AUSTRALIAN racing was rocked Wednesday morning with the news that police had launched a raid on the stables of Darren Weir, Victoria’s leading trainer for the past five years with the Melbourne Cup win of Prince Of Penzance the highlight.
Three men were arrested, following raids on properties owned by Weir in Warrnambool and near Ballarat, one of whom was Weir and two other men aged 26 and 38.
Assistant Victoria Police Commissioner Neil Paterson said the raids formed part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of conduct that corrupts, or would corrupt a betting outcome. It is understood four devices alleged to be ‘jiggers’ were found as well as an unregistered gun and some cocaine.
“[In relation to] the conducted energy devices, or the jiggers, clearly the allegation is that they may be used against a horse with the aim of improving their performance on a particular race day,” said Paterson. All three men were released later that day without charge though the investigation continues.
Strong results at Karaka January Sale
WHILE New Zealand Bloodstock’s Premier Yearling Sale didn’t reach the stellar heights of 2018, the middle market held firm with the median of NZ$100,000 down just 10%.
Overall 77% of the 635 yearlings offered sold (489), grossing $67,206,500.
The average for the sale was $137,437 with the Savabeel colt out of the Pins mare Make A Wish topping the sale at $1.4 million with Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis the successful bidder.
“It’s a massive team effort, a massive amount of work and investment that has culminated in this result today,” said Waikato Stud’s Mark Chittick who bred the colt.
“It’s a process that started 30 years ago with Star Of The Night who was this colt’s great grandam and then, of course, the investment in Savabeel. They (Te Akau Racing) bought a beautiful Savabeel filly (Probabeel) off us last year who won the Karaka Million Two-Year-Old and for them to come back and buy the prize of our draft is something that we are really proud of.”
Very much the heartbeat of the sale, Savabeel yearlings grossed $13,960,000 at an average of $297,021 for 47 sold. I Am Invincible and Zoustar had a stronger average but off a base of just three and four sales respectively.
For the umteenth year in a row David Ellis and Te Akau Racing were the leading buyers, signing for 38 lots at an aggregate of $7,592,500.
Active also were de Burgh Equine who in partnership with Shadwell Stud bought four yearlings, two at $500,000, an I Am Invincible filly and a Savabeel colt.
“We converted it (the $500,000 for the I Am Invincible filly) back into sterling and when you convert it back then that’s very good value on what you buy in England,” said Hubie.
“When you’re buying globally you have got to compare apples with apples. The big advantage down here is that you can pay half a million and then win half a million without winning a group race.
“I’m not knocking European racing as it’s the best in the world, but here you can put your hand on your heart and say you can buy a horse, win a stakes race and treble your investment.
“She is going to race for huge prize money in Australia so that makes all the difference.”
Probabeel wins the Karaka Million
FOR the third year in a row Te Akau Racing won the $1 million Karaka Million Two-Year-Old. Jamie Richards legged up Opie Bosson who guided Probabeel to a decisive three-length win.
A $380,000 yearling filly who races in the colours of Cambridge Stud’s new owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay. They had their first offering of yearlings under that hammer this week.
Probabeel stormed home and lead a Savabeel-quinella with her stablemate Aotea Lad landing the second spot.
Completing a Jamie Richards-trained trifecta was the son of Arrowfield Stud’s Dundeel, Yourdeel who dead-heated for third with Appellant, a filly by Showcasing.
“We went to the Te Teko trials at the end of August and Mark Walker was home from Singapore.
She came from last and ran second and Mark said to me ‘I haven’t seen a horse trial that good since King’s Chapel’, so we have known for a little while,” said Richards.
“She’s a big scopey filly, she’s nowhere near wound-up yet. The future is very exciting.”
David Hayes, and his co-trainers of Tom Dabernig and son Ben made a successful sortie back to New Zealand to land the $1 million Karaka Million Three-Year-Old Classic with Long Leaf.
The son of Fastnet Rock was purchased from Curraghmore’s Karaka draft as a yearling for $750,000.
A Coolmore syndicate headed up by M V Magnier, Demi O’Byrne, along with New Zealand Bloodstock co-founder Sir Peter Vela purchased him.