Acrobat’s second winner is a King
First season sire Acrobat enjoyed his second winner when 2-year-old gelding King Of The Air won on debut at Taranaki in New Zealand for trainer Stephen Marsh. Raced by his breeders Arkle Bloodstock and Fethard Bloodstock, King Of The Air is the first foal of Lady Of The Falls (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) who has gone to Acrobat three more times for a yearling colt and stillborn foal this spring. She is currently in foal to him.
Lady Of The Falls is a half-sister to G1 Queensland Derby winner Kukeracha (NZ) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) and Group 3 winner Cameo (Shamardal {USA}).
First winner for Splintex
Western Australia’s first season sire Splintex celebrated his first winner when David Harrison-trained 2-year-old filly They’reallsisters won at Ascot on Saturday. She defeated 2-year-old colt Boy Crush (Manhattan Rain), reversing the placings of the pair's first start two weeks ago. A son of Snitzel, Splintex won twice at two, adding the G2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint at three and the G2 Bobbie Lewis Handicap at four.
They’reallsisters was purchased by Ryan Fuller for $90,000 from Ridgeport Holdings’ Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale draft. She is the third winner for River Hussy (Husson {Arg}) who had a Splintex colt this spring.
Listed WJ Adams Stakes won by Way To the Stars
Matthew Smith-trained Way To The Stars (Reward For Effort) added his second Listed victory in Saturday’s Listed WJ Adams Stakes at Caulfield. He was second up having run second in the Listed Bribie Handicap last start, but punters sent him around at $11. The favourite, Lindsay Park-trained Oak Hill (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) was three-quarters of a length in arrears in second with former Tassie star Geegees Mistruth (Wordsmith) in third for new trainer Mark Walker.
The 7-year-old gelding has now won eight of his 24 starts with earnings over $660,000. His dam, Writteninthestars (Written Tycoon) had only three foals for two winners. Written Tycoon, as a broodmare sire, has 11 stakes winners and Way To The Stars is the oldest of them.
Oaks path for Acer
Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained 3-year-old filly Acer (NZ) (Savabeel) put herself into the G1 New Zealand Oaks picture with victory in the Listed Taranaki Oaks Prelude on Saturday. “I was really confident she had that residual fitness under her belt today and her Mum was a swimmer, so she had the breeding on her side to get through the track,” jockey Erin Leighton said.
Acer broke her maiden with the victory and is the first live foal of Listed winner Sweet Treat (NZ) (Ekraar {USA}). It was a stakes double for Savabeel in New Zealand with G3 Almanzor Trophy winner Belle Cheval (NZ) in Auckland.
The Kiwi for G3 Almanzor Trophy winner Belle Cheval
NZB Kiwi slot holder The King’s Men selected Belle Cheval (NZ) (Savabeel) for their slot on Friday, and on Saturday the choice was vindicated when the filly won the G3 Almanzor Trophy at Ellerslie. “That’s why we love taking horses to Riccarton in the spring,” co-trainer Mark Walker said.
“The trip down to Riccarton just made her. Mentally she was just a bit soft going down there but with that experience she has come back more mature, more experienced and she has got it all ahead of her.”
A half-sister to Group 1 winner The Bostonian (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) and Group 3 winner Cheval D’Or (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}), Belle Cheval is out of winning mare Keepa Cheval (NZ) (Keeper) who is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Mufasa (NZ) (Pentire {GB}).
G3 Aotearoa Classic won by Tuxedo
Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray-trained 4-year-old gelding Tuxedo (NZ) (Tivaci) won Saturday’s G3 Aotearoa Classic to take his record to five wins from 12 starts with earnings over NZ$1 million. Winner of the G2 Waikato Guineas at three, Tuxedo was a NZ$70,000 purchase from Waikato Stud’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale draft.
“I’d love to have a little crack in Australia with this horse but we will stay at home now where maybe the Otaki mile and Bonecrusher Stakes would be nice targets,” Ritchie said. The G1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes will be held at Ellerslie on March 7.
