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Zimmerman joins Tiley barn; Redoute's Choice dead; Easter Handicap for Tiptronic;Easter Handicap for Tiptronic;NZTR And Racing Australia consider joint initiatives
Zimmerman joins Tiley barn
Multiple Group One-winning trainer Karren Zimmerman will take a change in direction in coming weeks when she takes up the position of stable foreman for Pukekohe trainer Nigel Tiley.
Zimmerman won four Group One races in her training career, which included victories in the Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) with Rodin (2004) and Cinder Bella (2000), with the latter also taking out the Kelt Capital Stakes (2040m) in 2001, while Barinka recorded Zimmerman’s last Group One in the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Te Aroha in 2011.
Tiley said he is delighted to have someone of Zimmerman’s experience join the stable.
“She is going to join us in about three weeks,” he said.
“We advertised for a foreman/assistant trainer and Karen was very keen to take it on and we would have been stupid if we hadn’t taken her straight away.
“When she sent me through her record this morning I texted her back and said ‘I should actually be working for you’.
“She’s a horsewoman too, her horses always look immaculate on race day.
“I’ll be able to travel a few more horses and be very comfortable that I have got somebody at home that’s more than capable of doing the job for us.”
Redoute's Choice dead
The Australian breeding industry has lost one of its greatest-ever stallions with the news that Redoute's Choice died on Tuesday at Arrowfield Stud near Scone in the Hunter Valley.
The 22-year-old son of Danehill and Shantha's Choice was humanely euthanised after suffering a traumatic loss of mobility which could not be restored, despite intensive care by Arrowfield's veterinary and stallion teams.
As a stallion, Redoute's Choice sired 163 Stakes winners of 329 Stakes races across his 19 seasons. He is the sire of 34 individual Group One winners.
Sons of Redoute’s Choice including Burgundy, Coats Choice, Duelled, El Doute, Nadeem and Tobique stand at stud in New Zealand.
Redoute’s Choice stood initially for A$30,000 in 2000 with that fee swelling to an amazing A$330,000 by 2007. He was still demanding a A$137,500 fee in his last season last spring when he served just 45 mares.
Easter Handicap for Tiptronic
While Matamata trainers Graham Richardson and Gavin Parker were delighted with Volpe Veloce’s win in the Gr.2 Japan NZ International Trophy (1600m), they were less thrilled with the performance of stablemate Tiptronic.
The Group One performer finished towards the tail of the field and his connections were concerned about their runner after the race.
“Nothing went right for him. He was three-wide and sometimes he was four-wide and just over-raced a little bit,” Richardson said.
“He had a very hard run. I was a bit worried about the horse, I went running down to see if he was okay. His action up the straight didn’t look that good, but he’s as good as gold.”
The son of O’Reilly will now head towards the Gr.2 Manco Easter Handicap (1600m) at Ellerslie next month and Richardson said his charge should appreciate a return to his favourite track.
“I’m going to save him for the Easter,” he said. “He’s better right-handed. Most of his best achievements have been right-handed and he loves Ellerslie.
“I was contemplating the mile and a quarter (Gr.2 City of Palmerston North Awapuni Gold Cup) down at Awapuni this weekend. But he’s had a hard run and left a bit of tucker, so he won’t be going there.”
NZTR And Racing Australia consider joint initiatives
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) and Racing Australia (RA) met recently to discuss how a more collaborative approach might benefit both organisations and industry participants.The meeting was attended by the chairs of both NZTR and RA, along with the CEOs of both organisations and other directors and senior management.
Among the issues discussed were the potential for technology sharing opportunities; cooperation around the Rules of Racing; a coordinated approach on the development of staying races; and the opportunities for shared services.
“The meeting was a first step in a collaborative approach on issues relating to improving thoroughbred racing across both countries,” NZTR chairman Alan Jackson said.
“We all now participate in a global sport and entertainment market place and sharing systems and initiatives with the one objective of improving owner and punter experience in thoroughbred racing is vital.”
Racing Australia chair Frances Nelson said: “Racing Australia welcomed the discussions as a reminder that, even before Phar Lap, New Zealand and Australia shared a passion for racing.
“We look forward to working strategically with NZTR in pursuing initiatives to develop a robust staying programme for the region and our industry participants.
“It makes sense to work together and seize the resultant opportunities to try and ensure an exciting future for New Zealand and Australian racing participants.”
