First SH winner for St Mark’s Basilica
Launceston’s Wednesday night meeting under lights opened with their first juvenile event of the year for the state of Tasmania. John Blacker-trained 2-year-old colt Aristopolos (St Mark’s Basilica {Fr}) won decisively by two lengths. He becomes the first Southern Hemisphere winner for St Mark’s Basilica (Fr).
Sold by Armidale Stud at the 2025 Magic Millions Tasmania Yearling Sale to his trainer for $60,000, Aristopolos is the third foal and second winner for Flying Krupt (Krupt) who won five times and placed in the Listed City Of Adelaide Handicap.
St Mark’s Basilica sired three stakes winners in his first Northern Hemisphere crop led by Group 1 winner Diamond Necklace (Ire).
Some Nash brilliance required for Gringotts
Jockey Nash Rawiller has to overcome a wide barrier with Group 1 winner Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) in Saturday’s G2 The Ingham, and the horse has to carry 61kg. “He’s a horse that can use his barrier speed to his advantage,” Rawiller told racingnsw.com.au.
“It could be a disaster but it is what it is. He’s very tactical, he can use his speed to overcome half the field then you rely on an ounce of luck to find the right back. At the end of the day he’s done an amazing job this prep and this last one is a bit of a bonus before he goes out. Hopefully we can nail it and he can go out on a winning note.”
Gringotts (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The only horse to win this race, which used to be called the G2 Villiers Stakes, with that weight was Takeover Target (Celtic Swing {GB}), but he lost the victory on protest. “He’s giving weight to Group 1 winners. That’s where it hurts them I guess. I’ll keep it simple I reckon. With big weights momentum is important.
“When you make your run if you have to stop your momentum that’s when you can run into trouble with any horse, let alone a horse that can carry weight.”
Wet could derail Arctic Glamour's Ingham chances
Trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou will only run Arctic Glamour (Frosted {USA}) in Saturday’s G2 The Ingham if the weather stays fine. Thunderstorms are forecast for Sydney on Thursday and Friday. “I don't like the wet forecast, it's disappointing. We would pull the pin if it got too wet and put her in the paddock. It's the story of her life,” Ryan told racenet.com.au.
Gerald Ryan | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“She has got two firm tracks and showed what she can do in both of those starts. Win, lose or draw after Saturday, she was going to go out for a freshen up because we were looking at having her going in mid-February and March when the tracks are still firm before we get wet autumn.” Arctic Glamour won the G2 Hot Danish Stakes two starts ago and was second in the G3 Festival Stakes last start.
Married couple go head to head in Supernova
Owners Greg and Francine O'Mara are going head to head in Saturday’s Supernova with Greg owning a share in Pinstriped (Street Boss {USA}) and Francine owning a share in Proved (NZ) (Time Test {GB}). Both are trained by Enver Jusufovic. “We're a bit nervous, but it's very exciting,” Greg told racing.com.
“We've got a little side bet going; there's a dinner date up for grabs. If Proved beats Pinstriped home, I have to take Francine out for dinner, but if Pinstriped finishes ahead of Proved, the roles will be reversed and it's Francine's shout.” The couple have been married for 41 years.
Overpass tunes up for Gold Rush
Overpass (Vancouver) was tough when second in the G1 Winterbottom Stakes last start and looks to maintain his strong WA record in Saturday’s $1.5 million Gold Rush.
Overpass | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“He worked really well, I’m really happy with him. Sometimes he can be a bit lazy but today he worked all the way through the line,” Bjorn Baker stable representative Jenny Wright told racingwa.com.au.
“We were a little disappointed (not to win the Winterbottom), but he tried so hard and he was super, so we are happy with him.” On the Gold Rush, Wright said, “He’s never run 1400 metres early in his preparation. Now he’s a bit older so we figured why not stay here and try it.”
Stakes placed Rhapsody ready for Nursery
Saturday’s R.Listed Inglis Nursery Stakes winner feature last start stakes placed colt Bohemian Rhapsody (Prague) for trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy. “I haven’t got a clue how to line them up,” Tony McEvoy told racingnsw.com.au.
Tony McEvoy | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I know he’s a pretty good colt, I like him, he’s always shown us enormous talent. I’m not sure he has to improve much at all. But I was pleased to see (Calamari Ring) not there for sure.
“(Last start), he presented then levelled out the last bit but ran a solid race and he’s made good progress out of that race. We chased the Inglis race at Flemington and this is another Inglis race. They are good money races and hard to pass up.”
