Nolen and Moody achieve 900 wins together
Jockey Luke Nolen and trainer Peter Moody achieved their 900th victory together on Wednesday with Cooly (Cool Aza Beel {NZ}) at Caulfield Heath. “We probably should be at 1000,” Nolen said after the 3-year-old filly saluted. She becomes the 11th winner for her second season sire.
“He had a bit of time off, I've ridden part-time for about six years with injury. They're numbers on a page but 900 for one trainer is pretty remarkable. Particularly in an environment we probably don't reward a lot of loyalty in this game anymore, that's probably the great thing about it.”
Summer is where it’s at for Gollan
Trainer Tony Gollan believes the Queensland summer carnival is the place to see emerging talents. “The summer carnival is a great carnival in Queensland,” Gollan told racenet.com.au.
“Obviously the jewel in the crown is Gold Coast Magic Millions day, but there are options for most good horses all throughout the summer. It really is a launch pad for an up-and-coming horse.
Tony Gollan | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“Antino, Transatlantic, even a horse as far back as Vega One, those horses all really started to make their way during the summer carnival. It then allowed me then to look at options like the autumn carnival, or our winter carnival, and then off that winter carnival you can go away to spring.
“For me, the summer carnival is a vital carnival, particularly for that emerging horse to really start to put them through their paces at Stakes level before I decide on where I send them in the future. Personally, I love this carnival and it often sets in stone a horse's preparation for the future based on their performances in the summer.”
Barber fresh into The Warra
Saturday’s The Warra will feature Richard Litt-trained Barber (Exceed And Excel) who is resuming after being last seen when third in the Listed Ramornie Handicap in July. “He’s an unassuming horse. He’s had two good trials, I was very happy with his trials, he’s very fit,” Litt told racingnsw.com.au.
Barber | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“We’ve had him in for a good while now in preparation for this race. It’s probably 100m short of his best distance but fresh he’s going to love that speed on. It maps well for him to run really well. It’s definitely not the strongest field he’s come up against but we can’t take these races lightly.” The Warra is noted on Racing Australia as a Group 3 event but has yet to be ratified by the Asian Pattern Committee, so holds no official internationally recognised black type.
Two new directors for Illawarra Turf Club
On Wednesday, the Illawarra Turf Club announced two new directors, Tracy Paterson and Nikki Aitchison, would join their board. Paterson, a Wollongong local, is Executive General Manager NSW/ACT and Head of Regional Sales for Southern Cross Austereo, following 15 years in management and sales roles at WIN Television.
“Having seen firsthand how much this club gives back to our community, I am proud to contribute to its ongoing success,” Paterson told racingnsw.com.au. “The ITC has a clear vision - to be a premium, innovative, and industry-leading race club and entertainment venue - and I’m looking forward to supporting the team with my experience.”
Aitchison is the Publican and Director of The Illawarra Hotel and has twice been recognised with Illawarra Women in Business Awards. “This opportunity fills me with pride and excitement as it brings together everything I’m passionate about - hospitality, entertainment and exceptional customer service,” Aitchison said.
“I’m eager to contribute to an experience that’s welcoming, vibrant, and community-focused, and to helping shape the future of a club that means so much to so many.” They will both serve a three-year term alongside reappointed Director Mark Sleigh.
Perth Cup holds romantic lure for Guagliardo
Owner Santo Guagliardo won the G1 Railway Stakes with Bustler (Playing God), and he has Watch Me Rock (Awesome Rock) running on Saturday, but his heart is set on a Perth Cup. He’s even purchased a horse on Inglis Digital to help him with his dream. “Winning the Railway and doing it with Neville (Parnham) was obviously pretty exciting and very special,” Guagliardo told racingwa.com.au.
“There was no doubt about that and I still talk about with Neville today. I said to him we’ve done the Railway, now the next thing is the Perth Cup. To me that race has always been like our local Melbourne Cup. I hold a lot of affection for the race; it’s a throwback to the halcyon days of WA racing.”
He paid $380,000 for dual Derby-placed Lavalier (Microphone) in the July 2025 Inglis Digital Sale. “He’s got the staying potential and he may even go back and race over east. I was looking at him and two sprinters with the Kalgoorlie slot race in mind, but they were a bit more than what we wanted to pay. I just concentrated on this guy (Lavalier) and thought that’s it, I’m not going to get beaten here. I always wanted a stayer and I think he has the credentials. He will trained in Perth by Neville.”
Moor looking forward to Magic Millions carnival
Jockey Daniel Moor moved from Victoria to Queensland this season and he’s looking forward to the Queensland summer carnival. “I am looking forward to the carnival as well as the Magic Millions 2-year-old race,” Moor told racingqueensland.com.au.
“I am thinking of that in the long range. It is about identifying what kind of horses you want to be on obviously as it is very competitive up here and there is a great base of riders on the side of youth and experience.
“I am looking forward to getting into the carnival and working hard to find something that’ll bob up. I have touched base with a few trainers down south when it comes to the 2-year-olds as well because it is a strong market, the Magic Millions, and Melbourne is a pretty prolific buyer. If I can’t find a good Magic Millions horse here locally, then I will try find one down home.”
