Daily News Wrap

V’Landys inspired by Kentucky Derby to grow The Everest

Racing NSW CEO Peter V’Landys has announced plans to grow G1 The Everest after the raceday put up the sold out sign for 2025. “The Kentucky Derby is a great example, because every year they increase the capacity,” V'landys told racenet.com.au.

“We have got to look at doing the same thing. It's our big day and if we sell out almost two weeks before, like we have this year, we need to get more people in future years. We are looking to expand the infield and we may look at increasing the size of the Winx Stand.

“When we built the Winx Stand, we built it having the capacity to put another level on it. That's an option because the Australian Turf Club also lease it out for non-race day functions and it makes a lot of new revenues.”

Racing NSW have placed a Show Cause notice on the Australian Turf Club to prove they are financial viable and they have until October 24 to respond, otherwise they will be placed under administration.

Maher’s triple Guineas threats

Trainer Ciaron Maher has three strong contenders for Saturday’s G1 Caulfield Guineas with West Of Swindon (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Navy Pilot (I Am Invincible), and Observer (Ghaiyyath {Ire}). “You could build a case for the three of them. Of the three though you would lean to West Of Swindon as he has the exposed form on the board,” assistant trainer Jack Turnbull told racing.com.

“He was really good in the Stutt. He's on the up and the mile will suit.” West Of Swindon won the G2 Stutt Stakes last start.

“Observer was solid first-up against an older horse and he put in a solid gallop this morning with Ethan Brown on. He should be there for a long way. His sire Ghaiyyath showed promise early and won some races by good margins. He's a classy colt. In time he could go further and be a Derby horse in the autumn.

“You could build a case for (Navy Pilot). He's the other colt. They are all in superb order.”

Wide gate for Vinrock in Guineas

Trainer Matt Laurie hopes Group 1 winner Vinrock (I Am Invincible) can get a better start in the G1 Caulfield Guineas despite drawing the widest gate. “We're trying to find a positive (from the barrier),” Laurie told racing.com.

“We wanted to roll forward in the Stutt Stakes and that was out of the window in the first few seconds. We're going into this off a bit of a flat run, but we're happy with the horse. He's in good nick and we're just banking on him leaving the gates and putting himself into the thick of things. But it's a different track obviously and I'm sure it'll work out alright … he's looking really good and his work's been really positive.”

Golden Eagle target for Bosustow

Trainers Annabel and Rob Archibald have set 4-year-old entire Bosustow (Blue Point {Ire}) for the Golden Eagle, and he runs in Saturday’s Alan Brown Stakes at Rosehill. “A lot of the key to this horse is Josh Parr, he seems to get on really well with him,” Annabel Archibald told racingnsw.com.au.

“It’s three weeks from the Bill Ritchie to this and three weeks from this to the Eagle. It’s nice spacing with him. He’s been a great horse for us, it’d be great to jag a Group 1 with him at some stage. He’s been placed in a few and he’s won the owners a lot of prizemoney.” Bosustow has won $2.2 million to date.

Lazzura can overcome poor mare’s record in Toorak

No mare has won the G1 Toorak Handicap since More Joyous (NZ) (More Than Ready {USA}) in 2010, but B2B Thoroughbreds’ Riccardo Surace Jnr believes 4-year-old mare Lazzura (Snitzel) can overcome history. “I didn't know that about mares having a poor record in the race, but I don't read into that at all,” Surace told racing.com.

“She's a very good horse and she's there to run really well and defy history. She's four weeks between runs, but she hasn't missed a beat. We had options to go to either the Stocks Stakes or the Rose Of Kingston Stakes, but Chris was eager to get her racing in a Group 1 and this is the one we landed on.

“We need her to run a mile, which she hasn't done successfully in the past, but that was at Randwick. The 1600 metres at Caulfield should suit better, plus we have James McDonald on from a good barrier.”

Farnicle’s program to suit autumn plans

Co-trainer Adrian Bott has the autumn in mind for 3-year-old colt Farnicle (Farnan) who will run Saturday’s Tapp-Craig over 1400 metres and then the Callander-Presnell in two weeks. “He was a late 2-year-old who went through Queensland and ran well though he struggled on some of those tracks,” Bott told racingnsw.com.au.

“This prep is all about trying to have him ready for the autumn where I feel he can improve again and be really effective at the mile.”

Injured jockey update: Prebble

Apprentice jockey Tom Prebble faces a long rehabilitation after it was announced that he has had no change since his fall a month ago where he broke T4 in his spine. “Speaking with Tom, he has advised that four weeks on from his fall, he has no feeling or sensation below the T4 level of his spine,” Victorian Jockeys' Association chief executive Matt Hyland said in a statement.

