Victorian fire damage escalates
During Friday the emergency fire situation across Victoria continued to escalate with hundreds of horses evacuated. Over 90,000 properties are without power, and at 7pm on Friday night there were nine fires at emergency level across Victoria. VicEmergency have reported over 10 million visits to the VicEmergency app, and 500,000 to the website, in the past 24 hours. There are three people missing in Longwood.
Equine properties which have been affected include Michael Christian's Longwood Thoroughbred Farm, Leneva Park, Lindsay Park near the Longwood fire front, as well as trainers Paul Preusker and Simon Gebert who are based near the Horsham fire front.
“Our thoughts are with all those affected by the horrific bushfires that are happening across the state,” Racing Victoria CEO Aaron Morrison told racing.com.
“Racing Victoria's current focus is on supporting the evacuation of humans and horses to safety in affected areas. This is an issue that is continually evolving, and as such we won't understand for some time the full scope of the damage and relief support required.
“Rest assured we are here to support our great industry, and I would like to acknowledge the incredible work participants and volunteers are doing across the state to assist those in need. Please continue to stay vigilant and follow the directions of emergency services.”
The Racing Victoria website includes a list of emergency agistment providers and contacts.
Inglis open Oaklands for horses
Inglis have opened Oaklands for any horses needing to evacuate the fire affected regions. “Yesterday morning, we spoke to Racing Victoria and their welfare department, and they were concerned about the growing number of calls they were receiving from horse owners, around the state, about what may happen,” James Price told SENTrack on Friday morning.
“We are obviously very happy to help anybody. Our gates are open, here at Oaklands. We have got stables bedded down, water and staff available to help. Anybody who has horses in danger areas, or are concerned about conditions that may develop, please, just reach out.”
Get Ready Lass is ready to surprise
Eagle Farm trainer Chris Anderson believes Get Ready Lass (Better Than Ready) can surprise in the $3 million Sunlight on Saturday. “Get Ready Lass has always shown us a really good level of ability,” Anderson told racingqueensland.com.au.
Get Ready Lass | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
“If you were to go through and look at her previous form to this preparation, she's been quite unlucky in quite a number of races. There was a $1 million 2-year-old Magic Millions race last year where she was last out of the gates and she bungled the start. She was still last at the 300 metre mark and she was very, very stiff that night, I think. The great thing about training a filly like her is she's very unassuming. She does very little at home to excite you on the track, but come race day, she's a little professional.”
Robusto to go one better in The Lakes
Second last year in The Lakes, Bjorn Baker-trained Robusto (Churchill {Ire}) can win this year but he has stablemate Amor Victorious (Caravaggio {USA}) to contend with. “Robusto is a remarkable horse, his run last week was great. He didn’t draw a gate and we didn’t have any luck with the gates again,” Baker told racingnsw.com.au.
“I think he’s going as good if not better (than last year). His run in The Ingham was great, you could argue it had more depth to it this year. His run in the Buffering was every bit as good as last year where he was beaten by Transatlantic so we’ve been unlucky to run into a couple of good ones at times.
“Amor Victorious is very well, he’s coming off a really good win in Queensland. We’ll be positive with him and we’ll have to have a think about how we ride Robusto. Both have been great horses for the stable, particularly Robusto and he’s still probably under rated. He’s won about $2 million since I’ve had him so he’s a remarkable horse.”
Wymark on the mark for Magic Millions
Trainer Gavin Bedggood has only had Wymark (NZ) (Savabeel) for three starts, after he transferred from Michael Freedman, and he’s a last start winner. He’ll run at the Gold Coast on Saturday, hoping to make it two in a row in The Wave. “He came to me with no issues but might have just been looking for a change in scenery and it seems to have done great for him,” Bedggood told racenet.com.au.
Wymark (NZ) | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“He just needed the run first-up, ran a much better race second-up and then obviously he was so impressive when winning last start. We had little options for him here in Victoria and given he's a Magic Millions horse, we picked this race out and it looks like a good one for him on paper. It's a perfect gate and he'll be in the first three in running so I'd be disappointed if he wasn't running very well.”
The Bluff Knoll will not run in 2026
WA’s Albany Racing Club announced on Friday that The Bluff Knoll slot race will not run in 2026. They hope to run the race in 2027, but for now are focusing on rebuilding the club’s financial position. Racing was suspended at the club by Racing WA in February 2025, and the board resigned. They have since resumed racing at the club which dates back to 1865.
Teardrop Rotation seeking five in a row
Trainer Chris Bieg believes Teardrop Rotation (D’Argento) can win her fifth in succession on Saturday at Flemington. She won two in early 2025, then had a trackwork accident that required eight months recuperation, only to return for two more wins this spring. “It was a very tough run, she knuckled down late, I didn't think she was quite going to get there but she showed tenacity and really attacked the line well,” Bieg told racenet.com.au of her last win.
