Blue Diamond third acceptances
Over 60 horses remain in contention for the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes after the third acceptances were taken, including 17 2-year-olds who have already won a race. R.Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Unit Five (Supido) remains in, however, second placed Tornado Valley (Too Darn Hot {GB}), third-placed By Choice (Written By) and fifth-placed Knightsbridge (Farnan) were all withdrawn.
Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained pair of Guest House (Home Affairs) and Big Sky (Bivouac) remain in, with the latter to run on Saturday in the G3 Chairman's Stakes at Caulfield. Lindsay Park have 11 horses remaining in contention.
Golden Slipper favourite to run on Saturday
G1 Golden Slipper favourite Incognito (Stay Inside) will resume in Saturday’s G3 Canonbury Stakes at Rosehill for trainer Michael Freedman. He won the G3 Breeders’ Plate on debut in the spring. “He seems to be hack in good order, his trials have been good,” Freedman told racingnsw.com.au.
“He obviously has to give the penalty away first-up which is never easy but I’m happy with him. It can be a little tricky that 1100 metre start at Rosehill, we’ve seen plenty of horses that are mad leaders be able to win races like that in the past.
Incognito | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“It doesn’t necessarily tell the full story in the context of the Slipper. You’d like to see them return and put in a good run, whether that’s winning or running a placing, that sets them up with a good platform for the next few runs ahead.”
Coolmore Classic aims for Meridiana
Trainer John Sargent is aiming Meridiana (NZ) (Preferment {NZ}) at the G1 Coolmore Classic and the 4-year-old mare resumes on Saturday at Rosehill in the G3 JRA Plate. “I definitely think there is a lot of improvement there for her,” Sargent told racenet.com.au.
“But there are eight horses there in a Group race so if you run first four, you win a lot of money. That is why she is there, she gets well at the weight and she is not fully screwed down. I was going to trial her again and start her in a couple of weeks but I saw the small field and there's no reason why not to run.
John Sargent | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“She is going to get a soft run at the back with no weight. Whatever she does, she will improve because she has only had the one trial. She goes well fresh, winning each time, but she it's a different story on Saturday with that class of field.”
New board members for Tasracing
Three new board members have been appointed at Tasracing. Charlotte Mills and Grenville Stud’s Bart McCulloch have joined the Board alongside greyhound figure Roy Higgins. The Board consists of seven members, with representative from across the three codes; thoroughbred, harness and greyhounds.
Grant and Alana Williams enquiry adjorned
The WA stewards inquiry into Grant and Alana Williams-trained Starry Heights (Star Turn) who tested positive to ADHD medication Ritalin during a post-mortem examination has been adjorned for a couple of days. The training partnership are suspended pending the outcome.
Alana and Grant Williams | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Zoustar mare seeking redemption in Group 3
Trainer John Moloney’s 5-year-old mare Hearcomesthestar (Zoustar) will be seeking redemption in Saturday’s G3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes after failing in the race last year. “She was way back and stayed back but her splits home, even though she only beat a couple home, was equal to the ones in the front. It was just physically impossible for her to make up the ground,” Moloney told racenet.com.au.
Hearcomesthestar | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“She's had a really good preparation (this time) and she's shown a fair bit. I think she's improved and her runs have all been pretty good. I've just spaced her races out a bit to have her a bit fresher going into every run and I think it has worked well. She's in great form and we'd love to get into the money again and if she was lucky enough to win, hallelujah.” She ran second in the Listed Black Pearl Stakes last start.
Magic Time to stay home
Despite rumours around a trip to Royal Ascot for Group 1 winner Magic Time (Hellbent), her trainer Grahame Begg will set her for the G1 William Reid Stakes. “I think she probably isn’t the right horse to go there (Ascot), to be truthful,” Begg told racing.com.
“She is bigger, better and more beautiful. She is a beauty. She keeps developing and is a lovely, big, strong girl now. She’ll have a nice long, steady build-up. She looks fantastic and has spelled really, really well.”
Zarastro set for return to Sydney
Tony Gollan-trained Zarastro (I Am Invincible) hasn’t run in Sydney since 2022. He won two races early in his career for Chris Waller, then was sold to Gollan for $32,500 at an Inglis Digital sale in 2022. Since then, he’s won seven more and taken his career earnings over $1.5 million. He’ll run in Sydney on Saturday as a one-off mission. “We tried to get him ready for Magic Millions and just had a minor setback with him,” Gollan told racingnsw.com.au.
