Melbourne Cup draw completed
The field for the 165th running of the G1 Melbourne Cup on Tuesday is now set and the barrier draw complete. The favourite, G1 Caulfield Cup winner Half Yours (St Jean {Ire}) is the only Australian bred horse in the field and has drawn barrier eight.
The weather forecast for the next three days in Melbourne is Sunday – Partly cloudy. 31C. Monday – Mostly cloudy (100% chance of 10-35mm of rain). 16C. Tuesday – Mostly cloudy (90% chance of 1-10mm of rain). 17C.
New York Lustre wins G3 Kirin Ichiban Sprint
A fan favourite after winning five in succession last autumn, Enver Jusufovic-trained 6-year-old mare New York Lustre (Manhattan Rain) had been tested in stakes company in five starts since then for two placings and two fourths. She broke through for a first black type win in Saturday’s G3 Kirin Ichiban Sprint at Flemington to become stakes winner number 20 for her sire.
“It was great. I thought she put the writing on the wall last start, and the inception of the blinkers just kept her focused and eradicated her flat spot. It’s just wonderful for (owner) Mike Howard who bred this horse and Carleen Hefel for a Group 3 win,” Jusufovic said.
“I think the plan is for a bit of a break, but I’ll have a chat to Mike and try and persuade him to have a go at The Meteorite on Cranbourne Cup Day. She’s been up a long time like St Kilda Football Club, but she’s had nice little breaks in between. She’s a really tough bugger.”
She has now won six of her 14 starts and over $490,000. She is the third live foal of Copper (Sharmardal {USA}) who died in 2021. Copper, who won twice including in Sydney, is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Viridine (Poet’s Voice {GB}) who also placed in the G1 Galaxy Handicap.
Waller quinella in Rosehill Gold Cup
The Rosehill Gold Cup, run at Randwick for the first time, was quinellaed by trainer Chris Waller with Wootton Verni (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and Imperalist (NZ) (Churchill {Ire}). Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Redstone Well (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) was third.
A last start G3 Coongy Cup winner, Wootton Verni took his record to seven wins from 16 starts. This race is yet to be ratified as a Group 3 by the Asian Pattern Committee, so holds no internationally recognised black type.
Jokers Grin adds G3 Prince Of Wales Stakes
The Quokka winner Jokers Grin (Maschino) resumed on Saturday with a resounding victory in the G3 Prince Of Wales Stakes at Ascot. The victory was his first at black type level and he becomes stakes winner number ten for his sire. In second, 0.8 lengths behind was Oscar’s Fortune (Rich Enuff) with Repossession (Sessions) in third.
“Very good. You plan these things and when it comes off, it makes you feel absolutely proud of the horse and Pat (Carberry) and everybody that’s helped us out. He’s only going to get better,” said trainer Bernie Miller. He will be aimed at the G1 Winterbottom Stakes.
The winner of eight of his 11 starts, Jokers Grin has earnings over $2.4 million. Withdrawn as a yearling, he is a full brother to Group 3 winner Cup Night and his dam, winning mare Walk In Beauty (Barely A Moment) has a yearling filly and colt foal both by Maschino.
G3 Asian Beau Stakes to Watch Me Rock
Jockey William Pike showed all his class to lift Grant and Alana Williams-trained Watch Me Rock (Awesome Rock) over the line in the G3 Asian Beau Stakes to just win from Rope Them In (Playing God) with Cosmic Crusader (NZ) (Maurice {Jpn}). It was the jockey’s fifth time winning this race. Watch Me Rock will now head to the G1 Railway Stakes.
A dual Listed winner last autumn, Watch Me Rock resumed with a third in the G3 Eurythmic Stakes last start. He took his record to ten wins from 18 starts and earnings over $790,000.
North Pacific juvenile wins at Eagle Farm
The opening race at Eagle Farm for juveniles was won by Paul Shailer-trained 2-year-old gelding Rarotonga (North Pacific) for owner Mishani Enterprises. He is the first winner from North Pacific’s second crop, who has seven winners from his first crop.
Rarotonga won by three-quarters of a length from Scartoon (Spirit Of Boom) with Leaves Of Lorien (Cool Aza Beel {NZ}) in third. Originally sold at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale by KBL Thoroughbreds for $60,000 to Holbrook Thoroughbreds, Rarotonga went to the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale with Robyn Wise where Mishani Enterprises bought him for $70,000.
Rarotonga is the second winner for We’s Done (Court Command) who is a winning half-sister to Group 2 winner Dynamic Love (Brave Warrior) and Listed winner Key Bar Nights (Anabaa {USA}).
Eagle Farm abandoned after four races
Despite starting earlier than usual to avoid the potential incoming storm, the Eagle Farm meeting only got through four races before lightning and storm conditions resulted in the rest of the card being abandoned. Three races will be added to Tuesday’s meeting.
Third winner for King’s Legacy in four days
Second season sire King’s Legacy is having a good run with Shortcut winning on Wednesday, La Reine on Thursday and on Saturday, 3-year-old gelding Durham Legacy became his 19th winner when saluting for trainers Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin by three lengths at Wycheproof.
Durham Legacy was sold by Holbrook Thoroughbreds at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $100,000 to Yorker Lodge, and was having his third career start.
Saturday sire doubles
Wolf Cry added a double at Coffs Harbour with Releasethewolves and Venom Wolf, who took his record to three wins. Brutal (NZ) sired a double at Dubbo with Brutal Elegance and Brutal Love.
