Stradbroke for hobby trainer with The Inflictor
Hobby trainer Craig Cousins has only three horses in work but one is G1 Stradbroke Handicap contender The Inflictor (Under The Louvre) who qualified for the race by winning The Gateway at Eagle Farm. “I had never met Chris Waller before, I had just seen him from a distance and that was about it,” Cousins told racenet.com.au about meeting the champion trainer.
“He's obviously a master at what he does. I was walking around after the race the other day and I heard someone yelling, ‘Craig, Craig'. I recognised the voice and it was Chris Waller. He shook my hand and congratulated me. Chris said, ‘this is what racing is about, this is a great story'. He said he wished me all the best for the Stradbroke. I told Chris he would probably have a good Stradbroke horse himself. He said, ‘don't worry about mine Craig, yours is a genuine chance'.
“Life wouldn't change too much if I won the Stradbroke, but it would be a bloody good feeling. My horse's win the other day was really impressive, I didn't realise how impressive it was until I watched a replay later. I can only have three horses at the one time, if I have any more it's too hard doing it one-out. I do get an occasional hand off different friends, but most of the time it's just me. This horse will have a red-hot go in the Stradbroke.”
Hong Kong an option for Via Sistina
Yulong’s Sam Fairgray opened up discussion around star mare Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) heading to Hong Kong’s December meeting at the end of the year.
“(Hong Kong) is definitely a possibility. Mr Zhang would love to be able to take her there and take on the internationals,” Fairgray told racing.com about the rising 8-year-old.
“That's definitely high on the cards for her. It depends on how she is going and how she comes through each race. She's tough, resilient and she enjoys her racing. There's a possibility she could go Cox Plate, Champions and then to Hong Kong.”
Maher to Amplify outsider win in Oaks
Last year Ciaron Maher’s Socks Nation (Sioux Nation {USA}) won the G1 Queensland Oaks paying $101, and this year, he has another outsider with Amplify (Microphone) who won at Bathurst two starts ago. “Socks Nation seemed to run fourth in everything she raced in before the Oaks, it didn't matter what race we ran her in she still ran well. Socks Nation to be fair probably shouldn't have been $101, but I wasn't complaining,” Maher told racenet.com.au.
Ciaron Maher | Image courtesy of Inglis
“Amplify is not too dissimilar and you can draw some similarities through their toughness and their demeanour. I quite like Amplify. The Bathurst run was to give her some confidence and she has done well since then.”
Amplify’s sire Microphone was recently sold to Brazil, while Socks Nation was purchased by Japanese owner Katsumi Yoshida at the recent Magic Millions National Broodmare sale for $1 million.
Brave Design unlikely for JJ Atkins
Trainer Danny O’Brien thinks the mile of the G1 JJ Atkins will be too far for Brave Design (Brave Smash {Jpn}) after his fourth in the G2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes, and will head to a Listed option over 1200 metres instead. “I thought he was very good (in the Sires). He's going to run on Stradbroke Day, but it may not be in the J.J. Atkins,” O’Brien told racing.com.
“There's actually a 1200 metre Listed race (Oxlade Stakes) that day for 2-year-olds, we're potentially just going to bring him back the 200 metres to the 1200. I've just got a little bit of a doubt about him running out a strong mile. That might be the plan.”
Velocious aims to add Australian blacktype
New Zealand juvenile Group 1 winner Velocious (Written Tycoon) has won twice in four starts since throat surgery and will run in the Listed Queensland Day Stakes at Eagle Farm on Saturday. “We’ve always had Australia in the back of our minds for her and she had a couple of unlucky runs before her last start at Te Rapa,” Go Racing General Manager Matt Allnutt told Loveracing.nz.
Velocious | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
“That was the race that was going to decide whether she went over or not. She duly went out and won that and there’s not much left for her in New Zealand, especially with the way the tracks are, so we’re trying our luck in Queensland.”
Cheapy knocks off well-bred pair
Horses don’t know what they cost, and the first at Warwick Farm on Wednesday for 2-year-old fillies showed that with $20,000 yearling Penpel (Written By) winning by 3l for trainer Marc Conners over Chris Waller-trained Ernaux (I Am Invincible) with Jarrito (I Am Invincible) in third. Penpel was sold by Widden Stud at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, and she is the second winner for Peltier (Redoute’s Choice).
“She's a really nice filly, we have always had a lot of time for her. For a 2-year-old filly, she has a massive stride on her. I thought she put the writing on the wall last start when she went super (second on debut to subsequent winner Agarwood). Today, she was really switched on and did everything right. She got the job done and we will send her to the paddock now and bring her back for spring,” said Conners.
