Manaal attempts hat trick in Invitation
A good draw is the key for Group 1 winner Manaal (Tassort) achieving a hat trick of wins in Saturday’s The Invitation. She won the G2 Sheraco Stakes followed by the Golden Pendant leading into this. “The barrier gods have been smiling on us this time around,” trainer Michael Freedman told racingnsw.com.au.
“When you can get her into the right spot with some cover it helps her with that turn of foot she’s got. When she has to be exposed or lead, which was the case last prep with bad draws, it takes away her finish. It allows Tommy (Berry) to pretty much ride the race he wants to ride. It gives her the best chance and if she’s good enough she’s good enough.
Manaal | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“We purposely gave her a light spring last year and we pulled up stumps relatively early, with the view of extending into her 4-year-old year so it’s nice to have her performing well. It’s great for Hussein Lootah and Emirates because he’s been keen to have a few of his horses race on as 4-year-olds.”
Stefi Magnetica to resume in The Invitation
Fitness is the only worry for Group 1 winner Stefi Magnetica (All Too Hard) when she runs in Saturday’s The Invitation. She hasn’t run since a first-up fourth in the Sheraco Stakes six weeks ago. “She possibly could have had a touch of the virus (first-up), she was exposed early in a slowly run race and carried weight too so that run wasn’t too bad,” jockey Jason Collett told racingnsw.com.au.
“Her best run was third-up in the Doncaster and I think it was similar when she won the Stradbroke as well. She’s not following the same pattern as previous preparations with that interruption and the setback in between.
“We think we’ve got her right and fit enough but we’ll find out more on Saturday. There are some fit runners in there that are going well so it isn’t going to be an easy task.”
Globe out of Cox Plate
After Globe (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) injured a fetlock in training last Saturday, trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr were battling to get him fit for the G1 Cox Plate, but he failed the veterinary tests on Thursday and has been scratched. “I totally agree with the findings,” Price told racenet.com.au.
“That horse was not 100 per cent in his action and he'll be spelled and get ready for the autumn. As part of their routine examination, they do a heart reading and strangely that horse had an irregular rate and rhythm, and that was going to be another issue we were totally not aware of.
Globe (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He would've been unable to run regardless and the correct decision has been made … no doubt about it. I'm glad we found what we found actually … because it would've saved the wrong thing happening.”
Purton hits back at claims he rode poorly
After Maureen Haggas claimed Zac Purton rode William Haggas-trained Lake Forest (GB) (No Nay Never {USA}) in the G1 King Charles III Stakes last weekend, Purton has hit back. “I want to thank Maureen for giving me some advice because I've been too busy watching myself win the $20m TAB Everest, the richest horse race on turf in the world, to go back and watch a replay of Lake Forest,” Purton said on socials.
“From what I can remember though I was following the eventual winner in the race Ceolwulf before he put seven lengths on me in a matter of strides. But to then also drag James McDonald into it, the world's best jockey who currently leads the world's best jockey standings, saying ‘we both gave our rides really shockingly awful rides' is a little bit of sour milk.
“We love Willie Haggas in Australia. Championed him every time he's travelled to Australia, and his success has been appreciated but just because one day hasn't gone his way doesn't mean it's OK to throw the toys out of the cot.”
Shamus Award colt wins on debut
At Mornington on Thursday, Clinton McDonald-trained 3-year-old colt Top Reward (Shamus Award) won on debut for owners Happy Group. He was sold by Blue Gum Farm to Top Pick Bloodstock for $300,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
He is the second winner for Prosecution (Choisir) who is a winning full sister to Listed winner Religify.
Toronado gelding wins on debut
Peters Investments-owned 3-year-old gelding Westbound (Toronado {Ire}) won on debut at Geraldton on Wednesday for trainer Michael Grantham. He is a half-brother to Peters’ Group 1 winner Western Empire (Iffraaj {GB}) and Listed winner Western Temple (Dream Ahead {USA}).
Purton reaches 1900 benchmark
Having already broken the record for wins in Hong Kong, jockey Zac Purton sailed past 1900 with a treble at Happy Valley on Wednesday. “It’s a really good number to get to. Obviously I can’t do it without the support that I get and it was nice to do it on one of Danny’s horses as well, because he has been my biggest supporter across my time in Hong Kong. Hopefully in another 100 rides I get to 2,000,” Purton told scmp.com.
“I’m very thankful to all the owners and trainers for everything that they have given me and also the Hong Kong Jockey Club for giving me the opportunity to come here and ride as well. I’ll forever be in debt and thankful to them.
“It’s a lot of years of a lot of hard work. You have your ups and downs – I’ve had to battle through injury, the fights for the titles – but when I sit there at home and I look at the trophy cabinet, it feels pretty good.”
Mark Newnham trained a treble at the meeting to extend his lead on the Trainers’ Premiership.
Justify leads Coolmore America roster at US$200k
With international sire star Justify leading the way, as well as four future stallions all set to run in next week's Breeders' Cup World Championships, Coolmore America's Ashford Stud released fees for the Central Kentucky farm's 2026 stallion roster Wednesday afternoon.
Heading the roster is 2018 Horse of the Year and Triple Crown winner Justify, who will stand for US$200,000 (AU$307,000) next season. Three future Ashford stallions will clash in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 1: Fierceness (City of Light), Journalism (Curlin), and Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), while Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) will contest the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile on the same day.
