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In this issue :
Racing Reviews, Stories, The Watcher, Race Tracks and More.
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Racing Victoria Announce New Chairman.
 Racing Victoria Limited’s 2007 Annual General Meeting held at Moonee Valley racecourse ushered in a new era of governance reform for the Victorian thoroughbred racing industry with the official handover to a new independent board and the appointment of Hon Michael Duffy as the new Chairman. Six new directors officially took their place on the RVL board along with Duffy who was reappointed after serving as Deputy Chairman since RVL’s inception in 2001. The new directors are Pamela Catty, Robert Cooke, John Harvey, Peter McMahon, Naseema Sparks and Tim Warren. As a result of the Thoroughbred Racing Industry Review completed earlier this year, seven positions on the 11 member RVL Board became vacant for appointment by a Special Nominations Committee. The appointments were announced on the 15th of November. The seven join the remaining appointed directors Prof. David Karpin, Mark Ewing and Barbara Saunders, whose terms had not expired, along with Chief Executive Officer Stephen Allanson. The new board met immediately following the AGM and selected Michael Duffy as Chairman and Professor David Karpin as Deputy Chairman. The board also determined the rotation of terms for directors, on the following basis:
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3 years – Michael Duffy, Peter McMahon, John Harvey
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2 years – Pamela Catty, Robert Cooke, David Karpin, Barbara Saunders
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1 year – Naseema Sparks, Tim Warren, Mark Ewing Mr Duffy paid tribute to the retiring board members and outlined the key issues facing the new board. “On behalf of Racing Victoria Limited and the thoroughbred racing industry, I would like to sincerely thank the retiring directors, Robert Hance, Lindsay Maxsted, Kevin McNamara, Peter McCarthy and Chinka Steel. They, under the leadership of Graham Duff, have made a significant contribution to the development of the industry and to the evolution of the governance of racing. “The immediate priority for the new board is the wagering and gaming re-licensing process in the lead up to 2012, to ensure the industry will be better off under any new arrangements resulting from the decisions of the Victorian government. “We will also need to focus immediately on the industry business plan, to be received by the new board early in the new year. This plan will provide us with the platform for sustainable whole-of-industry industry revenue improvements and prize money growth. “The new board has already indicated a strong appetite for accelerating the initiatives that the plan outlines,” Duffy said.
Maybe Better and Dolphin Jo aiming for 2008 Melbourne Cup.
Talented stayers Maybe Better and Dolphin Jo won't be seen over the autumn carnival with their respective trainers keen to concentrate on winning next year's Melbourne Cup. Trainer Terry O'Sullivan decided to give Dolphin Jo a long spell after the gelding's slashing fifth to Efficient in the big race last month.
'He had a bit of a leg problem and I've decided not to risk him in the autumn,' said the Stawell trainer who prepares the gelding in partnership with his daughter Karina.
Dolphin Jo broke a drought of nearly 18 months when he won the Listed Bart Cummings (2530m) at Flemington on October 6 defeating subsequent Geelong Cup winner The Fuzz. That victory, his fourth in a 32 start career, was his first since his win in the Listed VRC St Leger (2800m) at Flemington in April 2006.
But O'Sullivan never lost faith in the stayer who earned his connections $246,000 during his spring campaign and took his overall earnings to more than $500,000.
At his first attempt at 3200m, Dolphin Jo ran 15th to Delta Blues in the 2006 Melbourne Cup while last May he ran an encouraging second to New Kid In Town in the Andrew Ramsden Stakes (3200m) on a slow track at Sandown.
Trainer Brian Mayfield-Smith said he would also play it safe with 2006 Melbourne Cup placegetter Maybe Better who missed this year's Cup when he a was a late scratching on race day. The five-year-old was discovered to be lame in the off foreleg.
Mayfield-Smith noticed the horse had an enlarged vein in his leg when he was walking him around the stables about two hours before the Cup and, while he did not break down, the trainer was not willing to take the gamble by running him. 'Unfortunately he had to come out of the Cup at the death knock,' he said. 'I'll probably err on the side of caution and miss the Sydney autumn with him'.
Maybe Better had been coming along beautifully for the Cup as displayed by his fourth to Maldivian in the Yalumba Stakes (2000m) until he disappointed in the Caulfield Cup (2400m) finishing ninth to Master O'Reilly. However he was later found to be sore in a joint. That problem was thought to have been rectified with treatment and he pressed on towards the Melbourne Cup, running an even seventh to Sirmione in the Mackinnon Stakes (2000m).
Racing for the week
Monday the 10th of December racing is at Queanbeyan and Terang.
Tuesday the 11th of December racing is held at Muswellbrook, Kilmore and Mt Barker.
Wednesday the 12th of December we have racing at Caulfield, Mackay, Strathalbyn, Ascot and New Zealand.
Thursday the 13th of December racing is at Wagga, Geraldton and New Zealand.
Friday the 14th of December racing will be held at Nowra, Moonee Valley, Toowoomba, Victoria Park, Mornington and New Zealand.
Saturday the 15th of December we have racing at Rosehill, Flemington, Eagle Farm, Cheltenham, Stony Creek, Newcastle, Ascot, Gold Coast, Ballina and New Zealand.
We at Punting Life are always looking for news articles to share with our readers so if you have anything of interest and wish to share it with us we would be more than happy to review your article or anything of interest and if we think it appropriate to place in these pages we will do so for the next edition.
To send us a news article email it to articles@puntinglife.com
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