Half Yours brings attention to his sire
The G1 Melbourne Cup favourite and G1 Caulfield Cup winner Half Yours is by St Jean (Ire) who stands at Brackley Park Stud at Avenel in Victoria. “It's been very unfortunate that either the Victorian breeding industry didn't see what I saw in the pedigree, or they didn't want to breed stayers,” studmaster Grant Dwyer told racenet.com.au.
“And up until now, he'd had only served mares owned by breeders who purely wanted to race the progeny. There has never been a yearling sold by this horse.” St Jean has 67 live foals from eight seasons at stud.
St Jean (Ire) | Standing at Brackley Park
St Jean is a son of Teofilo (Ire) who has sired three Melbourne Cup winners, Cross Counter, Twilight Payment and Without A Fight. “I always had faith that the horse would throw something good. I saw things in the pedigree I really liked. His third dam is Height Of Fashion who was owned by The Queen. And when she went to stud, she produced Nashwan who won the English Derby so I knew St Jean should breed staying horses.
“This horse (Half Yours), on that day, is basically changing our whole business around. We have struggled along. We have been standing stallions at the low end of the market for 22 years – you wouldn't know how good it was to watch that horse win.”
Sulek sticks to sprint trip
Trainer Dominic Sutton will keep 3-year-old colt Sulek (NZ) (Super Seth) to a sprint trip in Tuesday’s Listed Amanda Elliott over 1400 metres, before a potential run in the G2 Sandown Guineas. “We had a look at the Carbine Club on Saturday,” Sutton told racingandsports.com.au.
Sulek (NZ) | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“We feel he's looking for a mile soon but at the same time we just felt another run at 1400 metres would suit him better. The 1400 metres at Caulfield is a little different to the 1400 metres at Flemington, and to step up to the mile at Flemington, he is better suited to the seven furlongs just at this stage.”
Flemington to suit Vauban
Co-trainer Gai Waterhouse has faith in expensive import Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) for Tuesday’s G1 Melbourne Cup despite the horse failing in his last two attempts, and his 13th placing in the G1 Caulfield Cup last start. “The bigger track at Flemington will suit Vauban,” Waterhouse told racenet.com.au.
“He has been trained here for the last few weeks and has raced in two Melbourne Cups so he knows this place. Blake (Shinn, jockey) has put a lot of work into the horse and he's ready to run well on Tuesday. Hopefully, it will be our day. I'm hoping he can run a good race which he is very capable of doing.”
On the purchase after his last Cup failure, Waterhouse said, “I said to Rob this horse has failed in two Cups, why are we buying him? Rob said Vauban had been favourite in both Cups, he is lightly raced and has a stack of staying ability. So, if Rob likes the horse, I like it.”
If Vauban wins, Waterhouse will be the second female trainer to win the Cup twice, following Sheila Laxon who won with Knight’s Choice (Extreme Choice) and Ethereal (NZ) (Rhythm {USA}). Waterhouse previously won with Fiorente (Ire) in 2013.
Gringotts back for a second Dance
Winner of the 2024 Big Dance before going on to win the G1 George Ryder Stakes, Ciaron Maher-trained Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) is back for another crack on Saturday. “The King Charles was probably the target, he had a couple of setbacks and a big gap between runs but it’s a nice race for him,” assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord told racingnsw.com.au.
Gringotts (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“It was always on the radar, it wasn’t going to be the grand finale but he happens to get there peaking. I don’t think the horse could be going any better. He’s won a Gong with 60kg and last start he had 61kg so he can carry the weight. It’s not ideal but he’s one horse who can carry it.”
Domeland’s Big Dance runner
Trainer Nacim Dilmi has only been with Domeland for three months and he has a runner in Saturday’s Big Dance with Aix En Provence (Shalaa {Ire}) who was previously trained by Sara Ryan. “I pinch myself, I’ve been here three months and it’s been about two months where I’ve had my own runners,” Dilmi told racingnsw.com.au.
Nacim Dilmi | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
“I didn’t think I’d have a winner in the first month let alone six in the first two months. The horses are running well, I’m happy with where they are at and hopefully things continue. Sara had those horses from day dot, some horses took a while to adapt because the way I train is very different to Sara but he was very straightforward.”
