El Alamien disqualified after accidental ring-in
Trainer Paul Jordan took two horses to Northam on Thursday and unfortunately saddled the wrong one for race two. Initially, 3-year-old gelding El Alamein (Rommel) was given the victory, but the accidental ring-in was discovered and it was 4-year-old gelding Urquharts Bluff (Sessions) who had actually won the race (and was subsequently scratched from race six). The winner, Urquharts Bluff posing as El Alamein, was disqualified and the race awarded to Neville Parnham-trained 3-year-old gelding Xentaro (Nicconi) who has crossed the line in second.
“The correct horses were identified when they were presented on arrival at the course and it was from there that our checking system went awry where there's a secondary check by the Racing and Wagering (WA) starters,” Racing and Wagering Western Australia Chief Steward Brad Lewis said.
El Alamein as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“It was the responsibility of one of those starters today to check the horses once they were saddled and presented in the yard for the race and that's where the system went awry. The starter hasn't identified that the horse presented for race two was the wrong horse.
“Given correct weight was issued bets have been paid so I can understand there are punters that are going to be livid with what has happened. The horse will be disqualified, the starter involved in the incident has been stood down pending an investigation into what and how it occurred.
“(Trainer) Mr Jordan has been charged under the rule that deals with presentation. He pleaded guilty and I'm led to believe he's extremely remorseful and knows he should have picked it up. Our checks and balances failed badly and a full investigation will be conducted into the incident.”
El Alamein has had two starts, while Urquharts Bluff was a winner on debut at three and has had three official race day starts. Both are bay geldings.
Maher pair to resume in Memsie
Ciaron Maher-trained pair of Zardozi (Kingman {GB}), who he recently inherited from James Cummings, and stable stalwart Another Wil (Street Boss {USA}) will resume in Saturday’s G1 Memsie Stakes. “(Zardozi) has got a lot of quality. She's won a lot of stake money and she was one of Godolphin's banner horses and still is. She's arrived in really good order,” assistant trainer Jack Turnbull told racing.com.
“She avoided the Winx Stakes due to the ground and has come down here to kick off. We can't fault her, she had a nice bit of work on Monday and naturally the seven is going to be a bit sharp but it's a nice stepping stone to better races in the coming weeks.
“(Another Wil) is a lot bigger, a lot stronger, which we do have to factor in for Saturday given that he is so much bigger. We've drawn ideally in three, we should be able to park just behind the speed, whether it be one-one or a couple of pairs back. As we all know it's an extremely competitive field but he's got the form and how he's trialled up would suggest that he's going to run very well, but there is good improvement to go second and third-up towards the Cox Plate.”
Best Of The Best leaps into stakes class
A winner on debut, 3-year-old colt Best Of The Best (Written Tycoon) will jump into the G3 HDF McNeil Stakes for his second start on Saturday. “But we don't do it without good reason,” co-trainer Michael Kent Jnr told racingandsports.com.au.
Michael Kent Jnr | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“We clearly like the colt. He's a beautiful animal. He won with a bit in hand at Sale whilst it wasn't a big margin. It was quite a wet track that day and it's not his best ground. We've given him time between runs, and he's really strengthened and come on and I thought he worked really well at Caulfield on Tuesday morning.”
Schiller keen for Devil Night to stay in Sydney
Jockey Tyler Schiller is hoping G1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Devil Night (Extreme Choice) will stay in Sydney for Saturday’s G3 San Domenico Stakes, but the 3-year-old is also dual nominated for the G3 HDF McNeil Stakes in Melbourne. “Devil Night is going well and has come back in good order,” Schiller told racenet.com.au.
Devil Night | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He's got really good credentials so hopefully he can keep impressing as a 3-year-old. Either way he is going to be a good stallion and it would be nice to get a couple more big wins on the board with him. It's all much of the same form, it just could be a matter of who handles the track on the weekend when we get there, if it's still rain affected.”
Rivellino to be competitive in San Domenico
Trainer Kris Lees believes 3-year-old colt Rivellino (Too Darn Hot {GB}) is a better horse than his last G3 San Domenico Stakes winner Graff. “Graff was favourite for the Sires in Brisbane and went to the paddock and came back to win this. He hadn’t been beaten at the time but he hadn’t raced at the level this horse competed at as a 2-year-old,” Lees told racingnsw.com.au.
Rivellino | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“(Rivellino) was never a real big horse, probably more typical of the sire stock which is fine. He’s just a racehorse for mine, he looks the part to me. I can’t fault him, he’s got plenty of room for improvement off the run which I’m sure they all would. I’d expect him to be competitive and set up nicely for the campaign.”
