VRC’s ‘unhelpful’ report rejected
Australia’s Black Type Advisory Group is starting its work to return the Australian Pattern back in working order, but it appears any advice from clubs or other interested parties is unwelcome.
The Victorian Racing Club has put together a report on the state of the Pattern, which is believed to highlight the harm that pop-up races and the movement of races, as outlined in the Pattern’s guidelines, have caused to the spring.
It was received by the ABTAG, but Racing Australia responded immediately through Racing Victoria regarding the unsolicited report, which conveyed to the club that it was unhelpful.
It is also understood Racing NSW has a copy of the report and is unhappy with its contents.
The Pattern problems arose because too many people sought to wield power through the Pattern without understanding it.
The ABTAG should be open to submissions, even if they are unpalatable to some, to come up with a Pattern that conforms to international standards and shows Australian racing in the best light.
Dwyer looks to UK to boost stable
Trainer Henry Dwyer has headed to England this week to check up on European champion sprinter Asfoora and further expand his team for Royal Ascot with a two-year-old from the Craven Sale.
Dwyer will have a team at Royal after buying Synners Kid, a two-time winner for Joseph O’Brien, for 110, 000 guineas, and Skiathos, a winning son of Wootton Bassett, last year and syndicating with Royal Ascot as a target before coming back to Australia.
“People want that experience of having a horse run at Royal Ascot and seeing we have Asfoora over there, it makes sense for my staff member to look after a couple of others,” Dwyer said.
“Synners Kid and Skiathos are being aimed at the Britannia Stakes or the Golden Gates Stakes at the Royal meeting.”
“I’m going over to see them and Asfoora, but we have our eyes on a couple of two-year-olds at the Craven, which we will try to get to Royal Ascot as well.”
“They could cost up to $400,000 but if we get the right horse, it is blood you can’t buy in Australia.”
“We are going to be at most of the festivals and they will all get their chances to run at some of the biggest meetings in Europe if they are good enough.”
Asfoora stayed at Newmarket this year after winning the Nunthorpe Stakes at York and Prix de l’Abbaye during the Arc meeting at Longchamp in 2025.
Dwyer has mapped out a return to the King Charles III Stakes over five furlongs, which Asfoora wn in 2024, with a program that includes the Palace House Stakes on the Rowley mile at Newmarket into the Temple Stakes at Haydock to have her peaking for Royal Ascot for the third consecutive year.
“I would love to win a race at Newmarket and we want her to have a couple of runs before Royal Ascot, where it looks like we will have a bit of Aussie company,” Dwyer said.
“The trip is about just checking on the horses and making sure everything is going in the right direction.”
Lloyd orders his brother a sling for finding his flying Queen
Zac Lloyd has a regular partner in his big race celebrations in brother Jaden, but he has him to thank for for his latest Group 1 success, Idle Flyer.
Jaden flew down from Brisbane after Lloyd won the Golden Slipper on Guest House and the pair are very close, but it shouldn’t stop him from asking for a sling for Idle Flyer.
Jaden is the only other jockey to win on Idle Flyer, a Kembla Grange maiden, but passed on his thoughts to his brother.
“When he won on her he said to me ‘you should get on her when she goes to town because he thought she was pretty good’,” Lloyd said after winning the Queen Of The Turf on her.
“It was the first thing I thought of when I crossed the line. He was right.”
Lloyd has been part of the team with Idle Flyer, winning seven times from eight rides on her.
“Zac just gets on with her so well, the only defeat was when we took on the sprinters first-up, who were a bit sharp for her,” trainer Matt Smith said.
“He is a great young jockey, and his feedback has played a big part in getting her to this level.
“We both thought she would enjoy a solid mile, and she certainly did.”
Kembla’s inner track ready for racing after 14 years
It has been 14 years since Racing NSW announced the redevelopment of the Kembla Grange course proper, and it is getting closer with an inside track set to hold a meeting in the next month or so.
The Kembla project was supposed to follow the Newcastle track finishing, but has been plagued by delays at various stages.
The inner track is being used for track work and would take all the Kembla meetings when the main track is shut down for up to a year when it is resurfaced with better drainage.
Racing NSW hopes the course proper project will start after the Gong meeting in November, so the main track will be back for the 2027 Gong, but wants to ensure the inner track is up to holding meetings throughout that period.
The slow-moving process of infrastructure projects was highlighted by the Auditor-General’s report released last week into the $58 million of government funding for regional racing dating back to 2021.
The report was scathing about the Department of Racing’s oversight, noting that it had only begun meeting with Racing NSW in 2024. Only six of the 14 projects have been completed and four have been started after five years.
When will racing NSW release the O’Shea decison?
The appeal decision for John O’Shea’s two-month disqualification for improper conduct has yet to be published.
There are a further two appeals in the case from last month, one from the trainer, the other from Racing NSW after its local rule was ruled invalid.
For the sake of transparency, the decision needs to be published as it is not going to change.
However, when O’Shea’s stay of proceedings was declined by the Racing Appeals Tribunal, a win for the regulator, the decision was immediately available to the public on Good Friday via the Racing NSW website.
