In today's Straight Shorts, richly bred Coolmore-syndicated juvenile wins at Canterbury, Birdsville announces prize money lift, New Zealand two-year-old Do You Just sold to Hong Kong and Verry Elleegant's brother leaves maiden ranks.

Charlie Duckworth
Chris Waller assistant Charlie Duckworth (pictured) has flagged a Queensland cameo for well-bred Canterbury winner Central Coast. (Photo: The Image is Everything - Bronwen Healy & Darren Tindale Photography)

Queensland trip possible for Central Coast

The Listed Tattersall’s Stakes (1400m) could be used as a springboard to three-year-old feature races in the spring for Coolmore’s talented Wootton Bassett colt Central Coast.

Out of brilliant mare Sunlight, Central Coast was bred by Coolmore who syndicated him to its colts syndicate at a valuation of $1.4 million after being bought by agent Paul Moroney at last year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

After being nabbed on debut by stablemate Autumn Boy a fortnight ago, the Chris Waller-trained Central Coast overcame trouble in the straight to score impressively over 1250m despite the narrow long neck margin.

“It was a bit of a nervous watch really. He was actually pretty keen down the back, which I didn't really anticipate, to be honest,” Waller’s assistant Charlie Duckworth told Sky Racing.

“Pre-race he was beautiful and calm, but he did get up on the bridle for Adam and he just had to bide his time in the straight, but he was very good late.

“Ideally we would have taken a sit last start, but he just bounced and landed there and was sort of left as a sitting duck as a result.”

The Tattersall’s Stakes will be run at Eagle Farm on June 28.

Prize money increases for iconic Birdsville meeting

Birdsville will boast a record prize pool of $330,000 in 2025 with a 10 per cent overall increase in stakes for Australia’s most iconic outback meet.

Among the increases will be a 20 per cent lift for the Birdsville Cup - up from $50,000 to $60,000.

New to the program is the Big Red - a $40,000 open quality sprint over 1000m named after the spectacular 40m high red sand dune that sits just 35 km from Birdsville.

The additional feature will strengthen the depth of the opening day of the carnival by almost doubling prize money, providing an even greater incentive to trainers who make the pilgrimage to Birdsville for the first weekend in September.

Racing Queensland acting chief executive Lachlan Murray said he is looking forward to heading west to attend this year’s event.

"We are proud to continue our support of the Birdsville races, a meeting that epitomises everything that is so special about country racing in Queensland," he said.

In addition to stakes increases, the Birdsville Race Club will offer enhanced travel rebates and jockey/trainer incentives, including a $5000 bonus for any trainer who can complete the Big Red-Birdsville Cup double.

Do You Just heading to Hong Kong after profitable sale

Kiwi So You Think juvenile Do You Just has been sold to Hong Kong interests after winning the Listed Champagne Stakes at Ellerslie last month.

Trained by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, the $250,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka graduate has been sold “for a profit” after breaking through in emphatic fashion at his fifth start.

“He was purchased as a colt, but once he had to be gelded, he was no real value to Waikato Stud, as they would generally race fillies or colts,” O’Sullivan said.

“I also raced 20 percent of the horse myself. When we sell a horse out of the stable, the one thing we hope is that they turn out really well, so the owners will come back in the future.”

Bred by Anthony Roberts’ Chesapeake Thoroughbreds and prominent Group 1-winning owner Heath Newton, Do You Just was sold for $150,000 as a weanling at the Magic Millions and pinhooked at Karaka by Carlaw Park.

So Suave plots Verry path after maiden win

So Suave, the brother to champion mare Verry Elleegant, broke his maiden at Doomben on Wednesday in his fifth start for the man who trained his sister, Chris Waller.

The three-year-old gelding by Zed has required a bit of patience, but starting as a long odds on favourite, he registered his first win over 2070 metres with Andrew Mallyon in the saddle, defeating stablemate State Of Affairs.

So Suave was purchased for $260,000 by Yes Bloodstock, Group1 Bloodstock and Dermot Farrington at the 2023 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

He is the sixth winner from as many foals from Opulence, whose mating with Zed produced the 1-time Group 1 winner as well as Listed winner Verry Flash and Grand National Hurdle winner Affluential.

Her final foal, Verry Stella, is a two-year-old who has had two barrier trials for Waller.

Two in a row for OTI's promising Knobelas

About 12 hours after OTI Racing enjoyed the ultimate success at Royal Ascot with Docklands winning the Group 1 Queen Anne, syndicator Terry Henderson unearthed another promising horse in Melbourne.

Lightly raced New Zealand-bred three-year-old filly Knobelas, a daughter of Haunui Farm’s former shuttler Belardo, won by 3.25 lengths in a BM70 race at Sandown.

It was her second win in succession from just three starts for trainers Mick Price and Mick Kent Jnr.

"(It was) very similar to last time, she got her own way in front, but if you've got the tactical speed, can hold the race and no one takes you on, you deserve that," Kent Jnr told Racing.com.

"She's clearly got a very nice turn of foot, that was quite impressive … she sustained a fast gallop the whole way up in grade, won by a big margin again.

"I know there's a heap to come with her, it's exciting.” 

Knobelas was a NZ$20,000 buy at the 2023 Karaka Yearling Sale for Kasa Bloodstock.

Queensland regional trainer banned over anabolic steroid swabs

Central Queensland trainer Nick Walsh has been disqualified for 12 months following charges relating to the use of a prohibited substance.

One of Walsh’s horses returned positive swabs to an anabolic steroid.

The Rockhampton trainer faced charges that led to three 12-month bans after Stanozolol was found in samples from two out-of-competition tests and one from a post-race analysis.

He pleaded guilty to all three charges issued by Racing Queensland stewards.

Walsh’s disqualifications will be served concurrently.

Punter bounced over double-dividend attempt

A sports bettor has failed in his attempt to get paid out his winnings twice from a basketball multi.

The Sportsbet customer complained to the Northern Territory Racing and Wagering Commission after he was initially denied a payout on a multi on a National Basketball League match between Sydney and Cairns in October 2022.

Sportsbet had initially used its terms of conditions to void the multiple bets the man had placed, because there was “a manifest or obvious error in setting odds”. That decision cost the bettor $37,000.

However, Sportsbet then overturned its own decision five days later and paid out the winnings. Still, the complainant wanted to take the matter further.

Sportsbet stated that the argument that there should be a further payment “is ridiculous and fundamentally flawed”, because “it is possible for a bet to be paid out of goodwill and as a winning bet concurrently”.

The Commission agreed that the complaint was without merit.

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