Zarastro | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
“It put me on the back foot as far as the carnival. I trialled him before the Magic Millions day a couple of weeks ago and wasn’t happy with him. I gave him another jump out at Deagon and he was really good so this was the logical option. He goes down in the right distance range, the right grade for him and he’s always been competitive around this grade.”
Aushorse graduate program commences
The 2026 Aushorse Graduate Program began on Monday with ten individuals undertaking a two week intensive program before a six-week paid internship with organisations such as six-week paid internships with host organisations across Australia including Racing Victoria, Entain, Magic Millions, Melbourne Racing Club, Alma Vale and Kitchwin Hills, and Yulong.
“This program is about attracting exceptional young people into our industry and showing them the breadth of opportunity that exists across our racing and breeding industries,” Mr Hore-Lacy said in a press release.
Andrew Hore-Lacy | Image courtesy of Aushorse
“The quality and diversity of this year’s cohort is outstanding, and it reflects the growing interest from graduates who see genuine long-term career pathways in the sector. What has been particularly encouraging is the willingness of organisations right across the industry to invest in the next generation. As a peak body for breeders, we see this as an industry-wide responsibility. Creating pathways that open doors for talented graduates into all parts of the sector strengthens the whole ecosystem.”
Home Affairs juvenile set for Group 3
Saturday’s G3 Colin Jillings Classic for juveniles at Ellerslie in New Zealand will feature Home Affairs colt Harvey Wallbanger (NZ), trained by Tony Pike. “Thankfully he’s got a draw that will allow him to be ridden where we want,” Pike told Loveracing.nz.
“His last two runs have been a hard watch coming wide from the back like he did and getting beaten by horses that had cosy runs. He had a week off after the Eclipse and he’s come back well, so with a bit of luck from gate two we should see him put in the race. Rory (Hutchings) came over to gallop him on Tuesday morning and he worked well, so he’s ready.” Already Group 2 placed, the colt was a winner on debut in October.
Big day for Russian Camelot on Wednesday
Second season sire Russian Camelot (Ire) had a big day on Wednesday with a two state double to take his number of winners to 10. John Sargent-trained 3-year-old gelding Tsarevich won at Kembla Grange over stablemate 3-year-old gelding Cosmic Avenger (Cosmic Force). Part owned by Telemon Stud, Tsarevich was having his second start. He is the first foal of Casual Reply (GB) (Frankel {GB}) who has a yearling full sister to Tsarevich.
At Gawler, Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray-trained 3-year-old filly Orlova broke through for her first win. She was a $50,000 purchase by Angas River Contractors at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale from Riverina Downs draft. She is the last foal and sixth winner from as many runners for Miss Cutie (Street Cry {Ire}).
Prague’s Loud Charlie one to watch
Trainer Lloyd Kennewell has big goals for 3-year-old gelding Loud Charlie (Prague) who became his second season sire’s sixth winner at Sandown on Wednesday. “He’s a really promising horse,” Kennewell said. He was having his second start, having run third on debut.
“We were trying to work out how he got beat at Terang, and then obviously on Monday, we saw the form line come through with Mitch Freedman’s (Asakura) winning by five. They didn’t go much tempo, but he had to do a little bit of work up the hill, and he finished off beautifully.
“He’s shown us a bit from day one, so it’s good to see that, and I reckon he could be really nice horse moving forward over the autumn.” Michael Freedman-trained 3-year-old gelding Asakura (Churchill {Ire}) has won two in succession from three starts.
Coolmore announce death of Maybe
Maybe, the former European champion 2-year-old filly and dam of G1 2000 Guineas winner Saxon Warrior, has died at the age of 17. A report on the Coolmore website stated that the daughter of Galileo had succumbed to “a sudden illness”.
“She was the loveliest, sweetest mare and will be greatly missed by all of those who took such great care of her during her time here,” said Coolmore manager James Mockridge.
A €340,000 (AU$583,000) yearling purchased at the Arqana August Sale from Croom House Stud, Maybe remained unbeaten through her juvenile campaign for Aidan O'Brien, progressing from a maiden win up through each grade to her victory in the G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes. The following year she was third in the G1 1000 Guineas behind her stablemate Homecoming Queen.
She was one of three mares chosen by Coolmore on a first foray into breeding mares to Japanese sire sensation Deep Impact in 2013. Maybe's first foal was the black-type performer Pavlenko and, he was followed by the G1 Racing Post Trophy and 2,000 Guineas winner Saxon Warrior, who now stands at Coolmore.
