Daily News Wrap

Aushorse's Investor’s Guide for 2026 released

Aushorse announced on Tuesday that the 2026 Aushorse Investor’s Guide has been released. “Each year, this publication offers a snapshot of the strength, momentum and global appeal of Australian racing and breeding, and the story it tells in 2026 is exceptional,” said the Aushorse press release.

“With record prizemoney, outstanding opportunities for owners at every level, and world-class racehorses succeeding on the international stage, Australia continues to outperform every major jurisdiction.”

Lindsay Park set to repeat last year in Supernova

In the inaugural Supernova last year, Lindsay Park trainers the Hayes brothers achieved the quinella and theoretically could get the trifecta this year with three runners in the $1 million slot race over 1400m at Pakenham. Last year’s quinella, Here To Shock (NZ) (Shocking) and Arkansaw Kid (Harry Angel {Ire}) have returned and will be joined by Roll On High (Shamus Award). “We're excited,” Ben Hayes told racingandsports.com.au.

“It's not often you get to have three horses in a big race like this, especially a $1 million race like The Supernova and I think they are three genuine chances. We've clashed with Private Eye on a number of times, and he's had our measure, but we're in form now and when we've met Private Eye before, he was the fit horse.”

Moody Racing selects rival horse for Supernova slot

Moody Racing have selected Dan Meagher-trained Lim's Kosciuszko (Kermadec {NZ}) for their slot in Saturday’s Supernova at Pakenham. “We just didn't have anything suitable in our own barn so we just made inquiries elsewhere,” Peter Moody’s co-trainer Katherine Coleman told racenet.com.au.

“Dan Meagher's horse was a good option for us and he's a fellow Pakenham trainer. Hopefully we can keep the money at Pakenham. It's interesting and given we didn't have anything suitable, I'm happy to have a fellow Pakenham trainer in that spot.” The former Horse Of The Year in Singapore has had four starts in Australia, including resuming with a third in the Listed Straight Six. He was fourth in the Listed Doveton Stakes last start.

Daffy wins World Pool award

Trainer Kevin Daffy and his horse Oh Too Good (All Too Hard) have won the 2025 World Pool Moment of the Year Award. The award is decided by a public vote. “This is just amazing,” Daffy told racing.com. He wins a trip for four to the 2026 Hong Kong international meeting.

“I’m a little bit speechless, really. I’d just like to thank everyone for their support right across this journey. It’s been a journey, we’ve had her for five years, I know she’s only raced for the last two. It’s been a lot of hard work and dedication and mainly a lot of love too for this horse. We love her, she’s part of the family. We told her that when we got her, we promised her a home for life whether she even got to the racetrack.

“To win this award, you couldn’t make this stuff up, could you?”

Conquering Stakes night sees favourites ready

Trainer Barry Campbell has the favourite for Wednesday night’s Listed Conquering Stakes with Durazzo (Needs Further). “If he meets the second horse again (Just Cruisin’, runner-up in Newmarket), he meets him six or seven kilos better. When he gets to weight for age, he’s going to take some beating,” Campbell told tasracing.com.au.

Stuart Gandy-trained 3-year-old filly Crack The Shutters (Alpine Eagle) will take on her own age group before a potential G3 Mystic Journey Stakes run. Gandy dominates the juvenile field with four of the nine runners, including filly Momentslikethese (Tiger Of Malay), and the race is the first one for 2-year-olds this season in Tasmania.

First season sire St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) is represented by John Blacker-trained colt Aristopolos, while Graham McCulloch-trained colt King Candy is by first season sire Wild Ruler.

McDonald looking for first IJC title

James McDonald might be the World’s Best Jockey, having won 12 Group 1 races this calendar year, but he’s yet to win Hong Kong’s International Jockey Challenge. He’s been runner-up three times and third once, and hopes Wednesday will be the charm for a victory. “We just need a little bit of luck – bad barriers with a couple of them, but you never know at Happy Valley,” McDonald told scmp.com.

