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The Age
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Age
‘What a clown show': Dr Turf slams Racing Victoria job cuts
Sport commentator John Rothfield has slammed Racing Victoria's decision to axe on-air media talent in a cost-cutting move that brings the curtain down on Terry Bailey's race-calling career. Racing Victoria sacked 15 per cent of its administration and media workforce this week as the industry continues to deal with an $11.8 million financial year loss and falling wagering profits - down 5 per cent on the past financial year. Two inside sources not qualified to speak on behalf of Racing Victoria said Bailey, the state's No.2 caller behind Matt Hill, was told on Tuesday he would no longer call races for The sources said other names to be leaving included trackside presenter James Tzaferis and reporter Ben Sporle. Editor-in-chief and general manager of content Paul Tatnell has announced his departure via social media. Loading The sources said Bailey was still in conversations with Racing Victoria to continue his weekly program Tuesdays With Terry. Rothfield, known as 'Dr Turf', lashed out after news of the cuts spread this week, saying good, talented people had paid the price for 'third-rate executives endorsed by a self-interested board'. 'What a clown show Racing Victoria is,' Dr Turf posted on X.
Sydney Morning Herald
23-05-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘What a clown show': Dr Turf slams Racing Victoria job cuts
Sport commentator John Rothfield has slammed Racing Victoria's decision to axe on-air media talent in a cost-cutting move that brings the curtain down on Terry Bailey's race-calling career. Racing Victoria sacked 15 per cent of its administration and media workforce this week as the industry continues to deal with an $11.8 million financial year loss and falling wagering profits - down five per cent on the past financial year. Two inside sources not qualified to speak on behalf of Racing Victoria said Bailey, the state's No.2 caller behind Matt Hill, was told on Tuesday he would no longer call races for The sources said other names to be leaving included trackside presenter James Tzaferis and reporter Ben Sporle. Editor-in-chief and general manager of content Paul Tatnell has announced his departure via social media. Loading The sources said Bailey was still in conversations with Racing Victoria to continue his weekly program Tuesdays With Terry. Rothfield, known as 'Dr Turf', lashed out after news of the cuts spread this week, saying good, talented people had paid the price for 'third-rate executives endorsed by a self-interested board'. 'What a clown show Racing Victoria is,' Dr Turf posted on X.
New Paper
15-05-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Kosciuszko's Australian debut
Seven months after bidding farewell to Singapore, Lim's Kosciuszko is finally making his much-awaited Australian debut. The undisputed King of Kranji in the last three seasons will contest the A$175,000 (S$147,000) Listed Straight Six (1,200m) at Flemington on May 17 at 12.50pm Singapore time. On his glowing resume of 22 wins, including 10 at Group 1 level, the Kermadec seven-year-old is by far the most credentialled runner in the 16-horse field. None of his rivals are Melbourne A-listers, although five boast six Group 3 and five Listed wins among them. The Hayes' Crosshaven is probably the better horse with three Group 3 wins to his name and even a fourth to Ole Kirk in the 2020 Group 1 Caulfield Guineas. But this is anything but easy kill for Singapore's most famous horse since Rocket Man. A switch in jurisdiction does not equate to a simple lateral transfer of formline. Simply put, he is now a big fish in a small pond. A first indicator is the Australian handicappers' downgrade of his lofty Singapore rating from 122 down to 108. With not that many horses having raced in both countries, it is more of a guestimate hinged around both arbitrary and justified factors. But as a rule of thumb, the Singapore form is typically inferior by a couple of classes at least. For example, a Singapore Group 1 race would be equivalent to an Australian Group 3 or Listed race. Another yardstick came from the handful of Kranji top-draw horses who raced in Australia. The likes of Jolie's Shinju, Lim's Cruiser, and more recently, Countofmontecristo and Inferno (renamed The Inferno), all tried their best, but found the competition a lot hotter. In saying this, horses sometimes