Double for Written Tycoon at Cranbourne
On Friday night, Written Tycoon added a double at Cranbourne’s night meeting. Mark Walker-trained 3-year-old filly Lyrics ‘N’ Song won her maiden at her second start. She is the first foal of New Zealand Horse Of The Year and multiple Group 1 winner Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands). Yulong purchased Melody Belle for $2.6 million at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. Since Lyrics ‘N’ Song, she has produced a yearling filly by Diatonic (Jpn) and this year had a filly by I Am Invincible.
Written Tycoon’s other winner was Ciaron Maher-trained Tennessee Bound who won the last on the card by 4.75 lengths. The 4-year-old mare is now unbeaten in two starts.
Sarten quinella for Marsh and owners
Owners Rosemary Carter and Brett Kendall, along with trainer Stephen Marsh, quinellaed the G2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial in New Zealand with Swiss Prince (NZ) (El Roca) and To Cap It All (Capitalist). “I watched the race with Brett and Rosemary, who are massive owners with us,” Marsh said. Swiss Prince becomes stakes winner number 12 for El Roca.
“I joked to them before the race, ‘Who knows? We might run the quinella.’ Both horses have run great races today. Swiss Prince just keeps getting better and better and his condition is amazing. He won a maiden last start and stepped up again today and delivered again.
“He’s still getting better and I think he can certainly take the next step to the 2000 Guineas. He’ll wander back now, get hosed, go home, and nothing will worry him. He has to get on a plane now and go to a new environment, but he’ll be all over that too. Two weeks between runs is perfect and I’m really looking forward to getting him there.”
Pike adds winner 800 in New Zealand
Trainer Tony Pike reached the 800 win milestone on Saturday at Tauherenikau with the double of Thooza (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) and Agera (NZ) (Complacent). “I only found out about the 800th win when they told me on course,” Pike told Loveracing.nz.
“I wasn’t even aware that I was on 798 coming into today. But it’s a great feeling any time you tick off a milestone like that and very satisfying for all the team.”
Breeders’ Cup Friday hits wagering benchmark again
All-sources handle for the 10-race program on Future Stars Friday at the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club was US$62,008,354 (AU$94.8 million), the track announced that evening. 2025 marks the fifth straight year that the Friday handle has exceeded US$60 million (AU$91.8 million).
Friday's on-track attendance was 30,059 down just a smidge from 30,982 when the Breeders' Cup was held at the same track.
Challenging marketplace as Tattersalls Horses-In-Training concludes
Trade was down marginally at this year's Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale, with Tattersalls boss Edmond Mahony acknowledging many sectors of the market had been “challenging”, as play came to a low-key close on Friday.
All told, the turnover dropped by 5% to 33,867,500gns (AU$71.4 million) during the Horses-In-Training Sale while the median fell by 6% to 15% and the average by 4% to 33,565gns (AU$70,700). The clearance rate remained the same at 87%.
Tattersalls boss Edmond Mahony commented, “The Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale is a unique event and once again this year featured the largest number of horses in training offered anywhere in the world. Buyers from more than 30 countries joined a domestic bench of Flat and National Hunt purchasers, all drawn by the consistent quality and value on offer. This was exemplified by the continued success of sale graduates on the racecourse, notably last year's top lot Delius, now a dual Group 1 winner in Australia.
Edmond Mahony | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
“Racecourse success remains the key driver behind the enduring appeal of this sale, with a remarkable 173 Group and Listed races won worldwide by purchases from the sale over the past three years. Of those, 59 victories were recorded in Australia, underlining the significance of Australasian buyers who have again been prominent this week, spending more than 3,000,000 guineas on over 25 lots.
“However, while the headline figures for the 2025 renewal match those of previous years, it must be acknowledged that trade in many sectors has been challenging, with the market not always meeting vendor expectations. Increasingly, ownership and trade in British bloodstock are reliant on overseas support, both in terms of purchasers and ownership. This trend has been exacerbated by the current government's taxation policies and the uncertainty surrounding next month's budget.
“We reiterate the concerns raised in our 2024 end-of-sale statement and urge the government to listen to the voices across the racing industry. Without meaningful engagement, the existing business model risks long-term stagnation.”
Magnum Force retired to stud
Breeders' Cup victor Magnum Force has been retired and will stand at Ballyhane Stud in Ireland from next year. A fee for the Grade I-winning son of Mehmas will be announced later.
The Ger Lyons trainee won at second asking at Cork, before running second in the Listed Julia Graves Roses Stakes at York last August. Third in Doncaster's G2 Flying Childer's Stakes in September, he triumphed by a half-length in the Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar on November 1, 2024.
Ger Lyons said, “He was a proper racehorse with unreal speed and he showed us he was pretty special from day one here. He's a beauty to look at and I wish him well. He gave us the best day of our racing life in Del Mar last year, a day we'll never forget.”
Brazil adds Game Winner to sire ranks
Eclipse champion and Grade 1 winner Game Winner (USA), a son of Candy Ride (Arg) has been relocated permanently to Haras Fazenda Mondesir in Brazil after standing there for the 2025 Southern Hemisphere breeding season, according to a press release from Lane's End Farm.
Game Winner is the sire of four crops with 202 foals of racing age. Led by 3-year-old colt Gaming, the Lane's End sire claims a pair of graded winners and has netted four black-type scores.
