Daily News Wrap

Stakes winner 71 for Zoustar in Listed Hannans Handicap

Kalgoorlie’s premier sprint race, the Listed Hannans Handicap, dates back to March 1897, and on Thursday, the 2025 version was won by Neville Parnham-trained 7-year-old gelding Multinational (Zoustar). He becomes stakes winner number 71 for the reigning Champion Australian Sire.

Multinational won by 0.3 lengths from Peter Fernie-trained 6-year-old mare Secret Attraction (NZ) (Savabeel) with Darren McAuliffe-trained 5-year-old gelding Cool Memory (Impending) in third.

Winner of nine of his 39 starts, Multinational took his earnings over $500,000 with the Listed win. He was sold by Kitchwin Hills at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $140,000 to Parnham Racing Stable.

One of five winners for city winner French Penn (Noverre {USA}) who has a Lunar Fox yearling filly. French Penn is a half-sister to Listed winner Cornell (Elusive Quality {USA}).

Gollan chasing Broncos / Group 1 double

Queensland trainer Tony Gollan will be cheering home his runner Antino (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) in Saturday’s G1 Turnbull Stakes and hopes the Broncos can get up in the NRL Grand Final too. “There's no better time to be from Brisbane,” Gollan told racenet.com.au.

“There was the Lions who won last weekend and now the Broncos are into the grand final on Sunday. Gee, if I can get a Group 1 on Saturday, it's a hell of a week to be a Queenslander. We will be doing our best and I am going there very happy with my horse.

“He's right where he needs to be. We are well and truly on track. Hopefully he can win the Turnbull and then I will be happy to get home from Melbourne and put on a BBQ at home on Sunday and watch the NRL grand final with my family.”

Tupakara attempts to lose maiden in Group 1

Saturday’s G1 Flight Stakes would be a sensational way to win her first race, and co-trainer Annabel Archibald believes 3-year-old filly Tupakara (Trapeze Artist) can do it. “She must be just about the best maiden in the country,” Archibald told racingnsw.com.au.

“Her first-up run was massive, she was back from a wide draw and really rallied home. You’d probably argue that day had she drawn a gate she might have won the race. She was a touch disappointing second-up, she had the run of the race one-out one-back but they can do that when they have a really, really, big first run. They can run a bit flat second-up.

“We know she loves the mile, she went close to winning a Champagne here. No doubt the favourite will be hard to beat but they are young fillies, they can change and anything can happen. I can’t fault our horse.”

Collett thrilled with Within The Law’s draw

Jockey Jason Collett is thrilled with barrier two for Within The Law (Lucky Vega {Ire}) for Saturday’s G1 Flight Stakes “I’ve been learning more about her. She is better when she gets a bit of room,” Collett told racingnsw.com.au.

“The mile will suit her fine, we haven’t had a great deal of luck. Last start I tried to put her in the race a bit and bit backfired badly. She wasn’t as good as we know she is so the draw is a huge plus for us.”

Change of tactics for Ceolwulf

Trainer Joe Pride will revert to old tactics for Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) in Saturday’s G1 Epsom Handicap. “I can safely say the experiment failed,” Pride told racenet.com.au of the decision to sit closer to the speed.

“It is not the best version of him because he has such a strong finish. Unfortunately, to make a good weight-for-age horse you have to adapt to various tempos. At the moment, it's a bit of a weakness as he can't adapt to a slow tempo. We are hoping for another high pressure Epsom like he had last year when he won the Epsom and King Charles (III Stakes).”

Briasa not conceding to Ka Ying Rising

Saturday’s G2 Premiere Stakes will showcase several of The Everest favourite Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ})’s rivals, including Group 1 winner Briasa (Smart Missile). “I wouldn’t say I’m afraid of him, I’m more excited to see what sort of pressure and tempo he can put into a race,” jockey Tyler Schiller told racingnsw.com.au.

“It’ll be interesting to see how quick Ka Ying Rising will go, or if he will even lead an Everest, but it will be a tactically driven race that’s for sure. A horse like Ka Ying Rising is going to put more pace into the Everest and if anything I think it will play into Briasa’s hands. If I don’t have to let him off the bridle until later if he’s got that bunny to chase he’s so competitive he’ll keep chasing.

“The Everest is a high pressure race, high pressure stakes and he’s not going to get it all his own way. He’s (Ka Ying Rising) the best sprinter in the world so it’s hard to knock him but it’s definitely going to be a good fight.”

