The Inflictor gets redemption in the Listed Tattersall’s Mile
Winner of a G1 Stradbroke ballot free spot back in December, The Inflictor (Under The Louvre) ran 11th in the big one, but redeemed himself for hobby trainer Craig Cousins on Saturday winning the Listed Tattersall’s Mile at Eagle Farm by 0.17l from Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Sibaaq (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) with Chris Waller-trained Chica Mojito (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}) in third.
“It’s the beautiful culmination of a big three weeks,” Cousins said. “Rachel (King) said she would just let the horse flow, and he was probably better being drawn out wide today because of the buffeting he got the other day in the Stradbroke.
“He never got clear running in that race, but he was up against the big boys, and he learned a lot. He’s an absolute ripper of a horse; he’s just a dude and we all love him. It’s all catching up with me now. The horse is easy to train and I’ve had a lot of help, even though I do most of the training myself.”
He is the first stakes winner for Cousins, and the second for Under The Louvre whose other stakes winner Exotique Miss ran fourth in the G1 Tatt’s Tiara on the same card.
Battle of the Bush Final won by Peshwa
Nicely bred 5-year-old gelding Peshwa (Tapit {USA}) won Saturday’s Battle Of The Bush Final at Eagle Farm for trainer Lindsay Hatch, who is based in Toowoomba, and was ridden by Angela Jones who began her career with Hatch.
“It's always good to pick up a ride for my old boss Lindsay. You know his horses are always going to be rock hard fit, and they're going to run a good price no matter what price they are. These bus races mean a lot to him and all these country trainers, so it was super to get the job done,” said Jones.
Imported in utero with his dam G1 San Isidro GP Mill Guineas winner Greta G (Arg) (Exchange Rate {USA}), Peshwa was a $250,000 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale graduate from Coolmore Stud, and now has won nine of his 47 starts with earnings over $230,000. Her second foal is the winner Do You Think So (So You Think {NZ}) and she was an unraced 3-year-old filly by American Pharoah (USA), a 2-year-old colt by Saxon Warrior (Jpn) and a yearling colt by Churchill (Ire). She died this time last year while in foal to Hitotsu.
Baker’s 150 for the season
Trainer Bjorn Baker made it 150 wins for the season when 3-year-old gelding Puntin (NZ) (Super Seth) won at Rosehill on Saturday. The gelding has four wins from six starts. “It's never easy to win on a Saturday and I think there is more in store, he has a great winning record,” Baker said.
Puntin (NZ) | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“He was tough and it was a good ride (by Ashley Morgan). I still think the best is yet to come, once we get him up over a bit further.”
Sir Now makes it four
Promising 3-year-old gelding Sir Now (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) made it four in succession with a victory at Morphettville on Saturday. Trained by Darryl Hewitt, who also part owns him, he has won seven of his 13 starts with three other placings with earnings over $260,000.
Dane and Jenna McLeod responsible for talented filly
TTR AusNZ journalist Dane McLeod bred 3-year-old filly Free Bird (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}) along with his wife Jenna, and the filly won at her third start on Saturday at Ruakaka. Her breeders share in her ownership, and she is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Stolen Dance (NZ) (Alamosa {NZ}).
Now gelded, Sayedaty Sadaty wins at Caulfield
Ciaron Maher-trained 4-year-old Sayedaty Sadaty (Ire) (Anodin {Ire}) was gelded after failing in the G1 Caulfield Cup on his Australian debut, and broke through for a win at Caulfield on Saturday. “He came over to Australia with really big wraps and ran in the Caulfield Cup where nothing went right. We gave him a decent break and gelded him,” said stable representative Leigh Allen.
“He’s been frustrating with the price tag he had, but hopefully he can start to repay by going through winter and then into spring. He can go up in trip.” He was a private purchase by Australian Bloodstock.
Grace and Keane uninjured in fall
Maddie Raymond and Patrick Bell-trained Rolls (Anacheeva) sustained a fatal injury in race 8 at Caulfield. The fall caused jockey Dakotah Keane to fall from Rachael Cunningham-trained King Frankel (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and both were uninjured. Rolls’ jockey Harry Grace was given medical attention and was conscious.
Saturday’s other mentionable moments
Two sires added doubles at Newcastle with Deep Field siring 3-year-old winners Oakfield Neptune and California Secret, and The Brothers War (USA) winning with 3-year-old Rockbarton Max and Crop Duster. Jockey Aaron Bullock won the first three on the card at Newcastle.
