Week in Rowe-view

Thoroughbred Breeders NSW oppose appointment of Greene

“I regret the Romans for giving us the phrase ‘status quo’ because it is a perverse phrase at this current time in this industry,” Thoroughbred Breeders NSW president Hamish Esplin told us on Wednesday when outlining the state’s breeding body’s understandable disapproval and clear opposition to the appointment of former Labor Racing Minister Kevin Greene... Read More

How will Nine get a mass audience of casual fans and punters?

Channel Nine had been in the box seat to secure the Melbourne Cup Carnival free-to-air television broadcast rights for some time but this week the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) and Tabcorp made it official by announcing a six-year deal. With Channel Ten’s $100 million five-year deal expiring after the four days of Flemington last November,... Read More

Culham recovering after scare

Popular Magic Millions bloodstock consultant Ben Culham is recovering at home on the Gold Coast after a frightening incident that left him seriously injured about a fortnight ago. How, where and why the roadside incident occurred, which left him with head injuries, and who was responsible for it remains a mystery, but it’s one that... Read More

“In time we’d like to think we’ll enter into the stallion game”

Ridgmont Farm’s Cunningham family are among the biggest financial beneficiaries of the sale of boom Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m)-winning colt Storm Boy (Justify) to Coolmore. It’s a deal, which was finally confirmed on Wednesday, that could value the two-year-old at more than $50 million – and possibly $62.5 million – if he continues... Read More

Options open for Group 1 winner Atishu

Dual Group 1-winning mare Atishu (Savabeel) is likely to be retired at the end of her autumn campaign, but Go Racing’s Albert Bosma hasn’t ruled out continuing on with the rising seven-year-old mare in the spring if her form warrants it. The Chris Waller-trained Atishu has won the Queen Of The Turf Stakes (Gr 1,... Read More

Plenty of optimism in New Zealand racing industry

There’s plenty of optimism in the Kiwi racing industry, buoyed by this week’s injection of new money, via the NZ$4.5 million The NZB Kiwi (1500m) and a reshaped summer-autumn carnival, but New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing chief executive Bruce Sharrock isn’t resting on his laurels. Among the 2018-tabled Messara Report’s recommendations was the outsourcing of the... Read More