Newsletter 2nd January 2024

BALLARAT TURF CLUB

2024 NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2ND From The CEO Course Proper Renovation Inside Training Grass Update BTC 2023/2024 Membership Best Wishes Extended BTC 2023-2024 Season Leaderboard Asfoora set for International Stage Eustace to train in Hong Kong Ballarat Turf Club Quiz A Lap of The Track- Julie Scott Quiz Answers Next Race Meeting: Ballarat Turf Club Remaining 2023-2024 Season Dates Upcoming Race Dates Sponsor in Focus- AJM Contracting

From The CEO

While we might not be racing during this time, it certainly doesn’t mean that things stand still at BTC. The course proper has been renovated and sown down ready for a return to racing on Wednesday February 14, coinciding with Valentines Day. As a twilight meeting it will be a perfect evening to enjoy a bistro meal in good company while taking in a full program of races – the 1st kicks off at approx. 3.15pm and the last at 7.30pm. Don’t hesitate to call the office and reserve a table!

And once the racing program kicks off mid-February – it leads into a busy period of raceday fun and action on track.

- The Mortimer Petroleum Summer Family Raceday, Feb 25 - Labour Day Monday Racing is back, March 11 and the Miners Rest Community Cup, March 24 With an opportunity to reserve a table in the Terrace Bistro or an Umbrella on the front lawn with family and friends for any of these days – make sure you call the office and book while it is fresh in your mind.

See you at BTC in the New Year Best wishes Belinda Glass CEO

Course Proper Renovation Following each Cup Day, BTC moves into the annual renovation of the course proper. Below you will see a range of pics to show the various works undertaken as part of the renovation.

After jumpouts conducted on the course proper Monday December 11th , a range of contractors support the Tracks team to; - mow the turf down - core the track surface to improve drainage and ensure more sand can get into the soil profile - frase mow which removes any dense thatch build up in the base of the turf improving root health - top dress with sand (today & over the weekend) - oversow with new seed early next week while the ground is still warm, keeping up irrigation and encouraging germination over Xmas.

The timeline for this process is always tight and the Tracks team and contractors work around the clock to ensure we can be seeded before Xmas and encourage healthy growth of the turf over the Summer period.

Course Proper Renovation

Inside Training Grass Update

We’re past the half-way mark on the upgrade works to the Inside Training Grass. The install of new drainage is almost complete and irrigation lines and the fit off of sprinkler heads is well underway. In coming weeks, the growing medium will be rolled out and we will start to see turf laid down. We don’t expect to see horses on the new Training Grass until April /May once the new surface has settled and consolidated, but it is exciting still to see this project progress.

BTC 2023/2024 Membership

The 2023-2024 season is up and running and now is the time (if you have not already) to get a hold of your BTC 2023-2024 racing season membership. We love seeing our members on course to enjoy our hospitality and great racing action. On regular race days your membership entitles you to a free race book and a free beverage per meeting as well as discounted packages throughout the meeting.

With 22 race meetings still to come during the 2023-2024 racing season, this is a deal not to be missed. Join the Ballarat Turf Club as a 2023/2024 full member for $60!

If you would like to purchase your membership online please visit https://ballarat.membership.countryracing.com.au/ to purchase or you can contact via email info@ballaratturfclub.com.au or call 03 5334 6273.

Best Wishes Extended BTC was missing a special staff member on Cup Day, our Racecourse Manager Nick Stubbs married his long-time partner Laura in the company of his two gorgeous boys, family and closest friends on Friday November 8th.

Nick has been such an integral part of the BTC team and in Cup planning and delivery for over 13yrs and not missed a Cup in the past.

We extend our sincerest congratulations to Nick, Laura and the boys on the occasion of their wedding and wish them all the very best for a long life of happiness and fun adventures.

Ballarat Veterinary Practice BTC Season 2023/2024 Leaderboard- 4CYTE Leading Trainer

Ballarat Veterinary Practice BTC Season 2023/2024 Leaderboard- Mittys Leading Jockey

Ballarat Veterinary Practice BTC Season 2023/2024 Leaderboard- 4CYTE Leading Horse

Asfoora set for International Stage Continued Asfoora could make the most of her possible European campaign in mid2024 by linking it to a shot at a rich Breeder’s Cup race in the US in November.

Trainer Henry Dwyer said he’d received the official invitation for his sprinting star to tackle races like the King’s Stand Stakes (1000m) at Royal Ascot, but he said the famous carnival was not the only aim for the sizzling mare in Europe or indeed further abroad.

“It wouldn’t be a one-hit mission as most Australians do for Royal Ascot,” Dwyer said. “I’d think we’d look to campaign over there properly and make a real trip of it.

“She could even go to America for the Breeder’s Cup Turf Sprint, which is during our spring carnival here in the first week of November.

“It’s achievable, too, as it’s at Del Mar (California) this year. You can’t really do it from Australia as you can’t quarantine properly, and the flights don’t really go to the west coast.

“But from Europe, it’s a lot more achievable.”

Asfoora set for International Stage Dwyer said that while the trips in 2024 could be life-changing for the ownership group and himself as well, he said it all depended on how the mare returned to racing this autumn.

“The appetite is there from the owners provided she’s at her best,” Dwyer said.

“You don’t necessarily have to be the best horse in Australia, she just has to be the right horse for the races we have in mind.

“Pound for pound, she’d be up with the best horses in Australia over 1000 metres and those are the races she’s going for and we’ve seen our sprinters more than measure up over there.

“She’ll run in the Rubiton Stakes (1100m) first-up (February 10) and then in the Oakleigh Plate (1100m on February 24), and if she shows she’s racing well, I’d be thinking there are some suitable races over there for her.

