Racing in the silks of Coolmore, the C J Waller trained Vatican (Wootton Bassett-Egyptian Missile, by Smart Missile) makes his debut in Saturday's $400,000 Restricted Listed Inglis Nursery off the back of two solid barrier trials. With Tommy Berry in the saddle, the Ridgmont consigned colt is the first foal out of the winning Smart Missile half-sister to the Gr3 winner Egyptian Symbol, with both being daughters of the Gr1 winner Our Egyptian Raine. Secured for $1.2m by Tom Magnier, if successful, the colt will be the second winner of the race in the Coolmore silks after the debut win of Acrobat (Fastnet Rock) back in 2020 with that colt unfortunately never racing again. With two solid trial efforts under his belt leading into his debut where he finished fourth, the Brad Widdup trained Internal Affairs (Home Affairs-Kononkop, by Pure Prize) is one of five of the 11 runners to have already faced the starter previously on race day. Fourth on debut in the Max Lees Classic, the Gai Watehouse and Adrian Bott trained Elio (Ole Kirk-Iconista, by Denman) has since been to the trials, pulling clear by a length and a half over 895m at Canterbury. With the form from his debut race somewhat holding up with the runner up coming out and finish second in the Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic on Wednesday, while the winner (Seeiaye) weakened to finish fourth in the very same race, Elio is both an Inglis and Magic Millions graduate so connections must feel he is better suited in this race.
Acrobat won the Inglis Nursery in 2020 (pic: inglis.com.au)
Gambling Addict Case Could Create a Precedent
Friday, 12th December 2025
Allegations against three of Australia's largest betting agencies are set to test the limits of legal and moral accountability in the online gambling industry, as a jailed former financial planner seeks to recover millions of dollars he stole from his own clients, according to Australia's ABC. The case, if successful, won't benefit him directly, but may offer some restitution to those whose savings he plundered to fund an out-of-control addiction. Gavin Fineff, currently serving a nine-year prison term for misappropriating over $3 million from 12 victims, has filed a Federal Court lawsuit targeting Sportsbet, Tabcorp and Entain – the parent company of Ladbrokes. His legal team contends the bookmakers not only failed to investigate the origins of the funds he wagered, but actively encouraged his behaviour by offering inducements and reactivating dormant accounts, all while bypassing basic due diligence. The lawsuit also names two former VIP customer managers, George Khoury and Steven Bedwell, alleging they incentivised Fineff to keep betting even after periods of abstinence. Claims include that they ignored telltale "red flag" behaviours and were financially rewarded through commissions based on net customer losses a structure critics argue disincentivises responsible conduct. Sydney barrister Geoffrey Watson SC, advising Fineff's team, believes the case could become a watershed moment for industry reform. "This is a landmark case. If this is successful, it will change the gambling industry in Australia a great deal," he told ABC Investigations. According to Watson, the companies' alleged knowledge of Fineff's vulnerability, and their decision to exploit it, is central to the claim for damages. Under anti-money laundering provisions, gambling companies are obligated to verify the source of substantial wagers. Yet despite earning just $130,000 a year, Fineff says he placed more than $50 million in bets in under two years, losing $3.6 million with BetEasy alone. Ladbrokes accepted losses exceeding $750,000 from him over a similar period, while Tabcorp allegedly waited until he had already lost $3.9 million before asking for income verification. Regulatory breaches have already been confirmed by the NT Racing Commission, resulting in fines to both BetEasy and Entain. Anger among Fineff's victims remains raw. Sharon Williams, whose mother died penniless after being defrauded, says the lawsuit offers little solace. "Gavin suing the betting companies is blatantly the pot calling the kettle black," she said. "His actions are not going to bring my mother Joy Williams back… The effects on families of those who gamble is devastating and long-reaching." Whether or not the court rules in Fineff's favour, scrutiny is likely to intensify over how the online gambling industry profits from its highest-stakes customers.
