Stardom leads all the way in Crockett Stakes
The Listed William Crockett Stakes at Moonee Valley showcased the tenacity and class of the Waterhouse-Bott stable with Torryburn Stud-owned 3-year-old filly Stardom (Zoustar) producing a typical front-running masterclass. “She’s changed and matured,” Waterhouse said.
“Being down here in the smaller stable has suited. She’s been here a while and has put on great condition. She’s tenacious. She may not be the biggest filly, but she’s got a lot of heart."
A homebred for Torryburn Stud, Stardom was already a stakes-winner on Scone Cup Day in May. Her victory at Randwick took her record to three wins from six starts and boosted her prizemoney to over $284,000.
By Champion sire Zoustar, Stardom is from the Group 3-winning Snitzel mare Diddums, who was also bred and raced by the Cornish family. She is the best of three winners from Diddums, who is a half-sister to five-time Group 1 winner Voyage Bubble (Deep Field). Diddums has a yearling filly by Toronado (Ire) and foaled a full brother to Stardom this Spring. Stardom is the fourth stakes-winner of the season for Widden’s champion sire Zoustar.
Skyglider remains unbeaten in Listed Brian Crowley Stakes
Flying Artie 3-year-old colt Skyglider made it two wins from two starts when taking out the Listed ATC Sir Brian Crowley Stakes at Randwick on Saturday. First-up from a spell and ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, he settled behind the leaders before drawing away at the furlong to win by 1.41 lengths from the talented Pallaton (Wooton Bassett {GB}).
Trained by Chris Waller, Skyglider made his debut a winning one at Canterbury in July, beating stablemates Sixties (Flying Artie) and Estremo (Extreme Choice) – in what has turned out to be a pretty handy form race. Sixties went on to win the Group 3 Up and Coming Stakes, while Estremo went on to win the G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude.
Skyglider was purchased for $100,000 from the Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale from Baramul Stud by Ezybonds No 1 Syndicate. Bred by Gerry Harvey, Skyglider is the first foal of Ex Lady (Exosphere), a winning half-sister to stakes-winner Affable (Husson) and closely related to Group 1 winner Turffontein. Ex Lady has a yearling filly by Ole Kirk and has foaled a filly by Hawaii Five Oh this spring. Skyglider is the 12th stakes-winner for Flying Artie.
Earthlight adds new stakes winner in Listed Belgravia Stakes
In West Australia, shuttle stallion and second season sire Earthlight (Ire) added his second Australian stakes winner and fourth over-all when Daniel Morton-trained 3-year-old gelding King Of Light stayed unbeaten in winning the Listed Belgravia Stakes at Ascot.
An unbeaten winner of two as a juvenile, King Of Light resumed directly into stakes class and came away as the 0.2 length winner for jockey William Pike. Adam Durrant-trained 3-year-old filly Snitzalatte (Snitzel) added black type with a second, while Simon Miller-trained 3-year-old gelding Mardusa (Maurice {Jpn}) was third.
King Of Light was sold by Amelia Park at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale for $120,000 to his trainer and his three victories have netted his connections over $220,000. He is the fourth foal and third winner for Queen’s Parade (NZ) (Dalghar {Fr}) who is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Spirit Bird (NZ) (Savabeel).
Star Of India needs re-handicap to make Cup field
Chris Waller-trained Star Of India (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) won Saturday’s G3 JRA Cup at The Valley, but as he’s currently sitting at 51 on the order for the G1 Melbourne Cup, he’ll likely need a re-handicap to make the field. “I'll talk to his connections. We'll go away and think about (the Melbourne Cup) and make sure he's in the right races,” Waller said.
“Today was fourth-up after a long layoff, so just with each run he's been getting a bit better, a bit fitter and a lovely ride from Jye (McNeil). It was good to see him show some acceleration at the 500 metre mark. He's a really neat horse. He puts his head down, tries hard and it was a well-deserved win.”
Star Of India’s last victory was in the 2022 Rosehill Gold Cup, and then he didn’t race again until the winter of 2024 where he had one start, then another four that spring before almost a year away from the races. He’s now the winner of four of his 15 starts with earnings over $700,000.
