Three from three for Plaintiff
Fairway Thoroughbreds-owned 3-year-old filly Plaintiff (Zoustar) remains unbeaten after winning her third start for trainer Peter Snowden on Saturday at Randwick. She was a $2.2 million purchase at the 2024 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale from Widden Stud, and is a daughter of Group 1 winner Prompt Response (Beneteau). “She got a lot out of today,” Snowden said.
“Both starts she has been on speed and floating a bit when she got to the front. Today it would have been nice for her to get that nice run off the speed to see if she has something to run down, how solid she can be. I was really rapt and it was what I wanted to see. She gone on out now, she's had the three starts now and she kept getting better one run to another.”
Hat trick for Gin A Tonic
Bevan Laming-trained 4-year-old gelding Gin A Tonic (Better Than Ready) made it three wins in succession when victorious in Saturday’s Magic Millions Victoria 3&4YO Classic at Caulfield. “He was a query coming to 1200m but he didn't cop that much pressure early and I was allowed to rate him today,” jockey Logan Bates said.
“He's a very bold mover and off the corner I had to wake him up a little bit, he sort of wobbled off but once I balanced him up and he switched legs and I gave him a reminder, gee he felt good late. I had a look at the big screen and when he did that to that sort of field, it was a good feeling, it's great for the Laming crew. They've got a quality sprinter on their hands.”
Know Thyself returns from injury
Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich-trained Know Thyself (The Autumn Sun) returned from injury with a strong win at Randwick on Saturday. He will head to the $500,000 The Lakes next. “He's been a tremendous horse to my career,” jockey Aaron Bullock said.
“That was my seventh win on him and he's now eclipsed Pera Pera and Oakfield Duke as the horse I've won the most races on. He's been a special horse to me.” He’s won six of his 12 starts and over $1.3 million.
G3 Eulogy Stakes won by War Princess
Peter and Trent Didham-prepared War Princess (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA}) won Saturday’s G3 Eulogy Stakes in New Zealand. She won by 1.25 lengths from Origin Of Love (Snitzel) with Capaci (Tivaci) in third. “We thought she was a little bit unlucky last start when we tried to sit her in behind a couple and get her to relax a little,” Trent Didham said.
“Sam (Collett) knew what she was doing today, took her to the front and she ran away from them. I thought she was going along at a good clip and she was going to get the mile, so it was a good ride. This will open a lot of doors, whether it is the slot race (The Kiwi) or the Karaka Mile, so it is exciting.”
Exempt Bloodstock and Didham Racing purchased her from Haunui Farm’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale draft for NZ$77,500. She has earnings over NZ$152,000 and has won five of her eight starts. She becomes stakes winner number seven for U S Navy Flag (USA).
Almanzor’s big day out
Cambridge Stud sire Almanzor (Fr) enjoyed a double at Caulfield with Touchdown (NZ) and Roadcone, and in New Zealand added a new stakes winner when 4-year-old mare Lux Libertas (NZ) won the G3 Manawatu Challenge Stakes. He also had a winner at Te Rapa with Rambling On (NZ).
“To (owners) Peter (Sain) and Kylie (Bax) with their patience to sit in another week and head down the line (to Trentham). She is reasonably high in the ratings now, so hopefully there are some nice fillies and mares races through the summer,” co-trainer Andrew Scott said of Lux Libertas.
“She had been building to this for a good while. Through her last preparation she was close in a couple of big ones and it is good that she is a stakes-winning mare now.”
Emotional comeback win for Sagunto
The G3 Manawatu Cup in New Zealand was an emotional comeback victory for Peter and Shaun McKay-trained Sagunto (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) who injured a tendon in this race last year. He also won this race in 2022 and 2023. “Last year things didn’t go quite right for him as he had a bit of an issue with a tendon,” Peter McKay said.
“He has come back this year and it has been hard work trying to find the right tracks and races for him, but we were really happy when he ran third at Wanganui (two starts ago). We weren’t sure whether to come here last week or run him in the Waikato Cup and he went really well thereafter being ridden well. He just loves it here and three (Cups) for him is really good.”
