Vale Paul Beshara
Racing South Australia sadly announced on Saturday that trainer Paul Beshara has died after a long illness. He was best known for his Group 1 winner Happy Trails (Good Journey {USA}) who ran in five consecutive G1 Cox Plates from 2012 to 2016. He won over $3.3 million.
Listed GA Towton Cup won by Buckets Ridge
Grant and Alana Williams-trained Buckets Ridge (Pride Of Dubai) had to survive a protest from second placed Forever Boy (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) to nab his third Listed win in Saturday’s Listed GA Towton Cup over 2200 metres at Ascot. Filthy Habits (I’m All The Talk) was third.
Buckets Ridge now has six wins from 22 starts and earnings over $480,000. He was sold by Amelia Park at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale for $75,000 to Neil Henchie.
Earlier on the card, Maschino sired a double with Trio and Grand Reserve.
VOBIS Gold Stockade won by outsider Steel Move
Saturday’s VOBIS Gold Stockade gave punters a shock when $26 chance Steel Move (Blue Point {Ire}) saluted for trainer Tony and Calvin McEvoy. He hadn’t won since March this year. “We've had him up in distance, back in distance, and we've been a little puzzled by some of his performances,” racing manager Rayan Moore told racenet.com.au.
“He's always shown plenty of ability.” Sold by Segenhoe Stud to Godolphin for $280,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Steel Move took his earnings over $190,000 for his two wins.
Double for Radley at Ballarat
Jockey Jackson Radley rode a double on Ballarat Cup day in dramatic circumstances. Travis Doudle-trained 3-year-old filly Swiftie Harriet (Exceedance) tried to dump him in the mounting yard but had good manners during the running to win. “Her manners in here were a lot different to out on the track,” Radley said post-race.
“Once she got out there and bowled along, she was a beautiful ride… I let her go through her gears and to her credit she was strong to the line.”
In the fourth race on the card, Angland (NZ) (Ace High) dropped Logan Bates when jumping from the gates and led the field. Radley on Sneaky Sunrise (The Autumn Sun) snuck along the rail to avoid trouble and win. “Craig Williams was in front of me and I thought, ‘he can’t lead me into too much trouble’ and I have always been told when there’s a loose horse they always run out on the corner,” Radley said.
“So, we stayed in, and luckily enough we got the money. It was probably a better win than what everyone thinks. She was held up for a while up the straight and once she got out, she was able to get the win.”
Brave Smash juvenile wins at Toowoomba
The opening race of the Toowoomba night races on Saturday was won by 2-year-old gelding Tosen Sabi (Brave Smash {Jpn}) for trainer Stephen Kirkwood. In second was filly Phere The Warrego (Exosphere) with Hold My Hand (Jonker) in third. Hold My Hand is the second runner and second placegetter for first season sire Jonker.
Tosen Sabi is the sixth winner for Amber Rae (Sequalo) who placed on debut at two and was a winner later in her career.
Tasmania launches summer carnival
Tasracing chief executive officer Andrew Jenkins launched Tasmania’s summer carnival which kicks off with the Devonport Cup on January 7 with an emphasis on all three codes racing across the whole state. “It is clearly very important that we position ourselves as a statewide industry to the national market,” Jenkins told tasracing.com.au.
“There will obviously be group race days in our cities, but also Country Cup days at Longford, St Marys, Scottsdale and Burnie. More than 10,000 people attend those country race days alone in last year’s festival. It is equally important to highlight Tasmania as a racing destination and promote the entertainment aspect of the race days.”
Good day for Graff
Second season sire Graff had a good day with stakes-placed Grafterburners winning at Doomben while 3-year-old gelding Neeson won impressively by 5.4 lengths at Albury on Saturday for trainer Danielle Seib. Neeson now has two wins from five starts.
Grafterburners made hard work of his win at Doomben as hot favourite. “He only does what you ask him to do, this horse,” trainer Kelly Schweida said. “He is a colt and he hasn't run for a month. I thought we were in trouble there and even when he hit the line, I didn't know if he had won. But it's never easy to win these sort of races and I'm glad he got the job done in the end.”