do not go by the rulebook. The Inferno did win a Group 2 race, the McEwen Stakes, Bakeel won three races in a row in Adelaide, albeit he stumbled at his first big test in a Listed race. Named after Australia's highest point, Lim's Kosciuszko is cut from a different cloth. Sheer class could see the two-time Singapore Horse of the Year move mountains. Trainer Daniel Meagher's prayers for that to happen were answered 22 times in Singapore - but heartbreakingly not at his final run when fifth in the Group 1 Grand Singapore Gold Cup (2,000m) on Oct 5. However, the Australian, who is now based in Pakenham, is also mindful of two factors: Mother Nature and Father Time. "He has settled pretty well, even if he's feeling the cold like most of us," said Meagher to "He's had a lot of conditioning work now, he's had a few jumpouts and trials. So, he's ready to go. "He's seven years old, I'm just really excited to see the old fellow get back into it in Australia." Meagher said he had never been guided by Lim's Kosciuszko's work as he has always been laid-back in the morning. He said the old spark was still there in flashes, but overall, he felt more subdued even by his normal standards. "He's always been a casual worker. He's a very deceiving horse in his trackwork, but he's been extra casual here," he said. "In my mind, I always hope he still has that fire in his belly, but he's a race day horse. "Still, he's usually a bit sharper, but he's been pretty relaxed. I just hope he goes to Flemington this Saturday and gets his old fire in his belly and shows Australia what he can do. "Jason Maskiell did a lot of work on him. He tested him this morning, he whipped around on him. "I was quite happy about it, Jason wasn't. But it just shows me he's still got it in him. "I hope he brings his A game on Saturday. But if he's to head to the Kingsford Smith and the Stradbroke in Brisbane, he's got to run in the first three and run well." Meagher, who has already saddled two winners since his Australian debut in February, had similar expectations for Lim's Saltoro at his launch in Caulfield on May 10. While not entirely disappointed with a fifth, he was clearly expecting better. "It's a different tempo here. He was chasing the leader who is probably a 1,200m horse," he said. "I thought it was a pass mark. We'll definitely see improvement from that run." manyan@
News.com.au
04-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Brad Waters' horses to follow and forgive from Caulfield
Herald Sun racing writer Brad Waters runs his eye over Saturday's meeting at Caulfield, finding five horses to follow and forgive from the card. â– â– â– â– â– FIVE TO FOLLOW: KALEO: Kaleo did so much wrong at the start but showed his quality with his emphatic win in the first race at Caulfield. He ended up at the back of the field after a moderate getaway but showed a neat turn of foot to work around the field on the home turn. He shot clear early in the straight and scored comfortably. He's a colt with a bright future. ATLANTIC SPIRIT: Atlantic Spirit drew the outside and went back to the rear to get early cover before improving on the inside from the 500m. However, the Tom Conlan-trained mare was held up on the inside behind the leader nearly all the way down the straight. She was only beaten 1-½ lengths and will have more luck soon. Rogan dives late under @pattymoloney & grabs the brave Stylish Secret right on the line 😯 — (@Racing) May 3, 2025 JUST FOR SHOW: The Lindsay Park-trained three-year-old made a good return at Caulfield on Saturday. He showed good speed to race behind the leaders before improving rounding the home turn. Just For Show hit the front in the straight but was no match late with a combination of his lack of race fitness and giving away 4kg being his downfall. DUBLIN JOURNAL: Dublin Journal improved rapidly when a touch unlucky at Caulfield second-up. He ran fairly over 1400m first-up at Caulfield first-up and was much fitter for his second-up assignment. He followed the winner Immediacy into the race but was held up a touch in the straight. He'll be fitter and he's ready to win. MOLLYNICKERS: The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained mare can be hard to catch but her Caulfield run was promising. Mollynickers raced three wide with cover to the home turn and let down well to hit the lead at the 200m. The four-year-old tried hard late but was only grabbed late while giving away weight. She could notch a win soon. Sunshineinmypocket stalked Mollynickers around