Daily News Wrap

Waller’s firepower to take on Ka Ying Rising

Trainer Chris Waller has three runners in Saturday’s G1 The Everest, Joliestar (Zoustar), Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel) and Angel Capital (Harry Angel {Ire}) and he’s ready to take on the hot favourite Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}). “The best thing about Ka Ying Rising being in the race is it brings an international flavour to this year’s event and that’s what we want to see,” Waller told racingnsw.com.au.

“We have the best sprinters in the world and take them overseas and normally get it right, so to see a horse coming here with the world’s highest rating Australia has something to prove. Let’s hope our horses can beat Ka Ying Rising because he’s a superstar. All three of ours are, in my eyes, good enough to win the race. It’s a great contest, everyone has to be on their game and they need to be strong over the last metres of the race.”

Yellow Brick on song for King Charles

Tony and Maddysen Sears-trained Yellow Brick (The Mission) is attempting to win the G1 King Charles III Stakes on Saturday for Queensland. “It was okay (in the Epsom), but he was three wide and pulling early in the race, so it was hard to gauge,” Tony Sears told racingqueensland.com.au.

“He needs a fast pace up front so he can get to the line strongly and he’ll get that this week with Pride Of Jenni in the field. It’s a hot field worth massive prizemoney so he’ll need a bit of luck go his way. It’s hard to say if we’ve seen the best of him yet and he’ll need a similar speed like he had in the Stradbroke.”

Weight advantage for Tempted in Everest

Trainer Ciaron Maher believes 3-year-old filly Tempted (Street Boss {USA}) can take advantage of the weight scale and win Saturday’s G1 The Everest. “I really like her prep for this race,” Maher said on Sky Sports Radio.

“Barrier one is ideal for her, she can travel on a hot pace, and she’s got that massive weight drop. When you get down to those sorts of weights they can do things they haven’t done before.”

Sold out crowd for The Everest is youngest ever

Racing NSW announced on Thursday that the sold out crowd for The Everest meeting is the youngest crowd assembled. “This year’s TAB Everest will smash all modern-day records for Sydney racing. It will be the youngest crowd ever to attend a race meeting in Sydney,” Racing NSW CEO Peter V’landys AM told racingnsw.com.au.

The Australian Turf Club have expanded their facilities to cope with the day. “We have increased outdoor seating and furniture by 25 per cent from last year’s sell-out and also increased toilet facilities across all areas by 25 per cent,” Australian Turf Club Interim CEO Steve McMahon said.

“There will also be a 12 per cent increase in the number of food and bar outlets to help cater for a crowd of up to 50,000 people.”

Getta Good Feeling to take on Apocalyptic

Saturday’s G1 Thousand Guineas will be headlined by unbeaten Apocalyptic (Extreme Choice) but Danny O’Brien feels his progressive filly Getta Good Feeling (So You Think {NZ}) can push her. “She wasn't entitled to win,” O’Brien told racenet.com.au of her last start victory in the G2 Edward Manifold Stakes.

“She was held up for a long time in the straight and when she did get out, she still had three or four lengths to make up on the winner. But she got there on the line. For a filly only having her fourth start, she was very impressive.

“I always had an opinion of her as a stakes filly and the Manifold, for what we think she is, is always a great race to get those fillies to Flemington a month before (Melbourne) Cup Week.”

Better draw for Ole Dancer in Guineas

Co-trainer Katherine Coleman felt barrier five would help Ole Dancer (Ole Kirk) return to form in Saturday’s G1 Thousand Guineas. “She has been terribly unlucky in the barrier draw department, her last couple of starts,” Coleman told racing.com.

“It (barrier five) just gives you a few more options, doesn’t it? We know that when she is ridden cold she has an electric turn of foot and can sustain an improving run, when she gets into clear air. If that draw on Saturday means we can sit a little bit closer, especially if Caulfield happens to be playing leaderish, which we know it can do… it just opens a few more doors for us.

“She has always just been really professional in what she does. She is just all racehorse. She has almost exceeded our initial expectations, with how far she has got this preparation. We thought she was going to be more an autumn filly, and we still have that belief she’ll be better in the autumn when she is more mature. She gives herself every possible chance by having such a fantastic attitude.”

Vet report for Caulfield Cup

Racing Victoria reported on Thursday that all horses, bar Banker’s Choice (NZ) (Mongolian Khan), had passed the veterinary process for Saturday’s G1 Caulfield Cup. Banker’s Choice had a slight change in his hind limb action and would be subjected to a further inspection on Friday.