Japanese Trainer Believes Warrior is Beatable
Friday, 12th December 2025
Few visiting trainers arrive in Hong Kong with a clearer sense of purpose than Hiroyuki Uemura, who has long wanted to measure his stable star against the very best. That ambition will be realised in Sunday’s HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) at Sha Tin, where Bellagio Opera steps into the arena dominated in recent years by Romantic Warrior. Japan’s contender arrives with a résumé strong enough to justify the journey. A dual winner of the G1 Osaka Hai (2000m), Bellagio Opera is regarded as the horse most capable of denying Danny Shum’s champion a fourth consecutive victory in the race. Uemura acknowledges the scale of the task but maintains that a challenge of this magnitude is exactly why the horse was sent to Sha Tin. “It’s a big challenge,” he said. “I understand Romantic Warrior is a very big rival but I think our horse has a lot of quality and has the level to compete against him. As a trainer, that’s why we have brought him – to beat him.” That confidence is underscored by Uemura’s unusually hands-on horsemanship. Before turning to training in 2019, he forged a successful career as a jockey, highlighted by his G1 Sprinters Stakes (1200m) triumph aboard Sleepless Night in 2008. Although retired from the weighing room for more than a decade, he remains closely connected to the rhythm of Bellagio Opera’s work, having ridden him in exercise from his early days right through to this week’s trackwork at Sha Tin. The early spark came well before the colt’s debut, when Uemura purchased him at the Chiba Thoroughbred Sale and promptly climbed aboard. “Even before his debut,” he said. “I rode him before his debut myself, and I’ve been riding him since then. I understand that exercise riders and other riders should also ride him, but as I said, I’ve been riding him myself for a very long time. I know how he is, even detailed things. I can feel even very small differences in him.” That intimate understanding colours every decision the trainer makes. Bellagio Opera’s record offers further insight into his standing within the yard. Fourth in the 2023 G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, 2400m), he delivered Uemura a first elite-level victory as a trainer in last year’s Osaka Hai and has since produced top-three finishes in consecutive renewals of the G1 Takarazuka Kinen (2200m). His profile has naturally prompted discussion about a future at stud, though Uemura notes no final decision has been made. For now, the trainer’s focus remains squarely on the Cup and the opportunity it represents. Competing at this level carries substantial meaning for him, and the prospect of toppling the reigning champion would elevate the moment further. The race, he feels, offers a rare chance to see just how high Bellagio Opera can climb.
Mertens Can Spring Another Rich Sydney Heist
Friday, 12th December 2025
Momentum can shift quickly when a jockey finds the right horse, and for Beau Mertens the sense of timing around Sabaj’s rise has been unmistakable. The Melbourne rider, who has made a habit of striking in Sydney with limited opportunities, returns to Randwick on Saturday believing the trip north for The Ingham (1600m) could again prove worthwhile. His confidence stems from a gelding he has come to know intimately, even in a relatively short partnership. The wide draw has generated discussion, yet Mertens treats it as little more than a tactical detail rather than a genuine obstacle. “The ceiling is high for this horse, he’s always given me a great feel, the stable’s had a high opinion of him and leading into Saturday we’re pretty confident,” he said. He added that Randwick’s expansiveness should play to the horse’s strengths. “It’s a big track, a big mile race, and I think it’s going to suit him down to the ground. We’ve drawn wide but he’s plain and simple, you go back and you give him room to build into a race so I’m not worried by the draw. I know it’s far from ideal but he’s got the ability to overcome it.” Sabaj’s recent history at Randwick adds to that optimism. His first campaign for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr began there with an unlucky sixth in the Silver Eagle, a run Mertens still believes undersold the horse’s true ability. It was only in the lead-up to that race that he first climbed aboard, but the immediate impression was strong enough that the subsequent wins at Flemington and in the Cranbourne Cup felt like a natural progression. Wide gates and settling back were factors on both occasions, yet at no point did Mertens sense that the horse was out of contention. That certainty was reinforced at Cranbourne. “I could tell he’s a nice horse, they took their time with him and thankfully after a couple of starts I was able to partner up with him,” he said. The gelding’s uncomplicated nature, he added, is a key asset. “You don’t bustle him out of the gates, he puts himself in his own position and when you ask him to build into a race he’s got the gears there to get you out of trouble. The feel he gave me in the Cranbourne Cup was awesome, the way he built into the race I never felt I was going to be a loser.” Co-trainer Michael Kent Jnr shares that assessment, particularly regarding barrier dynamics. A seemingly ideal draw cost Sabaj in the Silver Eagle, he said, whereas Mertens “nailed the ride” at Cranbourne by keeping him within striking distance. With the four-year-old settled comfortably at Rosehill since midweek, the stable believes the gelding is only beginning to reveal his potential. As Kent Jnr put it: “We’ve got a very immature horse who is progressive… he’s still building in my opinion. He’s got a lot to furnish and he will keep getting better but I do think he is good enough.”
