Ka Ying Rising: 15 in a row
The world’s best sprinter Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) made it 15 wins in succession in Sunday’s G2 Jockey Club Sprint at Sha Tin. Galaxy Patch (Wandjina) won the G2 Jockey Club Mile, and Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) made his much anticipated return to racing with victory in the G2 Jockey Club Cup.
A full report on the meeting will be in the next issue.
First winner for Captivant
Trainer Jenny Graham sent 2-year-old gelding Vantorix (Captivant) to Taree to debut against the older horses in a maiden over 1005 metres. The juvenile was more than up to the task, winning by 2.4 lengths for jockey Ashley Morgan to become the first winner for first season sire Captivant.
Captivant, a son of Capitalist who won the G1 Champagne Stakes as an autumn juvenile, has just the two runners to date. Vantorix was purchased by Graham for $30,000 from Mullaglass Stud’s draft at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. He is a half-brother to Group 3-winning 3-year-old Raging Force (Cosmic Force).
Listed Kilmore Cup won by Regal Zeus
In a scratching decimated Listed Kilmore Cup, it was John McArdle-trained Regal Zeus (Zoustar) who won the mile event by four lengths. “He’s tough, he’s honest – nothing’s gone right this prep,” McArdle said.
“We got him here today, and as I said pre-race, I thought the tight turning track would suit him, he’d be able to scoot off the turns, and he did that. He was impressive… we’ll find something else for him in two or three weeks.”
It was the second Listed win for the 5-year-old gelding, and he’s one of 73 stakes winners for reigning Champion Australian Sire Zoustar. Regal Zeus took his record to nine wins with earnings over $850,000. He was sold by Edinburgh Park Stud at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for $150,000 to Regal Bloodstock, Blue Grass (FBAA) and Redgum Racing.
New Zealand Group 1 for Jigsaw
Saturday’s The Meteorite winner Jigsaw (Manhattan Rain) could head over the ditch for the G1 Railway Stakes at Ellerslie on January 24.
“It’s not beyond the realms of possibilities that he could venture over there with the form he’s in as you’ve got to keep taking the opportunities when they present themselves,” trainer Cindy Alderson told racing.com. He is unlikely to head to The Supernova over the longer 1400-metre trip.
“That’s not a decision I’m going to make anytime soon. Coming into this preparation we decided to take it race by race, not really expecting a 7-year-old gelding who hadn’t won for two years winning three on the bounce.
“I’ll let it play out and let him tell me. That’s pretty much how I’ve trained him in all of his preparation, and I can’t see any reason to change that.”
Brayden Star indecision over Zipping or Pakenham
Winner of the G2 Herbert Power Stakes three starts ago, Brayden Star (GB) (Twilight Son {GB}) may head to Saturday’s G2 Zipping Classic at Caulfield or wait until the Pakenham Cup next month. “He had a gallop this morning and we were umming and ahhing whether we’d go to the Zipping knowing he’s probably not a winning chance – he’d run well, but Pakenham would probably be softer for him,” co-trainer Trent Busuttin told racing.com.
Trent Busuttin | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“But the way he pulled up after a gallop today – he had a week in the paddock after his last race – and he’s had a good blow, so he obviously does very well. We might have to send him around in the Zipping.
“I’m sure he’ll weigh in and pick up some of the prizemoney, but it’s probably a bit beyond his grasp at weight-for-age. There are going to be better horses than him in it, so the Pakenham Cup is probably a better race for him.”
Merson Cooper target for Alabama Express colt
Co-trainer Ken Keys will set trial winning 2-year-old colt Alibaba (Alabama Express) for Saturday’s Listed Merson Cooper Stakes. “He's a very nice horse, best way to put it,” Keys told racenet.com.au.
“He did a few things wrong the other day in the mounting yard, he was a bit naughty, so who knows what his manners are going to be like. On the track he was good, Craig (Williams) gave us a good report. What you think you've got (is one thing) and when you get Craig riding him and he gives you a similar sort of report, it's a pretty good feeling. He looks like a nice horse, visually.”
Melbourne Classic announced for staying 3-year-olds
The Melbourne Racing Club have added the Melbourne Classic to their Zipping Classic meeting. To be run over 2000 metres for 3-year-olds, the race is designed to give more options to stamina bred youngsters. “The first wave is typically aimed at the Caulfield Guineas and the Victoria Derby, and this race will never supplant those Group 1 features,” MRC General Manager of Racing, Josh Rodder told racing.com.
