Maharba to resume in Standish
Saturday’s G3 Standish Stakes will see the return of Grahame Begg-trained Maharba (Pride Of Dubai). He hasn’t raced for nine months but has had three trials to get fit. “He’s got good form up the straight. He won on Derby Day, not this season but the season before, and he has won a Talindert as a 2-year-old, so he has raced well up the straight before,” Begg told racing.com.
Maharba | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“We wanted to have him right up to the mark because you’re going to be taking on horses that have probably had runs under their belts and probably a lot fitter, but he’s been very positive in everything we’ve asked him to do.
“We wanted to run him in this race because he potentially wouldn’t get in too badly at the weights in the Standish. We felt he’d have about 58kg on Saturday and then the Australia Stakes is weight-for-age.”
Seeiaye to miss Magic Millions 2YO
Trainer Peter Snowden will spell Seeiaye (Russian Revolution) and not head to the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic with the exciting 2-year-old colt. Snowden told radio listeners in Brisbane that the decision came after the colt ran third in a Rosehill trial on Friday.
King’s Secret aimed at Maurice McCarten
Trainer Joe Pride will set Private Eye (Al Maher)’s half-brother King’s Secret (Shalaa {Ire}) at the G3 Maurice McCarten Stakes on March 14. The last start Listed winner is having a short three-week spell. “He probably comes back and runs in the Maurice McCarten and we will maybe then go to the Star Kingdom Stakes,” Pride told racenet.com.au.
King's Secret | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“I know I could run him in The Galaxy but he doesn't need to get to a Group 1 race this early in his career. There is a lot to be said about milking the grades, for want of a better term, and we've done it so far but say he runs a placing in The Galaxy, they will bump him up like he has won another two races. You don't get a chance to go backwards later on.”
Car crash can’t stop Yendall
A car crash on the way to Geelong on Saturday couldn’t stop Dean Yendall winning on 3-year-old filly Russian Choice (Russian Camelot {Ire}) at Stawell on Sunday. “I was heading to the Geelong races yesterday, down by one of the main drags, Fyans St and Moorabool (Road) intersection,” Yendall told racing.com.
“Some poor lady forgot to give way, and we accidentally ploughed through and T-boned her. Luckily her and her two little ones were okay afterwards. Bit unlucky, but at least we’re here to tell the story.
Dean Yendall | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“My old mate (John) Kanga picked me up from Geelong and took me about 60kms up the road, and Christine (Puls) did the rest of the driving home. I just got home eventually and ticked off that day as an absolute disaster, but lucky so to speak… and here I am today, punching home winners!”
Trained by Andrew Noblet, Russian Choice was having her second start and she becomes the sixth winner for second season sire Russian Camelot (Ire).
Waller could have five for The Lakes
Trainer Chris Waller won the inaugural The Lakes with Waterford (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) last year and in 2026, he could have five runners for the event earmarked for Saturday at Wyong. “Konasana is working her way into some form, we missed the Gosford race because she drew wide and had a big weight. Last start she finished off better, Regan Bayliss knows her well and they were his words,” Waller told racingnsw.com.au about Konasana (Dundeel {NZ}). She’ll be joined by Chica Mojito (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}), Pippie Beach (Maurice {Jpn}), Mare Of Mt Buller (Dundeel {NZ}), and Sun God (GB) (Fastnet Rock).
Chris Waller | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Chica was very unlucky and the race looks to suit. It’s a good representation, I often get worried about going to Wyong but it actually races quite well on these bigger days when there’s a bit more speed on.”
Century for Radley
Jockey Jackson Radley won his 100th race at Geelong on Saturday aboard Danny O’Brien-trained Davida (Bivouac). The 3-year-old filly took her record to three wins from seven starts. A daughter of stakes-placed Arianne (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), Davida was sold by Widden Stud for $440,000 to RMA Bloodstock and Satomi Oka Bloodstock (FBAA) at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
Davida’s yearling half-sister by Stay Inside is Lot 66 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
New winner for Tagaloa
Second season sire Tagaloa added winner number 21 when Adrian Corboy-trained 3-year-old gelding Aggressive won at Wodonga. He ran in the Listed Taj Rossi Final as a 2-year-old.