Jockey Blaike McDougall rode a treble at Wodonga and jockey Jarrod Todd rode a treble at Darwin.
Extension for Cruz in Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Jockey Club licensing committee have granted permission for Tony Cruz to train beyond the age of 70 next season. Cruz, who is 68, “will be eligible for an extension beyond the conclusion of the 2026/27 racing season (during which he will reach the age of 70) until the conclusion of the 2029/30 racing season, provided he continues to satisfy the benchmarks set down by the Club,” the committee said in a press release.
Tony Cruz | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Vale Barry Hills
Training great Barry Hills, who sent out more than 3000 winners including five British Classics throughout his storied career, has died aged 88.
Along with those five British Classics, Hills achieved Stayers' Hurdle success with Nomadic Way in 1992 while a Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe trophy came in 1973 with Rheingold.
Entirely self-made, Hills retired from training in 2011 and passed on the licence to his son Charlie. Including Rheingold, he will forever be associated with horses like Tap On Wood, Haafhd, Ghanaati, Royal Applause, Red Clubs, Equiano and more.
Keeneland September to conclude with Book 5 Part 1 & 2
The Keeneland September Yearling Sale has settled into a reliable format over the last several years, starting off its first week with a two-day Book 1 and Book 2, followed by a dark day, before the sale resumes with two-day books through the remainder of the auction. Sales officials said that with an extra dose of quality entries this year, they have decided to conclude the 2025 auction with a four-day Book 5 separated into Parts 1 and 2.
“This decision reflects the strength and depth in this year's catalogue. With so many high-quality yearlings, including a strong crop by first-season sires, we recognized that the level of quality extends deep into the later sessions–right through to the 12th day,” said Director of Sales Operations Dean Roethemeier.
Not This Time dreams of Penn Mile winner
Dreams came true in the G3 Penn Mile Stakes on Friday evening when 3-year-old colt Dream On (USA) (Not This Time {USA}), winner of Aqueduct's Woodhaven Stakes in April, split horses in the late stretch after trailing throughout to capture the first Graded victory of his career.
Dream On is trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, who has kept him on the grass since his second career start, when he captured an Ellis Park maiden special weight last July. Sent to the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf after placings in both the G1 Summer Stakes and Soaring Free Stakes at Woodbine, he finished fifth. Regrouping with an optional allowance win at Gulfstream in January, he faltered in Tampa's Columbia Stakes in March before finally getting his first black-type victory in the Woodhaven. The Penn Mile was his first Graded win.
Unbeaten Laurelin adds Penn Oaks
Executing a well-timed turn of foot like a seasoned professional, Laurelin (USA) (Zarak {Fr}) ran to her odds and in the process swept up the Penn Oaks at dusk. The chestnut came in as a deserving favourite, since her record was without blemish. With four scratches and the field down to five, the Graham Motion trainee was slammed at the windows to the tune of 60 cents on the dollar here.
A half-sister to Maud Gonne Spirit (Ire) (Intello {Ger}) who captured an Irish Listed race, her dam Bari (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) is a half-sister to English stakes winner Brindisi (GB) (Dr Fong {USA}) and the dam of G2 Doncaster Cup hero Thomas Hobson (GB) (Halling {USA}). Digging a little deeper into Laurelin's extended female line, we find G1 Investec Epsom Oaks heroine Talent (GB) (New Approach {Ire}).
Win number 2000 for Prat
Jockey Flavien Prat, who has been riding in the United States full time since 2015, scored the 2000th North American victory of his career Friday afternoon aboard the Brad Cox-trained Iron Max (USA) (Caravaggio {USA}) in Race 7 on the inner turf at Belmont at the Big A. Prat didn't stop there, as he also added victory 2001 as part of a five-win day.
“Honestly, when I started riding, I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would be here in New York and celebrating 2000 wins, so I'm very grateful,” said Prat. “There's a lot of people along that way that believed in me and gave me an opportunity, so I'm very thankful. The trainers, owners, and my agent has done a great job, and my family have supported me as well.”
Prat, France's champion apprentice jockey in 2009, led the US jockey standings last year with over US$37 million (AU$56.7 million) in purse earnings. He closed 2024 with an Eclipse Award as outstanding jockey after setting the record for stakes wins in a single year with 82 and Graded wins in a season with 56.
