Fangirl to run in Memsie on Saturday
Trainer Chris Waller scratched Fangirl (Sebring) from Saturday’s G1 Winx Stakes due to the track conditions and will run her this Saturday in the G1 Memsie Stakes in Melbourne. “Fangirl will run in the Memsie. She will gallop there Tuesday to get used to the track,” Waller told racenet.com.au.
Fangirl | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“The tracks (in Melbourne) dry pretty quickly. They have a big track, they raced there a few weeks ago nine metres off the fence with fresh ground. You'd hate to be on the back foot and her second-up run will probably be down there anyway.” She will likely be joined by stablemates Moira (Can) (Ghostzapper {USA}), Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet Rock), and Anisette (GB) (Awtaad {Ire}).
King Of Pop to resume in San Domenico
Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained 3-year-old colt King Of Pop (Farnan) will resume in Saturday’s G3 San Domenico Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday. “His second trial was really good and it was good to get that sort of trial into him after they were pushed back a bit,” Alexiou told racingandsports.com.au.
King Of Pop | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“He has a pretty solid foundation for his first-up run now. He's come back really well. He was a really strong 2-year-old and he has needed the two trials to bring him to his peak but I'm happy with how he's going.” He won the G3 Black Opal at two last season.
Rothfire and Abounding head to Melbourne
Rob Heathcote-trained Rothfire (Rothesay) and Abounding (Rich Enuff) will head to Melbourne on Thursday ahead of Group 1 campaigns. “It’s well-documented he’s (Rothfire) had a lifetime of leg issues, but he’s currently sound, he’s healthy. Yes, he’s eight years old, but he’s only got 30-odd races on his clock,” Heathcote told racing.com.
Rob Heathcote | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“The recent Winter Carnival he had, where he ran a really close second in the Doomben 10,000, suggests that he’s back to his best. With his liking for Moonee Valley, well let’s have a crack at the Moir and the Manikato. Why not?”
“I’m going to kick (Abounding) off on Saturday. It’s a bit of an ask flying in Thursday night and racing on Saturday, first time the Melbourne way of going but I’ve done it successfully in the past. She’ll run in the Cockram Stakes and then I think she’ll be better suited over 1400m at Flemington on the 13th of September (in the Let’s Elope Stakes). I think there’s another set weights fillies and mares race after that, with an ultimate goal of running in the 1600m Group 1 (Empire Rose Stakes) later in the carnival.”
Lazy Mr Brightside ready for Memsie challenge
Lindsay Park’s Hayes brothers are happy with the way their multiple Group 1 winner Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) has tuned up ahead of the G1 Memsie Stakes on Saturday. “People are allowed opinions. I was very happy with (the trial). He was out there to have a good hit out … that was the whole purpose,” co-trainer Ben Hayes told racenet.com.au.
Mr Brightside (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“We didn't want him to go to the line on the bridle, he needs a hard hit out to come on in fitness. He turns up race day, he's a lazy track worker … it's him. He's a smart horse too, he doesn't over exert himself and that's the reason he's been around at the top level for four years.
“If anything he's more forward, he's got a much better coat this year. Last year he was a hairy mammoth first-up. This year he's got a healthy shine, it's still a winter coat but it looks very healthy … we're very happy with him. Has not put a foot wrong this whole prep … he's an amazing horse, he responds to the prep and gets better and better … he always runs well first-up and improves. He's showing us no signs he's not going to do the same thing, a tough, genuine horse and I think he'll show everyone that again.”
Dolan suspension dates altered to allow Group 1 ride
Jockey Robbie Dolan incurred a suspension on Saturday at Eagle Farm and was initially going to miss the G1 Makybe Diva Stakes, where he was due to reconnect with G1 Melbourne Cup winner Knight’s Choice (Extreme Choice). Dolan was successful in bringing his appeal forward by one day, so will miss riding from August 31 to September 12 and will be available for the G1 Makybe Diva. “There's no pressure. You've got nothing to lose and everything to gain,” Dolan told racenet.com.au on Sunday.
Robbie Dolan | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan Photography
“If you just prepare as much as you can and have confidence in yourself then there's no need to have pressure. If you're sitting at home not riding then you'd be thinking ‘geez I wish I was there riding'. When you get that bit of pressure it's good. You've just got to harness it and use it as a strength.”
North Pacific adds winner number four
Second season sire North Pacific added winner number four when Chris and Corey Munce-trained 3-year-old filly Castiglione won at Kilcoy on Sunday. Munce Racing purchased her from Alexia Fraser Bloodstock’s Magic Millions March Yearling Sale for $32,000.
Castiglione is the second winner for The Countess (Mossman) who is an unraced half-sister to Group 3-placed Reformist (Dissident).
Spread The Love wins on debut for Seib
Trainer Danielle Seib opened the card on Goulburn Cup day with the debut victory by 3-year-old gelding Spread The Love (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) who was purchased at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale for NZ$30,000 by Champion Thoroughbreds from the Prima Park draft. He is the second foal and first winner for Sexy Pins (NZ) (Pins) who is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Better Than Ever (French Deputy {USA}).
Brad Widdup-trained Ruby Flyer (Flying Artie) won the Goulburn Cup and earned Big Dance eligibility.
Gingerbread Man’s weekend keep improving
After siring the trifecta of the Listed Idyllic Prince Stakes on Saturday, Gingerbread Man added a 3-year-old winner at Kalgoorlie on Sunday with Ashley Maley-trained gelding Ellovaman who was having his fourth start.
Ellovaman is a half-brother to Group 3-placed American Choice (All American) and both are out of seven-race winner Elle Choisit (Choisir).
