Unbeaten Autumn Glow moves like a panther
Trainer Chris Waller is excited to test unbeaten Group 1 winner Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) in Saturday’s Golden Eagle, but hesitates to compare her to other stable stars just yet. “She just moves like, I guess you could relate her to a panther,” Waller told racingnsw.com.au.
“She just glides across the ground. What she does at a walk she does at a canter and at full speed. She’s got an amazing stride length, a great demeanour, she’s got the best attitude and she loves her job. That’s been evident from day one.
Autumn Glow | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Fortunately her ability and her heart has gone with it. We can’t see how big their hearts are or how much determination they’ve got inside. She’s gone way beyond what we first thought, to go through and be unbeaten has been unbelievable.
“The difference between your Via Sistina and Winx is they did it over a long time. She needs to maintain what she’s doing, keep improving, and let’s hope we’re taking about her in the same terms. This is another challenge, it’s another step up. The distance is fine, the track conditions are fine, she hasn’t been over raced so she’s ready to peak.”
Excitement builds around Al Riffa
A week out from the G1 Melbourne Cup, the Australian Bloodstock team is increasingly confident that it has both the right horse and the right man for the job, having put its faith in the Joseph O'Brien-trained Al Riffa (Wootton Bassett).
The syndicate will be seeking a third success in 'the race that stops a nation', having previously lifted the famous trophy after the wins of Andreas Wohler's Protectionist in 2014 and the ex-French runner Gold Trip in 2022.
This year the Australian Bloodstock colours will be strongly represented at Flemington, with Royal Supremacy (Make Believe) and Vauban (Galiway) both set to join Al Riffa in the Melbourne Cup line-up, but at this stage it is O'Brien's multiple Group 1 winner who is giving his connections most to get excited about.
“We're really enjoying being in Joseph's yard and his communication has been fantastic,” Lovett said.
“He's held in the highest esteem by Australians. The amount of trainers who have tried unsuccessfully (to win the Melbourne Cup) and to think that at such a young age he has won it twice, it's fair play to him. He's got a great record everywhere, but to bring two horses down to Melbourne and win the Cup is incredible really.”
An honour to win in Australia for Japan
Trainer Shinsuke Hashiguchi understands the depth of what it would mean to win Saturday’s Golden Eagle with Panja Tower (Jpn) (Tower Of London {Jpn}). “Winning the Golden Eagle would be a great honour for both the horse and myself,” Hashiguchi told racingnsw.com.au.
“It would also give us a lot of confidence. If we could win on our first international start, it would definitely open the door to targeting more overseas races in the future. His speed and fighting spirit are what make him special. He’s in excellent condition, and if he can perform to his ability on the day I believe he has a very good chance of winning.”
Options on song for Derby
Trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy are looking forward to Saturday’s G1 Victoria Derby with their colt Options (Impending) who is owned by Godolphin. “Our horse is in great order, he has always been programmed towards the Derby,” Calvin McEvoy told racenet.com.au.
Calvin McEvoy | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He did some work (on Tuesday) and has never come through a race better. He will be peaking on Saturday and you would think he would run the (2500m) trip. We wanted to run him (last) Saturday … we were hoping he might have got a little bit more luck and we left the racecourse knowing the big target was this (coming) weekend. He didn't get a lot of luck. They went really slow and he felt good to Harry (Coffey) late.”
Providence could get the Derby trip
Chris Waller has confidence Providence (Wootton Bassett {GB}) will get the trip in Saturday’s G1 Victoria Derby. “Providence is by Wootten Bassett, a great stallion that leaves winners over all distances, so that gives us confidence to know he will get 2500m,” Waller told racenet.com.au.
“He certainly hit the line strongly last Saturday, so yeah, he has a great chance. We thought he might have been a bit sharper earlier in the prep. He has come through the race really well. He is a colt, so he has some natural strengths and hormones. He has a great nature. He relaxes really well so he will give himself every chance.”
Perfect return for Stojakovic
Jockey Lauren Stojakovic hadn’t ridden in a race for over eight years before Wednesday when she won on her first day back with debutant 3-year-old filly It’sanotherbattle (Harry Angel {Ire}) at Murray Bridge. “The day I retired I wanted to come back,” Stojakovic said.
“I thought maybe six or 12 months off, it will get better, but it didn't. Somehow, 8½ years later it's in check – hopefully I can keep it that way. I started riding in a few trials, the weight started coming off, and secretly I was like ‘we'll see how we go'.
“Shane (Oxlade) got the gist of that, obviously they've given me so much support today, I'm glad I could reward them. (They) are exceptionally good to me, they let me ride all the good horses and I feel like I still l learn everyday. I'm just so thankful and grateful they trusted me with her today.”
Harry Angel (Ire) had a double at the meeting with his other winner being Angel Torque who took her record to three wins from 11 starts.
