The Straight Daily News – A Manikato charm | Yulong’s $2m China plans | MRC deficit despite revenue rise
Shinn’s lucky Charm
Charm Stone has delivered for a second time at racing’s highest level, upstaging two Everest slot runners to win the $2 million Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley.
One of the outsiders in the Group 1 weight-for-sprint, Charm Stone was given an economical run from jockey Blake Shinn before scoring a decisive win.
Shinn, who turned 38 on Friday, extricated Charm Stone from a pocket to follow Baraqiel into the race and the mare responded to put the issue beyond doubt inside the final furlong.
Shinn claims Manikato Stakes on outsider Charm Stone
Zhang leading the charge for $2 million raceday
Zhang Yuesheng plans to raise the profile of thoroughbred racing in his home country of China by increasing the prize money to as much as RMB10 million for Yulong’s feature meeting in 2026.
The initiative by Zhang to boost the pot to the equivalent of A$2.14 million next year is in the works after the Yulong founder recently held a successful race day at the lavish sales and racing precinct in Shanxi Province in northern China.
Inglis’ Victorian bloodstock manager James Price says Zhang is “leading the charge” for racing in China and his investment is already encouraging new owners to go along for the ride.
Grand plans for racing in mainland China
MRC boosts revenue to record levels
A $6 million impairment from the abandoned Caulfield Master Plan has driven a near $15 million after-tax loss for the Melbourne Racing Club, despite a record year of revenue.
The club’s annual report, released ahead of the annual general meeting on Thursday, showed positive numbers for key aspects, including membership numbers, which reached 15,700, and overall revenue, which increased to $269 million for the 2024/25 financial year.
But the overall topline number was a $14.7 million deficit, compared to a $8.8 million deficit last financial year.
Revenue up but strategy change keeps MRC in the red
Strangles case confirmed at Macedon Lodge, horses in lockdown
High-profile training centre Macedon Lodge has been placed in lockdown following confirmation of a case of Strangles that threatens to derail the spring campaign of Melbourne Cup winner Knight’s Choice.
Racing Victoria has declared the facility an “infected place” after the highly contagious disease was found in an unraced three-year-old trained by John Symons and Sheila Laxon.
The Queensland-based training partnership has relocated to Macedon Lodge to prepare a small team spearheaded by the 2024 Melbourne Cup winner Knight’s Choice for the Victorian spring carnival.
Under an Australian rule of racing, all horses stabled at the centre must remain quarantined on the property that was once owned and used by leading owner Lloyd Williams as a blueprint for Melbourne Cup success.
Kiwis Rutherford and Ritchie enjoying the ride
For the best part of four decades, Kiwi Richard Rutherford has dabbled in the art of thoroughbred breeding, never having more than three or four mares at once in his quest for a champion.
Despite his modest numbers, Rutherford has had his fair share of success in the thoroughbred game, but the best might still be to come – and in the space of a few short weeks in Sydney this spring.
Rutherford can lay claim to being the breeder of exciting colt Autumn Boy, a leading chance in Saturday’s Group 1 Golden Rose, as well as having loose yet pivotal ties to Ka Ying Rising, the latest superstar in Hong Kong.
Kiwi pair enjoying the ride with Autumn Boy on way to potential spring Group 1
Three BRC directors to face re-election
Five candidates will compete for three vacant positions on the Brisbane Racing Club board as the club reported an increase in profitability in its annual report despite a fall in racing revenue.
Voting has opened for the BRC board elections and will close on October 14, the day before the club’s annual general meeting. Three previous board members are standing for re-election, and two other candidates are challenging them.
Kate Davies and Michael Pearson have been on the board since they were selected by an independent panel in March this year and are looking to have their appointments ratified by the membership.
Brisbane Racing Club reports boost in profit ahead of contested election
Ladbrokes stars team up with Racing.com presenters
The Manikato Stakes meeting marked a significant step in Ladbrokes Australia’s new media partnership with Victorian-based broadcaster Racing.com.
Ladbrokes talent were front and centre during the coverage of race clubs aligned with the corporate bookmaker.
Champion jockey Damien Oliver joined hosts Brittany Taylor and Nick Quinn to support Racing.com presenters at Moonee Valley.
Three-time Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Glen Boss will also be a key part of Ladbrokes’ line-up across the Moonee Valley night season.
Oliver and Boss have been Ladbrokes’ brand ambassadors since retiring from the saddle.
Straight Talk – The loss of Wootton Bassett, James Price on China’s racing growth plus what does the ATC’s spat with Racing NSW mean?
Long-term in mind for Slipper winner Marhoona
Trainer Michael Freedman is deliberately giving reigning Golden Slipper-winning filly Marhoona a light spring campaign with her longevity on the racetrack front of mind.
The Emirates Park homebred by Snitzel, who won two of her three starts as a juvenile, resumes in Saturday’s Listed Heritage Stakes at Rosehill and Randwick-based Freedman is happy with her condition.
“She’s probably a little stronger and more robust, she’s never going to be a big rangy filly but she has some strength about her and she’s in good nick,’’ Freedman told Racing NSW.
“One thing you don’t have to worry about with a filly is whether they come back too colty which is always a bit of question mark with the colts.
“She’s always going to be a Group 1 winner now so from a future breeding perspective she has that in her back pocket.
“But Hussein Lootah, her owner, is quite keen to see her race on into the future and that’s why we are giving her a lighter spring then into the autumn.”
NZTR steps in with RACE CEO to depart
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing chief operating officer Darin Balcombe has stepped in to help run RACE Inc after the departure of the club’s chief executive officer Tim Savell.
RACE runs the Awapuni and Trentham venues which represent six historical race clubs which have operated under an incorporated entity since 2002.
Balcombe, who will now fulfil the role of NZTR general manager – special projects, which involves working closely with clubs and industry stakeholders, will step in to provide oversight and support to RACE after it was confirmed Savell would depart.
“RACE has some important projects underway to get the Central Districts back on track,” he said.
“My focus will be on supporting the club, participants, and stakeholders, while ensuring that the business continues to move forward with confidence.”
RACE has undergone a significant change over the past few years, including the troubled renovation of Awapuni’s grass track.
Savell, who will assist with a handover to the new administration, thanked the club for their support and reflected on his tenure.
“My time at RACE has been enjoyable, but it is now time to move on to other challenges,” Savell said.
“It has been an unforgettable journey in an industry that is filled with passionate and hardworking stakeholders, all of whom are keen to see Thoroughbred racing continue to progress, both within our region and nationally.”
Free Melbourne Form Previews, plus Price Assessments and Mounting Yard Mail
Saturday Results
July 24% POT
August 28% POT
September to date 34% POT
Benner’s Karaka Millions call on De Armas
Comeback trainer Johnno Benner could have the horse to put him back on the big stage after the debut win of two-year-old filly De Armas at Otaki on Friday.
The Ardrossan juvenile backed up her emphatic barrier trial win at Foxton last week with a 4-3/4 length win in New Zealand’s first two-year-old race of the season on her home track over 800m
The bargain buy, a NZ$16,000 purchase from Elsdon Park at the New Zealand Bloodstock Online Yearling Sale, will be set for the Karaka Millions at Ellerslie in January.
“She was very good,” Benner said. “She has done a lot in a short time, she is definitely pretty smart.
“She has always shown plenty. It is hard to line the trial form up, we could only go off what we had seen with all of the other horses there.
“She definitely showed what we hoped she could and has the action of a filly that is going to appreciate a bit of a drier surface and a bit further again. It is all looking positive.”
New Zealand General Sires Table
Source: Arion.co.nz
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