Daily News Wrap

Group 1 target for Zou Sensation

Zou Sensation (Zoustar) will be set for the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes by trainers Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin after making it three wins in succession at Flemington on Saturday. “He's definitely a horse that is starting to put his hand up as one that could probably go to a Rupert Clarke in time,” Larkin said.

“We'll probably be looking at that and, how he gets there, we'll work it out. I think he's definitely a better horse when he's chasing and allowed to get cover, so when we go up in grade and get into those better races there's going to be better tempo and he's probably going to be allowed to do that.” The 6-year-old gelding took his record to seven wins from 25 starts with earnings over $540,000. He ran third in the Listed Poseidon Stakes at his third start back when he had just turned three.

Zoustar sired a double at the meeting with Grahame Begg-trained 5-year-old gelding De Bergerac who is a half-brother to Group 1 winner and sire Written By, and Group 3 winner Royal Insignia (Written Tycoon), and a full brother to Group 2 winner C’Est Magique.

Waller and Godolphin get perfect beginning

Trainer Chris Waller’s first runner for Godolphin took home a victory when winning at Rosehill on Saturday. The 4-year-old mare Amusing (Masar {Ire}) won by 2.3l for jockey James McDonald. “I was nervous coming into the race, just to make sure everything went well, so it was a good relief,” Waller said.

“They have been our biggest competitor for so many years and we have watched them every week to see what they're doing, how we're performing against them. They have been the best yardstick. To be one of nine or ten trainers to be chosen to train for them, it's an honour to be regarded as good enough to train for them. It's not a loss that they have disarmed their training operation. It's probably a win for so many and in particular, Australian racing.

“We have taken over from a great operation. Just seeing the horses come into my system, my riders have said, 'wow'. The young horses are so well educated. Horses like her have settled in really well. James (Cummings) has done a great job and obviously their team, and it really is an honour.”

Stakes option next for Losesomewinmore

Trainers Richard and Chantelle Jolly will aim 6-year-old gelding Losesomewinmore (All Too Hard) at a stakes race after he won at Flemington on Saturday. “Today, probably a few things went against him – I don’t know if he was in the best part of the track down on the inside there,” Richard Jolly said. Losesomewinmore has won six of his 12 starts with earnings over $330,000.

“Everyone tipped us to get beaten to be honest, and he went in the underdog again, but there’s nothing wrong with him, we were really happy with him. He’s lumping big weights, and he’s giving us a heart attack, but he’s getting there… he’s got a bit of quality, the horse, and he knows where the post is.

“I’m sure he can go to a better race now, where we can drop him back to the minimum weight. There’s a few coming up. Whether we want to go to 1200 metres or back to 1000 metres, I think the key is to get him back into one of those races where he’s at the minimum weight. He hasn’t been the soundest horse; I’d definitely rather keep going while he’s fit. He can handle rain-affected tracks if we do get some.”

Unbeaten Without Parallel heading to Kosciuszko

Matt Dunn-trained 4-year-old mare Without Parallel (Time Test {GB}) took her unbeaten streak to four at Rosehill and will be set for The Kosciuszko. “I believe we have to start thinking seriously about the race now,” Dunn said.

“Horses can go from Highway races to The Kosciuszko but they need to win like that. I did something similar with a horse called Derry Grove. He won two Highways before running in The Kosciuszko. He's not unlike her in that he took a while to get going but when he found his groove he went through the grades quickly. I've got a bit more time up my sleeve with this horse, so I'll go home and plot a path.”

Capitalist filly wins at Eagle Farm

Jason Edwards-trained 3-year-old filly Alpha Sofie (Capitalist) made it two in a row when winning at Eagle Farm on Saturday. She won her last start as a 2-year-old, having been fourth on debut. Alpha Sofie is one of 17 winners from Capitalist’s current crop who’ve just turned three.

Sold by Davali Thoroughbreds at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for $150,000 to Monetos, Alpha Sofie is the first foal of Sofie’s Gold Class (Hard Spun {USA}) who was stakes placed and has a 2-year-old colt Hidden Tiger (Tiger Of Malay) and a Satono Aladdin (Jpn) yearling filly.

