News

Trainers meet over RVL's new trials

25th May 2009

Herald Sun - Tim Habel - Tuesday, 26 May 2009

RACING Victoria Ltd's bid to introduce compulsory trials for unraced horses will be presented to the Australian Trainers' Association.

RVL was to introduce mandatory trials for city first-starters on June 1, but that has been deferred pending a June 9 meeting with trainers.

Chairman of stewards Terry Bailey said the structure of trials and jump outs was being revamped statewide.

The trainers' group is against public trials of unraced horses.

"But we will listen to the proposal and debate it," chief executive John Alducci said.

CHAMPION Hong Kong galloper Sacred Kingdom will defend his title as the world's best sprinter in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 20.

Sacred Kingdom will clash with great Australian warrior Takeover Target, who arrived in England from Singapore yesterday.

Perth sprinter Scenic Blast is also Royal Ascot bound and will leave Melbourne tomorrow, but his target is the Group 1 King's Stand Stakes (1000m) on June 16.

TAB Sportsbet has suspended betting on the Golden Jubilee following an injury to unbeaten Hungarian sprinter Overdose and the news Sacred Kingdom is running.

Victorian bred Sacred Kingdom (Encosta De Lago-Courtroom Sweetie) has won 12 of his 18 starts for prizemoney of just over $4 million. His latest win was last Sunday week's KrisFlyer Sprint in Singapore.

Trainer Joe Janiak has signed a drug-free treatment declaration for Takeover Target to comply with new British Horseracing Authority rules.

Janiak signed a declaration that the gelding had arrived in England free of steroids, hormones and stimulants.

English trainer Mark Johnston was outspoken last year about Takeover Target being invited to run at Royal Ascot after failing a drug test in Hong Kong in December 2006.

TRAINER Bryce Stanaway has been called to an inquiry before RVL stewards at 2pm on Thursday after comments he made on TVN at Sandown on Wednesday.

Stanaway referred to jockey Steven King's ride on Prince Vitality at Flemington on May 9 after the horse won at Sandown.