Briasa announced for The Everest
Hawkes Racing announced on Saturday that Briasa (Smart Missile) will run in the G1 The Everest slot owned by Max Whitby, Steven McCann, Colin Madden and Neil Werrett.
Briasa, a 4-year-old gelding, won the 2025 G1 TJ Smith Stakes, and has won seven of his 10 starts with earnings over $2.7 million. "It's very exciting obviously but it's nice to get it done early so we can map out the best way to get him there to give us the best possible chance at the race," co-trainer Michael Hawkes told racenet.com.au.
"He's still out in the paddock for a bit but we'll work out when we get him back and he'll guide us on the path we plot. He'll have one or two runs into The Everest and he stay in Sydney and he'll run in the lead ups.”
Private Harry (Harry Angel {Ire}) is confirmed to run in the Yulong slot, while no other slot holders have made a decision yet.
Treble for Gollan at Gold Coast
The win by 7-year-old gelding Rockribbed (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) in Saturday’s Listed ATC Trophy at the Gold Coast was the middle leg of a treble for trainer Tony Gollan, who also won the Listed Silk Stocking with Floozie (Zoustar) and the G2 Hollindale Stakes with Antino (NZ) (Redwood {GB}).
Rockribbed won by 1.5l from Chautauqua’s (Encosta De Lago) half-brother, the Peter Snowden-trained Need Some Luck (Rubick), with Craig Cousins-trained The Inflictor (Under The Louvre) in third. “You'll see him in other races throughout the carnival,” said Gollan.
“Emily (Lang) has got a great association with him, I don't think she's finished worse than second on the horse. He responds to her riding and he's a beautiful animal, so we're appreciative of having him in our stable.”
Winner of nine of his 26 starts, with earnings over $490,000, Rockribbed become stakes winner number 64 for former shuttle sire Night Of Thunder (Ire). Originally a $14,000 Inglis Melbourne Gold Yearling Sale graduate, sold by Flinders Park Stud to Polaris Bloodstock who on-sold him for $27,500 to Elliot O’Shea at the February 2023 Inglis Digital Sale.
Stokes quinella in G3 Cummings Stakes
Trainer Phillip Stokes provided the quinella in Saturday’s G3 Cummings Stakes, previously the RA Lee Stakes, with Regal Azmon (Magnus) and Arran Bay (All Too Hard). Stephen Theodore-trained Fine Future (Jpn) (Fine Needle {Jpn}) was third.
Regal Azmon, a 7-year-old gelding, becomes stakes winner 32 for Magnus, and has won eight of his 23 starts with earnings over $450,000. A last start winner coming into the race, he was originally sold for $5000 by Musk Creek Farm as a weanling to L Treloar who on-sold him as a yearling at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale to Regal Bloodstock and Bluegrass Bloodstock (FBAA) for $25,000.
A half-brother to Listed winner Dead Or Alive (Wanted), Regal Azmon is the final foal of Sun Lane (GB) (Daylami {Ire}) who is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Victory Note (USA) (Fairy King {USA}).
Private Legacy wins Listed Centaurea Stakes at Morphettville
A little over 12 months after she finished second in a trifecta for The Autumn Sun in the G1 Australasian Oaks, Private Legacy returned to the scene and blitzed home to claim the Listed Centaurea Stakes at Morphettville on Saturday. Trained by Gregory Hickman, the 4-year-old mare rattled home from midfield over the 2017 metres to win by just over one and a hald lengths.
Private Legacy was a $90,000 purchase for her trainer from the draft of Arrowfield Stud at the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale. She is the third and last foal from eight-time winner of over $1 million in prizemoney Private Secretary (Husson {Arg}), who Hickman trained to win the $970,000 Magic Millions Fillies & Mares race.
Scott’s 1000th win comes in Group race
Trainer Andrew Scott enjoyed his 1000th win in New Zealand with G3 Rotorua Stakes winner Tomodachi (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}) at Arawa Park on Saturday. In second was Bedtime Story (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) with Lux Libertas (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) adding more black type to her pedigree with a third placing. “They tell me that’s my 1000th winner, so that’s quite a milestone,” Scott, who trains in partnership with Lance O’Sullivan, said.
“But training racehorses takes a team of owners and staff, and I’ve been very lucky in that regard. I’ve also had some amazing mentors along the way with Mike Moroney and Lance. I started out quite a long time ago now, and to get to 1000 today is amazing.”
Winner of six of her nine starts, the 4-year-old mare is raced by Sir Peter Vela and becomes the seventh stakes winner for her sire who is a son of Tavistock (NZ). The second foal of Quintessentially (NZ) (High Chapparal {Ire}), Tomodachi is the second winner from as many to race for her dam who won three races. Quintessentially is out of G1 NZ Derby placed Uberalles (NZ) (Giant’s Causeway {USA}) who is a daughter of Champion Stayer and G1 Melbourne Cup winner Ethereal (NZ) (Rhythm {USA}).
Seven wins in eight starts as Cleo Cat captures Proud Miss
The results kept rolling in for Tom Dabernig on Saturday where Cleo Cat (American Pharoah {USA}) collected her seventh win in eight starts and her first at stakes level when taking out the G3 Proud Miss Stakes at Morphettville. The 4-year-old mare suffered her only defeat to date in the Listed Black Pearl Stakes in January, but has bounced back at her second attempt at stakes level to win by 1.75l in the 1200-metre event.
Purchased from Coolmore Stud by Dabernig for $50,000, Cleo Cat has collected more than $260,000 in prizemoney to date. She is a half-sister to the dam of Listed Without Fear Stakes winner Chilled (Shalaa {Ire}), out of a half-sister to triple Group-winning Cats Whisker (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}), whose granddaughter Floozie (Zoustar) secured her first stakes win on Saturday in the Gold Coast’s Listed Silk Stocking.
Fourth Gosford Cup for Waterhouse
Trainer Gai Waterhouse won her fourth Listed Gosford Gold Cup winner when Les Vampires (Pierro) won on Saturday. The race carries The Big Dance eligibility and co-trainer Adrian Bott confirmed he will head to that race which is held on Melbourne Cup Day in Sydney.
Chris Waller-trained pair of Etna Rosso (Ire) (Decorated Knight {GB}) and Mr Waterville (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) filled the minor placings. The winner was a $200,000 yearling purchase by Gai Waterhouse, Adrian Bott, and Kestrel Thoroughbreds from Coolmore Stud’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. He is the third stakes winner for G3 Vanity Stakes winner Musidora (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) who was purchased by Coolmore as a broodmare prospect for $1 million in 2008.
Les Vampires is a full brother to G3 Magic Night Stakes winner Tulip (Pierro), who also placed in the G1 Golden Slipper, as well as stakes placed Sikorsky (Pierro), and a half-brother to G3 Caulfield Classic winner Sacred Eye (High Chapparal {Ire}). Winner of five of his 13 starts with earnings over $500,000, Les Vampires becomes Pierro’s 39th stakes winner.
Inglis Digital graduate Barber adds Listed win
Barber (Exceed And Excel), having his second start for trainer Richard Litt, won Saturday’s Listed Takeover Target Stakes at Gosford in a tight contest by 0.04l from Kris Lees-trained Brundenell (Russian Revolution) with the James Cummings-trained Spacewalk (Exosphere) third.
Originally bred and raced by Godolphin, Barber was sold by them for $215,000 at the 2024 Inglis December Digital Sale to Monarch Racing. He has earned $154,050 in his two starts for Litt and his new connections, and overall has five wins from 17 starts and over $1.1 million in earnings. Barber is a full brother to Group 3 winner Manicure (Exceed And Excel).
Listed Rotorua Cup to Nigella Lane
Consistent mare Nigella Lane (NZ) (Niagara) came into the Listed Rotorua Cup with three stakes placings in her last five starts and put it together for her first stakes win on Saturday for trainer Ralph Manning. Dark Destroyer (NZ) (Proisir) was second by 0.2l with Our Jumala (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) 2l back in third. “Dark Destroyer really fought hard but my mare is bloody tough and I knew that she wouldn’t take a backward step if it got down to a dog fight,” said Manning.
“We haven’t thought too far ahead and she may go to the paddock now, but this is a race and track I love and this makes it three wins in the race after I won it with Lord Peregrine and Pump Up The Volume, so I’m pretty proud of that.”
With six wins from 24 starts, she becomes the seventh stakes winner for Niagara. Her dam, Casabella Lane (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}) won the G2 Japan-New Zealand International Trophy and is a full sister to Listed winner Pams Pompallier (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}).
Godolphin filly wins Listed Gold Coast Bracelet
James Cummings-trained 3-year-old filly Pinito (Trapeze Artist) came off a last start second in the Listed Princess Stakes to win Saturday’s Listed Gold Coast Bracelet over 1800 metres from the Ciaron Maher-trained Amplify (Microphone) with the Matt Kropp-trained Sun Worshipper (Sun City) in third.
Godolphin purchased Pinito from Widden Stud at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale for $260,000, and she becomes the fifth stakes winner for Trapeze Artist, and the first from his current crop of 3-year-olds. This was her second career win from 10 starts and she has earnings over $200,000.
She is the second foal of winning mare Waltzing Wodka (Sebring) who has only visited Trapeze Artist for her five live foals. Waltzing Wodka is a half-sister to recent G2 Queen of the South Stakes winner Zloties (Snitzel), and a full sister to G2 Angus Armanasco Stakes winner Catch A Fire (Sebring) and G2 VRC Sires' Produce Stakes winner Seaburge (Sebring), who was Group 1 placed. This is also the family of G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Mighty Boss (Not A Single Doubt).
Sharrock on fire with juveniles
It was only on Tuesday when trainer Gavin Sharrock took out another juvenile contest when Spandeedo (NZ) (Ferrando {NZ}) saluted at Hawera, and on Saturday he added another with Country Salon (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) recovering from a slow start to put away his opponents late on in Heavy 10 conditions, with Jim Chung aboard.
Country Salon’s salute was the first runner and winner for his dam Uniquebotique (NZ) (Ferlax {NZ}). “I love working with the two-year-olds, and this was one was unlucky at Waverley as he got knocked over and still ran fifth,” Sharrock said.
“The instructions were to teach him as he over-raced in front last time. His mother won a race on a Heavy 10, so he might be another one we target for the Castletown Stakes.”
Around the nation: Saturday’s other moments
With Lismore abandoned, there remained 17 meetings across Australia on Saturday. The last at the Gold Coast was abandoned due to a storm. Jockey William Pike rode a treble at Ascot including on Celestial Storm (Zoustar). At Gordonvale in Queensland, jockey Aidan Holt won three of the five races on the card.
At Ipswich, 2-year-old filly Isti Star (Better Than Ready) won the first, having run fourth in the Listed Calway Gal Stakes at her previous start. Passed in as a yearling, she is out of Redoute’s Choice mare Istiraaha, who is an unraced half-sister to Group 1 winner Rewaaya (NZ) (Singspiel {Ire}). Better Than Ready sired a double at the meeting with Thebarberofseville being his other winner while trainers Chris & Corey Munce combined with jockey Justin Huxtable for a treble.
Super Seth sired a double at Caulfield with Mary Eliza (NZ) who is out of the three-time Group 1 winner in Bonneval (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) and Madiyya (NZ), who is a half-sister to Grunt (NZ) and Group 2 winner Zayydani (NZ) (Savabeel).
I Am Invincible sired a double at Gosford with 2-year-old colt Hidden Achievement and 4-year-old mare Monte Kate and both were ridden by Adam Hyeronimus.
Via Sistina rated 119 by World Thoroughbred Rankings
The latest version of the World Thoroughbred Rankings was released late on Thursday night covering the period of January 1 to May 4, 2025. Australia’s highest ranked runner in this period is Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) who was given the rating of 119 for her effort in the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes, which puts her in 16th overall.
The highest rated horse for the period is Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) who was rated 127 for the G1 Saudi Cup.
Via Sistina (Ire) | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Vale Kathy Walsh
Kathy Walsh, who started training as an interloper among the nation's almost hermetically-sealed male ranks and who pursued her career with a rare combination of grit, guts, gumption and generosity, passed quietly in her sleep at the age of 85.
A consummate horsewoman, Walsh brooked no fools and minced no words, yet garnered the kind of deeply held reverence and affection typically extended to those of royal lineage. There's a reason she was nicknamed The Queen.
“She probably hired and fired me more times than she changed her underwear, I used to tell her,” said jockey Mike Smith. “She could be tough on you–but once you were part of the family, buddy, you were part of the family, man.”
Kathy Walsh
Once becoming a permanent fixture of the California circuit, so the overall quality of her stock improved in leaps. She won 15 graded stakes during a career comprising 1231 individual wins. This includes the 2001 GI Santa Monica Handicap with Nany's Sweep (USA). Walsh's moon shot came in 2007, and the arrival in her barn of Cal-bred Georgie Boy (USA) (Tribal Rule {USA}), who took that year's GI Del Mar Futurity.
“She loved her horses, cussed like a sailor and tolerated people. She tried for years to get me to work for her full-time but would never acquiesce to giving me a day off. She said I could sleep when I was dead. I declined! Sleep tight, Queen,” said XBTV and TDN Writers Room presenter Zoe Cadman.
Fine for Alvarado for whip use in Derby
Jockey Junior Alvarado has been fined US$62,000 (AU$96,500) and suspended two Kentucky racing days after using the whip two more times than is permitted when winning the GI Kentucky Derby aboard Sovereignty (USA), according to a Kentucky stewards' ruling Friday.
Under Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) rules, jockeys can use the crop no more than six times during a race. The typical penalty for going one to three strikes over the limit is 10 per cent of the jockey's earnings or a US$250 fine, whichever is bigger. Alvarado's share of the Derby purse was US$310,000.
Sovereignty (USA) and Junior Alvarado | Image courtesy of Churchill Downs
It typically comes with a one-day suspension. This, however, was Alvarado's second whip violation within 180 days, according to the stewards' ruling. According to HISA Rule 2283 (c)(1), a second violation within that 180-day period results in a doubling of the fine and a doubling of the suspension period. Alvarado's two-day suspension will run May 29 and 30.
Midak continues Graffard’s run
Francis Graffard's stable continues its plunder of French stakes contests and the hitherto unbeaten Midak (Fr) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) made his mark for the yard with a pillar-to-post victory in Friday's G3 Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud. “The horse has obviously improved from his last race, as much mentally as physically, and his behaviour at the races and during the race was very much satisfactory,” said Graffard.
“He is not entered in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club, so we will savour the moment for now and later we will discuss the future with his entourage. Maybe Willie Mullins will get in contact with us!”
New Pimlico plans revealed
With new plans unveiled for a redesigned Pimlico Race Course by the Maryland Stadium Authority, Governor Wes Moore and the Board of Public Works approved a demolition package for the track after next week's GI Preakness Stakes and also the acquisition of Shamrock Farm in Carroll County as the state's new training centre hub, according a Wednesday press release from the governor's office.
“Today we take another step toward a new, reimagined Pimlico,” said Gov. Moore. “I thank my colleagues on the Board of Public Works, the Maryland General Assembly, the Maryland Stadium Authority, the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority, and our local community partners for securing the future of Preakness in Maryland. Together, we will continue to drive economic growth in Park Heights, throughout Baltimore, and across the entire state.”
The whole project is expected to cost US$400 million (AU$622 million) and was kept to the smaller of the different projected cost plans by keeping the track in the same location and orientation.
