Latest news with #AlligatorBlood
Herald Sun
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Injunction dismissed: Alligator Blood case takes stunning new twist
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. The long-running Alligator Blood saga has taken a new twist with a Supreme Court Judge giving Queensland stewards the green light to open a new stewards' inquiry. At 9.30am on Thursday morning, Justice Martin dismissed an injunction application from the star horse's original owners Allan Endresz and Jeff and Robyn Simpson. The injunction bid had been attempting to restrain stewards from conducting current and future inquiries into the 2020 Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas controversy. It is more than five years into the drama since Alligator Blood was originally stripped of the 2020 $2m Magic Millions Guineas win and the prizemoney cheque, following a positive swab to the banned substance, altrenogest. Endresz and co were originally handed a thumping win in court when Justice Morrison, of the Court of Appeal, ruled in favour of a court's original decision to void Alligator Blood's disqualification as it ruled owners were never given an opportunity to be heard by stewards before the disqualification. However, Queensland stewards later announced they would attempt to re-hear the matter in a third inquiry. They will now get that chance and the latest court ruling is the first time Endresz has had a major loss in court since the saga kicked off. The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission and Racing Queensland – which were the respondents in the civil action – were awarded costs from Endresz and co. Endresz's legal team had initially submitted to Justice Martin that 'the lawful power of the stewards had been exceeded' and the second stewards' inquiry into the matter had been 'discontinued without any reasonable diligence.' They claimed Alligator Blood's 'A' swab sample from 2020 was now unreliable because of laboratory flooding and 'even QRIC's own experts say it is unlikely it could be reliably analysed now.' But Justice Martin said, in his finding: 'The owners have not succeeded on any of the arguments they presented.' QRIC deputy commissioner Kim Kelly told Racenet: 'QRIC is pleased with today's Supreme Court's decision and looks forward to the (stewards') inquiry proceeding and the matter being determined. 'When the current (QRIC) leadership team was appointed in September last year, this matter being resolved was prioritised. 'The Supreme Court's decision facilitates that outcome being achieved. 'The way is now clear for the inquiry to proceed with a fresh panel which will objectively consider all the relevant evidence and reach a determination based on that evidence. 'With today's decision, QRIC's leadership team remains committed to finalising this matter in a timely manner.' Kim Kelly. Picture: Grant Peters – Trackside Photography. Endresz said he would file an appeal next week, saying an initial debrief with his barrister Katherine McGree had uncovered 'three crucial points, wrong in law.' 'I have instructed Katherine to dig deeper into those points and we will file an appeal next week,' Endresz said. Alligator Blood, the seven-time Group 1 winning headline horse, had been transferred from Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott to Chris Waller but never raced for Waller. He was retired last month after a slight amount of heat was detected in his leg. Originally published as Alligator Blood case takes new twist with Supreme Court injunction application dismissed
News.com.au
08-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Alligator Blood case takes stunning new twist with Supreme Court injunction application dismissed
The long-running Alligator Blood saga has taken a stunning new twist with a Supreme Court Judge giving Queensland stewards the green light to open a new stewards' inquiry. At 9.30am on Wednesday morning, Justice Martin dismissed an injunction application from the star horse's original owners Allan Endresz and Jeff and Robyn Simpson. The injunction bid had been attempting to restrain stewards from conducting current and future inquiries into the 2020 Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas controversy. It is more than five years into the drama since Alligator Blood was originally stripped of the 2020 $2m Magic Millions Guineas win and the prizemoney cheque, following a positive swab to the banned substance, altrenogest. Endresz and co were originally handed a thumping win in court when Justice Morrison, of the Court of Appeal, ruled in favour of a court's original decision to void Alligator Blood's disqualification as it ruled owners were never given an opportunity to be heard by stewards before the disqualification. However, Queensland stewards later announced they would attempt to re-hear the matter in a third inquiry. They will now get that chance and Wednesday morning's ruling is the first time Endresz has had a major loss in court since the saga kicked off. The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission and Racing Queensland – which were the respondents in the civil action – were awarded costs from Endresz and co. Alligator Blood, the seven-time Group 1 winning headline horse, had been transferred from Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott to Chris Waller but never raced for Waller.
