Straight Up –  What do the ATC board changes mean for Rosehill sale?

In this edition: 

• Anti-Rosehill sale campaigners Hale, English win spots on ATC board
• Kia Ora and Vinery Stud owner Ananda Krishnan passes away
• Savage but irresistible – Why a Sydney satellite stable makes so much sense for Victorian trainers
• Winterbottom wonder – the breeder behind the rise of WA’s next sprinting star
• Butchers take slice of Edinburgh Park for $6.6 million
• Geisel Park mourning death of Yankee Rose’s sire All American
• Straight Talk Podcast with guest Will Johnson

Of the 3792 votes cast in the Australian Turf Club’s board elections, 2172 were for the three candidates who had stated their opposition to the sale of Rosehill racecourse.

That is 57.3 per cent of the vote split between the two successful candidates, Tim Hale and Annette English, and the third-placed David Walter.

That makes you wonder how likely it is that the ATC will get over 50 per cent member approval when it takes the Rosehill decision to the member at a special general meeting in April next year.

There is still a lot of water to flow under the bridge in the Rosehill discussion, and chairman Peter McGauran told members at the AGM that the due diligence is far from complete, but even the most hardened supporter of the Rosehill sale would have to admit that the polling numbers do not look good.

With vice-chairman Hale’s position strengthened through his re-election and Annette English, who enjoys the support the Save Rosehill movement, now on the board, there are questions as to whether McGauran still has the mandate to see the Rosehill proposal out to its end.

It’s worth remembering that this was an initiative driven by the ATC executive, not the board, and that process has been described by at least one current board member as “not the best governance”.

Watch this space.

The death of Ananda Krishnan, the billionaire Malaysian businessman who owns Kia Ora Stud and is a partner in Vinery Stud, will have significant ramifications on the breeding and bloodstock landscape, particularly in the Hunter Valley.

Krishnan died at age 86 on Thursday and it is uncertain what that means for his considerable investments in the Australian thoroughbred industry, both in racing and breeding.

This week it was confirmed that Sam and Anthony Freedman have taken out up to 30 boxes at Randwick, following in the footsteps of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, who have recently taken up an option at Rosehill.

Matt Stewart delves into the trend of Victorian stables setting up satellite stables in Sydney and speaks to the men involved.

Saturday sees the running of the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot, with emerging star Bravo Centurion looking to become just the third locally trained horse to win the race in the past decade. Warwick Barr caught up with his breeder, Alan Bansemer.

Edinburgh Park has finally sold at the third attempt this week, becoming the latest farm to be lost to the thoroughbred industry, while Geisel Park is mourning the loss of Group 1-producing sire All American.

Check out this week’s Straight Talk podcast, where Bren and Tim talk to Will Johnson about the upcoming yearling sales and the overseas mares sales, explore the jockeys jumpout issue and chat wagering ad reforms and what they mean. Subscribe on Apple, Spotify and Podbean.

ICYMI this week:

• A year to remember – A first birthday for The Straight
• B2B gets back to basics, outsourcing breeding arm to focus on racing
• A $5 million burden – Racing Victoria puts onus on jockeys, trainers to reach agreement over jumpouts pay
• VRC posts $24.2 million loss despite record membership levels
• Gambling ad reform delay set to be centre stage in federal election year
• Where are 2024’s million-dollar yearlings?

Thanks for supporting us throughout our first year and enjoy your Group 1 racing weekend.

Regards

Bren O’Brien

Managing Editor and Founder

The Straight