Hatha Anna Unplaced in Final Australian Lead Up
- Saturday, 14 September 2002 00:00
Hatha Anna, Godolphin's leading hope for the
Melbourne Cup, put up a disappointing performance in his final race in advance of his
Australian campaign.After stalking eventual winner Systematic until well into the home straight, the five-year-old's challenge went out like a light in the last furlong and a half of the Listed contest, finishing a one-paced sixth in the seven-runner field.
This was his last start before going into quarantine on Monday.
The Sadler's Wells entire won the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G2) at Flemington on his trip to Australia last year. He has not won a race since, although ran a creditable fourth in the two-and-a-half mile Ascot Gold Cup in June.
PIC - Quentin Lang.
Media Release - TNZ
War Emblem Sold for US$17 million
- Thursday, 12 September 2002 00:00
The sale was reported in the Thoroughbred Times today and the purchaser is Japan's powerful Shadai Stallion Station.
Katsumi Yoshida, who runs Shadai with his brother, Teruya, said he signed the deal late on Wednesday afternoon while attending the Keeneland September yearling sale in Lexington.
The agreement is for War Emblem to be sent to Japan, where he will be syndicated, after he runs in the BreedersÂ’ Cup Classic (G1) on October 26 at Arlington Park.
War Emblem has won seven of 12 career starts and earned $3,491,000. After winning the Derby and Preakness, he stumbled leaving the gate in the Belmont Stakes (G1) and finished eighth in his bid for the Triple Crown.
In his next start, War Emblem won the Haskell Invitational Handicap (G1) on August 4 at Monmouth Park but struggled home sixth in the Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) on August 25 at Del Mar.
Media Release - TNZ
Aussie Bred Wins South African Champion Award
- Tuesday, 27 August 2002 00:00
Purchased at the 1998 Australian Easter Yearling Sale for $575,000, she was the top priced filly of her year and proved equally successful as a racehorse for prominent bloodstock investor Mrs Sabine Plattner.
Laisserfaire finished her racing career in a blaze of glory winning her last three starts in succession at Group One level, bringing her overall tally to 12 wins and three minor placings from 16 starts.
The daughter of Danehill (USA) and stakes-winning mare Procrastinate has been a dream horse to own and we hope her future achievements as a broodmare can match her deeds on the track.
Media Release - Wm Inglis & Son
Group One Record for Rock of Gibraltar
- Monday, 09 September 2002 00:00
In registering his seventh elite win on end, Rock of Gibraktar removed a cloud that has hung over the Ballydoyle yard of champion trainer Aidan O'Brien since most of his team were struck down with the virus.
Rock of Gibraltar showed no such signs however, as he powered away from Bank's Hill, giving Danehill another prestigous one-two finish, while Gossamer came in third.
O'Brien now intends crossing the Atlantic for a start in the Breeders' Cup Mile, followed by the late season Queen Elizabeth 11 Stakes at Ascot.
Media Release - TNZ
Zabenz Third in US Debut
- Friday, 23 August 2002 00:00
New Zealand-bred gelding Zabenz has finished third
overnight in the first start of his North American campaign.The Zabeel gelding, who had won his only three hurdle starts in Melbourne during the winter, was beaten just over 10 lengths in the seven-horse field.
According to information supplied by NZ Jumping Association secretary/statistician Chris McQuaid, Zabenz carried topweight of 72kg in the novice steeplechase at Saratoga and started a $2.35 favourite.
Zabenz, ridden by New Zealand jockey Craig Thornton, made up some leeway from fourth in the running. The time for the two-mile race on fast ground was 3:36.28.
Zabenz is scheduled to start in next Thursday's New York Turf Writers' Steeplechase, also at Saratoga, over 3800 metres.
PIC - Quentin
Lang.
Media Release - TNZ
Aussie Jockey Cops Year Ban in Singapore
- Wednesday, 04 September 2002 00:00
Jockey M De Montfort was found guilty of a charge under MRA Rule 144.(2), punishable under MRA Rule 144.(5) for failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures throughout the race to ensure that AIR CHIEF was given full opportunity of winning or of obtaining the best possible placing. The particulars of the charge are:
- that from the 700m to the 400m, he placed AIR CHIEF under unnecessary restraint and prevented this horse from improving its position when there were opportunities to do so;
- that from the 400m to the 100m, he placed AIR CHIEF under restraint which placed the horse in last place near the 100m and out of contention in the race; and
- that from the 100m to the finish, he did not ride AIR CHIEF with sufficient vigour and determination.
