Tom Prebble wins Apprentices Rising Stars series
Jockey Tom Prebble has won the RMBL Apprentices Rising Stars Series with 42 points, two clear of Rose Hammond and Sarah Field. Hammond won the final on Lake Vostok (Russian Revolution) to put her into equal second with Field. “Certainly not the way I wanted it to unfold – I was kind of calculating the points in my head about 400 metres out,” Prebble told racing.com.
“But no, I’m very thankful to RMBL for sponsoring the series, we’re pretty grateful they bring all the apprentices to ride at Flemington. And obviously I’m very grateful to my masters Patrick and Michelle Payne, for giving me a lot of opportunities through the series to ride a couple of winners. Hopefully I can use it as a springboard.”
Treble for Williams closes the gap
Flemington’s Saturday meeting began with Blake Shinn ahead by seven wins, but then Craig Williams won the first on Ciaron Maher-trained 3-year-old filly Duchess Zou (Zoustar), who has won three of her five starts. “She’s on the right path to get through the grades. That was a winter race she was expected to win. In a couple of months I think she would lift again. She’s very progressive. After a freshen up or break she’ll improve again,” Maher told racing.com.
Shinn pegged one back with a win on Mick Price and Micheal Kent Jnr-trained La Fracas (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) in race six, before Williams won again in race eight on Ciaron Maher-trained Sayedaty Sadaty (Ire) (Anodin {Ire}) and race nine on Richard and Chantelle Jolly-trained Losesomewinmore (All Too Hard).
There are four metropolitan meetings left in Melbourne this season and the gap has closed to five.
Capitalist juvenile all class at Eagle Farm
Capitalist sired his 17th juvenile winner for the season at Eagle Farm on Saturday when his 2-year-old filly Alpha Sofie won at her second start. Trained by Jason Edwards, she was sold by Davali Thoroughbreds at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for $150,000 and bought by Munetos.
Alpha Sofie is the first foal of stakes placed Sofie’s Gold Class (Hard Spun {USA}). Capitalist’s juvenile winners for this season include stakes winners Memo and To Cap It All.
Digital buy shines through at Rosehill
Stakes placed 3-year-old gelding Yoshinobu (Written Tycoon) provided a sense of relief for co-trainer Annabel Archibald when he won at Rosehill on Saturday. “I slightly put my neck on the line because he went online and I persuaded OTI (Racing) to try and buy him and quite a few of the owners retained ownership in him as well,” Archibald, who trains in partnership with her husband Rob, said.
“He was always a bit of a quirky colt, but we knew he had good ability. I actually thought we'd be closer in the run today because he's such a big striding horse, but it was a good ride from Tom (Sherry). It was good to see him show a turn of foot. He was a bit green late and for a stride I thought he might throw it away, but I think he was surging again at the line if anything.”
Originally sold by Segenhoe Stud for $550,000 to Kia Ora and TFI at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Yoshinobu was trained by the Archibald’s to win his first two on debut and place in the G2 Roman Consul Stakes in the spring. After running 12th in the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes, he spelled, and returned with mixed form before being sold as a gelding at the Inglis Digital April 2025 sale for $180,000 to his trainer and OTI Racing.
Dundeel sires juvenile winner at Gosford
Richard Litt-trained 2-year-old gelding Gallahop (Dundeel {NZ}) won the opening race at Gosford on Saturday in the maiden event over a mile for 2 and 3-year-olds. He was having his third start and was purchased by Galletta Construction for $260,000 from Arrowfield Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft.
He is the first foal of Deepwood Vale (Redoute’s Choice), a winning half-sister to Listed winner Religify (Choisir).
Aligned wins at Gosford
Peter Snowden-trained 2-year-old gelding Aligned (Russian Revolution) won the second at Gosford over 1200 metre against the older maidens. He was having his fourth start, having run twice over summer, then resumed last start with a mid-field effort in the city. Purchased by his trainer for $300,000 from Vinery Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft, Aligned is the second foal and second winner for Eiffel Tower (Stratum).
Eiffel Tower is a half-sister to Listed winner Sangria (I Am Invincible) and to 4-year-old gelding Watermelon (Russian Revolution) who won at Gympie on Saturday to record his sixth career victory.
Zousain double at the Gold Coast
Second season sire Zousain scored a double at the Gold Coast on Saturday, led by Scott Morrisey-trained juvenile filly Sussusudio who won on debut. She is the second foal, and first winner for Pony Power (Foxwedge) whose two wins both came at the Gold Coast.
Barry Lockwood-trained 3-year-old gelding Insain dominated the first on the card with a 4.8l victory. Insain was sold by Yarraman Park Stud at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for $85,000 and purchased by Michael Costa Racing.
A half-brother to Listed winner Manhood (Headwater), Insain is out of My Miss Pedrille (Lonhro), a full sister to Group 2 winner and sire O’Lonhro.
Yes Yes Yes juvenile wins again
Tanya Parry-trained consistent 2-year-old gelding Affirmative Light (Yes Yes Yes) won at Hughenden on Saturday to make it two wins and three placings in his past five starts. He is the last foal of Redoute’s Choice mare In Lighten and her fourth winner.
