READ TODAY'S ISSUESNOW AT ROSEHILL
Sydney Turf Club is literally bringing the snow to Sydney for its Winter Wonderland Raceday on Saturday which features the running of the $100,000 Winter Championship. To tie in with the winter theme, the Club has commissioned a giant snow-making machine that will be used to create a snowfield on the lawn at Rosehill Gardens, spanning approximately 100m².
BLETCHINGLY RE-DRAW
The field for tomorrow’s Bletchingly Stakes (Gr 3) over 1200m at Caulfield had to be re-drawn yesterday after the Mark Young-trained Secret Flyer (Secret Savings) was added to the field after an administration error.
RACING BACK AT LAUNCESTON
Racing returns to Launceston on Sunday for the opening meet of the new season. The meeting was scheduled for Thursday but all three Launceston meetings in August have been moved from Thursdays to Sundays (1st, 15th and 29th).
JAPANESE HORSES CLEARED TO RUN IN SPRING CARNIVAL
Entries already declared intention to come for Cups
The Federal Government has effectively given the go-ahead for Japanese horses to race in Australia after approving two pre-export quarantine facilities in Tokyo and Nakayama. Japanese horses have been banned from travelling to Australia since Equine Influenza outbreaks in both countries in 2007.
When they last competed in Australia, stablemates Delta Blues (Dance In The Dark) and Pop Rock (Helissio) finished first and second in the 2006 Melbourne Cup. This followed Eye Popper’s (Soccer Boy) second place finish in the Caulfield Cup in 2005.
“This now paves the way for Japanese horses to travel to Australia. The approval of the pre-export facilities at Tokyo and Nakayama was the final piece in the jigsaw puzzle with Tokyo the preferred venue for Spring Racing Carnival aspirants,” Racing Victoria General Manger – Racing Operations, Leigh Jordon, said yesterday.
STUD NEWS
Makybe Diva To Lonhro
Tony Santic’s three-time Melbourne Cup winner and Horse of the Year Makybe Diva has been booked to Lonhro for the 2010 season. Makybe Diva is due to have her fourth foal next month while Lonhro has quickly established himself as one of Australia’s leading sires.
“We feel honoured that the Makybe team have selected Lonhro for this iconic mare,” Darley’s Australian managing director Henry Plumptre said yesterday. “I have tremendous respect for what Tony and Deslee Santic have achieved as breeders. I hope this will continue with this very exciting mating of champions.”
Makybe Diva has produced two colts and a filly since she was retired from racing in 2005 after winning her third Melbourne Cup.Her 2007 colt by Galileo sold for $1.5 million as a yearling and is named Rockstardom, believed to be close to making his race debut for Melbourne trainer Danny O’Brien. Makybe Diva’s Fusaichi Pegasus filly sold to trainer Mark Kavanagh for $1.2 million at this year’s Easter Sale. Makybe Diva has a weanling colt by Encosta de Lago and is due to foal to More Than Ready (USA) late in August.
INDUSTRY NEWS
Ladbrokes Among Victorian Wagering Licence Applicant
British-based bookmaking firm Ladbrokes are among three candidates for Victoria’s wagering licence. Gaming Minister Tony Robinson on Thursday announced Tabcorp, Tatts Group and Ladbrokes had been invited to apply for the multi-billion dollar wagering licence, confirming the successful applicants had been shortlisted from a strong field of local and international wagering operators.
“Victoria’s wagering and sports betting industry worth more than $4 billion a year and attracted interest from some of the biggest and most established wagering ventures in the world,” he said. “The level of interest shown is a testament to the strength and prestige of Victoria’s racing industry.”