Marc Conners | Image courtesy of John Tapp Racing
Ernaux was a $3 million purchase by Resolute Racing from Coolmore Stud at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, and was fourth on debut before Wednesday’s second. She is the second foal of Group 1 winner Booker (Written Tycoon), whose first foal is a winner. Jarrito was on debut and is raced by Cressfield after passing in at the sales. She is the third foal of Group 1 winner Spright (Hinchinbrook) whose first two foals are winners.
Racing Queensland to investigate error
Bookies paid out the wrong combination at Doomben on Wednesday, reversing the order for second and third, leaving Racing Queensland with an investigation task ahead of them to determine why the error occurred.
The race was won by 2-year-old filly Sweet Pretender (Zousain) from Mortal Halo (Better Than Ready) and Protector (Encryption), but bookies paid out Protector as second and Mortal Halo as third, affecting certain types of multiple bets.
Zousain sired a double at the meeting with Sweet Pretender and 3-year-old gelding Mister Bianco who has four wins, his last two in succession.
Maurice juvenile wins in WA
Simon Miller-trained 2-year-old gelding Mardusa (Maurice {Jpn}) won at his second start at Northam on Wednesday. He was third on debut in January. Purchased by his trainer for $140,000 from Greenfields Lodge at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, he is out of Medusa’s Miss (Henny Hughes {USA}) who is a stakes placed half-sister to Group 1 winner Mummify (Jeune {GB}).
Pair of nicely bred 3-year-old winners
At Sandown, 3-year-old filly Trembles (Too Darn Hot {GB}) made it two in succession with a win for trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman. Owned by Godolphin, she is out of Group 1 winner Earthquake (Exceed And Excel). Trembles was stakes placed on debut, and has two stakes placed half-siblings in Namazu (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) and Sumatra (Lonhro).
At Warwick Farm, 3-year-old filly Regimental Colours (All Too Hard) broke her maiden at her fourth start for owners Cressfield and trainer Bjorn Baker. She is the last foal of Group 1 winner Regimental Gal (General Nediym), who has also produced Group 3 winner Lilliburlero (Redoute’s Choice) and stakes placed Vimy (Redoute’s Choice).
Dubious adds a juvenile winner at Doomben
The opening race at Doomben was won by 2-year-old gelding Certified Copy (Dubious) who was having his third start for trainer Bevan Laming. Sold by Noble Bend Farm for $32,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale to Grant Laming, Certified Copy is out of Written Tycoon mare Written Image. Written Tycoon has nine stakes winners as a damsire led by Group 1 winner Vibrant Sun (The Autumn Sun).
Asfoora settles in well to England
Trainer Henry Dwyer is pleased with how Asfoora (Flying Artie) has travelled and settled into England ahead of her Royal Ascot targets. “The pool of horses seems relatively similar to last year,” Dwyer told racing.com.
Henry Dwyer | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“The market's got us, Believing and Regional all right up there and they're the same three horses that ran three of the top-four placings last year. You'd think if she turns up in the same order as last year, she's going to be incredibly hard to beat. I'm not saying she will, but she seems to have travelled well and everything seems in order, so I don't really know why she wouldn't.”
Listed Bob Charley Stakes at Randwick
The Australian Turf Club will honour Bob Charley AO with the Listed Bob Charley AO Stakes on Saturday. The former Chairman of the Australian Jockey Club, inaugural Chairman of the NSW Thoroughbred Racing Board and inaugural Chairman of the Australian Racing Board, has also written several books on racing history such as Pioneers and Racecourses, and Heroes and Champions.
“We are delighted to again honour Bob Charley with this feature race at Royal Randwick which has been won by some class gallopers, including just a few years ago Classique Legend who went on that year to win the TAB Everest,” Australian Turf Club Head of Racing and Wagering, Nevesh Ramdhani told racingnsw.com.au.
Injured rider update: Lloyd
Jockey Zac Lloyd injured his foot at Warwick Farm in race 5 on Wednesday and Racing NSW stewards reported that he will get it x-rayed.
Bustler to improve with gear change
Trainer Neville Parnham will ditch the blinkers for Bustler (Playing God) in Saturday’s G3 Hyperion Stakes at Pinjarra. “We’ve taken the blinkers off him. He just got a bit tight with them on and wanted to get a bit keen at one stage. I’ve applied a tongue tie on him as well, just a couple of little things that Steve (Parnham) picked up in the run,” Parnham told racingwa.com.au.
Neville Parnham | Image courtesy by Racing WA
“Hopefully he can get to relax a bit better, he just got uptight with the blinkers on. There’s no denying how well the horse is going and with all the rain about, the track is going to be a bit more forgiving.”
