Month: November 2020

Andrew Bensley speaks with New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing chairman Cameron George.

The Racing Industry Transition Agency (RITA) today reported a Net Profit before distributions of $162.5 million (which included a government relief grant of $41 million) for the year ending 31 July 2020 in its final report prior to its transition to TAB New Zealand on 1 August. TAB New Zealand (formerly RITA) Executive Chair, Dean McKenzie said the result reflected an extraordinary year for the business. “The year is best described as a game of two halves, with the first six months showing an improvement on the same period last…

Ballarat trainer Michelle Payne has set tenacious stayer Jukila for Australia’s longest race, the Jericho Cup (4600m). The New Zealand-bred stayer has won six of 29 starts and finished fifth behind race favourite Wil John at Ararat last start. “The owner sort of questioned me as to why I chose that race and not the Melbourne Cup if he was a good stayer, but you obviously need that real x-factor for the Melbourne Cup,” Payne said. “He’s shown me an x-factor in terms of his stamina, but he doesn’t have…

Four-year-old mare Kurabui, a half-sister to Group Two winner Surprise Baby by exciting Rich Hill Stud stallion Proisir, was an impressive winner on debut when winning at Pakenham over 1400m on Thursday night. The Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr-trained mare was beautifully ridden by Michael Dee and stretched away from her rivals late, in a manner that indicates she has inherited some of the family ability. “It was a beautiful ride by Mick Dee, but she is a nice filly and she was able to take him where he…

The New Zealand racing industry will continue to support the recovery of injured jockey Rosie Myers with a benefit raceday at New Plymouth next Thursday. The popular rider has been in hospital since suffering a head injury in a fall at the Foxton trials on October 6. “Rosie is a very popular member of the racing community, and all of the industry is keen to support her as she recovers,” Taranaki Racing chief executive Carey Hobbs said. “Preparations are coming to hand well for the Rosie Myers Benefit Raceday at…

Cambridge trainer Tony Pike will introduce punters to a colt at Ellerslie on Saturday that could one day become their darling. Pike will produce American Pharoah colt Khufu on debut in the Eagle Charters 1100, hoping the youngster can showcase the ability that has his trainer so excited about him. Pike bought the Nearco Stud-bred Khufu for $150,000 at this year’s Karaka yearling sales out of the draft of Curraghmore and has kept up payments for the colt to be eligible for January’s Karaka Million (1200m) at Ellerslie. “He’s very…

Wagering Performance Summary Consistent with the performance for the first two months of the quarter, October’s key results for TAB NZ’s were ahead of budget and ahead of last year. Domestic and overseas racing both continued to perform above expectation. Sport also performed strongly with the All Blacks first international appearance since the Rugby World Cup and the NRL grand final notable highlights.  Racing  Domestic starter and field size numbers were, once again, particularly strong for both equine codes. In comparison with October of last year, the supply of domestic…