Daily News Wrap

Anamoe breeding right in upcoming Inglis Digital

Inglis confirmed on Wednesday that a breeding right in first season sire sensation Anamoe will be included in the Inglis Digital February (Early) Online Sale, which will run from January 30-February 4.

“A nine-time G1 winner himself, Anamoe’s first yearlings averaged a staggering $469,000 on the Gold Coast last week, with 31 of his progeny selling for a gross of $14.5 million. Anamoe also joined a rare club for a first season sire, producing a seven-figure yearling among his first sale offering,” said the press release.

“The way the market accepted Anamoe’s progeny on the Gold Coast was unbelievable, with a 100% clearance rate and a very healthy average,’’ Darley’s Alastair Pulford said. “Those figures speak volumes to the regard in which he’s held by everyone, as he should be.

“He really could be the next big thing, he has all the attributes to suggest he’ll be a tremendously successful stallion and his progeny certainly look the part.’’

Entries close for the sale on Wednesday, January 28.

Maharba to bounce back in Australia Stakes

Trainer Grahame Begg is hoping Maharba (Pride Of Dubai) can bounce back into form in Saturday’s G2 Australia Stakes. “Hopefully he can turn things around. We were pretty disappointed the other day. The only excuse I can make is that the horses down on the inside all ran the same. Hedged, Lim’s Kosciuszko and Maharba drew the inside gates and didn’t fire,” Begg told racing.com.

“Three of the first four home drew the outside gates; it was a very strange day with the wind. The other straight race the same thing happened, three of the first four home drew the outside three gates so that’s not a fluke.

“I’m hoping he will bounce back but I must admit I wasn’t expecting War Machine to be there. Our horse is good we are very happy with him. See how he shapes up.”

Inglis Millennium target for Oh Yes She Did

Trainers Mitch and Desiree Kearney are targeting the Inglis Millennium with 2-year-old filly Oh Yes She Did (Yes Yes Yes) who will run on Friday night at Canterbury or on Saturday at Randwick. “If we didn't get into the race it would be a bit disheartening,” Mitch Kearney told racenet.com.au.

“She is up and ready to go, she had a jump-out at home before she had a trial last week so we were prepared for that to happen. I think we will accept in both races but I would be more leaning towards Randwick than Canterbury, I just think it will be a better track for her.

“If she was to run in the Millennium than we would go three weeks into her next run and then if she was to qualify we would go three weeks into the (Golden) Slipper.”

Whinchat’s ugly draw for Carrington is perfect

Trainer David Pfieffer is thrilled with the barrier for Whinchat (Russian Revolution) in Saturday’s Listed Carrington Stakes at Randwick. “If he holds his brain together and jumps and puts himself there he’s always going to be competitive,” Pfieffer told racingnsw.com.au.

“The key factor is the smaller fields. When he’s had a 10-horse field or less a lot of the time he gets control and nearly wins. He’s put in a couple of good runs but it’d been a while between drinks for him. These are the things you’ve got to get to work for him. Not too many trainers are going to say they want to draw ugly.

“His rating’s up high in the 90s and he’s not really a solid carnival horse. We all probably agree he can win a stakes race and he’s going to get the opportunity if he can contain himself.”

Vale Peter Milling OAM

Racing NSW advised the death of Peter Milling OAM aged 95. “Mr Milling played a pivotal role in the development of the Dubbo Sale Yards and was a respected leader in thoroughbred breeding and racing, including 37 years as head of the Bloodhorse Breeders Association,” said the press release.

“For 74 years, Mr Milling was also a trusted rural voice through his weekly 2DU broadcast, connecting and informing regional communities. Mr Milling was a devoted family man and a highly respected member of the community whose lifelong service, leadership and philanthropy were recognised with the award of the Order of Australia Medal (OAM).”

AgriFutures open applications for Thoroughbred Chair

Applications are open to find the next Chair of the AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Advisory Panel. “As Chair, you will provide guidance into the function of the Panel in setting strategic priorities, ensuring governance and advising on research, development and extension (RD&E) investments that deliver value to levy payers and address industry challenges,” said the press release.

“The AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program invests approximately $1 million annually into RD&E projects focused on welfare, sustainability, breeding, workforce engagement and disease management. Your leadership will help ensure these investments align with industry needs and drive meaningful outcomes.

“We are seeking passionate and experienced professionals, breeders, veterinarians, researchers and industry representatives who are committed to advancing the profitability and sustainability of the Thoroughbred sector.” Applications close February 17.

Rockhampton under water

Rockhampton believe they will be ready to race next Thursday, despite being impacted by flooding. “The good part of trying to win the battle against a flood is having those clear triggers and acting early and everyone's done that,” Club CEO David Aldred told racenet.com.au.

“If the flood starts to recede from tomorrow (Thursday) that gives us plenty of time to get the track ready, the trainers back to the track, the horses back in the stables and hopefully we'll be racing again next week. It's a trying time for everybody, particularly the trainers because their horses have been displaced from the track and it's important we get this event over with and they can get back to some form of normality.”