Double for Cosmic Force
Cosmic Force sired a double at Gunnedah on Saturday with 3-year-old gelding Lucky Ozzie winning for trainer Gareth Groth. It was Sue Grills-trained 3-year-old gelding Cosmic Bling who impressed with a debut victory.
The Gunnedah Christmas Cup was won by Awesome Tycoon (Written Tycoon) who has six wins and earnings over $100,000.
New winner for Anders
Second season sire Anders added winner number 18 when Michael Freedman-trained Express Delivery won on debut at the Gold Coast on Saturday. He was a $160,000 purchase by his trainer from Longwood Thoroughbred Farm’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft.
He is from Loading Zone (Street Sense {USA}) who previously produce Group 3 winner Military Zone (Epaulette).
Prince Fawaz enjoys new winner
Second season sire Prince Fawaz enjoyed his fifth winner when 3-year-old filly Cascia won at Mackay for Darryl Johnston. Purchased by the Livistona Grazing Company for $10,000 from the Embrook Stable’s Capricornia Sale draft. Cascia is a half-sister to stakes placed Captain Jamie (Captain Sonodor).
Redemption for Midnight Edition in G3 Concorde Stakes
Midnight Edition (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}) finally won his first stakes race in Saturday’s G3 Concorde Stakes, a year after he dead-heated for first in the G2 Auckland Guineas and was relegated to second. “He is a very good horse and last time he heard the band playing and shied inwards, otherwise we would have won that one too,” trainer Bruce Wallbank said.
He led and held on from the late closing Master Fay (Deep Field) with Tardelli (I Am Invincible) running third. “We had thought of going to the Telegraph, but he is only a 4-year-old so we are going to bypass it. We will go to the open handicap on the 1st (of January) at Ellerslie and then to a mile at Te Rapa, as I think he can run a very good mile.”
Midnight Edition has been stakes placed on several occasions and took his record to five wins from 17 starts and earnings over NZ$270,000. He is the third runner and third black type performer for Midnight Gossip (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}), whose first two foals are stakes placed city winners Midnight Mass (NZ) (Prosir) and Midnight Scandal (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}).
Another good sprinter for Shamexpress in The Scunner
Shamexpress (NZ) is best known for his World’s Best Sprinter Ka Ying Rising (NZ) who is set to defend his G1 Hong Kong Sprint title next weekend. On Saturday, he added stakes winner number 16 when Ashley Meadows-trained 6-year-old gelding The Scunner (NZ) won the G3 Spring Sprint at Trentham over 1400 metres.
“I was watching him during the running and saw a few of them were getting scrubbed up and he was still travelling well, so I had a bit of confidence,” Meadows said.
The Scunner is one of eight winners for Miss Daphne (NZ) (Diamond Express {NZ}). He has now won six of his 15 starts with earnings over NZ$220,000. This is the family of Group 1 winners Katie Lee (Pins) and Banchee (NZ) (Oratorio {Ire}).
Breeding right in Sands Of Mali added to Tattersalls Online
A lifetime breeding right in new Yeomanstown Stud sire Sands Of Mali (Lot 135) is one of 14 wildcards added to next weeks Tattersalls Online December Sale on December 10-11.
Now a Group 1 sire with the victory of Time For Sandals in the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, the son of Panis will stand the 2026 season for €22,500 (AU$39,400).
Sands Of Mali (Fr) | Standing at Yeomanstown Stud
Thunder Snow’s Narukami the one to beat in Japanese Group 1
Sunday’s G1 Champions Cup on dirt has attracted a field of 16, and Narukami (Thunder Snow) holds pride of place in the advance markets on the back of his Listed Japan Dirt Classic victory in October. Chukyo's 1800-metre affair, a rare Japanese top-level event on dirt, is also the site of the favourite's only loss in six starts.
Assistant trainer Hiroyuki Yamazaki said of the Godolphin homebred who is booked in post 12 with Keita Tosaki aboard, “Since the Kozukata Sho, he's been a bit tense when taking the bit and racing well forward, and we want him to be more balanced, but he's been running well in recent training.”
