Yulong to split star mares for Champions Day
Yulong-owned Group 1-winning mares, the Chris Waller-trained Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) and Matt Laurie-trained Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express), will head to different targets on Champions Day at Flemington. Via Sistina will head to the 2000-metre G1 Champions Stakes, which she won last year, and Treasurethe Moment will stick to the G1 Champions Mile.
“We'll run (Treasurethe Moment) in the 1600. I am very happy with her. She bounced out of the Cox Plate. I think the team (Yulong) are keen to separate them and I just think the mile, she can sit just off the speed and come into it,” Laurie told racing.com.
Matt Laurie | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“My initial thought is the mile might be the better race for her. Her Cox Plate run was outstanding and it was just great to see her back to her best. I've just got the feeling that we've got her back to where she was before the setback, so she's still a bit on the up.”
Significant rain predicted for the Melbourne Cup
It looks like it’ll be a wet G1 Melbourne Cup with significant rain predicted to fall between now and then. “There's about 31mm on Monday and about 3mm during the races on Cup Day,” Flemington track manager Liam O'Keeffe told racenet.com.au.
Liam O'Keeffe | Image courtesy of Flemington Racecourse
“Crystal ball, if we get 31mm, that will put it into a Heavy 8 on the morning of Cup Day. If it doesn't rain during the day, it will improve, but if it does, it won't change.
“We will move the running rail to two metres for Cup Day and we'll mow the track, put a little bit of fertiliser and give it a light rake. Monday, we'll stay off it because there's about 30 or 35mm forecast on Monday.”
Case for all five Waller runners says stable
Chris Waller’s assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth says a case can be made for each of the stable’s five runners in the G1 Melbourne Cup. They are Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet Rock), Land Legend (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}), More Felons (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), River Of Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Valiant King (GB) (Roaring Lion {USA}).
“It’s awesome we have five runners and you can genuinely make a case for each of them. I’m thinking about the post-race interview and sometimes you struggle to find a reason why they won but I can for each of them. It will be easy,” Duckworth told racing.com.
“It’s an exciting position to be in. We’re privileged. If the rain comes, the track may play completely differently.”
Nominations open for Women In Racing Awards
Magic Millions announced that nominations are officially open for the 2026 Magic Millions Racing Women supported by TAB Achievement Awards. “We all know women who are fundamental to every facet of the Australian thoroughbred industry – from the grassroots heroes at the stables to the leaders in administration. Too often, they prefer to fly under the radar. These awards are our chance, and your chance, to make them visible and give them the recognition they truly deserve,” said Magic Millions co-owner and founder of Magic Millions Racing Women, Katie Page-Harvey in the press release.
Katie Page-Harvey | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“Equally, you can’t be what you can’t see. By nominating a woman whose significant contribution deserves acknowledgment, you are not just thanking them; you are providing a platform for their work to inspire the next generation of women and girls who want a career in this vital $9 billion industry.
“These awards are a natural extension of our world-first Magic Millions Racing Women’s Bonus. On 17 January 2026 Magic Millions will award $750,000 in prizemoney bonuses for all all-female owned horses. That initiative created the opportunity; these awards deliver the recognition.
“Please nominate the woman or women you see day-to-day who innovate and elevate our industry. We are grateful to TAB for contributing the $50,000 in scholarship award funding that will further propel the careers of the winners for 2026.”
Coffey’s third Cup ride is a podium chance
Jockey Harry Coffey was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at six weeks of age, and he’s just turned 30 and is about to ride in his third G1 Melbourne Cup on Onesmoothoperator (USA) (Dialled In {USA}). “Mum and Dad are thinking about coming down for Cup Day because Onesmoothoperator is probably the best chance I have had so far of getting near the podium,” Coffey told racenet.com.au.
Harry Coffey | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“They (Melbourne Cup rides) are hard to find, they are very hard to keep and they are even harder to win, so it is exciting to be involved again this year.”