Freedman’s Snitzel filly wins on debut

Michael Freedman took 3-year-old filly Elysium (Snitzel) to Goulburn on Thursday for her debut and she rewarded him with a half-length victory. Passed in by Silverdale Farm, she is raced by Grant Bloodstock and partners.

Elysium is a half-sister to Group 1-placed Quintessa (Pierro) out of stakes placed Sense Of Hite (NZ) (Street Sense {USA}).

Chalet wins on debut

Bjorn Baker-trained and Gerry Harvey-owned 3-year-old gelding Chalet (I Am Invincible) won on debut at Goulburn on Thursday, taking out the last on the card by half a length. He is one of six winners for Villa Moura (Encosta De Lago), who is a half-sister to Listed winner Landlocked (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).

Pricey Columbus breaks through for a win

Les Bridge-trained $1.5 million yearling, now 3-year-old gelding, Columbus (Dundeel {NZ}) broke through for his first win at Hawkesbury on Thursday. The son of winning Fastnet Rock mare Tides was having his third start.

Tides is a full sister to Group 1 winner Shoals and Listed winner Groundswell. Columbus was sold by Arrowfield Stud at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale to Dean Hawthorne and Alpha Syndicate.

Doubles for Capitalist and I Am Invincible at Hawkesbury

Capitalist and I Am Invincible both sired doubles at Hawkesbury on Thursday. Capitalist sired 3-year-old filly Triple Play who won on debut for trainer Chris Waller, and Peter Snowden-trained Maid Of Moolah who made it two wins in succession from her six career starts.

Chris Waller-trained 3-year-old filly Great Heights won at her second start to be the first of a double for I Am Invincible, whose other winner was Jason Coyle-trained President who won for the second time in his career.

Treble for Ho in Hong Kong

Jockey Vincent Ho showed he was recovered from his injuries with a treble at Happy Valley on Wednesday night including an emotional win on Francis Lui-trained Speed Dragon (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) whose career has been plagued by injuries.

“He trialled very well, so I actually expected him to be very competitive, which he was. It was great that he could win for the owner. Everything went well for him, the opening on the inside was perfect,” Ho told scmp.com. He also won on Lui’s King Miles (Exceed And Excel) and Casper Fownes-trained Mr Desira (All Too Hard).

Not This Time increased to $250,000

Not This Time (Giant's Causeway), in the midst of a landmark season, will stand for US$250,000 in 2026, Taylor Made Stallions announced on Wednesday. He stood the 2025 season at US$175,000.

The sire of nine Grade I winners, Not This Time's progeny have been dominating on the racetrack and delivering impressive results in the auction ring. He is the number one-ranked sire by black-type winners with 22, and the number two-ranked General Sire in 2025 with nearly US$19 million in progeny earnings.

In the auction ring this year, Not This Time was the number one sire of seven-figure yearlings at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. With yearlings up to US$2 million, US$1.7 million, US$1.6 million, US$1.4 million (x3), Not This Time had 17 million-dollar yearlings all told this year–from a crop bred off his first six-figure stud fee.

Oscar Performance at $60,000

Oscar Performance (Kitten's Joy) will stand for US$60,000 (AU$92,000) in 2026, up from US$45,000 (AU$69,000) this season, according to a Mill Ridge Farm release on Wednesday.

The 11-year-old stallion is expected to serve a limited book of approximately 170 mares (140 foals) in 2026.

“Oscar Performance had another exceptional year led by Grade I winner World Beater, owned by Pin Oak Stud, trained by Riley Mott and bred by Dr. John Chandler,” said Mill Ridge's Price Bell. “Remarkably, he is ranked #2 on the General Sire List with GSH (Graded Stakes Horses) by percentage of starters to only Not This Time, and over leading sires Into Mischief, Gun Runner, Justify and on.”

Thorpedo Anna retired

Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna), the 2024 Horse of the Year and a shoo-in to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2031, the first year she will be eligible, has been retired. The news came in the form of a press release sent out by Keeneland, McPeek Racing and Hill 'n' Dale.

