THE PETLEY REPORT (JUNE 16 - JUNE 19), FROM NZ TO HK TO QLD TO NSW TO VICTORIA TO ROYAL ASCOT

By Jack Petley | Friday, June 19, 2020

Jack Petley has gathered a wealth of racing experience in many roles over several decades and in recent times he has produced a very informative daily racing news feed on Facebook. Jack will continue to post on facebook, where he has built up a healthy support base, but his commentary, across a broad section of racing precincts, will now also have a regular place on the HRO website.

This is THE PETLEY REPORT!

Such bad luck for Te Akau and the owners of Te Akau Shark with the big galloper to undergo an optic inplant surgery. "It is a rare one and the surgery has been scheduled for this week," said Te Akau principal, David Ellis. "Obviously it is a disappointing setback, but it is necessary that we operate now to ensure a viable future racing career for this wonderful athlete," said Ellis. "We are so hopeful that he will return to the track in due course.". Te Akau Shark has won seven of his 14 races and the son of Rip Van Winkle has gathered more than $1.5m in stake-money.
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While it is unfortunate that Te Akau Shark will be sidelined (hopefully not for that long) because of his eye surgery, Te Akau will still have a big presence in Australia this spring with Melody Belle and Probabeel back in work in Sydney and with Jamie Richards saying that he has twelve boxes in Melbourne and that his team will be added to with some excellent fillies from the powerful Cambridge Stud racing string.
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Back luck too for Team Edmonds with news that The Drinks Cart has been sold to Hong Kong and the very talented Wisdom of Water has been sent south to linkup with the Price-Kent yard. But then the Edmonds stable still has the brilliant Vanna Girl and the Stradbroke winner Tyzone in their yard.
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Victorem is to undergo surgery to have a bone chip removed after pulling up sore in the Stradbroke Handicap.
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Kiwi James McDonald sits on 96 1/2 wins for the season in the Premiership in Sydney.
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It has been a big week for Richard and Michael Freedman … seven winners from the last 10 runners, a great week indeed.
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The Melbourne Racing Club has announced that it is preparing to welcome racehorse owners with a confirmed runner back to the track next Wednesday following the State Government confirming that eased restrictions would extend to racehorse owners from June 22.
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Cairon Maher and David Eustace fined were $7500 over a positive swab from Piccatric after a win at Sale earlier this year.
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John O'Shea to face charges after the Moreton Cup winner Pretty in Pink showed a positive to ice.
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Luke Tarrant has been given a stay of proceedings while he appeals that headbutting charge which had him outed for six months.
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Good to see racing back in NZ this weekend at Pukekohe and eleven races carded with solid numbers, but that stake-money level at a mere $15,000 for each event.
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By way of contrast, and this is great news for Hong Kong racing heading into the new season, prize-money for the season will be raised by 4.9 per cent on this season. The Hong Kong Sprint goes to HK$22 million (this will be a good race for Aussie sprinters) while the HK Derby is up by HK$4 million from this season, to now sit at $HK24m. Little wonder there has been a flurry of purchases lately in Australia and NZ by Hong Kong owners.
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Also, in Hong Kong, five other Gr1 races … the Centenary Sprint Cup, the Stewards’ Cup, the Queens’ Silver Jubilee, the HK Gold Cup and the Champions and Chater Cup all have been increased by HK$2 million. Stakes will also increase for Gr2 and Gr3 races and also span all handicap races from Class 1 to Class 5. That’s all great news for Hong Kong considering that problems the club has encountered in the last six months or so with protests and the virus.
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From Royal Ascot - Day 1:

One of the world's greatest carnivals in Britain, this year, minus top hat and tails, no picnic in the car park, no glitz and glamour in the main ring, and of course, no race fans, all taking in the big week in TV, no Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, and international racehorses including no sprinters from Australia.

The brilliant Battaash gained his first King's Stand at his third try when he beat stablemate Equilateral and Liberty Beach.

In the Queen Anne the Aidan O'Brien trained and Ryan Moore ridden Circus Maximus was successful after a torrid struggle with Terebullum with both young gallopers giving their all. O'Brien, who watched the races from his home in Ireland, said the winner would now head to the Sussex Stakes.

Gosden may have missed out on the Queen Anne but he saddled up the very impressive Frankly Darling, by Frankel, to take the Ribblesworth Stakes and after the win she has now been slashed to 3-1 for the Oaks, a race Gosden has won three times. The filly gave Frankie Dettori, who did his usual star jump from the saddle, his 50th Royal Ascot winner.
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From Royal Ascot - Day 2:

John Gosden's Lord North left a high-class field in his wake when winning the Prince of Wales. The Sydney star Addeybb finished second, just under four lengths away ahead of Barney Roy with the hot favourite Japan finishing fourth.

The Queen's racing colours was carried to victory in the Windsor Castle by Tactical and her colours also went close to victory in the Hampton Court with Aidan O'Brien's colt Russian Emperor holding out Her Majesty's colt First Receiver in a race in which jockey Ryan Moore gained his sixtieth Ascot winner.

Dark Vision won the Royal Hunt Cup and Sir Busker won the Silver Hunt Cup for Oisin Murphy at 12-1.
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From Royal Ascot - Day 3:

Stradivarius established himself as one of the great stayers ever in Europe when he won the Ascot Gold Cup for the third time for trainer John Gosden and Frankie Dettori. And it wasn't as if he left behind some easy beats … the field included Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter and globetrotting and big winner, Prince of Arran … but nothing had a chance when Dettori released the breaks. At the line he was 10 lengths clear of the game Nayef Road with a further eight lengths to Cross Counter. The win brought him alongside the triple winner of the Cup, Sagaro (1975-77) and closer to four times winner, Yeats (2006 -2009).

The Aidan O'Brien trained colt Battleground (War Front - Found) was successful in the Chesham Stakes in the hands of Ryan Moore. O'Brien rated Found a wonderful mare and Battleground is her first foal. "He is the first one. He is a great specimen, "said O'Brien.

Jim Crowley and the smart colt Molatham, trained by Roger Varian, was successful in the Jersey Stakes. The colt won decisively giving Crowley a further win in what has been a highly successful week for him … two wins on Day 3, following a treble on Day 1 and a winner on Day 2.

Mountain Angel took out the Wolferton Handicap for Roger Varian and James Doyle.

A big win for Hayley Turner and trainer Charlie Fellowes with Onassis in the Sandringham at odds of 33-1. Turner is only the second lady rider to win at Ascot, the first being Gay Kelleway back in 1989. Turner won last year too.

Highland Chief gave co trainers Paul and Oliver Cole a win yesterday in the Golden Gates Handicap and they are now the first training combination to have produced a winner at Ascot.

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