Golden Eagle moved from Rosehill to Randwick
Racing NSW announced on Friday that the Golden Eagle would move from Rosehill to Randwick this season. “Sydney’s Everest Carnival continues to grow every year, with the highlight being a sold-out Royal Randwick for Everest Day last year,” said Racing NSW Chairman Saranne Cooke.
“The Golden Eagle race, especially with the $1 million charity component, forms a prominent position at the new Randwick Carnival. It will, like The Everest, become the young generation’s must-go event. Once again in 2025, the Golden Eagle is also again attracting world-class contenders, with a growing number of international stars — many of whom have already triumphed in prestigious Group races across Europe and Asia— now targeting the Randwick feature.”
Saranne Cooke | Image courtesy of Racing NSW
The decision comes only weeks after Australian Turf Club members voted to keep Rosehill. Racing NSW is pushing to have the race upgraded to Group 1 status, but without a functional Pattern Committee, Australia’s ability to have all our black type internationally recognised is at risk.
“The move to Royal Randwick will further increase the event's appeal to audiences and punters on and off track following the running of the TAB Everest. The addition of a new modern trackside spectator precinct this Spring will be a pivotal view point for Australia's two richest races,” ATC Chair Tim Hale told racenet.com.au.
Inglis Digital filled with broodmares
Inglis Digital are calling their latest August Early sale an “an abundance of high-quality broodmares” with 95 broodmares among the 371 lots on offer. “This really is a breeders’ paradise. I can’t remember the last Inglis Digital catalogue with so many nice young broodmare prospects in it,” Inglis Digital Business Manager Nick Melmeth said in a press release.
“We’re on the cusp of the breeding season and many of these mares wouldn’t have been out of place at a Chairman’s Sale but the respective ownership groups chose to race them on for differing reasons and now buyers are being presented with a fantastic collection of young broodmare prospects and some hugely appealing pregnancies.”
Maluka Thoroughbreds announce Lofty Arch
Listed winner Lofty Arch will retire to Maluka Thoroughbreds in 2025. The son of Snitzel won two of his four starts as a 3-year-old last season, winning the Listed Gothic Stakes and placing in the G3 Zeditave Stakes.
Lofty Arch | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
A half-brother to Listed winner The Blue Eye (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Lofty Arch is out of G3 Chantilly Prix d'Aumale winner Soneva (USA) (Cherokee Run {USA}). Lofty Arch's stakes placed half-sister See You Soon (Siyouni {Fr}) is the dam of exciting 4-year-old mare Snow In May (The Autum Sun) who won last season's Listed Canberra Guineas and was placed in the G1 Flight Stakes.
He will stand for $5500 including GST.
Brundenell ready to hit seven figures
If Kris Lees-trained Brudenell (Russian Revolution) can run first or second in the G2 Missile Stakes he’ll take his earnings over seven figures. “I’ve been lucky to win on a couple of horses four times but I’ve won on him five times,” jockey Dylan Gibbons told racingnsw.com.au.
“I won his maiden on him at Port Macquarie and we went through the grades together pretty much. He’s not changed. Early days we thought he went well, he went to Port Macquarie as a late 2-year-old and took on the older horses and barely got out of first gear. Every time we thought he’s reached his mark he’s managed to keep going up a level. Kris has done a remarkable job with him to win as many races as he has and collect the prizemoney he has.”
With Your Blessing to relish wet track in Missile
Trainer John Thompson thinks a run at Randwick with a heavy track is just what With Your Blessing (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) needs in the G2 Missile Stakes this Saturday. “He was going well into it (last start). For some reason, he just doesn't go as good at Rosehill as what he does at Randwick,” Thompson told racingandsports.com.au.
With Your Blessing (NZ) | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“He's had eight starts there and has barely run a place and he's the most consistent horse. He tries. It's a bit weird. Back to Randwick. He handles the wet. Up to 1200, perfect. He's got a good draw and he hasn't missed a beat. He has come on from the run.”
Unbeaten Cicala headlines Behemoth Stakes
Saturday’s G3 Behemoth Stakes at Morphettville will see Will Clarken-trained Cicala (Tamasa) put her unbeaten record on the line. “The Behemoth is really the crossroads to see where we go with her this preparation, whether she is looking for the paddock or we push on,” Clarken told racenet.com.au.
“Every sign that I see says that she is still full of running, it's also the first time as a new 4-year-old having to go up against the weight-for-age horses and seasoned horses, it will be a real telling point for the prep. But you can only do what she's done, you can only win, I'm sure that she will be a solid winning chance again Saturday. She's giving away experience, but obviously she's got the raw ability.”
Duke De Sessa to miss Caulfield Cup
Last year’s G1 Caulfield Cup winner Duke De Sessa (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) has been removed from this year’s race after sustaining a minor setback in training.
Trapdoor impressive on debut at Geelong
Team Hawkes unveiled exciting 3-year-old gelding Trapdoor (Brutal {NZ}) who won on debut at Geelong on Friday at 2.5l. “He's a lovely horse and it was an exceptional ride (from Blake) to be fair because he went backwards to get him balanced and probably about the six, seven hundred mark he just wasn't really tracking well or traveling well and Blake just brought him back and back again to get him underneath him,” Wayne Hawkes said.
