Daily News | 24th May 2013
Sheikh Mohammed Orders Total UAE Steroid Ban
Friday, 24th May 2013A "decree" which will have "immediate effect" has been ordered to be drafted by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum "rendering the import, sale, purchase and use of anabolic steroids in all horse-related sports in the United Arab Emirates a criminal offence", reports thoroughbreddailynews.com. Sheikh Mohammed confirmed in a godolphin.com statement: "I have always believed in the integrity of horse racing and all other horse sports. I have, in light of the unfortunate recent event, directed that a decree be issued making, with immediate effect, the import, sale, purchase or use of anabolic steroids in horse sports a criminal offence under the UAE penal laws. Regrettably, one of my stables in Europe has recently fallen below the standards that I expect and will tolerate. As soon as the internal investigations are complete and the requisite preemptory rules are put in place, Godolphin will go from strength to strength and lead, once again, adherence to the highest standards in that gracious sport."CEO Search For TVN Continues
Friday, 24th May 2013Following leading candidate and former Football Federation of Australia head Ben Buckley's decision to join Foxtel, the TVN board has moved to shortlist five candidates for it's chief executive role, reports theage.com.au. The other front-running candidate, News Limited's Michael Miller, has opted to instead take up the role of chief executive at APN. The TVN board is set to convene next Thursday to discuss the shortlist which includes acting chief executive Stephen Dole and former Channel Seven employee Peter Lewis. The TVN CEO position looms as a pivotal upcoming appointment and "will be key in building a strong premium racing network, which controls the vision rights for Victoria and NSW racing."Inglis Great Southern Sale Day-3: Final Statistics
Friday, 24th May 2013Following the third and final day's trade at the Inglis Great Southern Sale, turnover had pushed through the $3 million mark. In total, across the three days, 448 lots were sold for a gross of $3,114,650 with the clearance rate remaining steady at 77 per cent. Inglis Melbourne director Peter Heagney summarised events, "The sale ended on a very strong note with good demand for horses in the racehorse section, something for which the Melbourne sales have become recognised for ... Although the broodmare section showed the soft demand at the lower end of the market, the racehorse section continued to attract spirited bidding with many new buyers appearing on the result sheets ... A highlight at the end of the sale was popular long time Inglis employee Ian Baird auctioning the last lot of the day before his forthcoming retirement in July."German Imports To Target Spring
Friday, 24th May 2013Best known for their recent acquisitions of Lucas Cranach and Mawingo, Australian Bloodstock has again turned to Germany for their latest imported duo, Waldpark (Dubawi-Wurftaube, by Acatenango) and Salon Soldier (Soldier Hollow-Salonblue, by Bluebird) who will commence racing in Australia this spring, reports racingandsports.com.au. Salon Soldier will be trained by Kris Lees with a view to the Gr1 Caulfield Cup while Anthony Freedman has the job of setting Waldpark for the Gr1 Cox Plate. Waldpark won the €500,000 (A$685,000) Gr1 Deutsches Derby (2400m) in 2011, while Salon Soldier is Gr3 placed over 2000m.Nolen Bullish About 10000 Quest
Friday, 24th May 2013Despite being at the despised odds of $31 in early TAB markets, leading jockey Luke Nolen's intuition suggests the Gr3 winning imported galloper My Quest For Peace (Galileo-Play Misty For Me, by Danehill Dancer) should be at a more prohibitive quote for tomorrow's Gr1 Doomben 10000 (1350m). With fellow OTI Racing owned imports Manighar and Ibicenco flying the flag already, Nolan has suggested that My Quest For Peace possesses the attributes that put him in the frame on the weekend. He enthused, "In my experience – and I've had a fair bit of it with these European horses that make Australia home – of all the horses I've experienced, he possesses the nicest turn of foot ... He's a really nice horse. If he gets the right run on Saturday, I think he's a sneaky (chance)." My Quest For Peace showed a glimpse of his potential when fifth in the 2012 running of the Gr1 Caulfield Cup. Nolan added, "He's trained up nicely for this and these are the only logical races around for a horse of his class at this time of year. We might as well enjoy the sunshine with him and have a throw at the stumps."
