In today's Straight Shorts, Australian plans have been revealed for a French Group 3 winner, regional funding boost for Western Australia, veteran jockey Jim Byrne to ride on and Henry Dwyer's strategy for Asfoora ahead of Goodwood start.
Rafale Design to join Waterhouse and Bott
Last-start French Group 3-winning colt Rafale Design will join the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable, but not before a shot at a European Group 1 race.
A 50 per cent share in the three-year-old son of Starspangledbanner, who has won four of his six starts, including Sunday’s Prix du Lys over 2400m and the Group 3 Prix Hocquart at Longchamp in May, was bought in the colt after Monday’s Goffs London Sale.
The deal, brokered by agent Johnny McKeever, will see Rafale Design run in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris (2400m) in July before being imported to Australia.
Rafale Design, who is currently trained by Yann Barberot, was bought back by his vendor for £2 million (A$4.14 million) at the Goffs sale ahead of Royal Ascot.
$25 million regional racing boost locked in via WA budget
WA’s state budget has confirmed that the Labor government will deliver on a promise to establish a $25 million Regional Racing Fund.
Treasurer Rita Saffioti delivered the budget on Thursday with provision made for the racing fund, which was promised by Premier Roger Cook prior to the last election in March.
Under the fund, a host of regional thoroughbred and harness tracks will receive funding. That includes $7.5 million for major upgrades at Pinjarra Race Club and $2.2 million for Pinjarra harness.
Over $2 million was promised to Esperance for a new training track and rail, while nearly $4 million was allotted for Albany Racing Club for major upgrades to that track.
An additional $1.9 million has been promised to Geraldton Turf Club and $2.6 million to Broome Turf Club.
Betting Tax, WA’s 15 per cent Point Of Consumption Tax, will return the expected $129 million in revenue this financial year and is expected to increase to $130 million next financial year, with similar smaller growth over the forward estimates based on population growth.
The overall WA budget revealed an expected $2.4 billion surplus for the 2025/26 financial year.
Byrne set to return to the saddle
Veteran Queensland jockey Jim Byrne, a three-time premier Brisbane rider, intends on renewing his licence for next season.
The 53-year-old has not ridden since mid-April and has not made a decision on when he will return to the saddle but he says he's not ready to call time on his career.
“I have had a good discussion with my family and I have made commitments to my family about holidays that are coming up,” seven-time Group 1 winner Byrne told Racing Queensland.
“But, I am in the process of renewing my licence – so fingers crossed. I have never mentioned retiring, I have always said I am stepping away for a bit and reassessing it.
“I have made commitments to my family so I will weigh up everything when it comes to that time.”
Asfoora to bulk up before tackling Goodwood Group 2 sprint
Trainer Henry Dwyer says he wants to present stable star Asfoora in a “bigger and more robust” fashion before her next UK start.
Asfoora finished fifth in a defence of her King Charles III title at Royal Ascot and Dwyer has devised a plan to help the mare bounce back in the Group 2 King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood on August 1.
“She still looks only just … she looks OK in the coat and she’s probably a little bit light,” Dwyer told RadioTAB Australia.
“I just need her over the next two or three weeks to put on about 15 to 20 kilos.
“We’re going to give her a nice little break in a paddock, do no work with her and feed her up as much as we can to have her a bit bigger and more robust if we can for Goodwood and beyond.”
Dwyer said he would like Oisin Murphy to continue his association with Asfoora, depending on the jockey’s commitments as a retained rider in the UK.
Awesome start for Ryan’s Written Tycoon colt
Hawkesbury trainer Blake Ryan is hoping he's unearthed a talented colt by Written Tycoon after a debut victory from two-year-old Just Awesome.
The juvenile, a $420,000 Inglis Easter purchase by Ryan, Goldfinder Equine and Colin Equine, was pushed up to lead by jockey Tommy Berry in the two-year-old maiden over 1100m at Gosford on Thursday and held off the challengers by more than half a length.
A well-backed $2.40 favourite, Just Awesome was bred by Yulong's Zhang Yuesheng, who retained a share in the colt, after he bought his dam, the stakes-winning Fastnet Rock mare Bleu Roche for $600,000 at the 2019 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
He’s Raw and Green , but he’s talented!
— Blake Ryan Racing (@blakeryan86) June 19, 2025
JUST AWESOME wins on debut @gosford_races for @TommyBerry21
420k @inglis_sales Easter yearling
Thanks so much for the support of owners Ravenswood , @YulongInvest , @DavidLui , Ben, Bruce & Tony. pic.twitter.com/rZHW97Sfsy
Just Awesome, who won both his barrier trials in preparation for his first start, is raced by a syndicate that also includes Hong Kong's David Lui and Ravenswood Bloodstock.
He is one of eight two-year-old winners this season for champion sire Written Tycoon who stands privately at Yulong.
Government rubber-stamps extra simulcast events into Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Jockey Club will expand its simulcast coverage of international racing after receiving HKSAR government approval.
Starting in the 2025/26 racing season, the maximum number of simulcast races will be raised from 25 to 40 and will reach 55 by 2026/27.
Additionally, the maximum number of simulcast days will increase from 37 to 53 in 2025/26, and further to 70 in 2026/27.
The HKJC says the expansion is crucial for combating illegal betting.
It will also give the HKJC’s World Pool concept an increased global footprint.
The extended coverage will ensure most of the top 100 Grade or Group 1 races on the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities’ rankings will have World Pool betting.
Immigration officials arrest more than 80 in Delta Downs operation
A US Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid at the Delta Downs racetrack has led to more than 80 arrests.
Federal immigration agents, as well as state and local enforcement authorities, executed an early morning operation at Delta Downs.
Agents descended on the Louisiana track after learning that stables that race thoroughbreds and quarter horses were allegedly hiring unauthorised workers.
US media outlets have reported that all 84 of the people arrested are believed to have entered the country illegally.
Along with a criminal investigation, agents are also assessing whether civil penalties are appropriate for the businesses that hired the alleged unauthorised workers.