Grand Prairie’s big heart to be tested in Up & Coming
Trainer Peter Snowden thinks 3-year-old colt Grand Prairie (Written Tycoon)’s big heart will carry him a long way in Saturday’s G3 Up & Coming Stakes. “He's probably going to struggle against the A grade horses but I’m trying to find a level where he can be competitive and go from that,” Snowden told racingnsw.com.au.
Peter Snowden | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He’s a trier. I don’t think he’s reached his full potential yet and I thought it was a better option than going to the Run To The Rose. He’s drawn a good gate to get a good run and if he settles well he’ll run well.”
Winner number 11 for King’s Legacy
Second season sire King’s Legacy added his 11th winner when 3-year-old gelding Borus’ Legacy won on debut at Rockhampton on Thursday for trainer Clinton Taylor. Borus’ Legacy has been to through the sales ring four times, initially being offered by Riversdale Farm at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale where he was purchased by Redwall Bloodstock for $160,000.
King’s Legacy | Standing at Coolmore Australia
Passed in at both the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and Inglis Ready To Race Sale, Borus’ Legacy was purchased by Taylor at the March 2025 Inglis Digital Sale for $6500. Borus’ Legacy earned $12,800 with his debut win.
Borus’ Legacy is a half-brother to Listed winner Princess Duhallow (Shalaa {Ire}), and he becomes the fourth winner for Duhallow (Denman).
The Autumn Sun adds 3-year-old winner
The Autumn Sun is back in action for 2025 after missing 2024 through injury and on Thursday, his 3-yar-old gelding Autumn Break won on debut at Wagga for trainer Kym Davison. Purchased by Davison Racing Stables for $40,000 from Arrowfield Stud’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft, Autumn Break is the second winner for Isdaal (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who won four races in England.
Vivika makes it two at Murwillumbah
Exceedance 3-year-old filly Vivika added her second win from four starts on Thursday at Murwillumbah for trainer Matthew Dunn. Not offered at auction, Vivika is the second foal of La Scopa (Show A Heart) who is in foal to Maurice, and is a stakes placed winner of five races.
Cosmic Force filly wins at Bendigo
Trainer Grahame Begg’s 3-year-old filly Eco Force (Cosmic Force) opened the card at Bendigo on Thursday with a tight victory over 1100 metres. She was having her third start, having placed at the same track on debut. Purchased by Contract Racing from Murrulla Stud’s Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale draft for $50,000, she is the first foal of Millington (Dick Turpin {Ire}). Millington is a winning half-sister to Group 3 winner Graceful Anna (Canny Lad).
Fastoso lives up to name for Eurell
Greg Eurell-trained 3-year-old gelding Fastoso (Shamus Award) lived up to his moniker when dashing away with a 1.25 length victory at Bendigo on Thursday at his third start. Fastoso graduated from Yarraman Park Stud’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale draft when purchased by S Wang, J Chan, and Golden River Investments for $125,000.
He is the first foal of Kentucky Tornado (USA) (Mizzen Mast {USA}) who placed in France before winning four races in Australia. She is in foal to Pinatubo (Ire).
Trio of 3-year-olds win in WA
West Australia’s Northam meeting saw a trio of early spring 3-year-olds greet the judge. We covered Xentaro (Nicconi) earlier. Jim Taylor-trained gelding Swingman (Brutal {NZ}) resumed with a win, having run mid-field in the Listed Perth Stakes at his only start at two. Sold by Rheinwood Pastoral at the Inglis HTBA Sale for $90,000 to JCS Thoroughbreds who on-sold him at the Inglis Ready To Race Sale for $22,000 to his trainer, Swingman is the second winner for New Summer Night (Manhattan Rain) who is in foal to Wild Ruler.
Swingman | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
Swift Talker (I’m All The Talk) won on debut for trainer Simon Miller, and the gelding was bought by Miller from Ruby Racing and Breeding for $80,000 at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale. He is the first foal of winning mare Swift Serenity (Epualette), a half-sister to Listed winner How’s The Serenity (Magnus).
First winner for Coroebus
Doug Gorrel-trained 4-year-old gelding Sunroe (Coroebus) became the first winner for his sire when he won at Wagga on Thursday by 1.69 lengths over 1400 metres. Coroebus has only nine named foals and is a placed son of Group 1 winner Circles Of Gold (Marscay), making him a half-brother to Group 1 winners and sires Elvestroem and Haradasun.
