Nellie Leylax thrives in sodden G3 Premier’s Cup
Winner of five of his nine starts in Europe, it took 5-year-old gelding Nellie Leylax (Ire) (Calyx {GB}) six starts to break through for a victory in Australia. The Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained gelding relished the Heavy conditions at Randwick to bolt home in the G3 Premier’s Cup over 2000 metres by nearly 3 lengths. “He has been up for a little while now and we've always thought he was probably not too far away from a break but that was a great effort,” Rob Archibald said.
“Alysha (Collett) rated him beautifully outside the lead. He is getting better each run this preparation and it was nice to see him put it together. He does relish it (heavy tracks). He relished it in Europe and handling it really well here. This win will give him a lot of confidence and it's nice for the connections who have been very patient throughout the preparation, to see him score a good win.”
A private purchase by his Australian connections, Nellie Laylax was originally a Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling graduate for €20,000 (AU$36,100). He becomes the ninth stakes winner for recently deceased former shuttle stallion Calyx (GB), and is out of Lovelocks (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) whose 3-year-old filly Love Talk (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) recently ran third in the G2 Lancashire Oaks. Nellie Laylax’s third dam, stakes placed Civility (GB) (Shirley Heights {GB}) is the fifth dam of Group 1 winner Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}) and Bosustow (Blue Point {Ire}).
Sterling Express comes of age in G2 Foxbridge Plate
Gloria Macrae and Brian McKeagg’s homebred 5-year-old gelding Sterling Express (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) added his first stakes victory when winning Saturday’s G2 Foxbridge Plate at Te Rapa. “That’s very satisfying. I thought he was pretty good, but he’s actually even better than I thought,” trainer Mark Brosnan told Loveracing.nz.
“I wasn’t too worried after his slow start. He’s done that before and shown that he can run home. But I was a bit surprised how well he did it against such a strong field. Masa rode to the plan we thought up, and the horse did the rest. It’s a good result. We obviously have to go to the (G1) Proisir Plate now. That’s going to be a stronger field again, but we’ve got to go there after that run.”
Sterling Express becomes the 15th stakes winner for Shamexpress (NZ), and is the second foal of city winner On Parole (NZ) (Keeper) who first foal is a city winning full sister to Sterling Express named Grace ‘n’ Glory (NZ).
Stakes trifecta for Gingerbread Man
Having won the Listed Belmont Newmarket last start, Chris and Michael Gangemi-trained Phanta (Gingerbread Man) backed it up on Saturday with victory in the Listed Idyllic Prince Stakes. The 8-year-old gelding won by 2.5l from Fluro Neuro (Gingerbread Man) with Ginger Baker (Gingerbread Man) in third.
Local sire Gingerbread Man enjoyed the trifecta and he is the sire of eight stakes winners in total. A $5000 graduate of the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale from Scenic Lodge’s draft, Phanta has earnings over $640,000. His dam, Dubi Dubi Do (Dubai Destination {USA}) was unraced and she had only four foals, with Phanta being the second last one.
Powerhouse lives up to name with maiden win
Peter Snowden-trained 3-year-old colt Powerhouse (Extreme Choice) won Newcastle’s Super Maiden on Saturday at his third start, having previously placed. Sold by Newgate Farm for $200,000 to Trilogy Racing and Snowden Racing at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Powerhouse is the fourth foal and fourth winner for Awoke (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) who is a city winning half-sister to Group 3 winner Cismontane (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}).
Powerhouse as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Impressive Country God makes it three from four
Neville Parnham-trained 3-year-old gelding Country God (Playing God) took his record to three wins from his last four starts with earnings over $128,000 with a strong 2.5l win at Belmont. He was an $80,000 purchase by his trainer from Yarradale Stud’s Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale draft and is the first foal of City Circle (City Place {USA}).
Consistent Bacash makes it two
Lindsay Park sent 3-year-old colt Bacash (Cosmic Force) to Morphettville on Saturday and he added to his consistent record to make it two wins from seven starts with earnings over $143,000. He was sold by Robyn Wise for $120,000 at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale to Blade Racing who sent him back to Robyn Wise for the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where he sold to Lindsay Park for $200,000.