From a Swettenham Stud family which includes the Classic winners Continuous, Dancing Rain and Dr Devious, Maybe was rested during the 2025 breeding season. Her current 2-year-old colt by Dubawi is in training in Ballydoyle, and she has a yearling colt by the same sire who has been retained.
Taiba filly tops Ocala Winter Mixed Sale
A yearling filly from the first crop of multiple Grade I winner Taiba (hip 80) attracted the highest price of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's January Winter Mixed Sale on Tuesday when selling for US$150,000 (AU$214,000) to Marc Gunderson. The filly was one of three on the day–and two from Beth Bayer's consignment–to sell for six figures during an auction which produced increases over its 2025 renewal.
By the close of business on Tuesday, 183 horses sold at the Winter Mixed sale for a gross of US$3,476,100 (AU$4.9 million). The average of US$18,995 (AU$27,000) rose 30.2% from the 2025 auction, while the median was up 60.0% to US$12,000 (AU$17,100). Of the 307 catalogued lots, 257 head went through the ring and, with 74 reported not sold, the buy-back rate was 28.8%.
“The market is strong. It's very strong,” Bayer said. In addition to competitive bidding at the top, Bayer observed, “there were end-users across the board to get the other ones sold.”
Inglis USA shift dates for next online sale
To better accommodate buyers and sellers in the wake of a nationwide winter storm and persistent freezing temperatures, Inglis Digital USA has pushed back the key dates for its February Sale, the company said in a release on Tuesday. The catalogue for the online auction will now be released on Monday, February 2, and bidding will close on Friday, February 6 at 2 p.m. ET, with each lot closing in three-minute increments.
By moving the dates of the sale, sellers will have more time to arrange their vet work and produce better quality media for offerings, such as photos and walk videos. The new schedule also means buyers will have more time to schedule in-person inspections. Many parts of the country remain under heavy snow with hazardous travel conditions following last weekend's winter storm.
“We've taken the time to speak with our sellers and believe it is in everyone's best interest to start the sale on Monday [Feb. 2] instead of Friday [Jan. 30],” said Inglis Digital USA CEO Kyle Wilson. “Central Kentucky and a large portion of the United States experienced some very severe weather causing delays and closings.
“We want to give everyone involved the necessary time to prepare themselves for a sale and offer their best product possible,” he said. “Flexibility is key with digital sales and I encourage any and all customers to reach out to us at Inglis Digital USA if there is anything we can do to help.”
Graded winner Stormcast added to Fasig-Tipton Winter Sale
Graded stakes winner Stormcast (Mitole) is among 19 additional entries to the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale, which will be held February 9 in Lexington. The latest group of supplements to the auction are catalogued as hip 386-404 and include several stakes winners and a half-sibling to a recent Grade I winner.
The 5-year-old mare Stormcast, winner of the 2024 G3 Bessarabian Stakes, will be offered as hip 395 and will be consigned as a racing or broodmare prospect by Taylor Made Sales Agency.
Other supplemental entries include: Athena's War (Kor) (New Year's Day) (hip 386), a full-sister to champion Maximum Security, in foal to Oscar Performance and consigned by Mulholland Springs, agent; and Sun Kissed Soiree (Medaglia d'Oro) (hip 388), a full-sister to graded stakes winner Marzo consigned as a broodmare prospect by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.
U.S. Jockey Club responds to Mike Repole's claims
In an open letter to the industry, the Board Of Stewards of The Jockey Club have refuted the claims made by Mike Repole in his earlier pledge to bring a lawsuit against the industry. The letter stated:
“Since 2023, Mike Repole has waged a campaign of inflammatory social posts and public statements targeting The Jockey Club and other leading Thoroughbred organizations. His rhetoric relies on selective facts and false narratives–fuelling division, eroding trust, and distracting from the real work our industry needs to move forward. His campaign offers no solutions or concrete plans and appears instead to be part of an effort by Mr. Repole to anoint himself the “Commissioner” of the sport,” said the letter.
Mike Repole | Image courtesy of Keeneland
“As Stewards of The Jockey Club, we work to improve racing and breeding in ways that protect the horse, support workers, grow the industry, and build public trust. Our priority has been to focus on the work and avoid giving oxygen to Mr. Repole's baseless charges. But faced with escalating threats and a torrent of misinformation, it is time to set the record straight–with facts, not rhetoric.”