Busuttin and Young chasing fourth Super Impose

Trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young have three chances in their quest for a fourth Listed Super Impose Stakes at Flemington. They have Arcora (Justify {USA}), Kakkoii (Kizuna {Jpn}) and Sabi Storm (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}). “I was really impressed with all their gallops actually, I thought Kakkoii might've worked just a touch better than Arcora, usually it's the other way around,” Young told racenet.com.au

“Options is probably the one to beat, I would've liked to draw a bit lower gate for them to give them more of a chance but it's obviously not their grand final. Kakkoii has got a beautiful pedigree, Japanese bred, a beautiful colt and bred to get a derby, I'm actually quite excited to see him have a go.

“It's always a nice lead up, it gives you options, you can go to the Caulfield Classic or the Moonee Valley Vase and then into the Derby. It's a good test to see if they can get out to the 1800 metres.”

Treble for Capitalist

Capitalist sired the first three winners on the card at Hawkesbury on Thursday. Bjorn Baker-trained 3-year-old gelding Hayek returned to the races this spring with a first up win at Newcastle on Thursday. He had two starts at two for two fourth placings.

Sold by Bhima Thoroughbreds at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Baker and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) bought him for $300,000. Hayek is a half-brother to Group 1 winner Stratum Star (Stratum) and Group 3 winner and young sire Prague.

John Sargent-trained 3-year-old filly Lady Pankhurst added a win to her record, having been placed in the Listed Fernhill Stakes at two. She was sold at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by Segenhoe Stud to G & G Bloodstock for $75,000. She is a daughter of Group 2 winner Thunder Lady (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}).

Peter Snowden-trained 4-year-old mare Maid Of Moolah was Capitalist’s other winner on the card.

Double for Maurice at Newcastle

Maurice (Jpn) sired a double at Newcastle on Thursday, led by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained 3-year-old colt Champagne Hero who bolted home by four lengths to claim his second career win in four starts. He was a $600,000 purchase by his trainers and Kestrel Thoroughbreds from Bowness Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft. A son of Listed winner Soft Sand (Dansili {GB}), he is a full brother to stakes placed Killiako.

Kris Lees-trained 4-year-old mare Éclair Encore (Jpn) gave Maurice the double when winning the last on the card. She took her record to three wins from 11 starts.

Zoustar filly wins on debut

Clinton McDonald-trained 3-year-old filly Live (Zoustar) won on debut at Geelong on Thursday. Originally sold by Grenville Stud at the Inglis Great Southern Sale for $280,000 to Blackridge Farm, she went through Alma Vale and Kitchwin Hills’ Inglis Easter Yearling Sale draft where she was purchased by Trilogy Racing and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) for $500,000.

She is the second winner for stakes placed Donelle (Not A Single Doubt). Two other 3-year-olds won at the meeting, being Brave Danza (Brave Smash {Jpn}) and Mahers Landing (NZ) (Proisir).

Onesmoothoperator arrives in Australia

The international brigade for the G1 Melbourne Cup have begun to arrive in Australia, and among them is last year’s G3 Geelong Cup winner Onesmoothoperator (USA) (Dialled In {USA}). Yorkshire-based trainer Brian Ellison recently won his 1500th race. “It has been the plan since last year. His owners had a great experience with him winning the Geelong Cup and he ran well enough in the Melbourne Cup to pick up prize money to cover the expenses, so it was always on the cards to come back again,” Ellison told greatbritishracing.com.

“He travelled over great and has settled in really well again. He didn’t lose any weight on the journey and is fresh and well.

“We’ve moved up to 28 on the list for the Melbourne Cup, which is much better than we were at this stage last year, but a win in Geelong is a golden ticket. It probably means it will be a tougher race this year, and we may get in at the next stage without it, but we will still give him a prep run first and all being well go to Flemington after that.”

TAB Racing Club to close

Entain Australia & New Zealand today announced on Thursday that it will divest the TAB Racing Club in New Zealand. The Club will sell all their horses and the decision is based on the NZ$2.5 million annual operating cost. “This is a disciplined, responsible decision that allows us to get back to basics – selling bets and delivering strong returns to the New Zealand racing industry,” Andrew Vouris, CEO of Entain ANZ, said in a press release.

“We are focused on our core business of responsibly selling bets and creating innovative products, while ensuring the horses are well cared for with their new owners, and our customers enjoy the experiences they’ve already secured.

“This decision is about discipline, focus, and doing what’s right for the long term – winning, but not at all costs.”

State Of Rest filly tops Goffs Orby Book 2 opener

Bloodstock agents Richard Ryan and Federico Barberini provided the entertainment at Goffs on Wednesday when going hammer and tongs on a State Of Rest filly consigned by Castlebridge, who went the way of the latter for €150,000 (AU$266,000).

