Latest news with #DebbieKepitis
News.com.au
11-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
‘It's not true': Winx owner Debbie Kepitis shoots down Crown Lodge rumours amid Godolphin restructure
Godolphin Australia supremo Andy Makiv has revealed there are 'interested parties' wanting to secure some of their training and stabling facilities as the racing and breeding giant restructures its business in the wake of trainer James Cummings' departure to Hong Kong. There has been ongoing speculation about whether Godolphin would retain and continue to operate all three of their state-of-the-art stable complexes, Crown Lodge at Warwick Farm, Osborne Park near Agnes Banks and Carbine Lodge at Flemington. Racing's rumour mill was in overdrive on Wednesday and there was even a suggestion leading Sydney racing identity Debbie Kepitis of Winx fame wanted to buy Crown Lodge, which were built by her father Bob Ingham and his brother Jack in 1988 before they sold the stables to Godolphin in 2007. 'I've had a few phone calls about this but I can tell you it's not true,'' Mrs Kepitis told News Corp. 'This is not something we are going to do.'' But Makiv confirmed there has been interest from 'various parties' looking to acquire the Godolphin training facilities. 'There has been plenty of interest in those (three) properties,'' Makiv said. 'We will work out in time how to deal with them. They are great assets and there is interest from those parties looking to purchase or lease them. These are decisions we are still working through.'' The Crown Lodge stables and the Agnes Banks training facility were among the best of their kind and it is hoped they will not be lost to Sydney racing. CUMMINGS' SHOCK HONG KONG SWITCH Trainer @JamesCummings88 will withdraw his application for the famous Leilani Lodge stables at Royal Randwick after accepting an offer to train at @HKJC_Racing. Story: @RayThomas_1 ðŸ'‡ — Racenet (@RacenetTweets) June 10, 2025 • 'We're all devastated': Super stallion Snitzel dies Cummings' announcement on Wednesday that he wouldn't continue to train this year after his current tenure with Godolphin expires on July 31 poses challenges for Makiv and his management team as they prepare to spread their racehorses between a number of stables. But Makiv said Godolphin has already begun the process of recruiting trainers for next season. 'At the end of the day we are moving away from the employed in-house trainer,'' Makiv said. 'We were happy to support James going forward, he was going to get a number of the horses. 'But there is also going to be a number of other trainers that would be training a lot of the horses as well. In terms of our operation, it (Cummings leaving) won't impact on us too dramatically.'' Cummings was going to prepare Godolphin's Group 1 stars Tom Kitten and Zardozi and boom rising three-year-old filly Tempted for their spring carnival campaigns but Makiv said it was still to be determined who would be training that talented trio in the new season. WHAT A RACE! â�ï¸� Tom Kitten defeats Mr Brightside in a thrilling edition of All-Star Mile 7 😰 @godolphin @BMelham â€' (@Racing) March 8, 2025 'We are working through who our trainers will be and how it will look in the new season,'' Makiv said. 'We have little bit of time and there is plenty of well-credentialed trainers in Sydney and Melbourne to fill the void.'' Makiv said Godolphin enjoyed a very successful period with Cummings as trainer they could add to their Group 1 record with Golden Mile (Stradbroke Handicap) and Zebra Finch (JJ Atkins) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. 'We are delighted for James, Monica and their family, this is a great opportunity for him,'' Makiv said. 'Clearly, it (Hong Kong) is a wonderful jurisdiction to be involved in and for James, it is a feather in his cap. We congratulate him.''
