‘Bool for Bloggsy
Bloggsy is set for the ‘Bool, Betsy is told.
The racing ‘influencer’, who was the talk of the Spring Carnival, announced this week he was set for a stint in Perth for a series of race meetings.
Bloggsy, also known as Stephen Power, is an avid jumps fan, so a trip to promote the Warrnambool Jumps meeting makes sense.
Racing Victoria, Betsy understands, wants to cash in on Power’s Spring Carnival success. The ‘Bool kicks off on May 5.
While no announcement has been made, it is considered extremely likely he will head to Victoria.
There was an earlier attempt to get Power to the ‘Bool, but apparently more work was needed to make it financially attractive enough to convince him to travel halfway around the world.
Good work if you can get it, with Power posting a selfie from the comforts of business class on his way to Perth.
Power, of course, charmed Australian racing fans with his authentic, but passionate, coverage of the Victorian Spring Carnival in 2025 to his 232,000 followers on X alone.
With the staying power most of us enjoyed in our youth, Power powered through more beers, buffet breakfasts, mounting yards, race days and trainer interviews than most thought was humanly possible.
So what could possibly be a better match than the Warrnambool carnival – three days of beer, racing, jumps and doing your best to avoid hypothermia, even if the ‘Bool’s famously cold weather is probably a balmy day out for a Brit.
Power undoubtedly showed the ability for racing media to modernise in how it captures and covers the sport.
He is not everyone’s cup of tea, and that is OK too. But with a simple camera or iPhone, and given the appropriate access, he showed what could be done and the reach beyond traditional media.
He also illustrated to racing authorities why they should relax access rules on big race days, allowing more than the traditional broadcasters access to the stars of the sport.
Maher set for Crown Lodge?
Ciaron Maher is rumoured to now be the likely contender to take over the vacant Crown Lodge, one of NSW and racing’s most prestigious properties, which has been vacant since Godolphin exited the facility in August 2025.
The super trainer will reportedly take the 125 boxes, Betsy believes, and also make use of the elite Agnes Banks training facility, another premier private facility owned by Godolphin.
It would likely mean the star trainer exits Bong Bong in NSW’s Southern Highlands region.
Crown Lodge, an historic racing site, remains for sale.
If the move happens, it will further solidify Maher’s expansion into NSW, where prizemoney remains a more attractive option for the super stable. There have been concerns Maher may one day move from his Ballarat base, where he remains a key tenant.
National Tote set for Victorian base
It seems that TAB CEO Gil McLachlan is closer than ever to delivering a National Tote, which will likely be run out of Victoria.
While the deal is not quite over the line, there is a consensus that it is now far more likely than not.
New South Wales and Victoria have been adamant they will only agree if they can see how it will make them better off.
There are some involved in the negotiations with TAB who have taken the opportunity to look at other deals they are committed to, such as investments in media assets.
The Tote agreement may precede some significant changes in the racing media space.
It comes as other wagering operators, such as Sportsbet, look to further increase their media offerings.
Sir Delius case will further weaken Cup
The days of racing’s stars participating in multiple Group 1 races on their way to a Melbourne Cup continuing are looking less likely than ever.
Racing Victoria clarified on Monday that one-time Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate favourite Sir Delius is again free to race in the state despite famously failing the Cup scans in 2025.
Those scans, which led to Racing Victoria’s vet panel ruling out the gelding, of course robbed him of a Cox Plate tilt where he was favourite. Given his heroics in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, it remains a crying shame and may have cost Gai Waterhouse her first Cox Plate.
The Cup protocols are an essential part of the race now, and likely forever. The fact there has not been a fatality since they were introduced is proof they work, even if field quality is diminished. Racing Victoria, with some key personnel changes, now seems more proactive in its public support of the vet rules.
The saga surrounding Sir Delius is a lesson others will follow closely – if you want to run in the Melbourne Cup, you must be prepared to miss other major spring races if the scans do not go your way.
Some have since asked post-Sir Delius whether there is a way to organise Cup scans after a Cox Plate. At the end of the day, you do not need a scan to run 2040m, but you do for the Cup, so why not wait?
Do not forget Waterhouse and her co-trainer Adrian Bott were convinced their gelding was fit despite what the experts made of the scans – he convincingly won the Underwood and Turnbull Stakes after all.
The fact is the saga will weaken the Cup in the future. Connections will no longer risk a payday if the unique opportunity arises – why would they?
But given the importance of a safe Cup, that is a reasonable price racing should pay.
Racing glowing despite defeat
It seems like just yesterday pundits were screaming out for the next crop of stars of the turf. As Pride Of Jenni and Mr Brightside aged and Via Sistina retired, the sport naturally asked – who is next?
Personally, I don’t feel the defeat of Autumn Glow diminishes how exciting she could be for the sport. She still has the ability to cut through into mainstream sport.
The bonus is that there appears to be plenty of good horses around her that will carry the sport this spring.
The emergence of Sheza Alibi, the return of Sir Delius, plus the likes of Tentyris, Autumn Boy, Lady Shenandoah, Well Written and maybe even Guest House across their chosen distances, suggests the next generation is pretty exciting.