“With the support of the outstanding team at Talbot, Tom has already learned to transfer from his wheelchair to bed, in and out of a car, and begun working through the many challenges associated with a spinal cord injury.”

He has transferred to the Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre in Kew and hopes to be home by the end of the year.

Vale Kaye Tinsley

Racing Queensland announced on Thursday that jockey mentor Kaye Tinsley died, aged 80, on Monday. “I really thought highly of Kaye, not only as a trainer but also as a person,” jockey Dale Spriggs told racingqueensland.com.au.

“In my time at the Gold Coast, I rode quite a few winners for Kaye, while also running second on City Fair in a Stradbroke behind Adam. Kaye was very quick-witted and also respected those who worked for. He made riding trackwork pleasurable of a morning. He will be sadly missed.”

Racing SA to cover jump outs

Racing South Australia announced on Thursday that they have partnered with acing media company TRP to film club jump outs. “This upgrade represents a major step forward in our commitment to transparency and industry support,” Racing SA's Chief Executive Officer, Nick Bawden told racingsa.com.au.

“The investment in coverage of SA racing will meet the high demand and audience engagement on jump outs, which is an important engagement piece for the ownership experience as well as critical information from a training and form perspective. There is clear demand for it through notable website traffic, and it’s an area of Racing we’re keen to continue to develop and invest in.”

Carrison banned for four years

Trainer Darryl Carrison has been given a four year ban by Racing SA stewards after his mare Rubikton (Rubick) tested positive to the prohibited substance EPO on January 16. “Mr Carrison pleaded guilty to the charge, and was also found guilty by stewards on the evidence,” the stewards' report said.

“Stewards also noted that the rule under which Mr Carrison was charged was one of absolute liability.” Carrison has four prior offences under similar rule, AR240, relating to a horse being presented to race with a prohibited substance in its system and has previously served eight months for those.

Living Legends suffer theft

Living Legends announced on their social media on Thursday that someone had broken into their facility and stolen equipment. “CCTV footage shows a van entering the property, and a number of items were stolen — including our fire-fighting trailer, which is vital for fire safety, watering the arena, and running the horse walker as we head into summer,” said the statement.

“Also stolen were several whipper snippers, hedge trimmers, a round barrel Heritage lawn mower, a reciprocating saw with batteries and chargers, and other essential landscaping equipment essential to our daily work!

“As a not-for-profit organisation, we work extremely hard to afford items like these, and are often blessed with generous donations. To have them stolen in such a heartless act is deeply hurtful and a real setback.”

Racing Victoria has donated $15,000 of unclaimed prizemoney from the G1 Might And Power Stakes to Living Legends in the aftermath of the theft.

Taxation wins on debut for Pride and Godolphin

Trainer Joe Pride won with Godolphin’s 3-year-old filly Taxation (I Am Invincible) who was on debut at Hawkesbury on Thursday. She is the first foal of Group 3 winner Amercement (Lonhro) who has a Brazen Beau filly foal as her second foal.

Godolphin’s 3-year-old colt Hetzendorf (Street Boss {USA}) won for trainer Michael Freedman at the same meeting. He was having his third start.

Anders colt stays unbeaten

Trainer Brad Widdup’s 3-year-old colt Young Mister Grace (Anders) took his record to two from two with a win at Hawkesbury on Thursday. Raced by Bylong Park, Young Mister Grace is the first foal of Enstarnito (Zoustar) who hasn’t had a foal since.

Pair of debutants win at Orange

At Orange on Thursday, there were a pair of debutant 3-year-old winners. Peter Snowden-trained gelding Viipuri (Russian Revolution) and Bjorn Baker-trained gelding Real Baker (Winning Rupert) won at their first outing.

Tassort filly dominates on debut

At Rockhampton on Thursday, Clinton Taylor-trained 3-year-old filly Atlantic Rain (Tassort) dominated on debut with a three length victory. Sold by Noble Bend Farm at the Magic Millions March Yearling Sale for $20,000, she was purchased by Livistona Grazing.

Delacroix to stand at Coolmore in 2026

At Tattersalls on Wednesday, MV Magnier confirmed that Delacroix (Dubawi) will retire to Coolmore Stud for the 2026 breeding season.

The winner of the G1 Coral-Eclipse Stakes and G1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes, Delacroix is set to appear first on Qipco British Champions Day where he holds entries for the G1 Champion Stakes and G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

"Dubawi is still going very well and we are going to retire Delacroix this year. Delacroix is probably one of the most important horses we have retired in Ireland in a good while. He has everything: race record, pedigree, and he's a complete outcross, so we can really get behind him,” Magnier said.

