Dunne Suspension Reduced to 10 Months After Appeal

Jockey Robbie Dunne has had his 18-month suspension reduced to 10 months after an appeal hearing in London. Dunne was suspended for conduct prejudicial to racing for his harassment and bullying of fellow rider Bryony Frost by the British Horseracing Authority Disciplinary Panel in December. His appeal was rejected by the independent appeal board, with the following conditions:

  • The four breaches of Rule (J)19 originally found by the independent Disciplinary Panel have been adjusted to one overarching breach, which covers all offences
  • Penalty reduced from 18 months suspension (three of which were suspended) to 10 months suspension (with no part suspended)

The suspension will now run from Dec. 10, 2021-Oct. 9, 2022.

In response to the news of the suspension reduction, the British Horseracing Authority released the following statement:

“The independent Appeal Board has today upheld the decision of the independent Disciplinary Panel that Robbie Dunne is in breach of Rule (J)19 in that his conduct was prejudicial to the integrity, proper conduct or good reputation of horseracing in Great Britain. We acknowledge their decision to amend the penalty he will serve and await the full reasons in relation to that aspect.

“This reduction in penalty in no way diminishes the recognition of the severity of the allegations that were brought against Mr. Dunne. Indeed, it continues to send a clear message that conduct of this nature cannot be tolerated in any working environment within our sport.

“Following the original decision last year, the BHA released a statement which outlines our commitment to improving workplace standards, conduct and wellbeing. Work is continuing with industry colleagues to finalise the industry code of conduct, with a view to it going before the BHA Board in the first half of the year. A cross-industry working party has also been formed to look at ways of improving education and awareness around the standards of conducted expected across the sport.

“Once again, we recognise that this has been a challenging period for all involved in this complex and emotive case, and we ask that the privacy and wellbeing of both parties is respected as they continue to receive the support of the appropriate bodies and those close to them.

“We now await the Appeal Board's written reasons before we can comment on any of the technicalities around their findings or any other matters associated with the hearing.”

The post Dunne Suspension Reduced to 10 Months After Appeal appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Messara Steps Down as Racing Australia Chair

by TDN AusNZ

Racing Australia has had its second high-profile resignation this week, with John Messara stepping down as the Chair of the embattled body, just a day after it was announced CEO Myles Foreman would be leaving.

Messara was appointed the first Independent Chairman in June last year replacing Greg Nichols and was charged with the task of breaking the state-based deadlock which has plagued the organisation for several years.

However, he was not able to reconcile the differences between the major state bodies, chiefly Racing New South Wales and Racing Victoria, nor was he able to progress on the stated aims of Racing Australia and he has decided to step down.

“I joined the Board of Racing Australia as its first-ever Independent Chairman with the intention of reconciling differences,” he said in a short statement.

“I am now stepping aside to allow the Board to vote in a new Chair, who I hope will have more success than I have had.”

When Messara assumed the role of Chair, he listed animal welfare, whip reform and the prolonged debate between the states over the group and listed racing Pattern as priorities to address.

The Board, which will shortly consider the replacement process for a new Chair, paid tribute to Messara, who also held the position of Chairman from 2014 to 2016.

The Arrowfield Chairman has a long list of leadership roles in Australian racing, including as Racing NSW Chairman from 2011 to 2016.

On Tuesday, Racing Australia confirmed that Foreman would step down as CEO after two years in the role and 16 years with the organisation.

“The Board joins me in thanking Myles for his hard work and dedication to the advancement of Australian racing and breeding over the past 16 years and we wish him well in the future, including in the establishment of his sports and business consultancy company,” Messara said on Tuesday.

The post Messara Steps Down as Racing Australia Chair appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up and HIT Catalogues Released

The catalogues for the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up and Horses-in-Training Sale were released on Wednesday. There are currently 206 2-year-olds and 120 horses-in-training ready to go under the hammer on Apr. 28. Beginning at 9 a.m. local time on Apr. 26, the breezes will take place over Newmarket's Rowley Mile Racecourse. They will be shown live on the Tattersalls website and on the Tattersalls Facebook page.

Graduates of the sale won group races in Britain, France, Germany and the U.S. in 2021, led by top-level winners Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) and Shantisara (Ire) (Coulsty {Ire}). There have been 46 group or listed performers since 2017, with a quintet at that level already from last year's edition led by Hierarchy (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), who was second by a head in the G2 Mill Reef S.

