Revelare adds local flavour to Cup with Archer win
Trainer Robert Hickmott has a chance to win his third G1 Melbourne Cup after locally bred 5-year-old gelding Revelare (So You Think {NZ}) gained a ballot free entry with his win in Saturday’s G3 The Archer at Flemington. “We don't work him hard, you wouldn't give two bob for him the way he works at home but he's just a natural athlete,” Hickmott said.
Revelare won by 0.4 lengths from Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Mormona (Fr) (Morandi {Fr}) with Ciaron Maher-trained Sayedaty Sadaty (Ire) (Anodin {Ire}) in third. Revelare has now won eight of his 11 starts with earnings over $540,000, and was purchased by his trainer for $130,000 from Daisy Hill’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale draft.
Watchme Win continues to live up to his name
Saturday’s Listed WH Wylie Stakes was won by the appropriately named Watchme Win (Harry Angel {Ire}) who was a Group 3 winner last season. Trained by Andrew Gluyas, the 5-year-old gelding beat Michael Hickmott-trained Fancify (NZ) (Niagara) and Richard and Chantelle Jolly-trained Aviatress (Smart Missile).
Watchme Win has won six of his 13 starts and over $320,000. He was sold by Noorilim Park to Macdonald and Gluyas Racing for $160,000 at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Miss Starlight stays unbeaten with Canterbury Belle Stakes victory
John and Karen Parsons-trained, owned and bred 3-year-old filly Miss Starlight (NZ) (Sweynesse) remained unbeaten with her third win from as many starts in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes on Saturday in New Zealand. “I had a handful (of horse) into the straight and I thought I had a chance but I didn’t know she would do that,” jockey Tina Comignaghi said.
“She is a very exciting filly for the rest of the Spring.” She is being aimed at the G1 NZ 1000 Guineas on November 8. Her dam, Firelight (NZ) (Fantastic Light {USA}), has also produced stakes placed Fire Show (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}), and is from the family of successful sire Tavistock (NZ). Miss Starlight became the eighth stakes winner for Sweynesse.
Snow Mercy wins at Morphettville
Philip Stokes-trained 3-year-old filly Snow Mercy (Toronado {Ire}) added an important Saturday city win at her second start at Morphettville, having run second on debut. Passed in as a yearling, Snow Mercy is the fourth winner from five runners for Snow Surrender (Sepoy), a half-sister to Listed winner Adelong (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}).
Dundeel’s Master Of The Air resumes with a win
Chris Waller-trained 3-year-old colt Master Of The Air (Dundeel {NZ}) resumed at three with a win at Kembla Grange on Saturday. He had two starts at two. The colt was purchased by Tom Magnier from Arrowfield Stud at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale for $420,000.
He is the second winner for Group 2 winner Don’t Doubt Mamma (Not A Single Doubt) who is a full sister to Listed winner Risen From Doubt. Don’t Doubt Mamma recently foaled a full sister to Master Of The Air.
Two other 3-year-olds won at Kembla Grange on Saturday; Jason Deamer-trained gelding Phyxius (Sun City) who has two wins from four starts, and John O'Shea and Tom Charlton-trained gelding Ocean Mariner (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}).
Brutal’s Swingman does it again
In WA, 3-year-old gelding Swingman (Brutal {NZ}) made it two in succession on Saturday. Mid-field in the Listed Perth Stakes at his only start at two, he now has two wins from three starts and earnings over $61,000. He was purchased by trainer J Taylor for $22,000 at the Inglis Ready To Race Sale.
Swingman winning the Carnival Staff Plate | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
Saturday’s country 3-year-old winners
At Griffith, Andrew Dale-trained 3-year-old filly Dubai Fountain (All Too Hard) won on debut. A $20,000 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale graduate from Vinery Stud, she is the first foal of Desert Realm (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).
Former shuttle sire Ghaiyyath (Ire)’s gelding Centu Cavaddi won on debut at Donald for trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young. His trainers purchased him from Blue Gum Farm’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale draft for $150,000.
In Queensland at Einasleigh, 3-year-old filly Music Girl (Jukebox) won at her seventh start for trainer Fred Wieland who purchased her for $25,000 from Fig Tree Farm’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft. At Thangool, filly Ruby Sevens (Sebring Sun) broke through for a win at her third start for trainer Jamie McConachy. Craig Ruttley purchased her for $2500 from the Glenthorne Park’s Capricornia Sale draft.
Dr Evil chasing Big Dance in Bathurst Cup
Sunday’s Bathurst Cup holds Big Dance eligibility and Warwick Farm trainer John Steinmetz would love to see last start winner Dr Evil (Casino Prince) qualify. “It’s a Big Dance eligibility race and it would be great to get into that race,” Steinmetz told racingnsw.com.au.
