Private Harry seeking redemption in Premiere
Trainer Nathan Doyle isn’t shirking away from Private Harry (Harry Angel {Ire})’s task in Saturday’s G2 Premiere Stakes. “It’s a competitive race, I suppose he needs to improve and he needs to get things right,” Doyle told racingnsw.com.au.
“He definitely needs to run top three to warrant pushing on to an Everest but I feel he can do so. He just got it all wrong first-up. You can’t do anything wrong, you’re against the best sprinters in A grade. He’s a fast horse and he likes to be up on speed and when they are like that they need to get everything right out of the machines. If he gets that right I’m sure he can bounce back and be competitive.
Private Harry | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“If he didn’t have an unbeaten record going into that race there wouldn’t be the same scrutiny. It’s hard to maintain an unbeaten record, it was only his sixth race start and we’ve got to take that into account.”
Bigger targets for Spicy Lu
Trainer Nick Olive is keen to send 3-year-old filly Spicy Lu (Tagaloa) to bigger targets after Saturday’s G2 Edward Manifold Stakes. A Listed winner at two, she ran fourth in the Listed Jim Moloney Stakes last start. “Where she is at home, she's in a nice, big yard outside and she loves it, so we took her home (after the Caulfield race) and we're taking her back down now,” Olive told racing.com.
“I feel she's thrived since that second-up run and she's in really good order. Her work on Tuesday morning was super. I think Saturday will tell us a lot. If she goes really well she could go to the Thousand Guineas. If we don't think she's quite up to that there's a race at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate Day (G2 Fillies Classic) that she could target.
“The Oaks is in the back of our minds, for sure, but she needs to make all the right steps leading into that. Saturday will tell us where we go next and that determines our program from there.”
Pericles on the up for G1 Epsom
Trainer Bjorn Baker thinks barrier five gives the improving Pericles (Street Boss {USA}) a strong chance in the G1 Epsom against unbeaten Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun). “We can only worry about our own horse,” Baker told racingnsw.com.au.
Pericles | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“He’s had a lot of experience at the mile at Randwick, he’s run well in two Doncasters, he’s had a faultless preparation and we couldn’t be happier. He’s a very good horse in his own right so I think he is a great chance. He’s got a perfect gate, will be able to put himself there without doing any work and I’m confident he can run a big race.”
Ka Ying Rising to trial on Tuesday
The Australian Turf Club issued a press release on Friday with regards to the upcoming trial by Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) on Tuesday at Randwick. “Ka Ying Rising will parade in the Theatre of The Horse around 8.45am before heading to the course proper for the barrier trial, scheduled to jump at 9am,” said the press release.
“Zac Purton and David Hayes will hold a media conference in the Theatre Of The Horse later in the morning once Ka Ying Rising has returned to the day stalls.” The ATC and Racing NSW will host breakfast.
Not the grand final for Jimmysstar
The Ciaron Maher stable have their eyes on The Everest prize for Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) who runs in Saturday’s G2 Premiere Stakes. “For some of them it’s almost the grand final but for us it’s two weeks away,” assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord told racingnsw.com.au.
Jimmysstar (NZ) | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“It’s not too dissimilar to last year with Bella (Nipotina). He’s there to run well, he will run well, and if he wins on Saturday we’ll have an exciting couple of weeks ahead because there’s still more to come.”
McEvoy can’t split juveniles
Co-trainer Calvin McEvoy can’t split the two juveniles they have running in Saturday’s Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes, being filly One Day At A Time (Bivouac) and colt Knurl (Brazen Beau). “It was never the plan, we were never going to accept with three,” McEvoy told racenet.com.au. Originally they also had filly Sabrina (Blue Point {Ire}) but she is scratched.
Calvin McEvoy | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“These three have taken us there … fit and well, we haven't had to push or chase, it hasn't be a rush. We thought do we wait, try and run one or two and wait, but you shoot yourself in the foot. The three of them are fit and ready to go and it'd be nice to get some money in the bank, two of them are Magic Millions, we could keep that door open.”
