Cover image courtesy of Newcastle Racecourse

G3 Newcastle S., $200,000, 1400m

It was an excellent front-running display by the G1 Doncaster H.-bound Cross Talk (NZ) (Keano {NZ}) who provided Gai Waterhouse with her fifth race in this Newcastle feature.

The even money favourite - now a dual stakes winner on the back of his Listed Winter Challenge S. success last year - was bred by K J Caldwell.

He is the sole stakes winner for his Listed Lighting H.-winning sire, a Pins horse who stands at Sentry Hill Farms.

He is the final foal and one of two winners for the unraced Mrs Cross (NZ) (Cape Cross {Ire}) who has also produced the Eagle Farm winner Man With The Plan (NZ) (Citi Habit {NZ}).

Cross Talk's grandam is the G3 Sweet Embrace S. winner Postage Due (Luskin Star) whose G1 Thousand Guineas-winning half-sister Copperama (Comeran {Fr}) is the grandam of the Group 1 winners Danestorm (Danehill {USA}) and Danendri (Danehill {USA}).

Also from this family are the fellow big-race winners Bonham (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) and Faint Perfume (Shamardal {USA}).

Cross Talk is one of 30 stakes winners line-bred to Pins' damsire Kaoru Star, his other strain being the great Luskin Star (Mrs Cross' second damsire).

Cover image courtesy of Sportpix

G1 Randwick Guineas, $1,000,000, 1600m

G1 Canterbury S., $600,000, 1300m

G2 Challenge S., $500,000, 1000m

G2 Todman S., $300,000, 1200m

G2 Reisling S., $300,000, 1200m

G3 Aspiration Quality, $200,000, 1600m

G3 Wenona Girl Quality, $200,000, 1200m

Listed Randwick City S., $160,000, 2000m

Listed Fireball S., $160,000, 1100m

Flemington: G1 Australian Guineas, $1,000,000, 1600m

G2 Blamey S., $300,000, 1600m

Listed Furphy Trophy, $175,000, 1000m

Te Rapa: G1 New Zealand Derby, NZ$1,000,000, 2400m

G3 Kings Plate, NZ$100,000, 1200m

G3 Sunline Vase, NZ$100,000, 2100m

Listed Mufhasa S., NZ$80,000, 1400m

Wingatui: Listed Otago Breeders' S., NZ$65,000, 1400m

Worldwide Group 1s

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Cross Talk leads all the way for first Group win

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s New Zealand import Cross Talk (NZ) (Keano {NZ}) recorded his second stakes victory since crossing the Tasman with a typically gutsy front-running display in the G3 Newcastle S. on Friday afternoon, the race formerly known as the Newcastle Newmarket H.

Immediately sent to the front by Tim Clark, Cross Talk entered the straight with a commanding lead over his rivals and held on gamely to defeat Gem Song (Your Song), who won the race in 2021, by 0.5l.

Cross Talk, who will now be set on a path to the G1 Doncaster H., brought up a fifth success in the race for co-trainer Gai Waterhouse and also provided his sire Keano (NZ) with a first Group winner.

“He is a horse that can trick you as to how fast you're going but I did want to make it a bit of a test,” winning jockey Tim Clark said.

“I thought if I went too slow, they'd outsprint me on top of the ground so if I dragged the sprint out of them, that would be the key to winning the race.

“If he happens to get into a race over the (Sydney) carnival and there's a bit a rain about, as it can so often happen, it'll enhance his chances to no end.”

Keano stands at Sentry Hill Farms in Taranaki and has produced 23 winners from 37 runners to date.

Kintrye spearheads treble for Hallowed Crown

Twin Hills Stud stallion Hallowed Crown enjoyed a fruitful day on the track on Friday, siring a trio of winners across three different venues.

The Group 1-producing sire was handed his first juvenile winner of the season when Kintrye, who contested the $1 million Golden Gift earlier in the season, sprung a minor surprise in the 2-year-old contest at Newcastle, beating last-start metropolitan winner Inhibitions (Zoustar) by a short head.

Winners followed at Cairns and Dubbo for the dual Group 1-winning son of Street Sense (USA), who stood at Twin Hills for a fee of $11,000 (inc GST) last year.

Hallowed Crown, whose progeny are spearheaded by dual Group 1 heroine Colette, has one lot catalogued for the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, which gets underway at Oaklands Junction on Sunday.

