Racing Confidential: Racing NSW to roll out $650,000 flood assistance package

Racing NSW has announced a substantial emergency financial assistance package totalling $650,000 to assist those trainers, jockeys and owners in flood-ravaged regions of the Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers.

Communities such as Taree have been hit hard by flooding.

Racing NSW has announced a substantial emergency financial assistance package totalling $650,000 to assist those trainers, jockeys and owners in flood-ravaged regions of the Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers.

Peter V’landys, Racing NSW’s chief executive, announced the funding initiative on Thursday to support the “hardworking participants of the NSW racing industry during times of crisis.’’

“We understand the immense challenges our trainers and jockeys are facing, and we want to play our part to ensure the financial stress is minimal,” V’landys said.

The relief package aims to provide immediate financial assistance to help those affected by “significant disruptions, including cancelled race meetings and the inability to train horses due to unsafe conditions”.

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Racing NSW will distribute $500,000 directly to trainers across the impacted regions. These funds will be allocated based on the number of horses unable to compete due to the weather.

Trainers will retain 20 per cent of the payment to help offset personal income losses and the remaining 80 per cent will be credited to owners’ accounts to help cover ongoing training fees.

An additional $150,000 will be provided to jockeys and apprentice jockeys in the region who have lost opportunities to earn prizemoney due to the disruption of scheduled race meetings.

Racing NSW has been working closely with the Manning Valley Race Club and the NSW Trainers Association to assist the most severely affected trainers in Taree including safely relocating horses to higher ground, delivering feed and essential supplies, and organising barge transport of feed for horses stranded by floodwaters and inaccessible roads.

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Winx filly ‘unlikely to even barrier trial this season’

Quinceanera goes through the sale ring last year, when she was knocked down for $10 million. Picture: Inglis

Winx’s $10 million filly, Quinceanera, won’t make her race debut this season.

Quinceanera is back in light work at Chris Waller’s Rosehill stables but the trainer said the two-year-old would not be rushed to the races over the winter months.

“She’s progressing well but she won’t be racing as a two-year-old,’’ Waller said.

“It’s unlikely she will even get to a barrier trial this season. Maybe by early August she could get to a trial.’’

Quinceanera, the first foal out of all-time great Winx, created headlines around the racing world when Debbie Kepitis, a part-owner of Winx, went to $10 million – a world record for a yearling filly – to buy back the filly at the Inglis Easter Sale last year.

Meanwhile, Kepitis has revealed no decision has been made whether Winx’s rising yearling colt by Snitzel will be sold next season.

Winx is owned by Kepitis, Peter and Patty Tighe, and Elizabeth Treweeke, and it is understood “discussions will happen soon” about future plans for their superbly-bred colt.

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Joliestar completes crucial trial ahead of Brisbane mission

Dual Group 1-winner Joliestar. Picture: Bradley Photos

Joliestar, who is due to contest the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup at Eagle Farm next week, finally got the chance to have a crucial barrier trial hitout on Warwick Farm’s all-weather Polytrack on Thursday.

The Warwick Farm trials were used as a replacement for the Canterbury trials session that was washed out on Monday and Tuesday.

Dual Group 1 winner Joliestar from the Waller stable was put through her paces by champion jockey James McDonald and was deliberately kept wide and out of trouble in her 740m trial, going to the line untested at the rear of the field.

The trial was won by Angel Capital, a new stablemate of Joliestar, who gained an inside run from the turn and defeated Konasana by nearly a length.

Waller’s classy mare Firestorm also had an easy trial hitout finishing sixth to the speedy South Of India over 740m.

Godolphin trainer James Cummings also used the opportunity to trial Stradbroke Handicap entry Golden Mile and Queensland Derby hopeful Lavalier in a 1175m heat with the stablemates finishing second and fifth respectively behind Harry’s Bar.

The Rosehill barrier trials scheduled for Friday have been abandoned but Randwick will now host eight trials on the PolyTrack.

Originally published as Racing Confidential: Racing NSW to roll out $650,000 flood assistance package