Country NSW Racing Awards announced
On Friday, Country Racing NSW held their annual conference in the Racing NSW offices in Sydney and announced the 2025 NSW Country Racing Awards winners.
Simon Nivison Special Achievement Award - Rod Watt
Country TAB Race Club of the Year (Cat A) - Dubbo Turf Club
Country TAB Race Club of the Year (Cat B & C) - Sapphire Coast Turf Club
Outstanding Achievement Award (Community & Picnics) - Bong Bong Picnic Race Club
Country Trainer of the Year - Matthew Dunn
Country Jockey of the Year - Aaron Bullock
Country Apprentice Jockey of the Year - Siena Grima
Country Approved Rider of the Year - Leandro Ribeiro
Three jockeys charged over cocaine video
Three Queensland jockeys, Amy Graham, Casey Waddell, and Sophie Wilcock, have been charged over a video that shows Graham inhaling a white substance. “It seems I was ingesting some sort of white powder, I believe it was cocaine,” Graham said in the hearing.
Graham was charged under AR 228(a) (conduct prejudicial to the image, interests, integrity or welfare of racing) and AR 232(i) (giving false or misleading evidence). Waddell who is alleged to have filmed the video was charged under AR 228(a) (conduct prejudicial to the image, interests, integrity or welfare of racing).
Wilcock has been charged under AR 232(i) (giving false or misleading evidence) in relation to the video that was the subject of the stewards' inquiry. All three have been given time to respond to the Racing Queensland stewards.
Double for D’Argento at Moruya
D’Argento sired a double on Friday at Moruya with Barbara Joseph, Paul and Matt Jones-trained 3-year-old filly Cando Attitude winning on debut. She was purchased by her trainers for $55,000 from Bowness Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft. Cando Attitude is the third winner for Because We All Can (Hussonet {USA}). Her older half-brother Louie’s Legacy (The Factor {USA}), winner of seven races, ran at the same meeting finishing sixth.
D'Argento’s other winner was 4-year-old mare Ziggy Rose who broke her maiden at start number seven.
Million-dollar bonus pool for The Kiwi
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) confirmed the final list of 10 New Zealand stakes races featuring part of the NZ$1 million Bonus Eligible Race Pool attached to The NZB Kiwi. “These 10 races are some of the biggest milestones on the road to The NZB Kiwi. The Bonus Pool adds an extra layer of excitement and gives our Slot Holders, Trainers, Owners and fans even more reason to chase the Southern Hemisphere’s richest 3-year-old race,” said NZTR Chief Executive Officer Matt Ballesty in a press release.
Matt Ballesty | Image courtesy of Race Images
“We’ll also continue to ensure this highly publicised event is promoted strongly both here in New Zealand and internationally, and we’re looking forward to delivering a standout race on Champions Day in partnership with our Premier Sponsor New Zealand Bloodstock, the team at Auckland Thoroughbred Racing, and Entain Australia and New Zealand.”
Quartet for Dennis
Local trainer Robert Dennis won four of the eight race card at Ascot Park on Friday in New Zealand on Friday. It’s been a terrific day – it’s always great to train any winner, so to get four is hugely rewarding,” Robert Dennis said.
“Winning the race named for Dad was a nice cherry on top.” Sir Sterling (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) won the Vale Tony Dennis Handicap.
Beeby thrilled with Goffs Orby results
Classic winners Jim Bolger and Joe Joyce shared the spoils for top lot status on the final day of a red-hot Book 2 session of the Goffs Orby Sale on Thursday when their respective fillies by Teofilo and Mehmas sold for €135,000 (AU$239,000) apiece.
The Book 2 session of the Orby followed a familiar script to Book 1 with sharp rises across the board. Of the 394 horses offered, 338 were sold at a clearance rate of 86% [up by 14% on last year]. The €8,550,000 (AU$15.2 million) turnover climbed 28%, the average was up by 25% to €25,296 (AU$44,900) while the median rose by 33% to €20,000 (AU$35,500).
Henry Beeby commented, “Book 2 of the Irish National Yearling Sale always has a hard act to follow after two days of the best in Orby Book 1, and this year upped the ante as Monday and Tuesday returned record breaking results with new highs for average at €136,256 and the €98,000 median headed by a trio of millionaire lots.