“But that’s not what we are chasing. It just looks to be a nice race for him. The 1800 metres looks like it will suit, and I could have taken him to Canterbury midweek, but he doesn’t race his best there despite having performed well there.”
Snitzel colt wins on debut in New Zealand
At Riccarton, Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained War Of Silence (Snitzel) won on debut. The $700,000 purchase by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis from Arrowfield Stud’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale draft is the third foal and first winner for Group 1 winner Silent Sedition (War Chant {USA}) who also has a 2-year-old colt and yearling filly by Champion Sire Snitzel. She foaled a colt by Admire Mars (Jpn) this spring.
Three Tasmanian stewards dismissed for betting irregularities
Tas Racing have sacked three stewards in relation to betting offences. “Based on independent investigations and subsequent report findings provided by the Tasmanian Racing Integrity Commissioner, TasRacing has dismissed three stewards due to inappropriate wagering activity or other misconduct and breaches of policy and/or rules,” a spokesperson said.
“One steward remains stood down while investigations continue.” Tasmanian racing integrity commissioner Sean Carroll’s investigation began in March 2025 and discovered over 200 bets placed over a two and half year period, including on some races that the stewards were officiating on. “There was the potential to compromise confidence in the integrity of racing, and any form of wagering by stewards must be treated seriously,” Carroll said.
Richards thrilled to be on top
Trainer Jamie Richards leads the Hong Kong Trainers Premiership with four wins at the first two meetings, and part of his change in fortunes is due to new assistant trainer Ben So. “We’ve certainly had a bit of luck and some good rides with some nice horses who were in good form at the end of last season. That’s what I’d put it down to at the moment. Everything has been going smoothly,” Richards told scmp.com.
Jamie Richards | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
“Ben has been a welcome addition – he’s really good with the staff and good with the owners. It was a pretty tough season last year and we didn’t have much fun, but I’m happy with how it’s started and long may it continue.” Groovy Feeling (Cable Bay {Ire}) will back up from his win on opening day and headlines eight runners for the stable.
Ferraris to combine with Chang’s Snitzel gelding
Jockey Luke Ferraris will ride Gummy Gummy (Snitzel) at Sha Tin on Sunday, and the 6-year-old gelding is having his first start for trainer Michael Chang, having previously been trained by now-retired Benno Yung. “He’s back on his preferred surface and he felt nice and sharp in his last trial,” Ferraris told scmp.com.
“He’s got a bit of a deep draw [in gate nine] but if he can overcome that, he’s feeling great and hopefully that trial can transfer to the races.”
Arqana release October Yearling catalogue
Half-siblings to Classic winners Look De Vega and Coeursamba are among more than 800 horses catalogued for the five-day Arqana October Yearling Sale, which begins in Deauville on Tuesday, October 21.
Part 1 of the sale, which takes place over Tuesday and Wednesday, also includes a St Mark's Basilica three-parts-brother to multiple Group 1 winner Laurens, half-brothers to the Group 1 winners Woodshauna and Kew Gardens, and a full-sister to G1 Prix Marcel Boussac victrix Zellie.
Newgrange retired to stud
Multiple graded stakes winner Newgrange (USA) (Violence {USA}) has retired from racing and will stand at Sequel New York in 2026, the farm announced Friday via press release.
A graded stakes winner in 2022, 2023, and 2024, the eye-catching horse won back-to-back GII San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita Park. He retires sound with five graded races to his tally–including wins in the GII San Antonio and the GIII Southwest and Sham Stakes–and just north of US$1-million (AU$1.5 million) in earnings.
“Newgrange embodies everything we look for in a stallion prospect,” said Becky Thomas. “He was precocious at two, dominant at three, and proved his class and soundness competing against the best older horses. He's a horse that breeders in New York and beyond are going to love.”
University terminates Scanley for breach of ethics
The University of Kentucky has terminated the employment of former lab director Scott Scanley following what they call “a serious breach of ethics and policy violations related to misconduct and mismanagement of the institution's former Equine Analytical Chemistry Lab (EACL), which provided drug testing for the equine industry,” according to a September 11 press release.
The press release says that among the audit findings was confirmation that a test commissioned by the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU)–a result that Stanley reported-was never performed. The findings also indicate that some other test results may have been compromised by Stanley's actions.
“At the University of Kentucky, we are committed to advancing Kentucky through research and service of the highest quality,” said UK Board Chair Britt Brockman. “We must uphold the highest ethical standards and comply fully with university and industry regulations. Any violations of these policies are taken seriously and addressed to maintain the integrity of this work – the work of thousands of people across this institution.”