“I’ve been runner-up three times so we’re due one, but you never know. It’s just so competitive. Akashvani and Star Mac look my two most competitive rides.” All rides for the challenge are allocated by the Hong Kong Jockey Club to ensure all jockeys have a book of rides that is as even as possible between them.

VIC injured jockey report: Bates

Jockey Declan Bates sustained serious back and pelvis injuries in a fall at Monday's Ballarat jumpouts. The Victorian Jockey’s Association confirmed on Tuesday that Bates had a fractured pelvis and sacrum, a bone at the base of the spine, and a possible fracture of T4 in his spine.

NSW injured jockey reports: Bell-Pitomac and Bellamy

Jockey Kath Bell-Pitomac has been diagnosed with a fractured sacrum after an incident prior to the running of Race 7 at Dubbo on Monday. She remains in hospital. A similar incident occurred to jockey Courtney Bellamy prior to the running of Race 2 at Ballina on Tuesday when Enchaanted (Exceedance) reared and fell on her. She is conscious and was taken to hospital.

Hamilton cancelled due to water damage

A routine 7am race day inspection of the track at Hamilton in Victoria on Tuesday discovered large amounts of water at the 300 metre mark. Trainers were notified at 7.30am. Further investigations found a broken water pipe was the culprit and the meeting was abandoned at 8am.

“Trainers affected by the abandonment can nominate as normal entries for the Saturday 13 December meetings at Stawell and Healesville until 12pm today and as extended entries for the Friday 12 December meetings at Geelong and Cranbourne until 4pm today,” said Racing Victoria (RV) stewards in a press release.

“RV’s racing operations department will review the upcoming program to determine whether any further changes are required. RV and the Club will liaise on the next steps to repair the pipe and to finalise a plan to have the track in a suitable condition for the next meeting on 6 January.”

Second juvenile winner for Dracarys in five days

After 2-year-old filly Alberta Bound (Dracarys) won on debut on December 4, five days later, the son of Snitzel has added a second juvenile winner. Liam Birchley-trained gelding Swift Dragon won on debut at Rockhampton on Tuesday.

Swift Dragon was a $60,000 purchased by Bloodstock Services from Ellay Bloodstock’s Capriconia Yearling Sale draft. He is the third foal out of winning mare Tay Swift (Rothesay) who has a yearling full brother to him.

At the same meeting, 3-year-old filly Next Legacy (King’s Legacy) took her record to two wins from nine starts for trainer Adam Beck.

New winner for Bivouac on Tuesday

At Ballina on Tuesday, second season sire Bivouac added winner number 16 when Adam Campton-trained 3-year-old gelding Booya Boy won on debut. A bargain $25,000 from Segenhoe Stud’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale draft, he was bought by Blake Ryan who pinhooked him at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale for $40,000 where his current trainer purchased him.

Booya Boy is a three-quarter-brother to R.Listed Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic winner Madeenaty (Exceed And Excel), as her sire is the sire of Bivouac. They are out of three-time Group 2 winner Set For Fame (Reset).

Rispoli heads to Hong Kong for IJC

Umberto Rispoli, who captured his first riding title at the recently concluded Del Mar meet, will make a return visit to Hong Kong for Wednesday's Longines International Jockeys' Championship at Happy Valley.

The Italian ex-pat spent six years riding in Hong Kong before relocating to Southern California in 2019. For Rispoli, who flew into Hong Kong last Tuesday–just two days after claiming the Del Mar title–the trip is part sentiment, part family vacation, and part professional competition.

“I rode here for six years, so obviously Hong Kong is a place that I carry in my heart,” Rispoli said. “It's a beautiful city. When I was a young jockey, when I moved from France to Hong Kong, it's a place that taught me a lot in terms of building a strong character, mentally as well. They race only twice a week, so there aren't many opportunities. It builds your personality, you know. It's a special place.

“Obviously, having this opportunity to ride at this challenge at Happy Valley, and if I have a chance to win it, it would be a cherry on the cake to just close the year in an amazing way. Happy Valley is one of the most iconic racetracks in the world. So I am glad to be back and I am glad this opportunity came up.”

