Second Listed John Letts Cup for Air Assault
Air Assault (Justify {USA}) defended his Listed John Letts Cup crown at Morphettville with a stunning six-and-and-half length victory on Tuesday for trainer Andrew Gluyas and jockey Jason Holder. “Oh my god, I love him. He's just a genuine good horse,” Holder said.
“I've had an ordinary day, I've had the worst day, I thought ‘can it get any better?' – I hope so. A couple of horses we expected to win were disappointing, but he just always pulls me out of the rabbit hole. Sometimes you just need the right horse, and it can pull you out.
The 5-year-old gelding took his record to nine wins from 32 starts with earnings over $890,000. He won the G3 SAJC Sires’ Produce Stakes at two and has added six Listed wins since then. A homebred for owner Harry Perks, who races him in partnership, Air Assault is a half-brother to Group 1 winner Go Indy Go (Bernardini {USA}) and Group 3 winner Essay Raider (Bernardini {USA}).
Shinn suspected broken leg in fall
Jockey Blake Shinn fell from Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained She’s Got Pizzazz (Zoustar) in race nine at Flemington and was transported to hospital with a suspected broken leg. She’s Got Pizzazz returned to the stables and was later reported to be lame.
Jockey lucky after terrible car accident
Apprentice jockey Glenn Cahill was transported to Canberra hospital on Friday evening following a serious car crash near Yass when his car was hit by a car travelling on the wrong side of the road. “On behalf of Glenn, his loved ones and the Mane Lodge team we would like to send our heartfelt gratitude to the first responders and emergency services teams, the staff at Canberra Hospital for his ongoing treatment and recovery and to all those who have sent their love and support,” a statement from Cahill's boss Neil Osborne of Mane Lodge wrote on Tuesday.
“Glenn is a tremendous young man and much loved member of our team and we would like to wish him a speedy recovery.” He has received treatment for a fractured C7 vertebrae in his neck and fractures to his L1 vertebrae in his lower back, and has been cleared of damage to his spinal cord and nerves with a full range of limb motion.
Autumn campaign for Private Harry
Yulong announced on Tuesday that their Group 1-winning colt Private Harry (Harry Angel {Ire}) would return for an autumn campaign. He was recently diagnosed with bone bruising. “Whilst it’s disappointing not to see him on a racecourse again this spring, we’re thankful that the team at Randwick Equine were able to identify the root issue” said Yulong COO Sam Fairgray.
Private Harry | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
“He’s obviously been uncomfortable and not performing like the horse we know he is, but it goes to show how important it is to listen to them. We’ll put a line through those past two runs, give him some time out and focus on next year.” He will transfer to Chris Waller for his next campaign.
Weight doesn’t stop the dancing
At Randwick, both Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) in the Big Dance and Osipenko (NZ) (Pierro) in the Little Dance carried 62kg to victory. “He's definitely the class horse in the race,” jockey Josh Parr said of Osipenko.
“We had a lot of weight because of that and we had a sticky barrier but the moment I got three-wide with cover, it was like Christmas. I thought we were going to be very hard to hold out. Interestingly I was needing him to quicken abruptly at the top of the hill and just with the weight it took a little bit longer for that to happen. But when his turn of foot kicked in he's class shone through.”
The Barn Dance was won by So You Pence (So You Think {NZ}).
Hanseatic gelding wins in dominant fashion
Brent Stanley-trained 3-year-old gelding Surprisatic (Hanseatic) won by nearly five lengths at Mildura on Cup day to become the 14th winner for his second season sire. Suprisatic went through the Inglis Digital sales twice, once as a weanling where he sold for $9500 and again at three where he made $6000.
He is the second winner for Group 3-placed Hardly Surprising (All Too Hard).
Fourth winner for Time To Reign
Second season sire Time To Reign added winner number four when Nathan Doyle-trained 3-year-old filly Into Brooklyn won at Muswellbrook on Cup day. Doyle provided the quinella for the race with 3-year-old filly Vitozzi (Trapeze Artist) running second.
A homebred for Hollymount Stud, Into Brooklyn is out of Manhattan Bridge (Manhattan Rain).