Racing NSW suspend licensed stable hand Brian Carey

Following an investigation conducted by the Racing NSW Integrity Unit, Racing NSW stewards announced that they have suspended the stable hand licence of Brian Carey.

"The charge was issued pursuant to LR114(2)(a) and relates to the care and welfare of the thoroughbred horse City Limits," read the statement from Racing NSW. "On 21 January 2026, after inviting and considering submissions received from Mr Carey, Stewards suspended his licence under AR23 pending the hearing and determination of the charge."

A hearing is scheduled at the Racing NSW Head Office on February 11.

LR114(2)(a) in the Australian Rules Of Racing reads, "A registered owner, trainer or any person that is in charge of or has in his or her possession, control or custody of any horses (Eligible Horses, Unnamed Horses and Named Horses) must ensure that any such horses are provided at all times with proper and sufficient nutrition and water."

Carey purchased City Limits (NZ) (Complacent) for $1500 via a digital sale in September 2024, after which the gelding won two races. City Limits was recorded as deceased on the studbook on January 12, 2026.

Double for Grunt at Ipswich

Grunt (NZ) enjoyed a double at Ipswich on Wednesday with a pair of 4-year-olds. Emma Fouchard-trained mare Ratenotice won her maiden. She is from the family of Vancouver.

Scott Morrisey-trained mare Aratiri added her third career win with an impressive 2.8 length victory. Her half-sister by Written Tycoon will be presented by Yulong at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale as Lot 510.

At the same meeting, second season sire Admire Mars (Jpn) added a new winner with Adam Campton-trained 3-year-old gelding Dashing Mars.

New winner for Fierce Impact

Second season sire Fierce Impact (Jpn) added his eighth winner when Michael Hickmott-trained 3-year-old gelding Impact Storm won at Oakbank on Wednesday. He was having his second start. A homebred for Hall Thoroughbred and partners, Impact Storm is the first foal of Thine Is The Power (Street Boss {USA}) who won five races.

Tagaloa adds new winner

At Oakbank on Wednesday, second season sire Tagaloa added his 23rd winner when Michael Hickmott-trained 3-year-old filly You’resogolden won at her second start. A homebred for Minella Bloodstock, she is the first foal of Stasia (NZ) (Deep Field).

You’resogolden’s half-brother by first season sire Sejardan will be presented by Blue Gum Farm at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale as Lot 727.

Calangadan is World’s Best Racehorse for 2025

With a rating of 130, the Aga Khan Studs homebred Calandagan has been crowned Longines World's Best Racehorse for 2025, ahead of five horses from four different countries who all tied for second on a rating of 128.

At a ceremony to mark the Longines Racing Awards at the Savoy Hotel in London on Tuesday, it was confirmed that the performance of Calandagan when winning October's G1 Champion Stakes at Ascot was the best produced by any racehorse on the planet last year. The son of Gleneagles – who also struck at the top level in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Japan Cup during a blockbuster 2025 – becomes the first French-trained winner of the prize since Waldgeist shared the honour with both Crystal Ocean and Enable in 2019.

Accepting the award in London, Princess Zahra Aga Khan said, “From the breeding shed to the racecourse, we've had an amazing year. This is the result of amazing training, amazing riding, amazing care of the horse. It's four years, five years of work, in fact going back even further to sitting in those meetings deciding on the matings.”

There was a five way tie for second with Ka Ying Rising (Shamexpress), Ombudsman (Night Of Thunder) and Masquerade Ball (Duramente), Forever Young (Real Steel), and Sovereignty (Into Mischief), all on 128.

World's Top Races in 2025

The ratings for the world's top 100 Group/Grade 1 races of last year were also published on Tuesday, in tandem with the Longines World Racing Awards. As mentioned above, the Champion Stakes and Japan Cup shared top billing with a rating of 126.25.

In the Champion Stakes, the first four finishers were Calandagan, Ombudsman, Almaqam (Lope De Vega) (122) and Delacroix, before the winner of that contest followed up in the Japan Cup at the expense of Masquerade Ball, Danon Decile and Croix Du Nord (Kitasan Black) (122). This is the first time that the Champion Stakes has won the award, while the Japan Cup takes the title for the second time in three years. It was first celebrated in 2023.

The Breeders' Cup Classic was best of the rest on 125.50, followed by Ascot's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (125.00) and Meydan's Dubai Sheema Classic (124.00). Europe's richest race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, finished just outside of the top five with a rating of 123.75, narrowly ahead of the G1 Coral-Eclipse, won by Delacroix, on 123.25.

In the five respective distance categories, the highest-rated races were: The Everest (121.00, Sprint); Saudi Cup (121.00, Mile); Champion Stakes (126.25, Intermediate); Japan Cup (126.25, Long); and Gold Cup (117.50, Extended).