Unbeaten run continues for You’re Two Vain
Alicia McPherson-trained 4-year-old gelding You’re Two Vain (Magnus) stayed unbeaten with win number four at Caulfield Heath on Wednesday. “He's unbeaten and it's not easy, as you know. But he just keeps winning, it's good,” McPherson said.
“He's a little bit revvy, so hopefully as he matures and does a bit more he gets better, but he is a little bit highly strung. We're hoping he keeps progressing. Of course it's hard to know, but he's training on well. He won at Corowa and trained on really well, so that gave us confidence coming here. His rating will go up, so we just have to keep stepping him up.”
Withdrawn as a weanling, You’re Two Vain now has earnings over $75,000. He is the second winner for Moon Esprit (Bel Esprit).
A Double/Double for Toronado
At Doomben on Wednesday, Toronado (Ire) sired a double with 4-year-olds Barrelling and Every Heart. The Swettenham Stud sire achieved the same at Murray Bridge where both Zuetoro and 3-year-old filly One More Song saluted.
One More Song was having her second start for owners Pipeliner Bloodstock, and she is the first winner for Encore Encore (Fastnet Rock) who is a full sister to Group 3-placed Violinist.
New winner for North Pacific
Second season sire North Pacific added winner number 12 when 3-year-old filly Viresha won for trainer Dan Morton at Belmont on Wednesday. She is one of six winners for stakes placed Valoura (Exceed And Excel) who is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Noire (Foxwedge).
Entain announce new tracking technology
Entain Australia and New Zealand (the operators of TAB, betcha and Trackside) have partnered with the regulatory body TAB New Zealand, and technology provider tripleSdata to implement the next-generation 4G GPS-RTK system across 30 racecourses in New Zealand. “It gives punters more confidence, trainers and owners more insight, and fans a completely new way to experience the thrill of racing,” TAB New Zealand chief executive Nick Roberts told Loveracing.nz.
Nick Roberts | Image courtesy of TAB New Zealand
“This is another example of the investment that can occur in the New Zealand racing industry through strong partnerships.” The system does real time tracking of horses during races and provides sectional data for punters.
Mizzen Mast dies aged 27
Juddmonte's homebred stallion Mizzen Mast (Cozzene) has been euthanized due to the infirmities of old age, the Daily Racing Form reported on Monday. The 27-year-old began his career in France, placing in the G1 Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris before crossing the Atlantic to take both the GI Malibu Stakes and the GII Strub Stakes at Santa Anita to finish his racing career.
As a stallion, Mizzen Mast sired 70 stakes winners and 27 group or graded winners until his pensioning from stud duties in 2021. He sired 11 elite-level winners including two-time GI Breeders' Cup Turf Spring winner Mizdirection and multiple Grade 1 winner Caravel.
“It wasn't any [one thing], it was just more of an amalgamation of a bunch of things,” Juddmonte manager Garrett O'Rourke told the DRF. “They're never easy decisions, but they're easier when the horse is telling you, 'Look, I'm ready.'”
220k Palace Pier filly tops Goffs
The Goffs November Foal Sale is considered by many to be the jewel in the crown for Goffs – certainly from an Irish perspective – and Tuesday's trade, which followed on from a strong curtain-raiser on Monday, went some way to confirming that opinion.
At €220,000 (AU$392,000), a Palace Pier half-sister to recent Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf runner-up Pacific Mission, rightly stood out when selling to Paul McCartan online.
Of the 246 lots offered on Tuesday, 203 were sold at clearance rate of 83% [down 1% on last year]. The €8,720,500 (AU$15.5 million) turnover climbed by 4% while the €42,959 (AU$76,500) average was up by 4% and the €35,000 (AU$62,500) median up by 6%.
Dubawi's Al Zanati wins Group 3
He did a lot of things wrong before and during Tuesday's G3 Prix Thomas Bryon on dirt, but ultimately Godolphin's Al Zanati (Dubawi) was able to impose himself on proceedings in the nick of time. Difficult to load and recalcitrant throughout the early stages as William Buick sought to tuck him in behind, the 3-5 favourite who had been runner-up in the G3 Autumn Stakes last month had to close wide in the straight.
“I'm pleased we ran him, because it would have annoyed me over the winter had he not been a Stakes winner at two,” trainer Charlie Appleby said of Al Zanati. “He's a work in progress, but the engine's there–it's a case of how he is mentally. He can be a challenge some mornings, he's sometimes electric and sometimes workmanlike so it's all about maturity.
“We wanted to see what he was like on the surface and we could look at taking him to Dubai and go the Al Bastakiya route and see where we are. A good strong ten-furlong race will suit.”
Thoroughbred Aftercare grants announced
The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will award US$4.7 million (AU$7.2 million) in grants to 86 accredited Thoroughbred aftercare organizations in 2025, the organization announced on Tuesday. The financial support is designed to assist organizations in delivering exceptional care and rehabilitation services for retired racehorses.
“Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is proud to continue supporting our 86 accredited organizations through this year's grant awards,” said Janice Towles, Director of Accreditation & Grants, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. “This funding helps sustain the remarkable efforts of these organizations to continue their incredible work as they provide care, rehabilitation, and second-career opportunities for retired Thoroughbred racehorses. We commend their ongoing commitment to giving every horse a secure and rewarding life after the track.”