Justify | Standing at Coolmore America
“With the three new stallion prospects set to retire for 2026 all lining up at the Breeders' Cup, there is a great sense of anticipation here,” said Coolmore America's Director of Sales Charlie O'Connor.
“Last year's one-two Sierra Leone and Fierceness renew their rivalry in the Classic, and we, along with all our partners, will also be watching 'iron horse' Journalism with great interest. We believe Citizen Bull has been working very well in the lead-up to the Dirt Mile.”
Kitasan Black colt heads Japan’s Mixed Sale
Northern Farm hosted its mixed sale at the Northern Horse Park on Tuesday which featured a 100 per cent clearance rate for the 66 weanlings offered.
These were led by the Kitasan Black colt out of the Listed winner and G1 British Champion Fillies and Mares Stakes runner-up Delphinia (Galileo), who was bought by Louisville Racing for ¥460m (approximately AU$4.6 million).
The same buyer had also signed up the first foal through the ring, a colt by Epiphaneia from the champion Argentinean 2-year-old filly Carta Embrujada (Storm Embrujada) for ¥220m (AU$2.2 million).
The turnover for foals amounted to ¥43bn (approximately AU$43m) at an average price of ¥65.79m (AU$6.5 million), a decrease of 3.8 per cent, and median of ¥49m (AU$3.9 million), which was up by 16.7 per cent.
US$850k Candy Ride colt tops Fasig-Tipton session
The Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearlings Sale blazed through its penultimate session Wednesday in Lexington with frenetic bidding from start to finish producing a US$72,127 (AU$110,600) average that was nearly 47% higher than the figure from the corresponding session a year ago. At the conclusion of the session, the three-day average of US$64,772 (AU$99,300) is 24.1%. And with a full session to go, the total gross of US$53,177,500 (AU$81 million) is just $5.4 million off last year's total sale record gross of US$58,575,500 (AU$90.1 million).
A colt by Candy Ride (Arg) attracted the highest bid of Wednesday's session when DJ Stable's Jon Green, bidding over the internet, went to US$850,000 (AU$1.3 million) to acquire the yearling from the Gainesway consignment.
“It was a fantastic day,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “There were dramatic increases in the average price and in gross sales. I walked to the back walking ring with the last horse in the ring and it was full and he brings $200,000. There was great trade and great activity throughout the day. It's fun selling in the marketplace like it is right now.”
Trade at Arqana heats up
Right from the word go on Wednesday at Arqana October Yearlings, there was a noted surge in demand, along with a new wave of faces on the ground for this second session, which saw a rise in the clearance rate to 82.5 per cent, up by five per cent on the equivalent day last year. That in turn led to an increase in both average and median as well as the session's aggregate, despite the fact that seven fewer horses changed hands than in 2024.
For trainer Andreas Schutz, it was a case of one door closing and another swinging open. On Wednesday morning his stable star and Classic winner Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Muhaarar) left his yard to embark upon his new career as a stallion at Haras de Castillon. But by late afternoon, Schutz, on behalf of Marhaba Ya Sanafi's owner Jaber Abdullah, had signed up a new promising addition to his team in the form of lot 279 by Mehmas for €305,000 (AU$544,000).
Hyland to run Godolphin Ireland
Godolphin Ireland has announced that Jimmy Hyland will take over as head of the organisation, succeeding Joe Osborne. Hyland, who has spent 38 years with Godolphin Ireland, brings extensive experience and leadership to the role, having most recently served as stud director.
“I'm honoured to be part of such a dynamic organisation,” Hyland said. “I'm excited to continue working with our great people, elite bloodstock and world-class facilities as we pursue further success.”
OTI’s Docklands heads to Japan
Harry Eustace trainee Docklands (Massaat) exited his fourth-place run in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on QIPCO British Champions Day in good order and is still on target for Japan's G1 Mile Championship on November 23, according to his trainer.
A winner of the G1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, the OTI Racing colourbearer will be ridden by Australian Mark Zahra in the one-mile race at Kyoto, which offers over £890,000 in prize-money for first place. After his Royal Ascot tally, the five-year-old ran fifth in the G1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood in July, and was fourth in Deauville's G1 Prix Jacques le Marois in August.
“He seems his usual self so all good there,” Eustace said. “I thought he ran super. Tom (Marquand, jockey) actually felt although visually it looked a slightly troubled passage, it was more the tacky ground that actually blunted his finish than the trip he got.”
Churchill Downs announce construction project
A new four-story structure called Victory Run, which will include private suites, indoor and outdoor dining, and covered box seating, will be built on the first turn of the Churchill Downs Racetrack, according to a release from Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) Wednesday afternoon. To be built between the First Turn Club and the Skye Terrace, it will replace approximately 6,400 uncovered, ground-level box seats and dining areas with a new space for approximately 7,800 guests. CDI anticipates the project will cost between $280 million and $300 million.
“We are excited to unveil the Victory Run project for Churchill Downs Racetrack,” said CDI CEO Bill Carstanjen. “This project will create a greatly improved experience for our guests in an important section of our racetrack while delivering long-term growth and value for our shareholders.”
