In today's Straight Shorts, Golden Slipper outsider West Of Swindon is under a fitness cloud, Save Rosehill group puts its case forward, Entain in court next week, plus more.
West Of Swindon to receive raceday Slipper test
Golden Slipper hope West Of Swindon will be examined by stewards on Saturday morning after he exhibited some lameness.
The Team Hawkes-trained colt was scratched from the Pago Pago Stakes last Saturday due to an issue with its near fore foot.
“Dr Carly Garling has notified stewards that all runners, except for West Of Swindon have been assessed as being suitable to race,” Racing NSW said.
“A further veterinary examination of West Of Swindon will be conducted tomorrow morning, prior to the scratching deadline, to assess its suitability to race.”
West Of Swindon, a son of Wootton Bassett, has been placed at his two starts to date in the Golden Gift and the Silver Slipper.
‘Once it’s gone, it’s gone forever’ - Save Rosehill lobby makes its case
The Save Rosehill group has launched its campaign for Australian Turf Club members to reject the club’s proposal to sell the western Sydney racecourse.
With the election to be held on April 3, Save Rosehill and former ATC board member Julia Ritchie implored the lobby group’s members to spread the word.
“This is the most significant decision in Australian racing history, yet members have been given nowhere near enough information to make an informed choice,” Ritchie said in an email to Save Rosehill group members.
“The ATC has failed to explore alternative ways to raise funds, let alone present a well-developed, thoroughly scrutinised case for this option. Instead, members are being asked to approve a rushed, poorly substantiated plan with major irreversible consequences.
“Rosehill Gardens isn’t just a racetrack - it’s a cornerstone of Australian racing, woven into the very fabric of our sport. Once it’s gone, it’s gone forever. A decision of this magnitude demands transparency, scrutiny, and a fair debate - not a one-sided sales pitch.”
While the ATC are cold calling,the NO campaign has been legally instructed to cease communications with members!It is absolutely disgraceful!We must use the racing network to reach as many members as possible. Here’s the detailed case for NO-share far&wide https://t.co/Xi3QUwqhaa
— Gai Waterhouse AO (@GaiWaterhouse1) March 21, 2025
The ATC announced on March 12 in an email to members that the vote will be on two resolutions on April 3.
“This resolution is without any doubt the most important and consequential in the history of our Club and it is vital that every ATC Member votes,” ATC chairman Peter McGauran said at the time.
“This proposal offers a one-off opportunity to make the ATC the most financially secure racing club in the world.”
Champion trainer Chris Waller was asked by reporters this week about the Rosehill proposal and said he still had questions.
“We need to set racing up and we need to be responsible for that over the next 100-200 years,’’ he said.
“It is hard to let go of the jewel in the crown (Rosehill) when we don’t own Randwick. Canterbury and Warwick Farm are smaller assets of the ATC portfolio so we have to get it right.
“(But) It is a big ask when you only have a small amount of facts on the table.”
Another Ciaron Maher mare headed to Chairman’s Sale
Dual Group 2 winner Tiz Invincible has joined her stablemates Bella Nipotina, Royal Merchant, Semana, I Am Me and Estriella in the Chairman’s Sale catalogue.
The four-year-old won both the Tea Rose and the Furious Stakes at Group 2 level in her classic season, as well as the Listed Rosebud. She was also placed in Group 3 company during the Flemington carnival in November.
She won three of her 16 starts and earned over $750,000 in prize money in her career for Ciaron Maher.
Bred by Phoenix Thoroughbreds, Tiz Invincible was a $550,000 buy for Bahen Bloodstock/Maher/Eric Lucas and Astute Bloodstock at the 2022 Easter Yearling Sale.
Her dam Amuletum is a half-sister to champion Anamoe, out of Group 1-winning mare Anamato
2025 Golden Slipper explainer
Of the 18 acceptors in Saturday’s $5 million Golden Slipper, 14 were sold at public auction in 2024.
The Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling will provide nine graduates, including the $1.4 million colt and Blue Diamond winner Devil Night. Wootton Bassett colt Wodeton, installed as favourite after winning on debut in January, is the most expensive horse in the race as a $1.6 million purchase.
Can boom colt Wodeton win Saturday's $5 million TAB Golden Slipper at Rosehill Gardens ❓
— Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) March 20, 2025
Hear from @CWallerRacing about the 2YO colt to be ridden by @mcacajamez. @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/xdH7CQFOO2
Four graduates from Inglis’ Classic Yearling Sale will line up, including Within The Law. At $30,000, the Lucky Vega filly is the least expensive runner.
The first emergency Nepotism was a $160,000 from Inglis’ Premier Yearling Sale
There are no Australian Easter Yearling Sale graduates with homebreds completing the field including Godolphin duo Beiwacht (Bivouac) and Tempted (Street Boss) and Snitzel filly Marhoona, who is owned by Emirates Park.
Warwick Barr
Stallions with multiple runners are Farnan, Written Tycoon and Wootton Bassett. Kia Ora Stud’s first-season sire Farnan (North England, King Of Pop, Farcited) matches Yulong resident Written Tycoon (Tycoon Star, Skyhook, Military Tycoon) with three starters while Wootton Bassett will be represented by Wodeton and West Of Swindon.