Lifetime Achievement Award for Smith
Albany Racing Club President and trainer Alan Smith received the Country Racing Association Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by RWWA, at the Country Racing Association’s 2024-25 Awards last Friday. “It’s very humbling and an honour to receive the award – it’s nice to be recognised for what’s gone on over the past 50 years,” Alan told racingwa.com.au on Monday.
“I just love sport and racing in general, I’ve always been very committed to it my whole life. I want to continue to keep country racing going, keep it alive and racing in the communities because it provides so many opportunities for people.
“My dad had a saying ‘you put yourself in the best company possible and your horse in the worst’ so the buzz from travelling to these towns to get your horse a win, it’s all well worth it. We’re getting very good crowds at country meetings these days and there’s a lot of support from RWWA. I think most of the country clubs have never been in a better position than they are now days.”
Overpass shareholder disqualified for 18 months
Owner John Georgatsoulis has been disqualified for 18 months over threats sent to trainer Bjorn Baker and syndicator Scott Darby, Managing Director of Darby Racing, in October 2025. In July 2025, he was removed from the ownership of Overpass (Vancouver) and paid out for his share.
Overpass | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
He was found guilty under AR228(b) Conduct detrimental to the interests of racing and AR232(h) Failure to observe processes and directions of PRAs or Stewards.
New winner for Lucky Vega
Second season sire Lucky Vega (Ire) added a new Southern Hemisphere winner when Jordan Lee-trained 3-year-old gelding Prestige Gundy won at Ballina on Monday. He was having his third start, and had run second last start.
Prestige Gundy was sold by Yulong for $1000 as a yearling at the February 2024 Inglis Digital Sale to Japanese Equestrian and Racing Stables. He is the first foal of Miss Gundy (Snitzel) who is an unraced half-sister to Group 2 winners Miraval Rose (Grunt {NZ}) and Gypsy Diamond (Not A Single Doubt).
At the same meeting, Street Boss (USA) had a double with Pantetone and Limahuli.
Winner number eight for Graff
Second season sire Graff added winner number eight when Danielle Seib-trained 3-year-old gelding Neeson won at Corowa. He was having his third start, and had run second in both his first two starts.
North Pacific adds winner number nine
Second season sire North Pacific enjoyed his ninth winner when Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained 3-year-old filly Pacific Glamour won at Ballarat. She was having her second start.
Sold at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale by Riversdale, Pacific Glamour was bought by her trainers and Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) for $130,000. She is the second foal and second winner for winning mare Glamarama (Zoustar).
The stable also won with 3-year-old gelding Wrigley Field (Doubtland) who took his record to two wins from four starts.
Yahagi celebrates big after Breeders’ Cup win
“I drank too much.” Ever the professional, even when feeling a little worse for wear, Yoshito Yahagi was at a 7.30am press call with his Breeders' Cup Classic winner Forever Young (Jpn). The latter was looking sparkier than his trainer, but then he hadn't been out late in a Mexican restaurant celebrating the LA Dodgers sealing back-to-back wins in the World Series.
“I'm a bit hungover. The horse is in much better condition than me,” Yahagi admitted. “Of course, I'm really happy the Dodgers won the World Series. But on the other side, I'm sad that the Dodgers took all the news headlines, as that's like stealing from our achievement.
“I think we will give him a little spell until the Saudi Cup. Because we will try to have him in the best condition possible and he needs to recover physically. So we want to give him space to recover. At the moment, we are already planning to go to the Saudi Cup and Dubai World Cup. We won't make any plans yet for after the Dubai World Cup. Of course, if he's fresh and he says yes, then we'll go forward after Dubai.”
Another Cup winner for White Robe Lodge?
White Robe Lodge bred G1 Melbourne Cup contender Smokin’ Romans (NZ) (Ghibellines) hopes to continue the farm's good record in the Cup. “It’s the race of the century in this part of the world,” stud master Brian Anderton told Loveracing.nz.
“Tawriffic was reared on the farm and Baghdad Note was born here and they both got the job done, and we bred Whoshot The Barman (third in 2014 behind Protectionist) and sold him out of the paddock as well. The Phantom was a Noble Bijou and he ran second (in 1990 behind Kingston Rule), so we’ve had a bit of success.”