Matriarch next for Tesio winner She’s A Hustler
Grahame Begg-trained 5-year-old mare She’s A Hustler (NZ) (Ace High) stayed unbeaten in her second start this campaign when taking out Saturday’s G3 Tesio Stakes at The Valley, and she will head to the G2 Matriarch Stakes next. “That’s been her grand final on the agenda this preparation,” said stable representative Rohan Hughes.
Now winner of six of her nine starts, she becomes the fourth stakes winner for her sire. “Winners win, don’t they? She has a great record and Grahame has been careful in the way he’s raised the bar for her. I think he thought this preparation she’d go to a nice level and a race like this.
“We targeted this race a long way out. We wanted to go via the Coongy but he was very happy with her fitness and that was an extremely tough effort. She had to absorb a lot of pressure from the half-mile onwards but she’s very, very genuine. It is a rare thing. Horses have got it psychologically. They are very competitive and, in the end, they’re record shows it.”
Sold by Rich Hill Stud at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for NZ$70,000 to Phil Cataldo Bloodstock (BAFNZ), she took her earnings over $335,000.
Snitzel filly wins G3 War Decree Stakes
Te Akau Racing’s investment in Snitzel’s progeny continued to pay off when 3-year-old filly Origin Of Love (Snitzel) won Saturday’s G2 War Decree Stakes at Riccarton, and is now firmly on a Guineas pathway. “It was great to win that race today with Origin Of Love,” co-trainer Mark Walker said.
“She’s a filly with a really good pedigree, being by the late, great, Snitzel, and a good ride to match her effort by Joe Doyle. She was a great-walking filly when we first saw her at the Magic Millions Sale on the Gold Coast, and she’s continued to improve and she’s peaking at the right time for the 1000 Guineas.
“It’s terrific to win a black-type race with a filly with her pedigree, and great for her breeders and owners.” Purchased by David Ellis at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from Arrowfield Stud for $440,000, Origin Of Love becomes stakes winner number 162 for Snitzel.
She is the first foal of Group 2-placed Re Edit (Camelot {GB}) who has Snitzel 2-year-old colt and a Maurice (Jpn) yearling filly. This is the family of Group 1 winner and sire Monaco Consul (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}).
Second season sire King’s Legacy added winner number 16 when 3-year-old gelding One True King won his maiden on the same card.
Transatlantic continues strong spring in Five Diamond Prelude
Last start G1 Toorak Handicap winner Transatlantic (Snitzel) headed to Sydney for the Five Diamonds Prelude at Randwick and made it look easy for a 2.2 length win for trainer Tony Gollan and jockey Tommy Berry. He took his prizemoney to over $1.8 million with the victory and now has eight wins.
Note that the race has not been ratified by the Asian Pattern Committee for an upgrade to Listed level.
Listed Spring Classic won by Sir Albert
Savabeel’s gelding Sir Albert (NZ) became his Champion Sire’s 152th stakes winner when winning Saturday’s Listed Spring Classic at Riccarton. He won the Ashburton Cup at his start prior. "He loves the 2000m as well as a mile when he is fresh,” trainer Terri Rae said.
“We tried him past 2000m last season in the Dunedin Gold Cup (Listed, 2400m) and that was a mistake. He is not overly big and he just couldn’t cope. He is such an honest horse, a real character, and his record is very good. It was a good win today, he loves Riccarton and he beat a very nice field. We won’t do much with him now and he’ll go straight to the TAB Mile.”
Morphettville abandoned due to lightning
Only three races were run at Morphettville on Saturday before the meeting was called off for safety reasons due to lightning. Fourth in the G3 SAJC Breeders’ Stakes at two, Phillip Stokes-trained 3-year-old filly Damelli (Written By) won her maiden in the final race before the meeting was abandoned. “She showed us more than enough early, she definitely has a motor there,” assistant trainer Kerrin Stokes said.
“She's come back in this prep, had a few problems in the paddock, (we) definitely thought she might need the run today but her class prevailed.”