Boss Sets New Prizemoney Mark
Friday, 24th May 2013Leading jockey Glen Boss has set a new benchmark for the most prizemoney won during a season on Victorian tracks after riding Ebony Eyes into fourth position in the $30,000 Sportsbet.com.au Top Tote Plus Showcase Handicap (1100m) at Ballarat. His balance grew to $9,216,360. A large portion of his winnings was garnered from his victory aboard Ocean Park in last year's $3 million Gr1 Cox Plate. He also looks certain to cap off a terrific season in the saddle needing only one further winner to make it 100 for 2012-2013.NSW Parades Provincial Cups
Friday, 24th May 2013The Hawkesbury Race Club has changed the date of the $150,000 Gr3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m) to set-up a procession of three big NSW provincial cups, reports racenet.com.au. Formerly run on Oaks day in November, the directors of Hawkesbury voted to move the race onto their programme on August 22 to create a lead-up to the Gr1 Epsom Handicap as well as a stepping stone to the $150,000 Listed Wyong Gold Cup (2100m) on September 6 and the $200,000 Gr3 Newcastle Cup (2300m) on September 19. Hawkesbury CEO Brian Fletcher stated that results at the weekend in Queensland and Brisbane are vindication for the Pattern Committee to review the current Listed grade status of the Rowley Mile, Hawkesbury Guineas and Darley Crown, which headlined Hawkesbury's successful stand-alone Saturday meeting on May 4.Yesterday's Winners: By Stallion
Friday, 24th May 2013The following Breeding&Racing Daily News stallions had winners or placed runners in Australia or New Zealand yesterday. Click on any of their names for in-depth statistics and progeny information... Casino Prince, Collate, Dane Shadow, Flying Spur, Good Journey, Hussonet, Natural Destiny, Saxon, Show A Heart, Snippetson, Snitzel & Strada.Latest Hong Kong Aust-Bred & NZ-Bred Non-Stakes Winners
Friday, 24th May 2013Courtesy of Arion Pedigrees, below are the latest Australian and/or New Zealand-bred Hong Kong winners:- 22/05/2013 Ocean Roar (NZ) 2008 (G by Towkay - Crystal Jet); 1st HKJC Ho Chung River H. HK$540,000, 1000m - Earning HK$307,800.
- 22/05/2013 River of Riches - Easy to Rich (H.K.) (NZ) 2008 (G by Captain Rio - Serotina); 1st HKJC Kam Tin River H. HK$700,000, 1200m - Earning HK$399,000. Passed in by Birtwick Stables at 2010 South Island 2YO & MIxed Sale for $8,000. Sold by Matakana Thoroughbreds at 2010 National Yearling Sale for $6,000 & subsequently sold by Westbury Stud at the 2009 National Broodmare & Mixed Sale for $4,500.
- 22/05/2013 Oyster (NZ) 2006 (G by Black Minnaloushe - Deputise); 1st HKJC Lam Tsuen River H. HK$700,000, 1650m - Earning HK$399,000. Sold by G. & H. McCarthy at 2007 National Weanling Sale for $25,000 & subsequently sold by Berkley Stud at 2008 South Island Sale for $20,000.
- 22/05/2013 Multivictory (NZ) 2009 (G by Bachelor Duke - Palmy) ; 1st HKJC Sauternes Cup HK$950,000, 1200m - Earning HK$541,500. Sold by The Oaks Stud at 2011 National Yearling Sale for $60,000.
- 22/05/2013 Pragmatist - Galaxy Prancer (H.K.) (AUS) 2008 (G by Canny Lad - Material Girl); 1st HKJC Shan Pui River H. HK$950,000, 1650m - Earning HK$541,500
- 22/05/2013 Fun Rider (AUS) 2006 (G by Encosta de Lago - Danesty); 1st HKJC Tan Shan River H. HK$1,400,000, 1650m - Earning HK$798,000. Sold by Coolmore Stud at 2008 Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $350,000 & subsequently sold by Hong Kong Jockey Club at the 2008 Hong Kong International Sale for $2,200,000.