Frustrating Smokey to have a crack at Pakenham Cup
Smokin’ Romans (NZ) (Ghibellines) won the 2021 Listed Pakenham Cup, going on to win the G1 Turnbull later that year, but he’s mixed his form since then. He won the Warrnambool Cup in May this year. He runs in the Pakenham Cup again on Saturday. “Smokey has been pretty frustrating. His last couple of runs haven't worked out as to how we would have liked,” said trainer Ciaron Maher’s assistant trainer Jack Turnbull.
Smokin’ Romans | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He's a free rolling horse that you have to pinch breaks with when you can, and he hasn't quite had that, both with barrier and the horse himself. With haven't done much with him and the idea is to try and rejuvenate him, where he can step, free roll and hopefully the class of horse is less again. This was the race that set him up a while ago and this is a nice time of year for him and if he brings his best, he will be there for a long way.”
Vale Ted Ryan
It is with great sadness that Racing Victoria (RV) and Country Racing Victoria (CRV) acknowledge the passing of philanthropist and highly respected contributor to the Victorian racing industry Bill Gibbins following a long battle with illness.
Gibbins’s passion for charity, history and racing was legendary, and his loss will be felt across all parts of the community.
“Our heartfelt condolences go out to Bill Gibbins’s family and friends on behalf of everyone at Racing Victoria and the Victorian racing industry,” said Aaron Morrison, RV’s Chief Executive Officer.
“Universally loved and highly respected, Bill’s contribution to both racing and the community cannot be understated. Thanks to Bill’s vision and passion, we now run Australia’s longest flat race, the Jericho Cup, a recognised and much-anticipated event on the annual racing calendar.”
O’Shea also skipping Sydney’s weather
Trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton will likely take their runners Junqueira (Capitalist) and Countyourblessings (I Am Invincible) to Brisbane for the Listed Just Now Quality after rain was forecast for Sydney on Thursday and Friday. “Just as a result of the weather, I think they will go to Brisbane,” O'Shea told racingandsports.com.au.
John O'Shea | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“The other day Junqueira was about to run well and got galloped on. We were optimistic about her at Newcastle, and it didn't go our way. She is one that can bounce back and it wouldn't surprise us.
“Countyourblessings is in great form. She has trialled up really well. We're trying to jag some black type for her ownership group, and we'll see if we can do it on Saturday.”
Sergei Prokofiev moves to Canada
Europe's Champion First-Season Sire of 2024 Sergei Prokofiev (Scat Daddy) will return home to Ontario to stand at stud at Ballycroy Bloodstock, David Anderson of Anderson Farm announced Tuesday. The news was first reported by Canadian Thoroughbred.
The Group 2 winner retired to stud at Whitsbury Manor Stud in England and had 53 winners from his first two crops led by Group 1 winner Arizona Blaze. He was named the Champion First-Season Sire for 2024 in Europe.
Sergei Prokofiev | To stand at Ballycroy Bloodstock
“I obviously followed him throughout his career,” Anderson said of his new acquisition.” Through (both) his racing career and then onto his stallion career with Whitsbury Manor also. It's an honor to get him back. Those are two great operations who did all the heavy lifting–first Coolmore and then Whitsbury who did an amazing job getting so many mares to this horse and really proving him.
“I think this is an opportunity that we [Canadians] haven't seen in decades. To get a young, 9-year-old horse by Scat Daddy. He's a tremendous-looking horse that has commercial appeal but throws racehorses and is throwing them on not only turf but also synthetic and dirt as well. I think he'll have a lot of appeal not just north of the border but also south of the border as well.”
Stallion prospect tops final day at Arqana
Potential stallion prospect Havana Cigar led the way on the fourth and final day of the December Breeding Stock Sale at Arqana, where three seven-figure lots were sold this year, headed by the €2.6 million (AU$4.55 million) Half Sovereign (Ten Sovereigns) on the first day.
It was bloodstock agent Ajay Anne who signed for Tuesday's top lot, Havana Cigar, for €50,000 (AU$87,500). The highly-rated son of Havana Grey is understood to be bound for Besnate Stud in Italy.
The three seven-figure lots lit up the December breeding stock sale at Arqana where turnover fell by 13% to €47,187,300 (AU$82.4 million) and the average by 16% to €70,852 (AU$124,000). However, the median climbed by €2,000 to €28,000 (AU$49,000).
A joint statement released by Arqana president Olivier Delloye and executive director Freddy Powell, read, “The Vente d'Elevage remains a mixed sale that should be analysed by category. Once again this year, we saw some very impressive prices for fillies, as shown by our top price, Half Sovereign, a record for a 2-year-old filly in Europe in the ring this season.