Saturday sire doubles
Lonhro’s group double at Randwick led a collection of stallion doubles around the nation. Kembla Grange saw a pair of sire doubles with Dundeel (NZ) siring the winners 3-year-old colt Inspired Legend and Buckenara, while Street Boss (USA) sired debutant winning 3-year-old filly Virgil’s Gift as well as Madrina.
At Albury, Manhattan Rain sired two winners Bargino and Santolini. Capitalist had a double at Armidale with Desert Cougar and Gold Capital. Universal Ruler sired a double at Ascot with Kraken Time and Rolling Ruler.
Better Than Ready juvenile wins in Townsville
Better Than Ready continues to cement his position as one of Queensland’s leading sires of early maturing sprinters and on Saturday Georgina Bourke-trained 2-year-old gelding Better Blitzem (Better Than Ready) won on debut at Townsville by 2.45 lengths.
Sold by Kenmore Lodge to Holt Racing for $5000 at the Capricornia Yearling Sale, Better Blitzem earned $22,000 in his first start.
Hanseatic adds another winner
At Yarra Valley, Hanseatic added his 13th winner when Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained 3-year-old gelding Empire Song won at his second attempt. Sold by Morning Rise Stud at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale for $35,000 to Nolen Racing, he was a successful pinhook at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale where his trainers forked out $180,000 for him.
Sioux Nation is busiest stallion in Britain and Ireland
For the third time in four years, Sioux Nation (USA) was the busiest Flat stallion at stud in Britain and Ireland in 2025, according to the Return of Mares, which has been published by Weatherbys. The son of Scat Daddy, who stands at Coolmore's Castlehyde Stud in County Cork, was usurped last year by his ill-fated stud-mate, Calyx, but he returned to the top of the charts during the latest breeding season, having covered 282 mares.
Sioux Nation | Standing at Coolmore USA
Tally-Ho Stud was home to three stallions who covered more than 700 mares between them. Champion first-season sire-elect Starman led the way on 267 – up from 104 last year – ahead of Tally-Ho's flagship stallion Mehmas (257) and Good Guess (210), who was again well supported after covering 250 mares in his first season at stud in 2024. For good measure, Tally-Ho also had the newcomers Big Evs (159) and King Of Steel (153) ranked among the 30 busiest Flat sires of 2025, underlining the growing influence of the County Westmeath-based operation.
Leading the way among the newcomers was Luxembourg, who covered 261 mares at The Beeches Stud, while dual Derby hero Auguste Rodin was sent 205 mares at Coolmore's Fethard base. He was joined there by another Epsom winner in City Of Troy (175) and Group 1-winning 2-year-old Henry Longfellow (172), while Ballylinch's Look De Vega (195), Yeomanstown's Mill Stream (170) and Cheveley Park's Vandeek (161) were the other newcomers to figure among the 30 busiest Flat stallions.
Foal crop falls in Britain and Ireland
The number of stallions standing in Ireland in 2025 decreased by 24 compared to the previous year, from 165 to 141, while the number in Britain fell by 15 to 88. Of the 30 busiest Flat sires, no fewer than 22 of them were based in Ireland.
This year has also seen a near-10% decrease in the number of live foals registered to date in the General Stud Book. The returns to September 30, 2025 show that a total of 11,374 foals have been born in Britain and Ireland, 1,204 fewer than the 2024 figure of 12,578. In Ireland, the figure has fallen by 12% – from 8,504 to 7,502 – while the 3,872 foals born in Britain represents a 5% decrease on the 4,074 reported last year.
Meanwhile, the total number of broodmares reported at stud in 2025 is 19,971, a decrease of 7% on the 2024 figure of 21,578. Of these, 2,348 were not covered and there were 5,482 no returns, with 202 reported as barren.
Reacting to these figures, TBA chairman Philip Newton said, “The 5% decline in the 2025 British foal crop is not unexpected, reflecting the projections from our own extensive modelling, which we have been sharing with the industry over the past six months.
“What is concerning is the 25% fall in new registered broodmares in 2025, signalling that this downward trend is set to continue, the consequences of which will be felt across every part of the industry.
“While TBA led initiatives such as the Great British Bonus are making a difference, along with the expansion of this year's NH Elite Mares' Scheme providing some support for breeders, more substantial intervention is now needed to stabilise the foal crop and safeguard the future of British breeding.”