Of note for line breeding enthusiasts, Sunroe is the second foal of winning mare Sunwisp (Haradasun), thereby creating a 2x3 cross of Circles Of Gold.
Vale Geoff Lewis, jockey of Mill Reef
Geoff Lewis, rider of the great Mill Reef and later a key figure on the Epsom training scene, has died at the age of 89.
The Welshman was aboard the Ian Balding-trained Mill Reef when he won the both the Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 1971, an association that was the highlight of a hugely successful career in the saddle. Lewis partnered the colt to win 12 of his 14 starts, with his other Group 1 victories during that exceptional 3-year-old season coming in the Eclipse and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Mill Reef's Derby featured among five British Classic triumphs for Lewis, who also celebrated a famous win in the the 1959 Stewards' Cup aboard Tudor Monarch, owned by Sir Winston Churchill. Queen Elizabeth II's Magna Carta was another significant ally when winning the Ascot Stakes and Doncaster Cup in 1970.
After retiring from the saddle in 1979, Lewis began training from Thirty Acre Barn in Epsom. From a relatively small stable he enjoyed great success with horses such as the top sprinter Lake Coniston, who he trained for Highclere Thoroughbred Racing in the early days of their enterprise. Lake Coniston's triumphs included the July Cup and the Duke Of York.
“It is incredibly sad news. Geoff really got us going at Highclere,” said Harry Herbert, founder and chairman of the syndicate.
“He trained our first champion, Lake Coniston, to win the July Cup in 1995 and he was such an incredible character. Anyone who had horses with us and Geoff in those early days will never forget the stable visits. His daughter Mary would cook our members the most delicious lunches and Geoff and his wife Noelene were like a double act. They were wonderful; warm, welcoming and great entertainers.”
First season sire Minzaal tops Day 1 of Goffs UK
Jane Allison's Manor Farm draft made a late splash on day one of the Goffs Premier Yearling Sale, shooting to the top of the charts with a homebred filly from the first crop of Group 1 winner Minzaal. A good-walking filly with an attitude to match, the daughter of the Listed winner Hateya (Mastercraftsman) caught the eye of Shadwell racing manager Angus Gold, who duly went to £190,000 (AU$393,000) to secure her for the operation.
Gold said of lot 205, “We like to support our stallions where we can and I came up here to have a good look at them all. We've got three at home which we like a lot and, like everybody, I was impressed with the (Minzaal) foals last year and I have been impressed with what I've seen here.
“There weren't any in France so this was the first chance we've had to see them and I just thought that this filly had a bit extra about her. She was as nice a filly as I saw. She had a good good outlook about her and is a lovely mover. She's a good advertisement for the stallion and if there are a few more that look like her he'll do alright.”
But it was Highflyer's Anthony Bromley and owner Phil Cunningham dominated the Goffs Premier Yearling Sale for the third year in succession, coming away from day one with six horses bought for a combined sum of £717,000 (AU$1.48 million). That spend included one of the most expensive horses sold on Wednesday – a Showcasing half-brother to high-class sprinter Washington Heights – at £180,000 (AU$372,000).
The day one aggregate was down by 6% to £7,796,000 (AU$16.1 million), the average climbed 12% to £45,326 (AU$93,900) and the median by 13% to £34,000 (AU$70,400). The clearance rate rested at 87% with 172 of the 198 horses offered finding buyers.
Texas responds to kill pen scandal with ban for buyer
Executive Director of the Texas Thoroughbred Association Tracy Sheffield posted a message on the TTA's Facebook page concerning a buyer at Tuesday's annual yearling sale named David O'Dwyer, who purchased 11 horses at the Lone Star Park auction for prices ranging from $1,000 to $2,200. The story appeared on The Paulick Report.
Sheffield's statement said: “We are aware of the online reports of horses from our yearling sale this week appearing in suspected kill pen advertisements on social media. We are infuriated and saddened to see this. For reference, we have taken steps to rule off suspected kill pen buyers from our sales grounds in recent years. At this year's sale, this buyer who signed the tickets as 'David O'Dwyer' was not a suspected kill pen buyer to us, but as soon as we got wind of what may have been going on, we ejected him from the sale and he is banned from making any future purchases with us.
“Unfortunately, by the time we suspected the activity, he had purchased and, as a result based on the terms and conditions of our sale, legally owned the yearlings he had purchased. We spoke to the buyer at the sale and we reached him by phone today. He claims these horses are not to be killed and that owners/breeders can buy the horses back. We are working to find a solution to this situation which is absolutely unacceptable.”
