Feature horse racing events are scarce during the summer months after the Group 2 Perth Cup on 1st January. Although 2010 is only a few days old there have already been some newsworthy happenings in the horse racing world. Jockey Craig Newitt weighed in more than 0.5kg light after steering short-priced favourite Glenariff home over 4 lengths ahead of the rest of the field in a maiden race at Cranbourne. Stewards were forced to disqualify the winner and awarded the race to $51 Delightful Minx. Newitt was fined $2000.
Magic Millions
The Magic Millions Carnival is currently underway. The Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale is held on the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th and 14th of January while the BMW Magic Millions Race Day is on Saturday 9th January at the Gold Coast racecourse. One of the leading chances in the $1 million Magic Million Trophy is Deer Valley who finished 6th at the Gold Coast last Saturday when ridden by Sydney apprentice Daniel Ganderton. An enquiry into the ride is underway.
Three Recent Winners Test Positive
Investigations are continuing into three recent winners trained by Clinton McDonald at Caulfield that returned positive swabs to 3-Methoxytyramine. This is a by-product of dopamine which has effects on the nervous system. Clinton is the son of Ross McDonald who trains Weekend Hussler. The horses returning the swabs were Mr Crane, Carleton and Shabtis. Mr Crane tested positive following 2 wins at Echuca on November 3 and Seymour on November 19. Carleton won at Echuca on 3 November, 2009 and Shabtis won at Seymour on 19 November, 2009 and both tested positive.
