Ortensia stripped of Group One

The owners of 'Ortensia' today appealed against their mare's disqualification from first placing in the Group One Galaxy at Randwick on April 17.

The Racing New South Wales Appeal Panel dismissed the case, and stood by the stewards original decision.

Ortensia was disqualified following the detection of the prohibited substance 'Ractopamine' in a post race urine sample taken from the mare following the running of the The Galaxy.

The Appeal Panel confirmed the order of the stewards acting under AR177 that Ortensia be disqualified from first placing.

'Shellscrape' will now be awarded with the win, pleasing the connections of the winning horse, but not necessarily the punters who may have backed him.

Friday hearing for Shinn and Robl

Scrutinised jockeys Blake Shinn and Peter Robl will appear before stewards on Friday to answer serious charges related to illegal betting activities.

The pair were charged last week after an inquiry into transactions on TAB accounts belonging to Shinn's mother Carol and Robl's wife Elaine.

Elaine Robl, a trackwork rider, has been charged with being a party relating to both jockeys betting, whilst Carol Shinn, a licensed stablehand, has been charged with being a party to just her son Blake.

Under the rules of racing, jockeys are not allowed to bet, because the integrity of the sport comes under scrutiny.

Peter Robl has also been charged with giving false evidence at the first hearing of the inquiry on September 29 when he denied knowledge of Shinn using his wife's betting account.

The inquiry centres on Robl's betting activities between October 9, 2008 and September 29 this year.

In Shinn's case, the focus is on bets placed via his mother's account between October 5, 2008 and September 29, 2010 and bets on Elaine Robl's account between July 17 and September 29 this year.

If found guilty, the jockeys face penalties ranging from suspension to disqualification and/or harsh monetary fines.

Super mare retired

After a lacklustre Melbourne Cup appearance, classy mare 'Profound Beauty' has been retired from racing.

The six year old, trained by Dermot Weld, won nine of her 21 career starts, including three times at Group company and four times at Listed level. She was placed on another seven occasions and ran a very encouraging fifth in the 2008 edition of the Melbourne Cup.

In this year's edition of the 'race that stops a nation' she ran disappointingly, and that has turned out to be her final racecourse appearance.

"She's been retired honourably to stud and she's been a wonderful mare to train", Weld told 'At The Races'.

"If she can breed horses with the courage that she had and they have her will to win, there's going to be some very good horses from her".

Profound Beauty accumulated almost one million dollars in prizemoney from her 21 career starts.

Moonee Valley 20/11

The Spring Carnival may be over, but that doesn't mean money can't be made! Summer racing is normally quite profitable because of the very even fields which provides punters with better value.


Im expecting the Snowden camp to have a very good day all over Australia today, so if you see a Darley runner going around, they're well worth a punt.

If you are following the Group 1 Railway Stakes over in Western Australia, I believe Megatic and Gathering represent the best value in the race.

Happy Punting.

Race One
4. Ello Ello - 3.Typeface - 11.Invincible Jess - 9.Zingaia

Race Two
8.Little Artist - 9.Pintle - 3.Anabaa's Legacy - 12. Light Express

Race Three
1.Persian Star - 4.Doosra Diamond - 3.Irazu - 5.Tully Prince

Race Four
3.Zaira - 9.Straveen - 5.Charlie's Queen - 6.Apennie

Race Five
9.Ishant - 6.Aloha - 10.Lakedro - 3.Fast Future

Race Six
9.Ortayga - 11.Waltzes - 8.Jeteven - 2.Happy Glen

Rave Seven
4.Robdon Flyer - 2.Cosmocrat - 6.De Arias - 5.Tio Rossa

Race Eight
6.Jerezana - 2.Impressive Eagle - 3.Status Symbol - 5.Netra

Best Bets: Race 4 No 3 Zaira, Race 8 No 6 Jerezana

Best Roughie: Race 5 No 9 Ishant

Foxwedge set for big things

Leading jockey Corey Brown was prompted to chase the ride of an unraced two year old, after leaving a big impression on him during a recent barrier trial.

'Foxwedge' makes his first race appearance at Rosehill on Saturday in the 'Always Recycling' Handicap run over 1100m and Brown will gladly be in the saddle.

When the son of Fastnet Rock spaced his rivals by eight lengths in his 900m Rosehill trial on November 9, Nash Rawiller partnered the John O'Shea trained colt.

"I followed it home in the trial the other day and it (Foxwedge) looked ultra impressive", Brown said.

"It's just got to go as good as its trial and I think it will be the winner (on Saturday)".

As soon as Brown realised Foxwedge was going to be making his debut this Saturday, he was on the phone to his manager, knowing Rawiller was in Western Australia for the Group 1 Railway Stakes.

"I haven't had anything to do with him, but looking at him he's a really good looking horse and he trialled like he looked, I rang my manager immediately".

Foxwedge, a $925,000 yearling purchase, has drawn the outside barrier in the field of six, which includes 'Dream Choice' who was runner up to classy filly 'Saramenha' on debut last Saturday.