Winner number nine for Graff
Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained 3-year-old filly Backhander (Graff) became the ninth winner for her second season sire when winning at Tamworth on Cup day. She was a $600 purchase at the May 2024 Inglis Digital Sale by Handshake Hill.
Debut winner for Lucky Vega
Yulong’s second season sire Lucky Vega (Ire) added his 14th Southern Hemisphere winner when Ryan Hill-trained 3-year-old filly Solo Vega won on debut at Bunbury on Cup day. She is out of Singles (Not A Single Doubt) whose half-brother 4-year-old gelding Frozen Tide (Alabama Express) won at Echuca on Cup day.
Sire doubles in Hobart on Cup day
Alpine Eagle and Needs Further both added doubles at Hobart on Cup day. Alpine Eagle sired the winners Eaglefurther and Georgaroni, while Needs Further saluted with Don’t Give Up and Restricted Access.
Marsh thrilled with El Vencedor’s return to form
Reigning New Zealand Horse of the Year El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking) won Tuesday’s G3 Balmerino Stakes over 2000 metres at Ellerslie on Tuesday. “There’s the expectation and you just hope such a horse is back to his best,” trainer Stephen Marsh told Loveracing.nz.
“I thought Wiremu rode him beautifully, he didn’t panic, and the race panned out how we thought. I am very relieved. I am very proud of the horse, it is great to see him back at his best. There is a lot of satisfaction for me and our team, there is nothing better than that.” He will follow a similar path as last season.
Yes Yes Yes gelding on song for Guineas
Trainer Pamela Gerard might win her second G1 NZ 2000 Guineas in a row after 3-year-old gelding Affirmative Action (Yes Yes Yes) won at Ellerslie on Tuesday. She won the Group 1 last year with Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel). “I am pretty relieved really and I am now nervous for the next one (2000 Guineas),” Gerard told Loveracing.nz.
Affirmative Action | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
“George (Rooke, jockey) is really confident and that makes me even more nervous. He didn’t do it easy today, so there’s still plenty of improvement. He has done what he has had to do. It hasn’t been an easy road, it’s been nearly six weeks (since he last raced), so it was a good effort from the horse.”
Doyle to open Hong Kong stint at Happy Valley
Jockey Hollie Doyle has seven rides at Happy Valley on Wednesday night to being a seven-week short contract in the region. “You have to adapt very quickly to the different jurisdictions. I’m lucky to have travelled the world and got used to doing that now, but obviously it’s always very different here in Hong Kong – it’s tactical, it’s tight and sharp,” Doyle told scmp.com.
“Our season has finished in England. November and December are quiet enough back home, so it’s the time of year I have been going away for the last few years, and it’s worked out quite well. I have a seven-week contract (ending December 23), and I am looking forward to being here for a little bit longer.
“I did a few routine canters on a few of my runners for tomorrow. I have seven rides with support from a range of trainers, which is quite nice to see and hopefully I can get some good results.”
Tangapour tops Goffs Horses-In-Training Sale at €185,000
Alessandro Marconi was left thanking his lucky stars he missed a flight to America on Monday as a last minute decision to re-route himself to Goffs for the Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale resulted in the bloodstock agent signing for the top lot – the 104-rated Aga Khan-owned Tangapour (Wootton Bassett) – for €185,000 (AU$327,000) on behalf of an unnamed client.
“I have never been so happy to miss a flight before,” he said. “I was meant to be on a flight to America for the sales in Keeneland this morning but I missed it and decided to come here instead. I've been lucky buying from the draft in the past.”
The Horses-In-Training sale turnover dropped by 6% to €1,335,000 (AU$2.35 million) while the average dropped by 3% to €16,899 (AU$30,000) and the clearance rate dropped marginally (2%) to 85%. The median, however, was up by 81% to €10,000 (AU$17,700) and Goffs chief Henry Beeby was particularly punchy after the sale.