Capitalist filly wins at Newcastle
Trainers Richard and Will Freedman’s 3-year-old filly Vivian’s Express (Capitalist) won her season debut at Newcastle on Saturday to become the nineteenth winner from Capitalist’s fifth crop. Her previous start was in the G3 Magic Night Stakes.
Purchased by her trainers from Newhaven Park Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft for $160,000, Vivian’s Express is the second foal and first winner for Listed winner Say Yes To The Dress (USA) (Congrats {USA}).
Mongolian Mission wins on debut
At Wangaratta on Saturday, Danny O’Brien-trained 3-year-old gelding Mongolian Mission (Dubious) won on debut. Initially sold by Telemon Thoroughbreds at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $10,000 to Fraser Auret Racing, he was consigned for the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale by Phoenix Park where he was purchased by Khan Altai Resource for NZ$30,000.
He becomes the fifth winner from five to race for Exceed And Excel mare Tinjirarni who is a city winning half-sister to Group 1 winner Apercu (Encosta De Lago).
Mongolian Mission as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Queensland 3-year-old winners in the country
Dingo in Queensland was the location for the first win for 3-year-old filly Emerald Joy (Rock Study) for trainer Glenda Bell. She became the sixth winner for her sire who is a son of Fastnet Rock, and is the only foal of Artemis Girl (Golden Archer). Trainer Joshua Manzelmann won at Cairns with 3-year-old Supid Date (Supido) who took her record to two wins from eight starts, and is the fourth winner for Lucky Romance (Lucky Unicorn) who is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Masquerader (Lucky Owners).
Saturday Sire doubles
Snitzel sired a double at Moonee Valley with Listed Carlyon Stakes winner Baraqiel and exciting 3-year-old colt Bingi. Not A Single Doubt enjoyed a double at Morphettville with Listed Leon MacDonald Stakes winner Café Millenium and Broadbeach Miss, while Belardo (Ire) also had a double at the same meeting with Super Alana (NZ) and Anotherhouse (NZ).
Alabama Express sired a double at Newcastle with 4-year-olds Hurry Miss and Alabama Blitz. At Charleville, Heroic Valour sired a double with Triscay’s War Pass and Boss Bandit. Magnus sired a double at Kununurra with Dummy Spit and Thank God I Gothim.
Unbeaten Elle Sourit makes it three
Andrew Forsman-trained 4-year-old mare Elle Sourit (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) took her unbeaten record to three with a win over 1500 metres at Te Rapa on Saturday. “It was a good effort today as they only went steadily in front and she looked to hit a bit of a flat spot halfway down the straight,” Forsman said.
“It was a game effort as Joe (Doyle) timed it perfectly and she hit the line well. Physically there is still not a lot of her as she is taking her fair time to mature but she is a winner and hopefully she can keep doing that.” Forsman didn’t want to talk about her next step at this stage, but she does hold a nomination for the G1 Livamol Classic at Ellerslie on Saturday October 18.
Passed in as a yearling, she is one of two winners from two to race for Group 3 winner Bel Sorriso (NZ) (Keeper).
Quartet of winners at Te Rapa for Keeper
Cambridge Stud’s former stallion Keeper enjoyed four winners on the Te Rapa card as damsire, led by Sterling Express who won the G2 Foxbridge Plate and unbeaten Elle Sourit. Lord Goliath (NZ) (Embellish {NZ}) won for the second time in his career and he is out of Strenua (NZ) (Keeper), while 4-year-old mare Tenfoot Tall (NZ) (Staphanos {Jpn}) took her record to two wins from five starts. Tenfoot Tall is out of Anisette (NZ) (Keeper).
Vale Ron Turcotte
Secretariat's jockey, Ron Turcotte, passed away Friday at the age of 84.
The news was confirmed by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in a statement reading: “Ron was a legendary rider and also an inspiration for all he achieved and overcame during his incredible life. Although best known for sweeping the Triple Crown with Secretariat–culminating with a 31-length victory in the 1973 Belmont Stakes–Turcotte's Hall of Fame career spanned 18 years and more than 3,000 wins. As an ambassador for both the sport and the legacy of the great Secretariat, Ron made countless people into fans of racing through his kindness and the time he gave to all, whether telling stories about Big Red, signing autographs, or posing for pictures. He was a fierce competitor on the track and a gentleman off of it. He will forever be remembered as one of the game's greats.”
Inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1979, Turcotte won 3,032 races, but will always be remembered as the primary rider for the great Secretariat.
Winning the Sanford, Hopeful, Futurity, the Laurel Futurity and the Garden State Stakes as a 2-year-old, Secretariat was named 1972 Horse of the Year. He repeated that feat in1973, thanks in large part to a historic romp through the Triple Crown races. The best of the best came in the Belmont Stakes, which Secretariat won by 31 lengths. The horse was running so fast early that some worried that Turcotte had blown the race and that Secretarial would have nothing left for the stretch.
“I knew we were putting Sham and the rest far behind us with Secretariat's long, loping strides,” Turcotte told Tom Pedulla in 2018. “I knew he was going to have no trouble getting the mile and a half. I peeked and the other horses must have been 15-20 lengths behind. Now, the only race was against the clock.”
Turcotte's career ended tragically on July 13, 1978 when he was involved in a spill at Belmont Park when aboard a filly named Flag of Leyte Gulf. The injuries left him a paraplegic. Turcotte never did walk again, but he stayed active in the sport, making numerous appearances at racetracks to celebrate his career and to raise awareness for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. After his career ended, he moved back to New Brunswick and settled in the town of Grand Falls. In 2015, Grand Falls honoured him with a life-sized statue of him riding Secretariat.
Tributes flow for Turcotte
The Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund Chairman William Punk, Jr. released a statement, saying: “The Board of Directors of the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund and its recipients mourn the passing of one our greatest champions and ambassadors. Ron's tireless advocacy and efforts on behalf of his fellow fallen rider is beyond measure. Although he is appropriately recognized as a member of the Racing Hall of Fame for his accomplishments in the saddle, his contributions to the PDJF established him as a giant in the hearts of all associated with this organization. His memory and his impact will live on forever. Our thoughts and prayers are with Gaetane, their daughters and his family and friends at this difficult time.”
The National HBPA added, “The National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association joins the entire racing community in mourning the passing of Ron Turcotte, one of the sport's most celebrated and beloved jockeys. Best remembered as the rider of Secretariat during the unforgettable 1973 Triple Crown, Ron's place in racing history is secure. Yet beyond the record-breaking victories, he was admired for his humility, courage and lifelong dedication to Thoroughbred racing. His legacy will forever be intertwined with the greatness of our sport. On behalf of horsemen and horsewomen across the country, we extend our deepest condolences to Ron's family, friends and all who were touched by his remarkable life.”
The New York Racing Association's President & CEO David O'Rourke also extended tribute, saying: “Ron Turcotte will be forever remembered for guiding Secretariat to Triple Crown glory in 1973. While his courage as a jockey was on full display to a nation of adoring fans during that electrifying time, it was after he faced a life altering injury that we learned about the true character of Ron Turcotte. By devoting himself to supporting fellow jockeys struggling through similar injuries, Ron Turcotte built a legacy defined by kindness and compassion. NYRA extends our sympathies to Ron Turcotte's family and friends, and we join the horse racing community in mourning his loss.”
Woodbine Entertainment's Executive Chair Jim Lawson wrote: “Ron Turcotte was a true Canadian icon whose impact on horse racing is immeasurable. From his incredible journey aboard Secretariat to his lifelong commitment to the sport, Ron carried himself with humility, strength, and dignity. His legacy in racing, both here at Woodbine and around the world, will live forever. We mourn his loss and celebrate a life that inspired many.”
Dunlop announces Stable Capital
Former Group-winning trainer Harry Dunlop has announced his involvement with financial and racing specialists Stable Capital, a new company aimed at assisting racehorse trainers to balance the books and access financing options.
Dunlop retired from training in 2022 and is an advocate for modernising the business side of the sport. “For years I saw trainers struggling with the same problem – unpredictable costs, uneven cashflow, and too much time spent on paperwork instead of horses,” he said.
“Stable Capital is designed to change that. It's a simple, transparent solution that lets trainers focus on the thrill of racing, not the stress of admin. My career in racing taught me that success depends on great horses, great people, and sound financial planning. With Stable Capital, we're giving trainers the support they need to enjoy this great sport while keeping their finances in balance.”
