Going for Gold!
On Saturday a group of 20-strong JHB owners will be flying into Adelaide from various parts of the country to see their filly First Diamond contest the Listed Oaklands Plate at Morphettville. Her other owners that won’t be able to make it will be watching on screens everywhere from Bunbury to Hong Kong, and from Mount Martha to Mackay!
Having won her past two starts over 1050, and 1200m, First Diamond steps up to 1400m for the first time in the $100,000 event. Jason ‘Stubby’ Holder is undefeated on her and will again take the reins in this competitive field in which First Diamond is likely to be the 3rd or 4th elect. The plan will be to ride her on pace and use that fantastic stride of hers to kick clear in the straight on hopefully hold on to victory. Fingers crossed, and the very best of luck to her big group of lady owners.
Today we had two impressive trial winners. Firstly at Flemington the unraced and very promising Starskin won her heat in comfortable fashion, making that 3 jump out wins in a row this preparation. She’s a really nice filly going forward and we’ll start to see the best of her as a 3 year-old. At Warwick Farm, Celosia burned up the turf in her heat win, leading all the way in a slick 47.70 over 800m. This was the only 2yo filly trial for the morning that broke 48 seconds, and in doing so got the praise of the race caller going past the post, “that’s what you want to see from a 2 year-old, ping the gates, straight up on the pace and strong on the line as well. It was a good all-round trial from Celosia there.” Celosia is set to resume in a couple of weeks’ time and looks like one that could rise through the grades for her owners. These fillies look well poised to take advantage of the fantastic prize money increases that will be implemented in the new season, which is explored later in this edition.
Speaking of nice performances, as you scroll through this week’s edition, you’ll see a stable update which outlines the current status of the JHB fillies. We’ve been on the road over the past week and as you’ll see, we could not be more thrilled with our crop of babies about to turn 2, and our stable of 2 year-olds ready to turn 3. Exciting times ahead!
I hope you like our updated newsletter format, and as always, feel free to touch base anytime.
Filly In Focus: Rubick x Sophielicious - ***VERY FINAL SHARES REMAINING***
2.5% = $3,120 inc GST, big race noms and all costs to 30th April
To be trained by Brad Widdup, NSW - Click Images below for more information
Info Corner - NSW Record Prizemoney!
On Wednesday Racing NSW announced that from September 1 there would be significant increases across the board in prize money totalling $24 million annually. This, on the back of the recent prizemoney increases from Racing Victoria have put the industry into a stronger than ever position heading into the new season. As the below table demonstrates, the increase have been spread across all class levels to ensure sustainable growth into the future.
Listed grade races will also increase from $125,000 to $140,000 and Group 3 races grow from $140,000 to $160,000. Racing NSW Chief Peter V’Landys was naturally buoyant about the increases.
“Prizemoney in NSW has increased by more than $130 million annually across a seven-year period. The success of thoroughbred racing in NSW over this time is in no small part due to the thousands of hard-working industry participants and the many thousands of owners that continue to subsidise the industry. These prizemoney increases importantly focus on benefitting a wider spread of participant groups.”
Furthermore, Racing NSW will also pay the percentage increases of the owners additional prizemoney earned by fourth to 10th placegetters direct to trainers, which is designed to improve cashflow. The funds will then be credited off an owners next bill. The increase in stakes money from 4th to 10th is also structured to assist with increasing the field sizes, that will in turn increase betting turnover, which ultimately flows back into prizemoney.
The total sum of prizemoney Racing NSW will distribute in 2018-19 is $260 million, which is slightly above the $228.5m in Victoria, the latter which conducts fewer meetings per season.
Simply speaking, there has never been a better time to be an owner than right now!
Video of The Week
Trackwork Diary - Rubick x Sophielicious
The JHB Syndications team paid a special visit to the Brad Widdup stable at Platinum Park this week to check in with the current crop of yearlings. Brad has been glowing in his praise for the Rubick x Sophielicious filly from day one so we were very excited to be on hand to watch her first easy gallop. This filly couldn’t have been more impressive and in our first trackwork diary, Brad and James Harron weigh in with their thoughts on how this filly has developed since the sale and how she is shaping up ahead of the upcoming 2YO trials and races. See for yourself…
If you would like to race this filly with JHB Syndications please contact Dean as soon as possible to secure one of the few remaining shares.
MORPHETTVILLE
BEST OF THE BEST
Race 6 #1 LAURE ME IN
This progressive 3 year-old is building a nice profile, having won 2 of 3 starts. The gelded son of Ad Valorem looks destined for bigger things than this benchmark 70, and despite the top weight and wide barrier, he will be extremely hard to beat. I was lucky enough to see him at trackwork on Wednesday and he did nothing to dampen my confidence.
FLEMINGTON
ONE TO FOLLOW
Race 5 #3 LIFT
A 2 year-old race over 1800m always adds intrigue and this race is no exception. Lift, the Darren Weir prepared son of Reliable Man is a work in progress but looks to be a nice staying prospect. He made his debut over 1600m at Ballarat and hit the line strongly, suggesting he’ll need at least 1800m to show his best. The wide expanses of Flemington should suit, and if he’s within striking distance at the clocktower…watch out.
