Angel Capital set for G1 CF Orr Stakes
Saturday’s G1 CF Orr Stakes is a good chance for Yulong-owned entire Angel Capital (Harry Angel {Ire}) to pick up his first Group 1 win. “He's got to tick that Group 1 box and then the rest can unfold,” trainer Chris Waller told racenet.com.au.
Angel Capital | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Autumn Glow was the same … a matter of ticking it and you can relax. Then start ticking off some bigger prizes. His Everest run was amazing.” He ran sixth in The Everest last start and has trialled recently in preparation for Saturday. He has won five of his 10 starts including the G2 Autumn Stakes.
Jimmysstar in career best form
Trainer Ciaron Maher has warned rivals that Group 1 winner Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) is ready to take everyone on in Saturday’s G1 CF Orr Stakes. “He's super. He's in career best form,” Maher told racingandsports.com.au.
Jimmysstar (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He's just a good horse, right in that rich vein of form. If the Everest wasn't there, he probably has his first run at 1200 (metres) and then goes to 1400 and into his sweet spot. But you can see what he did when he went to 1300 last start and he'll be better again at 1400.”
Jimmysstar won the $3 million Russell Balding Stakes at his last start and has 10 wins for over $6 million in earnings.
Stay Inside juvenile Lassified wins in New Zealand
First season sire and G1 Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside added his third winner when 2-year-old filly Lassified won on debut in New Zealand on Sunday. It was the first of a treble for trainer Andrew Forsman and jockey Craig Grylls. “She’s a game little filly, we really like her,” Forsman’s Racing Manager Joe Walker told Loveracing.nz.
“She’s a real professional. She jumped, used the rail and looked the winner then just wanted to do things wrong. I think she’s tough, she’s got a good attitude for it and plenty of upside. We’ll get her home and reassess things now, but we’re very happy to kick off with that.”
Owned by the Lassified Syndicate and OTI, Lassified was sold by Twin Hills Stud at the Inglis Great Southern Sale to Glenbeigh Farm for $70,000. Glenbeigh Farm presented her at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale where she made $120,000 to the bid of Forsman Racing and Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA). She is a half-sister to Group 2-placed Boyfriend (Snitzel) from Listed winner Exclusive Lass (Nicconi) who had a Royal Meeting (Ire) colt in 2025.
Forsman and Grylls also won with Cambridge Stud-owned 3-year-old gelding Nedelin (NZ) (Spirit Of Boom) and China Horse Club-owned Privy Garden (So You Think {NZ}) who took her record to five wins.
Vale Pat Farrell
Muswellbrook trainer Pat Farrell has died. Winner of eight-straight Newcastle training premierships, and over 920 winners, he retired from training in 2024. “I am honoured to call Pat Farrell a friend. The things he did for racing people quietly in the background to help when they were in need would count well into the hundreds chances are you might have been one to benefit and you would never even know,” said Michael Beattie on social media.
“RIP Pat Farrell a legend as a trainer but a much bigger legend of a man ... you will be missed and missed badly but you will never be forgotten and neither you should be.”
Maher’s import begins Australian campaign in The Hunter
Trainer Ciaron Maher will debut Darnation (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) in Saturday’s $1 million The Hunter. “She will go to The Hunter,” Maher's assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord told racenet.com.au.
“Her form in Europe is good and she is still getting there so I think it might take a couple of runs before we see the best of her. But she is a nice mare.” Winner of four of her 10 starts in Europe, she won the G2 German 1000 Guineas at three.
Pride contemplates 2026 Cox Plate for Ceolwulf
Trainer Joe Pride is contemplating a G1 Cox Plate target for four-time Group 1 winner Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) for 2026 with the race to be run at Flemington. “I’m not blinded by the fact that he’s a good horse,” Pride told racing.com.
Ceolwulf (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He has run some great races at 2000 metres – he’s run second in a Rosehill Guineas – but I think it’s fair to say his best performances so far have been in fast-run miles. And I guess what I’d be banking on there, to help us do this, as he gets a bit older and now that he’s wearing the blinkers that he’s able to adapt to some muddling tempos that he may get in those 2000-metre races.
“Look, it’s going to be difficult because we’ve got the King Charles and unless those dates are going to change next year, the King Charles being the week before is the fly in the ointment there for me.
“But the autumn is going to basically decide whether we should be targeting the Cox Plate. Now if he’s good at 2000 metres but not great, I think I’d have to have rocks in my head not aiming him at the King Charles again. But that’s something that will be determined by his autumn campaign.”
Friday’s Snake Gully Cup offers Big Dance eligibility
One of the biggest days on the Gundagai calendar is the Snake Gully Cup which will run on Friday November 14. “We were inspired by the beloved radio and TV series Dad and Dave from Snake Gully, as the event is deeply woven into Gundagai’s identity,” Michael Heath, Secretary/Manager of Gundagai Adelong Racing Club, told racingnsw.com.au.
“The theme song was ‘The Road to Gundagai’ and that connects generations of Australians to our town with this year’s Snake Gully Cup being the 40th renewal. For well over 100 years, Gundagai Adelong Racing Club has been at the heart of racing in southern NSW with our Snake Gully Cup Carnival the largest and most iconic community event in the Gundagai region.
