Overpass share headlines Magic Millions Digital
The next Magic Millions Digital sale will be headlined by shares in three talented racehorses, including a 5% share in Group 1 winner Overpass (Vancouver). There are also shares available in Within the Law (Lucky Vega {Ire}) and Blitzburg (Snitzel).
"To have the opportunity to buy a share in a horse that ran second in a Group 1 less than a week ago and is planning to run in a $1,500,000 race within a week is a very exciting proposition," Magic Millions Head of Digital Bryce Bevan said.
"Blitzburg won the Group 3 Canonbury Stakes as a two-year-old and he is back with some big targets in the pipeline," Bevan added. "Buyers have the option to get involved on the ground floor of what could be a big preparation."
The catalogue is now online and bidding closes on Wednesday December 10.
Berry excited about Doomben rides
Jockey Tommy Berry heads to Doomben on Saturday with a trio of stakes rides that could prove exciting. He rides top weight Bjorn Baker-trained Caballus (I Am Invincible) in the G3 George Moore Stakes, Chris Waller-trained Snitska (Snitzel) in the Listed Phelan Ready Stakes, and Sylph (I Am Invincible) for Michael Freedman in the Listed Mode Stakes. “The team is very happy with him at home and I was rapt with him on Derby Day,” Berry told racingqueensland.com.au of Caballus.
“He is the quality horse in the race, but I'm fully aware of what Hidden Wealth can do after winning the QTIS Magic Millions race on him last year. I've won three out of five rides on him, so I know how good he is and he's drawn the plum gate in one. We've got to overcome a tricky alley but he's a class horse and hopefully class can overcome that.
Tommy Berry | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Snitska looks readymade when it comes to a 2-year-old. He has a lovely cruising speed and I know the team has a good opinion of him.
“If Sylph turns up showing us what she has shown us at home, and not so much what she has shown at the races thus far, she will be right in it.”
Grafterburners hunting slot in Sunlight
Trainer Kelly Schweida runs 3-year-old colt Grafterburners (Graff) on Saturday with longer term black type aims and hopefully to showcase him for a slot in the $3 million Sunlight slot race. “He's had a little freshen up for a couple of days and was back in for a soft jumpout on Tuesday so he's fine,” Eagle Farm trainer Schweida told racenet.com.au.
“All his runs over 1200 metres have been super.” Winner of two of his eight starts at two and placed in the G2 Spirit Of Boom Classic, Grafterburners resumed at three with a win over 1200 metres.
Lightly raced Shadwell Lane for Mode Stakes
Trainer Jim Mason will run lightly raced 3-year-old filly Shadwell Lane (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in Saturday’s Listed Mode Stakes. She’s a winner from four starts. “I thought her last run when she finished fifth was very good,” Mason told racingandsports.com.au.
Shadwell Lane | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
“It was a nice kick board into this race and had she drawn better I think she would have finished a lot closer. Unfortunately, she also not Magic Millions but winning Black-Type like this race is very important for her breeding prospects. It's all about Black-Type for a filly like her as her owner Michael Sheerin breeds from a lot of his horses.”
Promises Kept ready for Listed Ballarat Cup
In his third start for trainer Michael Hickmott, Promises Kept (Cluster) is running in Saturday’s Listed Ballarat Cup. The 5-year-old gelding was previously with Greg Eurell then Ciaron Maher. “He was always going to need the run first-up,” Hickmott told racingandsports.com.au.
“I thought his first-up run was a pass mark then his next run was clearly dominated by on-pacers. His sectionals, right up until the 200 metre mark, were everything as good as anything in the race, but he flattened out in the last furlong. Up to the 2000 metres suits better and we're looking at running him in this and then back-up into the Pakenham Cup with him.”
Deep Field filly to debut for Waugh
Trainer Kim Waugh is excited to unveil debutant 3-year-old filly Brightburn (Deep Field) at Newcastle on Saturday. “She’s a filly that has shown plenty of potential at home,” Waugh told racingnsw.com.au.
“A really nice daughter of Deep Field that has done everything right so far. Her trials have been good. Jay Ford and Reece Jones rode her in the two trials, and both had good things to say about her. Keagan [Latham] takes the reins in the Newcastle race and if she can race up to what she’s shown in her trials then she should be extremely hard to beat.”
Coleman hints at future training partner
Katherine Coleman, who trains in partnership with Peter Moody, hinted a future long term training partnership with Moody’s daughter Celine. “Celine Moody, one of Pete and Sarah's daughters, has recently taken a real interest in the stable as well, so I'm hopeful that eventually, when one Moody retires, there might be another one there ready to take the place, so that it can always still be Moody Racing and maybe it might be Katherine Coleman and Celine Moody training partnership, who knows,” Coleman told racing.com.
Katherine Coleman | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“It wouldn't be Moody Racing without the larger-than-life Peter Moody there behind it, that's for sure and it's a legacy that I hope that when he does retire, I can do it proud.” Celine Moody played 51 games in the AFLW league for Western Bulldogs and Carlton.
