Straight Shorts is a rolling news update service on the biggest stories in racing, wagering and breeding. In today's edition, we start with the latest on the future of Leilani Lodge.
Edward Cummings a step closer to Leilani Lodge keys
A Racing NSW licensing decision will be central to the immediate future of Leilani Lodge as Edward Cummings confirmed the Australian Turf Club had endorsed his bid to train out of the family’s famous Randwick stables.
Cummings, in an update to Leilani Lodge owners on Sunday, revealed the ATC said he would be a welcome tenant while his father Anthony appeals a Racing NSW move to rescind his licence.
Anthony's thoroughbred business, Rosscarbery Holdings Pty Ltd, went into liquidation last year.
An application for a stay of proceedings to allow him to continue training at Leilani Lodge was rejected last week.
But acting ATC chief executive Steve McMahon has since paved the way for Leilani Lodge to be run by Edward.
McMahon’s recommendation has been sent to Racing NSW.
Staff Writer
The regulatory body must approve an upgrade of Edward’s training licence to rubber-stamp the move.
If Anthony is successful in having the Racing NSW decision overturned on appeal, he will be free to continue training out of the stables made famous by his legendary father Bart.
Shaggy camp makes early call on Todman Stakes rider
Adam Hyeronimus is expected to retain the ride on Shaggy when the unbeaten two-year-old contests a race that could decide his Golden Slipper fate.
Hyeronimus proved an able fill-in when he was a late replacement for Aaron Bullock as Shaggy made it three wins from as many starts in the Pierro Plate at Randwick on Saturday.
A heavyweight jockey, Bullock had to forgo the ride on race morning when he was unable to make Shaggy’s 56kg.
Bullock rode Shaggy to wins at Coffs Harbour and the Sunshine Coast ahead of the gelding’s electric Sydney debut.
"We all dream of winning a Golden Slipper, so we'll head that way at the moment," - Allan Kehoe.
— Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) February 15, 2025
The Wyong-based trainer spoke to @SkyRacingAU Greg Radley after Shaggy made a mess of them in the Coolmore Pierro Plate at Royal Randwick@tabcomau pic.twitter.com/ahdJuRdLGN
Shaggy will have 55.5kg in the Todman but Bullock has already ruled himself out of the ride, according to provincialracingnsw.com.au.
“Adam knows the horse now, and it makes sense to stick with him,” trainer Allan Kehoe told the website.
Warwick Barr
Kehoe and racing partner Kooringal Stud will have to pay a $55,000 late entry fee to have Shaggy included in the Golden Slipper and it will be a decision made easier should the youngster continue his unblemished run in the Todman.
NZB Kiwi field taking shape with Perfumist inclusion
Ten of the 14 slots available for NZB Kiwi have been filled with more announcements expected within the next week as the countdown gets serious for the $NZ3.5 million race.
Perfumist, trained by Bjorn Baker and raced by syndicator OTI Racing, is one of the latest three-year-old to secure a start.
She was joined the race on Monday by the Stephen Marsh-trained Penman, representing the Barneswood Brady Nakhle slot partnership.
A keenly sought-after runner, Perfumist will take her place in the $NZ3.5 million race for RACE INC.
Perfumist is an El Roca filly who has won five of 10 starts and she shares favouritism with Lindsay Park Racing’s Evaporate in latest NZ TAB betting on the southern hemisphere’s richest race for three-year-olds.
“It was a strong deal that we put together and I am glad that it has come off,” RACE INC’s general manager of racing Brad Taylor told the NZ News Desk.
“Bjorn is confident that she is going really well and our rating analyst thinks she is a really good chance in the race, so fingers-crossed she can bring that form across the Tasman.”
New Zealand has been a great source of racing talent for OTI Racing, and Taylor is looking forward to partnering with the Australian-based syndicator.
Perfumist strung together four wins in a row before finishing second at Randwick on Saturday.
The NZB Kiwi will be run at Ellerslie on March 8 as the headline race at the inaugural Champions Day meeting.
Among the slot holders yet to make a call on their runner is high-profile Australian owner Ozzie Kheir.
Updated order of entry for the Golden Slipper
The latest order of entry for the $5 million Golden Slipper has been released following the weekend's racing.
There hasn't been much change, but expect the reshuffling to come thick and fast after the running of the $2 million Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield and the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.
Golden Slipper favourite Wodeton is among 16 entries for the Silver Slipper.
The Blue Diamond will be the first of five Australian Group 1 races for juveniles during the season with final acceptances taken on Tuesday.
Click here for the latest Golden Slipper order of entry.
Table of the day - Hong Kong most winners by sire for season
| Sire | Runners | Winners |
| Deep Field | 63 | 17 |
| Starspangledbanner | 24 | 10 |
| Zoustar | 21 | 7 |
| Capitalist | 31 | 7 |
| Charm Spirit | 22 | 7 |
| I Am Invincible | 9 | 7 |
| Per Incanto | 22 | 6 |
| Toronado | 25 | 5 |
| Star Turn | 8 | 5 |
| Savabeel | 9 | 5 |
*Courtesy of Arion.co.nz
