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Russell Warwick and Matt Ballesty
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing chair Russell Warwick and new chief executive Matt Ballesty. (Photo: NZTR)

Matt Ballesty appointed CEO of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing

Matt Ballesty, a senior executive with more than three decades of experience across the gaming and hospitality industries, has been appointed as New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing’s (NZTR) chief executive.

Born and raised in Sydney, Ballesty worked in the NSW licensed club industry before embarking on a successful casino career.

He has held prominent positions with Crown Resorts in Macau, the United Kingdom and Sri Lanka,  Gateway Casinos and Entertainment in Canada and the SkyCity Entertainment Group in Australia and New Zealand.

He will take over the NZTR role from Bruce Sharrock, who left at the end of December after two-and-a-half years in the job.

Ballesty will start on March 5, three days before the inaugural Champions Day, a meeting that includes the running of the $NZ3.5 million NZB Kiwi, New Zealand’s richest race.

“I’ve been passionate about racing for a long time as both an enthusiast and an owner and I can’t wait to get stuck into the hard work of further developing thoroughbred racing in New Zealand,” Ballesty said.

NZTR chair Russell Warwick said Ballesty’s unique skill set makes him ideal to lead the organisation.

“The racing industry is going through a period of significant change and Matt is the perfect candidate to ensure that every person contributing to the industry continues to play a key role in the future,” Warwick said.

“This appointment is about securing the legacy of the racing industry in the long term.”

The arrival of Ballesty was also welcomed by Dean Shannon, the chief executive for Entain Australia and New Zealand, a key strategic partner for NZTR.

BlueBet snaps up TopSport in $10 million deal

BlueBet Holdings, the parent company of betting brand betr, has confirmed a $10 million acquisition of rival TopSport in its bid to capture more than 10 per cent of the corporate booking market share in Australia.

The deal was confirmed to the ASX on Wednesday morning, with BlueBet having gone into a trading halt ahead of the announcement which also includes a $15 million capital raise with the issue of 44.1 million new shares.

 “The acquisition of TopSport materially enhances BlueBet’s profitability and scale, is highly accretive for our shareholders and brings us closer to our strategic target of 10 per cent-plus market share in Australia,” BlueBet chief executive, Andrew Menz, said.

“Inorganic growth remains a key opportunity for BlueBet and we have a laser focus and a repeatable M&A model to drive shareholder value by further consolidating the Australian wagering market.”

TopSport, based in Queensland and owned by father and son Lloyd and Tristan Merlehan, recorded $198.9 million turnover in the first half of this financial year and an $11.8 million net win.

Tristan Merlehan will join BlueBet as chief trading officer.

“We conducted a thorough process to identify the best partner for TopSport and BlueBet was the clear choice,” he said.

“BlueBet’s recent and long-term record in successful customer migrations and scaling wagering businesses is unrivalled in this market, and I am pleased to play a key role in its bright future as we grow our share of the Australian wagering market.”

Bren O'Brien offers his analysis below:

From showy to steady – Bluebet’s betr growth strategy builds on TopSport acquisition
Australia’s most determined wagering suitor, betr/Bluebet, has wed its most eligible bachelor, Queensland-based TopSport in a $10 million deal, as Matthew Tripp’s latest bookmaking project takes gradual steps towards realising its ambitions.
The StraightBren O’Brien

The Aga Khan dies, aged 88

The Aga Khan, a renowned thoroughbred breeder of global significance, has died at the age of 88.

His death was confirmed by the Aga Khan Foundation Wednesday morning (Australian time).

The Aga Khan operated stud farms Haras de Bonneval in France, the home of leading French stallion Siyouni as well as Zarak, Vaadeni and Erevann, while he also stood Sea The Stars at Gilltown Stud in Ireland.

The Aga Khan, who bred or raced more than 160 Group 1 winners during his decades involved in the industry, also had a relationship with Arrowfield Stud in Australia where they co-bred five-time Group 1-winning stallion The Autumn Sun out of his Galileo mare Azmiyna.

Among the champions to be associated with the Aga Khan’s famous green and red silks were five-time Group 1 winner Zarkava, one of four Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winners owned by The Aga Khan. 

He also owned fellow Arc winners Sinndar, Dalakhani and 1982 winner Akiyda.

Born in 1936, His Highness Prince Karim was regarded as an astute businessman, philanthropist and spiritual leader who became the Aga Khan IV in October 1957 following the death of his grandfather.

He is survived by three sons and a daughter.

Racing Queensland announces winter carnival dates with $30 million in stakes on offer

Queensland’s winter carnival schedule has been unveiled with nine $1 million races and eight Group 1 events to be decided across 11 meetings.

Billed as the most “innovative and lucrative” carnival in Queensland history, almost $30 million in stakes will be on offer between May 3 and July 5.

There will be 55 black-type races decided, highlighted by the $3 million Stradbroke Handicap, a Group 1 sprint that ranks as Queensland’s most prestigious race.

The Brisbane Racing Club’s Stradbroke Season will present six of the winter carnival’s marquee racedays, the $6.5 million Stradbroke, including the $1 million Group 1 JJ Atkins and the $1.2 million Group 2 Q22. 

The Gold Coast Turf Club will play a leading role in this year’s carnival, with a new meeting under lights to be held in May, headlined by the $1 million Magic Millions National 2YO Classic to coincide with the Gold Coast National Weanling, Broodmare and Yearling Sale. 

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