AUSTRAC court action against Entain set to commence
The Federal Court case involving the financial crimes regulator AUSTRAC and wagering company Entain is set to begin next week.
AUSTRAC confirmed in December it had commenced civil proceedings over allegations of “serious and systemic non-compliance” by Entain with Australia’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) laws.
“AUSTRAC’s proceedings allege that Entain did not develop and maintain a compliant anti-money laundering program and failed to identify and assess the risks it faced. We are alleging this left the company at serious risk of criminal exploitation,” AUSTRAC CEO Brendan Thomas said at the time.
“Money laundering is often a symptom of serious criminal activity, including fraud, scams and corruption, all of which have equally serious effects on our communities,” he said.
The first stage of the court proceedings will begin next Friday, March 28, with a first case management hearing in front of Justice Moore.
Publicly available court documents filed with the Federal Court reveal the action concerns a six-year period from December 2018 until December 2024.
Bren O’Brien
Among the key allegations are that Entain allowed 17 “high-risk” customers to continue to bet without proper due diligence tests when it came to source of funds, money laundering and terrorism financing risks.
Court documents reveal the 17 account holders in question deposited more than $152 million into their betting accounts; and withdrew more than $105 million.
“The failure to monitor these customers exposed Entain to the risk of being exploited by criminals and to the risk that proceeds of crime were being used to obtain designated services,” the court document alleges.
Each contravention attracts a maximum civil penalty of between $21 million and $33 million.
Trans-Tasman two-year-old double for Snitzel
Snitzel took his total of two-year-old winners this season to 16, with a trans-Tasman double on Friday.
The Arrowfield champion is the clear leading sire of two-year-old winners this season in both Australia and New Zealand and consolidated that position with his 10th Australian winner and sixth winner in New Zealand.
Fortissimo, a gelding trained by Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich, made a successful debut on his home track of Scone over 1000 metres on heavy track. Retained by Arrowfield to race, he is out of Japanese mare Port Vendres.
At Pukekohe, Little Black Dress impressed on debut for Stephen Marsh and her owners, Go Racing to win over 1200m.
Arrowfield offered Little Black Dress, who is out of Group winner Star Fashion, at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where Go Racing secured her for $240,000.
Fortissimo strikes late to win for @Paulmessara and @LGavranich! 💥 pic.twitter.com/wfkfA7iu6B
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 21, 2025
She edged out stablemate Mazino, a daughter of Hello Youmzain.
“They’re two beautifully bred fillies who both have a bit of upside and will likely have some black-type assignments later in their two-year-old preparations,” Marsh said. “Little Black Dress will probably point towards the Star Way Stakes at Ellerslie on April 19.
“We think Mazino will come into her own over a slightly longer trip, so we’ll work backwards from the Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes in May with her.”
British TBA chief to step down
The chief executive of the British Thoroughbred Breeders' Association, Claire Sheppard, has announced she is stepping down after eight years in the role.
The recruitment process for a new CEO of the TBA is already underway.
“While working at the TBA, I am very proud of what the organisation has achieved for British breeders and the industry over the last eight years,” Sheppard said.
“I am extremely grateful to the TBA's loyal and highly knowledgeable team who have taught me so much during my tenure and have been extremely fortunate to work alongside two committed chairmen over that period, including Philip Newton and former chair, Julian Richmond Watson.
“I am very grateful to them, and to all the TBA trustees for the ongoing support they have given me.
“The TBA chief executive role is incredibly rewarding, however I feel the time is right for me to step back from a full-time career. I will remain with the TBA until a suitable replacement has been identified and to allow for a smooth transition.”
Albury Gold Cup meeting called off
Rain has forced the abandonment of the Albury Gold Cup for the second time in six years.
While the Albury Racing Club (ARC) staged the first day of its carnival on Thursday, overnight rain put paid to the chances of this year’s Cup meeting going ahead.
A stewards inspection on Friday morning ruled the track unsuitable for racing.
The ARC is in talks with Racing NSW about a possible rescheduling of the Cup because it is a qualifying race for the $3 million Big Dance at Randwick in November.
The 2019 Cup meeting was also abandoned because of wet weather.
Inglis Digital launches March (Late) catalogue
Inglis Digital has catalogued 497 lots for its March (Late) Online Sale, which will close from 10am next Wednesday.
Among lots on offer are significant offerings from Kingstar (21), Arrowfield (14), Yulong (14), Newgate (eight), Vinery (seven) and Widden (seven) as well as the unreserved Canning Downs dispersal, which will see 13 mares and foals, plus breeding rights in Pierata and Graff being offered.
Other catalogue highlights include: Group 3 winner Aimee’s Jewel, offered in foal to Tassort, Boomex, the dam of Group 3 winner Marboosha and Calanche – a one-time $950,000 Easter yearling who is offered in foal to Home Affairs.
Overall the catalogue consists of 202 racehorses (89 race fillies), 187 broodmares, 52 yearlings, 41 racehorse shares, 13 weanlings and two breeding rights.