Pair of proven sires at Moe enjoy 3-year-old winners
At Moe on Sunday, proven sires Toronado (Ire) and Star Turn each enjoyed an early spring 3-year-old winner. Shane Nichols-trained filly Torsheen (Toronado {Ire}) won at her second start and she was withdrawn as a yearling. She is a half-sister to Group 3 winner De Sonic Boom (Spirit Of Boom) and a full sister to Listed winner Laverrod.
Pat Carey and Harris Walker-trained gelding La Astro Chat (Star Turn) won the second on the card by 1.75l at his third start. Purchased by Pat Carey Racing for $30,000 from Miranda Park’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale draft, La Astro Chat is the fourth foal and second winner for La Chatte (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}).
At Victoria’s other meeting on Sunday, Strasbourg sired a double at Swan Hill with 4-year-olds Myers Delight and No Overtaking.
Victorian Country Awards announced
Country Racing Victoria have announced the winners of their annual country awards. Warrnambool Racing Club won Club of the Year, while Horsham & District Racing Club were awarded Community Club of the Year for the best club with six or fewer meetings. The Event of the Year went to the Wodonga Gold Cup and the Community Club Event of the Year went to the Seppelt Great Western Cup.
Aaron Purcell-trained Dashing (Magnus) won Country Horse of the Year, and Linsday Park won the George Hanlon Trophy for country trainers of the year. Linda Meech claimed a fifth Neville Wilson Medal for Country jockey of the year, while the apprentice award went to Logan Bates.
The Jack Styring Country Racing Victoria Media Award was won by Quill McQuilty from The Buloke Times, and the Tony Shanahan Award for services to Country Racing was awarded to Frank Bezzina, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Latrobe Valley Racing Club.
Cahill added to Gold Coast Hall of Fame
Group 1-winning jockey Michael Cahill was inducted into the Gold Coast Turf Club Hall of Fame last week. “My family and a few close friends knew but they kept it a secret from me, they got me to the awards night under false pretences,” Cahill told racenet.com.au on Sunday.
“I'm very humbled. In the racing game, jockeys have to make a lot of sacrifices and I have missed out on a lot of family commitments over the years so it was so great to have my family by my side for this.” Cahill currently works for Racing Queensland as a jockey mentor.
Brockman honoured in WA
Trainer Vern Brockman was honoured with the Spirit Of Racing Award at the 2025 WA Racing Awards and Hall of Fame gala on Saturday night. Nicknamed the Earl Of Vasse, Brockman retired from training aged 84 last September with his final winner being Toropa (Toronado {Ire}).
Racing WA reported on Sunday that his great-great-great-grandfather William Locke Brockman won the first thoroughbred race held in WA with a horse named Margeaux in 1836. Brockman began as a champion show jumping rider, before becoming a trainer and was Perth’s champion trainer in 1980. In a career that spanned nearly 600 wins, highlighted by two G1 Railway Stakes with Alpine Wind in 1977 and Old Fashion in 2002, Brockman is known for his sense of humour, his common touch and his affection and love of grassroots racing.
Grylls out with finger injury
Last season’s New Zealand Jockeys’ Premiership winner Craig Grylls will miss the next few weeks with a broken finger. “I did it at trackwork and didn’t really think much about it, although it was quite sore once I had cooled down,” Grylls told Loveracing.nz.
Craig Grylls | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
“I was going to ride at Ruakaka last Saturday but when I tried to grip the reins I couldn’t close my fist, so I had to give that idea away. I went to the Doctor and got it x-rayed and it showed I had a fracture in the middle finger of my right hand. I’m right-handed so that probably makes it a little worse. They told me it should only take two to three weeks to heal so I’m hoping that’s the case as it is that time of the year when things are just starting to hot up.”
Kalpana set for G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
Juddmonte homebred Kalpana (Study Of Man) will follow the path of dual G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Enable (Nathaniel) when she lines up in the G3 September Stakes at Kempton next month before a start at ParisLongchamp. Already a winner of the 2024 edition, the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes second was also under consideration for the G1 Prix Vermeille.
Trained by Andrew Balding, the 2024 G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes heroine has placed in all three 2025 starts, with a third in the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup kickstarting her 4-year-old season before a second in the G1 Pretty Polly Stakes behind recent G1 Nassau Stakes victress Whirl (Wootton Bassett) in June. She was only a length behind Calandagan (Gleneagles) in the King George in July.
Said Juddmonte's racing manager Barry Mahon, “We've decided she's going to go to Kempton for the September Stakes I think. The timing suits, she hasn't won a race this year so I think Andrew is keen to get her head in front. She's already travelled to Ireland twice and she'll have to travel to France in October, so the attraction of staying at home is more alluring… The Arc is an open race and we're in there with a chance as one of the favourites, it's nice to have a contender.”
Wootton Bassett sired Group 2 juvenile double for O’Brien
Completing The Curragh's Futurity-Debutante double on Saturday for Aidan O'Brien and Wayne Lordan, Composing (Wootton Bassett) justified 4-5 favouritism without any hint of concern in the Group 2 contest. “She's a lovely straightforward filly and when she got there she was very laid-back and very professional,” the master of Ballydoyle said. “If all is well, the Moyglare is the plan.”
Making it win number 18 for Aidan O'Brien in Saturday's G2 Coolmore Stud Wootton Bassett Tom Cooper Irish EBF Futurity Stakes, Constitution River (Wootton Bassett) dominated the Curragh contest from start to finish to stake his Classic claims for 2026. “He's a lovely, straightforward horse. He'd a lovely run first time and was still very green when he won the next day. Obviously, you have to look at the National Stakes with him and he's going to be very happy going up in trip whenever that time comes,” O’Brien said.
