Magic Millions 2YO and 3YO Guineas orders released
Racing Queensland has released the latest order of entry for both the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic and R. Listed Magic Millions Guineas.
Ciaron Maher-trained Tornado Valley (Too Darn Hot {GB}) leads the 2-year-old field from Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained pair of Lumbini (Russian Revolution) and Shiki (Too Darn Hot {GB}).
Ciaron Maher | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
In the Guineas, Chris and Corey Munce-trained Group 1 winner Cool Archie (Cool Aza Beel {NZ}) leads the order of entry from Bjorn Baker-trained O’ Ole (Ole Kirk) and Peter Snowden-trained Memo (Capitalist).
Incognito on Golden Slipper path
Trainer Michael Freedman won last year’s G1 Golden Slipper with Marhoona (Snitzel) and he’d like to win it again. He’s set G3 Breeders’ Plate winner Incognito (Stay Inside) for the race, spelling him immediately after his debut win. “Because we opted to bypass the Magic Millions and give him a nice break he had a good spell,” Freedman told racingnsw.com.au.
Incognito | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He’s come back a little bit stronger, he’s probably no taller but he’s a more furnished horse.” He will aim at the G3 Canonbury Stakes on January 31. “I’ve long argued the winner of the Breeders or Gimcrack should have enough prizemoney to automatically get you into the race but it doesn’t always pan out. But if you belong in the Slipper you’ll find your way there.”
ATC rent hike kept to CPI levels
The Australian Turf Club (ATC) and the NSW trainer’s association have negotiated a rent increase in line with CPI, rather than the proposed 10% which caused outrage. “The ATC suspended its decision to increase stable rentals in October following feedback from trainers regarding the significant costs involved in operating a training business across all areas,” ATC Head of Racing and Wagering Nevesh Ramdhani told racenet.com.au.
Nevesh Ramdhani | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“The club listened carefully and undertook a review to better understand your (the trainers) position. During this period, lobbying and representation from the NSW Trainers' Association played an important role in highlighting the financial pressures faced by trainers and contributed to a more collaborative approach by the ATC in reconsidering the proposal.
“Having considered the matter, the ATC is now proposing a more conservative increase aligned to CPI (3.8%), effective from 1 February 2026. The ATC recognises the current economic challenges being experienced across the industry. As you may also be aware, the ATC is managing its own financial challenges and is seeking only to mitigate rising costs, not to recover them.
“Looking ahead, the ATC will engage with trainers well in advance of the new financial year to discuss and determine stable rental rates beyond July 2026. This is intended to ensure trainers have sufficient time to plan budgets and that the club continues to work in genuine partnership with its training participants.”
King Of Pop to trial ahead of Sunlight
Trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou are hoping to grab a slot in the $3 million Magic Millions Sunlight for King Of Pop (Farnan) who will trial on Tuesday. “He just didn't quite come up,” Alexiou told racingandsports.com.au.
King Of Pop | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“He has always been a really quiet horse, but he was racing a bit keen and not finishing off. He has been gelded now, so hopefully we see the King Of Pop of old. He has been going alright at home, and he trialled in fair time the other day. He will be out to have a searching trial on Tuesday and see where he's at.”
He won the G3 Black Opal Stakes at two. “There has been (interest for the Sunlight), so he will be out to do a bit, and we'll get a line on how he's going and make sure he warrants a trip up there and is going to be competitive.”
Shinn still two months away from return
Jockey Blake Shinn has an appointment on Tuesday to discuss the progress of his broken leg, but it looks like he’ll be at least two months away from returning to ride. “I've got a personal trainer three days a week and I train on the other days, so fitness is really good,” Shinn told racenet.com.au.
Blake Shin | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“The leg feels good, obviously I'm still on crutches and in the moonboot, which is what the doctor says. We're seven weeks' in, hard to know when I'll be back, I'll be guided by the doctor, but everything appears to be on track. The body is in great order, I've been keeping up to the mark with fitness and recovery, but I'll know a bit more Tuesday really.”
Several trainers charged in Victoria
Racing Victoria reported on Monday that trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman will have to front the Victorian Racing Tribunal charged over treating two runners, Kira (Lonhro) and Moonhaven (Shalaa {Ire}), on race day.
