John O'Shea | Horse Racing Free Tips

Guest Named Employee of the Year At TIE Awards

Sarah Guest, the yard manager for trainer John O'Shea, was named the Employee of the Year during the 2023 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards sponsored by Godolphin in ceremonies held Monday evening at York Racecourse. It was the first in-person event since 2020 and was held for the first time in Yorkshire.

Guest took home a cash prize of £10,000 and an additional £10,000 to be divided among her colleagues at the John O'Shea yard.

Earlier in the evening, Guest was also presented with the Leadership Award, carrying a £5,000 prize and a similar amount for the yard, meaning she and her coworkers each ended with £15,000 following the ceremony.

“Sarah is a richly deserving winner of this prestigious award and, despite the high quality of the finalists brought forward to this evening's ceremony, she was a stand-out selection to be named the Employee of the Year,” said Nick Luck, chair of the judging panel. “There can be no doubting the importance of Sarah to the John O'Shea operation, which was demonstrated to greatest effect during 2022 when John O'Shea was unwell. Sarah is a shining example of the sort of hard work and dedication that keeps yards up and down the country running, and we as an industry can be rightly proud of her dedication to ensuring the well-being of her colleagues and the horses in her care.”

The £30,000 awared to Guest and her colleagues was part of a total of £128,500 offered by Godolphin. The ceremonies were hosted by Francesca Cumani and were organised by the British Horseracing Authority in conjunction with Racing Post and Racing TV.

Prime Minister Sunak Pays Tribute

In a message, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recognised the hard work and dedication of those who work in the Thoroughbred industry across Britain.

Sunak, whose Richmond Parliamentary constituency includes Middleham training centre and Catterick Racecourse, said: “I am delighted that the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards are taking place in Yorkshire for the first time.

“From my visits to Middleham, and Catterick Raceourse, both in my constituency, I have seen the sheer hard work, grit and dedication of all in British racing for the horses in their care.

“Tonight's finalists exemplify all that is best about British racing and breeding–an industry which does so much for communities across our country, generates over £4 billion for our economy, and showcases Britain on the global stage.

“I want to see British racing and breeding stay at the front of this global race in the years ahead.

“I wish the best of luck and congratulations to all of tonight's finalists.

“Though, if I may be a bit partisan, I do hope that Becky Smith can do the double for Middleham after Paddy Trainor's victory last year!”

TIEA Finalists (winners in bold italic type)

David Nicholson Newcomer

Amy Grieve – Rose Dobbin

Ryan Kavanagh – Amy Murphy

Stephanie Wing – George Scott Racing

Leadership

Becky Smith – Micky Hammond

Jessica O'Keefe – Venetia Williams

Sarah Guest – John O'Shea

Rider/Groom

Amy Vickers – Harry and Roger Charlton

Emma Tully – Susan Corbett-Girsonfield Stud & Racing

Rita Gillies – Lucinda Russell

Stud Staff

Andrew Rawlin – Blue Diamond Stud

Bethan Byrne – Godolphin Management Co Ltd

Davina Burrows – Deerfield Farm

Dedication

Claire Ricks – Marco Botti

David Crofts – Marcus Tregoning

Patrick McConville – Hascombe & Valiant Stud Ltd

The Community Award (In recognition of the wonderful work Rory MacDonald achieved at The British Racing School)

Gay Kelleway – For her work supporting Ukraine

Jo Foster – Community racehorse visits

Margo Walsh – The Jockey Club

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Juddmonte and Rosemont Partner on a Three-Quarter Brother to Frankel

Juddmonte's dual listed-placed Maximal (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), out of their undefeated superstar Frankel (GB) (Galileo {Ire})'s half-sister Joyeuse (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), will continue his racing career in Australia, after a deal was reached between the late Prince Khalid's operation and Rosemont Stud, the Victorian-based stud announced on Tuesday. The deal marks the first time Juddmonte have ever entered into an Australian partnership on a stallion prospect.

“Myself, John [O'Shea] and his assistant trainer Tom Charlton have a spent a great deal of time analysing Maximal, his form, profile and feel he shapes as an ideal prospect for not only some initial targets in the spring but beyond with races such as the G1 Doncaster or G1 Cox Plate over the next 12-18 months appealing as potential options,” said Rosemont Principal Anthony Mithen.

“Unsurprisingly, Juddmonte have been a pleasure to deal with and whilst we have both very much partnered in this horse with a focus on his future racing career, as a ¾ brother to Frankel, one can't help contemplate his appeal as a stallion if indeed he can replicate his European form in Australia.

“Frankel is the greatest I have seen and, with the passing of Galileo, has arguably assumed the title of the 'current world's best stallion' so we certainly dream at the thought of cementing his credentials as a shuttle stallion for Juddmonte and Rosemont.”

A winner at Sandown at two, Maximal had placed second in the Listed Dee S. at Chester in May prior to running a good fourth to Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) in the G1 St James's Palace S. at Royal Ascot in June. He was most recently second to Friday's G3 Bonhams Thoroughbred S. victor Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the Listed Sir Henry Cecil S. at Newmarket on July 8. The bay, previously trained by Sir Michael Stoute, will entered quarantine immediately for Australia with long term goals the premier middle-distance races Down Under.