FLEMINGTON
MONEY MAKER
Race 8 #1 PACODALI #6 SIXTIES GROOVE
These two classy middle distance horses wouldn’t be out of place competing during carnival time, and I expect them to battle out this race, as they did at Caulfield 3 weeks ago. The betting (this was written on Friday) suggests SIXTIES GROOVE is the more popular of the two, but don’t be surprised if the money comes for PACODALI. Watch the betting, perhaps take a quinella, and back the one with market support on the day.
RANDWICK
READY TO WIN
Race 8 #3 BANDIPUR
This race has a long tail to it, and looks suited to BANDIPUR to peak 3rd up off a long break. He should be able to park behind the speed from barrier 2 and let rip with his nice turn of foot with Hugh Bowman aboard. The danger might come from the astute Brad Widdup stable with JUNGLIZED, who resumes from a spell on the back of two nice trials.
STABLE UPDATE
In a whirlwind stable tour earlier this week I checked in with the progress of the JHB Syndications 2YO’s and yearlings in Victoria and South Australia. First stop was a visit to Lindsay Park in Euroa to catch up with the Hayes/Hayes/Dabernig team.
DARK CONFIDANT is ready to take the next step in preparation for her return to racing after some very encouraging gallops this week. James McDonald was on board for her most recent work on Thursday and David Hayes is speaking about this filly in glowing terms so keep a good eye on the upcoming trial fields in Victoria and put this filly in your black book.
OFF HER ROCA and ELECTROLYTIC both looked simply fantastic as they approach the end of their time in the spelling paddock. There is no better place for a young horse to get some ‘R & R’ than the rolling hills of Lindsay Park and I couldn’t be more pleased with the way both of these fillies have strengthened and developed.
STARSKIN has come on in leaps and bounds and has finished her preparation with two very impressive barrier trials at Flemington. Watch out for this filly in the second half of the year!
There were two yearlings in particular that the Lindsay Park team are very bullish about. The DEEP FIELD X LOVE THE ROCK filly has resumed training and continues to impress in everything that she does. She has great strength and presence and is a filly that really thrives when she is in training which is a great sign for the upcoming 2YO races. There are a few shares remaining in this filly so if you would like to be part of the action for as little as $2,430 then please pick up the phone and give me a call!
The SPIRIT OF BOOM X OSSIE'S SECRET filly is another that looks simply outstanding! See for yourself in the video below
From Euroa it was back on the plane with Kildalton park in the Barossa Valley the next stop. There is no better way to spend a Winter’s morning than in the trainers hut with Tony McEvoy and if the JHB fillies race up to their looks then we are in for an exciting Spring!
I am very confident that the patient owners of MAGIC SUNSET will have a lot to look forward to in the coming months as this filly continues to impress in the build up to her faster work. Tony has always been glowing in his praise for this filly. She is moving well and looks fantastic!
DOUBLE DENMAN will go down in the record books as the first JHB Syndications winner and this filly looks set to build on that record in her first campaign as a 3YO. She is up to doing even time and is another that is taking everything in her stride early in her preparation.
The PROISIR X SAFARI SUNSET filly has just arrived back into training for her third preparation. She has enjoyed a month with the sun on her back at the McEvoy spelling property at Murbko and looks every inch a racehorse! It won’t be long before this filly is fully sold, named and gearing up for the early 2YO races so be quick to contact Dean to secure your share.
OWNERS OF THE WEEK
JHBS owned horses: First Diamond
Resides in: Brisbane QLD
Occupation: Business Owners
First Horse: Karen – First Diamond / Brett – Sweet Celeste. Brett has had many horses over the past 15 years and has owned horses with his Dad. Karen is a relatively “newbie” and lucky to have found JHB Syndications.
Favourite Horses: Sunline
Horse To Follow: First Diamond!
Favourite racetrack: Karen – Flemington / Brett - Toowoomba
Best moment/day at the races: Karen – Melbourne Cup / Brett - Running in the Breeders Plate in Sydney.
Sporting team(s): AFL - Richmond Tigers / NRL - Bronco’s
Favourite Food: Steak & Seafood
Favourite drink: Sailor Jerry’s
Other hobbies: Watching the races, Renovating, Fishing, Camping
Best aspect of horse ownership: Watching the horses progress and having the communications from Dean, Tony McEvoy and the team at JHB.
As of 2019, The Championship races namely the Percy Sykes Stakes and the Arrowfield 3 Year Old Sprint which have an additional $400,000 added to take them to $1 million per race. This means that the 10 Championship races now carry a minimum of $1 million per race!
Of the $260m in Prizemoney allocation for NSW, $2.6m each year will go towards the Equine Welfare Fund, and $2.6m will be placed into the Jockey Welfare Fund. This continues the great steps being made to ensure the safety and well-being of our industry’s athletes.