Trainer Tom Dabernig faces a charge of prohibited substances after it was discovered that Ashford Street (Moshe) had tested positive for Testosterone, Formestane and 4-hydroxytestosterone on October 19, 2024. Kim Talent, trainer of Exonumia (Frosted {USA}), will face a similar charge after Exonumia was discovered to have Salicylic Acid at a mass concentration greater than 750 milligrams per litre on June 8, 2025.
All three hearings have yet to have a date confirmed.
Hanseatic filly wins again
Second season sire Hanseatic’s 3-year-old filly Audio Pop Cam made it two wins from four starts for trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy at Wangaratta on Monday. The filly won on debut at two. Raced by Rosemont Stud, Audio Pop Cam is the second foal of Jaykay Roller (Toorak Toff) who is an unraced half-sister to stakes-placed Sense Of Hite (NZ) (Street Sense {USA}) and Storytime (NZ) (Savabeel).
Audio Pop Cam is the fifth winner for Hanseatic this month. Rosemont Stud will offer Audio Pop Cam’s half-sister by Extreme Warrior (Lot 633) at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Kia Ora’s involvement in Sword Of State
Cambridge Stud’s first season sire Sword Of State is having a great run, and his Saturday winner Warwoven was bred by Kia Ora Stud. “Kia Ora came in as a shareholder in Sword Of State and they purchased Needle And Thread through the Valachi dispersal,” Cambridge Stud’s Sales and Nominations Manager Scott Calder told Loveracing.nz of Warwoven’s dam, Group 2 winner Needle And Thread (NZ) (Makfi {GB}).
“We don’t want to get too carried away, but when you look at how many eyes are on those races it was an awesome result. The manner in which the horse won, and the significance of this time of the year as a pre-Christmas 2-year-old leading into the Magic Millions, was terrific. With all the expectation on the stallion with the way they have sold and having already had a stakes winner with his other runner in Australia, it’s very exciting.”
Kia Ora Stud sold Warwoven out of their draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $380,000 to Ridgmont, Bjorn Baker Racing, S & J Gosling and Clarke Bloodstock.
Doyle looks to end Hong Kong stint on a high
Jockey Hollie Doyle has five wins from her short stint in Hong Kong and hopes to go out in style on Tuesday at Happy Valley. “It has been better than I expected. Obviously coming here I didn’t know what to expect but thankfully I’ve received support from a range of trainers, which I’m really grateful for, and I picked up some winners along the way,” Doyle told scmp.com.
Hollie Doyle | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
She picked Steps Ahead (Written By) as her best chance for Happy Valley. “Steps Ahead has done all his winning at Sha Tin which gives him a bit to prove, but he’s really consistent and the distance won’t be a problem.”
Cavallerizzo wins Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes
The top five betting choices were the first five home in Japan's G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes on Sunday, with second choice 2-year-old colt Cavallerizzo (Saturnalia) closing to take the juvenile contest by three-quarters of a length. Diamond Knot (Bricks And Mortar), a 7-1 shot, was second, with the formerly undefeated favourite Admire Quads (Real Steel) gamely snatching third, a length behind.
“After a normal start, I had a good position behind Yuga (Kawada),” said Cristian Demuro. “In the last corner I had a little bit of a trouble with another horse next to me but when I asked my horse to go inside, he had a good reaction, a good turn of foot. Christophe (Lemaire) was trying to escape but my horse was very strong in the end.”
G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) hero Saturnalia now counts six stakes winners among his progeny, five at the Group level. Cavallerizzo is his first Group 1 winner worldwide. Like G3 Fantasy Stakes heroine Festival Hill, the colt is out of a Heart's Cry mare.
Winstar adds trio of speedsters
Throughout its history, WinStar Farm's stallion program has been anchored by raw speed, with champion Speightstown and fellow sprinting specialist Distorted Humor among some of the first sires to define the farm's identity.
As WinStar wraps up its 25th anniversary this year, the blueprint is much the same. Patch Adams, Mullikin and Straight No Chaser are the latest Grade 1-winning sprinters set to join the roster. Two of the recruits carry the direct influence of the aforementioned cornerstone sires and the third is out of a mare by Congrats, another WinStar stalwart who has emerged as an influential broodmare sire.
“Horses that have pure speed is something you can't fake,” said WinStar's Director of Bloodstock Services Liam O'Rourke. “It's a quality that we are always trying to inject into our breeding program and we're really excited to have three very fast horses coming to us in 2026.”