Sierra Leone to join Coolmore’s Ashford in 2026

Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), last year's champion 3-year-old colt, will join the roster at Coolmore's Ashford Stud in Kentucky next year, the operation announced Wednesday. Racing for Peter Brant, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, and Brook Smith and trained by Chad Brown, Sierra Leone is expected to make his final career start in the Nov. 1 GI Breeders' Cup Classic, a race he won in 2024.

“We're incredibly excited to welcome Sierra Leone to Ashford for the coming season,” commented Ashford Stud's Dermot Ryan. “When you hear someone like Chad Brown say that he is the best he has ever trained, it doesn't get any better than that.”

Leung’s 500 wins

Jockey Derek Leung became only the fourth home-grown jockey to reach 500 wins in Hong Kong when winning on Regal Gem (GB) (Zoustar) at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. “First, thank you to the Hong Kong Jockey Club and Apprentice School for looking after me and helping me with everything,” Leung told scmp.com.

“I need to thank all the owners and trainers for their support of me. It’s great to get 500 winners and be the fourth local jockey [to achieve that]. I hope to keep it up and keep riding winners. very winner’s very important for me – especially the first winner and first Group 1. I hope to keep improving myself and keep doing great.”

Mystik Dan to join Airdrie in 2026

Last year's GI Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan (Goldencents), who is expected to start next in the November 1 GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, will begin his stud career next year at Airdrie Stud at an introductory fee of US$15,000 (AU$22,800).

Girvin (Tale of Ekati) leads the Airdrie 2026 roster, which was announced Wednesday, at US$30,000 (AU$45,600)–up from US$25,000 (AU$38,000) in 2025. While the 11-year-old stallion's first Kentucky-bred crop will hit the track in 2026, he was represented this year by GI Ogden Phipps Stakes winner Dorth Vader.

Muhaarar to move to Haras de Montaigu in 2026

Champion sprinter Muhaarar, the sire of six individual stakes winners in 2025, is on the move to Haras de Montaigu for the 2026 breeding season, after two seasons at Haras du Petit Tellier.

Back in May, the Saffie Joseph-trained Be Your Best became Muhaarar's third top-level winner when landing the Gamely Stakes at Santa Anita, while other notable runners for the sire in 2025 include Motorious, a dual Grade III winner in America, G3 Bengough Stakes scorer Annaf and Listed-winning two-year-old Clea Chope.

Muhaarar relocated to France in 2022 and spent two seasons at Haras des Faunes, before moving to Haras du Petit Tellier ahead of the 2024 season. During his time there, he covered 235 mares, including more than 45 black-type mares or dams of black-type performers.

Aliette Forien, director of Haras de Montaigu, said, “A remarkable racehorse combining precocity and speed, Muhaarar is now a reliable and high-value stallion within the French roster, offered at a very competitive fee. We are delighted to welcome him to Montaigu.”

Jackie’s Warrior colt tops second day of Ocala

Yearlings by first-crop stallions continued to be in demand during Wednesday's closing session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's October Yearlings Sale as a colt by Jackie's Warrior (hip 482) topped the session at US$180,000 (AU$270,000). Bred and consigned by Glen Hill Farm, the colt was picked up by Elijah and Nelson Arroyo of Arroyo Bloodstock who deemed him on social media to be “our favourite horse of the entire catalogue.”

During Wednesday's final session, 146 yearlings sold for US$3,635,100 (AU$5.5 million) for an average of US$24,898 (AU$37,600) and a median of US$18,500 (AU$28,100). The buy-back rate was 26.2%. Cumulatively over two days, 308 yearlings sold for US$7,247,700 (AU$10.9 million) with an average price of US$23,531 (AU$35,700) and a median of US$15,000 (AU$22,800). The overall buy-back rate was 25.5%.

Stifled Heiress tops Fasig-Tipton Digital

The Fasig-Tipton October Digital sale closed Wednesday evening with broodmare Stifled Heiress (Munnings) as the topper when she was taken home for US$470,000 (AU$714,000) and 240 horses sold for US$4,947,500 (AU$7.4 million), according to a press release from the auction company on Wednesday.

“It's always nerve-wracking to be the first sale of the year offering a large quantity of breeding stock,” said Director of Digital Sales Leif Aaron. “Broodmares in foal were clearly in high demand–which makes perfect sense given the time of year. Our numbers are up significantly from 2024 to 2025: horses offered, sold, average, and gross are all showing major increases. The number of registered bidders rose by 25 percent, which is an incredible jump.”