Bivouac filly takes on Winterbottom
Trevor Andrews-trained 3-year-old filly Luana Miss (Bivouac), a last start Listed winner, will line up in Saturday’s G1 Winterbottom Stakes and a strong showing could lead to an eastern seaboard campaign. “She's not overly big but she's got a big motor. As I said to the owners, I've got horses twice as big, but no motor,” Andrews told racing.com.
“She's just got really got ability. We'll get past Saturday and see how she goes and then reassess. We (WA) can produce a good horse and hopefully she's one of them. It's (Winterbottom) somewhat adventurous but she couldn't have done any more than what she's done over her past few starts.
“She's exempt from the ballot. She's a 3-year-old filly in a Group 1 race worth a lot of money, so we dare to dream. She has got really good point-to-point speed. She's a filly that can sit off a hot pace and get home strongly and that's the way this race looks like it will map. She hasn't done a lot wrong and may it continue on Saturday. A top-three finish at Group 1 (level) would be really good for her CV and give us plenty to think about in the new year.”
Overpass works well ahead of Winterbottom
Overpass (Vancouver) worked well on Tuesday ahead of his attempt to win three G1 Winterbottom Stakes in three years. “I flew in last night so I could gallop him this morning and he worked really well. His usual work on a Tuesday (before a race) where we ask him for a bit of an effort without being too taxing on him and I thought he worked really well,” jockey Josh Parr told racing.com.
“He seems fit, he didn't blow much this morning and I loved the look of his coat. He has dapples upon dapples. As far as I'm concerned his work was good enough for me to be very confident for this coming Saturday.
“That's his typical work. When he works like that and really wants to improve from the 600-metre point, like he did this morning, that's usually when he's in his best form and his best form is fresh like he is.”
Inglis Digital purchase heads to Zipping Classic
Group 3 winner Post Impressionist (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) was purchased at the latest Inglis Digital sale for $225,000 by Shane Morrissy, and he’s hoping a shift to the stable of Simon Ryan will be enough to freshen him up for Saturday’s G2 Zipping Classic. “He's only been here a few days but he's settled in well and he obviously came to us in really good condition from some top trainers,” Ryan told racenet.com.au.
“Originally we were going to wait for the Pakenham Cup to give him a run but he's in really good order and he's been racing well at a good level. We'll just have a look at those acceptances. If they come up a bit light, then it will be up to Shane whether he has a roll around there or not.
“We're probably leaning towards giving him a start. It can throw up a small field in some years and it will be up for consideration right down to the wire on Wednesday morning.” Post Impressionist ran seventh in the G3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes last start for trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman.
Loss but on the improve for Victoria Racing Club
The Victoria Racing Club announced a $7.2 million loss for the financial year of 2024/25, which is an improvement on the $24.2m loss for the 2023/24 financial year. “We are in the process of working through our new three-year strategy, and the $17.9m dollar EBITDA turnaround is an important start in returning the club to a net profit position,” CEO Kylie Rogers said.
Kylie Rogers | Image courtesy of Victoria Racing Club
“Over the last financial year, we have had a clear focus on increasing club revenue, which has included strengthening our commercial partnerships, growing our membership base to a record 35,371, and a new media rights partnership with TAB and the Nine Network.
“We have been disciplined in our approach, managed our expenses, and right-sized our business to ensure operational efficiency. Over this period, we have decreased our spending by $8.7m and paid down a further $5m dollars of debt.”
Surprise return for Bellatrix Star
At the start of the year, it looked like Group 2 winner Bellatrix Star (Star Witness) would head to the breeding barn after she sustained a fracture in her neck in a training accident at Cranbourne. She’s defied the odds and will resume in Saturday’s Listed Doveton Stakes. “It was just in a tricky enough position that all sorts of things could come about from it. We weren't sure if she was ever going to be able to be ridden again let alone get back to doing everything she is doing currently,” trainer Mark Walker's assistant Ben Gleeson told racing.com.
Bellatrix Star | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
“We were going to retire her when she was out cantering in the paddock and we just thought we'd take a precautionary x-ray and it basically showed it had all healed, much to our surprise. We've been pretty level-headed the whole way through about where we are going to get to so, provided she has a smooth week at home, this weekend is exciting, although we're just trying to keep a lid on it at the moment.
“We've still got no idea whether she is going to come back the same horse, but she ran through the line last Thursday in her trial and that gave us enough inclination that she's got plenty of zest for racing. It's going to be a tough ask on Saturday. She carries a big weight first-up for over 12 months.” She hasn’t raced since November 2024.
Singleton chasing city black type
Scone trainer Scott Singleton has won a couple of stakes races, but not in the city. He hopes his good mare Melody Again (Your Song) can change that in Saturday’s G3 Festival Stakes. “She's going terrific,” Singleton told racenet.com.au.
“The back end of her last prep she was going great and she's carried on where she left off this time. First-up in The Kosciuszko is was a bit short for her but the other day she ran really well without winning. I think if she had stayed to the inside she may have won but I couldn't fault the effort.”
Chasing better weather with Ouroboros
Trainer Matt Hoysted will likely send his last start winner Ouroboros (Harry Angel {Ire}) south to Sydney to chase better weather this weekend. “We are on weather watch. I would probably prefer to be running him in Brisbane, but he hates wet tracks,” Hoysted told racenet.com.au.
Ouroboros | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“If it's looking like a wet track in Brisbane and a dry track in Sydney, we might venture down. He wouldn't have to head down to Sydney until Thursday night, so we can wait as long as that to get a gauge on the weather. The weather predictions are constantly changing. He needs a firm deck to show his best and there is good weather forecast in Sydney.
