The Straight Daily News – Private pain as Everest ruled out | An Uber miracle in Longchamp | PointsBet board shake-up
Yulong left to find replacement for Everest slot
The brief and underwhelming spring campaign of Private Harry has been abandoned, leaving Yulong with the task of sourcing a new runner for its Everest slot, possibly from outside the confines of its breeding and racing empire.
Unbeaten and locked in for an Everest berth after a quickfire march through the classes during his three-year-old term, Private Harry will be missing from the $20 million slot race.
The entire’s defection was confirmed on Monday following a lacklustre fifth placing when 4-1/2 lengths from the winner Briasa in the Premiere Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.
Private decision leaves Yulong slot open
Mamadou, an Uber dash and another European Group 1
Asfoora’s extraordinary European odyssey added another successful chapter with the Australian-trained mare defying a softer than-hoped track and a last-minute paperwork glitch to win the Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp.
The Henry Dwyer-trained mare’s third Group 1 win, to go alongside wins in the King Charles III Stakes last year and Nunthorpe Stakes victory at York in August, came with a relative lack of fuss.
But while the win was straight forward, the build-up was anything but after Dwyer discovered that he had left the mare’s passport behind in Chantilly when arriving on the racetrack.
Asfoora’s odyssey continues with third Group 1 win
Five depart PointsBet board as MIXI trio comes in
PointsBet has confirmed that three representatives from Japanese company MIXI have joined the Australian bookmaker’s board, while five existing directors have stepped down.
In a statement to the ASX on Monday, PointsBet announced that Sho Okuyama, Kanji Kobayashi, and Taishi Oba were the new members on a board that has undergone a major refresh.
Of the previous PointsBet board only three members remain, with Brett Paton retained as chairman and Sam Swanell still on the board as managing director. Non-executive director Manjit Gombra Singh also stays on.
Changes aplenty as MIXI takes control of PointsBet
Plans for one of racing’s quiet achievers, a timely Breeders’ Plate success, French G1 adds to Asfoora temptations
In this week’s Rowe On Monday, an industry veteran decides on a change of pace, it’s all about the timing for the dam of Breeders’ Plate winner Incognito and a dilemma for Asfoora’s owner Akram El-Fahkri.
Rowe On Monday
Industry mourns Warren Huntly
The Victorian racing industry is mourning the death of Warren Huntly, after it was confirmed on Sunday that the respected form analyst, media figure and jockey manager had succumbed to cancer at age 63.
Huntly had spent the last 20 years on radio and television coverage, mainly in Victoria on RSN and racing.com, and was much admired and respected across the broader racing industry. He also shared ownership in several horses including the Group 1 winner Pernod.
He had been battling cancer for the past two years but had only recently stepped away from his radio and TV duties. His wife Leeanne confirmed his death on Sunday morning.
‘A flamboyant race caller in his time’ – Tributes for ex-commentator Hilton Donaldson after his death
Former racecaller Hilton Donaldson has died aged 60. Donaldson called extensively in New South Wales and then as number one thoroughbred caller in Adelaide, including Black Caviar’s famous Group 1 double at Morphettville in 2012.
He left race commentary in 2014 after a parting of the ways with Sky Channel.
Fellow caller Terry McAulliffe confirmed on Sunday that Donaldson’s son Ethan had informed him that his father had died.
Latham ejected from Randwick as racing rift grows
Independent MP Mark Latham was ejected from one of Randwick’s biggest racedays, with the Australian Turf Club confirming the former club member was not permitted within the members area of the racecourse due to “disciplinary proceedings”.
According to reports, Latham was walking between the Chairman’s Lounge and Grand View Restaurant in the members area at Randwick during Saturday’s Group 1 Epsom Handicap meeting when he was asked to leave by ATC staff.
An argument ensured before Latham and his companion were both escorted from the racecourse by NSW police.
Royal Supremacy, Valiant King earn Caulfield Cup penalties
Weekend winners Royal Supremacy and Valiant King have received weight penalties for the Caulfield Cup.
Racing Victoria chief handicapper David Hegan penalised Royal Supremacy 1.5kg for winning the Group 1 Metropolitan, while Valiant King will have an additional 1kg penalty for the $5 million race.
With 52.5kg, Royal Supremacy has been elevated to 26th in an updated Caulfield Cup order of entry, one place ahead of Valiant King.
Valiant King, who earned a Melbourne Cup ballot exemption for his win in The Bart Cummings, also has 52.5kg in the Caulfield Cup.
“It was an easy win for Royal Supremacy on Saturday, he moved into the race effortlessly at the top of the straight and was too strong through the line for his rivals,” Hegan said.
Under Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Robbie Dolan, Royal Supremacy carried 50kg in the Metropolitan.
Both stayers escaped a Melbourne Cup penalty.
Third declarations for the Caulfield Cup will be taken on Tuesday.
Forty winners by 40 sires
Monday public holiday racing in Australia produced an unusual quirk of results as the 40 races run across the five TAB meetings produced winners by 40 different individual sires.
With public holidays in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia, there was a feast of Monday racing, including seven races at Warwick Farm.
Races at the Sydney metropolitan meeting were won by the progeny of Shamus Award, Harry Angel, Invader, Mikki Isle, Tassort, Winning Rupert and Inns Of Court.
At Toowoomba, the King’s Birthday meeting featured winners by Brutal, Dundeel, Easy Rocking, Hellbent, Press Statement, Spirit Of Boom, Tavistock and Territories.
The diversity of sires among winners continued at Ballarat, Muswellbrook and Gawler.
The other meeting on Monday was a picnic meet at Landor in WA, but the results of that meeting, 950km north of Perth, were not available at the time of publication.
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Quintessa takes barrier trial detour to Livamol Classic
Adverse weather has forced multiple Group 1 winner Quintessa to take an unorthodox route to Saturday’s Group 1 Livamol Classic.
The Te Akau Racing mare made an appearance at the Awapuni trials on Monday.
Prepared by Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson at Matamata, Quintessa got her preparation off to a flying start winning the Group 1 Proisir Plate (1400m), but she was scratched from the second leg of the triple crown, the Group 1 Howden Insurance Mile, at Te Rapa, because of a heavy surface.
In the hands of stable rider Opie Bosson, Quintessa settled at the tail of the field in her heat, while stablemate Midnight Blue strode to the top for Samantha Collett.
Bosson asked her for an effort turning for home and she responded well, striding up to finish second behind Sailor Jack.
Bergerson was pleased with what he saw from the daughter of Shamus Award, who didn’t trial in her usual blinkers.
“It’s been a pretty tough time of it with the weather lately, so it was a good opportunity to get on a reasonable surface,” Bergerson said.
Group 1 breakthrough for Coolmore’s St Mark’s Basilica
Coolmore shuttle stallion St Mark’s Basilica, who will have his first southern hemisphere two-year-olds racing this season, has sired his first Group 1 winner.
Diamond Necklace maintained an unbeaten record in claiming the Prix Marcel Boussac (1600m) at Longchamp.
The top-priced Lot at €1.7million from the 2024 Arqana August Yearling Sale, the filly is trained by Aidan O’Brien for racing juggernaut Coolmore.
Diamond Necklace cleared maiden ranks in August before stepping up to win at Listed level last month.
Her one-length Longchamp victory under Christophe Soumillon made it three wins from as many starts.
She is the ninth winner and third Group winner from 10 foals to race from stakes-winning Dansili mare Prudenzia.
The 2021 European Horse of the Year, St Mark’s Basilica has returned to Coolmore Australia for the 2025 breeding season where he stands at a fee of $38,500 (incl GST).
Australian General Sires Table
Source: Arion.co.nz
