In today's Straight Shorts, there's a new federal communications minister, racing mourns after deaths in Australia and New Zealand, PointsBet says it will further assess betr’s acquisition proposal, while connections aim high with Beadman.
Wells appointed Communications Minister in Cabinet reshuffle
Returned Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has appointed Anika Wells as the government’s new Communications Minister among a host of changes to the Labor Cabinet.
Wells, the former Minister for Sport, has taken on the new Communications portfolio, replacing Michelle Rowland who has been promoted to attorney-general which was previously filled by Mark Dreyfus.
The promised gambling advertising reform, shelved by the Prime Minister before the election in which Labor was returned with a majority, falls under the portfolio of the Communications Minister.
The You Win Some, You Lose More inquiry made 31 recommendations principally targeting gambling advertising and inducement reform in mid-2023, but as yet no changes have been implemented.
As Minister for Sport in the previous government, Wells was asked about the gambling reform inquiry overseen by her late colleague Peta Murphy.
“I think as both a friend of Peta and the Minister for Sport … I'm in a good position to tell you that this wasn't reform that was ready to go,” Wells said last November.
“And I say that as the Sport Minister. I've got concerns about how this is impacting sport integrity and how this is impacting our athletes who are being targeted by people because of this - the development in this space.
“But also on the flip side, I've got national sporting organisations and professional codes who are worried about how this will impact the viability of their financial models.
“So on both sides that I need to look at, I think it needs more nuanced work.”
Wells is the Member for Lilley, an electorate in the northeast of Brisbane.
Group 1 trainer Ben Smith mourned
Group 1-winning trainer Ben Smith, who won races at the highest level with In Her Time and El Dorado Dreaming, has died at the age of 42.
Smith's sudden death has left the tightknit Newcastle racing community in shock. There are reportedly no suspicious circumstances.
Smith trained In Her Time to win the 2018 Group 1 The Galaxy and later that same Sydney autumn carnival he prepared El Dorado Dreaming to win the ATC Sires' Produce Stakes.
Vale Ben Smith. The Newcastle trainer won 2x Group 1 races with In Her Time and El Dorado Dreaming, and was a big part of the Newcastle racing community. Our thoughts and condolences go out to all of his friends and family ❤️ pic.twitter.com/rTWrDmxlpH
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 12, 2025
PointsBet agrees to assess betr buyout
PointsBet has agreed to further assess betr’s acquisition proposal, with the two Australian wagering companies to enter a period of due diligence over a possible $360 million deal.
While emphasising that PointsBet remains committed to the rival bid from Japanese investor MIXI, the bard informed the ASX that having considered betr’s proposal of May 2, it has, with the help of external advisors, determined that it could possibly be expected to lead to a superior proposal to that offered by MIXI.
“PointsBet’s initial focus will be on the value of synergies and Betr scrip, as the implied value of the Proposal for shareholders is heavily dependent on these two elements given that the Proposal contemplates a 57% cash / 43% scrip funding mix,” it said.
It comes after betr detailed its proposed funding for the deal earlier this month, having previously secured a 19.9 per cent position in PointsBet.
Meanwhile, betr confirmed that investment firm Ellerston Capital has become a major shareholder in the company taking its holdings to 56,207,887 shares or 5.75 per cent.
That came after Tanarra Capital secured an 8 per cent hold in betr, last week.
Beadman campaign comes to an abrupt halt, spring beckons
Beadman, responsible for one of the most dominant two-year-old wins of the season, will be saved for the spring.
The Peter Snowden-trained colt toyed his Ken Russell Classic rivals at the Gold Coast on Saturday, winning by more than eight lengths on a rain-affected track.
However, Henry Field, the Newgate Farm boss behind the syndicate that races the son of Snitzel, says won’t be asked to continue his preparation deeper into the Brisbane carnival.
Placings
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) May 10, 2025
1. Beadman
2. Daylight
What an incredible win from Beadman! 🤯@SnowdenRacing1 @mcacajamez pic.twitter.com/NbPv6D8qXG
On the strength of his Gold Coast romp, Beadman was promoted to favouritism for the Group 2 Sires’ Produce Stakes.
The Golden Rose and the Coolmore Stud Stakes will be kept spring targets for Beadman but a potential Everest slot is also waiting for the exciting youngster.
Little Avondale to unveil Little Brose at open day
Group 1 Blue Diamond winner Little Brose will be officially unveiled to the public at Little Avondale Stud’s open day on Thursday.
The first Australian Group 1-winning two-year-old to retire to stud in New Zealand since Darci Brahma in 2005, Little Brose has joined his own outstanding sire Per Incanto on the Little Avondale roster.
“Both Little Brose and his dad Per Incanto will be parading, and it’s open to anyone who wants to come and have a look at them,” Little Avondale’s Sam Williams said.
