Cover image courtesy of Coolmore
The show opens with tributes to the late Wootton Bassett (GB), whose legacy as a global sire continues through his many stakes winners. Caroline Searcy then reviews a brilliant weekend of racing, including Godolphin’s Golden Rose hero Beiwacht (Bivouac), Emirates Park’s Group 1 mare Manaal (Tassort), and the return of Golden Slipper winner Marhoona (Snitzel).
Other standouts included Charm Stone (I Am Invincible) in the G1 Manikato Stakes, Pride Of Jenny (Pride Of Dubai) in the G2 Feehan Stakes, and strong results in New Zealand for Rich Hill Stud stallions Proisir and Satono Aladdin (Jpn). The first 2-year-trials of the new season also provided excitement, with progeny of Home Affairs, Stay Inside, and Too Darn Hot showing precocity and professionalism.
Harper Wheatley | Image courtesy of Caroline Searcy
The episode then shifts focus to 13-year-old Harper Wheatley, a former pony racing winner now preparing to compete in her first Racing NSW Equimillion. Sponsored by Thoroughbreds Are Go, Harper spoke passionately about her off-the-track thoroughbred “Fizz” (The Sherbet Man), highlighting the breed’s versatility and her own ambitions in show jumping, dressage, and eventing. Her story reflects the growing importance of programs supporting retrained racehorses and the dedication of young equestrians embracing them.
Finally, Stud Dogs of Australasia visits former federal MP John Sharp at his Southern Highlands property, where his two Australian Shepherds, Missy and Winnie, are both companions and helpers. Smart, loyal, and full of personality, the pair are equally at home chasing foxes and cockatoos as they are relaxing indoors with the family. Their presence underscores the blend of practicality and affection that working dogs bring to farm life, rounding out an episode that balances racing excellence with heartfelt stories from the broader thoroughbred community.