Daily Telegraph
02-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Telegraph
Winx's 2025 stallion revealed by owner Peter Tighe
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Mighty mare Winx will visit Darley's champion sire Too Darn Hot in the coming spring breeding season. Winx's ownership group of Peter Tighe, Debbie Kepitis and Elizabeth Treweeke made the much-anticipated announcement on Monday night, ending weeks of speculation about their legendary mare's next mating. 'We are thrilled to announce Too Darn Hot as the stallion of choice for Winx this season,'' said Peter Tighe on behalf of Winx's owners. 'His pedigree, performance and the early success of his progeny align with our long-term vision for Winx's breeding legacy. 'We believe this pairing has the potential to produce something very special.'' • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Hall of Fame champion Winx, winner of 37 of her 43 starts including her final 33 races in succession highlighted by a world record 25 Group 1 winners, has produced two foals to date – a filly by Pierro that is now a two-year-old named Quinceanera and a colt by Snitzel that will be a yearling next season. Too Darn Hot, a dual hemisphere shuttle stallion, is already the sire of four-time Group 1 winner Broadsiding and multiple stakes winners in his first two Australian crops to race. Winx's ownership group also noted in their press release that Too Darn Hot, a multiple Group 1-winning son of the great Dubawi, has 'quickly established himself as one of Europe's most exciting young stallions.'' 'His progeny has demonstrated early precocity, exceptional athleticism and outstanding temperament – qualities that strongly complement Winx's remarkable racing attributes and pedigree,'' the owners wrote. • 'A bit of a freak': Wootton Bassett's incredible run continues Too Darn Hot's service fee of $275,000 this spring breeding season reflects the demand for the stallion who stands at Darley Kelvinside in the Hunter Valley. Quinceanera, the first foal out of all-time great Winx, created headlines around the racing world when Debbie Kepitis, a part-owner of Winx, went to $10 million – a world record for a yearling filly – to buy back the filly at the Inglis Easter Sale last year. Trainer Chris Waller has Quinceanera in light work at his Rosehill stables but the trainer said the two-year-old would not be rushed to the races over the winter months. 'She's progressing well but she won't be racing as a two-year-old,'' Waller said last week. 'It's unlikely she will even get to a barrier trial this season. Maybe by early August she could get to a trial.'' Tighe said no decision has been made whether Winx's colt by Snitzel will be sold as a yearling next season. Originally published as Champion mare Winx to visit Darley sire Too Darn Hot in spring breeding season
News.com.au
02-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Champion mare Winx to visit Darley sire Too Darn Hot in spring breeding season
Mighty mare Winx will visit Darley's champion sire Too Darn Hot in the coming spring breeding season. Winx 's ownership group of Peter Tighe, Debbie Kepitis and Elizabeth Treweeke made the much-anticipated announcement on Monday night, ending weeks of speculation about their legendary mare's next mating. 'We are thrilled to announce Too Darn Hot as the stallion of choice for Winx this season,'' said Peter Tighe on behalf of Winx's owners. 'His pedigree, performance and the early success of his progeny align with our long-term vision for Winx's breeding legacy. 'We believe this pairing has the potential to produce something very special.'' • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Hall of Fame champion Winx, winner of 37 of her 43 starts including her final 33 races in succession highlighted by a world record 25 Group 1 winners, has produced two foals to date – a filly by Pierro that is now a two-year-old named Quinceanera and a colt by Snitzel that will be a yearling next season. Too Darn Hot, a dual hemisphere shuttle stallion, is already the sire of four-time Group 1 winner Broadsiding and multiple stakes winners in his first two Australian crops to race. Winx's ownership group also noted in their press release that Too Darn Hot, a multiple Group 1-winning son of the great Dubawi, has 'quickly established himself as one of Europe's most exciting young stallions.'' 'His progeny has demonstrated early precocity, exceptional athleticism and outstanding temperament – qualities that strongly complement Winx's remarkable racing attributes and pedigree,'' the owners wrote. 🇦🇰 He rewrote the record books. Now he’s back to do it again. #TooDarnHot returns to Kelvinside, NSW in 2025. Read more: — Darley in Australia (@DarleyAus) April 8, 2025 Too Darn Hot's service fee of $275,000 this spring breeding season reflects the demand for the stallion who stands at Darley Kelvinside in the Hunter Valley. Quinceanera, the first foal out of all-time great Winx, created headlines around the racing world when Debbie Kepitis, a part-owner of Winx, went to $10 million – a world record for a yearling filly – to buy back the filly at the Inglis Easter Sale last year. Trainer Chris Waller has Quinceanera in light work at his Rosehill stables but the trainer said the two-year-old would not be rushed to the races over the winter months. 'She's progressing well but she won't be racing as a two-year-old,'' Waller said last week. 'It's unlikely she will even get to a barrier trial this season. Maybe by early August she could get to a trial.'' Tighe said no decision has been made whether Winx's colt by Snitzel will be sold as a yearling next season.
