Entrusting heads to a Derby
Lindsay Park trained 3-year-old colt Entrusting (The Autumn Sun) will be set for a Derby campaign after winning on Saturday. “We’re hoping he could end up in a Sydney Derby or the Adelaide Derby. He’s still a fair way away from that but we’ll give him his chance,” Ben Hayes told racing.com.
“We’ve always liked him and that (Cox Plate nomination) was always a bit hopeful and, while I don’t know if he’s going to be up to that, he has always shown ability and we’ve always wanted to get him out to a trip.
“He’s a lengthy horse, not overly big, but a real athlete. It’s great to get a winner for John Messara as we’ve had a deal of success with our stable over the years and hopefully this could be another success story.”
Unusual record for New York Lustre
It might be one for the record, but it is one for trivia. Enver Jusufovic trained 5-year-old mare New York Lustre (Manhattan Rain) made it four wins in succession on Saturday at Sandown but it was the jockey who noted something interesting. “It’s my first win as Jamie Melham and she was my last winner as Jamie Kah,” Melham told racing.com.
New York Lustre has won four of her seven starts with all four coming in succession.
Maurice pair aiming for Big Dance chance
Sunday’s Bega Cheese Bega Showcase Cup at Sapphire Coast holds Big Dance eligibility and Queanbeyan trainer Nick Olive has three chances with Moritz Girl (Maurice {Jpn}), Toes In The Water (Maurice {Jpn}), and Just Go Bang (Sizzling). “(Moritz Girl) has been a very consistent mare and has some solid city form to her name, albeit a few of them in Highway races. She’s drawn well in gate three and Alysha should give her every chance to figure from there,” Olive told racingnsw.com.au.
“(Toes In The Water) did the job well to win a midweek race at her last start. Coriah has been her regular rider and she rode her very well there. She’ll need the breaks to go her way from the wide gate, but she has the talent to make an impact.”
Around the Nation: Saturday’s other highlights
It was a busy Saturday with 18 meetings across Australia. Snitzel sired a double at Rosehill with 2-year-old colt Blitzburg winning the G3 Canonbury Stakes and 3-year-old filly Art’s Alive winning on the same card.
The six races at Ceduna were won by two apprentice jockeys. Apprentice Tala Hutchinson rode a treble for trainer Garret Lynch on Dellean (Lean Mean Machine), Bonjour (NZ) (Niagara), and Lunar Solar (Fighting Sun). Apprentice Sophie Mitchell won on McKeever (Deep Field), Hey Michael (Mikki Isle {Jpn}), and Diamonds Are (Foxwedge).
Luke Pepper trained 3-year-old gelding Speedy One (Super One) made it two from two with a win at the Sapphire Coast. At Tamworth, 3-year-old colt Take It All (Vancouver) won on debut. At Kyneton, 3-year-old filly Mystic Reign (Toronado {Ire}) won on debut, and at the Gold Coast, 3-year-old filly Diamond Epic (Better Than Ready) won on debut. 3-year-old gelding Flaming Navy (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA}) was a debut winner at Morphettville.
At Ascot 3-year-old colt Want A Winner (Yes Yes Yes) made it two from two with a win over 1000 metres when resuming at three after winning on debut at two. Want A Winner was the second leg of an early treble for jockey Chris Parnham who also won on 3-year-old gelding Caporetto (Rommel), and Just Saint James (Jimmy Choux {NZ}).
Gluyas mare to target Hobart Cup
Jockey Jamie Melham will ride South Australian mare Arugamama (Churchill {Ire}) in the Hobart Cup on February 9. “We could have bought her back here and had a look at our staying races here that lead into the carnival, but we thought we’d might roll the dice and have a crack at the Hobart Cup,” Gluyas told racingsa.com.au.
Andrew Gluyas | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Getting out to 2400 should suit her well. If she goes well, we’d probably run in the Launnie (Launceston) Cup. I think the reason for going down there she might not be a two-miler.”
After The Track Awards
The inaugural After the Track Community Awards, a first-of-its-kind event dedicated to honouring the remarkable riders who rehome racehorses and provide them fulfilling second careers, will be held on Sunday February 2, Coogee Legion Club rooftop, 200 Arden St, Coogee NSW at 1pm.
Founded by Sharon Lenton of Thoroughbred Events Australia, the awards aim to shine a light on the vital contributions of those who often go unnoticed. “We created this event to recognize the passion and dedication of the individuals who love and care for Off The Track horses,” said Sharon. “We look forward to celebrating all the owners, retrainers, and members of the OTT community who play crucial roles in providing loving homes to thoroughbreds post-racing.”
Senator Hollie Hughes will be in attendance. Five categories will be awarded, led by the Most Outstanding Contribution by an Individual to the After the Track Thoroughbred Community. Helping us celebrate will be an esteemed panel of judges including Judy Foley, renowned for her work in racing administration, and Kristen Gibbeson, a high-level eventing judge.
Tattersalls February ends well
Alessandro Marconi continued his compilation of a team of horses to compete in Europe and the UAE, adding 12 lots from the final session of the Tattersalls February Sale to bring his overall haul across the two days to 29. Marconi's participation has provided a major boost to the February Sale, with his total outlay of 833,500gns (AU$1.7 million) accounting for 21 per cent of the sale's aggregate.
He said, “I do believe that this is the only sale that is able to give you an entry at an affordable level to every side of the industry.”
