The Straight Daily News – ATC delays trainer fee hike | The wild west legend of Meningoort | Tabcorp’s turnaround
Trainer backlash forces ATC to review 10 per cent stable rent hike
Sydney trainers are pushing for a delay to a stable rent price hike after the Australian Turf Club hit its tenants with a 10 per cent rise on its daily fee with just a week’s notice.
The ATC, in an email to trainers on Monday, informed them that it would increase its per-box charge to the cohort based at its three city centres of Randwick, Rosehill and Warwick Farm from $11.50 to $12.65 a day.
The timing and communication of the fee increase, which is set to take effect next Monday, have angered the Sydney training fraternity, with its representative body airing its concerns to recently elected ATC chair Tim Hale on Wednesday.
After meeting with NSW Trainers’ Association chief executive Richard Callander, its chair Richard Pegum, and board member, Group 1-winning trainer John O’Shea, Hale has agreed to take their grievances back to his fellow board members, with a response due within the next 48 hours.
Trainers’ price rise on hold for now
The wild west legend of Meningoort
The recent death of Jock McArthur, a former steeplechase jockey, raconteur, and the man behind the infamous and short-lived Meningoort Cup, held special significance for Matt Stewart.
Farewell Jock, the legend of Meningoort
Tabcorp’s fortunes turn around on Victorian deal and leaner model
The impact of the new Victorian racing licence and a focus on reducing key costs has delivered Tabcorp growth in both revenue and EBITDA through the 2024/25 financial year.
Chief executive Gillon McLachlan, who has been in the role for just over a year, praised a much “fitter” Tabcorp model, confirming a much healthier set of numbers than this time last year when the wagering giant reported $1.4 billion in losses.
This time around, group EBITDA was reported at $391.5 million, growth of 23.2 per cent on last year, with revenue up 11.8 per cent to $2.6 billion.
The uplift from the impact of the new Victorian licence drove nearly all of that growth, although Tabcorp reported it has banked $39 million in operational savings after a string of well-publicised staff reductions. It also lifted integrity services revenue and posted a net profit after tax of $49.5 million.
‘We’ve come a long way’ – Tabcorp turnaround
Hot Digital result after charity auction reaps $255,000
The 101st and final nomination available to champion shuttle stallion Too Darn Hot sold for $255,000 in the name of charity after topping Wednesday’s Inglis Digital August (Late) Online Sale.
The sale of the Too Darn Hot nomination was a collaboration between Godolphin, Watership Down Stud and CatWalk, with all proceeds going directly toward funding critical research to help those living with spinal cord injuries.
The nomination was purchased by breeder Taisen Maddern.
Godolphin Australia managing director Andy Makiv was delighted with the outcome.
“It’s a wonderful result for CatWalk. The thoroughbred industry gets behind good causes and this is extremely important,’’ Makiv said.
“Too Darn Hot has quickly stamped himself as an elite young sire and the level of support for this nomination shows the confidence breeders have in him and in the initiative.”
Buyer and hobby breeder Maddern has earmarked his Street Boss mare Sliders to be the beneficiary of the Too Darn Hot nomination purchase.
“I actually had Sliders booked into Too Darn Hot last year but when he didn’t come out we obviously missed out and it’s been hard to get into him so I thought I’d just buy the nom when I saw it come online with Inglis Digital,’’ Maddern said.
The second-top lot was the in-form four-year-old Cold Brew, which sold to Cameron Hay’s new microshare syndication company Mustr Racing for $180,000.
He will remain with Rosehill trainers Richard and Will Freedman.
The August (Late) Sale grossed $2,822,450.
Zoustar sets the pace in bid to retain sires’ title
Widden Stud flagbearer Zoustar is making an early statement in defence of his champion sires’ crown.
After a month into the new racing season, Zoustar leads Australia’s general sires’ table, becoming the first stallion to have progeny earnings pass $1 million for 2025/2026.
Promising three-year-old Prestar added to Zoustar’s August tally when he resumed off a short break following a Queensland campaign to win at Randwick.
“I think he is a black-type horse,” co-trainer Tony McEvoy said.
“After his maiden win, I went straight to the black type (Oxlade Stakes), and I asked him to do something that he couldn’t quite do.
“He just got it all wrong and didn’t have the experience, and you get exposed pretty quickly at Listed level.”
Prestar was a $150,000 Magic Millions purchase and is owned by an all-female syndicate.
