WELLFIELD NEW ZEALAND

OAKS (GROUP 1)

CO-TRAINERS Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman landed the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks at Trentham on Saturday with the race favourite Bonneval winning her third straight group race over the past five weeks.

“She’s a beautiful filly,” said Forsman. She was a standout when Murray and the guys bought her at the sales (for NZ$150,000) and she’s gone on with it. She got a long way back today but they were going quick enough early on. Matt (Cameron) got her rolling and rode her like the best filly in the race.”

The Makfi filly won by half a length over the Darci Brahma filly Devise, with the chance the two may clash again on April 8th in the Australian Oaks. Third went to the Savabeel filly Savvy Dreams.

Cobalt cases collapse

RACING Victoria have been left red-faced with the collapse of their 26-month pursuit of trainers Danny O’Brien and Mark Kavanaugh over cobalt positives found in raceday samples dating from the 2014 Spring carnival.

O’Brien and Kavanaugh were originally handed four year and three year disqualifications in January 2016 by the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board. Their appeal, initiated in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in August 2016, overturned that decision.

In handing down his 115 page ruling, Justice Greg Garde highlighted that: “The tribunal finds that over the period from April 2014 until about August 2015, the procedure for testing for cobalt in equine urine adopted by Racing Victoria Ltd substantially departed from the requirements set out in AR 178D of the Rules Of Racing.”

While not disputing the elevated levels of cobalt, Justice Garde also found that the horses had been administered the ‘vitamin complex’ substance by deregistered veterinarian Dr Tom Brennan that contained high concentration of cobalt chloride without the knowledge of either trainer. Estimates in the local media put the cost to Racing Victoria in pursing these cases at around A$6 million. Racing Victoria now has 28 days to decide whether to appeal the VCAT decision to the Court Of Appeal.

Al Basti sponsors NZ jockeys

THE New Zealand Jockeys’ Association has entered into a five-year sponsorship arrangement with Dubai-based Al Basti Equiworld. The deal will see all New Zealand jockeys supplied with raceday breeches by Al Basti Equiworld as well as providing significant financial support to the New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing General Trust Fund which comes to the aid of jockeys injured or suffering illness. “It’s fabulous to have someone of Mr Malih Al Basti’s status and international reputation commencing an association and involvement in New Zealand thoroughbred racing,” said Dave Taylor, president of the New Zealand Jockeys’ Association.

“The welfare of jockeys in any country is paramount and I admire their passion for the sport,” said Al Basti.