“This new race is intended to be developed as a stakes race and form a bit of a mini grand final for later-maturing 3-year-olds that emerge at the end of the Melbourne Spring Carnival and for staying 3-year-old fillies to gain valuable black type (when the race is granted stakes status).
“That new cohort of horses get the opportunity to come through races like the Carbine Club Stakes and Sandown Guineas, and this will create extra interest in a new group of horses at the end of the Spring.
“Alternatively, it might be a lightly raced 3-year-old coming through its classes out of a midweek or maiden. This will see the Melbourne Classic develop into an intriguing and exciting end-of-spring option.
“The creation of the Melbourne Classic also supports Racing Victoria’s desire to extend the Melbourne Spring Carnival deeper into November without impacting the existing spring or autumn program.”
Five-timer for Dylan Gibbons
Dylan Gibbons booted home five winners from seven rides at the Canberra meeting on Sunday. He kicked off the card with a three-quarter-length victory with Koning (Kingman {GB}) for Richard and Will Freedman, then added debutante Northlander (North Pacific) in the third race on the card for Richard Litt, and rode home Stormbringer (Pride Of Dubai) for Matthew Dale to win the $30,000 Tony Campbell Memorial Cup.
He finished the day with a race-to-race double, guiding Gary Portelli's Kintyre (Hallowed Crown) to victory in the $200,000 Community Chest and Matthew Smith-trained Runranirun (Press Statement) in the last.
Shoot Out then Subzero for Walsh Bay
Walsh Bay (Deep Field) took her current winning streak to seven on Saturday with a win in the Mooloolaba Cup over a mile. She will be set for the Shoot Out, and then the Magic Millions Subzero next. “I tell you, she's really gone above and beyond,” co-trainer Chris Munce told racenet.com.au.
Chris Munce | Image courtesy of Munce Racing
“It's well-publicised where we want to go with her and we still have to get there with The Shoot Out. But for her to come back from 40-odd days off a win and back to a mile, it's a credit to her. It was a great ride and Damien does get on well with her, he loves her. He really knows how to ride her and he does a great job. She's a beauty.
“If she gets beaten in The Shoot Out then she'll probably have a spell for the winter. She's a beautiful mare.”
Anders filly makes it two at Hobart
On Sunday at Hobart, second season sire Anders has a promising type as John Blacker-trained 3-year-old filly Daytona Diva took her record to two wins from three starts. Sold by Armidale Stud for $40,000 to Tanya Hansen at the Magic Millions Tasmania Yearling Sale, she took her earnings over $62,000.
Daytona Diva is the second winner for Group 3-placed Step The Pedal (Elvstroem) who had a Nicconi colt this spring.
Alpine Eagle had treble at the meeting with Alpine Cowgirl, Sh’bourne Midnight, and Alpine Thunder.
Lucky 13 for North Pacific
At Canberra on Sunday, second season sire North Pacific added his 13th winner when Richard Litt-trained 3-year-old gelding Northlander won on debut by 1.6 lengths.
Northlander was sold by Robyn Wise at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $170,000 to Monarch Bloodstock, David Pfieffer and Koolman Bloodstock.
La Renegada tops day two of Goffs Breeding Sale
Turquoise Bloodstock paid €65,000 (AU$116,000) for La Renegada (Lope De Vega) to top the second and final day of the Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale on Saturday. The 4-year-old daughter of multiple Listed winner Against Rules (Aussie Rules), herself third in the G3 Prix Belle de Nuit, is in foal to Group 1 sire Make Believe.
At the close of trade on Saturday, 70 lots had sold from 94 offered (74%) for a gross of €685,200 (AU$1.22 million) (+54%). The average was €9,789 (AU$17,500) (+25%) and the median was €7,000 (AU$12,500) (+40%). Two lots made north of €50,000 (AU$89,250) compared to none on the same day in 2024.
Overall, the two-day sale grossed €12,117,700 (AU$21.6 million) (+7%) for 265 sold from 322 offered (82%). The average fell 10% to €45,728 (AU$81,500) and the median rested at €20,000 (AU$35,700) (-9%). There were 10 lots that sold for €200,000 (AU$357,000) or more this term (12 last year). Additionally, 32 lots reached the six-figure mark compared to 28 in 2024.
