January, 2024 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Ascot and Tote Sign Five-Year Agreement to Improve Pool Betting

A five-year agreement aimed at strengthening and growing pool betting in the UK was signed by Ascot Racecourse and the Tote on Thursday.

Beginning on Jan. 1, 2024, the agreement ensures all pool bets placed on racing from Ascot Racecourse will continue to support liquidity in the UK pool which has been operated by the UK Tote Group since October 2019. The “Bet with Ascot” brand is included under this umbrella of bets as long as the bets are placed on the Tote website, through bookmakers and third-party partners on course.

This agreement also dovetails with the initiative that assists Ascot with being central to the World Pool since it began at Royal Ascot in 2019. Tote operators from 28 countries currently commingle pools which are hosted by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC).

Alastair Warwick, chief executive of Ascot Racecourse, said, “We are delighted have a new agreement in place with the Tote which will allow us to build on what has been achieved domestically and internationally over the last four years. As one of the original architects of World Pool, alongside the Hong Kong Jockey Club and the Tote, we are excited to support the further development of World Pool to ensure both racing fans and the sport benefit from it. We will ensure that Ascot's top-class racing continues to be at the forefront of British racing's efforts to see that the sport is watched and bet on by a growing domestic and global audience.”

Alex Frost, chief executive of the UK Tote Group, added, “The Tote is immensely proud to be a partner of Ascot Racecourse which hosts some of the most prestigious racedays in the sporting calendar. This new agreement ensures Ascot Racecourse and the Tote are perfectly positioned to work together to achieve a strong UK Pool, alongside the continued development of World Pool, which are crucial elements to the future financial sustainability of the sport.”

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Listed Winner Royal Champion Bound For Australia

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's multiple listed winner Royal Champion (Ire) (Shamardal) will continue his career in Australia, according to published reports.

Successful in the Listed Wolferton S. last June, the homebred was third in the G2 York S. a month later and was runner-up in the GI Canadian International S. most recently in October.

“He was very impressive … if he brings that sort of form out here–he's very lightly raced as well for an older horse, he's been well looked after and well managed–he should hopefully have a nice career ahead of him,” co-trainer Sam Freedman, who holds a license with his father Anthony, told Racing.com.

“I think he's identified him as the right profile of horse to send out–his form in England and his run in Canada last time out was excellent.

“He's pretty versatile–he seems to handle most types of going and he's got a bit of speed, so he should hopefully suit out here.”

Sheikh Obaid, who has won the G1 Melbourne Cup, already has Dubai Poet (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and Legend Of Dubai (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) with the Freedmans in Australia.

“[Royal Champion] is still up there, so he'll fly out soonish, I'd say. The plan is to obviously have him out here and working along through the winter,” Freedman added.

“There's going to be some really suitable 2000-metre races for him over the course of the spring, so we'll see where he fits in–but he's going to arrive with a pretty high rating, so hopefully he can feature in some big ones.”

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In the Hot Seat: Martin Buick

He may not be able to dance but Martin Buick, bloodstock consultant for De Burgh Equine, is not afraid to face the TDN question master.

What was your proudest moment of 2023?

The first horse I signed for, ADMIRAL DE VEGA, won the G3 Stockholm's Stora Pris, one of Scandinavia's most prestigious races. He beat a Dubai Carnival winner and Archie Watson's Brave Emperor who went on to win Group races in France, Italy and Germany.

Give us one horse to follow and why…

Prime Art (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) who is now with Jean-Claude Rouget in France. She was purchased privately by Hubie [de Burgh] after she won the G3 Firth of Clyde Stakes. She won with plenty in hand and should continue to improve.

And a young person in the industry to keep an eye on…

My younger brother Andrew who joined New Zealand Bloodstock last summer. He is thriving down there and I get a kick out of seeing him do well.

Who do you think will be champion first-season sire this year?

Pinatubo (Ire) was an outstanding two-year-old and his yearlings looked sharp, so he gets my vote. With his profile and 109 two-year-olds to run for him he should take a lot of beating.

And the best value stallion in Europe?

Proven value is hard to find so I'll go with Churchill at €30,000. Some might disagree that he's a value play at that price but he has had two champions from his first two crops in Vadeni (Ire) and Blue Rose Cen (Ire) and that fee could look cheap down the line. He is still a young stallion that I suspect we'll hear plenty more about in the years to come.

What's the one horse you wish you'd bought in 2023?

A yearling filly by Sea The Moon (Ger) out of Jazzi Top (GB) at Tattersalls October Book 1. She was a lovely filly from Meon Valley's famous Reprocolor (GB) family and was bought by Shadwell for 575,000gns. Her looks matched her great pedigree which can be rare.

Biggest regret?

In business I don't have too many yet but there's plenty of time to change that! On a personal level I wish I had learnt to dance. There have been occasions where I'm the awkward guy hovering around the bar, envious of fellas that can spin their partners around on the dance floor.

Biggest influence on your career?

I've spent most of my career in this industry with Hubie de Burgh and Alan Cooper, so they have definitely had the biggest influence. This really is a people's business and the way Hubie maintains and builds new relationships is an attribute that has enabled him to stay at the top of the game for decades. Aside from his astuteness as a judge of a horse I admire this quality about him and I'm trying to soak up as much of it as I can.

During my time as assistant racing manager with Alan and the Niarchos family we had nine individual Group 1 winners over six years which was unbelievable and something that I'll never forget. Being afforded the opportunity by Alan to represent the family on the biggest of stages, amongst other responsibilities, gives me immense pride to this day.

If you could sit down for dinner with three people (dead or alive) who would the be and why?

The first would be Vincent O'Brien. I never had the chance to meet him and would love to talk to him about his life in racing, amongst other things. I married his granddaughter, Tara, so it could also be an opportunity to introduce myself! Well-known raconteur Sean Connery would be my second choice, he IS Mr Bond and his stories would keep us going well into the night. We would finish off with a private gig with my third guest, Stevie Nicks.

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1/ST Racing Partners With Equine MediRecord For Pegasus World Cup

1/ST, owned by the Stronach Group, will partner with Equine MediRecord (EMR) to digitize equine welfare protocols for this year's running of the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park Jan. 27, the Irish technology company said in a release Thursday morning.

The added measure will enhance the stringent equine health and safety protocols, and make the process even easier as EMR representatives will be onsite to help log each horse's information into their system.

The platform allows for the full veterinary history of the horse to be collected digitally and recorded securely. Use will be mandatory and provide the opportunity to comply with strict medication protocols. Veterinarians can send required medical record information directly to HISA, which reduces the need for double entry.

“We are excited about our partnership with 1/ST and doing all we can to help ensure that best horse welfare and transparency protocols are followed in equine sport while ensuring participants do not have to enter information multiple times to be cleared,” said Pierce Dargan, Equine MediRecord's CEO.

The Irish company's list of clients and users include the Thoroughbred Owners of California, Maryland 5 Star, Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, the Arabian Racing Organization, Breeders' Cup World Championships and the Saudi Cup.

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