Dubai transfer for Queensland hoop
Country Queensland jockey Hannah Phillips will be based in Dubai for their upcoming racing season. Phillips’ mother works in Dubai. “I thought I would do some travel while I was out of action, so I came over here to see her,” Phillips told racingqueensland.com.au.
“I just popped over to Meydan and met a few people and they have got me back this year. I just put myself out there when I was on holidays, sometimes you just have to have an adventure and see where it leads you. It is an opportunity that I couldn’t let go.”
New winner for King’s Legacy
Second season sire King’s Legacy added his 17th winner when 3-year-old filly Shortcut won at Doomben for trainer Matthew Dunn. Placed on debut at two, she resumed at three last start with a third.
Shortcut was purchased by her trainer with Neil Jenkinson (FBAA) for $25,000 from Alma Vale and Kitchwin Hills Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft.
Aussie-bred Invincible Papa to run in Breeders’ Cup
Among the Japanese-trained contingent for the Breeders’ Cup meeting is Australian-bred Invincible Papa (Shalaa {Ire}). The last start Group 3 winner was once touted as a possible The Everest horse but has headed to America instead. He has won six of his 10 starts in Japan.
Diego Velaquez confirmed at £17,500
This year's Prix Jacques le Marois winner Diego Velazquez will stand for a fee of £17,500 (AU$35,000) at the National Stud in 2026.
The son of Frankel, who was bought by Sam Sangster Bloodstock on behalf of a syndicate in the days before his breakthrough Group 1 triumph at Deauville, recently arrived in Newmarket, having been retired from racing after he finished fifth in the GI Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes at Keeneland earlier this month.
“Diego Velazquez will spend the next couple of weeks having a well-earned rest and settling into his new surroundings. He will be available for breeders to view during the Tattersalls December Sales,” said National Stud CEO Anna Kerr.
Sovereignty fever might mean no Breeders’ Cup
Sovereignty (Into Mischief), the imposing 6-5 morning line favourite for Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar, has spiked a fever and “there's a possibility that he won't make the race on Saturday,” according to Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.
“He had a slightly elevated temperature and that remained through the night,” Mott said to a group of media assembled on the Del Mar backstretch during training hours Tuesday morning. “This morning at 5 a.m. and when we got here at 5:30 a.m., he still had a slight fever… Since 6 a.m., we gave him some medication to help with the fever. His temperature is down to normal right now. He's eating everything, he looks fine.”
Confirmed: Scandinavia fails required veterinary scans
Scandinavia, removed from G1 Melbourne Cup contention last month by connections, failed to pass the required Australian veterinary scans leading up to the Race that Stops the Nation, according to trainer Aidan O'Brien.
The son of Justify won the Goodwood Cup and the G1 St Leger and will instead target the G1 Gold Cup next June.
“He didn't pass the scans,” O'Brien told Matt Chapman of At The Races. “That's the long and short of it. He is a 3-year-old and obviously 3-year-olds do have different bone structures than 4-year-olds or 5-year-olds. They are maturing all the time. Their bones are filling in and that's the way it is. Everyone else thought that his scans were perfect, but when he went down in front of the Australian vets they weren't happy about it, so that's fine.”
260k Aqaareb tops Inglis Digital USA
Aqaareb, an 8-year-old mare by Bernardini, brought top price of US$260,000 (AU$393,000) at the conclusion of the Inglis Digital October (Late) Sale on Tuesday. Consigned by Paramount Sales, she went to Imad Al Sagar's Blue Diamond Stud, which has bases in England and the US.
“It's a great, easy-to-use platform,” Blue Diamond Stud general manager Ted Voute said about buying with Inglis Digital USA. “Mr. Al Sagar in Kuwait had picked out this beautiful Bernardini mare himself and was following the action online. I was able to bid from the comfort of my home in the United Kingdom. We were approved a credit limit easily this morning. Inspection of the mare by Cian Gahan, our farm manager at our Stonereath division (in Paris, Ky.), was very easy and informative. It was a very slick transaction.”
Halo announce AI insurance platform
Halo, an AI-powered equine performance predictor and insurance platform, will launch this autumn. Its insurance capabilities have been developed in conjunction with reinsurance broker, Guy Carpenter, and underwriter, Markel.
Halo is designed to integrate real-time predictive analytics with embedded, flexible cover to deliver protection that matches the way the industry operates, offering micro-duration policies tailored to owners, syndicates and buyers.
Neil Sands, founder of Halo, said, “This is about reinventing equine insurance and ownership for the modern era. Through our work with Guy Carpenter and Markel, we're introducing products that match the way horses are actually bought, sold and raced.
“Whether it's protecting a yearling the instant the hammer falls or covering a horse only for the few minutes it's on track, Halo delivers immediate, intelligent cover – and Hailey ensures those decisions are guided by the best data available.”