“Exceeding expectations,” said Goffs Group chief executive Henry Beeby of the five-day stand. “A key Goffs mantra and one we are pleased to have delivered on countless occasions over the last six days. So many vendors and consignors of both foals and mares gave positive feedback on the sale which delights the dedicated Goffs team as we exist to serve those that place their trust in our service.
“Our Breeding Stock Sale also delivered positive returns for large numbers although at a lower level today. Yesterday's top lot is a clear case in point of exceeding expectations as she realised double several pre-sale valuations, and she was far from alone in that achievement.”
Pencarrow milestone achieved
Trainers Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie saddled their 200th winner for owner-breeder Sir Peter Vela of Pencarrow Stud when 3-year-old filly Passiflora (NZ) (Farnan) won on Saturday. “It’s a real buzz for us to train 200 winners for Sir Peter Vela,” Ramsay told Loveracing.nz.
“He and his late brother Philip have given us incredible support through our careers, and we’re just so happy to be involved in the team. Leah (Hemi) gave her a good ride and the filly really dug in too. She’s not overly big, but she’s got a bit of class.” The Farnan filly has won two of her three starts and was third in the other.
She is the first foal of Group 3 winner Lilikoi (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) who has a Super Seth colt yearling catalogued in the 2026 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale as Lot 522.
Nevada Beach returns to form
While the G1 Breeders' Cup Classic may have turned out to be a jump too high for him, Nevada Beach (Omaha Beach) bounced back from that effort with a workman-like victory in the G3 Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar.
Despite only starting his career in mid-April this year, the son of Omaha Beach has cobbled together a respectable 2025 campaign with wins in the Los Alamitos Derby in late June and the Win and You’re In G1 Goodwood Stakes two back at Santa Anita. The lattermost effort guaranteed him a spot in the World Championships earlier this month, and he was 18-1 in that contest as Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) made history for Japan. Nevada Beach was never a factor in seventh.
“He went easy today, but (compared to) his last race, it's almost like two different horses,” said winning rider Juan Hernandez. “He is a big horse, he is a train. He got the job done though. I want to give my thanks to the owners for giving me the confidence. He may want to run a little more distance, he galloped out of the race well.”
Another millionaire for Not This Time
Uncorking a ferocious rally in the lane, Giocoso (Not This Time) became racing's newest millionaire after claiming the G3 Commonwealth Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs. “It was a little anxious moment down the stretch but the good horses know how to get the job done,” trainer Keith Desormeaux said.
“Jose (Ortiz) was able to get him to relax down the backside and I was blessed to have a jockey that used his skills to do that and we got the job done.” Winner of four of his 13 starts, he took his earnings over US$1.1 million (AU$1.7 million).
Italian St Leger won by Sea The Moon mare
Chevotel Racing's Orion Queen (Fr) handled the heavy Milan turf and ran away with the G3 Premio St Leger Italiano in Italy on Saturday. The daughter of Sea The Moon (Ger) was trying the 3000-metre distance for the first time.
Orion Queen is the 37th stakes winner for her sire, who stands at Lanwades Stud. She is also his 21st Group winner and second from a Declaration Of War mare after G3 Honeymoon Stakes heroine Selenaia. Oriental Queen won thrice in a three-year career and also has the 3-year-old filly Oriental Princess (Galiway), who has yet to place.
Her granddam claimed the Listed Prix Urban Sea and is a half-sister to stakes winner Orion Star (Sternkoenig), who placed in both the G1 Grand Prix de Paris and in the G1 Prix du Cadran.
Porta Fortuna still has racing in her
Champion filly Porta Fortuna still has “plenty of racing left in her” according to trainer Donnacha O'Brien, who admitted that he will be experiencing “mixed emotions” when his stable star goes through the ring at the forthcoming December Mares Sale at Tattersalls.
The daughter of Caravaggio made it to the racecourse only once in 2025, when registering her eighth career win in May's G2 Lanwades Stud Stakes at the Curragh, but she has been given a clean bill of health by O'Brien ahead of her appearance during the second of the two Sceptre Sessions on Tuesday, December 2.
“She's always been a very, very sound filly throughout her career, other than the little tweak that we got before Ascot (after her win at the Curragh),” said the trainer. “She put on a good bit of weight when we gave her the break and we decided that we probably weren't going to get her to the (G1) Matron (Stakes) in time. When that happened, the owners took the decision just to keep her in light work until the sales and keep her happy and healthy, so that's what we're doing.”