Alessandro Marconi | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
Bringing a clearance rate of 85 per cent, 219 of the 257 horses offered across the two days found a buyer at an average price of 18,034gns (AU$37,600) (+26 per cent) and median of 11,000gns (AU$23,000) (+52 per cent). The turnover of 3,949,500gns (AU$8.16 million) was up by more than a million gns on last year's sale, at which 19 fewer horses were sold.
Following a lively couple of days at Park Paddocks, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony said in his closing address, “The Tattersalls February Sale is firmly established as Europe's premier midwinter sale and this year's renewal saw significant year-on-year increases in turnover, average and median as well as a clearance rate above 85%. These figures represent a positive start to 2025 after last year's record-breaking Tattersalls sales season and we have welcomed a typically diverse group of buyers, both domestic and from overseas, to Park Paddocks.”
Dozen Dubai Millenniums for Godolphin
Godolphin homebred First Conquest (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) made it three wins on the bounce after claiming the G3 Dubai Millennium Stakes sponsored by Emaar at Meydan on Friday. The victory was the 12th for a Godolphin runner in the race named after one of their former top-liners, who sired only one crop of foals before succumbing to grass sickness.
Darley's Teofilo now has 118 stakes winners (68 group) with the victory of First Conquest on Friday. He has 24 Group/Grade 1 winners worldwide, and the cross of Teofilo with a Dubawi mare has yielded the likes of G1 Melbourne Cup hero Without A Fight (Ire), as well as Group 2 winners Eternal Hope (Ire) and Naval Power (GB). First Conquest is the third Group 3 winner for this cross after Taany (Ire) and Tantheem (GB).
Dubawi (Ire) mare Patroness (GB) hit pay dirt with her first two foals–G1 Jebel Hatta hero and G1 Caulfield Stakes second Blair House (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) and Listed winner Key Victory (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire})–and First Conquest arrived as foal number eight. Overall, the placed mare has seven winners to her credit from nine runners. Her latest progeny is 2-year-old Picture Palace (Ire) (Pinatubo {Ire}), who has yet to race. Patroness is herself a full-sister to the late G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winner and sire Poet's Voice (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).
Not This Time’s dam dies aged 22
Graded winner Miss Macy Sue (USA) (Trippi {USA}), an accomplished racemare and the dam of Grade 1 winner Liam's Map (USA) (Unbridled's Song {USA}) and graded winner and sire Not This Time (USA) (Giant's Causeway {USA}), has died at the age of 22, Taylor Made announced Friday afternoon.
The 2007 winner of the GIII Winning Colors Stakes at Churchill Downs, and runner-up in her title defense a year later, competed in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Monmouth Park in 2007, finishing third when it was still a Listed stakes.
Not This Time | Standing at Taylor Made Stallions
“We would like to express our condolences to the Albaugh Family on the passing of Miss Macy Sue,” said Mark Taylor. “Many great mares have spent their careers with us here at Taylor Made, but none have left a legacy like this incredible mare. There is no doubt she will continue to shape the breed through her sons, Liam's Map and Not This Time. Mares like Miss Macy Sue are truly once in a lifetime horses.”
Upon retirement, she left an even greater mark on the breed via her aforementioned sons–half-brothers Liam's Map and Not This Time. In between those two she produced stakes winner Taylor S (USA) (Medaglia d'Oro {USA}) and her last to the races was stakes winner Matera (USA) (Tapit {USA}). Miss Macy Sue hailed from the female line of two-time champion sprinter Ta Wee (USA) (Intentionally {USA}), herself a half-sister to the great Horse of the Year and multiple champion, Dr. Fager (USA).
Gigante sells for 610k on Fasig Digital
With the bidding closed, graded winner Gigante (USA) (Not This Time {USA}) changed hands for US$610,000 (AU$979,000) to Clark Brewster & L and N racing in a one-horse flash sale, announced Fasig-Tipton Digital via a press release.
The 5-year-old was consigned by Lane's End from Fair Grounds with bidding reportedly 'healthy' for the millionaire who claimed the 2023 GII Secretariat Stakes at Colonial Downs. There were 1,793 unique potential buyers from several continents who looked at Gigante's page more than 10,000 times.
“Fasig-Tipton showed us once again how a quality horse is well received by the market on their digital platform,” said Allaire Ryan, sales coordinator for Lane's End. “The flash sale provided an efficient, customized opportunity for us to offer Gigante on behalf of his owners, and he is an exciting, turnkey prospect for his new racing connections. Bidding was healthy from start to finish and we are grateful to the Fasig Digital team for facilitating a fantastic sale.”
Belmont on target for 2026 reopening
A New York Racing Association (NYRA) executive confirmed on Friday that the massive-scaled, US$455 million (AU$730 million) rebuild of Belmont Park is on schedule for its planned grand opening in the fall of 2026.
The target date for completion of all Belmont Park construction is Sept. 11, 2026. This would dovetail with the conclusion of that year's Saratoga season, making fall 2026 the first full race meet at the new facility.
NYRA, however, is keeping open the option of running the 2026 GI Belmont Stakes back downstate at the new facility instead of at Saratoga like in 2024 and 2025. If the race does get moved from its temporary home in Saratoga in 2026, it would be under a festival-meet scenario in which all four Belmont racing surfaces (dirt, synthetic, two grass courses) would be ready, but the grandstand and clubhouse might not be fully finished.
