In today's Straight Shorts, there have been more executive appointments at the Victoria Racing Club, a Written Tycoon filly tops day one of the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sales, TAB NZ embraces new technology and Betmakers signs UK Tote deal.
VRC completes management overhaul
The Victoria Racing Club (VRC) has finalised its new executive team following the appointments to oversee finance, commercial and operations departments.
Tania Abbotto (chief operating officer), Fran Vavallo (chief commercial officer) and Adam Forsyth (chief financial officer) will help drive the next phase of the VRC strategy under chief executive Kylie Rogers.
Rogers said they would join existing executives Leigh Jordon (racing) and Nikki Clarkson (marketing) to mark a new chapter in VRC management.
Abbotto joins the VRC to lead its property and operations, legal, risk, people and culture and technology capabilities.
She has spent the past two decades driving customer growth, strategic alignment, culture and sustainable change in executive roles at Sportsbet, MACC Property Group, Coles and Optus.
Vavallo will oversee the VRC’s customer, commercial and events departments.
She has worked with commercial teams at World Rugby, Tennis Australia and Seven West Media.
Leading the club’s finance and procurement functions, Forsyth brings a wealth of experience having held similar roles at Brown Family Wine Group, Carlton & United Breweries and Treasury Wine Estates.
Written Tycoon filly tops day one at Magic Millions Adelaide
A filly by champion stallion Written Tycoon, the sire of 13 stakes winners so far this season, has sold for $260,000, making her the most expensive Lot on day one of the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.
The Yulong-bred and sold filly, who is out of Dubawi mare Saaryaa, was bought by Chinese investor Wei Jiaoqi, a client of Magic Millions’ China representative Amy Feng.
During a fluctuating opening session, in which 14 yearlings sold for $100,000 or more, South Australian trainers Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea were active with the purchase of a $240,000 brother to Twin Hills’ Group 2-winning So You Think stallion Peltzer.
Lot 25 - the So You Think-Miss Otto brother to Peltzer goes to @Clarken_Racing, @shbloodstock and Rob Chapman for $240,000. The colt was offered by @millparkstud. #MMAdelaide2025 pic.twitter.com/PmGww5Ao5c
— Magic Millions (@mmsnippets) March 17, 2025
Yulong’s general manager Vin Cox was confident that the session-topping filly was going to be popular from the outset.
“Going into the ring, we knew there was a lot of interest in her, a lot of vet action and things like that, all the right signs, and it proved to be so,” Cox said.
In all, there was $6.72 million traded on Monday at an average of $49,077, with both metrics down on the corresponding session last year. However, the median increased from $35,000 to $40,000 compared to 2024, with the clearance rate at 72 per cent.
South Australian dual-code trainer Aaron Bain bought seven yearlings, while West Australian trainer Ryan Hill purchased five yearlings.
Ballarat-based Rob Hickmott and Nadia Horne’s Thoroughbred Solutions, which is closely aligned with Mark and Levi Kavanagh, have bought four yearlings each.
"They're reasonable numbers and something to build on for tomorrow. I think more of the same of what we saw in the back half of today. I think it was solid trade as the day went on," Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch said.
Day two starts at 10am (ACST) at the Morphettville sales complex on Tuesday.
TAB NZ shakes up retail wagering with new technology
New Zealand’s retail wagering experience is undergoing a generational change with TAB NZ rolling out new betting terminals across 450 TAB venues and pubs and clubs.
Manukau City TAB was the first to introduce the new terminals this week as Entain seeks to build its momentum through the TAB NZ brand.
The new betting terminals look and act like the TAB App and website, with Entain New Zealand CEO Sam Moncur saying they have been designed to create a consistent experience across the platforms.
“Customers can enjoy more bet types, easy multis with a buildable betslip and more funding options. Plus, the new touch-screen experience is faster than ever,” Moncur said.
"Everything a TAB customer could do through the app or tab.co.nz is now possible in retail.”
Betting at New Zealand’s racecourses will also change, with new over-the-counter and self-service terminals at 51 racecourses around New Zealand.
“This is in keeping with changing customer preferences with new technology, and with the changes we’ve seen across the broader retail industry,” Moncur said.
“We will be supporting our venues and customers through this change with both physical and digital resources on hand to help them.”
Aussie wagering technology firm renews UK Tote deal
Publicly listed Australian company Betmakers has entered a fresh agreement with UK Tote Group.
Under the terms of the UK Tote Agreement, which is a renewal of existing arrangements, BetMakers Quantum software will be the core pools’ wagering platform for the Tote’s operations across British and Irish racecourses.
Betmakers Quantum will also manage the technical aspect of any inbound co-mingling to these pools, including World Pool events with a host of global partners.
“BetMakers are an excellent partner for the UK Tote, and we are excited to be renewing our partnership until 2029,” Phill Jones, chief product and technology officer at the UK Tote Group, said.
“The Quantum solution provided by BetMakers plays a critical role in how we host and deliver racing pools wagering across 85 racecourses in the UK and Ireland, both on course and via our mobile apps and website.”
Betmakers’ Jake Henson said utilising a network of global regulated racing partners, the company would deliver new liquidity to domestic pools and drive stronger returns to racing.
“Central to this position has been the development of many key World Pool events which BetMakers and Global Tote proudly play an integral role in facilitating,” he said.
Funding grants available for Queensland bush clubs
Racing Queensland says applications for the next round of Country Club Asset Funding (CCAF) are now open.
Now in its third year, the CCAF provides $3 million per year for infrastructure repairs, as well as maintenance and asset replenishment for the state’s country racing clubs.
The first two rounds of CCAF have seen a total of 94 projects across 55 clubs approved. Of those projects, 76 have been fully delivered, with the remaining 18 now in construction
Racing Minister Tim Mander said the CCAF had wide-ranging community benefits across the state, including more jobs and much-needed infrastructure improvements.
“The Country Club Asset Funding has a proven track record of delivering important upgrades and maintenance enhancements to our country clubs spanning the state,” Minister Mander said.
“The Crisafulli Government acknowledges country racing is the fabric of many rural Queensland towns, which is why we are committed to ensuring its ongoing viability and success.”
Applications close April 14, 2025.
In addition, Tier 1, 2 and 3 clubs will again have the opportunity to apply for infrastructure funding to assist in repairs and maintenance, along with asset replenishment and replacement, through Racing Queensland’s asset management framework.
