WALLER’S POLITE NO TO SHEIKH MO

Did Chris Waller walk away from a $2 million carrot plus Group race and stallion making bonuses from Sheikh Mohammed to be his exclusive Australian trainer?

Was the stumbling block, Waller’s insistence on having a smaller and select group of hoses and outside clients?

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JOCKEYS WIN VICTORIAN SUPPORT

The mail from local jockeys is that their Victorian counterparts have won the support of Racing Victoria to collect fees on behalf of the Victorian and Australian Jockeys Associations.

This will, of course, further enrage Racing NSW and the Australian Racing Board in their attempts to flex their muscles against the jockeys and their Association.

And get this: Don’t be surprised if NSW jockeys resort to some form of industrial action against Racing NSW in the near future unless a back down is not forthcoming.

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ANOTHER FIGHT LOOMING WITH THE BOOKIES

The Australian Wagering Council and their members – the corporate bookmakers- are less than impressed with the “spin” from Racing NSW on its attempts to introduce new rules forcing fixed odds bookmakers with turnover exceeding $5 million to bet to lose a minimum $2000 with each bet taken in the metropolitan area and $1000 in the country and provincial sectors.

The Council says that despite Racing NSW claims to have consulted extensively and while they presented a submission, the first they heard of the details of the new rules was in the press release that was sent to the media by Racing NSW.

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WALLER SLAMS RANDWICK INNER TRACK

Expect more trainers to join Chris Waller’s swipe at the Kensington Inner Track at Randwick.

Their gripe – the Kensington track which was renovated at great cost following a swag of complaints from trainers and punters- has regressed and the same problems have resurfaced (pardon the pun).

Is NSW ever capable of getting anything right?

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COOLMORE RECLAIMS STARSPANGLEDBANNER?

Has Irish global breeding giant Coolmore reclaimed the breeding rights to hot new Australian bred stallion Starspangledbanner?

Starspangledbanner, who has fertility issues, was banished by Coolmore to the property of up and coming Victorian stud Rosemont, a significant shareholder in the son of Choisir and who have patiently imp[roved the stallion’s fertility after Coolmore even tried- unsuccessfully- to return him to racing.

His first small European crop has thrown two black type winners including one of the early favourites for the 2015 2000 Guineas in The Wow Factor.

Going on recent history, it is unlikely Rosemont will stand the boom stallion again.

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GREG SWANN TAKES BRISBANE AFL GIG

The nervous nellies in Victorian racing don’t need to rush to the Valium cabinet: It has been confirmed that Greg Swann, who rated himself a chance at landing the VRC Chief Executive position, has correctly read the “tea leaves” and landed the CEO position at the Brisbane AFL Club.

Just as well: the Club was seriously looking at another candidate from AFL Greater Western Sydney Giants.

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JESSICA PAYNE: ANOTHER FEMALE APPRENTICE ABOUT TO TAKE OFF?

Remember the name Jessica Payne. Apprenticed to a Victorian country trainer Wayne Nicholls at Wangaratta, Jessica is a raw riding talent who is starting to be noticed by some of the State’s better trainers.

Jessica recently rode in an apprentices representative series in France – no mean feat for a young inexperienced- but very talented young apprentice jockey.

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UNDER THE PUMP (1)

Which senior and prominent NSW-based racing administrator has the noose dangling over his head resulting from his arrogant, abrasive and bully boy attitude towards State racing bodies and stakeholder groups?

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UNDER THE PUMP (2)

What is the REAL reason for a very noticeable drop off in the winning strike rate of a prominent Flemington stable?