SAROA is distressed and appalled by the footage of thoroughbreds being slaughtered in a Queensland abattoir as shown on the ABC’s 7:30 Report. The practices within the abattoir were inhumane and disgusting. This is a matter for the Queensland authorities to deal with and it is the responsibility of animal authorities in each state to ensure that this sort of practice is condemned and that animals are protected from such cruelty. The issues for racing lie in the enforcement of tighter controls over the fate of horses when they are retired from racing. The health and well-being of racehorses is an issue that SAROA takes very seriously and considers to be of paramount importance. As reported at the AGM our President attended a horse welfare seminar during the year and we will continue to work with interested parties to ensure that the welfare of horses is a high priority for the industry. While it is true that once a horse leaves the control of industry participants the rules of racing no longer apply, as an industry we are clearly failing our horses. Industry-wide action is required. Policies and procedures are fine but they need to be enforced. We refer you to an article written by Tom Reilly CEO of Thoroughbred Breeders Australia which discusses the issues in some length http://www.tbaus.com/2019/10/18/tba-calls-for-a-national-task-force/ In particular we believe that the Senate inquiry into establishing a national traceability scheme for all horses is an important way to allow a horse’s whereabouts to be tracked. HorseSA in their submission to Senate have strongly supported the scheme and suggested that the ID records should include an “opt-out” of slaughter provision for the horse. We also refer you to TRSA’s Equine Welfare Policies https://www.theracessa.com.au/industry/retirement-of-racehorses

Richard joins the Punter’s Club to pay tribute to the late Gerald Schlink well known West Coast owner and breeder. The photo is of Gerald’s horse Roo Boy. Richard also discusses several examples of the issues with social media. https://saroa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/191012-SAROA-interview.mp3    

Long time committee member and treasurer Rob McBryde  (photo – Rising Sun Photography – Makoto Kaneko.) Treasurer – Rob McBryde Occupation: Partner, Summerset Park Stud; Gumeracha.  Semi-retired Town Planning Consultant First Horse Owned: Summer Magic, bred by Summerset Park, trained by John Barnes, won 2 Y O Hcp at Morphettville 1992 at second start. Favourite Horse Owned: Stralia (by Stratum out of Duchess Cara) – Sold from our Summerset Park Stud draft as a yearling at the Adelaide MM Sales in 2011 and we retained 10%.  Won first two starts as a late 2 YO at Flemington, then ran 2nd to Snitzerland in Danehill Stakes G2 at third start as a 3 Y O, then sold to Hong Kong interests for a large sum and raced as Lucky Double Eight. Biggest Win: Banderilla in Star of Christmas Series Final Holdfast Insurance Hcp at Morphettville, Boxing Day 2010 (the last time my mother attended the races with us).  We raced her on our own, trained by Jon O’Connor, ridden by Todd Pannel. Best Horse you have seen: Danehill, when he stood at Coolmore Stud, Hunter Valley, NSW. Favourite Race or Racetrack: any race or racetrack when our horses win! Favourite Jockey: Jamie Kah Interests Outside of Racing: Aviation – gained Private Pilot Licence 1969 and have since flown over large parts of Australia as far as Melbourne to Darwin, much of Northern Territory and South Australia. Reason for Joining SAROA Committee: Concerned to contribute to the advancement of the benefits, privileges and prizemoney for South Australian racehorse owners.  

Richard and Gary discuss the SAROA Apprentice Award and the up-coming Spring Carnival https://saroa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/190921-SAROA-interview.mp3 Last year’s SAROA Apprentice Award winner – Sophie Logan