Henry Beeby | Image courtesy of Goffs
He said, “We've said it before, we'll say it again, and we'll keep on saying it. Send us the horses and we will deliver. Yet again, with the top five lots the Aga Khan Studs draft has graphically illustrated that the Goffs Autumn HIT Sale can and will return the highest prices for the category and I am not embarrassed to say that it frustrates us to see so many Irish horses travelling to England last week when we have such an international buying bench in Kildare Paddocks this week.
“As the only sale for the form horses in Ireland we prove our point year after year, with owners and trainers delighted with the outcome of their drafts, and my end of sale comments highlighting the same issue. The fact is it costs less in terms of travel, entry fee and commission to sell here so we will keep banging the drum and strive to persuade more Irish horses to enter and reap the dividend of the unique Goffs service.”
Ace Stud reduces fee for Shaquille
Ace Stud has announced that Shaquille, the brilliant dual Group 1-winning sprinter, will stand for £10,000 (AU$20,100) next year. Shaquille was crowned Cartier Champion Sprinter and Longines World's Best 3YO Sprinter in 2023. Trained by Julie Camacho, he won seven times, with those top level triumphs coming in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot followed by the July Cup.
Paul Curran, Ace Stud's Bloodstock and Racing manager said, “Champion European Sprinter Shaquille has been really well-supported by top breeders since retiring to stud. He has covered more than 275 mares in his first two seasons, including Ace Stud's own quality band of broodmares.
“We have reduced his fee and changed his covering terms to January 1 special live foal in order to give breeders the opportunity to use an exciting young stallion at an attractive and affordable price. The feedback on his first foals has been very positive and we eagerly await them going through the sales ring at Goffs, Tattersalls and Arqana in the coming weeks.”
Ace Stud’s Carl Spackler retired to Lane’s End
Multiple Grade 1 winner Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) has been retired from racing and will stand at Lane's End for the 2026 breeding season, the farm announced.
Bred by Fifth Avenue Bloodstock, Carl Spackler was campaigned by e Five Racing before being acquired by Ace Stud. He claimed his initial elite-level win in 2024 in the G1 Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga. He followed that up by adding the G1 Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes at Keeneland last October and ended his 2024 campaign finishing sixth in the G1 Breeders' Cup Mile. He got right back to winning ways on April 11 by handily defeating a quality field in the G1 Maker's Mark Mile Stakes at the Lexington venue.
“Lope De Vega has been a dominant force in racing since he was named European Champion First-Crop Sire and has made a global impact,” said Lane's End's Bill Farish. “Carl Spackler had such an impressive turn of foot, consistently performing at an elite level, and with his sire line he brings exciting diversity to the Lane's End roster.”
Changes at Resolute Racing
Chelsey Stone Stewart, currently Chief Operating Officer of Resolute Racing, will assume the role of CEO from John Stewart effective immediately, the group announced Monday.
In addition to his wife taking over his role, children Andrew and Sarah Stewart will also step into leadership roles alongside Stone-Stewart while John's ongoing role will be limited to supporting the senior team with strategic initiatives and direction.
“I am honoured to share that Chelsey will be taking over the role of CEO of Resolute Racing,” said John Stewart. “From the outset, she has been deeply involved and instrumental in the success of our operations, originally as Director of Breeding and Bloodstock and more recently as COO. Chelsey is one of the rising stars in the horse racing industry. Chelsey has proven to be both an exceptional horsewoman and a strong organizational leader.”
Murphy gets 15-day whip ban
Champion jockey Oisin Murphy has received a 15-day ban for repeated breaches of the whip rules. Murphy, who secured his fifth title at the formal conclusion of the championship at Ascot last month, was referred to the British Horseracing Authority's judicial panel for a fast-track hearing after using his whip once above the permitted level on Gladius at Newmarket on October 11.
He was given a 15-day ban, five days of which are suspended for six months or 200 rides, with one day to be spent receiving coaching on his use of the whip.
“As a very experienced and extremely able and skilful jockey, he must realise that 'miscounting' the number of occasions on which he used his whip is a very hollow and unattractive explanation, and may well not be accepted in relation to any further excessive use of the whip, and that further contraventions of the rule are likely to result in the imposition of longer periods of suspension,” said judicial panel member Clement Goldstone KC.
