In today's Straight Shorts, Lindsay Park will take over the Flemington operation of the late trainer Mike Moroney, Yulong admits to Vinrock interest, VOBIS scheme to be reviewed and Dundeel a New Zealand Hall of Famer.

Mike Moroney
The late Mike Moroney's Flemington stables will join the Lindsay Park thoroughbred empire. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

Lindsay Park assumes Moroney’s Flemington stables

The Flemington stables of the late Mike Moroney will become part of Lindsay Park’s operation.

Moroney passed away in February and his partner Karen Glindemann confirmed in a message to owners that she had decided to shut down Ballymore Stables’ operation at Flemington, with Ben, Will and JD Hayes to take over.

Racing manager Anthony Feroce will be employed by Lindsay Park while Glen Thompson, Moroney’s co-trainer, who has led the stable since his death, will pursue other opportunities.

Lindsay Park already had 36 boxes at Flemington and will gain another 50 boxes as part of the move.  

"It has been a difficult couple of months for me as I am sure you can imagine," Karen said in the message to owners.

"Michael entrusted me to make the necessary decisions about the future of Ballymore and after much thought and careful consideration, I have now made the decision I think best reflects what Mike would have wanted.

"In what I feel is in the best interests of our owners, our horses and our staff, I have asked Lindsay Park to take over our Flemington operation going forward.

"Mike always held Ben, Will and JD Hayes in the very highest regards and I know their professionalism and enthusiastic approach will make the transition as seamless for you as possible.”

Ben Hayes said Lindsay Park was honoured to build on Moroney’s legacy.

“We are touched and really genuinely honoured to be picking up where Mike left off with his horses and the Ballymore boxes at Flemington,” he said.

“To follow in the footsteps of a legend like Mike Moroney is humbling and something we will do our best to live up to.

“We will also make every effort to offer every opportunity of ongoing success to the horses and their owners coming to us from his stable.”

Yulong interested but no deal on Vinrock

Yulong has conceded it has made inquiries about securing Group 1 Inglis Sires winner Vinrock as a stallion prospect but denies any deal has yet been done.

The powerhouse breeding and racing outfit have been seen as front-runners to secure the only Australian Group 1-winning two-year-old son of I Am Invincible since his win at Randwick.

Yulong principal Zhang Yuesheng and new general manager Jun Zhang were both seen chatting to trainer Matt Laurie at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale earlier in the week.

Laurie has an existing relationship through multiple Group 1-winning filly Treasurethe Moment, who was bred and is owned by Yulong.

As often is the case with Yulong, rumours that a stallion deal had been agreed for Vinrock have been circulating for much of the week, with suggestions the unbeaten colt could be worth as much as $20 million.

The Straight’s Tim Rowe conducted an exclusive interview with Jun Zhang this week and put the question of Vinrock’s acquisition to him.    

“We showed our interest only at this stage,” Jun replied.

Vinrock, who became the first horse in 44 years to win both VRC and ATC Sires’ races, has been spelled since his latest win.

VOBIS program put under review

Racing Victoria is reviewing its key incentive scheme, VOBIS, including its structure, as well as analysing some trends including field sizes, race ratings and wagering revenue.

RV confirmed the review of the program, which includes $30 million prize money, bonuses and vouchers, on Thursday.

Submissions are invited and can be lodged before April 30, while a VOBIS review web portal has also been set up.  

It will conduct customer research alongside submissions from stakeholders and internal RV analysis.

RV will also research to understand whether current breeders, owners and trainers have an awareness of VOBIS, an understanding of what VOBIS is and an understanding of the potential incentives and barriers to participating in VOBIS.

The report and recommendations of the VOBIS review will be presented to the RV Board for consideration by the end of July 2025.

Dundeel into New Zealand Hall Of Fame

Dundeel has been inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame.

Trainer Murray Baker paid tribute to his six-time Group 1-winning star of a decade ago.

“He’s the best that I trained, no question,” Baker said when discussing Dundeel’s elevation to the Hall of Fame. 

“He just had that all-round ability that marks the very best horses - he was gifted and could do anything.

“When he went to Ellerslie for his first start in an autumn two-year-old 1200, I didn’t think he could win. The rail was out, he was drawn wide and talking to James (McDonald) before the race, I said to him ‘he’s got the job ahead of him so just see what he can do’.

“Well he breezed home, which made us realise we had something special on our hands. So after talking it over with his breeder Murray Andersen and the rest of the ownership group, we decided he had so much ability we had to have a crack at Aussie.”

Dundeel’s first Group 1 win – he raced as It’s A Dundeel in Australia - came in the Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick in early October and he followed that up with successive wins in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas, Rosehill Guineas and Australian Derby in the spring.

He then won the Underwood Stakes as four-year-old, eclipsing unbeaten mare Atlantic Jewel. His final Group 1 win came in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes the following autumn.

During his career, Dundeel earned the New Zealand Champion 3YO title in 2012-13, Champion Middle Distance Male in Australia and New Zealand the following year, and the supreme Horse of the Year title at the New Zealand Thoroughbred awards in 2014.

The 2025 New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame Inductee Dinner is scheduled for Sunday, May 11 in Hamilton

Sports betting set to be legalised in Hawaii

Hawaii looks set to become the 35th US state to legalise online sports betting.

House Bill 1308 passed the state's Senate this week 15-10. It must still pass Hawaii's House of Representatives and then be signed into law by Governor Josh Green but seems a matter of time before it is.

The Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement will regulate the industry, while the general excise tax on sports betting will be administered by the Hawaii Department of Taxation.

It is due to become law on July 1, 2025.

Campbell Rawiller calls time on career in the saddle

An ongoing battle with weight has forced jockey Campbell Rawiller into retirement.

Less than six years after having his first ride, Rawiller bowed out when his two mounts at Kyneton finished unplaced on Thursday.

Despite his weight issues, the 24-year-old chalked up 1874 rides for 193 winners with his most recent success coming at a King Island meeting in January.

Rawiller’s most notable win was over the jumps when he rode Circle The Sun to victory in the 2023 Australian Hurdle at Sandown.

‘The jumps were incredible for my racing career,” he told Racing.com.

“If not for them we would have probably been having this conversation a couple of years before (now).

“I love the game but the wasting and what it takes to be out there to perform at your best is just not sustainable.”

Racing is a part of Rawiller’s DNA as the son of leading Sydney jockey Nash Rawiller and the nephew of Victorian rider Brad Rawiller and he hopes to remain connected to the industry.

Straight Talk podcast

This week on Straight Talk, Bren O’Brien and Tim Rowe speak to Jamie McCalmont about the possible impact of tariff wars.

They also touch base with Alastair Pulford to talk about Too Darn Hot's return and everything Darley, and put up their nomination for Australia's best three-year-old filly.

Click below for the latest episode.

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