SAROA Owner of the Month for August joins the Punters’ Club to talk about her winner Handsome Return. https://saroa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/190914-SAROA-interview.mp3 Dianne was nominated by Allie Umoff as part owner of Handsome Return, Allie shared this with us It was a gutsy, impressive win, for Handsome Return, first up and running over a much shorter trip than his preferred distance (1250 meters versus preferred distance of 1600-2000m) against some notable horses, including Tequila Time, Schilldora, and Tiara Star.  Handsome Return is Diane’s second horse.  Her first was Steel Frost, also trained by Will Clarken.  She has been a fan of the races for her whole life, and she and her sister-in-law decided a few years ago that it would be fun to get involved in ownership.  They initially contacted Ciaron Maher about getting a horse with him, but Diane’s husband encouraged her to look for an SA trainer and Ciaron recommended Will as a young up-and-comer. Diane contacted Will by email and he called back to offer a share in Steel Frost.  Then a couple years later, Diane had a friend who was also interested in getting involved in a horse and so when Will mentioned that he had another horse with some shares available, Diane got a share with her friend.  That horse was Handsome Return.  Steel Frost has since been retired but Diane has shares in two other young horses with Will that will be hitting the track soon.  Handsome Return was bought from New Zealand about a year ago (approx early August 2018) as a lightly raced 6-year-old, having only had 11 starts. He’s had 10 starts for the Clarken stables and his new ownership group (of which I am a member), for four wins, one second, and one third.  After his performance on 31 August, he is now heading to the Balaklava Cup.  While he wasn’t able to star in the Balaklava Cup he boasts a record including his early starts in New Zealand of 22 starts for 6 wins, 1 second and three thirds with winnings approaching $180,000, with less than $20,000 being earned in NZ. As well as two wins at Gawler, and two at Morphettville he was also able to run third at Caulfield in one of his two forays to Melbourne so far. His sire Handsome Ransom (by Red Ransom) has so far left 4 stakes wins including Ransomed, a Group 1 winner in NZ and Travolta who won two listed races in Sydney and almost half a million in stakes money. Handsome Ransom himself won a Black Opal Stakes in Canberra as a two year old. Handsome Return’s staying ability probably comes from the dam side with his dam Licensed To Thrill being by Rhythm whose most notable winner was the mighty mare Ethereal winner of both the Melbourne and Caulfield Cups in the 2001 season. Licensed To Thrill won one race from 19 starts and of her progeny at stud Handsome Return is the only one named. The granddam Molly (by Super Imposing) had an unimpressive stud career. Briefly looking at Dianne’s first horse, the recently retired Steel Frost (by Bryannbo’s Gift) winner of nine from 27 and $420,000 whose one stakes winner was Steel Frost who won two listed races. Steel Frost is out of the Commands mare Horshoe who had three to race and Steel Frost was by far the best. This leads to an interesting conclusion that trainer Will Clarken seems to be able to pick the good ones. Congratulations to Dianne and best of luck going forward with Hansome Return and her two unraced ones.

TRSA have released more detailed information about funding and prizemoney Industry Briefing Participants

We will progressively add some information about each of our committee members to the website – starting with our president Ken Cock. President – Ken Cock Occupation Involved in education all my working life. Started teaching science at Kadina High School, Ended up as principal at Christies Beach High School before heading off to Jakarta for 13 years to work in the area of teacher development across Indonesia.  Now retired from all that First Horse Owned Wow going back in history now; about 50 years. The first horse was a filly by the name of Solsplash trained by Ron Dini. Don’t think she ran a place. With a group of friends we raced a couple of other horses with Ron…..unfortunately with very limited success Favourite Horse Owned After returning from Jakarta about 7 years ago contacted Leon MacDonald and took a share in a horse called Snip’n’Run. He won his first race start and went on to be quite successful but my favourite horse to race is Wasabi Bob that with a group of good friends is giving us some great thrills in racing. Biggest Win. We won the Lealani Stakes, a Group 3 race at Morphettville with C’est Beau La Vie. Again trained by Leon. Over time my wife and I have developed a great friendship with the MacDonalds. Through the stable we have met many others who are passionate about racing and in time become friends. This is one of the great things about racing meeting a wide range of people from all sorts of backgrounds. Best Horse you have seen As a kid I remember being at Cheltenham to see Tulloch race. I remember the day so well. He was in my eyes a magnificent looking animal. But then there has been Black Caviar and Winks both of which I saw racing several times.  But Wasabi Bob is the best Favourite Race or Racetrack Every year we head off to Melbourne for the Cup carnival. Love the 4-day Flemington meeting with all the colour, glamour and champion horses, jockeys and trainers. Why did you join SAROA committee? From the time I was in short pants I have followed horse racing and getting enormous enjoyment from the sport. With time on my hands after retiring I believed it was time to give something back to racing. Joining SAROA and getting onto the committee was a way I saw to do this. Love the passion for racing amongst the committee members.              

Richard talks to Gary And Matt about his horse Lady Conquistador who was a runner in the Penny Edition. (Note the photo above of the actual winner Behemoth who is part owned by SAROA member Jack Savaglia). Discussion then turns to the SAROA Stallion Service Auction and the TRSA Industry Awards Night. https://saroa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/190831-SAROA-interview.mp3

SAROA Owner of the Month for July is Paul Ninnis. He joins the guys on the Punters’ club to talk about his horse Bold Star. https://saroa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/190817-SAROA-interview.mp3

Our Stallion Service Auction has been extended for a further week ending now 5 pm August 25th. Don’t miss out on the chance to pick up a bargain on a service to a quality stallion with four options available, Magnus; Valentia, America and Dedline. Payment this year does no fall due until there is a live foal. For more details Click here