Lightly raced Gulgong mare Amy’s Shadow has a lucrative autumn in her sights after improving her record to three wins and four placings from eight starts by taking out the Class 3 TAB Highway Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill last Saturday. 
Jockey Jason Collett found the fence and settled the mare midfield before putting her into the clear to challenge at the 300-metre mark. 
The mare then settled down to fight out the finish with Tim’s Principal and proved just a shade too strong for that galloper over the concluding stages, winning by three-quarters of a length with Lose The Snip third. 
Amy’s Shadow was backed from $15 to start at $11.
“We’ve won a lot of races but couldn’t win a Highway. We’ve finally done it,” said trainer Brett Thompson. 
Thompson will target another Highway race with the mare but has loftier ambitions than that for the autumn. 
“She’s a Country Championships horse for sure,” he declared.
Badoosh goes whoosh
A top ride from jockey Brenton Avdulla saw Murwillumbah galloper Badoosh ($6-$5) arrive right on the line to win the 1800-metre benchmark 78 at Rosehill. 
Avdulla settled his mount in fourth spot but when held up for a run was forced to switch course to find a gap. When it presented, the Matthew Dunn-trained Badoosh finished strongly to defeat Australian Oaks placegetter Quintessa by a short half-head. She’s Ideel, who also finished the race off strongly, was a half-neck away in third place. 
“Matty said he was going well,” Avdulla said. “There was stable confidence. 
“I was happy to travel behind the leader and I always felt the winner, we just had to get a bit dirty late. 
“There’s no reason why he won’t get to a mile and a quarter (2000m).”
Dunn agreed.
“He’s been consistent right through this preparation and he’s getting to his right distance too,” he said. 
Craig claims cup
Tamworth galloper Tavion Prince kept up his recent improvement with victory under Andrew Gibbons in last Friday’s Tuncurry Cup (2100m).
The former Victorian has had eight starts for Craig Martin and has finished top-four in the past five of them, including a Highway win on a heavy track at Rosehill two starts earlier.
Last Friday Tavion Prince ($6.50) scored by 3¾ lengths from Reposition with a further 4½ lengths to third-placed Ambitious Prince, who started favourite. 
At Goulburn on the same day, Brodie Loy took the riding honours with a winning treble. 
Two horses to follow from those Friday meetings are Oakfield Target, who won the 1400-metre Class 1 at Tuncurry by 5¼ lengths, and Love Tap, who won the 1500-metre Class 2 at Goulburn. 
Love Tap, trained by Richard and Michael Freedman, started favourite at $1.07 and won by 4¼ lengths to remain undefeated after three starts.
Scotts on top
Last Saturday’s 1350-metre Griffith Cup turned out to be a thriller with Supplyzing ($4.40), trained at Albury by Donna Scott and ridden by her daughter Danielle, getting up by a nose from the favourite, Takookacod, with High Rush a neck away in third. 
Next-gen joy
The fledgling career of Scone trainer William Freedman got a kick-along last Sunday when Zaunkonig ($31) sprang a surprise in the $100,000 Dubbo Gold Cup (1600m), ridden by Alysha Collett. 
In a post-race interview Freedman suggested Zaunkonig’s win may have been the result of a change in environment — the eight-year-old was previously trained in town by Freedman’s father, Richard, and uncle Michael. 
Zaunkonig was the younger Freedman’s ninth starter and second winner.
Whatever the explanation, the future looks good for the latest addition to the Freedman training ranks. 
Earlier in the afternoon, in the 1400-metre NSW Picnic Championship, the Mark Schmetzer-trained Military Bay ($6.50) led all the way under Ashley Boyd to score a convincing win over Sons of Bourke with Oakfield General third.
Sutherland appeals ban
Leading Southern Districts trainer Trevor Sutherland has been disqualified for three years after being found guilty by stewards on animal-welfare charges. 
Sutherland, who trained 47 winners last season, was found guilty of “disposing of two thoroughbreds knowing that they were going to be destroyed.” 
Sutherland had pleaded not guilty to that charge but guilty to two others — one of making a false declaration to stewards and another of having failed to provide death verification forms. He has already lodged an appeal against his disqualification. 
Licensed owner Donnchadh Brown was disqualified for four years after being found guilty of destroying two horses he acquired from Sutherland.
Following Sutherland’s disqualification, Racing NSW announced that it had established an “End of Life” program to ensure that every NSW thoroughbred horse has access to a free humane euthanasia service throughout its life. 
Announcing the decision, the RNSW chairman Russell Balding said: “There is a cost involved in euthanasing a horse which may have been a deterrent for owners to act in the best interest of the horse’s welfare. 
“Accordingly, the End of Life program removes that cost.” 
Euthanasia will be permitted only when a licenced RNSW vet has certified that it is in the best interest of the horse or is necessary on genuine welfare or safety grounds. 
Under the program Racing NSW will also attend to the cost of burying or cremating horses. 
On its website, Racing NSW stated that the End of Life program “applies to all thoroughbred horses that have been predominantly domiciled in NSW irrespective of age or when they retired from racing.”
“Importantly, this captures horses after they have exited the racing industry who are in the ownership of members of the public as equestrian horses, paddock mares or trail riders for example.”
In my opinion this claim regarding horses that have exited racing needs clarifying. 
At a Senate committee hearing in NSW last year, RNSW chief operating officer Graeme Hinton stated in response to a question from Senator Faraqi that once a horse has been sold on for a second time, that horse is no longer under the jurisdiction of RNSW. That is, the horse only falls under the jurisdiction of RNSW at the first point of sale. 
Former NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell, who attended the hearing in his capacity as CEO of Racing Australia, added: “As soon as they go outside the racing industry, we lose track of them. We do not have any legal power to know (where these horses are).”
Socials strife
Central West trainer Debbie Prest has been charged with two offences relating to “conduct detrimental to the interests of racing”.
Prest was charged with “engaging in improper and/or insulting behaviour” towards Racing NSW and its CEO, Peter V’landys. 
The charges, which stem from comments posted by Prest on social media, will be heard in Wagga this Friday. 
Bewdy, Newc
The Newcastle Jockey Club has a great day’s racing scheduled for Friday, with three Group 3 races set down for decision — the $200,000 Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m), $160,000 Cameron Handicap (1500m) and $160,000 Tibbie Stakes (1400m).