Daily News Wrap

Protestor at Sha Tin was fire related

A protestor ran onto the Sha Tin track on Sunday during the G1 Hong Kong Cup won by Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}). He was quickly tackled by Hong Kong Jockey Club staff and kept out of the way of the horses who completed the race without incident.

“We had to overcome a significant challenge in the light of the tragedy of the Tai Po fire and you can see emotions in the Hong Kong community are still very deep,” Hong Kong Jockey Club chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said in a statement.

“We had an incident on the track and the person is obviously very aggrieved and wanted to launch a petition and ask for a further inquiry into the deaths caused by the fire.”

Rising Star prize announced for Magic Millions carnival

Magic Millions and the Queensland branch of the Australian Trainers Association have teamed up to create the Rising Star prize for the Magic Millions carnival. A $10,000 Magic Millions sales credit for the 2026 Gold Coast March Yearling Sale, plus a table of 10 at the sale including food and beverages, will be awarded to the leading trainer aged 35 or under who is a member of the ATA. Second will get a $5000 voucher and third a $2500 voucher, and a trainer can be part of a partnership with an older trainer. “The training ranks in Queensland has never looked stronger,” Queensland ATA Executive Richard Andrews said.

“This includes an exciting list of young up-and-coming trainers, who either train on their own or are in partnerships with family members – including some of the state’s leading mentors like recent Pat Duff Trophy winner Barry Lockwood.

“The Queensland ATA has established a terrific relationship with Magic Millions over the years, which in more recent times has seen them sponsor our major award, The Wayne Wilson Medal, and we thank Barry (Bowditch) and the team for their ongoing support.”

Savvy Hallie aimed at Sunlight

Trainer Brad Widdup will aim Group 2-winning 3-year-old filly Savvy Hallie (Hellbent) at the Magic Millions Sunlight slot race. “She's aiming at the Sunlight. She's got B2B's slot there,” Widdup told racingandsports.com.au.

“She will have another trial and go in first-up. She is a top class filly and it's a $3 million race, so why not? It has been on the radar for a while. That's why they stopped with her instead of pushing through the spring. She looks great and if she has improved that little bit, she will be pretty exciting.”

Press For Boom heads to stakes targets

Trainer John Blacker will aim Press For Boom (Press Statement) at the G3 Mystic Journey Stakes on February 8 after she won impressively on Sunday. “She’s probably one of the best sprinting mares in the state, I’d say,” Blacker told tasracing.com.au.

“We tipped her out after one run last campaign to concentrate on this race, and then the Lady Lynette and the two Group 3s down the track. We’ll just stick to the fillies & mares races now, and all the credit goes to the team at Longford.”

All Star steps out for new trainer

Formerly with Chris Waller for his first three starts, 3-year-old colt All Star (I Am Invincible) will have his first run for trainer Fabio Martino on Tuesday. “I believe that horses are like humans, especially the young ones, like young people,” Martino told racenet.com.au.

“If you put them in an environment, put them where they can be competitive, rather than where they are not competitive, it can boost their confidence.” Originally sold by Segenhoe Stud for $1.2 million to China Horse Club, Newgate Farm, Go Bloodstock, and Trilogy, he was sold through Inglis Digital for $60,000 to Spartus Bloodstock. He won a trial for Martino leading into Tuesday’s run.

He is out of three-time Group 2 winner Anaheed (Fastnet Rock) whose Anamoe yearling will be offered by Segenhoe Stud at the 2026 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale as Lot 52. All Star’s full brother Superluminal is a winner.

Neindorf more mature this time around

Jockey Lachlan Neindorf first moved from South Australia to Victoria in 2020 but had a falling out with his employers, Anthony and Sam Freedman, and went home. Now he’s back and the time away has helped the 23-year-old mature. “I'm definitely more mature and better equipped to handle things this time around,” Neindorf told racing.com.

“The way that I'm now able to conduct myself with trainers and owners is 100 times better. I don't think you can put a price on that. Being able to present yourself is something I took a little for granted and was something I was never really able to do when I was here the first time.

“Being able to talk is such a vital part of this game. You look at someone like Craig Williams, his communication is amazing. He can have owners and trainers say, 'Wow', when he gives feedback.”

Neindorf is currently fifth on the Victorian premiership. “My manager, Lachie Weekley, has been really good in terms of putting feelers out with other stables and hunting down outside rides. He's done a magnificent job. He works very hard at building connections. That's what a manager is for, he's been fantastic. I think, without him, I wouldn't have been riding for some of these stables I have been.

“And my form analyst, James Jordan, he's one of my best mates and he's an absolute freak. He's got one of the biggest and vital roles to play in my career. Without him, I don't think I'd be anywhere near where I am.”

Guest House set for Caulfield juvenile

Trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr will debut 2-year-old colt Guest House (Home Affairs) in the juvenile race at Caulfield on Saturday. “He's got good talent, he's a very speedy customer and we've done a lot of work on just getting him to harness his energy,” Kent told racingandsports.com.au.

“I thought he acquitted himself very well (last Thursday at the trials). From an outside draw he begun okay, we could probably get that better, but then he mustered quickly without overdoing it (then) relaxed well outside the leader while going a nice tempo.

“I think on this Heath track it's not easy to cover ground and keep going, so he showed good stamina later to extend and win nicely.”