There are 46 stallions with juveniles catalogued that have already sired Classic or Group/Grade 1 winners, Including Acclamation (GB), Australia (GB), Exceed and Excel (Aus), Iffraaj (GB), Invincible Spirit (Ire), Kodiac (GB), Make Believe (GB), Mehmas (Ire), New Bay (GB), Night of Thunder (Ire), No Nay Never, Oasis Dream (GB), Sea the Moon (Ger), Showcasing (GB), Starspangledbanner (Aus), Wootton Bassett (GB), Zoffany (Ire) and Zoustar (Aus). Also represented in the catalogue are the international sires Galiway (GB) and Zelzal (Fr) from France, and American stallions Astern (Aus), Caravaggio, First Samurai, Stormy Atlantic and triple German Champion Sire Soldier Hollow (GB).

A total of 32 lots are by second-season sires, and some of those sires are Ardad (Ire), Churchill (Ire), Cotai Glory (GB), Galileo Gold (GB), Profitable (Ire), Time Test (GB) and Zarak (Fr).

First-season sires also have a few juveniles in the sale, among them the offspring of Group 1 winners Cracksman (GB), Expert Eye (GB), Harry Angel (Ire), Havana Grey (Ire), Hawkbill, Lightning Spear (GB), Roaring Lion, Saxon Warrior (Jpn), U S Navy Flag, and Sioux Nation, as well as American freshman sires Accelerate and Bolt d'Oro.

Eighteen fillies are registered for the Great British Bonus Scheme and 14 2-year-olds qualified for French Owners' Premiums. Three juveniles are entered in the 2022 Swedish Derby and Oaks Series and another trio are entered in the £150,000 Tattersalls October Auction S., with one lot additionally entered in the £100,000 Tattersalls Somerville Auction S.

There is also a high-quality horses-in-training portion, with some lots of note including: lot 96, the winning My Little Tip (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}), who is rated 95 from George Boughey's Saffron House Stables; Kaboo (More Than Ready) (lot 108), who is listed placed and rated 101 from Karl Burke's Spigot Lodge Stables; the 96-rated John The Baptist (Ire) (Caravaggio) (lot 91) from the Castlebridge Consignment; and five from the Juddmonte, among them the once-raced Fraction (GB) (War Front) (lot 82) out of Group 1 winner Proportional (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}); and the unraced colts Winterscape (GB) (Frankel {GB}) (lot 85), who is a full-brother to G1 Nassau S. heroine Winsili (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and lot 84, Polemon (GB) (Frankel {GB}), a brother to the Group 1-placed Weekender (GB) (Frankel {GB}).

Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony said, “The Guineas Breeze Up enjoyed yet another outstanding year on the racecourse led by the champion stayer Trueshan and USA Grade I winner Shantisara, both of whom illustrate the quality, diversity and value for money that buyers have come to expect from the sale. This year's Guineas Breeze Up has been very well-supported by consignors and we are confident the selection of 2-year-olds will appeal to domestic and international buyers in all sectors of the market, alongside the second largest horses in training section in the sale's history.”

The post Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up and HIT Catalogues Released appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Newsells Park Stud Launches Ossie Ardiles Syndicate

Newsells Park Stud, which was acquired last year by Graham Smith-Bernal, has launched a new racing syndicate with footballing legend Ossie Ardiles.

In a new initiative for the stud, the syndicate will race six horses, trained by John and Thady Gosden, William Haggas and Roger Varian in Newmarket, and Mark and Charlie Johnston in Middleham.

“This is a new world for me and I'm very much looking forward to it, making new friends and enjoying fresh experiences, we have a great team together and the sport has already started,” said Ardiles.

At the Varian stable is 3-year-old Oblong Song (GB), a Nathaniel (Ire) half -sister to Group 1 winner Spinning Queen (GB) (Spinning World), while the Johnstons have taken charge of 3-year-old Dark Angel (Ire) filly Espressoo (GB), from the family of Pallasator (GB) (Motivator {GB}).

Among the four 2-year-olds are Viterbo (Ire), a Mehmas (Ire) half-brother to stakes performer Alfonsine (Ire) (Approve {Ire}) who is with Haggas; the Varian-trained Green Go (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), a full-brother to Royal Ascot winner Illuminate, and Perfect Play (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), a half-brother to to the good stayer Ispolini (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), trained by the Johnstons. Completing the quartet of juveniles is Atlantic Belle (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), a half-sister to stakes performer Arctician (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) who will be trained by the Gosdens.

“The overall aim is to offer a fun and special experience of racehorse ownership, from seeing your horses in training to exciting days on the racecourse,” said Smith Bernal. “We also want the team to experience the breeding side of the business with visits to Newsells and other stud farms.”

 

The post Newsells Park Stud Launches Ossie Ardiles Syndicate appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights