Isti Star wins $1 million Magic Millions National Stakes
Local juvenile filly Isti Star (Better Than Ready) has won the $1 million Magic Millions National Stakes at Friday’s Gold Coast night meeting. Trained by Paul Shailer, she won by 1l from Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young-trained Prince Tycoon (Written Tycoon) and Donna Stainbridge-trained Secret Sort (Tassort). “Thrilled to bits. So proud of her because she has been through a lot. Obviously she was identified early as a horse with immense talent and we thought we could win the Magic Millions with her but it went terribly wrong,” Shailer said.
“She's a horse that suffers from some allergies and she went shinsore. We had to put her aside and be patient. I'm very thankful to the ownership group who have been so patient with her. It hasn't been an ideal prep. We had to run her first-up in the Calaway Gal and run her with the view of being here tonight.
“At Ipswich she was brilliant, and tonight again she proved she is a really quality filly. She's going to get better with age. She's versatile and I think she'll stretch out over seven furlongs-plus.” Isti Star has won two of her four starts. She debuted pre-Christmas in The Debut, running ninth, then returned after a spell to run fourth in the Listed Calway Gal Stakes before winning her maiden last start.
“I want to make special mention of Brian Hooper and Helen Hooper who are in this filly. Brian isn't in the best of health but he is here tonight with Helen and they have been great supporters of mine. It is really good to win a good race for him because he's got a lot of shares in a lot of horses in my stable and it is great to be able to share it.”
Passed in by Yarramalong Stud at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Isti Star is raced by the farm along with 13 other parties. By Better Than Ready, who had three runners in the race, she is the second winner from as many to race for Istiraaha (Redoute’s Choice) who is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Rewaaya (NZ) (Singspiel {Ire}).
Ole Kirk share added to Magic Millions National Sale
Magic Millions announced on Friday that a share in first season sire sensation Ole Kirk will be offered on the first day of the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, being Tuesday May 27. “This represents a great opportunity in a young stallion that we have always believed in and who is now demonstrating how important to our industry he could be,” Vinery Stud's Bloodstock Manager Adam White told magicmillions.com.au.
Ole Kirk | Standing at Vinery Stud
“This horse is fully booked for the coming season and I'm sure there are many breeders out there that will identify the chance to utilise a young stallion on the way up.” Ole Kirk’s first crop includes four stakes winners, King Kirk, Legacy Bound, O’ Ole, and Prestige Forever.
Lovatsville announce 2025 fees
Lovatsville announced on Friday that all the fees for their five stallions will remain unchanged in 2025. Earlier this month, they announced new stallion Move To Strike, a juvenile Group 1-winning son of I Am Invincible who will stand at an introductory fee of $16,500 including GST.
Royal Meeting (Ire) headlines the roster at $22,000 including GST. His oldest foals are 3-year-olds and are led by ill-fated Group 1 winner Hayasugi. Group 1 winner Fierce Impact (Jpn) will remain at $13,250 including GST, with his first crop headlined by stakes placed winner Zelia. Generation, a Group 3-winning son of Snitzel, will stay at $11,000 including GST for his second season, and G1 Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip (Fr) will stay at $8,800 for his second season.
D’Argento to stay at $16,500
Bowness Stud announced on Friday that D’Argento will stay at $16,500 including GST for the 2025 breeding season. His first crop of 3-year-olds include six individual Group 1 runners led by G1 South Australian Derby second and Listed winner Statuario. “We’re thrilled with how the progeny of D’Argento have performed so far on the track, and it’s a credit to the trainers who have given them the time they need to perform,” said Studmaster James Daly.
D'argento | Standing at Bowness Stud
"Given the challenging conditions many breeders are facing, and despite his impressive racetrack results this year, we’ve chosen to keep D’Argento’s service fee unchanged from previous seasons. We’re confident that he will once again receive strong support from mare owners.” Bowness Stud are offering four yearling fillies by D’Argento at the upcoming Magic Millions National Yearling Sale.
Alabama Express share headlines Inglis Digital
A share in Alabama Express is the headline offering for the upcoming Inglis Digital May (Late) Sale which is now open for bidding. The sale catalogue also includes exciting 3-year-old Listed winner Perspiration (Too Darn Hot {GB}) and Alabama Blitz (Alabama Express), a half-sister to Group 1 winner Princess Jenni (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}).
Poon excited for Doomben Cup
Hong Kong based jockey Matthew Poon, who did some of his apprenticeship in Australia, will be in Brisbane to ride Klondike (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) in Saturday’s G1 Doomben Cup for trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton. “I know he’s a very good stayer who can handle two miles, so 2000 metres is no problem for him – I think he will improve a lot for his first run in terms of fitness and experience,” Poon told scmp.com.
Matthew Poon | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
“His second run in Australia should be much better than his local debut and I hope he will run well from a good draw in barrier five. I’m very thankful to the owner (Matthew Li) who has given me the opportunity. He asked me to come ride him and I said ‘of course’. I can’t wait to take the chance.”
Experience traveller Benagil ready for The Roses
Glen Thompson-trained G1 South Australian Oaks winner Benagil (Manhattan Rain) has settled into Brisbane, her fourth state in the past two months, ahead of the G2 The Roses at Doomben on Saturday. “She’s in great shape and I was pleased with her jump-out last Thursday here in Melbourne,” Thompson told racingqueensland.com.au.
“She’s 575kgs and has thrived on racing and has settled in well since arriving in Queensland. I’ve never seen a horse like her and it’s going to take a good one to beat her.”
Racing NSW calendar changes in response to wet weather
The flood around Taree and the wet weather on the Mid-North Coast have forced Racing NSW to announce several changes to the racing calendar for the upcoming week. Newcastle’s Saturday meeting has been moved to Monday, following 108mls of rainfall in the last 24 hrs and 290mls over the past week at the track. Sunshine forecast for Saturday and Sunday should assist in making the track suitable for racing.
Wauchope, Nowra, and Taree have all been abandoned. Trainers who are impacted by these changes may be eligible for the assistance package announced on Thursday.
Transatlantic’s second up record key
Trainer Tony Gollan pointed to 4-year-old gelding Transatlantic (Snitzel)’s second-up record as the key to his chances in Saturday’s G3 BRC Sprint. “I wasn't disappointed at all with him in The Archer, his first-up record is what it is,” Gollan told racenet.com.au.
“It was probably as good a first-up run as he has ever produced and it was in the best grade he has raced in first-up. I was happy because he did some work early and just peaked on his run late. He is so much better for that run and his second-up stats say it all.
Transatlantic | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
“The BRC Sprint is a good horse's race and I have long felt Transatlantic is a good horse. But he has got to take that step up now and until they do that, the job is far from done. Now is his time to shine.”
Spring targets for Miss Ole
Trainer Clinton McDonald will spell 2-year-old filly Miss Ole (Ole Kirk) after she runs on Saturday and set her for spring targets. “She's a lovely filly, we hold her in high esteem, we think that she's a quality filly,” McDonald said.
Clinton McDonald | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“She probably should've won at Warrnambool. She just popped up at the start and then got a bit of a bump that put her out of play, but she was very good through the line. We think that she's a spring player but we're just trying to get some prizemoney and go from there.”
Around the nation: Friday’s highlights
With Coffs Harbour abandoned, there were seven remaining meetings on Friday across Australia. At Inverell in NSW, 2-year-old gelding Four Degrees (Brave Smash {Jpn}) won at his third start. He debuted in the R.Listed Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic, then ran third a fortnight ago at his second start. Sold by Noble Bend Farm at the 2023 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale for $19,000, his vendors have a draft of 12 weanlings in the 2025 sale.
Apprentice Braith Nock rode a treble at Inverell. At Canberra, Star Turn sired a double with Christmas Star and Irish Jig. The Gold Coast night meeting opened with a win from 2-year-old gelding Meet George (Better Than Ready).
Brisbane Cup on cards for Philipsburg
Trainer James Ponsonby will set Philipsburg (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) for the G2 Brisbane Cup if he runs well at Randwick on Saturday. “When you get a horse like Philipsburg that wins 10 races then he is the epitome of what I try to do,” Ponsonby told racenet.com.au.
“He has won on nearly all the Sydney tracks and every time he runs out, he always puts in a decent run. At the end of the day, if your horse is paying the bills for his owners then that is when you can really enjoy the sport and this horse has been doing that right through his career.
Philipsburg (NZ) | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
“Since his Brisbane wins, he has come back home and has already lost five benchmark points in two starts but neither of those runs were disappointing. Gosford was an on-speed race and at his previous start at Hawkesbury they walked early then sprinted sharply in front. But in his Brisbane wins, there was a genuine tempo in both races and if he can get that at Randwick on Saturday, he will run well.
“If he can win or go close, then we would like to give him a shot at the two miles of the Brisbane Cup because he relaxes so well.”
Sharrock’s Tribute set to continue good record
With three wins from eight starts including two wins in succession at her last two starts, trainer Allan Sharrock’s 3-year-old filly Belle Tribute (NZ) (Contributor {Ire}) looks set for a hat-trick on Saturday. A daughter of Sharrock’s mare Bellaroof (NZ) (Maroof {USA}), who is also the dam of Group 2 winners Tavi Mac (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and Darci La Bella (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}). “I bought (Bellaroof) as a yearling (for $40,000) and she has just kept leaving winner after winner, she has been a hell of a mare,” Sharrock told Loveracing.nz.
Allan Sharrock | Image courtesy of Race Images
“I think the mare has a good talk to them all when they’re young because they all have that will to win. Tavi Mac had a sway back and was about 15.1h and they’re all different, but they can all certainly gallop. She’s been a great mare to us and we’ve got more to come, a Tarzino 2-year-old (Tarzi Mac) and a Sword Of State yearling so long may it continue. I’m educating the Tarzino now and I’ll bet my bottom dollar that he’ll run as well.”