Additionally, a 20% share in the champion will be offered at the upcoming Keeneland Championship Sale at Del Mar on Oct. 29. “For everybody out there who is worried about her, you can rest at ease,” McPeek said. “She's fine. She has been examined by several veterinarians. Dr. (Larry) Bramlage of Rood and Riddle found some very mild bone bruising, which is consistent with horses in work at her level and she could go back in training in 90 days, but we have opted to retire her.”

Share in Mindframe on offer at Champions Sale

A share in Grade I winner Mindframe (Constitution) will be offered at the second edition of the Keeneland Championship Sale, to be held in the Del Mar Paddock on Wednesday, Oct. 29.The share in the 4-year-old will be consigned by Claiborne Farm, where the bay is also expected to take up stud duty in 2026.

“We are pleased to offer this special opportunity to participate in the stallion career of a truly outstanding prospect, Mindframe,” Claiborne President Walker Hancock said. “With significant early demand from breeders already requesting seasons, this share provides guaranteed access to a top-tier stallion prospect as he retires to stud following the Breeders' Cup.”

Claiborne announces 2026 fees

With a stud fee for multiple Grade I winner Mindframe (Constitution) still to be determined pending his start in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, Claiborne Farm has released its advertised stud fees for 2026, with Grade I winner Prince of Monaco (Speightstown) leading the way at US$30,000 (AU$46,000).

Dam of Precise to Sceptre Sessions

The Sceptre Sessions at this year's Tattersalls December Mares Sale will include Way To My Heart (Galileo), the dam of dual Group 1-winning juvenile Precise. She will be consigned by The Castlebridge Consignment.

Precise, a daughter of Starspangledbanner has won her last four starts, including the Fillies' Mile and the Moyglare Stud Stakes, and she is currently favourite for next year's 1,000 Guineas.

The 12-year-old Way To My Heart, who will be sold in foal to the late Wootton Bassett, is out of the Listed winner and Group-placed Mystical Lady and is a sister to the multiple Listed winner and Irish Derby-placed Kingfisher.

“The victories of Precise in the Fillies' Mile and Moyglare Stud Stakes make her the highest rated two-year-old filly in Europe and she looks an outstanding prospect for next year,” said Tattersalls chairman Edmond Mahony.

“It is a privilege to be asked to offer her dam Way To My Heart in the Sceptre Sessions of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale and she joins a growing cast of exceptional fillies and mares set to be offered at Europe's premier breeding stock sale.”

Keeneland Horses In Training catalogue released

With 184 horses set to be offered at the Nov. 12 Keeneland November Horses of Racing Age Sale, the sales company has released the online catalogue. The one-day sale will be held the day after the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale concludes.

“The November Horses of Racing Age Sale is a trusted marketplace for proven racehorses and promising prospects,” said Keeneland Senior Director of Sales Operations Cormac Breathnach. “With a strong buyer presence on-site and online, this sale connects sellers with buyers seeking ready-to-run talent.”

Le Havre’s Liberty Coach heads Tatts Online

Four-time winner Liberty Coach (Le Havre) (lot 54) is one of the stars of the 155-lot strong Tattersalls Online October Sale catalogue. The sale takes place from October 22 beginning at 11 a.m., with the first lot scheduled to close at the same time one day later.

Currently rated 96 by Timeform, Liberty Coach was an all-the-way winner of Redcar's Class 2 handicap in May. He is one of 110 horses-in- and out-of-training set to sell. There are also 29 broodmares, 13 yearlings, two foals, and one store.

Belmont Park construction reaches milestone

Governor Kathy Hochul accompanied New York Racing Association officials, AECOM Tishman, Populous and unionized construction workers for a topping out ceremony on Wednesday, marking the placement of the final beam at the new Belmont Park.

“As we raise the final beam, today marks a major milestone for Belmont Park and New York State,” Governor Hochul said. “This project is more than simply rebuilding a racetrack–it's creating jobs, boosting our economy and ensuring Belmont remains a world-class destination. This redevelopment means thousands of good-paying union jobs, new opportunities for local businesses and a facility that will attract visitors from around the world.”

Belmont Park will re-open for live racing in September 2026 with the GI Belmont Stakes.

IFHA conference video available

The video replay of the 59th International Conference of Horseracing Authorities (ICHA), organised by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) is now available to view.

The focus of this year's conference, which took place on October 6, was on racing betting, both in the legal and illegal markets, along with marketing and customer experience. This year, over 165 delegates from about 40 different countries were in attendance. The Japan Racing Association (JRA) is the official partner of the ICHA.