Winx back

WINX made her first public appearance since winning the Cox Plate last October, in a barrier trial at Rosehill on Monday. Regular partner Hugh Bowman put the star mare through her paces in what was essentially a schooling race, which also contained Everest Stakes winner Redzel.

Chris Waller was happy with Winx and is planning a similar campaign to last season with next month’s Group 2 Apollo Stakes at Randwick to be first port of call. Connections will weigh up the possibility of a trip to Royal Ascot later this year.

Aquanita to be discontinued

IN the wake of the Aquanita doping scandal that saw Victorian Stewards lay 271 charges across a seven-year period, against eight people, all past or present Aquanita employees, the Aquanita Racing chairman Peter Howell has announced the brand will be wound up. “The directors have been considering how the business will evolve going forward,” said Howell.

“We have indicated the brand will be discontinued with management services to be offered under a new name. Integrity, transparency and compliance will continue to be paramount considerations in our operations and we look forward to updating owners and other stakeholders on our plans at an appropriate time.”

All eyes on Karaka

NEW Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling sale begins on Sunday with anticipation high following a record breaking Magic Millions sale on the Gold Coast. The sale features 700 yearlings catalogued over four sessions, a big increase on the 465 catalogued in 2017 where 338 yearlings sold for an average of NZ$172,803. Preceding the sale at Ellerslie on Saturday is the NZB sponsored Karaka Million 2YO and the inaugural running of the Karaka Million 3YO Classic.

Vlashos in court

ONE-TIME racing high-flyer Bill Vlahos, Chairman of the now defunct BC3 Thoroughbreds, will face a four-week pre-trial committal hearing in Melbourne beginning in March charged with 350 charges of obtaining financial advantage by deception. Vlahos is accused of running a betting ponzi scheme titled ‘the edge’ that defrauded members to the tune of A$40 million. It’s estimated over 1000 speculators were caught up in the betting scam. BC3 Thoroughbreds operated from 2008 to late 2013 when it went into administration. In 2013 BC3 bid to $5 million at the Inglis Easter Yearling sale to secure the half-brother to Black Caviar which was later repossessed due to non-payment. The horse died the same year.