Daily News Wrap

Trilogy dispersal leads Inglis Digital

Trilogy will offer a dispersal of 23 lots at the latest Inglis Digital Sale which is open for bidding and closes on Wednesday December 17. “Trilogy Racing is undertaking a strategic two-part reduction sale through Inglis Digital as we continue refining and elevating the quality of our entire bloodstock portfolio,” Trilogy’s Jason Stenning told inglis.com.au.

“This forms part of our broader shift to focus on quality over quantity, ensuring every broodmare and racing prospect aligns with our long-term elite racing and breeding ambitions. The reduction represents a measured, proactive business strategy, positioning Trilogy Racing for long-term success and maintaining a strong presence in both the racing and breeding markets.

“Trilogy Racing remains committed to sourcing, racing and breeding elite athletes. This reduction is the next step in modernising and strengthening our operation for the years ahead and provides a wonderful opportunity for buyers to acquire yearlings, racehorses and breeding stock at excellent value via the amazing Inglis Digital platform.”

Racing Victoria and Dr Forbes settle case

Racing Victoria’s chief vet Dr Grace Forbes and Racing Victoria have settled out of court over a Fair Work Commission dispute, reported heraldsun.com.au. The settlement means that none of the claims will be discussed in court, although the hearing was in the middle of a three-day process at the time.

Dr Forbes had claimed that Racing Victoria staff, specifically CEO Aaron Morrison, Manager of People and Performance Xavier Linton and Executive General Manager – Integrity Services Jamie Stier, had tried to coerce her into allowing horses with high risk scans to be passed fit to run in the Spring carnival.

“The repeated request of me to be flexible suggests that I should be unethical, which is at odds with my commitment to advocate for the horse,” Forbes said in her application. No horses have been fatally injured during the G1 Melbourne Cup since the new scanning regulations were brought in by Racing Victoria for the 2021 Cup.

Weight shift to favour Lonhro’s Queen

Trainers Chris and Corey Munce believe the weights will advantage Lonhro’s Queen (Lonhro) in Saturday’s Listed Just Now Stakes. “There’s a big turnaround in the weights which favour our mare,” co-trainer Corey Munce told racingqueensland.com.au.

“Our main reservation is whether she can run out the 1300 metres. Her last run suggests she should get the trip so we’re planning to ride her a bit quieter this time.” She ran second in the Listed Tatts Classic last start to Midnight In Tokyo (Kobayashi) at equal weights, but this time, she carries 54kg to Midnight In Tokyo’s 59kg.

Gibbons ready for Brave ride in Razor Sharp

Last start winner Brave One (Exceedance) steps up into the Listed Razor Sharp Stakes on Saturday and jockey Dylan Gibbons believes he can do it. “I went a lot quicker than I would have liked (last start) so he had to show how much ability and how tough he was,” Gibbons told racingnsw.com.au.

“The way it panned out he was never going to be quick late and was probably entitled to be sniped late. It’s obviously a step up but I like the way he’s won his previous races, he’s been well placed but he feels to me he just does what he needs to do. He keeps raising the bar once they put a new challenge in front of him.”

Tiny Wanda to Rox Bribie Handicap

Trainer Lindsay Hatch’s Wanda Rox (Wandjina) is only pint sized, but she’s put together a formidable record with 11 wins from 22 starts. She runs in Saturday’s Listed Bribie Handicap at Eagle Farm. “You wouldn't believe it, when she first got off the float she was just so small. Matt Laurie had her in Victoria and he just said she was too small, so they sent her up to me and I just developed her,” Hatch told racenet.com.au.

“She is still small but she is a neat mare now, a good type of mare. She is my best horse at the moment, by far. And her first-up record is there for all to see, isn't it? She did win first-up at Eagle Farm last time and this is actually the best I've had her going into a first-up run, she's in great condition.”

Stackhouse and Bates injury updates

Jockey Daniel Stackhouse will miss several weeks after being diagnosed with three stable transverse fractures between L3 and L5. He sustained the injury at trackwork on Tuesday. “I aim to return to race riding before the new year. I appreciate the support from my team, medical staff, and everyone who has reached out,” Stackhouse told racing.com.

Jockey Declan Bates has no timeline for a return yet. "We were at the start (on Monday), waiting to load and my horse just reared. It didn't land on me, luckily, but I landed smack on my arse. That's what broke the sacrum and the pelvis on the right-hand side. There appears to be a compression fracture in the T4,” Bates said.

“It looks like I won't need surgery, which is good. I've been referred to a surgeon in Melbourne, who I've dealt with before with injuries; he's operated on me before. He's very good and will be able to give me a better diagnosis and a timeline of events. I don't really know when I'll be able to get back, but I've wiped out December and January.”

Seven figure colt Tower Bridge wins maiden

Coolmore-owned, and Mark Walker-trained 3-year-old colt Tower Bridge (I Am Invincible) won his maiden at Geelong on Friday at his second start. The colt was a $1.3 million purchase at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from Yarraman Park Stud’s draft by David Ellis and Tom Magnier.