“Juddmonte are extremely excited about sending Maximal to Australia to continue racing in partnership with Rosemont Stud,” said Juddmonte's GM of European Racing Barry Mahon. “Rosemont, like Juddmonte, run a top class breeding and racing operation out of Victoria and they have enjoyed enormous success throughout Australia. Juddmonte have enjoyed some success in the past few seasons in Australia and that has spurred us on to try and increase our racing presence there. We would like to thank Sir Michael Stoute and his team at Freemason for the great job they have done with Maximal. John O'Shea is a top class trainer and we are delighted he will be taking charge of the colt.”

Maximal is the third black-type placer of three runners out of Joyeuse, herself a two-time stakes winner and placed four times at the Group 3 level. He is preceded by G1 Coronation S. third Jubiloso (GB) (Shamardal) and the two-time listed placed Jovial (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).

Added O'Shea of the 3-year-old colt, who will continue to race in the Juddmonte silks, “Maximal has a lovely cruising speed and his video is evident of a horse with a real determination. He is an incredibly exciting colt for some of our major Group 1 and signature races at anywhere between 1400m-2000m.

“We have seen the strength of the European form stand out in this country and this colt's recent performances, with a Racing Post Rating of 112, would suggest he will be extremely competitive in anything we set him for here in Australia within his ideal distance range.”

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Australia: Bondi Stakes To Shine At Randwick

The riches of Sydney's “Everest Carnival” continue this Friday night: for the equine participants in a million-dollar race for 3-year-olds, and for North American horseplayers with the 20c Pick 7 and a guaranteed pool of $10,000. Both are relatively new concepts: the Pick 7 was introduced just a couple of weeks ago with great success, while the $1 million Bondi Stakes (pronounced bond-eye) was inaugurated last year.

Australia's iconic Bondi Beach is curved and contained within a horseshoe-shaped bay, equidistant (just 4 miles) from downtown Sydney and Randwick Racecourse. “Royal Randwick” plays host to the Bondi Stakes, a one-mile assignment for recently turned 3-year-olds (Aug. 1) who are looking to improve upon their juvenile exploits and scale new heights.

My pick will hopefully be unperturbed by such aspirations: Acrophobic (which means “suffering from a fear of heights”) has attracted my attention through hints of ability combined with tinkering by his trainer John O'Shea with equipment and riding tactics. I fancied him two weeks ago at 9/1 when he finished fourth – beaten only ¾ of a length – behind Peltzer and Prime Star at 7 1/2 furlongs in the Stan Fox Stakes. Acrophobic faces that pair in the Bondi once more, and is again behind them in the wagering, but I believe he can outrun both in the final furlong of a Randwick Mile.

The latest experiment by trainer John O'Shea is “winkers first time.” Winkers are a sheepskin device attached to the cheek-strap of a bridle, helping focus but allowing more peripheral vision than blinkers. Regardless of whether winkers are considered worthwhile in U.S. racing, there can be no denying the superior information that racing fans in Australia receive. As an example, a program notification in the U.S. of “Blinkers On” does not stipulate whether it's for the first time. The intricacies of equipment changes in Australia extend to tongue ties, shadow rolls, hoof fillers, ear muffs and various types of bits that are being applied or removed – always with a notation of whether it's for the “first time” or “again.” By contrast, American racing has only recently clamped down on the timely notification of first-time geldings!

Whether or not the application of “winkers first time” helps the prospects of Acrophobia (6/1), I'm prepared to single him in the Pick 7 against Peltzer (2/1) and Prime Star (3/1). The sequence spans Races 3-9 and includes races from six furlongs to 1-1/2 miles with an average field size of 11. Here is a suggested ticket:

Race 3 – 1, 2, 3

Race 4 – 1, 4, 5, 8

Race 5 – 1, 2, 3, 4

Race 6 – 3

Race 7 – 4, 5, 6, 8

Race 8 – 5, 6

Race 9 – 11

Cost: $76.80

A reminder that the Pick 7 wager is available via all major ADW platforms such as TVG, TwinSpires, Xpressbet, NYRABets, WatchandWager, HPIbet, AmWager, and BetAmerica. The Randwick card will be broadcast live on TVG this Friday night (First Post: 9:50pm ET / 6:50pm PT) alongside cards from Doomben, Kembla Grange and Gold Coast. All races will also be live-streamed in HD with past performances available for free at skyracingworld.com and major ADW platforms.

Looking ahead to next Friday night's racing action, it is stacked with the running of the $7.5 million Golden Eagle for 4-year-olds at Rosehill racecourse and the commencement of the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington (Derby Day). Future markets currently have Alligator Blood, Funstar and Bivouac at the top line of betting for the Golden Eagle and is a race that cannot be missed.

A native of Brisbane, Australia, Michael Wrona has called races in six countries. Michael's vast U.S. experience includes; race calling at Los Alamitos, Hollywood Park, Arlington and Santa Anita, calling the 2000 Preakness on a national radio network and the 2016 Breeders' Cup on the International simulcast network. Michael also performed a race call voiceover for a Seinfeld episode called The Subway.

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