Medaglia D'oro Adds US Black-Type
Friday, 24th May 2013At Delaware Park in the US, Darley's multiple Gr1-winning shuttler Medaglia D'oro (El Prado-Cappucino Bay, by Bailjumper) added a stakes success when 5YO mare Onepointhreekarats (Medaglia D'oro-Beaties for Real, by Unreal Zeal) scored by 2-lengths for trainer H.Motion in the US$51,625 Listed Winter Melody Stakes (1.06 miles) for 3YO+, over fellow 5YO mare Bryan's Jewel (Rockport Harbor-Saphiria, by Touch Gold) & Ciguaraya (Latent Heat-Casanova Striker, by Smart Strike). Having her first start since late December 2012, Onepointhreekarats took her record to 5 wins (also including the Listed Thirty Eight Go Go Stakes) & 4 placing from 13 starts.Ahern Banned For A Decade
Friday, 24th May 2013After being judged guilty of corruption, leading jockey Eddie Ahern "has been banned from racing for 10 years by the British Horseracing Authority for a series of breaches of the anti-corruption rules", reports guardian.co.uk. Ex West Bromwich Albion professional footballer Neil Clement "has also been banned from the sport for 15 years and three months for using information from Ahern to lay bets against his horses on the Betfair betting exchange." Ahern was found guilty of having "deliberately prevented Judgethemoment, a six-year-old gelding trained by Jane Chapple-Hyam, from running on its merits in a two-mile handicap at Lingfield on 21 January 2011". Clements' phone records were shown to have "showed frequent contacts with Ahern" and Clement "was found to have placed a number of "lay" bets against Judgethemoment, including a spread bet which risked a maximum loss of £41,500 in order to win £8,500." Lay bets on four additional horses were also made by Clement "on the basis of inside information received from the jockey". Ahern was the champion apprentice in Ireland in 1997 and tallied 140 winners in his peak year in the saddle of 2006. His Gr1 wins include the 1999 Moyglare Stud Stakes and 2011 Irish St Leger. Christopher Stewart-Moore, Ahern's solicitor, commented on the outcome, "Eddie Ahern is absolutely devastated. He did not breach the rules of racing as found by the panel and he will be appealing both the findings as well as the very harsh penalties imposed on him."Judge Courts Guineas Decision
Friday, 24th May 2013In UK racing news, it has been announced that Just The Judge (Lawman-Faraday Light, by Rainbow Quest) will contest the Irish 1,000 Guineas, reports racingpost.com. Runner-up to Sky Lantern (Red Clubs-Shawanni, by Shareef Dancer) in the £400,000 Gr1 1000 Guineas, Just the Judge's trainer Charlie Hills confirmed the filly will take her chance when tweeting on Wednesday evening: "Just The Judge will run in the Irish 1,000 Guineas on Sunday after pleasing myself, Jamie Spencer and David Redvers this morning." Owned by Qatar Racing and the Sangster family, Just the Judge has recorded 3 wins (including the Gr2 Rockfel Stakes over 1400m & Listed Washington Singer Stakes over 1400m) and 1 placing from 4 starts.Dettori Licence In Holding Pattern
Friday, 24th May 2013Frankie Dettori's legal representative Christopher Stewart-Moore has contacted the BHA with a view to the regulator revising its stance which has impacted upon the Italian jockey's protracted exile from the sport, reports turftrax.com. France Galop banned Dettori for six months after he tested positive for cocaine at Longchamp last September and the BHA said it is awaiting results of three additional tests taken from Dettori by France Galop's medical committee before the jockey can even be reconsidered for a licence. Stewart-Moore said the three samples were taken at a time when he was an unlicensed individual, which should not have any influence in the BHA's decision to veto his return. Stewart-Moore said: "I am awaiting a response from the BHA. What we are looking for is a further hearing with the licensing committee. The licensing committee has already decided he is fit and ready to race, and there should be nothing to stop him. Frankie is very willing to pay for, and subject himself to, further tests in the first six months of his return." In a statement on Wednesday, the BHA commented: "We have today again spoken to France Galop regarding Frankie Dettori. They have confirmed to us that the issue sits with their medical committee, and that the specifics of the case have to remain confidential between the committee and Mr Dettori. They are unable to provide us with any further information at this stage."Frankel Brother On Tap For Goodwood