The GI Spinster Stakes, which went the way of Gin Gin (Hightail), was the world's highest-rated race for fillies and mares on 116.75, while the top contest for three-year-olds was the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2,000 Guineas) on 121.50. Museum Mile (Leontes) (121) was a decisive winner of the Satsuki Sho ahead of Croix Du Nord and Masquerade Ball.

Britain hosted 20 of the world's top 100 Group/Grade 1 races in 2025, with another 19 in Australia and 16 in America. In total, 10 different countries had at least one race featured among the top 100, with the others being comprised of Japan (15), Hong Kong SAR, China (11), France (10), Ireland (4), the United Arab Emirates (3), Germany (1) and Saudi Arabia (1).

McDonald crowned World’s Best Jockey

James McDonald won the Longines World's Best Jockey title for the second consecutive year and third time overall. The New Zealand-born, Australian-based jockey also won the Longines World's Best Jockey Award in 2022.

The awarding of the title is based upon performances in the top 100 races mentioned above, with jockeys earning 12 points for a win, 6 points for placing second and 4 points for placing third. McDonald ended 2025 with a total of 184 points, ahead of Mickael Barzalona with 132 points and William Buick with 114 points.

Gewan is Europe’s best juvenile for 2025

Dewhurst Stakes winner Gewan has been crowned European Champion Juvenile for 2025 with a rating of 121. Graeme Smith, BHA Handicapping Team Leader, said, “Gewan became the first outright European Champion 2YO to emerge from Kingsclere in the 48-year history of the classification, bettering the achievement of Andrew Balding's previous Dewhurst – and subsequent QIPCO 2,000 Guineas – winner Chaldean (119) in 2022.

“He follows Forest Flower (125 in 1986) and Mrs Penny (joint Champion in 1979 at 121), who were both crowned Champion 2YO Fillies for Andrew's late father, Ian.

“Gewan's 121 performance in defying long odds in a representative Darley Dewhurst Stakes capped a stellar year for his sire, Night Of Thunder. As well as being represented in 2025 by the top-class Ombudsman and QIPCO 1,000 Guineas winner Desert Flower, the Darley stallion established a strong hand for the 2026 Classics.”

Trained by Andrew Balding, the son of Night Of Thunder was recruited from the Arqana May Breeze-Up Sale for €80,000 (AU$139,000) having been purchased originally from Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. He followed up a debut win at Newbury in July with an impressive defeat of Italy (Wootton Bassett) (112) in the G3 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes at York.

His defeat of Gstaad (Starspangledbanner) at Newmarket to end the season followed a sole defeat in the G2 Betfred Champagne Stakes at Doncaster and confirmed him a leading Classic prospect for 2026.

Dresden Row tops Fasig-Tipton Digital

Canadian Sovereign Award-winning 3-year-old male Dresden Row (Lord Nelson) (hip 1), sold for US$575,000 (AU$852,000), topped the 2026 Fasig-Tipton January Digital Sale which closed Tuesday evening. The sale, which opened Thursday, Jan. 15 and included horses of racing age, racing/broodmare prospects, racing/stallion prospects, short yearlings, and a stallion season, totaled gross sales of US$4,514,500 (AU$6.7 million) for 160 horses sold.

Dresden Row, Canada's leading 3-year-old colt in 2024, sold to MWG LLC from the consignment of Jeffrey Bloom, agent. In his most recent start, the 5-year-old captured the GIII Autumn Stakes at Woodbine Nov. 8. He has finished in the money in all of his 15 starts to date, which include three graded stakes victories, and has earned US$448,803 (AU$663,000) to date.

“The digital sales market that Fasig-Tipton has designed perfectly for our industry is second to none,” said Jeffrey Bloom, consignor of the sale topper. “It's pretty special to have the sales topper for my first time out of the gate as a consignor with a big assist to the crew at Fasig for their professionalism and skill at guiding me through every step in the process. Boyd Browning and his entire team are such a pleasure to work with. Dresden Row took us on a wonderful ride; I would like to thank his new connections and best of luck!”

Santa Anita sues DOJ over slot machines

The latest salvo in the fight over the legality of a suite of Racing on Demand slot machine-style parimutuel games that were removed from Santa Anita by state Department of Justice law enforcement officers Saturday afternoon was fired Tuesday by the track, which filed a writ of mandate against the DOJ in the Los Angeles Superior Court.

As first reported by the LA Times, the court filing by the Los Angeles Turf Club repeats several arguments Santa Anita officials have made in recent days, including how the three-by-three wager approved by the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) in 2024 gives the track the legal cover to operate these machines, which use races that have already been run.

The suit—also obtained by the TDN—makes the argument that both the state attorney general's office and the CHRB had a long window to render a decision about the legality of the machines either way but had failed to do so.

“Neither the Attorney General's office, nor the CHRB, ever disputed [the track's] written legal analysis or stated that the [track] did not have the legal right to offer the 3X3 wager on concluded races,” the suit states, according to the Times.