Proisir share and Group 1 winner headline Inglis Digital entries

Group 1 winner Superstorm (Sebring) and a share in red-hot stallion Proisir headline a diverse catalogue for the Inglis Digital March (Early) Sale, with bidding getting underway on Friday afternoon.

Standing at Rich Hill Stud in New Zealand, Proisir has already had four Group 1 winners and 16 black-type horses since 2022 including the likes of Legarto (NZ), who lines up in the G1 Australian Guineas at Flemington on Saturday.

“We’re genuinely excited to be offering this share in Proisir, he’s such an untapped young stallion with incredible early results,’’ Inglis Digital business manager Nick Melmeth said.

“This really is a unique opportunity to become involved in such an impressive stallion. One can only imagine how valuable Proisir will continue to be in years to come so this is the perfect time to be getting in with him.’’

Six-year-old Superstorm, who landed the G1 Cantala S. in 2021 and finished second in The All-Star Mile won by his former stablemate Regal Power (Pierro), is being offered by his owners Bob and Sandra Peters.

Other highlights in the 315-strong catalogue include Listed McKenzie S. winner He’s Xceptional (Xtravagant {NZ}), who has won two of his past four starts, while recently retired stakes-placed mare Snippy Fox (Foxwedge) and Group 3-placed juvenile Policiere (Safeguard), who is being offered in foal to in-demand stallion Maurice (Jpn), headline the broodmare section of the catalogue.

Everest winner up to the Challenge

Craig Williams has every confidence that Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) has thrived during his most recent spell and is relishing the prospect of getting back aboard The Everest winner in Saturday’s G2 Challenge S. at Royal Randwick.

Giga Kick tasted defeat for the very first time on his final start in the spring, but the Clayton Douglas-trained 3-year-old had barely put a foot wrong prior to that, winning all five of his previous races including a memorable success in the $15 million The Everest.

“We're really excited about showing everyone else, in a race, how this horse has come on and where he's at,” Williams said.

“When I look at him physically, you can see his body mass has turned into muscle mass and he's not even the finished product yet.

“Clayton is delighted with where he's at and with his improvement, I've felt that in the two pieces of work that I've done on him, and (now) he has to do the talking for us.”

Giga Kick is set to face eight rivals in Saturday’s Challenge S., including Eduardo (Host {Chi}), who has won the Group 2 contest for the past two years.

Rawiller relishing ride on ‘special’ colt

An impressive piece of work earlier in the week has left leading jockey Nash Rawiller relishing the prospect of partnering exciting 2-year-old Cafe Millenium (Not A Single Doubt) in Saturday’s G2 Todman S. at Randwick.

Trained by John O’Shea, Cafe Millenium announced himself as a worthy contender for the autumn’s juvenile features with a scintillating debut win the in Pierro Plate, where he came from miles off the pace to defeat a field which included subsequent G1 Blue Diamond S. runner-up Don Corleone (Extreme Choice).

“I galloped him on Tuesday morning, he's such a unique animal,” Rawiller said. “There's something special about him and I'm excited to be riding him in a race.

“I sat right off a maiden, a little bit like he was in his first run he was off the bridle for some time but when we got down to the business end, he was strong as a bull so hopefully we get a chance to see that.

“He's going to be better suited by the pressure of a (G1 Golden) Slipper but he's a nice horse and don't underestimate him.”

Cafe Millenium will face only four rivals in a small but select field for the Todman S, including unbeaten colt Red Resistance (Russian Revolution), who is currently second favourite for the G1 Golden Slipper S.

Mazu impresses in Flemington hitout

Any fears that G1 Doomben 10,000 winner Mazu (Maurice {Jpn}) would struggle down the Flemington straight were quashed on Friday morning according to his co-trainer Peter Snowden, who watched on as his stable star tuned up for his return to action in the G1 Newmarket H. with an impressive jump-out win down the straight.

Mazu worked through the line strongly in the 800-metre hitout, and his co-trainer is delighted with how the son of Maurice (Jpn) is tracking ahead of his Vicotrian debut at Flemington next weekend.

“He had a little look down there, he went nice and straight and pulled up really well,” Snowden, who trains in partnership with his son Paul, told Racing.com.

“It was like he'd been here 100 times. We only got here on Thursday morning and he just had a look around, and then this morning he was excellent.

“It gives you a bit of confidence that it (straight course) is going to be fine for him. It is a big test as down the straight is not easy.