“(The accident) hasn't knocked her at all, her attitude and little bit of spice that she's got is still there. It was no surprise to see her do it first-up, she had just been going too well in all her trackwork and trials, she sort of had to run a good race. There would have been something drastically wrong if she didn't.” She will be aimed at the G2 Queen Of The South Stakes.
Aristopolos remains unbeaten in Tasmania
St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) juvenile colt Aristopolos stayed unbeaten in winning his second start at Launceston’s Friday night meeting for trainer John Blacker. He won by a length from Momentslikethese (Tiger Of Malay) with Too Poetic (Wordsmith) in third.
A $60,000 purchase by his trainer from Armidale Stud’s Magic Millions Tasmania Yearling Sale, Aristopolos is the first Australian winner for his first season sire. He is the third foal of Flying Krupt (Krupt) who won five races and placed in the Listed City Of Adelaide Handicap.
New winner for Tagaloa
Second season sire Tagaloa added winner number 22 when 3-year-old filly Australasia broke through for trainer Daniel Bowen at Ballina. She was a bargain $900 purchase by 12 Apostles Racing from an Inglis Digital sale. Australasia is the third foal of winning mare Perfect Party (Redoute’s Choice).
Fierce Impact gelding wins on debut
Brett Robb-trained 3-year-old gelding Fierce Luva (Fierce Impact {Jpn}) became the seventh winner for his second season sire when he won on debut at Parkes on Friday. Raced by Seymour Bloodstock and partners, Fierce Luva is the second foal of G2 Wakeful Stakes winner Luvaluva (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). She has a Wootton Bassett (GB) yearling filly.
Breeders’ Cup: Win and You’re In races
Breeders' Cup has announced that 14 countries on five continents will host 'Win and You're In' qualifiers in 2026 as the Challenge Series enters its 20th year. A selection of the premier contests in Argentina, Canada, Chile, England, France, Ireland, Japan, Peru, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, the United States and Uruguay feature as part of the 2026 Challenge Series.
In addition, Breeders' Cup has allocated a record $6.5 million in free entry fees to this year's 'Win and You're In' qualifiers, with all winners guaranteed a starting position in a corresponding race at the 43rd Breeders' Cup World Championships, which take place at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky on October 30-31.
Dora Delgado | Image courtesy of Breeder's Cup
“Global participation is a cornerstone of the Breeders' Cup, and the Challenge Series remains the premier pathway for horsemen worldwide to secure automatic qualification for the World Championships,” said Dora Delgado, Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Officer of Breeders' Cup Limited.
“We are grateful to the racing authorities and partner organizations spanning five continents for their continued commitment, which is essential to the strength of the Challenge Series, and we anticipate another outstanding edition of the World Championships at Keeneland this fall.”
Vale Leo O’Brien
Trainer Leo O'Brien, a long-time New York fixture as well as father-in-law of rider John Velazquez, has passed away, according to a release from the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA). He was 85.
“He came here from Ireland in 1964 to ride over jumps and fell in love with New York racing–he fell in love with New York, and, in time, he made it his home,” said son Keith O'Brien. “He was a quiet man; a dignified man and he always gave his best. He gave everything he had to the game, and he got a lot back out of it. He loved horse racing, and he loved racing in New York. It was always very special to him.”
O'Brien would make his name on the flat with the illustrious multiple graded stakes-winner Fourstardave, who won at least one race at Saratoga Race Course each year from 1987 to 1994, earning him the nickname, 'The Sultan of Saratoga.'
While Fourstardave enjoys legend status in Saratoga, his full-brother Fourstars Allstar, would make history for O'Brien, becoming the first American-trained horse to win a European Classic by taking the Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas in 1991 with future Hall of Famer Mike Smith at the helm.
O'Brien and his son-in-law John Velazquez teamed up with a number of the venerable trainer's top horses, including the multiple graded stakes-winner Irish Linnet, who won 19-of-62 starts for purse earnings in excess of $1.2 million; and the supremely talented four-time Grade I winner Yanks Music, who captured 7-of-9 career starts topped by wins over future Hall of Famer Serena's Song in the GI Ruffian Handicap and GI Beldame in 1996.
In addition to his children Keith and Leona, he is survived by his grandchildren Lerina, Michael, Darby, Liam, Jacinta, Muireann and Jonjo.
French farms open their doors
The studs participating in the 2026 edition of La Route des Etalons have been confirmed, with 21 farms set to open their doors on Friday, January 23 and Saturday, January 24.
“These two days are both professional and one of the social events of the year,” read a press release issued by La Fédération des Eleveurs (French TBA). “We look forward to meeting you there on January 23-24. Thank you in advance to the studs, the visitors and our sponsors and partners.”
