profile and he will be a lively player.” Charlie Fellowes is keen on the chances of Prince Of Arran, who was third to Cross Counter in Melbourne and shaped well on his comeback run three weeks ago. “He ran a fantastic prep race last time, but they probably didn’t go quick enough,” said the Newmarket handler. “He loves Meydan. Two miles around there should be no problem. He’s in great nick.” View the full article

BEST BET RACE 4: #3 MONTEFALCO - BEST EACH WAY RACE 2: #6 RAKABEACH - VALUE EACH WAY RACE 8: #10 JINGLES BROMAC - BEST ROUGHIE RACE 5: #2 RNR WINDERMERE Want to read this content? For free user content sign up here Free Online Content View our subscription options and get behind The Informant paywall Already a member? Login here View the full article

Awapuni Race Scratchings R1: 2,7,8,9 R2: 4,6 R3: R4: 8,18,19,20,21 R5: 2,8,10,12 R6: R7: 9 R8: R9: 5,8 Track conditions: Dead 4 Weather: Fine Rail: True Track: Left hand 1700m Length of straight: 350m TAB Meeting #4 with the first of 9 races starting at 12:05pm […] Want to read this content? For free user content sign up here Free Online Content View our subscription options and get behind The Informant paywall Already a member? Login here View the full article

Awapuni Race Scratchings: R1: 2,7,8,9 - R2: 4,6 - R3: - R4: 8,18,19,20,21 - R5: 2,8,10,12 - R6: - R7: 9 - R8: - R9: 5,8 Want to read this content? For free user content sign up here Free Online Content View our subscription options and get behind The Informant paywall Already a member? Login here View the full article

Well Muntahaa has no wet track form.

Track a Heavy 10

Have any got blinkers on for the first time and dropping back in class?

Australian champion Winx has claimed another award in the People’s Choice category at an annual ceremony in Dubai ahead of the World Cup meeting. The Chris Waller-trained mare is closing in on the end of her career, which includes four Cox Plates. She ended 2018 as the equal top-ranked horse in the world alongside Cracksman. Winx and American trainer D Wayne Lukas were honoured in the two categories not restricted to participants at last year’s World Cup meeting. Lukas received the Lifetime Achievement award for his career, which includes 14 Triple Crown wins and 20 successes at the Breeders’ Cup. The Best Horse, Best Jockey, Best Trainer and Best Owner are awarded via a data count provided by the US Jockey Club on races held from the 2018 Dubai World Cup until March 9. This season’s Caulfield Cup winner, the Godolphin-owned Best Solution, was named Best Horse for his three Group One wins while his trainer Saeed Bin Suroor won his category. Pat Cosgrave was awarded Best Jockey for his four Group One wins, which included the Caulfield Cup and Caulfield Stakes on the Bin Suroor-trained Benbatl. He rode the unplaced Nobu in this month’s New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie. Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin was awarded Best Owner after a record-breaking 2018, which featured 30 Group/Grade One wins around the world led by the Melbourne Cup with Cross Counter, Epsom Derby with Masar and the Dubai World Cup with Thunder Snow. They also celebrated a trifecta in last Saturday’s Golden Slipper with Kiamichi, Microphone and Lyre. View the full article

Group One performers headed by Happy Clapper and Trapeze Artist have starred at barrier trials at Randwick. Triple Group One winner Happy Clapper came from well back in his 1200-metre heat yesterday to win and put to rest any lingering problems from his recent Melbourne experience when unplaced in the All-Star Mile at Flemington. The Pat Webster-trained gelding will run next against Winx in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes on April 13. The Gerald Ryan-trained Trapeze Artist was handy in his 1045-metre trial and edged past Irithea for a narrow win. Trapeze Artist claimed his fourth Group One win in the recent Canterbury Stakes and will defend his TJ Smith title on Saturday week. Both Happy Clapper and Trapeze Artist were ridden by race jockey Blake Shinn. Zousain, Lean Mean Machine and Vega Magic won the other three open trials over 1000 metres or longer. View the full article

