Latest news with #Bloodstock
News.com.au
15-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Racing Confidential: Will Johnson calls for ‘proper reset' for racing nationally as Rosehill sale plan exposes divisions
The Rosehill sale proposal has illustrated the deep divisions within NSW racing and also shone a light on some of the fundamental issues confronting the sport. Despite the prizemoney boom of recent years, the racing industry has some very real challenges including the downturn in wagering revenue, declining foal crops, rising costs and fierce competition between jurisdictions. But rather than throw some of these issues in the too-hard basket, respected bloodstock agent Will Johnson has penned a thought-provoking piece that should be compulsory reading for all racing administrators. Johnson, who is 'bred in the purple' as his paternal great-grandfather Walter bred and raced the mighty Vain, and his grandmother, Mary, is a descendant of the WS Cox family, wrote that the Australian racing industry is in need of a 'proper reset.' He highlighted various issues that were specific to the breeding industry and yearling sales before addressing the Rosehill sale proposal and the need for a national racing strategy. 'The proposed sale and redevelopment of one of Sydney's iconic racecourses (Rosehill) has created more questions than answers,'' Johnson wrote on his William Johnson Bloodstock website. Australian Racings at a crossroads - credit culture, shrinking foal crops, and imported stayers. But maybe, just maybe, it’s the perfect time for a reset. Some thoughts (and solutions) in the latest WJB piece: — William Johnson Bloodstock (@wj_bloodstock) May 12, 2025 • 'While the need for long-term funding is obvious, the way the Australian Turf Club has presented the plan to its members has been underwhelming – lacking the transparency and strategic vision that such a significant decision demands. 'And more broadly, it exposes a deeper issue: Australia doesn't yet have a national plan for racing. We have competing state jurisdictions, overlapping interests and fragmented execution. 'The Japanese model, run through the Japan Racing Association, shows what a centralised, national strategy can look like; controlled ownership, centralised funding, 10 JRA tracks and 25 in total, and a wagering product that outpaces almost everyone globally.'' • Rosehill sale plan backed by Newhaven Park's Charles Kelly Johnson said the Australian racing industry has an opportunity to 'reset how we breed, train, sell and race horses.'' 'A tighter market? It'll sharpen our decisions. A declining foal crop? It'll force a return to quality racing. Rising costs? They'll reward efficiency. A fragmented racing structure? It's the perfect time to build something more unified,'' Johnson wrote. 'Because this is still the best racing jurisdiction in the world to own a horse. And if we get his next part right – smarter breeding, better infrastructure, a more strategic national focus – we're not just future-proofing the game. We're giving it a new foundation to thrive.'' â– â– â– â– â– A SHARE in Newgate's super sire Extreme Choice sold for $540,000 at the Inglis Digital sale earlier this week which demonstrated, once again, the robust nature of Australia's breeding industry. The share was purchased by Queensland-based Glenlogan Park and Steve Morley Bloodstock and places a valuation on Extreme Choice of $27 million. Despite fertility issues, Extreme Choice has emerged as an outstanding stallion and has already sired the winners of the Golden Slipper (Stay Inside), Melbourne Cup (Knight's Choice), Blue Diamond (Devil Night), VRC Oaks (She's Extreme) and Coolmore Classic (Espiona). NEWS: A share in world class stallion Extreme Choice topped tonight’s #InglisDigital May (Early) Online Sale, selling for $540,000. READ MORE: — Inglis (@inglis_sales) May 14, 2025 Extreme Choice is only the second stallion in history to sire the winners of the Golden Slipper and Melbourne Cup after Sir Tristram. Newgate has set Extreme Choice's service fee at $330,000 for the spring breeding season, a figure eclipsed only by Coolmore Stud's boom young stallion Wootton Bassett who will stand at a national record $385,000 service fee.
Gulf Today
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Gulf Today
Sovereignty and East Avenue to lead Godolphin charge at Kentucky Derby
Sovereignty and East Avenue provide two strong chances for Godolphin to secure an elusive first G1 Kentucky Derby victory at Churchill Downs, US, on Saturday. A total of 12 colts in the royal blue silks have previously contested the Run for the Roses, with Champion Two-Year-Old and subsequent Belmont Stakes hero Essential Quality faring best as he was promoted to third in 2021. Both 2025 contenders come into the race on the back of strong efforts in defeat, with Sovereignty having closed well to go down by a length and a quarter to Tappan Street in last month's G1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. Sovereignty scored on his three-year-old return at the Florida track, swooping late to edge out River Thames in the G2 Fountain Of Youth Stakes. The Bill Mott-trained son of Into Mischief shed his maiden tag at Churchill Downs in late October, decisively winning the G3 Street Sense Stakes by five lengths. East Avenue enjoyed a spectacular start to his career for Brendan Walsh, scoring by eight lengths on his debut at Ellis Park before an equally emphatic victory in Keeneland's G1 Breeders' Futurity. A bad stumble leaving the stalls cost East Avenue any chance in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile, although the Medaglia d'Oro colt had no excuses for a disappointing start to his three-year-old campaign in the G2 Risen Star Stakes. East Avenue returned to form under an aggressive ride in the G1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in April, when he was caught in the shadow of the post to finish a nose second to Fountain Of Youth Stakes fourth Burnham Square. Michael Banahan, Director of Bloodstock, Godolphin USA, said: 'Sovereignty is coming into the Kentucky Derby in excellent shape. He appears to be galloping everyday with great vigour and enjoying the Churchill Downs surface. He breezed on Sunday, and it was a nice easy maintenance work with a good gallop out. Bill could not be happier with the way he is doing. 'His draw [18] shouldn't be too much of an inconvenience with his running style. Hopefully, as they stretch out, he will be able to draft into the middle of the pack and not be wide going into the first turn. I believe having Junior Alvarado back from injury to ride him is a big advantage as he knows the horse so well and has confidence in him.' Good Cheer aims to provide Godolphin with a second G1 Kentucky Oaks victory in the space of three years as she looks to maintain her unbeaten record. Like the 2023 winner Pretty Mischievous, Good Cheer lines up under the Twin Spires having prepped at Fair Grounds, with easy wins in the G2 Rachel Alexandra Stakes and G2 Fair Grounds Oaks on her two starts this season. A homebred daughter of Medaglia d'Oro, Good Cheer won at Churchill Downs three times during her juvenile season. 'East Avenue has delighted Brendan since his very narrow miss in the Bluegrass. He is pleasing all in the Walsh barn and appears to be peaking at the right time. He showed in the Bluegrass that he has grown up and is ready to fight when the going gets tough. 'He had his final work for the Derby on Sunday and shaded a minute for his 5-furlong breeze with a nice gallop out. Manny Franco flew in from New York for the work and was very complimentary. He is very excited about riding him on Saturday. 'He got a good draw in 12, so hopefully he can draft in just behind the speed and be in position to take on the leaders on the final turn. We expect him to show up and be fighting out the finish.' Sprinting revelation Think Big goes for back-to-back G2 wins in the Twin Spires Turf Sprint on the same card. Trained by Michael Stidham, the Twirling Candy homebred is unbeaten in three appearances on grass and made an impressive Graded Stakes debut when beating Rogue Lightning in Keeneland's Shakertown Stakes earlier in the month. Agencies