The State Of Rest filly was bred by Horse Racing Ireland chairman and Caherass Stud owner Nicky Hartery and is understood to be heading to England, where she will be trained on behalf of owner Mrs Alanood Althani, who has a number of horses with Andrew Balding.

Barberini said, “State Of Rest was a very good racehorse and I have been impressed by the yearlings I have seen by him. This was a particularly nice filly and she has been bought by Mrs Alanood Althani, who has a number of horses in training in Britain. I am not sure what the plans for this filly are at the moment but she is very nice and the client is very happy to have bought her.”

Of the 219 horses that were offered, 185 were sold at a clearance rate of 84% – which was up by 10% on last year. The €4,853,500 (AU$8.6 million) turnover was also up by a massive 27% on last year's figures. Meanwhile, there were further rises to the median, which at €20,000 (AU$35,500) was up 33% while the €26,236 (AU$46,500) average climbed 24%.

Croix Du Nord leads Japanese Arc charge

Trainer Takashi Saito is eager to use the experience of an unsuccessful Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe bid as he puts the finishing touches to Croix Du Nord's preparation for Sunday's ParisLongchamp showpiece.

Back in 2021, Saito saddled his first runner in the Arc in the shape of Chrono Genesis, a four-time Group 1 winner in her native Japan. At ParisLongchamp, however, she could manage only seventh in a race run on very soft ground, with the daughter of Bago tiring late on after more than three months on the sidelines.

Croix Du Nord, on the other hand, has the benefit of a recent outing on French soil, having denied fellow Arc contender Daryz (Sea The Stars) by a nose in last month's G3 Prix du Prince d'Orange at Sunday's venue. Beaten just once in six career starts, with his victories including this year's G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), the son of Kitasan Black is currently trading at around 8/1 as he tries to become the first Japanese-trained winner of Europe's richest race.

“I raced the Arc with Chrono Genesis four years ago and that didn't go well, but having this opportunity again, I'm so delighted and feeling honoured to run again. It's a different horse but I'm delighted to have a challenger again,” said Saito.

“After the race [the 2021 Arc], I kind of realised it was too much. We trained hard and it was too hard for her [Chrono Genesis] – that's what I learned from that time. Many different horses taught me many different things. Croix Du Nord, coming back with him, it's very hard to win the race, but we think it's the right thing to do.

“It's hard to point out one thing, but I learnt many things from different horses in Japan and outside of Japan. I would like to show what I learned and how I improved in these four years.”

Enable to be inducted into British Hall Of Fame

Major Dick Hern and Enable have been named as the latest inductees to the British Horseracing Hall of Fame, with their induction ceremony set to take place on Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot on October 18.

The brilliant Juddmonte homebred Enable raced for five seasons, garnering 11 Group 1 victories in four different countries. The daughter of Nathaniel made history by becoming the first horse to win the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes three times. She is also one of only eight horses to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe twice.

Multiple Classic-winning trainer Major Dick Hern died in May 2002 at the age of 81, and his posthumous inclusion in the British Racing Hall of Fame caps a career in which he was champion trainer on four occasions, in 1962, 1972, 1980 and 1983. His British Classic triumphs included three Derby winners in Troy (1979), Henbit (1980) and Nashwan (1989). He also became the first trainer to saddle five winners of the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, plus won every Irish Classic at least once.

Hern joins his fellow trainers Vincent O'Brien, Sir Henry Cecil, Sir Michael Stoute and Aidan O'Brien in the Hall of Fame.

Puca headlines Fasig-Tipton November Sale

There are 210 main catalogue entries, including the likes of reigning Broodmare of the Year Puca, catalogued for the Fasig-Tipton November Sale, the company's selected mixed sale to be held in Lexington, Kentucky on Monday, November 3, following the Breeders' Cup. The single-session sale will begin at 4 p.m.

“The Fasig-Tipton November Sale is the world's premier breeding stock event, where the sport's finest bloodstock is offered in one spectacular, star-studded evening session after the Breeders' Cup,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “This year's catalogue once again lives up to those lofty standards, with over 60 graded stakes winners or producers catalogued–25 of which are Grade I.”

Omaha Beach filly tops Inglis USA Digital

The 2025 early version of the Inglis Digital USA October sale finished its Wednesday auction with a 74 percent clearance rate and leading the way among the catalogue's offerings was the broodmare prospect Presha (Omaha Beach), who sold to Headley Bell for US$95,000 (AU$143,500), according to a press release from the online auction site late on Wednesday.

The stakes-placed 3-year-old filly comes from a deep international family, with names under the second dam including Bubble Rock (More Than Ready), a Grade II winner in the USA who was Group 1 placed in Australia.