“It spans two days of racing and entertainment and draws in more than 5000 attendees.” Last year’s Cup was won by Mitch Beer-trained Clever Art (Nicconi) and he brings Apollo Mission (Star Turn) and Mafia (Written Tycoon) this year.
Expensive Snitzel wins on debut
At Wodonga, Lindsay Park trained 3-year-old gelding Shyamalan (Snitzel) won on debut. He was a $800,000 purchase by PR Thoroughbreds from Bhima Thoroughbreds' Inglis Easter Yearling Sale draft.
He is a half-brother to Group 1 winner Militarize (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}), out of Amerindia (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) who is a half-sister to Listed winner Important Time (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), the dam of four-time Group 1 winner Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}).
Bay City Roller adds Group 1 in Germany
Victorious Forever's Bay City Roller (New Bay) went unbeaten in a three-race juvenile campaign, but was winless in six starts this term, and last year's G2 Champagne Stakes victor powered clear off the front end in Saturday's G1 Grosser Allianz Preis von Bayern at Munich to cap a banner season for Newmarket-based conditioner George Scott.
“This has been a fantastic experience, Munich have been great hosts, and we're very relieved and delighted to come home with a win,” said the owner's racing manager Billy Jackson-Stops.
“It's huge credit to Sheikh Nasser and his brother Sheikh Khalid for allowing this horse to come here. It would have been easy to put him away for the winter, but they're great sports, it's a great result and a huge training performance by George Scott. It's a winter break for sure for him now and we'll put him away for a Group 1 campaign with a view to him joining our stallion ranks at the end of next year. He'll be a fantastic addition.”
Bay City Roller, the fourth Group 1 winner for his sire, is the third of five foals and leading performer from two scorers out of the dual stakes-winning G3 Give Thanks and G3 Munster Oaks runner-up Bloomfield (Teofilo), whose first foal was Listed Foundation Stakes and Listed Doncaster Mile placegetter Botanical (Lope De Vega). Bloomfield is a three-parts sister to G3 Athasi Stakes victrix Prima Luce (Galileo), herself the dam of stakes-winning G2 Connaught Cup runner-up Emmaus (Invincible Spirit). Prima Luce is also the second dam of Listed Marwell Stakes third Indispensable (Ten Sovereigns).
Keeneland Book 3 breaks records with median up 41%
The Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale concluded its two-day Book 3 Saturday, already surpassing the total gross of the 2024 sale with still three days remaining in Lexington, KY.
Through five days, the gross for 1125 horses sold through the ring is up 31.54% from the same period last year. The average price rose 23.25% from US$154,837 (AU$238,000) to US$190,996 (AU$294,000). The median of US$130,000 (AU$200,000) increased 36.84% from last year's US$95,000 (AU$146,000).
On Saturday, Keeneland sold 259 horses through the ring for US$25,328,500 (AU$38.5 million), a 29.55% jump from the fifth day last year when 255 horses grossed US$19,551,500 (AU$30.1 million). The average of US$97,793 (AU$150,000) was 27.55% higher than US$76,673 (AU$118,000) in 2024, while the median rose 41.67% from US$60,000 (AU$92,000) to US$85,000 (AU$131,000).
Bringing a final bid of US$400,000 (AU$616,000), the session was topped by Way too Sexy (Flatter) (Hip 1482), a 4-year-old mare consigned Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa. Emirates Park in NSW purchased Hip 1575, Day Drama (Midshipman) for US$210,000 (AU$323,000). Midshipman is the damsire of their Group 1-winning filly Manaal (Tassort).
Graded double for Tiz The Law
Klaravich Stable and Chad Brown might be the only ones in New York having a better afternoon than Coolmore America's young stallion Tiz The Law.
The 3-year-old filly Fully Subscribed (Tiz The Law) became the fourth winner on the Saturday card at Aqueduct for the owner/trainer combo, capturing the G2 Mother Goose Stakes. Her win came just 60 minutes after another 3-year-old, Tiz Dashing (Tiz The Law) took down the G2 Hill Prince Stakes in upset fashion on the grass for Sackatoga Stable.
Mehmas shares headlines Arqana Online
The catalogue for Arqana Online's November Sale, featuring 19 lots including a breeding right in Group 1 sire Mehmas (Lot 1) is now online. The sale will be held from 4-6 pm French time on November 27 and features stallion shares and breeding rights.
Mehmas | Standing at Tally Ho Stud
A total of 15 shares and breeding rights are Flat oriented, with a breeding right to fellow Group 1 sire Space Blues (Lot 4) also on offer, beside a breeding right to group sire Palace Pier (Lot 8). Mehmas has 47 stakes winners, nine of them top-tier, so far. Space Blues already has G1 Phoenix Stakes hero Power Blue to his credit, while Palace Pier has sired five black-type horses including Group winners Royal Fixation and A Bit Of Spirit.
Grade 1 winner Kopion retired
Spendthrift Farm's Grade 1-winning mare Kopion (Omaha Beach), who posted three Beyer Speed Figures in excess of 107 in a season which included a blowout victory in the G1 Derby City Distaff Stakes, has been retired, according to a report from the Daily Racing Form.
“She came out of the race fine, but they're going to breed her,” trainer Richard Mandella told DRF. Mandella told the Form that Kopion would ship to Santa Anita from Del Mar on Sunday before flying to Kentucky on Tuesday.