Draw not a concern for Maher’s Royal Supremacy
Trainer Ciaron Maher has three runners in the G1 Melbourne Cup, including Middle Earth (GB) (Roaring Lion {USA}), rank outsider Smokin’ Romans (NZ) (Ghibillines), and Royal Supremacy (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) who drew 21. “(Royal Supremacy) is a horse that has an endless amount of energy,” Maher told racing.com.
Ciaron Maher | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He pulled quite hard in the Metropolitan and he pulled very hard in the Caulfield Cup and he’s a horse right at the top of his game. He worked earlier in the week and again this morning and he’ll probably do a bit on Cup morning.
“He’s got a really low weight (51kgs). Robbie (Dolan, his jockey) knows what he’s doing and if the rain does come, he can tick that box as well.”
Incredible effort by two broodmares in Cup field
TTR contributor Kristen Manning pointed out on her socials that there are two sets of half-siblings in this year’s Cup field. Buckaroo and Middle Earth are both out of Roheryn (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Athabascan (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}) and Arapaho (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) are both out of Alzubra (GB) (Dansili {GB}).
Roheryn won the Listed Leopardstown King George V Cup and has also produced Group 3-placed Siege Of Troy (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}). Alzubra won five races including the Listed Saint-Cloud Prix Dahlia, and all her four runners to date have added black type. As well as the two Cup runners, she's produced Alula Borealis (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) who won the same race as Alzubra, and stakes-placed Aqua Augusta (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}).
New board member for Racing SA
Racing SA announced the appointment of Nadia Angelo to the Racing SA Board, effective 1 November 2025. “Nadia brings an exceptional combination of legal, commercial and racing expertise to the Board,” Racing SA Chair Rob Rorrison told racingsa.com.au.
“Her deep knowledge of media rights, governance and industry operations will be invaluable as Racing SA continues to strengthen the future of South Australian racing.” Cos Cardone will retire at the end of his term.
Headley Grange ready for Big Dance
Trainer Joe Pride’s last start Alan Brown winner Headley Grange (Exosphere) has won seven of his 10 starts in 2025, and runs in Tuesday’s Big Dance. “Headley Grange had won $800,000 prizemoney before the Alan Brown Stakes then he won that and it doubled his earnings,” Pride told racenet.com.au.
Headley Grange | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“If he wins the Big Dance he will double that again. The horse landed in my place as a class 1 horse and he won his first start for me at Kembla Grange. He seemed like a nice straight forward horse, there was nothing too complicated about him, and I thought he might win a race or two in town.
“I normally like to think I have a pretty good handle on where horses are going to get to and what they are capable of but this horse has surpassed it every preparation. Every time he has come back in work I hoped he would improve a little but he has improved a lot. You just never know where the next good horse is going to come from.” All up, he’s won 11 of his 22 starts and $1.6 million.
Prague’s Straight Sets stays unbeaten
Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained 3-year-old filly Straight Sets (Prague) stayed unbeaten when winning for the second time at Muswellbrook on Sunday. She is one of two winners for her second season sire.
A $375,000 purchase by her trainers along with Will Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA) from Kia Ora Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft, Straight Sets is a half-sister to stakes-placed Fire Star (Deep Field).
Another winner for King’s Legacy
Another day, another winner for second season sire King’s Legacy, who enjoyed winner number 20 when Scott Singleton-trained 3-year-old gelding Heapy’s Legacy won at Muswellbrook on Sunday.
The $14,000 purchase by his trainer from Murrulla Stud’s Inglis HTBA Sale was having his fourth start. He is one of five winners produced by winning mare Vital Mist (Encosta De Lago).
Sixth G1 Tenno Sho for Lemaire
Jockey Christophe Lemaire has won the G1 Tenno Sho for the sixth time aboard 3-year-old colt Masquerade Ball (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}). He won by three-quarters of the length from 3-year-old colt Museum Miler (Jpn (Leontes {Jpn}) with 6-year-old entire Justin Palace (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in third.
Masquerade Ball took his record to four wins from seven starts and it was his first Group 1, having run third in the G1 Satsuki Sho last start.