Winning Rupert filly wins at Bunbury
The Listed HG Bolton meeting at Bunbury was opened with the victory of 2-year-old filly Paint It Red (Winning Rupert) who was having her second start for trainer Hayden Ballantyne, having run second on debut.
Purchased by her trainer from Amelia Park’s Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale draft for $50,000, Paint It Red has earned just over $62,000 from her two starts to date. She is the first foal of Fairedu (Dawn Approach {Ire}) who won four races in Western Australia.
Winning Rupert sired a double at the meeting with 3-year-old filly Madhi Girl.
The Mission adds juvenile winner
Georgina Bourke-trained 2-year-old gelding Whatta Mission (The Mission) won at Townsville on Saturday to take his record to a win and two placings from five starts. The Mission’s best runner, Yellow Brick, ran second in the G1 Stradbroke Handicap at his most recent start and has earnings over $2.4 million.
Whatta Mission is the final foal of Diamond Masque (NZ) (Align) who has produced five winners and is a full sister to Group 3 winner Coup Align (NZ).
Wanted Hillbilly wins at Townsville
Mark Currie-trained 2-year-old gelding Wanted Hillbilly (Wanted) won the first at Toowoomba’s night meeting on Saturday. He was having his third start having placed on debut and is one of two winners for Idle Chat (NZ) (More Than Ready {USA}).
Saturday sires
Across the 17 meetings in Australia on Saturday, there were a few notable stallion achievements. Press Statement sired a double at Coonabarabran with Proofreader and Ardonaugh. Territories (Ire) sired a double at Mildura with 3-year-olds Territorian and Grande Terre. Dream Ahead (USA) sired a double at Thangool with Flawless Ambition and Imagine That.
Full sisters win at Taranaki
Trainer Tawhiti Hina had a unique double on Saturday with Charm Spirit (Ire)’s full sisters 5-year-old mare Za Spirit (NZ) and 4-year-old mare Charm Zafarm (NZ) who both won at Taranaki. “I’m really, really happy. The season has been going well, and this is my second double. I’m just absolutely grateful to everyone that’s backed me and given me a horse to train,” Hina, who has just seven horses in his stable, said.
“(Za Spirit) is such a cool horse who just loves racing and tries really hard. She’s owned locally by a bunch of family members. They were the first people to give me a horse to train, and she was my very first winner, so it’s awesome. Now I’ve got five horses for them. I’m really grateful for their support.
“(Charm Zafarm) has had a few niggles along the way. She ran a really good race for me on debut as a 2-year-old, then went up north and was trained up there for a while. She came back to me and we’ve had a few issues with her. We’ve pieced everything together now and fixed the problems. Hopefully we’re on the right track.”
Both mares are out of five-time winner Zafrenzy (NZ) (Savabeel) who has 3-year-old filly Kit Zakat (NZ) (Time Test {GB}), an unnamed 2-year-old filly by Contributer (Ire) and a yearling colt by Proisir. This is the family of G1 New Zealand Derby winner So Casual (NZ) (Casual Lies {USA}) and G1 Diamond Stakes winner Kaaptan (NZ) (Kaapstad {NZ}).
Double for Lawson-Carroll to bring up 50
Apprentice jockey Ace Lawson-Carroll enjoyed his first 50-win season with a double at Rotorua on Saturday on Moelle (NZ) (Swiss Ace) and Diodemes (NZ) (Echoes Of Heaven). “This horse had been racing really consistently and has kept putting in good performances,” Diodemes’ trainer Kurtis Pertab said.
“He’s up in the grades a bit now and needs to have everything go his way. He got that today, so we’re really happy. Ace rode him bang-on. He just kept improving at the right time without really going for him. He doesn’t have much of a sprint on him any more, getting a bit older and long in the tooth, but he can keep up a strong gallop. Ace gave him a perfect ride. He’s an old warhorse and it’s nice to have horses like him in the stable.”
Swiss Ace had a double at the meeting with his other winner being Jelly Roll (NZ).
Fifteen length win stuns crowd
It might have been a front runners day at Taranaki but that didn’t fully explain the dominant 15-length victory by 7-year-old mare Shelbyrock’n (Rock ‘n’ Pop) on Saturday over a mile. “She just travelled so sweetly and when I let her slide she was full of running. In the straight I was too scared to look behind me as I wasn’t sure who was chasing but when I got back to the jockey’s room and saw the replay I couldn’t believe just how far in front we were,” jockey Ellie Sole said.
“She just relished the track conditions after struggling at Trentham last time and when she can get her own way in front she just fights and fights. Rounding the home bend, she was going that well I was pretty sure she was the winner but I wasn’t taking any chances.”
Shelbyrock’n has won six of her 35 starts and over NZ$162,000.
Probert granted Hong Kong licence
David Probert is the latest British-based rider to be granted a licence to ride in Hong Kong. The Welshman has been given a part-season jockey's licence which runs from July 17 to February 17, 2026.
The 37-year-old Probert, who has won 1678 wins across the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and the UAE, will join Andrea Atzeni and Harry Bentley, who have committed to riding full-time in Hong Kong. It was also recently announced that Derby-winning jockey Richard Kingscote has been given a part-season licence for 2025/26.