“There's a couple of good horses in the Starlight but I'm pretty happy with the way my horse is going. He has still got to prove himself in this better grade. He has done everything pretty well against easier competition and this could be the right time to test him in this sort of grade.”
Tamworth abandoned due to high winds
High winds blew over the running rail at Tamworth on Tuesday, resulting in the last few races on the card being abandoned after four races had been run.
Lucky Vega gelding makes it two in a row
Jordan Lee-trained 3-year-old gelding Prestige Gundy (Lucky Vega {Ire}) made it two wins in succession with a half-length victory at Ballina on Tuesday. The $1000 Inglis Digital purchase by Japanoz Equestrian has now earned over $36,000.
Prestige Gundy is the first foal of Miss Gundy (Snitzel) who had a Written Tycoon colt this spring. Miss Gundy is an unraced half-sister to Group 2 winners Miraval Rose (Grunt {NZ}) and Gypsy Diamond (Not A Single Doubt).
Debutant winner for Ole Kirk
Second season sire Ole Kirk added winner number 26 when Mathew Smerdon-trained 3-year-old gelding Polished Wood won by three-quarters of a length at Ararat on Tuesday. He was on debut. Owned by Price Bloodstock, he was purchased for $220,000 by Merrick Staunton from Milburn Creek’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft.
Polished Wood is the first winner for Glamorize (Sepoy) who is a half-sister to Group 3 winners Written Beauty (Written Tycoon), Hi World (High Chaparral {Ire}), Lite’n In My Veins (Henrythenavigator {Ire}), and Listed winners Love Yamadly (Bel Esprit) and Ducimus (Snitzel).
First winner for Yulong Prince
Second season sire and Group 1 winner Yulong Prince (Saf) (Gimmethegreenlight) achieved his first winner when Rod Symons-trained 3-year-old gelding Kamarooka won at Ararat on Tuesday.
Kamarooka is out of winning mare Jeunabaa (Jeune {GB}) who has produced seven winners.
Defending champs return to Hong Kong
All four of the Group 1 races at Hong Kong’s International meeting on December 14 could feature the defending champion. Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) is set for the G1 Sprint, and Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) returned with a win ahead of his attempt to win the G1 Cup for the fourth year in a row.
Last year’s Mile winner Voyage Bubble (Deep Field) is entered for both the Mile and the Cup. “He did his best (when second to Romantic Warrior last start) and he was beaten by a world-class horse. We have options,” trainer Ricky Yiu told scmp.com.
Officials are also hopeful that Marco Botti’s Giavellotto (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) will confirm his return for the G1 Vase.
Record yearling session opens Tattersalls December Sale
After one last push over the top for the yearlings it is safe to say that the team at Tattersalls can reflect on a successful year for that sector of the market after the December Yearling Sale posted record figures across the board.
The final tally included the most expensive colt ever sold at this particular auction, a Frankel half-brother to the G2 Queen Mary and G2 Temple Stakes winner Dramatised (Showcasing) out of the Listed-winning Turtle Bowl mare Katie's Diamond. Anthony Stroud and Alex Elliott, bidding from either side of the partition in the chute, took each other on for the colt from Hazelwood Bloodstock, with the latter having the final say at 425,000gns (AU$905,000).
The aggregate of 7,287,500gns (AU$15.5 million) set a new benchmark. The clearance rate of 85% jumped up slightly from 83% in 2024, while the median improved by 33% to 40,000gns (AU$85,000) and by the average was up by 1% to 52,699gns (AU$112,200).
Rags To Riches dies of old age
Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy), only the third filly in history to win the GI Belmont Stakes, died due to infirmities of old age, Coolmore announced Monday. Owned by Coolmore's Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, Rags to Riches etched her name into the annals of American racing history when she outbattled Curlin in a dramatic stretch duel to take the final leg of the Triple Crown in 2007, becoming the first filly in 102 years to win the race.
Rags to Riches, purchased for US$1.9 million (AU$2.94 million) at the 2005 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, also won the GI Kentucky Oaks, GI Santa Anita Oaks and GI Las Virgenes Stakes and was named champion 3-year-old filly of 2007.
“Rags to Riches was a truly talented racehorse, and it's been a privilege to be around a horse of her calibre,” said Coolmore's Dermot Ryan. “Her achievements left a lasting impression on all of us, and she brought great pride to her ownership. I would like to thank Bob Davis and his team, who have cared for her with exceptional dedication for over a decade.”
Shoare joins Ace Stud team
Ace Stud has announced Ben Shoare as nominations manager ahead of the 2026 breeding season. Shoare will oversee Ace Stud, formerly known as Dullingham Park Stud, which is home to dual Group 1-winning sprinter Shaquille.
A statement released by the stud on Monday read, “Ben joins the team having completed the Irish National Stud's Thoroughbred Breeding Management course in 2021, after which he was selected to undertake the Jonathan Fitzpatrick Business Internship. His experience includes positions at Tweenhills Stud, Newgate Stud in Australia, and most recently Whitsbury Manor Stud.”
Neom Turf upgraded to Group 1
The Howden Neom Turf Cup, one of the highlights of the Saudi Cup meeting, has been upgraded to Group 1 status ahead of next year's running. Meanwhile, global insurance broker Howden has extended its partnership with the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia (JCSA) for a further three years, taking the race sponsorship to 2028.
The addition of the Howden Neom Turf Cup to The Saudi Cup's line up of Group 1 races now takes the tally of top flight contests on the day to three, with a glittering undercard including three Group 2s, one Group 3 and a newly minted Listed contest after an upgrade to the Tuwaiq Cup. In addition, the King Saud Cup, held this year on December 27, has also been raised from domestic Group 1 status to an International Listed Race.