Winners for Bivouac and Hanseatic at Werribee

Second season sires Bivouac and Hanseatic both enjoyed winners at Monday’s Werribee meeting. Lindsey Smith-trained 3-year-old filly Suze Spritz (Bivouac) won over 1408 metres by one length to become her sire’s 17th winner. She’s a homebred for Hesket Thoroughbreds.

Brent Stanley-trained 3-year-old gelding Surprisatic (Hanseatic) made it two wins from his past three starts. He went through the Inglis Digital sale twice, once in November 2023 and once in October 2025 for $9500 and $6000 respectively.

Kingswood aimed at Kiwi Group 1s

Trainer Gavin Bedggood will be in New Zealand over Christmas with his 6-year-old entire Kingswood (GB) (Roaring Lion {USA}) who is being aimed at the G1 Zabeel Classic on Boxing Day. “He is a stallion and he has got a great pedigree,” Bedggood told Loveracing.nz.

“He is probably not commercial in Australia but if he were able to win a couple of good races over in New Zealand, he might be able to find a future home over there when he is finished. He flies out late Saturday evening and arrives on Sunday morning. I will come over for the week and hopefully we can get a result.

“We will reassess after this one, but there is the Herbie Dyke at the beginning of February, which could be an option. There are also races for him through the autumn, which we would strongly look to come back for if he was competitive on Boxing Day.”

Record time for Star Anise in Hanshin Juvenile Fillies

Star Anise (Drefong) emulated illustrious names such as Vodka (2006), Buena Vista (2010) and Liberty Island (2022) with a stylish success in Sunday's G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, matching the race record time of 1:32.60 for the end-of-season championship.

“I am grateful to the connections for allowing me to have another shot with this strong filly at this big stage after being defeated in our last start,” rider Kohei Matsuyama said of the Tomokazu Takano-trained Star Anise, who was sent off second favourite after filling the runner-up spot in August's G3 Chukyo Nisai Stakes when last seen.

“Although it was her first time at a mile distance, she gave me the impression that she'd be just fine after her last start over 1400 metres. My main concern was the weather, but (after the rain on Saturday) it held up fine and luck was on our side. We were nearly stuck inside early in the race but, with a big stride like hers, I wanted her path to be clear and chose the outside route which worked out just as I had imagined. She responded beautifully and had enough in the tank to put in another effort in the end. The 3-year-old Triple Crown awaits her next season. I just hope that she will arrive there safe and sound and it would be great if I can partner her again.”

Star Anise joins first-crop son Geoglyph as the only Group 1-winning progeny to date of Shadai Stallion Station's Drefong, who won three top-level races when trained by Bob Baffert, headlined by the 2016 Breeders' Cup Sprint, before being exported to Japan. Geoglyph, who won the G3 Sapporo Nisai Stakes when Drefong was crowned Japan's leading freshman sire in 2021, later enjoyed his finest hour when beating none other than Equinox to win the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas).

This filly is out of the Daiwa Major mare Epice Arome, who claimed a notable scalp of her own when defeating Lord Kanaloa to win the G2 Centaur Stakes in 2012. Previously, she too contested the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, finishing eighth behind Joie De Vivre, after gaining her black-type breakthrough in the G3 Kokura Nisai Stakes. Epice Arome has produced three winners from as many runners thus far, with the others including the dual Listed winner Balsam Note (Maurice). She is a full sister to the stakes performer Alla Salute, from the family of the Japanese Horse of the Year Sakura Laurel (Rainbow Quest).

Four for Touchuponastar

It might not be the same league as Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) winning four successive G1 Hong Kong Cups on Sunday night, but Louisiana-bred Touchuponastar (Star Guitar) took home his fourth Listed Louisiana Champions Day Classic Stakes at Fair Grounds on Saturday–the mark surpassed his stellar sire and moved him closer to US$2 million (AU$3.01 million) in career earnings.

The 6-year-old's ride for brothers Jake and Jeff Delhomme took them to new heights earlier this year when their horse famously defeated champion and future sire Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) in the G2 New Orleans Classic. Replete with black-type on his page from the Pelican state, Touchuponastar has won 19 races in 26 starts.

Jake was a standout quarterback for several NFL teams, namely the Carolina Panthers, and with that franchise he went to the Super Bowl. As the principal behind Set-Hut LLC, Jake works closely with his brother Jeff, who serves as the trainer for their stable.

“Every experience that we have had is not only good for the stable, but it's better for the family and friends because of the happiness it spreads,” said Jeff, who on Sunday was heading to meet Jake at the Superdome where the former signal caller was covering the Saints-Panthers game on the radio for Carolina. “It goes further out than just Jake, my Dad, me, the groom, the jockey and the exercise riders. When you can touch that many other people's lives, it just makes every event just larger than life.”

T O Elvis adds Group 3 in Japan

A powerful winner of his three most recent appearances against softer competition, Tomoya Ozasa's T O Elvis (Volatile) made the very most of his first crack at stakes level with a visually stunning, five-length victory in Sunday's G3 Capella Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse.

T O Elvis is the fifth stakes winner and fourth to score at graded level for his sire (by Medaglia d'Oro) and is one of three to salute from his dam, an eight-time stakes winner and victorious in nine of her 10 trips to the post overall. Stopshoppingdebbie is kin to five other winners out of the multiple stakes winner Taste The Passion, who serves as the first or second dam of a further five stakes scorers, including her stakes winning daughters Shampoo (Gulch) and Smarty Deb (Smart Strike), both stakes producers.