Week in Rowe-view

‘I have no doubt that South African runners will be competitive here’

Expatriate South African trainer Mat de Kock, one half of the Griffiths-de Kock racing operation at Cranbourne and the son of champion trainer Mike de Kock, has implored his home country breeders to step up to the plate at the Bloodstock South Africa National Yearling Sale. Young de Kock, who has trained 218 winners, eight... Read More

‘I think the expectations out there are a bit greater than what’s really happening at the moment’

Long-time Australian owner and breeder Max Whitby says he’s never seen anything like what he witnessed at the Inglis Easter sale this week – and he’s not referring to the $10 million daughter of Winx (Street Cry). Whitby sold three yearlings through the North draft at the Easter sale: a $350,000 Ole Kirk (Written Tycoon)... Read More

‘If you wanted racing to boom, you’d put the best CEOs that they could afford’

If we needed a reminder about how important it is to keep the government onside when it comes to horse racing and gambling, the closure of the sport in Macau and the impending demise of Singapore certainly provides it. Decorated Kiwi trainer Stephen Gray and his wife Bridget, who experienced a “life-changing” 24 years running... Read More

Macau’s racing journey comes to an end

The Macau Jockey Club hosts its final race meeting on Saturday with a 14-race card, providing trainers, jockeys and hundreds of stable staff and administrators, who are facing career oblivion, one last chance to shine at Taipa. It’s almost certain that racing in Macau will end for good, having hosted thoroughbred racing since 1989, its... Read More

Number of factors conspired against HK sale as prices plummet

ong Kong racing all–rounder Apollo Ng suggests there’s no need to jump at shadows after a below par Hong Kong International Sale. A former Chinese language race caller, the media identity and bloodstock agent, among other roles, says a number of factors conspired against the Jockey Club’s 14-lot sale of three-year-olds where prices plummeted and... Read More

Meeting set to decide Goulburn’s future

On the Goulburn Race Club website it says its freehold racecourse and facilities allows it to be “in charge of its own destiny and has no constraints”. The relocation of the Goulburn racecourse, from Braidwood Road to Taralga Road, was funded in the mid-1990s by the then Fahey state Liberal government and the new course... Read More