The 10-year-old gelding has won 10 of his 77 starts with earnings over NZ$480,000.
Clark suspended for ride on Lumbini
Russian Revolution has had two quality juvenile winners in two days with Lara Antipova winning the G2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes in New Zealand on Saturday and Lumbini winning the Magic Millions The Debut on Friday night at the Gold Coast. Jockey Tim Clark was suspended for ten days on the ride aboard Lumbini, trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
Clark pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding as he allowed Lumbini to shift out when there was insufficient room, carrying at Say You Will (Pierata) out onto Adora Djon's (Pierata) which was taken into the line of Seductra (Tassort), which had to be checked and shifted out to avoid heels.
Say You Will was second and Iransofar (Better Than Ready) was third. “All going well, (Lumbini) will head towards the Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic. She may run again before that race, but we are not sure yet when that would be,” Bott said on Saturday morning.
Alberta Bound makes it three
Juvenile filly Alberta Bound (Dracarys) made it three wins in succession, from four starts, when winning at Cairns on Saturday. The daughter of winning mare Alberta (Magic Albert) was purchased from Oakwood Farm’s Capricornia Sale for $45,000 by Leon Morton and she took her earnings over $72,000.
New winners for Dirty Work and Yulong Prince at Cranbourne
Friday night’s Cranbourne meeting saw new winners for second season sires Dirty Work and Yulong Prince (Saf). Michael Trotter-trained 3-year-old gelding Noble Work won at his third start to become Dirty Work’s 11th winner. He was sold by Collingrove Stud to his trainer for $40,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, and is a half-brother to stakes placed Juicing Carrots (Black Tom).
Theology became the second winner for Yulong Prince when he won on debut for trainer Robbie Griffiths and owner Yulong. He is the first foal of Single Tonite (Not A Single Doubt) who has a Grunt (NZ) yearling colt.
New winner for Lucky Vega
At Colac on Saturday, Maddie Raymond and Patrick Bell-trained 3-year-old filly Kilcarn (Lucky Vega {Ire}) won on debut for her second season sire. She was sold by Erinvale Thoroughbreds to Nicol Transport for $20,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. The second foal of Luxaspin (Hard Spun {USA}), she is a half-sister to Group 3-placed Magnaspin (Magnus).
North Pacific adds new winner
Second season sire North Pacific added a new winner at Colac on Saturday when Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained 3-year-old gelding Ray Del Norte won on debut. It was the 14th winner for the son of Brazen Beau. Ray Del Norte was sold by Newgate Farm at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $180,000 to his trainers. His dam is Group 3 winner Sprightly Lass (Snitzel).
Sires doubles on Saturday
Press Statement enjoyed a double at Dubbo with Imastatement and Vastly. Squamosa had a double at Colac with Rippa Buddy and Warmosa.
Romantic Warrior to stay home in 2026
Trainer Danny Shum confirmed to scmp.com that four-time G1 Hong Kong Cup winner Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) won’t travel to the G1 Saudi Cup. He will instead target the Hong Kong Triple Crown won last year by Voyage Bubble (Deep Field).
Romantic Warrior | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
American Pattern announce 2026 changes
The American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association presented its listing of U.S. Graded and Listed Stakes Races for calendar year 2026, the results of its annual grading session conducted on December 17 and 18.
The committee reviewed 942 USA stakes races with a purse of at least US$75,000 (AU$113,000), and assigned Graded status to 410 of them, five fewer than were graded in 2025, and Listed status to 211 races. This gives USA 621 stakes races for the Blue Book, which is approximately 2% of all races run in America.
Eleven Graded races were upgraded; one new Grade I and 10 new Grade II races were named; four new Grade III races were identified. Nine new Listed races and one new Listed-Restricted race were upgraded from non-Listed Black Type (NLBT) status.
One race was upgraded from Grade II to Grade I status for 2026: the Ladies Turf Sprint S. at Kentucky Downs. Additionally, two races were downgraded from Grade I to Grade II status for 2026: the Franklin-Simpson S. at Kentucky Downs and Frank E. Kilroe Mile S. at Santa Anita Park.