Taylor Made Stallions announce new president
Taylor Made Stallions' Travis White will succeed as president longtime leader Ben Taylor, who is retiring from day-to-day operations and will assume the role of chairman of the board, the farm said in a Friday morning press release.
White began at Taylor Made in 2007 and has worked alongside Taylor in the stallion department for 18 years. The Louisville-native graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in sports management, and began his career in the industry at Buck Pond Farm before moving into the role of stallion nominations and sales for Taylor Made.
White will continue to work closely with breeders, shareholders and stallion owners, while focusing on the future success of Taylor Made Stallions.
Ben Taylor's decades of dedication have shaped Taylor Made Stallions into one of the premier stations in Kentucky. He successfully managed leading sires Saint Ballado, Unbridled's Song, and now Not This Time, who has emerged to the top of the stallion rankings this year. Under his direction, Taylor Made Stallions also co-managed the likes of Kris S., Speightstown and Tiznow.
Nitrogen’s dam for Keeneland January sale
Keeneland will offer the dam of top-ranked 3-year-old filly Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro), Tiffany Case (Uncle Mo)–who is in foal to red-hot sire Not This Time–during the 2026 January Horses of All Ages sale on Monday, Jan. 12, the auction company said via a Friday release.
Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, is consigning the 12-year-old, a winning stakes-placed mare whose two foals to race are both stakes winners.
“Tiffany Case transcends mere investment value–she's young, proven and in foal to arguably the top stallion in the country,” said Jonathan Green, general manager of owner D.J. Stable. “She can be a cornerstone for any elite breeding program.”
Ace Stud buys Group 2 winner Royal Fixation
Ace Stud has bought G2 Lowther Stakes winner Royal Fixation to join Karl Burke's stable in Middleham. The juvenile daughter of Palace Pier was also third in the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes for her former trainer Ed Walker and Opulence Thoroughbreds.
Paul Curran, bloodstock and racing manager for Newmarket-based Ace Stud and European representative for the primarily Australian-based Yulong Investments, said, “We bought her a couple of months ago and she's heading to Karl. She's a good filly and hopefully one who can be lucky for us.
“We'll take a good look at her and see what she can do, but she was very competitive last season and was beaten by a good filly of Karl's [Venetian Sun] who went on to win a Group 1, so I think we could try to aim at around a mile.”
Canada’s Hastings track to close
Hastings Racecourse and Casino, a track located in Vancouver, British Columbia that began racing in 1889, has ceased the conduct of thoroughbred horse racing at the facility with immediate effect, the track announced Friday evening.
In a statement posted to social media, the track noted that racing is typically conducted between the months of April and October and as such, there were no horses currently stabled on site.
“This was an extremely difficult decision, especially given the historical legacy of Hastings Racecourse in the local community and its importance to the province's racing industry,” said Wayne Odegard, Regional Vice President, Great Canadian Entertainment. “Unfortunately, it's strictly a business decision based on a lack of economic feasibility to move forward with another season of horse racing at Hastings. We are incredibly thankful for our dedicated members, racing participants and fan base for their support and patronage for so many years.”
Vase entrant Los Angeles to stand at Castlehyde Stud
Los Angeles, a Group 1 winner in each of his three seasons to race, will stand on the National Hunt roster at Castlehyde Stud for the 2026 breeding season, according to Coolmore.com. Los Angeles holds an entry for the G1 Hong Kong Vase on Sunday, December 14. His stud fee will be announced at a later date.
The son of Camelot, who was bred by Lynch Bages Ltd and Longfield Stud and trained by Aidan O'Brien, was unbeaten in his two juvenile starts, which included the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud.
Running throughout his career in the colours of Westerberg, who owned him in partnership with Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, Los Angeles won the G3 Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial before finishing third behind stable-mate City Of Troy in the Derby then landing his own Classic triumph in the Irish Derby.
He held off another stable-mate, Illinois, to claim the G2 Great Voltigeur Stakes, and at four added another two major victories to his record. Each time dropping back in trip to 10 furlongs, Los Angeles landed the G2 Mooresbridge Stakes and a strong renewal of the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup, beating Group 1 winners Anmaat, Kalpana and White Birch.