His half-brother by Super Seth will be offered by Waikato Stud at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale as Lot 298.
Teleperion double at Riccarton
Street Cry (Ire) son Teleperion had a double in New Zealand led by 6-year-old mare Pour The Wine (NZ) winning the Listed Timaru Stakes to add her first black type win. She became her sire’s third stakes winner. His other winner was Accidental Tourist (NZ) who won the Southern Challenge qualifier.
Trained by Barbara Kennedy, Pour The Wine took her record to five wins and over NZ$250,000. She is a half-sister to Listed placed Sorrento (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) out of O’Reilly (NZ) mare Needily (NZ) who was stakes placed.
“That is my first stakes win and the same for Kendra (Bakker) so it is such a great feeling,” Kennedy said.
“I had expected her to go well but when she got caught down on the inside I didn’t think she would finish off like that, but she handled the track really well. She normally has quite a short sprint and then sort of peaks, but Kendra produced a pearler of a ride and she was just so strong at the end.”
G3 Taranaki Cup won by Knights Realm
Clinton Isdale-trained 6-year-old gelding Knights Realm (NZ) (Castledale {Ire}) hadn’t won for 18 months but had run second in both his starts this time in. He put it together in Saturday’s G3 Taranaki Cup winning by 7.25 lengths over the 1800 metres.
He becomes the ninth stakes winner for Peintre Celebre (USA) son Castledale, and took his earnings over NZ$200,000 for his owner/breeders. He is the last foal of Qui Vivre Vera (NZ) (Stravinsky {}) who produced four winners.
Listed Goldmarket Handicap won by Liquor
Spirit Of Boom added stakes winner number 31 when Liquor won Friday night’s Listed Goldmarket Handicap at the Gold Coast. The 6-year-old mare, trained by Tony Gollan, took her record to 10 wins from 23 starts with earnings over $480,000.
Sold by Milburn Creek for $300,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale to Black Soil Bloodstock, John Foote Bloodstock and Gollan Racing, Liquor is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Tannhauser (Dundeel {NZ}). Her dam, stakes placed Luqyaa (Exceed And Excel)’s Anamoe colt sold at this year’s Gold Coast sale for $850,000 to MyRacehorse, Michael Freedman Racing, and Belmont Bloodstock.
Listed Sunshine Coast Cup won by Anemacore
Shaun Dwyer-trained 6-year-old gelding Anemacore (NZ) (Unusual Suspect {USA}) has been in good form this campaign, winning three of his last four starts, including Saturday’s Listed Sunshine Coast Cup. He took his record to six wins and over $360,000.
He becomes the second stakes winner for his sire, and is the second foal of Saintly Ripa (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) who has missed the last three years.
New winner for Bivouac
At the Gold Coast on Friday night, second season sire Bivouac added winner number 29 when Michael Freedman-trained 3-year-old gelding Swag was victorious. With five placings from nine starts, the $240,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale graduate from Sledmere Stud has been consistent.
A half-brother to stakes placed Cristobel, Swag is out of Lonhro mare Status Quo who is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Marching (Commands) and Listed winner Gait (Anabaa {USA}) from the family of Trapeze Artist.
New winner for King’s Legacy
At Taranaki, Alan Sharrock-trained 3-year-old gelding Ryders Legacy (King’s Legacy) broke through at his third start to become the 30th winner for his second season sire. Sold by Mullaglass Stud at the Inglis Sydney Weanling Sale for $80,000 to Carlaw Park, he was pinhooked at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for NZ$100,000 to Inspire Racing and Matthew Corban.
Ole Kirk gelding scores on debut
Second season sire and Champion First Season Sire Ole Kirk added a new winner when 3-year-old gelding October Star won on debut at Newcastle on Saturday for trainer Richard Litt. Ole Kirk now has 29 winners, five at stakes level.
October Star was a bargain $20,000 purchase from North at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, bought by Monarch Bloodstock, and Paul Moroney and Catherynne Bruggeman.
