Straight Up – Scott to depart and Karaka a barometer for NZ confidence
In this edition:
- Chief executive Jason Scott to leave Racing Queensland
- Keeping up appearances – Blue Diamond hopeful to debut as ‘spitting image’ of sire
- Matching AI with old-school knowledge – uni researchers using computers to help assess racehorses
- Headwinds nothing new for King Island racing community
First the breaking news.
Racing Queensland has announced that CEO Jason Scott will leave his role this year.
Scott, who has held the position for less than two years, will depart once a suitable replacement has been found.
The New Zealand racing and breeding industry has been on an upward curve since Entain struck a 25-year deal to take over TAB NZ in June 2023.
There was the initial payment of NZ$160 million, a significant amount of which was slated to flow through the racing industry, and the prospect of an additional $100 million should the government pass a law which would give Entain exclusivity, something which also looks likely.
In combination with gross profit share, the deal was set to result in minimum guaranteed funding of over NZ$1 billion to TAB NZ across the first five years of the agreement.
The monumental deal hasn’t been without teething problems, and the pending appointment of a new CEO at New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing is seen as crucial for all parties getting what they need out of the agreement.
To this point, the increased prize money has had the intended impact in terms of industry confidence. The business model of trainers has become less fraught, resulting in an inflection in the ‘trading-first’ mentality which has become prevalent in New Zealand.
Last year’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale saw Kiwi-based investment jump $5 million. This year’s sale, which begins on Sunday at Karaka, is expected to see that trend continue.
Saturday sees the running of the Karaka Millions features, with the three-year-old race’s prize money boosted to $1.5 million, while the twilight race day, which is part of the World Pool, also features the Group 1 Railway Stakes.
This leads into a feature summer-autumn carnival which culminates in the new Champions Day on March 8, which features four Group 1 races as well as the inaugural NZB Kiwi, the country’s richest race, at $3.5 million.
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It’s an ambitious schedule, designed to embolden the confidence in local investment. The results at Karaka over the next week will provide a strong measure of that confidence.
The Straight’s Tim Rowe is on the ground at Karaka and will bring you up to date with all the latest. Keep an eye out for our special preview podcast later on Friday. Subscribe and listen on You Tube, Apple, Spotify or Podbean.
Tim spoke to University of Hong Kong researchers, who are collaborating with bloodstock agent John Foote to develop AI technology to help assess yearlings and racehorses.
Matching AI with old-school knowledge
Uni researchers using computers to help assess racehorses
Saturday sees the start of the Blue Diamond series at Sandown, with a host of promising two-year-olds starting out on their journey towards Group 1 juvenile targets.
For Tamara Rickert, the breeder and part owner of the Danny O’Brien-trained Redders, it is the next step of a journey which has delighted her almost every step of the way.
In its 133-year existence, the King Island Racing Club has provided a quaint outlet for Australian summer racing on the western entrance to Bass Strait that is home to about 1600 people.
As King Island prepares to stage its final meeting of a season that traditionally opens at the start of summer and closes in late January, club president Audrey Hamer isn’t sure if the last rites will be delivered on Saturday.
ICYMI this week:
- Caulfield set to be confirmed as 2026 Cox Plate host
- Water torture – the cost hike that threatens to cripple Kalgoorlie’s racing industry
- Value-hunting syndicators taking advantage of 2025 yearling market trend
- Odds firm on a post-election result as Albanese kicks gambling reform agenda down the road again
- If you need an electrician, you don’t hire a plumber’ – Ex-jockeys key to Queensland’s racing education revolution
- Select suits as Inglis approaches smallest Easter catalogue since 2017 with confidence in quality
- Rowe On Monday – Alan’s Green racing legacy, a Rising vision for Japanese success and Thai industry boost on agenda
- Run The Numbers – Timing your Slipper run perfectly
Enjoy your racing weekend
Regards
Bren O’Brien
Managing Editor and Founder
The Straight
Author