Storm Boy draws wide for Irish debut
Storm Boy (Justify {USA}) has drawn the widest barrier in Saturday’s G2 Greenlands Stakes in Ireland. He follows the same path as Merchant Navy who won this race before winning the G1 Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. Trainer Charlie Hills is out to spoil the plan with Iberian (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). “We could have gone to York last week, but that’s a quick six furlongs and I think the stiff six at the Curragh will suit him well. We made an entry at Salisbury on Saturday too to give ourselves options, as the forecast was unsettled at the start of the week, but the Greenlands has always been the preferred option and that’s where he’ll go,” Hills told racingtv.com.
“He’s not really bred to sprint, as he’s by Lope de Vega out of a High Chaparral mare, but he’s got a lot of pace and I think he’ll get better as a sprinter. He’s hopefully improving step by step back to where he was and he should have a nice chance on Saturday, after which we’ll be looking at the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot if all goes well. He’s got a lot of natural talent and has always looked like a very good horse.”
Starspangledbanner group winner in France
Bouncing back from a disappointing effort when fifth in the G3 Prix Noailles, Starspangledbanner's Rafale Design (Ire) returned to ParisLongchamp to stamp his class on Thursday's G3 Prix Hocquart. Sent off at 12-1 for the 11-furlong contest, having backtracked on his smart juvenile form last month, Laurent Dassault's colour-bearer was restrained by Christophe Soumillon following a smart break to track the moderate pace.
Full of running at every stage, the colt that Yann Barberot described as his “best” took control approaching the furlong pole before asserting for a smooth 1.25-length verdict over Sottsass (Fr)'s Asmarani (Ire).
“I am not surprised to see him win, because he is a good horse and my best 3-year-old,” Barberot said of the winner, who had scored by 7.5 lengths on the second of his two wins on Deauville's Polytrack in November.
“He is a good-ground specialist and the rain-softened ground was a real concern for me but obviously he is getting stronger. He has improved with time and stays well, so the (G1) Grand Prix de Paris will now be the target.”
Irish 2000 Guineas field finalised
Juddmonte's duo Field Of Gold (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) and Cosmic Year (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who have drawn stalls nine and five, head a field of nine declared for Saturday's G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh.
Field Of Gold is on the wing again and seeks redemption for his G1 2000 Guineas near miss with Colin Keane replacing Kieran Shoemark in the plate. Harry Charlton has provided Cosmic Year with a solid foundation and decides now is the time to make the jump in grade coming back off a win in Newmarket's Listed King Charles II Stakes on the opening day of HQ's Guineas fixture. The Andrew Balding-conditioned G3 Sandown Classic Trial runner-up Windlord (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) bolsters the Juddmonte squad and is next to Cosmic Year in six.
Aidan O'Brien, bidding for a record-extending baker's dozen editions, relies on Listed Tetrarch Stakes winner Officer (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and 2000 Guineas ninth Expanded (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). They are alongside each other in stalls three and two, respectively. This deep renewal also features Silverton Hill Partnership's G1 Futurity Trophy winner Hotazhell (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), who was in full kit before skipping his Poulains engagement on account of the fast ground in Paris two weeks ago, and is reported in fine fettle for this belated seasonal debut.
Rispoli defends Journalism ride in Preakness
After he crossed the wire first aboard Journalism (USA) (Curlin {USA}) in the G1 Preakness Stakes, jockey Umberto Rispoli planned to take a few days off and bask in what was the biggest win of his career. Instead, he has found himself in the middle of an ugly controversy involving his ride and the bumping incident with Flavien Prat, who was aboard Goal Oriented (USA) (Not This Time {USA}). The two banged into each other in upper stretch and impeded the Steve Asmussen-trained Clever Again (USA) (American Pharaoh {USA}).
While some people have blamed the incident on Prat, others believe Rispoli was at fault and rode recklessly by trying to come through a hole on the rail rather than going around horses. That group includes Clever Again's trainer Steve Asmussen. “Quit riding him like a rented mule,” Asmussen said of Rispoli on Steve Byk's At the Races radio show on Thursday.
Journalism (USA) | Image courtesy of Kentucky Derby
“I know this has been controversial,” Rispoli told TDN. “A lot of people are saying it was my fault and a lot of people were saying it was Flavien's fault. A lot of people said I should have gone outside, while others said I made the right move by staying inside. You're on a horse, you're going 45 miles an hour and you have to make a decision when you can. When I ducked out with my horse around the half-mile pole I was going nowhere. Nobody thought I was on the horse to beat at that point. Everybody thought I had no horse at the time. My intention was to take him out to see if he would give me any response like he did in the Kentucky Derby. In a couple of strides he didn't do it and the turn was approaching. At that point I had to make a decision.
“That's not the type of rider that I am. I have been here for five years. Find me another race where people said I was reckless or find me another race where I was in that position. I am not a kamikaze rider. I have a wife and two kids and I didn't want to kill myself or see anyone get killed. It's easy for people to say that he should have gone around the other horses, but if I'm ever in a position like that again and think I can win if I save ground I'm going to do it.
“Flavien and I are friends but on the track we need to respect the colours we are wearing. There is no friendship on the track. Did he put me in tight? Yes. Was I already there? Yes. The gap was there and that's why I took it. I'm not going to drive my horse in a way where I put myself at risk of going down.”