“He's definitely stronger than last preparation and he's getting a lot better to work with as he's always been an intense sort of horse.

“He's filled out now and I was very impressed with him this morning (Friday).”

Alenquer handed first All-Star Mile wildcard

Group 1-winning European import Alenquer (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}) has been announced as the first horse to be handed one of the five wildcards for this year’s $5 million The All-Star Mile, which is set to be run at The Valley on March 18.

Previously trained in Britain by William Haggas, Alenquer was last seen finishing ninth in the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp prior to being purchased by Australian interests, and the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup winner joined the stable the stable of Mike Moroney in December, much to the trainer’s delight.

“He’s a Group 1 winner in Ireland and has contested the past two Arc de Triomphes. He’s got plenty of class,” Moroney told Racing.com.

“He’s settled in really well at Flemington since arriving from overseas and we’ve been pleased with how he’s come to hand in his first prep for the stable.

“We’re excited to unveil him at The Valley in a fortnight. Fresh up over a mile we think he’s going to be a serious player in The All-Star Mile.”

Alenquer will don the navy and yellow lightning silks made famous by the likes of elite sprinters Chautauqua (Encosta De Lago) and Masked Crusader (Toronado {Ire}) in recent times.

Orting vying for first stakes win

South Auckland trainer Sophia Orting is optimistic that her lightly raced 4-year-old Master Brutus (NZ) (Swiss Ace) can land the trainer her first stakes win when he takes his chance in the Listed Mufhasa S. at Te Rapa on Saturday.

The son of Westbury Stud stallion Swiss Ace came agonizingly close to handing his trainer an elusive stakes breakthrough when beaten only a short head into second by Maven Belle (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) in the G3 Almanzor Trophy (1200 metres) back in January, on what was just his fourth race start.

Master Brutus will need to reverse the placings with Maven Belle, who re-opposes on Saturday, but Orting is confident that her stable star is due for a change of luck.

“He has done very well since his last race,” Orting told NZTM. “I can’t fault his work and I think the 1400 metres will suit.

“From a better barrier (seven) hopefully we can get in a better position than last time. He hasn’t missed a placing and to be fair to him he has been unlucky a couple of times.

“We were very happy with his run in the Almanzor, he was very close that day. It is a very strong field tomorrow (Saturday), but he was meeting good horses then.

“We can’t fault the horse. He is very well in himself.”

Maloney passed fit to ride

Jockey Ryan Maloney has confirmed that he is fit to partner Williamsburg (Snitzel) in Saturday’s G1 Randwick Guineas after he was stood down from the remainder of his rides at Ipswich on Thursday.

Maloney’s mount Flying Rupert (Winning Rupert) became fractious in the barriers ahead of the second event, in an incident which prompted the in-form jockey to head to hospital for precautionary x-rays on his neck.

Much to Maloney’s relief, the x-rays came back clear, leaving him free to partner the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained colt as the jockey chases two Group 1 wins in the space of a week, having landed last weekend's G1 Surround S. with Sunshine In Paris (Invader).

Kah and McDonald to ride in HK Derby

Leading Australian riders Jamie Kah and James McDonald have been granted permission to ride in the G1 Hong Kong Derby at Sha Tin later this month.

Kah has been called up to partner the Caspar Fownes-trained Galaxy Witness (Star Witness), who was third in last Saturday’s Hong Kong Classic Cup, while McDonald looks set to continue his association with last year’s G1 South Australian Derby winner Beautyverse (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}), who needs to bounce back from a below par effort in the same contest.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club has also arranged for Kah, who landed the Hong Kong Classic Mile aboard Voyage Bubble (Deep Field) on her first ever trip to Sha Tin, to be available to accept rides at the Happy Valley race meeting the following Wednesday.

Looking Ahead puts the spotlight on runners of interest across Australia and New Zealand. Whether they are a particularly well-bred or high-priced runner having their first or second start, a promising galloper returning to the track or a horse which has trialled particularly well, we’ll aim to give you something to follow.

With juvenile races hotting up around the country as the G1 Golden Slipper approaches, we take a look at a pair of regally bred 2-year-olds making their eagerly anticipated debuts.