Collingrove Stud will present his yearling half-brother by Hanseatic as Lot 602 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Doubles for Justify and Press Statement in NSW
Justify (USA) sired a double at Lismore on Sunday with Peter Sinclair-trained Justafever and Stephen Lee-trained 3-year-old gelding Constellation who was coming off a last start third at the same track.
On Sunday at Gilgandra, Press Statement sired a double, book-ending the card. Rod Northam-trained News Bound, who took her record to three wins, won the first on the card, and Brett Robb-trained Imastatement won the last on the card, and has now won two in succession.
Albury and Wyong sand training tracks open
Racing NSW announced the opening of new sand training tracks at Albury and Wyong. “It finished on time which is fantastic and we’re very grateful to Racing NSW for their assistance,” Albury Racing Club’s Steve Hetherton told racingnsw.com.au.
“It’s worth noting that the new sand track has been in our plans for quite some time and many previous Albury Racing Club Board Members, who contributed to the planning, would also be proud to see this wonderful new training surface finally completed.
“It also enables us to grow our horse numbers now we have these training surfaces. We can definitely cater for more horses; that’s our next project – to increase Albury-trained horses.”
Wyong Racing Club CEO Greg Purcell said, “The refurbishment of our sand track and horse arena has been co-funded by Racing NSW and Wyong Race Club – we are pleased to say that is completed on time and on budget.
“A new modified WM Elite Sand has replaced the 13-year-old Kurnell sand which had deteriorated with fine sand particles substantially exceeding the Racing NSW guidelines. New sand was selected to meet industry best-practice standards, benchmarked against other venues, and underwent comprehensive laboratory testing to ensure it is best-in-class. The new surface provides uniformity, improved stability, and durability, enhancing confidence for both horse and rider.”
Hong Kong release list of top rated 4-year-olds
Ahead of the anticipated 4-Year-Old Series, the Hong Kong Jockey Club have released the latest list of top rated 4-year-olds. David Eustace-trained Colourful King (Blue Point {Ire}) tops the list from Manfred Man-trained Patch Of Stars (All Too Hard).
Orman and Kingscote extend time in Hong Kong
Jockeys James Orman and Richard Kingscote have been granted a licence extension by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) until the end of this current racing season.
Treble for Myers and Moerman
Wanganui trainer Kevin Myers and Canterbury apprentice jockey Floor Moerman enjoyed a treble at Greymouth on Sunday including the Greymouth Cup on Sunset Boulevard (NZ) (Eminent {Ire}) who made it three wins in succession. “It was good having Floor on with her claim. She has ridden these last three perfectly and put them in the race at the right time,” stable representative Luke Myers told Loveracing.nz.
The other two winners were Bozo (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) who will head to the Kumara Gold Nuggets next Saturday, and Sheaf (NZ) (Eminent {Ire}). Eminent’s double came with two members of his first crop who are 5-year-olds.
Second Zabeel Mile for Crisford
Trainers Simon and Ed Crisford won the G3 Zabeel Mile on the opening day at Meydan for the second successive year. They won in 2025 with Poker Face (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) and in 2026 with Quddwah (GB) (Kingman {GB}). “It was quite a sweet race to ride in. I had a load of space to go when I wanted, which was nice,” jockey James Doyle said post-race.
“He’s been very consistent over the years and gets his head in front when he needs to. It’s been a while since I’ve ridden him, I won on him first time and we were quite sweet on him then too.”
The stable’s Meydaan (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) was victorious on the card over 2800 metres. He ran 10th in the G1 Melbourne Cup last start. “He’s a very high-class horse,” said Doyle. “He didn’t run badly in Australia but was a bit stretched (by the distance) in the Melbourne Cup. He showed his quality in the straight tonight.”
Owner HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum enjoyed a treble with Quddwah, Meydaan, and Lahfaty (USA) (Mitole {USA}) trained by Michael Costa.
El Nasseeb wins G3 Dubawi Handicap
El Nasseeb (GB) (Profitable {Ire}) made it look easy with a three-length victory in the G3 Dubawi Stakes. “I rode the race to repeat the form. I was delighted when I took him back at 1000 metres as he likes a fast pace,” said Silvestre de Sousa.
“He’s a lovely horse and, once he switched leads, he really went for home.” El Nasseeb won the Listed Al Garhoud Sprint last start and has won five of his eight starts.