Capewell sends Bluish Hue north
Toowoomba trainer Jake Capewell has sent his exciting juvenile Bluish Hue (Flying Artie) to Townsville early to help acclimatise ahead of the $100,000 QTIS race on Saturday. “It is a long way to go but it is a big money race,” Capewell told racingqueensland.com.au of the 15 hour drive.
“The ownership group were really keen to go up there because of the money that was on offer compared to if we went to a midweek race around South East Queensland now during the carnival. We were going to be racing for less money in a potentially stronger field if we stayed down here. Our theory was we would try and get away from the carnival hype and horses. We are throwing him in the deep end a bit, but I think we will see the best of him with age and maturity. The best is yet to come with him.”
Jake Capewell | Image courtesy of Racing Queensland
Bluish Hue, a $1000 Inglis Sydney Weanling Sale purchase, won on debut at Toowoomba two weeks ago. “He has trained on nicely from that win and I think he is going to love the Townsville track a lot better than he did the Toowoomba track. I think the 1200 metres will be suited. He will come on from his start at Toowoomba. He has always been a big, raw horse and we never really expected to be an up and going 2-year-old but as he has progressed through his work, he has taken everything in his stride. He has gone from strength to strength.”
Opportunity for Houston with dearth of riders in WA
Apprentice Ryan Houston will fly to Perth to ride 3-year-old gelding Repossession (Sessions) on Saturday after a lack of Saturday qualified apprentices with claims left an opportunity. “I rang (chief steward) Brad Lewis asking for permission for Zephen (Johnston-Porter) to ride him, but he made it very clear he doesn’t have the power to allow that to happen,” co-trainer Michael Gangemi told racingwa.com.au.
“Not one apprentice jockey in Perth has qualified to ride on a Saturday. We have them for Wednesday’s but not Saturday’s and it’s been going on for a while. I was hoping Mr Lewis would have the powers to overrule it, but he said he doesn’t.
“I said if that’s the case I’m going to have to go east because I’m not having my up-and-coming star carrying 62kg. We put our feelers out and spoke to a few people and before we knew it, we had Ryan who has come highly recommended. We are very, very happy to have him aboard, one of the best, if not the best 3kg claiming apprentices going around at the moment.”
New Zealand’s apprentice only day on Thursday
New Zealand racing will host an apprentice jockey only day on Thursday. Cambridge apprentice Rihaan Goyaram has returned from injury in form and has eight rides. “I broke my ankle in January. I had surgery and I was off for nearly four months. I was back riding in autumn. The leg is alright now, I have got some screws in, but it has been going well,” Goyaram told Loveracing.nz.
Rihaan Goyaram | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
“I am riding work for a few trainers in Cambridge, including Andrew Forsman, Stephen Marsh, Shaun Phelan, Colm Murray and Shaune Ritchie. They have all been a big help. I hope to outride my three-kilo claim soon, I only need four more wins (three following Wednesday’s win).” He won on Wednesday on Catoca (NZ) (Swiss Ace).
John Stewart purchases Royal Ascot-bound juvenile
Paddy Twomey has added another major owner to his Tipperary training establishment with the news that American-based John Stewart has bought Royal Ascot-bound 2-year-old Rogue Legend (GB).
The Havana Grey (GB) colt had won two of his last three starts in the colours of the Rogues Gallery Partnership, who sent the Golden-based handler a batch of 2-year-olds for the first time this year. “We have purchased Rogue Legend. He is an impressive 2-year-old who is two from three and has a Timeform rating of 105, which places him in the top three of all European-trained 2-year-olds right now,” said Stewart.
John Stewart | Image courtesy of Sarah Andrew
“He is with trainer Paddy Toomey and will run at Ascot. We are entering him in all the two-year-old sprint races and then will see how the races come up and pick a spot. We also have Believing running as well in the G1 King Charles III Stakes who we own with Coolmore. And maybe one more!”
Street Boss juvenile tops Fasig-Tipton Digital at US$150,000
Strada Del Sogno (USA) (Street Boss {USA}), whose only career start to date resulted in a third-place finish last month behind Royal Ascot-bound Lennilu (USA) (Leinster {USA}) in the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies Stakes at Gulfstream Park, sold for US$150,000 (AU$231,000) to top Fasig-Tipton's June Digital Sale on Tuesday.
“The top three sold were all horses of racing age, marking the shift from breeding season to racehorses and racing prospects,” said Fasig-Tipton Director of Digital Sales Leif Aaron. “It's already been an exciting year in 2025 with six sales on the books and more than 575 head sold so far. The momentum is strong, and the season is just getting started.”