Jockey De Montfort was disqualified for one year with immediate effect and was advised of his Right of Appeal.
Jockey De Montfort exercised his Right of Appeal against the Stipendiary Stewards' decision. On application, he was granted a Stay of Sentence and the Appeal will be heard at a date to be fixed.
Media Release - Singapore Turf Club
Tronerud Quits Macau
- Wednesday, 21 August 2002 00:00
The Macau Jockey Club announced today that Tronerud advised them yesterday that he was relinquishing his licence.
The statement issued by officials stated "personal reasons" as Tronerud's motive behind the decision.
Tronerud had been riding in Macau since arriving there in May, earlier this year.
Hong Kong Jockey Club Donates Over $1 Billion
- Friday, 30 August 2002 00:00
Betting turnover slipped to HK$78.2 billion in the 2001/02 season, down 4.1% from the season before and off 15.4% from the 1996/97 record high.
But the Jockey Club still managed to donate more than HK$1 billion to charities and community projects again. However, Mr. Li warned: "It is important to note that if the trend in turnover persists, the prioritisation of where our donations go and how they are spent will become ever more important to ensure that the needs of the community are properly addressed."
Among recent projects, the Jockey Club funded a new facility at the University of Hong Kong: the Jockey Club Centre of Suicide Research and Prevention. It will help understand the causes and identify ways to address the growing incidence of suicide in Hong Kong.
Mr. Li told the Club Members of a project that they "will hear much more of in the coming months," as he put it. It is an initiative called "Around the World in 80 Ways - the Hong Kong Challenge", a play on the 19th century Jules Verne novel, "Around the World in 80 Days." A team of disabled adventurers are circling the globe in a variety of different travel modes, such as swimming and riding animals. The group will be in Hong Kong in November. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, said Mr. Li, "is sponsoring activities for Hong Kong people to share in this spirit of adventure, with the ultimate aim of inspiring them to fulfil their potential and adopt a 'Yes, Can Do!' attitude." The activities will culminate in a grand finale at the Happy Valley Racecourse.
Shifting to the Club's business, racing, Chairman Li called the Hong Kong International Races "without doubt one of the most international racing events in the world", drawing contenders from
every hemisphere. He added that with the Hong Kong Sprint elevated to join three other races in International Group One, Hong Kong now hosts one of the very few multiple Group One race days in the world. Hong Kong and the United States also are the only racing jurisdictions to host two legs of the World Series Racing Championship now that Hong Kong's Audemars Piguet QEII Cup is included in the World Series.
Last season produced some of the most competitive racing ever, the Chairman added, with 40% of handicaps being decided by a neck and 60% by no more than a length. With 28% of favourites winning, "there was much for fans to cheer about from a betting perspective," he added.
Racing fans will see major race track changes next season, beginning Sunday, according to Mr. Li. In Happy Valley, the fourth- and fifth-floor public loges in the grandstand have been rebuilt as air conditioned lounges. At Sha Tin, there will be two 300-seat media halls and a food court between them offering a wide range of cuisine. The three facilities are grouped in what's being called MezzaOne. The media halls offer many video screens showing racing and plush, theatre-like seats fans can "rent" for $30 for a race meeting. The enormous food court is a brightly lit collection of modern food stands winding the length of the court and facing stand-up tables, hosted by staff in colourful pink and white striped shirts and blue pants. They offer many Chinese, Malay, Indian, Japanese and Western food choices. Fans will note that the distracting tangle of food stands in the
public forecourt of the course is now gone.
Stewards recently approved redevelopment of the Sha Tin parade ring, including a retractable roof to provide protection from rain and hot sun, a high-quality Diamond Vision screen and an increase in spectator seating.