Tails Stakes Looks Like a Veritable Lottery
Friday, 12th December 2025
With a host of acceptances for Saturday's Listed Tails Stakes (1500m) having also accepted in other races both at Eagle Farm and Randwick, it makes it slightly tricky to preview the race. One that was dual accepted but has since been scratched from the other race is the Tony Gollan trained Torabella (Toronado-Pentamerous, by Pentire). Scratched from the Just Now Stakes, the 5yo mare interestingly drew barrier eight in both races, but connections have elected to start her here in what is possibly a harder race as it is against the boys as well, but she does carries considerably less weight and is therefore more fancied in the market. Fifth last start in the Listed Recognition Stakes over 1350m, the Peachester Lodge bred and raced mare looks as if she will appreciate the 1500m of Saturday's race, a distance she is yet to race over. Gollan will saddle up two in the race with the other being Warby (Hellbent-Speedboat, by Commands), who is currently the race favourite off the back of three consecutive placed efforts. Having not been able to record any black type since his debut when third in the Gr3 Black Opal some 30 starts ago, the gelding is consistent with almost $400,000 in earnings. Often thereabouts with more than $1m in earnings, the Kelly Schweida trained Miss Joelene Russian Revolution-Cellargirl, by More Than Ready) looks capable of another forward showing and should be watched late.
Pride Saddles Up Leading Razor Sharp Chances
Friday, 12th December 2025
Saturday's feature sprint race at Randwick, the Listed Razor Sharp (1200m) sees the Joe Pride stable saddle up two chances, the proven, race hardened 8YO gelding Coal Crusher (Turffontein-Media Academy, by Royal Academy), and the up and comer Weeping Woman (Lonhro-Cries And Whiskers, by Street Cry) who is stepping up to black type racing for the first time. A winner of the $1m Gr2 The Hunter last time, the $2.7m earner Coal Crusher has since gone to the barrier trials, winning over 799m. Lumped with 61kgs on Saturday, jockey Adam Hyeronimus will jump the gelding from barrier 6 in the 13-horse field and as he likes to lead, it will be interesting to see if any of the lighter weighted runners try to take him on. Never out of the top three in her four starts over the 1200m, Weeping Woman also has pedigree on her side being bred on the pedigree cross that has produced 14 winners from 22 runners headed by Gr1 winners Attica and Lyre. With Zac Lloyd in the saddle, the pair will jump from barrier five, and like her stablemate Coal Crusher, she does like to go forward and settle handy so it will be an interesting early on when runners are trying to sort themselves out.
Lord Allen Warns UK Needs Urgent Collaboration
Friday, 12th December 2025
A call for urgent collaboration echoed through the Gimcrack Dinner at York this week, with British Horseracing Authority chair Lord Allen warning that the sport was facing a “burning platform” moment, reports racingpost.com. Addressing industry stakeholders in one of his first major public appearances since taking up the post in September, Allen acknowledged that British racing had deep-rooted issues but insisted that with collective effort, it could reorient itself to thrive. Central to his message was the need for racing to sharpen its commercial focus, improve its communication strategies, and give far greater weight to consumer experience. “There’s no silver bullet,” he told broadcaster Lydia Hislop, “but I genuinely believe if I look at this from a commercial perspective then we can bring in a lot more money than we do currently.” Allen said the sport was failing to articulate its product to punters and lacked cohesion when it came to promoting itself both internally and externally. Reflecting on his tenure since being appointed, Allen said he had spent the time listening to voices across the industry. While acknowledging that the BHA does not control all facets of the sport, he identified a leadership role for the organisation through what he described as the “five Cs”: convene, collaborate, commercialise, communicate, and consumer. “We bring people together to convene,” he said. “What do we all think, how can we move it forward? Collaboration is a role we can play. Can we commercialise better? I believe we can, if we’re much more collaborative.” Allen also expressed dismay that racing had not been customer-focused enough. “We don’t really talk about our customers and consumers,” he said, arguing that punters and racegoers – the ones who “pay our wages” – had been overlooked. “We need to do that much, much more.” He stressed that clearer communication and more investment in fan engagement were key if the sport was to grow its audience. On the political front, Allen praised the united front shown by the industry on his first day in the job during the launch of the ‘Axe The Racing Tax’ campaign in Westminster. “That’s what you need to do to influence government,” he said. However, he made clear that one campaign was not enough. A sustained three-year strategy would be needed to foster meaningful government engagement, he said. Improved ties with bookmakers were another priority. Allen suggested there was a shared interest in tackling what he called the “black economy” – an estimated £80 billion in offshore, unregulated global wagering from which neither the Treasury nor the sport receives any benefit. He revealed that an agreement had been reached with the Levy Board to inject £4 million into the national marketing campaign, ‘The Going Is Good,’ but said it was only a start. “We want bums on seats,” he said. “I really need your help in this room to get people to move forward collaboratively.”