Friday, 24th May 2013Frankel's full brother, 4YO entire Noble Mission (Galileo-Kind, by Danehill) is among those nominated for the Listed Tapster Stakes on Saturday, reports thoroughbrednews.com.au. Lord Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah, commented: "As far as I know, Noble Mission is likely to run at Goodwood on Saturday. He has been in good form and did very well physically from three to four so we had good expectations for him this year. The way the race was run at Newmarket didn't really suit him, but he has got to step up to the mark better than he has so far this season." Noble Mission has recorded 3 wins (including 2012's Gr3 Gordon Stakes & Listed Newmarket Stakes) and 5 placings from 10 starts.Giant Back In Belmont Picture
Friday, 24th May 2013In US Triple Crown news, Gr1 Kentucky Derby 10th place-getter Giant Finish (Front Giant-Apocalyptic, by Hickman Creek) is on target for the Gr1 Belmont Stakes, reports drf.com. Trainer Tony Dutrow wasn't keen to run the horse in the Derby but said before the race, "My clients wish to race and obviously I'm going to honour their decision." On Wednesday, Dutrow noted, "I was happily surprised that he beat half the field [in the Kentucky Derby]. I think the horse gave us a great effort and under all circumstances considered I respect him getting a chance in the Belmont. I'm not making any predictions, but I do think the mile and a half will be good for our horse." Giant Finish has won 2 of his 6 starts, and placed 3rd in the Gr3 Spiral Stakes in March.Belmont Plans To Protect Fans
Friday, 24th May 2013In the lead-in to the third leg of the US Triple Crown, the Gr1 Belmont Stakes on June 8, the New York Racing Association "has revised its security policies and procedures for fans attending the 145th running" of the prestigious race, reports bloodhorse.com. On the back of "heightened public security concerns in recent weeks", the NYRA in conjunction with "federal, state, and local law enforcement officials, as well as racing sand security officials in Kentucky and Maryland" will employ an "electronic wand search at admission gates as well as at employee, vendor, and media entrances." In addition, all items taken onto the track will be "subject to search by NYRA security and law enforcement partners." In a statement, Sidney Anthony, NYRA vice president of security, explained, "The security of our fans, employees and athletes is paramount ... Some of these policies are new for 2013, while others will be familiar from previous years. We encourage everyone to read the information carefully to minimize inconvenience and help us ensure a fun and safe Belmont Stakes day experience for all."Miracle Horses Survive Twister
Friday, 24th May 2013A representative of the Celestial Acres Training Center in Moore, Oklahoma, said 34 horses had been found alive as of Wednesday following Monday's tornado. Tony Vann, a spokesperson for Glenn Orr and his son Tom, who own the facilities, told drf.com on Wednesday that numbers are hard to quantify at this point. "Compounding things is that there are two other horse farms in that area and you can't identify [the origin of some horses]. There's a lot of things going on." A handful of racehorses were rescued from the rubble of the training centre and were sent to Remington Park in Oklahoma City on Wednesday. Heritage Place, the nearby sales complex, has agreed to receive any other rescued horses and hold them until their owners can be found, said Joe Lucas, executive vice president of the Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma. Lucas said five racehorses, identified by their lip tattoos and with proper paperwork in place, were shipped to Remington. Remington will race on Friday for the first time since the storm hit. A moment of silence in honor of the lives lost and the lives shattered due to the tornado will be observed prior to the start of the card, said Dale Day, a spokesperson for Remington.Moreira In US Visa Hold-Up
Friday, 24th May 2013Three-time Singaporean champion jockey Joao Moreira is waiting on visa clearance from the USA before he can add a 14th country to his passport, reports thoroughbrednews.com.au. Moreira was approached last week by US trainer Wesley Ward to ride some of his horses at Churchill Downs, Kentucky, this weekend. A former jockey who rode in Bukit Timah and Malaysia in the 80s, Ward actually wanted Moreira to be in the US earlier this week, prior to facing Visa issues. Moreira, who, before he came to Singapore in 2009, had only his native Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, France and Dubai on his overseas resume, has since been on a whirlwind world tour. Usually invited for hit-and-run missions or jockeys' challenges, Moreira has ridden in eight countries in the last four years since he has been based at Kranji, namely Singapore, Australia, Sweden, Germany, South Africa, Hong Kong, Macau and Malaysia.