Although he did not speak at the annual meeting, Chief Executive Lawrence Wong wrote in the annual report that the Jockey Club is moving towards total customer satisfaction. "We believe customers appreciate our efforts, and indeed satisfaction surveys bear this out. Nonetheless, we are aware that we must work hard to retain customer loyalty and respect. Our philosophy is to deal with incidents affecting customer interests promptly, and to provide open briefings to ensure transparency."
Mr. Li also addressed the continuing debate over regulated betting on soccer matches, stressing it is for the Government and the community to decide, not the Jockey Club. "Whatever the decision," Mr. Li told Club Members, "it would seem prudent to maintain Hong Kong's tried and tested model of not-for-private-profit, with all benefits going to charity. The Club has frequently been identified as the appropriate provider of soccer betting. From our point of view, we would certainly welcome the opportunity to serve Hong Kong as we have done in the past.
"We have carefully studied what would be required to set up and run such an operation, and we are confident that the Club could provide a soccer betting service. Nonetheless, any action on our part must await the decision of Government."
Media Release - HKJC
Another Year Long Ban for a Leading Singapore Hoop
- Wednesday, 21 August 2002 00:00
Late last week the English jockey Gary Carter was outed for a year for not giving a mount every possible chance of winning. He has since lodged an appeal.
Now stewards in Singapore have handed out an identical penalty to leading international hoop Jorge Chavez.
It was Chavez's ride on Secret Mission in the first race in Singapore back on June 14 that came under scrutiny.
"Chavez was found guilty of a charge under MRA Rule 144.(2) punishable under MRA Rule 144.(5)," a statement from the Singapore Turf Club said.
"The particulars of the charge are that when riding Secret Mission in the first race run at the Singapore Turf Club on Friday, 14 June 2002, he placed the horse under unnecessary restraint between the 1100m and 900m mark, placing it in a position where it suffered interference and lost considerable ground, and he thereby failed to give Secret Mission full opportunity of obtaining the best possible placing in the race."
Zabenz Jumps to Grade One Glory in America
- Friday, 30 August 2002 00:00
Australian jumping star Zabenz is being regarded as one of the most promising
on the globe after a runaway win in the Grade One jumping event at Saratoga in the United
States this morning.Zabenz, unbeaten in three jumping starts in Australia, won at his second American outing for Victorian trainer Robert Smerdon at about 7am (Melbourne time) this morning.
After sitting close the leaders the son of Zabeel went to the lead at the ninth jump and then cleared away for kiwi jumps jockey Craig Thornton to win by seven and a quarter lengths in the US $110,000 New York Turf Writers Cup steeplechase.
"He got out of the barriers well and was always in a good position," Smerdon said on Sport 927 after the win. "The other horses were probably not suited by the softening track, but the win was still very good."
Zabenz relished the deteriorating track conditions after a day of heavy rain
in New York, on what Smerdon described as "the wettest day since I've been
here."
At the post the talented jumper had a substantial break over the runner-up Double Leaf, while Flat Top was a further five and a quarter lengths away in third place.
The favourite, last year's winner It's a Giggle, was never travelling well and he was eased out of the race by the ninth jump.
Smerdon reported that Zabenz would spend "about a week" in the paddock before being aimed at the US$250,000 Breeders' Cup Steeplechase at Far Hills on October 19.
PICS - Quentin Lang.
Third Singapore Rider Disqualified in a Week
- Wednesday, 21 August 2002 00:00
A third Singapore jockey has been handed a one year disqualification within the period of a week.
Last last week stewards banned English hoop Gary Carter and it was announced earlier today that Jorge Chavez was disqualified for the same period. Moments ago the Singapore Turf Club advised a third rider had been outed.
Gaven Birrer joined Carter and Chavez after an inquiry was completed in Singapore on Monday.
Stewards outed the rider after they felt he had not given his mount any chance of winning the race or not providing it with the best possible chance of a better placing.
Officials felt the rider gave his mount "unnecessary restraint" after it had gained a good start and led to the gallopers undoing as it obtained interference toward the back of the field after being restrained.
Meanwhile, the Turf Club has also advised that Carter, as expected, has lodged an appeal against his year ban.
Carter has been granted a stay of proceedings and will be able to ride until the appeal is heard at a date to be fixed.