In today's Straight Shorts, UK star Dubai Honour lands a third Sydney Group 1 win, Ceolwulf on target for Queen Elizabeth, Colossalbet fined $60,000 and Pride Of Dubai back on top in sires' title.

Dubai Honour
Dubai Honour powers to victory in the Tancred Stakes under Tom Marquand. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

Dubai Honour a Sydney icon after Tancred win

UK raider Dubai Honour's Australian autumn excursions are reaching legendary status.

William Haggas’ experienced world traveller made it three wins from as many Sydney appearances in taking out the Group 1 Tancred Stakes at Rosehill on Tuesday.

Returning to Australia for the first time since winning the 2023 editions of the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) and Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), Dubai Honour revelled in the soft going under English jockey Tom Marquant.

He made his bid between horses in the straight to run down last year’s Caulfield Cup winner Duke De Sessa with Vauban making late ground to finish third.

Marquand said Dubai Honour always travelled like he was going to be in the finish from a long way out.

"He felt like the winner and as a jockey there's horses that give you certain feelings," Marquand said.

Dubai Honour is now second favourite to win the $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes behind Via Sistina.

As in previous trips, Isabella Paul has been overseeing Dubai Honour’s Sydney campaign.

“He is an absolute star and at seven years old he has proved again that he is at that top-class level,” she said.

“He’s the most perfect horse to travel and he never misses a beat. We never have to worry about him and he is the easiest horse in the world.”

Ceolwulf ‘tradesmanlike’ in Sellwood victory

Trainer Joe Pride is pushing full steam ahead to the Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday week with Ceolwulf convinced the four-year-old’s Neville Sellwood performance was dulled by a wet track.

A dual Group 1 winner over a mile in the spring, Ceolwulf prevailed by the barest possible margin as the $1.50 favourite in Tuesday’s Group 3 Neville Sellwood at Rosehill.

“It wasn’t really the result that counted today - it is easy to say that after a race - but it is more about the performance,” Pride said. 

“I’ll be honest, he presented like he was going to win by a couple of lengths but he didn’t do that. 

“That was only his second go on a heavy track and while he went well on it in the Derby when he was younger, maybe he’d prefer something a bit firmer now.”

Ceolwulf, who ran third behind Gringotts in the Group 1 George Ryder at his previous start, defeated leader Just Fine with Our Gold Hope running third.

Jockey Chad Schofield concurred with Pride about Ceowulf being unfavoured by the heavy conditions.

“We were giving some decent horses weight and I thought the only way that we can get beat is if we give him too much to do,” Schofield said.

“After he jumped cleanly I let him stride forward. He beat the draw (7) and then relaxed in the one-one. He ended up getting out nice and early.

“It was tradesman-like. He had a lot of weight (59.5kg) and he was giving decent horses weight.”

Betting provider fined $60,000 for illegal gambling ads

Wagering operator Ryman Racing Pty Ltd, trading as Colossalbet, has been convicted and fined $60,000 for posting prohibited gambling advertisements to social media.

The penalty was imposed in the Downing Centre Local Court this week after determining that the ads failed to meet standards of decency, dignity and good taste.

The breaches, published by Ryman Racing’s sub-brand PuntHub in October 2023, involved five posts across Facebook and Instagram.

Under the Betting and Racing Act 1998, gambling ads which are accessible to persons in NSW must adhere to strict requirements designed to protect the community from inappropriate content and potential gambling harm.

Liquor & Gaming NSW (L&GNSW) acting executive director of regulatory operations, Bernadette Beard, said the decision highlights the consequences of breaching the state’s gambling advertising laws.

“This is the first time a wagering operator in NSW has been prosecuted and convicted for publishing ads which offend standards of decency, dignity and good taste," she said.

“L&GNSW actively monitors gambling advertising across all platforms and will not hesitate to take enforcement action where necessary.”

Ladbrokes picks emerging sprinter Jokers Grin for Quokka slot

Rising West Australian sprint weapon Jokers Grin will get his chance against Australia’s best after being selected by Ladbrokes to run in the $5 million Quokka.

The four-year-old boasts six wins from just eight career starts and put his name up in lights following a devastating return in the Rock Magic Stakes on Saturday over 1000m.

The win cemented his position as one of Western Australia’s most promising sprinters and put him on a path towards Quokka glory on Saturday, April 26 for trainer Bernie Miller.

"We were approached by three to four slot holders over the past couple of weeks, but I must admit Ladbrokes appealed to us from the start,” Jokers Grin’s managing owner Mark Jones said.

“The whole process has been seamless, and it was a no-brainer for us.”

Jones confirmed local jockey Patrick Carbery will retain the ride all the way through the preparation, making it an all-West Australian team.

Entain Australia’s Executive Director – Commercial and Industry, Andrew Hannan, said Jokers Grin’s slashing Rock Magic Stakes win was simply too good to refuse.

“Jokers Grin had been on our radar for some time, but his win in the Rock Magic was impossible to ignore,” Hannan said.

“We are proud to be supporting a local horse in their richest race this year.

“We believe Jokers Grin can go on to bigger and better things and we are backing in BernieMiller and Patrick Carbery to get him there.”

Overweight riders’ trial extended in Victoria 

Racing Victoria has extended its trial of allowing riders to compete one kilogram overweight in flat races.

All professional flat races run in Victoria since March 1 have been exempt from Local Rule (LR) 74A(3) allowing a rider at any weight, to ride one kilogram overweight with permission from the stewards.

The exemption allows riders to maintain an association with horses which they might otherwise be removed from due to weight restrictions.

RV’s Integrity Services Department requested that the board extend the trial period to May 31.

“The extension was considered necessary to allow the Stewards to obtain further feedback and fully assess the efficacy of the new procedures,” RV said.

“Consultation will continue with participants throughout April and May with the trial’s success or otherwise to determine whether or not it is adopted on a permanent basis.”

Pride of Dubai hits back in sires race

Pride Of Dubai has re-assumed the lead from Zoustar in the battle to become Australia’s champion sire.

Widden’s Zoustar only recently took the lead from Pride Of Dubai, who had been the front-runner ever since Bella Nipotina won Australia’s richest race, The Everest, in October.

There was just $13,600 separating the top two headed into Tuesday’s rescheduled Group 1 raceday at Rosehill, but the victory of Pride Of Dubai’s Dubai Honour in the Tancred Stakes, which is worth $870,000 to the winner, has given the Coolmore resident back his lead as he closes on $20 million in progeny earnings for the first time.

In a sign of how much prize money has increased in recent years, Pride Of Dubai’s current season total of $19.8 million would be sufficient to win all but five of the previous champion sires total.

While he is currently in second, Zoustar will still be considered favourite to claim his first General Sires crown given he has nearly had twice the starters of Pride Of Dubai and there is still four months of the season remaining.

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