The colt sat outside the leader and pinched a winning break before scoring a half-length win on a heavy track over 1150m.
Zoustar, whose progeny won $26.3 million last season, was also represented by Doomben winner Frostfire on Wednesday.
He will stand at a fee of $275,000 for the 2025 breeding season.
Australian Bloodstock bolsters Melbourne Cup squad
Syndicator Australian Bloodstock has purchased Irish stayer Al Riffa in a high-powered Melbourne Cup move laced with global ambitions.
The sale of the last-start Group 2 Curragh Cup winner was confirmed on Wednesday with the six-year-old entire to remain under the watch of trainer Joseph O’Brien in Ireland.
Al Riffa will be trained for the Melbourne Cup via a lead-up run in the Irish St Leger and will arrive in Australia with the second shipment of overseas spring carnival contenders in October.
A son of Wootton Bassett, Al Riffa has raced in the US, England, Germany, France, Saudi Arabia and Ireland across his past eight starts.
His travelling days won’t stop in Australia with Australian Bloodstock revealing Japan Cup and Hong Kong Vase plans later this year.
The syndicator’s Al Riffa deal follows the acquisition of German stayer Augustus, a last-start Group 2 winner who is also heading out for the Melbourne Cup.
Vauban, purchased after contesting last year’s Melbourne Cup, also has his sights on a Flemington return in November.
Australian Bloodstock’s colours have been worn to victory twice in the nation’s most famous race, with Protectionist winning in 2014 and Gold Trip in 2022.
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Shane Nichols goes into training partnership with Hayden Black
Hayden Black, a long-time foreman for Shane Nichols, could be thrust into the Group 1 spotlight as a newly minted co-trainer less than two weeks into his new role.
Black has been a valued member of Nichols’ Mornington stable since 2018 and has been key to the yard’s success.
“We’ve been talking about a partnership for a couple of years, so it’s exciting to be officially starting now,” Black said.
The first runners under the new partnership are expected to step out in the coming days, ahead of having a potential Group 1 starter in unbeaten filly Esha, a daughter of Nichols’ richly talented mare I Am A Star.
Esha is under consideration for a start in the Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley on September 6 after making a winning return over the course and distance on August 9.
The three-year-old filly occupies the third line of Moir betting as an $8 chance.
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Flutter exits India after bill kills legalised online gambling
Flutter has beat a hasty retreat from India, halting its operations in the world’s most populated nation after the sudden passage of legislation banning online gambling.
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, which bans online gaming and prevents sponsorship, was passed by parliament and signed by the President on August 22 – just two days after first being introduced.
Flutter confirmed it had withdrawn its Junglee brand from the market, a move which will cost it upwards of US$200 million in revenue.
“I am extremely disappointed with the sudden changes to the regulatory landscape in India,” Flutter CEO Peter Jackson said.
“Over the last four years Junglee has invested significantly in its local market, building a workforce of over 1100 employees to deliver innovative skill-based gaming products to Indian customers. Central to this has been a strategy which prioritizes consumer protections and responsible gaming.”
“We believe this change will drive customers to the unregulated market, offering limited consumer protections and providing no contribution to the local economy. We believe in regulatory frameworks that put customers first and are evaluating options to restore skill-based games in the Indian market.”
Wet weather impacts NZ build-up for Cup hopeful Mark Twain
Mark Twain’s Melbourne Cup preparation looks to have hit a small snag, with forecast rain likely to lead to his withdrawal from Sunday’s meeting at Te Aroha.
“With the weather forecast, he will have to be a doubtful starter, which is a shame because it is a crucial run in a build-up towards Melbourne,” said Roger James, who trains the gelding in partnership with Robert Wellwood.
“The weather is looking bad, and it is a heavy 10 already, so it is probably unlikely (that he will start).”
The son of Shocking was set to contest last year’s Melbourne Cup, having won the ballot-exempt Listed Roy Higgins (2600m) at Flemington, but a tendon injury last spring curtailed those plans.
He made his first raceday appearance in more than 16 months when he finished last over 1200m at Te Rapa earlier this month, and James was happy enough with the run and has been pleased with his subsequent progression.
The Aroha race was set to be Mark Twain’s last in New Zealand before heading to Australia, where he is likely to contest the Group 3 Bart Cummings (2500m) in a bid to gain a berth in the Melbourne Cup. – NZ Racing Desk