Lucky Vega adds winner number seven

Georgina Bourke-trained 3-year-old gelding Vegameister (Lucky Vega {Ire}) become the seventh Southern Hemisphere winner for his second season sire when winning at Townsville on Saturday. Lucky Vega (Ire) also has six winners from his first Northern Hemisphere crop who are 2-year-olds.

Yulong sold Vegameister to Kelly Schweida Racing for $30,000 at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale, and he is the third foal of Trawalla (Zoustar) who is a half-sister to Listed winners Holy Empire (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) and Albumin (Foxwedge).

Cape Leeuwin breaks through in WA

Darren McAuliffe-trained 3-year-old Cape Leeuwin (I’m All The Talk) broke through for a win at Perth’s Pinjarra meeting at his first start this season, having had three runs at two for a placing. Sold by Willaview Park for $25,000 at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, he was purchased by Impressive Racing and took his earnings over $108,000.

Safeguard sired a double at Broome with Fire The Guard and City Of Sin.

South Australian double for Shamus Award

Shamus Award sired a double at Murray Bridge on Saturday with Phillip Stokes-trained 4-year-old mare Stolen Kiss and Michael Hickmott-trained 4-year-old mare Endless Forevers who took her record to two wins from three starts.

At South Australia’s other meeting, Roxby Downs, Foxwedge sired a double with Fox Dunnell and Samanth.

Contrail half-sister to Liberty Island wins on debut

Coney Island (Jpn) (Contrail {Jpn}) won on debut in Japan on Saturday over a mile for trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida. The 2-year-old filly is beautifully bred, being a half-sister to Champion 2YO Filly and 3YO Filly in Japan and four-time Group 1 winner Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), and is one of four winners for Champion 2YO Filly and 3YO Filly in Australia and dual Group 1 winner Yankee Rose (All American).

Coney Island wasn’t offered at auction, but her foal half-brother by Saturnalia (Jpn) sold for ¥341 million (AU$3.5 million) at this year’s JRA Select Foal Sale.

Big Dance chance for Victory Roll

Goulburn trainer Pat Murphy thinks Victory Roll (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) is a good chance to win Sunday’s Forbes Cup and gain entry into The Big Dance. “It hasn’t been an ideal week given meetings being moved and then called off, but hopefully it all works out well in the end on Sunday,” Murphy told racingnsw.com.au.

“He’s a Highway winner in town at Randwick and also won a midweeker at Canterbury. He’s had a few runs back from a spell now and while he’s still at the 1600 metres at Forbes he does have the benefit of gate one which should give him his chance.”

Polytrack Championship duo for Gray training partnership

Trainers Kevin and Stephen Gray have last start winner Cosentino (NZ) (El Roca) and Tears Of Victory (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA})) in Sunday’s NZ$100,000 Polytrack Championship. “Over 1200 metres (Cosentino) would be extremely hard to beat, but we didn’t want to take him down south, he is only a young horse, and we think on the grass he will be even better. He will run really well,” said Stephen Gray.

“Tears Of Victory has done nothing wrong and she has been running well. She has got a light weight and a good barrier draw, so she will be right there in the finish.” She has won her last two starts.

Shock closure of Ireland’s Thurles course

Thurles, Ireland's only privately-owned racecourse, is to close with immediate effect. The first ever recorded race meeting at the County Tipperary circuit took place in 1732 and has been in the hands of the Molony family since the early 1900s.

The late Pierce Molony took over the running of Thurles from his father Doctor Paddy Molony in 1974, but Pierce's widow Riona released a statement confirming the family's decision to retire from racing.

She said, “It has been an honour and a privilege for our family to have run Thurles Racecourse, and I am officially announcing our retirement today.

“We are very proud of the immense contribution our family has made to racing and we are most grateful to our extended racecourse family, our dedicated staff, generous sponsors, loyal patrons and the wider racing community for all your support.

“Horse racing is part of the fabric of our family, and we have been very fortunate to have made so many great friends within the industry over the years. My family and I look forward to going racing with you again, as spectators.”

Although Thurles is fully licenced to race until December 31 and is scheduled to stage 11 fixtures in the 2025/26 Irish racing calendar, the Molony family have no plans to continue racing.

