Seven days in … racing
In this edition:
- Racing’s census – Premierships paint a picture of changing landscapes
- ‘Unintended consequences’ – How Henry Dwyer has parlayed Asfoora’s overseas success into stable momentum at home
- State of optimism – Bawden targets SA racing revival as data points to growing contribution
- Changing places – Ryan’s drive also opens the door for Dilmi
- McGauran officially departs ATC board
- Run The Numbers – Australian racing’s most improved in 2024/25
Like most things in life, some changes in racing can be spectacular. Others can be subtle, gradual shifts in the ecosystem of the thoroughbred world.
Paradoxically, whether by accident or design, change is an inevitable part of a sport that is often accused of an unwillingness to embrace new challenges.
People at the coalface either retire or move on to something else. The career of the modern-day racehorse can be fleeting, and let’s not forget the revolving door of administrators who fall victim to the brutal game of racing politics.
Of course, there are some great survivors and there has been none better than Peter V’landys, who has been at the helm of Racing NSW for more than two decades.
Empowered by a lucrative income source from race fields legislation, V’landys has been an agent of change for racing to the point of being called a disrupter.
Likely to match V’landys for longevity at the top of their profession will be Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher, benchmark trainers with a weight of numbers on their side.
In our review of the 2024/2025 season compiled by Matt Stewart, Maher has just clinched his third national trainers’ title and Waller has claimed the Sydney premiership for the 15th consecutive season.
But beneath these two goliaths of the turf, there has been a repositioning that seems certain to continue into the new season.
From the 2017/2018 season through to 2021/2022, James Cummings finished runner-up to Waller in Sydney as he made a seamless transition to the position of Godolphin’s head trainer.
Cummings finished third in the 2022/2023 premiership, fourth in 2023/2024 before dropping outside the top 10 with 29 winners last season.
His decision to leave Godolphin and reset before moving to Hong Kong in 2026 means the Cummings name will be missing from metropolitan racebooks on Saturday.
With his brother Edward re-establishing a team, that may only be an anomaly and not the end of a glorious era.
Nevertheless, it can’t be discounted as a significant moment.
Cummings’s absence will create a window for others.
Nacim Dilmi, closely aligned to Cummings as the sweat behind Godolphin’s Melbourne operation, has settled his future.
Dilmi will launch his own training career by taking over the Domeland team in a move that seems a natural progression for the 37-year-old who has worked his way through the ranks in Australia since arriving as a trackwork jockey.
His opportunity comes as Sara Ryan moves into the public sphere with journalist Jessica Owers providing an insight into how the transition will unfold in the new season.
Henry Dwyer is campaigning his Group 1-winning sprinter Asfoora in the northern hemisphere for a second time and he’s not doing too much differently from a successful foray 12 months ago.
But thanks to Asfoora’s exploits, Dwyer’s stocks are on the way up as he attracts new clients such as OTI Racing, who promise to shape the way his stable evolves when the best horse he has trained retires to become a broodmare.
Unintended consequences
How Henry Dwyer has parlayed Asfoora’s overseas success into stable momentum at home
Asfoora confirmed another overseas trip with a first-up win at Morphettville in April and her two Adelaide appearances ahead of her Royal Ascot return provided South Australian officials with a snapshot of how a rejuvenation of their carnival has underpinned year-on-year growth in the industry.
Prize money was lifted to $1 million for each SA’s four Group 1 races in 2024 and Racing SA chief executive Nick Bawden says data from the industry’s latest economic report suggests racing in the state is heading the right way.
That is in contrast to the racing stocks of former politician Peter McGauran, with the last rites delivered on his Australian Turf Club board tenure this week.
After stepping down as chairman, McGauran resigned from his government-appointed position on the ATC board.
McGauran tried to be an agent of change with his proposal to sell Rosehill but quickly found out that some administrators are better at executing industry-shaping plans than others.
Introducing The Good Oil – Melbourne Form Previews, Price Assessments and Mounting Yard Mail
What you may have missed this week:
- From a Meteor to a shooting Star – Widden gets its champion sire
- Zoustar chosen as Bella Nipotina’s beau
- A hostile takeover – betr ups offer but PointsBet still not playing
- Jason Scott backs a new Pony
- ‘Simply unacceptable’ – Betfair earns wrath of ACMA over spam breach
- Bookies battle for club deals – Ladbrokes secures Bendigo, Picklebet picks Warwick
- Velocious sells for $1.625 million
- Rowe On Monday – Asfoora too special to sell, an early first-season sire preview and six of the best for So You Think
Don’t forget to check out this week’s episode of the Straight Talk Podcast. We have touched base with trainer Henry Dwyer ahead of Asfoora’s Goodwood bid with a special interview filed from The Straight journalist Tim Rowe complementing a look back on the 2024/2025 season and what lies ahead for racing in 2025/2026.
Straight Talk Podcast – Henry Dwyer, crowning champions and a look ahead to the new season
Enjoy your racing weekend,
Warwick Barr
Senior Editor
The Straight