“Little Brose is just a stunning horse. He’s really letting down into a magnificent animal and is so much like his father, which is fantastic.
“Per Incanto himself has had an incredible season, moving up to ninth on the Australian sires’ premiership and leading the Centaine Award. He has had a deserved fee hike up to NZ$60,000 this year, but people now also have the option of accessing his bloodlines through Little Brose for NZ$15,000.
“I think people will be suitably impressed with Little Brose. The phrase that we’re using is ‘like father, like son’, because that’s really the way he’s shaping up.”
Little Brose’s co-trainer Ben Hayes will be in attendance at the Little Avondale stallion parade, which starts at 2pm, with Bevan Sweeney acting as MC.
Evergreen Bloodstock’s Cameron Rodger and Lachlan Fitt, former Entain and TAB NZ executives who have started a broodmare fund, will also be at the parade.
Goodwood hero Reserve Bank sent to spelling paddock
Co-trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr have decided Group 1-winning colt Reserve Bank has earned a rest after a meteoric autumn rise.
Reserve Bank lowered the colours of Everest winner Giga Kick in graduating to Australia’s ranks of Group 1 winners in taking out the $1 million Goodwood at Morphettville on Saturday.
The victory marked the son of Capitalist’s third on the trot during a memorable three-start Adelaide campaign.
Kent Jr said the stable was willing to give Reserve Bank every chance to make a similar impression in the spring.
"I suppose the exciting thing about the colt is we don't know where his ceiling is as yet," Kent Jr told Racing.com.
"He's really progressed in a short space of time. We've always held him in very high regard, but he's really furnished and matured this time around and I thought every run he's gotten better and better.
"He's on that upward plane. We don't know what his top is yet, but the options are endless for him.”
Reserve Bank’s ownership group includes Yulong who holds a formidable hand with rising four-year-old sprinters despite the recent retirements of Growing Empire and First Settler.
Mornington winner Morgana gets ball rolling for Russian Camelot
Trainer Patrick Ryan revealed staying plans for Morgana, a Mornington winner who has provided Russian Camelot with a siring breakthrough.
The filly put Widden Victoria resident Russian Camelot on the board with his first crop to the races with her all-the-way victory at the Victorian provincial racetrack.
Experience and fitness told the story as Morgana defeated Godolphin runner Bayou Music over 1200m.
She gave Ryan reason to believe he has snared an online bargain in more ways than one.
“She was a cheap Inglis online horse, but there's a bit of a backstory to it," Ryan told Racing.com.
“We bought the mother and her half-sister for $700 last year, and (her half-sister) was stakes placed as a two-year-old.
“Morgana came up subsequently, and we bought her for $10,000. So we now own the whole family pretty much, and they look promising.
“She's really lovely, a staying filly, so we are a bit hopeful that when we stretch her out in trips, she could be really above average.”
Morgana is a half-sister to Bushann, placed behind subsequent South Australia Derby winner Femminile in the Listed Oaklands Plate at Morphettville last season.
She is the second winner from the metropolitan-winning Encosta de Lago mare Rising Hope.
Rising Hope was covered again last year by Russian Camelot, who stands this spring at a fee of $16,500.
Vale Fiona Ralph
The Victorian racing industry is mourning the death of stablehand Fiona Ralph.
Ralph, 58, died in Royal Melbourne Hospital at the weekend as a result of an injury sustained while working at the Bendigo Jockey Club’s race meeting last Tuesday.
First registered as a stablehand in Victoria in 2016, she took a break before renewing her registration in January last year to work for Bendigo trainer Toby Lake with whom she has remained since.
Racing Victoria chief executive, Aaron Morrison, said: “We are shocked and saddened at the news of Fiona’s passing after what appears to be a tragic accident on raceday at Bendigo.
“On behalf of all within the Victorian racing industry, I would like to extend our prayers and heartfelt condolences to Fiona’s family and friends at this incredibly tough time.
“Our thoughts are also with trainer Toby Lake and his staff, along with the team at the Bendigo Jockey Club who are equally shocked at Fiona’s passing.
“Fiona had an incredible love of animals, whether they flew, swam or ran. She grew up alongside horses and she got to combine her passion for animals with her work at the Lake stables.
BJC chief executive Paul Scullie said Ralph’s death had hit Bendigo hard.
“All within our local racing community are devastated at the loss of beloved friend and colleague, Fiona Ralph,” he said.
“Her passing in such tragic circumstances is a shock to us all and one that will take time to overcome.
“On behalf of the Bendigo Jockey Club, I want to extend our sincere condolences to Fiona’s family and friends, along with Toby and all his staff.
“We are here to assist in any way possible and will look to acknowledge Fiona’s contribution to the local racing community at our race meeting on Wednesday.”