Luther wins Grade 2 after protest

Luther (GB) (Frankel {GB}) crossed the line a clear second to hot favourite Zulu Kingdom (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) in Friday's featured G2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga, but endured a year's worth of trouble in running and was ultimately promoted to the victory by the stewards.

Taken back to the rear of the field as Mi Bago (USA) (Vekoma {USA}) stole away up front, the Tattersalls October graduate was bumped soundly into the first turn by longshot Tiz Dashing (USA) (Tiz the Law {USA}) and was relegated to last. Joel Rosario availed himself of what appeared to be clear sailing down the backstretch and he began pinching ground at the fence, only to be stymied yet again inside of Clever Again (USA) (American Pharoah {USA}) with about a half-mile to travel.

In the meantime, Zulu Kingdom was ridden patiently in the clear by Flavien Prat and kicked it into high gear when popped the question, quickening up to score by a convincing margin. Rosario claimed foul against the first-past-the-post, arguing that Prat came in on Tiz Dashing, forcing that one into Luther and the stewards ultimately upheld the protest.

For trainer Charlie Fellowes, the result was a bit of welcome news after Shes Perfect (Ire) (Sioux Nation {USA}) was demoted from an apparent victory in this year's G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas) and placed second.

“I know first-hand it's not the way you want to win a race,” he said. “I feel really bad for the connections of the winner, as it's a bad way to win and a very tough loss for them, but I'm unbelievably proud of my horse and how well he ran.

“I'm gutted I'm not over there, as they keep telling me how wonderful a place Saratoga is, especially as this might be the biggest–actually I would have to say it is the biggest–win of my career. To come all the way over there to America and win a Grade II at Saratoga for a lot of money is unbelievable.”

Tattersalls boost prizemoney for sale races

Tattersalls has increased the prize money for next year's Somerville Auction Stakes and October Auction Stakes to £200,000 (AU$410,000) apiece. The increase doubles the value of the Tattersalls Somerville Auction Stakes and is a £50,000 (AU$102,000) increase in the prize fund of the Tattersalls October Auction Stakes.

Both races are open to any yearling offered at the Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale, the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Book 3 or the Tattersalls Autumn Yearling Sale, or for horses withdrawn from any of those sales and subsequently offered at the Tattersalls December Yearling Sale.

The Tattersalls Somerville Auction Stakes will be run over six furlongs at Newmarket's July Course on 22nd August, 2026 with the Tattersalls October Auction Stakes following over seven furlongs on Newmarket's Rowley Mile six weeks later on 3rd October, 2026.

Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony said, “Our commitment to rewarding owners in as many innovative ways as we can has resulted in over £10,000,000 in bonus prize money being paid out by Tattersalls in the last ten years, along with our sponsorships of three European Classics, two further Group 1s and seven Group and Listed races, as well as the lucrative programme of high-value developmental races. The increase to £200,000 for both the Tattersalls Somerville Auction Stakes and the Tattersalls October Yearling Stakes provides an opportunity for owners to run for substantial prize money and will further enhance the appeal of both sales.”

First Flightline yearling to sell on American soil on Monday

The first yearling by champion Flightline (USA) to sell in the U.S. will go through the sales ring early during Monday's first session of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale and the filly, bred by Jeff Drown and Don Rachel and consigned by Indian Creek, is from a family that has already enjoyed a heady day at the Humphrey S. Finney pavilion. Out of All American Dream (American Pharoah), hip 34 is a half-sister to graded-stakes winning Barnes (Into Mischief), who sold for US$3.2 million (AU$4.9 million) at the 2023 Saratoga sale. Hip 34 will be one of nine yearlings from the first crop of Flightline scheduled to go through the ring at the two-day Saratoga auction next week.

“Obviously, Flightline generated incredible buzz as a racehorse and I think it's just held, if not strengthened, as he's gone into the breeding shed,” Indian Creek's Sarah Sutherland said. “And now here we are with his first crop of yearlings. Shares in him have sold well, weanlings by him have sold well. And to have a boutique group of them here in Saratoga with, I am sure, physicals to match these incredible pedigrees, is going to be exciting. As a seller, we are all going to help each other. Everybody that has a nice one, we all give each other a boost that way.”