In today's Straight Shorts, Tabcorp's retail plans win the cautious support of two of Australian racing's most powerful executives, a Canterbury upset points the way forward for a promising Chris Waller colt and racing figures feature in King's Birthday honours.
Tabcorp retail play gets support of Racing Queensland and Racing NSW
Tabcorp’s decision to alter its retail strategy and invest in the in-venue experience rather than paying widespread commissions to hotels and clubs has won the cautious support of the CEOs of both Racing Queensland and Racing NSW.
Tabcorp announced last month that it would change the way it engages with venues, in a bid to better leverage its retail monopoly across most of Australia.
Interim Racing Queensland chief executive Lachlan Murray told the Australian Financial Review that the strategy, spearheaded by CEO Gillon McLachlan, made sense.
“Tabcorp must keep innovating because consumer preferences are changing. History will decide whether the venues are better off or not based on whether they’re able to get increased patronage and spend,” he said.
“What I’m interested in seeing is whether the advancements in retail offerings grow the wagering turnover pie because that’s when everyone wins.”
Peter V’landys also supports the initiative McLachlan has shown, despite the misgivings of the Australian Hotels Association.
“He is trying to eradicate that monopolistic attitude that Tabcorp has had and realises they’re in a very competitive market. He’s really trying to shake it up,” the Racing NSW CEO told the AFR.
Autumn Boy rises to debut challenge
Autumn Boy may have caught the Chris Waller stable with his first-up win at Canterbury, but the future appears bright for the two-year-old by The Autumn Sun.
Racing in New Zealander Glenn Ritchie's colours, Autumn Boy ($51) upstaged his stablemate Central Coast ($1.65) in Monday's two-year-old colts and geldings maiden over 1250m in a sign of what may be ahead for the colt.
“He's always been a dream to deal with in terms of his work at home. He's very passive. He sort of flies under the radar a bit, and he's probably never had a smack on the bum before, so it's probably a good reason for him to really accelerate and hit the line like he did,” Waller's assistant Charlie Duckworth said.
“He's obviously prepared to get over further, so it’s really exciting and delighted for the Ritchies."
Autumn Boy was a $200,000 Magic Millions purchase by Waller and agent Guy Mulcaster at last year's Magic Millions sale from the Amarina Farm draft.
Central Coast, a colt by Wootton Bassett who was also having his first start, is the second foal out of Sunlight.
Pillow Fight wakes from slumber for Canterbury win
Trainer Bjorn Baker also used the Canterbury King's Birthday public holiday meeting to make a winning start to the career of Zoustar filly Pillow Fight.
The two-year-old, who had two barrier trials this preparation, narrowly scored in the fillies version of the juvenile maidens at the Sydney track.
“She's always been a lovely filly. We've had a good opinion of her, but the more Bjorn's done with her, the better she's got,” Baker's racing manager Luke Hilton said.
“He's been patient with her. He's given her a number of gallops at home and she's had some good trials, and she's just got better and better. She's got a great attitude, very relaxed, but she's an exciting filly. I think she's got a big future.”
Out of the stakes-placed Snitzel mare Slumber Party, the Sir Owen Glenn-bred filly was sold through the Newgate Farm draft at last year's Magic Millions sale to Baker, agent Jim Clarke and Cunningham Thoroughbreds for $375,000.
Zoustar now holds a commanding lead in the Australian Sires championship after the G1 Kingsford Smith win of Joliestar.
PILLOW FIGHT wouldn’t lie down with a courageous first start win for the daughter of Zoustar.
— Bjorn Baker Racing (@BBakerRacing) June 9, 2025
Bred by Sir Owen Glenn, another astute purchase by @clarkebloodstock and @ridgmontfarm she’s an exciting filly with a big future ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/x5nIl9kN7H
Racing figures among King’s Birthday honours
Recently departed Racing Queensland board member Dale Cartwright has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for his services to greyhound racing,
Cartwright, who departed the RQ board after nine years in late April, has been recognised in the King’s Birthday honours for his long service to the sport.
Former chairman of the Geelong Racing Club William McFarlane was also honoured with an OAM, recognised for his services to the city of Geelong.
McFarlane was chair of the GRC from 1999 until 2004 and was also a long-term treasurer as well as being chair of the Geelong St Patrick’s Racing Club.
He was also honoured with the Tony Shanahan Award for Services to Country Racing from Country Racing Victoria in 2024.
Charles Macek, former chair of Racing Information Services Australia, which now forms part of Racing Australia, was awarded Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to corporate governance.
New home for Levendi
The 2018 Australian Derby winner Levendi has relocated to Magnum Park in Tasmania to continue his stud career.
The son of Pierro, who has had just four runners from his first crop two-year-olds, stood his first four seasons at nearby Broadmarsh Stud but has moved to Alexis Beadman’s Magnum Park ahead of the 2025 season.
“Breakers and trainers alike are saying that they are competitive horses who love to run and who are willing to learn,” Beadman said.
“They have great attitudes; traits that align with what we are seeing on the farm. They have great actions, they cover the ground with ease,"
Levendi remains at an unchanged fee of $7700 (inc GST).
Synthetic switch for Ballarat
Wednesday’s Victorian meeting at Ballarat has been transferred from the turf to the synthetic track.
Racing Victoria officials made the change on Monday owing to the wet weather and condition of the turf surface.
As a result of the change, the 1600m maiden was reduced to 1500m while the Benchmark 64 (2000m) will now be run over 2100m on the eight-race card.