Bentley keen to bag Sunday’s Group 2
Jockey Harry Bentley hopes to win Sunday’s G2 Premier Bowl on Tomodachi Kokoroe (Written Tycoon). “He’s obviously in really good form off the back of these two wins this season. I’m quite happy with barrier five and he’s off a light weight. He’s certainly a runner that needs to be respected,” Bentley told scmp.com.
“David (Hayes)’s obviously got him in really good order and he was trialling really well at the beginning of the season before his first run. I was confident he was going to put in a good performance for that first time out, but he had to back it up from an awkward gate last time and he dug really deep.
“The horse is doing really well and as I say, with a light weight on his back hopefully he’ll be there in the finish. Group 2s aren’t easy to come by, so I’d love to nab one.”
Locked retires to Gainesway
Multiple Grade 1 winner Locked (Gun Runner) will miss his intended start in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic due to an untimely illness. The 4-year-old has been retired from racing and will stand at Gainesway for the 2026 breeding season, according to a press release on Friday morning from the farm.
“From the moment we put a saddle on his back at Ocala Stud, Locked always presented himself as a superior talent,” Eclipse President, Aron Wellman said.
“He was a star 2-year-old, returned at age 3 off nearly a year layoff after getting knocked off the Kentucky Derby trail with a rare injury, to come a tick off the track record for 7-furlongs at Aqueduct and then conquered older foes, including several Grade I winners, in the Cigar Mile.
“He was a troubled second in the [GI] Pegasus World Cup and then set the record for the largest margin of victory in the Santa Anita Big 'Cap, only to close out his career with a logic-defying win in the historic [GII] Woodward,” he said. “He was a stellar racehorse and with his natural athleticism, toughness, pedigree and looks, we are enthusiastic about his prospects of becoming a marquis stallion at Gainesway as an heir apparent to his sire, Gun Runner.”
Field Of Gold to train on at four
Dual Group 1-winning miler Field Of Gold (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) will continue his racing career in 2026 after owner-breeder Juddmonte confirmed plans to keep him in training as a 4-year-old.
Trained by John and Thady Gosden, Field Of Gold was one of the stars of early summer when his victories included the G1 Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh and G1 St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, confirming his standing as the leading three-year-old miler in Europe after a near-miss in the G1 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. However, after suffering a setback when finishing fourth in July's G1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood, he was then on the sidelines until returning to action with a sixth-place finish in last weekend's G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.
Arqana October Yearlings book 2 ends
A Bayside Boy colt from Haras de la Louviere topped Friday's session at Part 2 of the Arqana October Yearling Sale when knocked down to Sebastien Desmontils, on behalf of Chauvigny Global Equine, for €67,000 (AU$119,000). Lot 538 is out of an unraced daughter of the G1 Preis der Diana heroine Penelopa (Giant's Causeway), whose other offspring include the Listed River Eden Stakes winner Pennymoor (Frankel) and G1 Irish 1,000 Guineas runner-up California Dreamer (Mehmas).
Of the 102 yearlings offered, 87 sold (85%) for a total of €1,784,000 (AU$3.2 million). The average was €20,506 (AU$36,600) and the median was €18,000 (AU$32,000). On Saturday, the October Yearling Sale concludes with Part 3, with the first of 197 lots catalogued set to enter the ring at 11am (local time).
Paramount Sales group headlines Inglis Digital USA
Bidding is now open for the 2025 Inglis Digital USA October (Late) sale, which features 73 offerings and is led by a consignment of 11 broodmares from Paramount Sales, and will have the first lot close on Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 2 p.m. ET with subsequent listings hammering down in three-minute increments thereafter, the digital outfit said in a press release on Friday.
The Paramount Sales consignment includes Ayaady (hip 39), a Tapit mare whose first foal is the promising Massarat (Curlin), who has earned over US$204,000 (AU$313,000) on the racetrack. She is offered in foal to Gunite. “Paramount is very proud of our offering in this sale,” said Paramount's Paddy Campion. “The quality, timing, and infrequency with which some of these families come on the market amount to what we believe poses a wonderful opportunity for breeding outfits both domestically and internationally.”
