In today's Straight Shorts, we have the latest from ambitious corporate bookmaker betr, Inglis releases Chairman's catalogue, Private Harry spelled and there will be no Sydney Cup for promising stayer Deakin.
BlueBet becomes betr in corporate naming move
BlueBet Holdings Limited will change its ASX trading and corporate name to betr in a move it says aligns its customer brand with its shareholder audience.
In an address to shareholders on Monday, chairman Matthew Tripp said it made commercial sense for the bookmaker to operate under a single business umbrella.
“We chose the betr brand because all our research and data indicated it resonated most strongly with our target market,” he said.
The announcement comes as betr finalises the migration of TopSport clients to the betr platform following its acquisition in a $15 million deal during February.
TopSport customer accounts will be transferred to the betr operation on Monday night.
Tristan Merlehan, who founded TopSport alongside his high-profile bookmaker father Lloyd, will become a key figure on the betr executive team under the terms of the deal.
“Completion of this acquisition is imminent and we look forward to delivering an enhanced wagering experience for TopSport customers, and further strengthening our team, in particular with the addition of Tristan Merlehan as our chief trading officer from migration,” Tripp said.
“We are excited to welcome TopSport customers to the platform … and for the further organic and inorganic growth opportunities that exist in this market,” Tripp said.
BlueBet merged with betr in July and the two businesses were integrated within months as the company announced an ambition to acquire 10 per cent of the Australian wagering market.
‘A rare opportunity’ - Chairman’s catalogue finalised
The dams of Caulfield Guineas winner Griff, Goodwood winner Benedetta and this season’s Group-winning two-year-old Field Of Play have been added to Inglis’s select Chairman’s Sale catalogue.
With reigning Everest heroine Bella Nipotina the star attraction of the high-end sale, the company on Monday released a finalised 87-lot offering for its May 8 bluechip breeding stock auction.
Among the 87 Lots are 64 stakes horses or stakes producers, including the previously announced I Am Me, Tiz Invincible, Coco Sun, Semana, Estrella and Too Darn Lizzie.
A Zoustar half-sister to Golden Slipper runner-up Wodeton, a Group placed I Am Invincible half-sister to Growing Empire, a half-sister to three-time Group 1 winner Hitotsu and a half-sister to Group 1 winner Lindermann will all go under the hammer at Inglis’ Riverside Stables at Warwick Farm.
Inglis Bloodstock chief executive Sebastian Hutch is convinced commercial breeders will be captivated by the Chairman’s catalogue.
“We have tremendous confidence in this sale and worked to build it into a night that is a celebration of the very best fillies and mares, which is exactly what the sale is going to be this year,” Hutch said.
“The Chairman’s Sale provides a rare opportunity for the world’s leading breeders to acquire the best breeding stock going to public market this year and we’re exceptionally proud of the catalogue and very grateful for the support that we have been afforded by all involved.”
Supplementary entries for the Chairman’s Sale will remain open until 5pm on Thursday, April 24.
The catalogue for the Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale, to be held on Friday, May 9, following the Chairman’s Sale, has also been released with mares offered in foal to stallions including Alabama Express, Bivouac, Cylinder, Dundeel, Farnan, Harry Angel, Hellbent, Home Affairs, In The Congo, Maurice, Ole Kirk, Shinzo and So You Think.
Job done for Private Harry as new ownership alliance looks to spring
Private Harry, the unbeaten colt who figured in a Yulong stud deal last week, has been ruled out of the most prestigious sprint race of the Sydney autumn carnival.
The three-year-old, who completed a meteoric rise in winning the Group 1 Galaxy at his fifth start, will be spelled before preparing for the $20 million Everest in October.
Private Harry will run for Zhang Yuesheng’s Yulong Everest slot after purchasing after a 50 per cent share in the sprinter.
The deal between Yulong and Kurrinda Bloodstock reportedly values the son of Harry Angel, a $115,000 yearling sale purchase at $15 million.
Trained by Nathan Doyle, Private Harry was one of the favourites to win the $3 million T Smith Stakes, a weight-for-age run over the Everest course at Randwick.
“What he has achieved so far is outstanding and it needs to be remembered his first start was only in November,” a Kurrinda statement said.
“Whilst running Private Harry in the TJ Smith is tempting, we feel he will benefit greatly from resting in anticipation of the spring carnival, and ultimately, the Everest.