Flemington, Race 1, 12.35pm AEDT, Listed Furphy Trophy, $175,000, 1000m

Massira, 2-year-old colt (I Am Invincible x Marrakesh {Lonhro})

A host of runners from Saturday’s Listed Furphy Trophy at Flemington could have been chosen in this space, not least $1.2 million Magic Millions graduate Mach Ten (Exceed And Excel) or impressive recent trial winner Butch Cassidy (Written Tycoon), but Godolphin’s Massira gets the nod on account of his regal pedigree.

Massira is out of the well-related mare Marrakesh, a three-time winner by Lonhro and a sibling to four stakes winners, most notably Darley stallion Astern, Newgate stallion Tassort and multiple Group 1-winning mare Alizee (Sepoy).

This is one of the most progressive and current pedigrees in the Stud Book, with the likes of G3 Chairman’s S. winner Zulfiqar (Exceed And Excel) and talented filly Willinga Beast (Snitzel), runner-up in the G2 Percy Sykes S. and G2 Furious S. last year, providing recent updates.

Marrakesh, who has a yearling colt by Street Boss (USA) and was most recently served by Darley shuttler Palace Pier (GB), has already produced a stakes winner in the shape of her first foal Mamounia (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}), and Godolphin have tasted plenty of success in recent years when sending mares to Yarraman Park’s Champion Sire I Am Invincible, most notably with G1 Coolmore Stud S. heroine In Secret.

Massira has also had the benefit of two Flemington jump-outs, with the first of those a second behind fellow Furphy Trophy rival Princess Duhallow (Shalaa {Ire}) and the second an impressive display of sustained speed.

Massira will jump from barrier two on Saturday, with last week’s Group 1-winning rider Blake Shinn booked to ride.

Murray Bridge, Race 4, 2.32pm AEDT (2.02pm local), Magic Millions SA 2YO Classic, $202,250, 1200m

Furlanetto, 2-year-old filly (Zoustar x Single Style {NZ} {Not A Single Doubt})

With the key G1 Golden Slipper lead-ups taking centre stage at Randwick, Saturday’s sole 2-year-old contest in South Australia may have crept under the radar, and although Lindsay Park’s two-time stakes placegetter Tacito (Showtime) holds strong favouritism, he may face stiff competition from the well-bred debutant Furlanetto.

Her trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy are no strangers to success with the progeny of Widden Stud flagbearer Zoustar, having trained his champion daughter and $4.2 million broodmare purchase Sunlight to win three Group 1s, and Furlanetto should be well-versed on racecourse debut having had three previous jump-outs.

A $350,000 purchase by Mark Player and Robert Roulston’s PR Funds from the Vinery Stud draft at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Furlanetto is out of the stakes-winning Not A Single Doubt mare Single Style (NZ), making her a half-sister to two stakes horses in Listed scorer Miss Hipstar (Star Turn) and talented filly Still Single (More Than Ready {USA}), who finished runner-up in the G2 Sweet Embrace S. as a juvenile.

Further back, this is the family of another three-time Group 1 winner in Flamberge (Exceed And Excel), and Furlanetto’s pedigree carries an added element of intrigue given that she’s inbred 3 X 3 to the late breed-shaping stallion Redoute’s Choice.

Furlanetto will be ridden by Todd Pannell on Saturday and will jump from barrier five.

Looking Back

Friday’s selections yielded little joy, with expensive yearling purchase Madam Roselyn (Not A Single Doubt) failing to beat a runner home in the 2-year-old race at Newcastle. We will have to wait another day to see unraced filly She Will Rock You, the daughter of Zoustar was scratched from the opening race at Aratat.

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Kia Ora: Director of Sales

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We have an exciting opportunity for a knowledgeable and forward-thinking individual to join the team at Kia Ora as the Director of Sales.

The successful candidate will have extensive knowledge about sales and nominations and prior experience in a similar role.

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Please send your resume to Shane Wright at shane@kiaoraestates.com.au or call +61 401 406 120 for more information.

All applications will be treated with the strictest of confidence.

First-time starters lining up on Saturday, March 4

First Season Sires’ Results

Results: Friday, March 3

No first season sires' results

First Season Sires’ Runners

Runners: Saturday, March 4

We hope you enjoyed reading today's edition of TDN AusNZ. If you have any feedback or ideas, please don't hesitate to reach out.

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Photography is largely supplied by The Image Is Everything - Bronwen Healy and Darren Tindale, and complemented by Sportpix, Trish Dunell (NZ), Racing.com Photos, Ashlea Brennan and Western Racepix.