Seven days in … racing – A Golden path to racing riches
In this edition:
- Trial and trepidation – Ka Ying Rising’s Everest dress rehearsal pivotal for Hayes
- Capital idea – Slot holder Harron takes up Everest challenge with Yulong sprinter
- Three BRC directors to face re-election as club reports boost in profit
- Port Lincoln racing season on hold amid track surface concerns
- Tasracing board set for major refresh
- ‘Significant doubts about its ability to survive’ – Cooke turns blowtorch on ATC’s financial future
- MRC boosts revenue to record levels but strategy change puts it in the red
- Clubs’ card marked? Racing NSW turns up heat on the ATC
When the Peter Pan Stakes morphed into the Golden Rose, it became one of the boldest Sydney carnival moves in years.
For several decades, Sydney’s spring was built around a small Group 1 offering of races such as the Epsom Handicap and the Metropolitan Handicap.
They were the focal point, and remained so even when the Golden Rose was given Group 1 recognition in 2009.
Like the Epsom and the Metropolitan, the Golden Rose is overshadowed nowadays as the Sydney carnival runs much deeper into the spring season.
Nevertheless, racing purists can mount a strong argument that the Golden Rose is an unsung hero of the Sydney spring.
A set-weights event for three-year-olds run at Rosehill over 1400m, the Golden Rose has an honour roll littered with future stallions, and therefore that makes it an important industry race.
Golden Rose success is coveted by the superpowers of the breeding world, such as Darley, Newgate, Arrowfield and Coolmore.
Darley, mainly through its racing operation Godolphin, has won the race six times and has the favourite Tempted running on Saturday in its bid for a seventh.
It is a legitimate Group 1 contest that – whether by accident or design – fits into Australia’s spring pattern of racing that has been upended by an administrative need for instant gratification.
The timing of the race gives these high-class three-year-olds options for the remainder of the spring.
They can press forward to the Caulfield Guineas over 1600m or wait a few more weeks to take up the challenge of coming back in distance to contest the Coolmore Stud Stakes over 1200m, another Group 1 race that can make-or-break stud deals.
Coolmore will be hoping for a Wodeton or State Visit victory as a tribute to their stallion Wootton Bassett, who died this week. Both could carry on Wootton Bassett’s legacy for many years to come if either one of them can salute.
A Golden Rose victory will also mean just as much, perhaps more, to New Zealander Glenn Ritchie.
Ritchie owns Autumn Boy, one of the leading fancies who will be trying to emulate his sire The Autumn Sun as a Golden Rose winner.
Colleague Tim Rowe caught up with Autumn Boy’s breeder Richard Rutherford to get an insight into the colt’s background.
Kiwis Rutherford and Ritchie enjoying the ride with Autumn Boy on way to potential spring Group 1
The Golden Rose was inaugurated and run under the auspices of the Sydney Turf Club before its merger with the Australian Jockey Club.
It is now an Australian Turf Club (ATC) race, but who knows if it will serve as a welcome distraction for the embattled organisation on Saturday.
The ATC has come under attack this week from Racing NSW chair Saranne Cooke in a detailed piece of correspondence to the state’s racing “participants” as she outlined the reasons for Racing NSW’s decision to issue a show-cause notice to the club.
Seemingly, Cooke left little wiggle room for the ATC to mount a case, prompting a broader look from Bren O’Brien at the future of the regulator-versus-club landscape in Australian racing.
Tasmania has also been a hotbed for administrative issues during the week, with concerns surrounding integrity and welfare, as well as a pending refresh of the Tasracing board.
In Queensland, voting is underway to elect three board members to the Brisbane Racing Club committee, while in Victoria, the most significant figure in the Melbourne Racing Club’s annual report is a $14.7 million deficit, compared to a $8.8 million deficit in the previous financial year.
On the carnival front, Hong Kong idol Ka Ying Rising has landed in Sydney for his $20 million Everest bid, while there are two overseas withdrawals for our major races.
English St Leger winner Scandinavia won’t be coming for the Melbourne Cup and Frankel colt Luther will miss the Golden Eagle.
As for the ins, it has been a busy week for Everest slot announcements with Angel Capital and Skybird securing starts.
What you may have missed this week:
- ATC promises strong response to solvency qualms raised by Racing NSW
- More stewarding troubles in Tasmanian racing
- Follow the money: Why greyhound advocates want Kiwi and Tassie punters banned from betting on the dogs
- ‘A crazy ride to the moon.’ – Yolo bids farewell to the grey market and aims to take crypto betting into the regulated market
- Betr not beaten, vows to continue PointsBet fight
- Yulong joins Charm Stone syndicate at cost of $310,000
- Run The Numbers – The beauty of the blue hen
- Rowe On Monday – Spring bases loaded for The Autumn Sun, US stud fees warning, Capital decisions await Yulong
Free Melbourne Form Previews, plus Price Assessments and Mounting Yard Mail
Saturday Results
July 24% POT
August 28% POT
September to date 34% POT
Don’t forget to check out this week’s episode of the Straight Talk Podcast where Bren O’Brien and Tim Rowe reflect on the loss of Wootton Bassett, chat to Inglis’ James Price about the growing racing presence in China and cover the show cause notice issued to the ATC.
Straight Talk – The loss of Wootton Bassett, James Price on China’s racing growth plus what does the ATC’s spat with Racing NSW mean?
Enjoy your Group 1 racing weekend,
Warwick Barr
Senior Editor
The Straight