New winner for Hanseatic
Second season sire Hanseatic added winner number 16 when 3-year-old filly Gliding Lightening won at Mornington on Friday for trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman. Raced by Rosemont Stud, she is the first foal of Enlightening Lady (Sebring) who is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Alboran Sea (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}).
Cool Aza Beel adds new winner
Second season sire Cool Aza Beel’s 12th individual winner came when Tony and Maddysen Sears-trained 3-year-old gelding Wildspitze won at Lockyer on Friday. Sold by Seaton Park at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, he was bought by Paul Moroney, Catheryne Bruggemann and Sears Racing for NZ$32,000.
He’s the second foal of Deep Field mare Queen Daenerys.
New winner for Bivouac
Bivouac added winner number 15 when 3-year-old gelding Whack Attack won at Canberra on Friday. He ran second-last in his only start at two, and was resuming at three with this effort for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
Whack Attack as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Whack Attack was an $80,000 purchase by Redfox Racing from Hidden Valley Thoroughbreds’ Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft. He is the third foal and third winner for Shoreline (I Am Invincible) who is a winning full sister to stakes placed Uratta Belle.
Trio of winners for Stratosphere at Hobart
Stratosphere dominated Friday’s Hobart meeting with three individual winners on the eight race program. John Keys-trained 3-year-old gelding Zambezi Blonde opened his account with a win at his third start.
Graeme McCulloch-trained 5-year-old mare Popilita won the second-last race on the card and took her record to four wins from 17 starts, then Tammy Mollross-trained Stratojack won the last to give his sire a treble for the day. He doubled his career victories and now has two wins.
690 entries for Fasig-Tipton Digital
Fasig-Tipton has catalogued 690 entries for its December Digital Sale which opened for bidding on Thursday.
“This is the largest digital Thoroughbred sale ever conducted, and we are tremendously grateful to our sellers for supporting the December sale with such outstanding numbers,” said Leif Aaron, Fasig-Tipton Director of Digital Sales.
“This catalogue features more than 150 horses of racing age–eligible for a wide range of conditions–as well as over 320 broodmares in foal to an impressive 113 different sires. It's the final opportunity for buyers to enhance their racing or breeding programs in 2025.”
The catalogue features over 150 horses of racing age, 320 broodmares including mares in foal to 113 different stallions, 10 offerings from the Estate of Larry Johnson (selling without reserve), 60 weanlings, 50 yearlings and four stallion seasons.
World Racing Awards to be held in London in January
The 2025 Longines World Racing Awards will be held at the Savoy Hotel in London on January 20. The event is organised by Longines and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA).
The ceremony will honour the highest-rated horse in the 2025 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings (WBRR) as well as the Longines World's Best Horse Race (WBHR). The Longines WBRR are established by international handicappers according to the performance of the horses in top races. The highest rated race is determined by averaging the rankings of the first four placed horses.
Alice Haynes to retire as a trainer
Alice Haynes, who began training in Newmarket almost five years ago, has announced that she is to cease with immediate effect, citing that “racing's current financial model does not make it viable to continue”.
In a statement released on social media, Haynes, 34, said, “Tonight at Chelmsford I will saddle my final runners as a trainer. It's a sentence I never imagined I would have to say. Stepping away from something that has shaped my days and captured my heart has been an incredibly painful decision but the truth is that racing's current financial model does not make it viable to continue.
“There are so many people to thank: my loyal staff, our vets, farrier, suppliers, sponsor Coral and to the owners who placed their trust, their horses, and their hopes in my hands.”
In the last five seasons, Haynes, a hands-on trainer who rides out daily from her base at Kremlin Cottage Stables, has saddled more than 200 winners in Britain and has won stakes races in France, Ireland and Italy. She has worked closely throughout her training career by her partner, jockey Kieran O'Neill.
She added, “To my partner, Kieran, who has stood beside me through every moment of this chapter, your support has been my anchor.
“As for what's next, I'm taking a step back to reflect and see where the next chapter leads. I'd love to stay involved in the sport, perhaps through media work or any opportunities that come my way, and maybe one day I'll train again. This is by no means a goodbye to a sport that has given me so much and that I love.”
Vale Mike Doyle
Canadian Hall of Fame trainer Mike Doyle has passed away at his winter home in Florida, according to a Woodbine Entertainment press release on Thursday. He was 74.
“On behalf of everyone at Woodbine Entertainment, I want to extend our heartfelt condolences to Mike's family, his friends, and the entire Woodbine racing community,” said Michael Copeland, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment.
“Our sport is built on the strength of the people who dedicate their lives to it, and Mike's contributions to Woodbine racing throughout his career were significant. His accomplishments speak for themselves, and his unwavering passion for horse racing was evident to all who worked with him. Mike has been an important part of our community for many years, and he will be profoundly missed.”