Henry Hubert wins in a driving finish over Thefixer, Hail Christian and A G’s White Socks. Photo: Race Images. Henry Hubert added another weapon to his already impressive arsenal when winning a highly exciting running of the Superstars Championship at Addington on Friday night. The Robert Dunn trained pacer was saved for a cold shot at the star-studded field that contested the 1980m group 2 feature. Those tactics paid off for driver John Dunn when the four-year-old dashed along the passing lane to grab the very brave runner-up, Thefixer. Showing he can sit off and reel in some of the best horses in New Zealand gives Henry Hubert a full repertoire to use in next month’s Easter Cup. “He seems to have a few strings to his bow now, he is really learning the art of being a racehorse,” Robert Dunn said. “He has been the real improver for the season, it has been great that he has been able to do that and he seems to still be getting better, too.” Henry Hubert scored in the scintillating time of 2.21.3, a mile-rate of 1.54.8. The early race tempo that set up that time was due to Jack’s Legend and Alta Maestro having a good battle for the lead. The pair did not let up their on-speed battle down the back straight, which meant for hard work for Thefixer, who was attempting to work in to the race three-wide from the 1300m. The New Zealand Cup winning pacer did not let that huge amount of work stop him from challenging in the home straight. After being pushed four-wide at the 400m, Thefixer battled on resolutely to finish second by just half a length in a driving finish Hail Christian ran a big race in his first start back from an Australian campaign, when tracking Thefixer from the 400m, before peeling out to run third. A G’s White Socks, who had a perfect run in the one-one throughout, faded in to fourth after looking the winner early in the run home. Driver Ricky May reported to stewards his sulky sustained a flat tyre on the home bend. The Robert Dunn stable enjoyed a brilliant night out at Addington, taking out the two-year-old trot with One Majic Kenny and the feature trot with Sundee’s Sun. One Majic Kenny was on his best behaviour when winning at Addington on Friday night. Photo: Race Images. Dunn said he was impressed with the way One Majic Kenny handled himself while horses were going off stride all around him. “He threw his head up a couple of times in the back straight, the pace was on and off a little bit.” “And he started from the second line and there was carnage all around him, so it was a great run.” Dunn hoped that One Majic Kenny would measure up the best horses in the country in the upcoming juvenile trotting features. “He has got really high speed and he is a nice moving trotter.” “We have just got to get him to settle a little bit better, Johnny said he was a bit keen tonight.” The Robert and John Dunn training and driving combination sealed a brilliant night out when Sundee’s Sun bolted in in Friday night’s trotting free-for-all. After leading, the four-year-old left a classy field in his wake, when clearing out to win by more than seven-lengths. Speeding Spur was the best of the rest, running home strongly from the rear of the field to run second, in what looked a good hit-out before next week’s New Zealand Trotting Championship. Sundees Son won by more than seven lengths at Addington on Friday Night. Photo: Race Images. View the full article

I really like Patrick Erin

Sydney cup or Tancred?

Leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller believes New Zealand-bred galloper Patrick Erin is back on track for a tilt at the Gr. 1 Sydney Cup next month after a last-start scare. The seven-year-old gelding pulled up sore after his unplaced run in the Gr. 3 Sky High Stakes at Rosehill earlier this month, but Waller said his charge has recovered well and is in fine fettle ahead of tomorrow’s Gr. 1 Tancred Stakes at Rosehill. “He got a nasty bump as they jumped and ended up pulling up with a sore foot last start,” Waller said. “He was sound within three days of the race and after the foot problem was discovered, it quickly improved and he has obviously trialled well since that. “He heads to the races as a fit and sound horse and he has a nice draw (barrier six). His wet-track form is fairly good, so he should get a lovely run from the good gate and hopefully bounce back to run in the top three to suggest that he is on track for the Sydney Cup in two weeks’ time.” View the full article

The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission has launched an independent inquiry into how the wrong horse was allowed to start in a race at Rockhampton. Trainer Julieann Lancaster had several runners at yesterday’s meeting including Authadane in the Benchmark 60 (race six) and Plain ‘N’ Simple in the Class Six (race seven). Plain ‘N’ Simple was allegedly saddled as Authadane and ran in the Benchmark race, in which he finished sixth. He ran after he was mistakenly passed in the enclosure branding test. The mistake was discovered when it was time for Plan ‘N’ Simple to be saddled and stewards were alerted. At an inquiry, Lancaster said she had saddled the incorrect horse for race six as she was of the opinion that Plain ‘N’ Simple was to race in the event and Authdane was engaged in race seven. Lancaster pleaded guilty to a charge that her negligence in failing to correctly identify Authadane as the horse engaged in race six had led to a breach of rules. After hearing submissions on penalty, stewards adjourned but Authadane was disqualified from the event while Plain ‘N’ Simple was a late scratching from the Class Six race. QRIC’s acting commissioner, Mark Ainsworth, confirmed QRIC would carry out an independent investigation into the incident as well as the stewards inquiry. “A steward’s inquiry was opened into the incident on Thursday and has been adjourned pending further investigations,” he said. “The commission takes these incidents seriously and the independent investigation and the stewards inquiry will be thorough.” Results of the investigation are expected next week. View the full article

Why should any Government interfere or give handouts to an industry that should be able to stand on its own? Reminds me of SMP. As for dragging along the other two codes that's a nonsense argument. Arguably the other two codes don't get their fair share and all three rely on Pokies and Sports betting.

Well how far back do we go to rewrite history to support the current narrative?