“Then he just peeled to the outside, took his time. and he was letting him hit the line. He didn't panic, he knew what was underneath the hood. He's just a big, raw, immature horse. And he's more of a next time around horse, to be totally honest. We just wanted to give him one run to see how he fared and more than likely we will put him away now.”
Trapdoor is the third foal of Midoriyama (Pierro) who has produced one other winner, and she’s a winning half-sister to stakes placed Home Made (High Chaparral {Ire}) and Think ‘n’ Fly (So You Think {NZ}).
Pariah gets debutant winner at Port Macquarie
Pariah’s 3-year-old gelding Kings Cup won on debut at Port Macquarie on Friday for Paul Snowden. He is the first winner for Vergisson (NZ) (Nom Du Jeu {NZ}), a half-sister to Group 3 winner Order Again (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}).
Pariah moved from Arrowfield Stud to Oaklands Stud in Queensland in 2023 and is the sire of four stakes winners.
Nice win by Diamond Frost at Canberra
Trainers Keith Dryden and Libby Snowden enjoyed a winner at Canberra on Friday with 3-year-old gelding Diamond Frost (Frosted {USA}) who was having his second start. Raced by Laurel Oak Bloodstock and partners, Diamond Frost is the third foal and third winner for Everlasting Love (Your Song) who is a winning half-sister to stakes placed Vaucluse Bay (Al Maher).
Above The Clouds is Cambridge Polytrack Champion
Friday’s NZ$100,000 TAB Polytrack Championship at Cambridge was won by Ralph Manning-trained Above The Clouds (NZ) (Turn Me Loose {NZ}). “She drew the outside barrier and I was going to need a little bit of luck,” jockey Kelly Myers told Loveracing.nz.
Above The Clouds (NZ) | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (NZ)
“I don’t think it would have mattered how I rode her, she won pretty easily.” Above The Clouds has won eight of her 40 starts and over NZ$165,000. Ocean Park (NZ) sired a double on the same card with Mister Meaner (NZ) and Cyber Patch (NZ).
Sons And Lovers qualifies for Melbourne Cup
In winning Thursday’s G3 Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown, Joseph O’Brien-trained Sons And Lovers (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}) has qualified for the G1 Melbourne Cup. “He meets the qualifications now being a Group winner, he had to get placed today to do that (qualify), and as well as Melbourne there's a number of international races that would potentially suit him through the winter,” O’Brien said.
“I'd say that is a legitimate possibility. We'll see how he comes home from today, but my immediate thought would be to come back here Champions weekend for the mile-and-a-half, the Kilternan Stakes. That would be a logical stepping stone from here, and then we could look at travelling after that.”
Travel targets for Ghostwriter
Kevin Philippart de Foy has outlined plans to travel his new recruit Ghostwriter (Invincible Spirit) over next winter. Now training for Amo Racing, having replaced Raphael Freire at the operation's Freemason Lodge Stables in Newmarket, Philippart de Foy has had the 4-year-old under his wing since he reared over at Newmarket and was subsequently withdrawn from the Princess of Wales's Stakes when trained by Clive Cox.
“Ghostwriter is a really exciting horse, Clive has done an excellent job with him and now we just need to carry on that work,” he said of the G2 Royal Lodge Stakes winner.
Ghostwriter | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
“There will be some exciting winter targets and he is a horse that is probably going to be travelling over the winter and into next year as well. The idea for him is to become that high-profile flagbearer for the yard. We're just going to let him settle in and get used to surroundings and take our time with him. He's a highly-talented horse and we want to do everything right by him and once he tells us he's ready to run, we'll get him to the races.”
Hudbert joins Arqana
Solene Hudbert has been appointed to the Arqana bloodstock team and will gradually take charge of both Flat and National Hunt-bred yearling and store inspections.
A graduate of the Godolphin Flying Start programme, Hudbert has gained international experience working across the racing and breeding sectors, including spending a season foaling and sales preparation for the breeze-ups at Kildaragh Stud, and a season preparing yearlings for sale at Cambridge Stud in New Zealand. She has also worked as pupil assistant for trainers Johnny Murtagh, William Haggas, Jamie Richards and Nicolas Clement, before being assistant trainer for Mickael Seror, Richard and Will Freedman, and Peter Snowden.
Solene Hudbert | Image courtesy of Arqana
She said: “I am delighted to be joining the Arqana team and very excited about taking on this new challenge on my return to France. It is a wonderful opportunity to fully immerse myself in a dynamic team and a stimulating environment, directly linked to my passion for racing.”
Auctav to hold flat yearling sale
French sales house Auctav is set to stage its first solely Flat yearling sale at Haras de Bois Roussel on Saturday, September 13.
The 100-lot catalogue, which is now online, includes drafts from Haras de Petit Tellier, Haras de Colleville, Hestia Farm, and Haras du Long Champ and features a Galiway filly (lot 30) who traces back to Shadwell's hugely successful Height Of Fashion family, offered by Haras du Vieux Bourg.
Galiway's Group 1-winning son Sealiway has his first yearlings for sale this year and included in the Auctav offering is a colt from Haras du Chateau de Rabodanges whose dam Moon Power (Exceed And Excel) is a half-sister to Listed winner Shepherd Market (Reckless Abandon).
Galiway is best known in Australia as the sire of G1 Melbourne Cup favourite Vauban who won a trial recently on the way to his third attempt at the Cup.