Breeders’ Cup wagering is third highest in history
Total all-sources handle for the two-day Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar, held October 31-November 1, reached US$180,036,799 (AU$275 million), the third-highest amount in the event's 42-year history. It marked an increase over the 2024 amount of US$179,218,631 (AU$273.8 million), but ranked behind the US$189,060,373 (AU$289 million) at Keeneland in 2022 and US$182,908,409 (AU$280 million) at Del Mar in 2021.
On-track attendance at Del Mar Saturday was 35,173, with the two days combining for 65,232. On-track handle for the two days was US$18,079,169 (AU$27.5 million). Total common-pool handle on Saturday's full card was US$118,028,444 (AU$180 million) and Friday's card was US$62,008,354 (AU$94.8 million).
Irad Ortiz Jr. wins sixth Bill Shoemaker Award
After claiming three winners during the marquee Breeders' Cup event at Del Mar, Irad Ortiz Jr. has won the 23rd Bill Shoemaker Award as outstanding jockey for the sixth time.
The Shoemaker Award goes to the jockey who rides the most winners in the 14-race Championship series with the tiebreaker being a 10-3-1 point system for second-through-fourth-place finishes.
Ortiz opened his weekend on Cy Fair (Not This Time) in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, and returned to the winner's enclosure Saturday with yet another filly beating the boys when Shisospicy (Mitole) ran her rivals off their feet in the G1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. One race later, he partnered with Bentornato (Valiant Minister) to claim redemption in the G1 Breeders' Cup Sprint.
“It's a great trophy and it's a great honor,” Ortiz Jr. said. “You have to have a good day because it's by points. So you have to at least win some and the rest of the horses, they have to run good to keep getting points. So, that means you have a good day.”
Sale bound Special Wan wins G3 Goldikova Stakes
Just outside of 48 hours before she is set to take her place as Hip 155 at Monday's Fasig-Tipton November Sale, Special Wan (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) enhanced her resume with a straight-forward success as the favourite in Saturday's G3 Goldikova Stakes at Del Mar.
“She's a very special horse and she showed me that again today,” the winning rider Joel Rosario commented. “I knew Mike (Smith) and Violeta M were going fast on the lead, but my horse just relaxed and settled comfortably behind her. She made the lead easily on her own, I just let her go. I shook the reins at her just to keep her focused in the stretch and she finished well. She was the best horse in the race, that's for sure.”
Five wins for Tyler at Riverton
Trainer Kelvin Tyler had a day to remember with five wins at Riverton on Sunday. He won with Master Marko (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}), Prince Alby (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}), Sight To See (NZ) (Time Test {GB}), It’s Marlin (NZ) (Ghibellines), and More Sass (NZ) (Mongolian Falcon). “It was a great day and I’m very appreciative of everyone involved,” Tyler told Loveracing.nz.
“It’s always good to have a day like this especially at your local meeting.”
Affirmative Action runs on Cup day ahead of Guineas
Trainer Pam Gerard will run Affirmative Action (Yes Yes Yes) at Ellerslie on Tuesday in preparation for the G1 NZ 2000 Guineas. “We’ve had to do what we had to, he’s a horse at goes well at Auckland and we know we’re going to get an even surface there,” Gerard told Loveracing.nz.
Pam Gerard | Image courtesy of Ballymore Racing
“Tauranga could’ve gone either way, we could’ve got more rain and then sometimes after it’s been wet all winter, they can come out there, go absolutely mad and be quite roughly-run races as we saw yesterday. He’s a big leggy fella and he didn’t need to be getting tangled up around there.
“Getting your 3-year-olds up and ready is a real challenge as it’s shown this year and last year, especially with race cancellations and weather. We’re missing Hawke’s Bay, we get good weather down there and get to race left-handed.
“We’re going into Group 1 races at Riccarton with no left-hand racing which isn’t ideal, but the weather is changing and it is what it is. It’s just a case of managing them to get there as best you can.”