Tower Bridge is a full brother to G2 Angus Armanasco Stakes winner Shuffle Dancer and Group 3-placed Forbidden City. G2 Danehill Stakes winner McGaw (I Am Immortal) is also from this family.

Street Cry (Ire) had a treble at Geelong as a damsire via 3-year-old gelding Storm Leopard (Ghaiyyath {Ire}), Tower Bridge, and 4-year-old gelding Blue Cowboy (Blue Point {Ire}).

New winner for Tagaloa in New Zealand

Second season sire Tagaloa added his 18th individual winner when 3-year-old gelding Tagalomu won on debut on Friday at Tauranga in New Zealand. Owned by Yulong, and trained by Te Akau’s Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, Tagalomu is the first foal of Miss Sentimental (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}).

The Group 1 winning mare was purchased by the Written Tycoon Syndicate at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in 2021 for $470,000. Tagalomu’s 2-year-old full brother was sold by Prima Park at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale for $275,000 to Carringbush Park. Miss Sentimental produced a Panthalassa (Jpn) colt this spring.

Big goals for Al Riffa after Hong Kong

Australian Bloodstock have international plans for Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) after Sunday’s G1 Hong Kong Vase. “He was a fairly obvious horse to target. They made us pay for him, but he was certainly a horse that was easy to find,” Jamie Lovett, co-director of Australian Bloodstock, told scmp.com.

“Normally with our business they want to get one down here for the Melbourne Cup, but it was more getting a horse that could do this – the idea of going to the big international meetings. Hopefully we go on to Dubai after Hong Kong and end up back at Royal Ascot. He was one of the very few horses that had the international rating and the form to be competitive in those races.” The 6-year-old entire won the G1 Irish St Leger before running seventh in the G1 Melbourne Cup last start.

Siyouni shares tops Tattersalls Digital Sale

A 1/50th share (lot 125) in multiple French champion sire Siyouni sold for 175,000gns (AU$369,300) to TCT Bloodstock on Thursday to top the Tattersalls Online December Sale.

The Aga Khan Studs' stallion has sired 13 stakes winners in the Northern Hemisphere this term anchored by Aga Khan homebred Zarigana, the winner of the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, multiple graded winner Bellezza, third in the GI New York Stakes and G2 Neom Turf Cup hero Shin Emperor. The sire of 46 group winners in his career, he will stand for €150,000 (AU$264,000) next year.

Alex Elliott purchased a breeding right in Palace Pier (lot 122) for 80,000gns (AU$168,800). The son of Kingman has eight black-type horses from his first crop of runners. Standing under the Darley banner at Dalham Hall Stud, Palace Pier is credited with G2 Lowther Stakes heroine Royal Fixation and G3 Solario Stakes winner A Bit Of Spirit.

Online manager Katherine Sheridan said, “We are delighted that the Tattersalls Online December Sale, which closes out the year for the platform, has continued the strong momentum witnessed throughout 2025. The confidence of our vendors and purchasers is evident in the success we have enjoyed across the monthly sales as well as through our innovative bespoke sales and international collaborations with BBAG, the Emirates Racing Authority and Inglis. We thank all our participants for their trust and support and we look forward to building on this success with further development of the Tattersalls Online sales in the year ahead.”

Zelzal back to full health

Zelzal has been deemed fully fit to cover mares in 2026 following an examination. The Haras de Bouquetot resident's 2025 season was disrupted due to health reasons.

Amelie Lemercier, sales manager at Haras de Bouquetot, said, “Leader among sires of two-year-olds in France and responsible for 10 black-type performers in 2025, Zelzal confirms his position as one of the most dependable stallions in France thanks to the quality and consistency of his progeny, both on the track and in the sales ring. There are very few proven stallions, in France or in Europe, offered at such an accessible fee.”

Kentucky Derby whip story most viewed on TDN for 2025

The most viewed story on TDN USA for 2025 was: Alvarado Faces Penalties for Overuse of Whip in the Derby, by Bill Finley. The piece achieved 258,371 Views.

Winning the GI Kentucky Derby aboard Sovereignty (Into Mischief) was the highlight of jockey Junior Alvarado's career. But the story included a bad footnote as Alvarado faced penalties from HISA for overuse of the whip. Under HISA rules, jockeys can use the crop no more than six times. It was alleged that Alvarado used his whip eight times, including once after Sovereignty took a clear lead at the sixteenth pole. The eventual penalty issued by HISA to Alvarado for overuse of the whip was a US$62,000 (AU$93,000) fine and a two-day suspension.

Cogburn dam is a supplementary entry for Keeneland January

Al and Bill Ulwelling's Mansetti (Collected), upset winner of this year's C$1-million (AU$1.09 million) King's Plate at Woodbine, is one of 42 horses that have been added to the upcoming Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale in Lexington Jan. 12 and 13, 2026, the auction house said in a release Thursday.

Also supplemented to the January Sale and selling with Taylor Made is In a Jif (Saintly Look), the dam of the record-setting turf sprinter Cogburn (Not This Time) and offered in foal to Yaupon. Taylor Made also consigns the mare's foal of 2025, a colt by Into Mischief.