New winner for Russian Camelot
Second season sire Russian Camelot (Ire) added winner number seven with Patrick Kearney-trained 3-year-old gelding Beyond Question who won on debut at Great Western in Victoria. A $40,000 purchase by his trainer and Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) from Noorilim Park’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale draft, Beyond Question is the first foal of Undoubtedly So (Not A Single Doubt).
Rosemont Stud will present his half-brother by Zousain at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale as Lot 747.
Sire doubles around the nation
Written Tycoon sired a double at Randwick on Saturday with 2-year-old filly Satin Summer and bookended the meeting with the victory of Althoff in the last. Spirit Of Boom had a double at Townsville with Lady Willpower and Old Gold.
Justify (USA) sired a double at Canterbury on Friday night with a pair of 3-year-olds. The gelding Willingham won for Yulong and trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. He was purchased by Yulong at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale for $180,000 from Kitchwin Hills. Strawberry Hill Stud’s filly Just Maz won on debut for trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou. She was an $800,000 purchase by her trainers from Coolmore’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale draft.
Sovereignty to miss Dubai World Cup
According to a story by David Grening in the Daily Racing Form, according to trainer Bill Mott, the main goal in 2026 for the newly minted Horse of the Year Sovereignty (Into Mischief) will be the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. Mott said that while he has not yet mapped out a schedule for Sovereignty, he has already ruled out a start in the March 28 GI Dubai World Cup.
That news came as somewhat of a surprise considering that Sovereignty's owner, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai and often targets the $12 million race run in his home country. Sheik Mohammed's Godolphin Racing has won the race nine times.
“I'd like to make the Breeders' Cup Classic at the end of the year and whatever makes any kind of sense in between,” Mott said.
Starke announces retirement from saddle
German legend Andrasch Starke has retired from the saddle, Galopp Online reported on Friday morning. “This is the end of my career,” Starke said.
The most successful German jockey of all time, Starke has at least 2,853 victories to his credit on record during his time in Europe and several more in Asia. Although he won eight Deutsches Derbys and was crowned a champion in Germany 10 times, Starke is best remembered as the partner of the indomitable German Horse of the Year Danedream. The daughter of Lomitas won the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 2011 and added the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes a year later.
Oh Cecelia to headline next GoffsGo sale
GoffsGo has assembled 42 horses for its Online January Sale, headed by the Jack Davison-trained Oh Cecelia (Starspangledbanner). The sale takes place next Wednesday 28 January at 12 noon with lots closing next Thursday 29 January from 2pm.
Commenting on the catalogue, Goffs boss Henry Beeby said, “GoffsGo was launched last year and has a calendar of 17 sale dates for 2026. The January Sale kicks off the year in fine fashion featuring a diverse group of entries to appeal to the broadest buying bench.
“GoffsGo provides a real point of difference to the market as it can cater for horses at all levels and offers tailored auctions from all category catalogues to dispersals and pop-up sales, all of which can be held as open to the public, or confidentially, away from public view. Vendors and purchasers benefit from the same terms of business and unique and transparent Goffs service that is evident at all live Goffs sales regardless of location.”
PETA calls for Ortiz ban after cockfight video
The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has sent a letter to stakeholders at the Eclipse Awards asking them to bar jockeys Irad Ortiz Jr. and his brother, Jose, from future consideration for the awards after the discovery of a social media video that appears to show the brothers collecting cash in a ring at a cockfight in Puerto Rico. It is unclear when the event took place.
Cockfighting is illegal in the U.S. and all of its territories, including Puerto Rico. It was officially criminalized with the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, and remains illegal despite local efforts by some in Puerto Rico to preserve it as a cultural tradition, prompting legal battles between the island and the U.S. federal government. The Supreme Court has since upheld the ban.
Steve Rushing, the agent for the brothers, responded to the TDN via text to say that he would have no comment on the matter at this time. When asked, Rushing did not confirm or deny that the video shows Ortiz and his brother participating in the event.