Freddy Powell | Image courtesy of Arqana
“On the mares side, turnover increased by 14% and French stud farms were very active in acquiring some attractive profiles, with Lily Hart for Haras du Cadran, Margie's Music and Eyota for Écurie des Monceaux and Broadhurst Agency, Paraiba for Wertheimer & Frère and Willamette Valley and Letsroll for Haras du Mont dit Mont. Seven of the 15 mares and fillies sold for €500,000 or more will remain in France.”
Update for Summer Sale yearling
New Zealand Bloodstock announced on Wednesday that Lot 860 in their Summer Sale has had a big pedigree update with his half-brother De Armas (NZ) (Ardrossan) winning the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes in mid-November. Presented by Cambria Park, the Banquo colt is one of 160 yearlings to go under the hammer on Thursday 29 January.
De Armas is the current favourite for the R.Listed Karaka Millions 2YO to be run at Ellerslie on January 24.
Over 1000 horses catalogued for Keeneland January
Keeneland's January Horses of All Ages Sale, which produced 2025 GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner Shisospicy, has catalogued 1,046 horses for the 70th edition of the auction, which will cover two sessions on Jan. 12-13, 2026.
“The January Sale is where breeders and owners are able to launch the new year with confidence,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “The auction, which is scheduled just before the start of breeding season, is an ideal platform to showcase broodmares, broodmare prospects, 'short' yearlings and racehorses to a global audience of buyers.”
Thorpedo Anna will be bred to Gun Runner in 2026, Curlin in '27
Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) will be bred during the upcoming season to sire Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}), it was announced by the superstar filly's majority owner, John Sikura, the owner of Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa. Sikura and the others in the Thorpedo Anna ownership have already chosen who she will be bred to in 2027, and that is Curlin (Smart Strike). Curlin stands at Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, while Gun Runner stands at Three Chimneys Farm.
“We usually take this one year at a time, but to breed to the two over the next two years was the consensus among the owners, so that's what we are going to do,” Sikura said.
“With every partnership we have we are always respectful of all the owners, regardless of the fact that I might own the majority of the horse. Both are outstanding sires. Let's hope Curlin is breeding strong, two, three, four, five years from now. But for now, Gun Runner will be the choice the first time around, and that's what we are doing."
"Both on the racetrack and in the sales ring, he is, among the younger sires, clearly a uniquely successful North American dirt sire. That was her aptitude and that's what we are trying to breed for the marketplace. This will be great on great and we will hope for the best.”
Florida breeders propose new racetrack
The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association (FTBOA) is in the process of taking initial steps to activate a long-dormant, non-profit, Thoroughbred-specific state racing permit with the goal of building a “modern, new Thoroughbred racing track and entertainment complex” in the Ocala area.
Lonny Powell, the FTBOA's chief executive officer, made the disclosure Tuesday during a panel discussion at the Global Symposium on Racing hosted by the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program in Tucson.
Powell said it was the first time the FTBOA has revealed the initiative outside of internal discussions, and that the process is an attempt to have a plan of action in place to answer what have now become almost continuous threats of “decoupling” live racing requirements from gaming privileges at Florida's two remaining Thoroughbred tracks.
Decoupling has been a major concern in Florida for the better part of a decade. But it wasn't until this past January when the issue of Gulfstream seeking legislation that could potentially allow it to end Thoroughbred racing become a red-alert threat on the national level.
Nearly a year ago, Gulfstream's owner, The Stronach Group (TSG), told Florida's industry stakeholders it could guarantee live racing only through 2028 if the proposed bill did pass the state legislature. Those bills did fail.
UK Thoroughbred Industry Employee Award shortlist announced
The shortlists for the 2026 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards (TIEA), sponsored by Godolphin, were announced on Tuesday. The full list is on the BHA website. Brant Dunshea, acting chief executive of the BHA, said, “Congratulations to everyone who has been shortlisted for an award. This is a very impressive accomplishment, particularly given the high standard of competition again this year, and you should be immensely proud.
“The judges had a tough job in whittling down more than 160 nominations to a shortlist of just 60, and I hope that everyone who was nominated for an award will feel pleased that your hard work has been recognised by the people around you.
“My sincere thanks to our judging panel, to our generous and longstanding sponsors Godolphin, and our partners at the Racing Post, Racing TV and Ascot Racecourse.
“We are also grateful to everyone who helped support the nominations period. These are the industry's awards and it's wonderful to see racing and breeding embrace their significance and the importance to the people they exist to honour.”