“If you are going over there, you’d go over for Royal Ascot, but it’s probably not the most suitable race for her.

“There’s a lead-up to the King’s Stand. it’s a Group 2 called the Temple Stakes at Haydock over 1000m. There’s a 1000 metres race over the Goodwood Festival.

“There’s the G1 Nunthorpe at York and there’s a race at The Currah called the Flying Five.

“They are all 1000-metre G1 or G2s and that’s what we lack … as most of our G1 sprints are at 1200 metres, beside the Lightning and the Oakleigh Plate, so it’s a better calendar for her over there than it is here.”

Eustace to train in Hong Kong Continued Ciaron Maher’s right-hand man Dave Eustace will leave the Maher stable early in the new year to prepare for a prized training position with the Hong Kong Jockey Club from next season.

Eustace, 32, has been a pivotal part of Maher’s meteoric rise to the top of the training ranks in Australia and has been co-trainer for the past five years with Maher, who said he received the news with mixed emotions.

Maher said in a release on Thursday: “This is a bittersweet announcement.

Bitter, because it will be difficult to replace someone with David’s skills, work ethic and all-round contribution.

“Sweet, because it’s a fitting reward for David and at the same time gives CMR a great opportunity to evolve and develop.”

Eustace added: “As Ciaron has said, it’s a bittersweet day. Obviously, I am thrilled to be offered the position in Hong Kong; it has always been a dream of since I was a boy.

“It's exciting and a challenge I will relish, however I will miss being part of this extraordinary operation.”

Eustace to train in Hong Kong Eustace first came to Australia in 2014 when travelling a horse for UK trainer Roger Varian. He stayed on and soon found his way to Maher’s stables, where he quickly earned a glowing reputation equally for his horse skills and his ability to communicate.

He was promoted as co-trainer along Maher in 2018, at a time when Maher’s various stables throughout the state were starting to gain momentum.

In the five years since his promotion, Maher has become Australia’s leading trainer by winners with recent successes including the 2020 Cox Plate, with Sir Dragonet, and the 2022 Melbourne Cup, with Gold Trip.

Maher said the business was well-placed to continue its successful run even after Eustace departs.

“In elite sport there is always fluidity at the top,” he said. “The best and most successful operations recognise this and plan accordingly.

“We have a basic rule of thumb. Everyone in a senior position must be replaceable and that includes me.

“Even losing someone of David’s skills gives our highly talented group of assistants the opportunity to step up and have an even greater input, and with that will come new thinking and fresh initiatives.

“Joh Gerard-Dubord has been doing an outstanding job running our Sydney stable, where we currently sit third in the NSW trainer’s premiership.

“Jack Turnbull has hugely improved our performance in Cranbourne and my brother Declan continues to do great work in Ballarat.

“Of course, we will miss David, but I am looking forward to the fresh input and initiatives that come with change and am absolutely confident that we will continue to get better.

“On a personal level, I just want to thank David. He has been alongside me from the early days through thick and thin.

Eustace to train in Hong Kong I know we couldn’t have reached our current position as champion trainers of Australia without him – and his Hong Kong appointment is recognition of that.

“I am certain he will be very successful there. This is not the end of our relationship, just a new chapter and both of us are confident that our relationship will continue in some form that will be to the benefit of both operations and their owners.”

Eustace said he was proud of his contribution to CHR, which has expanded dramatically in his time at the stable.

“I left a foreman’s job with the Snowdens in Sydney to become Ciaron’s assistant in a small to medium sized yard at Caulfield and look at CMR now,” he said.

“I will forever be grateful to Ciaron for the opportunities he has given me, for teaching me so much, to opening my eyes to the importance of data and analytics and the fundamental importance of sports science.

“I have also had the pleasure of working with an extraordinary team of people and I want to thank them all for helping me get this opportunity.

“I particularly want to thank the owners, without whom none of this would be possible. Not only have they been exceptionally supportive and understanding, but many have become good friends. I want to reassure them that CMR will not miss a beat when I leave.

“As a wiser man than me has said, “judge me not by what happens when I am here but by what happens when I am not”.

Since joining forces as training partners, Maher and Eustace have combined for more than 1600 winners, including 30 G1s, have won the past four Victorian Trainers Championship for and are the reigning holders of the National Trainers Championship in 2022/23.

Maher’s stable has consistently developed a string of outstanding trainers including the likes of Annabel Neasham, Lucy Yeomans and Jack Bruce.

Q1: Which Ballarat based trainer is heading to Hong Kong in late January?

Q2: Which Ballarat based trainer experienced their first metro winner at Flemington on Wednesday 20th December?

Q3: When is our next meeting here at Sportsbet Ballarat?

A Lap Of The Track- Julie Scott

Racing Highlight?

Running 2nd in the Group 1 Goodwood at Morphettville Racing Dream?

Win a Group 1 Favourite Horse?

Tesbury Jack Passion Outside Racing?

Do not have one Motto to live by?

Keep Trying

Q1: Dave Eustace Q2: Tom Conlan Q3: 14th February

Next Race Meeting: Power FM Summer Twilight Meeting Wednesday 14th February

Remaining 2023-2024 Season Dates

Upcoming Race Dates Wednesday 14th February - Power FM Summer Twilight Race Meeting first race scheduled at 3.40pm last at 7.30pm.

Sunday 25th February- Mortimer Petroleum Family Race Day including Live Music, Pony Rides, Animal Farm and Face Painting Monday 11th March- Labour Day Monday Race Day Sunday 24th March- Miners Rest Community Cup Day celebrating our communities including Live Music and Kids Activities

Book online for upcoming race dates

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