Straight Up – A crystal ball for Christmas
In this edition:
- What will be the five biggest breeding and bloodstock stories of 2025?
- What will be the five biggest wagering stories of 2025?
- What will be the five biggest racing industry stories of 2025
- Run The Numbers – The right kind of shuttler
- Rowe On Monday, Gandharvi’s filly focus, Mo memories, foal crop plans and tributes for Don Goodwin
- Blue Diamond winner to join his sire at stud
- ICAC dismisses Rosehill report referral
- Reilly appointed as Melbourne Racing Club chief executive
- A $20 million POCT haircut – NSW government revises its tax numbers again
- Foundation set in harness racing, Brick takes over three codes of racing in Queensland
It’s been a big 2024 in the racing, breeding and wagering industries, but as opposed to reflecting on all that has passed, we’d rather spend the festive season thinking about what 2025 might bring.
Over the past few days, we have been running a series of articles on what we expect to be the biggest five stories in each of the key three sections of the thoroughbred industry.
Many of these stories have their roots firmly planted in 2024.
At the top of Tim Rowe’s list regarding breeding and bloodstock is the resolution of the issues surrounding the black type pattern.
The five biggest breeding and bloodstock stories of 2025
Property transactions, stallion ranks, colts syndicates, the yearling market and the Pattern
Warwick Barr points to the decision over the future of Rosehill as the most significant issue in the racing space in 2025, while in the wagering space, the long-running questions over the federal government’s plans for gambling advertising take pride of place.
By their nature, issues which impact the thoroughbred industry tend to be long running. There is a very good chance that many of the 15 issues we have highlighted will be reprised when we roll out the 2026 edition in 12 months’ time.
Many industries take a breather at this time of year, but not ours. News continues to break.
On Friday, Melbourne Racing Club confirmed that current Thoroughbred Breeders Australia chief executive Tom Reilly will be its new chief executive.
ICAC also got its business done before the Christmas shutdown, announcing that it has found no evidence to suggest it should further probe the Rosehill proposal and the relationship between the NSW government and the ATC.
ICAC dismisses Rosehill report referral
Minns and his government in the clear on ATC relationship
The NSW government’s half-year budget update revealed that Point of Consumption Tax returns will be $20 million less than expected this financial year, while Racing Queensland appointed David Brick as the man in charge of all three of its racing codes.
We also had news that Blue Diamond Stakes winner Little Brose has found his way to stud in New Zealand having taken a detour via Hong Kong in his racing career.
Beyond that, we have a couple of longer holiday reads to get you up to date over the break.
In this week’s Rowe On Monday, Tim Rowe spoke to Gandharvi’s Kuldeep Singh Rajput about his plans for 2025, while he reflects on Uncle Mo, the American plans to re-invigorate the foal crop, and Don Goodwin, the breeder of champion mare Verry Elleegant, is remembered.
And in this week’s Run The Numbers, we track the rising trend of shuttle stallions having success with their two-year-olds, as Wootton Bassett and Lucky Vega make an early mark.
The Straight will still be busy covering all of the biggest news impacting the Australian thoroughbred industry over the Christmas-New Year period. Straight Up will arrive in your inbox on Tuesday and Friday over the next two weeks.
To our readership, thank you for your support through 2024. We hope you have a great festive season, and we look forward to continuing to provide you with the most important stories impacting the thoroughbred industry throughout 2025.
Regards
Bren O’Brien
Managing Editor and Founder
The Straight
Author