“That Orby 1 is a world class yearling sale that is the measure of any on the planet when we have the horses is proven time and again and so it was the case this week as we enjoyed a trade of sustained demand as demonstrated by the 89% clearance rate.”
He added, “Orby 2 operates at a different level but the unceasing hunger for horses over the last two days has continued the trends set since August as we have seen mighty trade at Saratoga, Deauville, Doncaster, Keeneland and Fairyhouse, all at their own levels. In fact, the Orby 2 average is a record as well, and the median came within a bid of the high of 2022, whilst we have sold more six figure lots and the number making €50,000 or over has also risen dramatically, and all from a strong clearance rate of 86%. Another notable statistic is that the last 10 lots averaged well above the sale average so dispelling any suggestion of the sale tailing off in any way.
“Buyer diversification is also noteworthy and the combined efforts of the Goffs Purchaser Attraction Team and our friends at Irish Thoroughbred Marketing has led to a huge number of buyers from all over the world with new faces coming specifically for Orby 2 and 35 different entities signing for lots making €50,000 and above – that's some spread.
“There is no doubt that the unique Goffs Two Million Series has a positive impact on Orby 2 as well as its predecessor and the five Book 2 graduates who took home a €50,000 Goffs Bonus have acted as inspiration for buyers over the last two days much the same as those buying earlier in the week.”
Estrange to miss the Arc
A late setback has scuppered the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe chances of Estrange (Night Of Thunder), who will now miss the race, leaving a field of 17. Due to start widest of all in gate 18, she delivered a dirty scope in the lead up to the race.
Trainer David O'Meara told the PA news agency, “We're all devastated. She worked earlier in the week and worked great and it looked like the rain was coming for her which was ideal. This morning she was coughing after exercise and I scoped her and she was dirty – we don't have enough time to get her cleaned up.”
Elite Status to Whitsbury Manor
Elite Status, a Group-winning sprinter at two and three, has been retired from racing and will stand alongside his sire, Havana Grey, at Whitsbury Manor Stud next year. A stud fee will be announced at a later date.
Trained by Karl Burke for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, Elite Status arrived at Royal Ascot unbeaten as a 2-year-old following impressive victories in a maiden at Doncaster and the Listed National Stakes at Sandown. Though meeting with defeat when attempting to extend his winning sequence in the G2 Norfolk Stakes, ultimately finishing third behind Valiant Force, he soon opened his account in Group company with a dominant triumph in the G3 Prix de Cabourg at Deauville.
As a 3-year-old Elite Status again kicked off his campaign in the best possible fashion, registering back-to-back wins at Newbury in the Listed Carnarvon Stakes and G3 Hackwood Stakes. On the last occasion he lowered the six-furlong course record at the Berkshire venue, winning by half a length from a trio of top-level performers in Lake Forest, Kind Of Blue and Regional.
Ed Harper, director of Whitsbury Manor Stud, said, “We have loved everything about Elite Status since the day he was born. He knocked our eyes out as a foal at home and it's fantastic we now get to support him with our mares that have already bred top runners by Havana Grey. He's not only a stunning-looking horse, but he was rated 4lbs higher than his sire and 6lbs higher than his grandsire [on Racing Post ratings], so he's the full package.”
Agenda released for Global Symposium
The agenda has been released for the 51st Annual Global Symposium on Racing, which will be held Dec. 8-10 at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Arizona. According to a release from the Race Track Industry Program, “This year's program will spotlight the forces reshaping the industry and the solutions needed to prosper in a rapidly evolving landscape. Topics include examining the racing business model, the rise of prediction markets, Thoroughbred breeding trends, and supporting mental wellness.”
In addition, entrepreneur and owner Mike Repole will share his insights in a presentation named “Straight From Repole: An Unfiltered Look at Racing's Future.”
“The Symposium has always been where racing's most important conversations happen,” said Robert Hartman, Chair of the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program. “This year, we're proud to continue that tradition with sessions designed to inform, challenge, and inspire.”