Oaks And Derby Winner is Starstruck
Friday, 12th December 2025
Highly talented 4YO mare Machine Gun Gracie (Maschino-Gracie May, by Written Tycoon) resumes this Saturday in the Listed Starstruck Classic (1600m) at Ascot. A winner of four from six, including the oaks and Derby in WA, the Justine Erkelens-trained mare really came into her own when she stepped up over a middle-distance trip so it's pleasing to see her kick off her campaign over a mile with two solid trial efforts under her belt. Purchased for just $45,000 from the draft Scenic Lodge by John Chalmers Bloodstock and Erkelens Racing, the filly has already earned connections over $550,000 with the promise of more to come. With Shaun O'Donnell continuing his association with the mare, the pair have drawn ideally in barrier 4 and with Machine Gun Gracie often sitting in a forward position, she looks to be hard to beat. The Grant and Alana Williams trained Storyville (Overshare-New Orleans, by Time Thief) will be dropping back from the Gr1 Railway Stakes (1600m) last time out where she failed to make an impression, but interestingly the start prior she won the Gr3 R J Peters Stakes (1500m), with the third placed Cosmic Crusader (Maurice) coming out and winning the Listed Carbine Club Stakes and the Gr1 Northerly Stakes at his next two starts, suggesting that the three time stakes winners should not be ignored here at all.
Wide Draw for Gr2 Ingham Favourites
Friday, 12th December 2025
With 24 final acceptances (including four emergencies) for Saturday's $2m G2 The Ingham (1600m), race favourite Gringotts (Per Incanto-Miss Bluebell, by Savabeel) not only has to jump from the outside barrier, but has to carry topweight of 61kgs, while second favourite Sabaj (Manhattan Rain-Bouzy, by Uncle M), a last start winner of the Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m) has drawn barrier 22 but will carry equal bottom weight of just 53kgs, a massive eight kilo difference! Also well in the money is last start Gr3 Festival Stakes winner Yorkshire (Snitzel-Chanteline, by Majesticperfection) who has drawn barrier 16 and will benefit the most from the emergencies coming out as he will come in quite a few gates. Gringotts has been unstoppable of late, putting together two impressive wins carrying big weights, so while that should not pose an issue come Saturday, if he does too much work, or is stuck out wide, then the barrier could come into play especially when you consider that in his past two starts he has drawn barriers 5 and 4, so was able to secure a lovely run in transit. Another who is stuck out wide, as she was last start when charging into second behind Yorkshire in the Festival Stakes, Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou's Arctic Glamour (Frosted-Fartoo Flashy, by Galileo) has not been in such solid form since her 3yo campaign, so respect must be given to the in form mare.
Rush Of Gold at Ascot's Rich Feature
Friday, 12th December 2025
With every runner in Saturday's Gr3 Gold Rush (1400m) except one, coming off a last start effort in either the Gr1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m), Gr1 Railway Stakes (1600m) or the Gr1 Northerly Stakes (1800m), the $1.5m race is sure to be highly competitive. Having failed in his only two starts over 1400m, surely Overpass (Vancouver-Walkway, by Exceed And Excel) must be a slight risk here over the trip, but with $12.4m in earnings and four wins and a second from six starts at the track, Bjorn Baker's warhorse will look the winner at some stage. With a slightly unorthodox approach, Cosmic Crusader (Maurice-Cosmic Storm, by Street Sense) finished second in the Gr3 R J Peters Stakes (1500m), dropped back to the 1400m to win the Listed Carbine Club Stakes before stepping up to the 1800m last Saturday and became the seventh Gr1 winner for his Arrowfield Stud based sire when winning the Northerly Stakes, and now one week later he is dropping back to 1400m. With his versatility on show of late, the Peters Investments bred and raced gelding has to be the one to beat here. In the top two on six occasions from seven starts at 1400m, the Steve Wolfe trained Rope Them In (Playing God-Lead Rope, by Real Jester) is coming through the Winterbottom where he finished fourth, but it's worth noting his effort the start prior when finishing a narrow second over 1400m in the Gr3 Asian Beau Stakes which should see him right in the finish here.
Overpass needs to be kept very safe (pic: inglis.com.au)