“Private Harry returns to the paddock a happy, healthy and sound horse.”
Deakin saved for next season after qualifying for Melbourne Cup
French-bred stayer Deakin will be put in cotton wool and will miss the $2 million Sydney Cup.
Trainer Phillip Stokes said Deakin had nothing more to prove to the stable this preparation after securing a Melbourne Cup start with a gritty win at Flemington on Saturday.
Deakin held off Berkshire Breeze in the Listed Roy Higgins in a victory that provided certainty around a spring program.
Deakin is part of leading syndicator OTI Racing’s team and the five-year-old underlined is rating as a stayer on the move with three victories in his first Australian campaign.
Deakin is to strong in the end and has gained a Golden Ticket into the Lexus Melbourne Cup after winning the @Lexus Roy Higgins 🏆
— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) March 29, 2025
This brings up a double for @pstokesracing and @DanielStack33
🎥 @7horseracing #AusCup #RacingSpectacular #melbournecup pic.twitter.com/qOWEfjAm75
“Our son of Australia has come into his own into his first preparation Down Under and we are looking forward to Deakin proving himself a genuine Cups contender in the spring,” Stokes said.
“The decision has been made in consultation with OTI Racing’s Terry Henderson with a view to the bigger picture: a focused spring campaign targeting the premier staying races.”
‘A deliberate, elaborate scheme’ – RV counsel calls for 20-year ban for Michael Poy
Former jockey Michael Poy will learn the length of his disqualification over eight betting-related offences at the Victorian Racing Tribunal on Thursday.
With fellow hoop Lewis German already banned for 10 years, and punters Noah Brash and Jacob Foltyowicz both warned off, Poy will be the last to learn his fate over the betting controversy.
The 25-year-old son of champion jockey Michael Clarke has been found guilty of his involvement in the scheme where Brash put on lay bets against some mounts the jockeys were riding after contact via an encrypted message system.
Representing Racing Victoria, counsel Adrian Anderson called for a 20-year ban for Poy.
"That is the sort of conduct that is the most corrosive conduct for the confidence of the betting public, of which all the participants in the industry depend,” Anderson said.
"This conduct was not thoughtless, careless or even reckless. It was a deliberate, elaborate scheme designed to avoid detection by the use of secret messaging with the use of secret phones and code names.
"It was only through the careless act of Mr Brash that the offending was uncovered."
All 46 of Brash's lay bets against Poy’s mounts were successful in a period between April 12, 2022 and August 31 of the same year. He made a profit of $104,400.
Tim McHenry, representing Poy, called for a disqualification period of between five and seven years.
Judge John Bowman will hand down his penalty on Thursday at 9.30am.
Deadline extension for Queensland review submissions
The Queensland government has extended the deadline for submissions to its review of all three codes of racing in Queensland.
Submissions will now close on Monday, April 7.
The Queensland Racing Review discussion paper was set to close on March 30, but the deadline has been extended to encourage more racing stakeholders to make their voices heard.
Minister for Racing Tim Mander said the response to the discussion paper so far was encouraging but he wanted to hear from as many people as possible.
Bren O’Brien
“We have been overwhelmed by the response to the Racing Review so far, but some participants have asked for more time to provide their response,” Mander said.
“This is an industry that contributes $2.4 billion per year to the Queensland economy and employs around 16,000 Queenslanders, so we want to make sure everybody has their say.
“The discussion paper is the entire industry’s chance to be heard, so I encourage every trainer, jockey, driver, breeder, owner, administrator, punter, and fan to make a submission.”
Showtime youngster wins Wellington Boot
Comongin, a homebred son of former Arrowfield Stud resident Showtime, has fended off a challenge from the Bjorn Baker stable to win one of regional Australia’s richest two-year-old races.
Making the running for jockey Clayton Gallagher, Comongin ($10) established a winning break soon after straightening before safely holding his rivals in the $200,000 Wellington Boot.
The Baker-trained Alabama Express filly Alabama Charm finished second with Bullant (Winning Rupert) taking the minor placing.
Comongin leads all the way to take out this year's Wellington Boot! 🙌@RacingRobb pic.twitter.com/DoqWds5KLy
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 31, 2025
Comongin was having his third start and is trained by Brett Robb at Dubbo.
A son of Snitzel, Showtime stood for five seasons at Arrowfield before he was exported to Indonesia in 2024.