Another mare bought to support Diego Velazquez

Sam Sangster's gathering of smart mares with which to launch the new National Stud stallion Diego Velazquez continued on the third day of the Arqana Breeding Stock Sale in Deauville, where he bought the session-topper, Invaluable (Invincible Spirit), in foal to first-season sire Vandeek for €121,000 (AU$212,000) from the Fairway Consignment.

The unraced Invaluable (lot 774), now nine, is a sister to the Listed winner Emmaus, while their dam Prima Luce (Galileo) won the G3 Athasi Stakes. Recent G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern winner Bay City Roller (New Bay) features in the family as does unraced Joie De Vivre (Invincible Spirit) who joined the leader board when sold in foal to sought-after young stallion Study Of Man for €105,000 (AU$184,000) to Blandford Bloodstock. The pair share third dam influential broodmare and top sprinter Cassandra Go (Indian Ridge).

During Monday's session, 187 lots sold from 261 offered (72%), down 9% from last year's clearance rate. However, there were 36 more horses sent through the ring for this year's session, resulting in an 12% increase in gross to €3,300,500 (AU$5.8 million). The average edged up 9% to €17,650 (AU$30,900) and the median was static at €12,000 (AU$21,000).

HISA to review all veterinary and stewards' lists

The launch of a comprehensive review aimed at updating the veterinarians' list and stewards' list categories across U.S. Thoroughbred racing, with changes targeted for 2026, was announced Monday by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA).

Through this initiative, HISA aims to modernize and harmonize these oversight tools, providing additional insights into national safety metrics.

“The current structure of the veterinarians' list and relevant stewards' lists, which are based on legacy categories created decades ago, varies widely across states and racetracks and, in some cases, is no longer fit for purpose in a modern, national racing environment,” said Dr. Jennifer Durenberger, director of equine safety and welfare at HISA.

“We're thrilled to be launching this initiative, which will provide clarity, consistency and fairness in a system that affects horses, veterinarians, trainers and owners alike. As with any HISA initiative, our goal is to promote equity among all stakeholders and ensure more transparency into national safety metrics, while providing appropriate protections for horses identified as being at increased risk for injury.”

Simply In Front added to Keeneland January sale

Grade I winner and US$2.8 million (AU$4.2 million) earner Simply in Front (Summer Front) has been catalogued to the 2026 January Horses of All Ages Sale on Monday, January 12. Richard G. Hogan, agent for Colebrook Farms, is consigning the 4-year-old who is catalogued as a broodmare prospect.

Simply in Front is a three-quarter sister to both Grade 1 winners And One More Time (Omaha Beach) and stakes winner Churchtown (Air Force Blue). She is a half-sister to Grade II winner Honor D Lady (Honor Code).

“Simply in Front is a gorgeous mare who comes from a deep, active family with what could have even more black type on the horizon,” Hogan said. “There is real upside for buyers in 2026 and beyond.”

Double century for Loughnane

Billy Loughnane rode his 200th winner of the year aboard Dandy Khan (Dandy Man) in a Lingfield handicap on Monday. The 19-year-old has enjoyed a memorable campaign and his ridden frequently for Georgey Boughey, as well as Charlie Appleby. Loughnane, a former champion apprentice also rode his first Group 1 winner with Rebel's Romance (Dubawi) in the G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin in Germany.

Boudot referred to criminal court over rape case

Former French champion jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot, who was indicted on a rape charge in the spring of 2021 has been referred to a criminal court, according to Jour De Galop. The jockey's lawyers are appealing that decision.

After the requisitions of the Senlis public prosecutor's office approximately five months earlier, the presiding judges issued an order to dismiss the first complaint related to alleged events in Deauville in 2015. The dismissal comes due to insufficient evidence to justify a referral to a criminal court.

In Boudot's second case, the jockey has been referred to a criminal court regarding allegations made in 2017 in Cagnes-sur-Mer. The decision was made by one of the two investigating judges. The case will now be moved to an appeals court, which will rule on the committal's validity no sooner than four months from now. Since his licence was withdrawn indefinitely in France in November of 2022, Boudot has ridden elsewhere, including with success at Doha, Qatar earlier this year.