Vale Sir Johnny Weatherby
Sir Johnny Weatherby KCVO, owner-breeder and a member of one of racing's most distinguished families, has died at the age of 66.
A seventh-generation member of the dynasty which has become synonymous with the administration of British racing and breeding, Weatherby owned Preston Lodge Stud in Oakham and was the breeder of dual Cheltenham Festival winner Presenting Percy as well as Top Wood, who won the Aintree Foxhunters' Chase in his colours during the 2019 Grand National meeting.
A keen amateur jump jockey in his younger days, he was appointed chairman of the family firm Weatherbys in 1993, having started work at the company in 1979. His brother Roger is CEO of Weatherbys Banking Group.
A statement released by Weatherbys on Friday morning read, “It is with deep regret that we announce the passing of Sir Johnny Weatherby who died yesterday aged 66 following a life of peerless service to horseracing. Sir Johnny was a figure of immense stature within our sport.”
Vale Vincent Bracciale
Vincent “Jimbo” Bracciale, Jr., winning rider of 3,545 races–the bulk of them in Maryland, passed away December 15, according to a release from the Maryland Jockey Club, which will hold a moment of silence and a video tribute after the first race Saturday. Bracciale was 72.
Among Bracciale's many career highlights was piloting Ruffian to victory in the 1974 GI Spinaway Stakes and GIII Astoria Stakes. “I've ridden some good horses, but there was nothing to compare to her,” said Bracciale said in a 1988 interview.
Born in West Virginia and the son of a jockey, Bracciale is survived by his wife of 53 years, Terri, as well as five daughters and their spouses, 11 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Lift in prizemoney for Ireland
Horse Racing Ireland has announced a prize-money boost of €4.2m (AU$7.4 million) to €74.7m (AU$132 million) as details for the 2026 budget was revealed on Friday. Equine welfare and integrity along with education and training as well as breeding and sales are other key areas that HRI has targeted for investment.
Details of the prize money strategy will be announced early in the New Year, together with 2026 revised race values which will commence from March 1. At the heart of this strategy is the delivery of a sustainable race programme and a competitive prize money distribution model. The budgeted number of race meetings in 2026 is 390.
Meanwhile, following the recent Ministerial approval, the development of the Tipperary All Weather Track will commence early in 2026 with all-weather racing expected to commence in Q4 of 2027. This is a significant investment in the future of the racing industry.
Suzanne Eade, Chief Executive of Horse Racing Ireland, said, “Although HRI's overall allocation from the Horse & Greyhound Fund remained static in 2026, the revised allocation with €2m more available for current expenditure has allowed us to progress many of the ambitious plans laid out in our Strategic Plan 2024-2028. This has been achieved by driving efficiencies within the industry's operational expenditure, allowing us to respond to significant inflationary pressures.
“HRI has consulted with key stakeholders, owners, and racecourses in determining both prize money strategy and funding the changes for 2026. These increases in prize money are crucial to the attraction of inward investment into Irish racing, the widening of the ownership base, and the retention of both owners and horses.”
New US$1 million race announced for Abu Dhabi
The inaugural edition of the US$1 million (AU$1.5 million) Abu Dhabi Gold Cup will be run on Saturday, February 7. The one-turn turf mile will be the most valuable Thoroughbred race ever to be held in Abu Dhabi, with the winner set to receive US$600,000 (AU$960,000).
The race is free to enter, with entries closing on February 4. Travel and stabling costs for overseas runners will be paid for by the Abu Dhabi Turf Club with owners, trainers and jockeys also being hosted for the event.
Racing manager Ali AlJAaffal said, “The $1-million Abu Dhabi Gold Cup will be the most valuable turf mile race to be staged in the Gulf region in 2026 and the new race demonstrates the ambition and vision of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the determination to take horse racing in Abu Dhabi to new levels.
"The Abu Dhabi Turf Club has long been an integral part of the globally respected horse racing scene in the UAE, and we look forward to attracting a truly international cast of participants to the inaugural $1-million Abu Dhabi Gold Cup and to developing the race into one of the most prestigious turf mile contests in the world in the years to come.”