the bend & just nabs her in the final event at Caulfield ☀ï¸� @cmaherracing ends the day with four winners at Caulfield, while @Ethan_Brown8 finishes with a hat-trick ðŸ'� — (@Racing) May 3, 2025 â– â– â– â– â– PRESTIGE OLE: Questionable whether he threatens the winner Kaleo with a better run, but Prestige Ole should have finished closer. He was held up and found himself last in the small field on the home turn. He chased honestly when clear at the 300m, but the race was over. UNITED NATIONS: He's had a few chances in Australia, but he had genuine excuses on Saturday. He went back from the wide gate and improved steadily from the 600m to the home but was held up all the way down the straight. It was his first run for 10 weeks so he will be fitter. OXFORD BLUE: Beaten favourite but far from disgraced over 2000m. Despite drawing barrier seven, Oxford Blue had no luck early and was forced to work forward three and four wide until he got up near the lead at the 1400m. The early work told late but Oxford Blue fought on well for fourth. Immediacy ($1.60) got clear air on the bend & the @busuttin -trained galloper makes it two wins on the trot ðŸ'° @blake_shinn grabs a race-to-race double ðŸ'° — (@Racing) May 3, 2025 STEWARDS SAY: SYMPHONY OF COLOUR (Unplaced Race 3) – A post-race endoscopy detected a degree of internal Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (EIPH).
News.com.au
04-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Doomben 10,000 favourite Schwarz set to trial at Royal Randwick on Monday alongside stablemate King Of Thunder
Trainers John O'Shea and Tom Charlton will tune up some of their Queensland Winter Carnival big guns at Monday's set of Royal Randwick barrier trials. Leading the way will be smart sprinter Schwarz which is being prepared for a crack at the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 and he is the standout performer at Monday's rescheduled set of trials. The four-year-old entire will feature in a 1050m heat of the session with champion jockey James McDonald booked to ride. A date with Saturday week's Group 1 $1.5 million Doomben 10,000 (1200m) at Doomben will follow if all goes to plan for the son of star stallion Zoustar. O'Shea and Charlton are eager to chase back-to-back majors with Schwarz, the $4 favourite in the Doomben 10,000, after snaring a stallion making Group 1 win last start in the William Reid Stakes at The Valley. 'After his William Reid win we gave him a little freshen up and he responded really well,' Charlton said. 'We know we can prepare him to run well fresh. Schwarz was utterly brilliant in the William Reid Stakes, finding the lead from the outset & pounding his opposition into the turf ðŸ'« Where to next for @JohnOSheaRacing 's Group 1 winning son of Zoustar? — (@Racing) March 22, 2025 'The way he runs his races, we get him fit but fresh at the same time into that Doomben 10,000. 'I guess we are following a similar path with him to what we did in the William Reid so he seems in good order and we are happy with him.' Schwarz has already been named as the new headliner on Rosemont Stud's stallion roster for this year's breeding season however the fee for the four-year-old is still to be announced. He will be retired after the Queensland Winter Carnival. 'This is definitely his last preparation and we will get through the 10,000, which is obviously a race that we are keen to target,' Charlton said. 'No plans have been made beyond that run but ideally he will be off to stud this season.' Schwarz will be joined in Queensland by talented stablemate King Of Thunder, which will contest a 1200m trial on Monday morning, also with McDonald aboard. The Derby goes to the filly! 🤩 Aeliana destroys them in the G1 Australian Derby, and just how good is she?! @cwallerracing | @LaneDamian | @StarTbreds | @aus_turf_club | @WorldPool — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 5, 2025 King Of Thunder finished fifth behind Aeliana in the Group 1 Australian Derby on the first day of The Championships at Royal Randwick last month and he is being targeted Queensland edition of the three-year-old feature. 'King Of Thunder is similar, he had a little freshen up and all being well we will head to the Rough Habit into that Queensland Derby,' Charlton said. 'At this stage that's the plan for him.' King Of Thunder shares $8 equal favouritism for the Queensland Derby with stablemate Maison Louis and last Saturday's Queensland Guineas winner Depth Of Character. The Queensland Derby is on May 31.
