Straight Up – A media mindset change and why selling to Hong Kong doesn’t always make sense
In this edition:
- Hoad’s road to integration – Racing Victoria’s media pivot
- Bar raised – Hong Kong rebuff a pointer to Kooringal’s expectations for first-season sire
- Straight Talk Podcast – Inglis Classic review, crown land moves for Racing NSW, a key appointment for RV and wagering exits
- Straight Shorts – Friday February 14 – Edward Cummings’ Leilani vow, VRC still in Cox Plate race, Sodashi’s first foal
- Straight Shorts – Thursday February 13 – RV’s key appointment, Cummings appeals licence loss, Stake exits UK, Extreme Choice filly tops French sale
Racing Victoria’s decade-long ambition to build its own media empire appears to be at an end.
Racing.com, and the various names the RV media business has occupied over the years, was built to be an industry asset, a one-stop shop to consume media, driving a direct relationship with racing’s customer, be they fan, punter, owner or participant.
It was an ambitious project which has had many successes, but there were two fundamental challenges it failed to overcome.
The first was the political and logistical challenges of truly integrating a business that ideally contains all of the broadcast, radio, digital and print assets.
The second was managing the competing priorities or promoting your own platform with the need to utilise relationships with the broader media to amplify your messages to a broader audience.
Racing Victoria CEO Aaron Morrison believes he can solve the first by bringing the media business under Racing Victoria’s executive control. As of January 1, it has no longer been a separate business.
By dulling the commercial ambition of the Racing.com brand, Morrison also hopes he can resolve the second challenge. RV has been busy re-engaging with ‘media partners’, keen to utilise its content assets “off platform”.
The man charged with heading up this approach is Entain executive Andy Hoad, who assumes the role of Executive General Manager (EGM) – Media, Content and Marketing in March.
This week’s Straight Talk podcast discusses Hoad’s appointment as well as a host of other major news stories this week. We also review the Inglis Classic Sale where a couple of key questions were raised.
Subscribe or listen on Apple, Spotify or Podbean or watch below on YouTube.
At Randwick on Saturday, some racing bluebloods, including $1.75 million colt United States, will take their next step on the way to the Golden Slipper in the Pierro Plate. Up against them will be an unbeaten homebred gelding from Kooringal Stud near Wagga.
Shaggy is by resident Kooringal stallion Sandbar and having dominated his first two races at Coffs Harbour and Sunshine Coast, was the centre of significant offers from Hong Kong. But owner Angus Lamont is adamant the small but speedy two-year-old is better off staying on home soil.
In Straight Shorts, Edward Cummings has insisted that Leilani Lodge will stay in his family’s control despite revelations that his father Anthony is set to have his licence removed by Racing NSW over lingering financial issues.
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ICMYI this week:
- Has the number of yearlings offered at auction in Australia reached its tipping point?
- Crown plans – Racing NSW assumes land management of five racecourses
- Train today, chopper tomorrow – Shinn has saddle and will travel, by whatever means
- Run The Numbers – A Shocking feat that even Zabeel and Sir Tristram can’t match
- Rowe on Monday – HK Derby in for a Shock, breeding the SA way and Malaysian owner moves on NZB Kiwi pick
- Like father, like son – John Fung follows Hong Kong family into thoroughbred business
Thanks for your support of The Straight. If you have any feedback for us or any story suggestions, feel free to email editor@thestraight.com.au. Enjoy your Group 1 racing weekend.
Regards
Bren O’Brien
Managing Editor and Founder
The Straight
Author