Herald Sun
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Herald Sun
2025 Calaway Gal Stakes: Shaun Dwyer with Dragonne Rouge
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Shaun Dwyer enjoyed his 67th birthday on Monday and the wily Sunshine Coast trainer would love nothing better than to cap celebrations with a victory over the big stables in the Listed Calaway Gal Stakes at Eagle Farm on Saturday. The Group 1-winning trainer will saddle up $7.50 chance Dragonne Rouge in the $200,000 contest over 1200m for 2YO fillies, a precursor to the start of the Queensland Winter Carnival on Saturday week. She will go up against the likes of the Tony Gollan-trained star Hi Barbie ($2.90), fellow unbeaten filly Ha'penny Hatch (4.80), trained by Paul Shailer on the Gold Coast, and the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Headbanger ($6). • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Dwyer is hoping he can win another Group 1 – 21 years after his last – with Dragonne Rouge, who will be targeted towards the $1m JJ Atkins (1600m) on June 14 at Eagle Farm if she can continue the brilliant start to her fledgling career (two starts, two wins). In his heyday, Dwyer had about 80 horses in work, winning the 2004 Lightning Stakes with flying filly Regimental Gal, the 'Toowoomba Tornado' who the year before captured the rich Magic Millions 2YO Classic on the Gold Coast. These days, Dwyer's stable numbers have dwindled to about 15 and he has become the hunter rather than the hunted. 'I was a big stable once, I had 80-odd horses at Deagon there for a while,' Dwyer said. 'Those premier trainers, you've got to keep it in reality. They've got a lot of horses and the more they get, the better quality they get and they don't come for nothing. 'It's always good to get a horse (Dragonne Rouge) with that sort of ability. She's just so strong to the line and that's what you want.' • 'I was a bit green': Healey's time to shine after Alligator Blood regret Dwyer said he was quietly confident his filly could win on Saturday under the guidance of Andrew Mallyon, who takes the ride in the absence of Damien Thornton (who is riding Ha'penny Hatch) and Michael Rodd (Isti Star). 'When you've got a small team, you're hoping everything goes right and you've done the job,' he said. 'Fortunately I've been here a few times in my life and, yeah, I am pretty confident that if she can get the right ride then she'll go good. 'I think Andrew Mallyon is the ideal rider because he likes those midfield travels and he lets his horses find their feet.' • Video 'crystal clear' on animal cruelty allegation: lawyer Dwyer believed the wide expanse of Eagle Farm would suit Dragonne Rouge even better than her last-start victory at Doomben this month when she wore down odds-on favourite Get Ready Lass over 1110m to get the cash on a soft track. 'We've had the benefit of a couple of solid runs,' Dwyer said. 'I've got no doubt that the 1200m at Eagle Farm is probably going to suit her a lot better. 'She can just travel around on the bit and let down. I think her times the other day (at Doomben) were very good.' Originally published as Sunshine Coast trainer Shaun Dwyer puts a Dragonne Rouge victory in the 2025 Calaway Gal Stakes at the top of his birthday list
Daily Telegraph
23-04-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Telegraph
Gosford track facing 'dress rehearsal' for 2025 The Coast card
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. The Gosford Race Club faces a crucial 'dress rehearsal' on Friday for next month's $500,000 The Coast meeting following urgent recent work to fix safety issues with the track. Doubt was cast over the club hosting their stand-alone raceday earlier this month after Gosford was forced to abandon its second meeting in two weeks when a horse slipped on the track. A meeting on March 27 had to be abandoned when a horse slipped on the home turn before a similar incident occurred just after the winning post on April 10. The track, which underwent a significant redevelopment last year, had held two successful meetings before the incidents occurred. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! It was discovered the areas of concern had a hard layer or 'crust' at the top that restricted horses from breaking the surface, causing the slip. A remediation plan has been put in place to address the issue. 'It became apparent when we started piecing it together that sections of the track were just too hard and looking at the construction of our cambers, the sectionals of the track where the horses slipped were the entrances for the construction of the track,' Gosford chief executive Daniel Lacey said. 'Every tractor and every truck and grader went on via that 20m section so the section was just harder than everywhere else. 'When we were doing the track we were aware that we didn't want to over-compact after the Gold Coast had their issues so we didn't want to end up with a hard compacted track. 'We made sure to compact it as much as we could but it was just in that section.' The club have worked closely with Evergreen Turf – which played a crucial role remediating the maligned Gold Coast track before this year's Magic Millions – to make it safe for racing. Palmetto won the 2023 edition of The Coast at Gosford. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images • 'I was a bit green': Healey's time to shine after Alligator Blood regret The use of Agri-Vator, designed to break up hard soil layers, decompress soil and aerate the profile, has seen significant improvement in the areas of concern. Group 1-winning jockeys Tommy Berry and Josh Parr were among the jockeys to gallop over relevant sections of the track last week and gave their tick of approval. But the biggest test for the club will come on Anzac Day when Gosford hosts an eight-race card. 'We've done everything we can,' Lacey said. 'We have followed all the instructions of the Evergreen Turf guys who helped fix up the Gold Coast track. 'They have got all the machinery that is required and they've kept the machinery here so after Anzac Day we will get the feedback and address anything (if it arises). 'I spoke to a number of trainers on Saturday at Randwick and they plan to bring horses here for The Coast but from a club point of view we just want to get a bit of confidence back in the track. 'We are going ahead (with the Coast meeting) unless we are told there is an issue that needs to be rectified but this is definitely a full dress rehearsal in my eyes.' The Coast meeting takes place 15 days after Friday's meeting and also features the running of the Listed $300,000 Gosford Gold Cup (2100m) and Listed $250,000 Takeover Target Stakes (1200m). Originally published as Gosford Race Club to host first meeting since safety issues saw consecutive programs abandoned
News.com.au
23-04-2025
- Automotive
- News.com.au
Gosford Race Club to host first meeting since safety issues saw consecutive programs abandoned
The Gosford Race Club faces a crucial 'dress rehearsal' on Friday for next month's $500,000 The Coast meeting following urgent recent work to fix safety issues with the track. Doubt was cast over the club hosting their standalone raceday earlier this month after Gosford was forced to abandon its second meeting in two weeks when a horse slipped on the track. A meeting on March 27 had to be abandoned when a horse slipped on the home turn before a similar incident occurred just after the winning post on April 10. The track, which underwent a significant redevelopment last year, had held two successful meetings before the incidents occurred. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! It was discovered the areas of concern had a hard layer or 'crust' at the top that restricted horses from breaking the surface, causing the slip. A remediation plan has been put in place to address the issue. 'It became apparent when we started piecing it together that sections of the track were just too hard and looking at the construction of our cambers, the sectionals of the track where the horses slipped were the entrances for the construction of the track,' Gosford chief executive Daniel Lacey said. Gosford: Due to a horse slipping on the turn passing the winning post in R2, Stewards and Senior riders inspected the track and determined that the track was unsafe to continue, therefore the remainder of the meeting has been postponed. @gosford_races — Racing NSW Stewards (@RNSWStewards) April 10, 2025 'Every tractor and every truck and grater went on via that 20m section so the section was just harder than everywhere else. 'When we were doing the track we were aware that we didn't want to over-compact after the Gold Coast had their issues so we didn't want to end up with a hard compacted track. 'We made sure to compact it as much as we could but it was just in that section.' The club have worked closely with Evergreen Turf – which played a crucial role remediating the maligned Gold Coast track before this year's Magic Millions – to make it safe for racing. • 'I was a bit green': Healey's time to shine after Alligator Blood regret The use of Agri-Vator, designed to break up hard soil layers, decompress soil and aerate the profile, has seen significant improvement in the areas of concern. Group 1 -winning jockeys Tommy Berry and Josh Parr were among the jockeys to gallop over relevant sections of the track last week and gave their tick of approval. But the biggest test for the club will come on Anzac Day when Gosford hosts an eight-race card. 'We've done everything we can,' Lacey said. The track is back and ready for action this Friday, 25 April. Join us for a special ANZAC Day Raceday with a full day of live racing, Two-Up, live entertainment and fun for the whole family. For tickets, visit @racing_nsw — Gosford Race Club (@gosford_races) April 22, 2025 'We have followed all the instructions of the Evergreen Turf guys who helped fix up the Gold Coast track. 'They have got all the machinery that is required and they've kept the machinery here so after Anzac Day we will get the feedback and address anything (if it arises). 'I spoke to a number of trainers on Saturday at Randwick and they plan to bring horses here for The Coast but from a club point of view we just want to get a bit of confidence back in the track. 'We are going ahead (with the Coast meeting) unless we are told there is an issue that needs to be rectified but this is definitely a full dress rehearsal in my eyes.' The Coast meeting takes place 15 days after Friday's meeting and also features the running of the Listed $300,000 Gosford Gold Cup (2100m) and Listed $250,000 Takeover Target Stakes (1200m).