Dam of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner added to Keeneland
Super Simple (Super Saver), the dam of G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies heroine Super Corredora (Gun Runner), has been supplemented to Book 1 of the Keeneland November sale and will go through the ring on Tuesday as part of the opening day, the auction house announced Sunday afternoon.
The dam is catalogued as Hip 225, and will be consigned by Denali Stud as agent for Woodford Thoroughbreds. She will be offered in foal to Gunite (USA). “We are incredibly excited to offer Super Simple as a supplement to the November Sale, providing the opportunity to purchase from the highly successful Woodford Thoroughbreds program,” Denali Stud vice president Conrad Bandoroff said.
“Super Corredora is undefeated around two turns and was ultra-impressive when capturing the (G1) NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. With a Breeders' Cup winner as the second foal of a 9-year-old mare, who is carrying a three-quarter sibling, the future is very bright for Super Simple.”
Charlotte’s Web wins in Italy
Thriving on a busy campaign, the Simon and Ed Crisford-trained Charlotte's Web (Night Of Thunder) gained a first Group-race success on her 10th start of 2025 when digging deep to win Sunday's G2 Premio Lydia Tesio at Capannelle Racecourse.
Charlotte's Web is out of the Lope De Vega mare Chamundi Hills, a half-sister to the G3 Prix de Conde and G3 Prix Penelope heroine Luminate (Lawman). Her second dam, Kalandara (Rainbow Quest), is a half-sister to three black-type winners, most notably the multiple Group 1-winning sire Kalanisi.
Fourth stakes winner for Palace Pier
Market leader Woodchuck (Birchwood) fared better in the other Group 2 on Sunday's card, the Premio Roma Italian Champion. He was pushed all the way by defending champion Petit Marin (Flamingo Fantasy) but led where in mattered to get the verdict by a head and add a fifth Group-race success to his impressive tally.
Jamie Spencer was out of luck behind Woodchuck when having to settle for third aboard Hamad Al Jehani's Diego Ventura (Mehmas), but the rider was already on the scoresheet by then, having been successful in the G3 Premio Guido E Alessandro Berardelli earlier on the card. Dr Omran, a €62,000 (AU$109,000) purchase by owner Mahmud Mouni at the Tattersalls Ireland Breeze-up Sale, was Spencer's willing partner, getting off the mark at the fourth attempt to become the fourth black-type winner for his first-season sire, Palace Pier.
Completing the quartet of Pattern races on the card was the G3 Premio Ribot Memorial Loreto Luciani, which went the way of Endo Botti's Kabir. The 3-year-old continues to be a flagbearer for his second-crop sire, Far Above.
She’s Quality euthanised after Breeders’ Cup injury
She's Quality (Acclamation), who was pulled up in the early stages of Saturday's G1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, has been euthanised, according to an announcement from her connections.
The 4-year-old was the first runner at the meeting for trainer Jack Davison, who said in a post on social media, “I am devastated to report that our stable star She's Quality has passed away, having suffered a pelvic fracture during the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. After the race, she was transported to San Luis Rey Equine Hospital where she received the best possible care and appeared to be stable in the initial hours after. However, her condition declined overnight and the difficult decision was made to humanely euthanise her.
“We are utterly devastated at her passing. She was a high-class filly and she took us all on an amazing journey. Although this is a very sad ending, I would like to thank all of my staff for taking such great care of her over the past three years. We are a small, tight-knit yard and we will miss her terribly.”
Wootton Bassett son to join Tally-Ho in 2026
This year's G1 Prix de la Foret winner Maranoa Charlie (Wootton Bassett) has been retired from racing and will stand at Tally-Ho Stud in 2026.
“Tally-Ho are one of the best studs out there and we're thrilled to be teaming up with them,” said Charlie Bond on behalf of the owners. “The eight-metre stride pattern that Maranoa Charlie has is up there with the very best and will prove the key to his progeny.
“Christopher Head said from day one that he is the best he has ever trained and the data technology that Christopher uses showed that Maranoa Charlie what does at home was transferred on to the track.
Maranoa Charlie | Image courtesy of Tally Ho Stud
“He goes out at the top winning the G1 Prix de la Foret in such good fashion. By Wootton Bassett out of a Galileo mare, he's from one of the fastest lines out there that also produced champion 2-year-old Tiggy Wiggy. He is a very exciting horse for the future for many breeders.”
