Five race haul for J-Mac at Rosehill
James McDonald won half of the ten race card at Rosehill on Saturday, with three of his five winners trained by Chris Waller. They were Pippie Beach (Maurice {Jpn}), Willie Oppa (Fastnet Rock), and Eagle Express (Alabama Express).
He also won the G3 JRA Plate on Marc and Mitchell Conners-trained Willaidow (Shamus Award) and on Jack Pilkington-trained Alabama State (Alabama Express), which also gave Alabama Express a double on the card.
Treble for Cartwright at Caulfield
Apprentice jockey Luke Cartwright rode a city treble at Caulfield on Saturday, led by Stylish Secret (NZ) (Sweet Orange {USA}) for trainer Mick Nolan. He also won on Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained Miss Maranda (Written Tycoon) and Ciaron Maher-trained Until Valhalla (Snitzel).
“She's improved that little bit each time she's gone to the races,” Moody said of Miss Maranda. “I'm not convinced that this is her forte, the nine or 10 furlongs. I think she's better over 1400 to a mile ridden with cover.”
Written Tycoon had a double at the meeting with Miss Maranda and her stablemate Gallant Son.
The Autumn Sun’s Satomi wins on debut
Japanese owner Koji Oka celebrated when Stephen Lee-trained 2-year-old filly Satomi (The Autumn Sun) won on debut at Eagle Farm on Saturday. “He rang me straight after and said he's very excited about the victory,” Lee said.
“No disrespect to the other horses, but you've got to consider what the field was like … although she did win by a fair margin, so I'm quite happy.” Purchased by Oka for $30,000 from KBL Thoroughbreds’ Magic Millions National Weanling Sale draft, Satomi is the fourth winner for Group 3 Girl In Flight (Commands).
Fast Thinker wins spot in G3 Launceston Cup
On Friday night trainer Kelvin Hamilton’s Fast Thinker (So You Think {NZ}) took his Longford Cup form into the Sydeston Cup, and won himself a spot in the upcoming G3 Launceston Cup. “When Piping Lane won the Longford Cup, he went on to win the Melbourne Cup in the same year,” joked Hamilton.
“We will have to think about the Launnie Cup. He’s a 9-year-old, and I don’t want to punish him too much. This win was his first at the distance, and the Cup is an extra 250m on top.” He’s now won 14 of his 63 starts.
Double for Toronado at Cranbourne
Toronado (Ire) scored a double at Cranbourne’s Friday night meeting led by Greg Eurell-trained 3-year-old filly Toronado Queen who bolted home to score by 3.75 lengths and record her second win in three starts.
David and Coral Feek-trained Powerful Torque made it two wins in succession and four in total in the Summer Middle Distance Series Heat 1. The 5-year-old gelding was purchased by his trainers and John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) for $200,000 from Rosemont Stud’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale draft.
New winner for Sandbar
Second season sire Sandbar added his sixth winner when Theresa Bateup-trained 3-year-old gelding Sablonneuse won at the Sapphire Coast for owners Kooringal Stud. He is a half-brother to Group 2-placed Fidelia (Not A Single Doubt).
Lucky Vega adds new winner
Lucky Vega (Ire), a second season sire at Yulong, added a new winner when Simon Drewitt-trained 3-year-old gelding Lyra Star won at Ceduna on Saturday. The $17,500 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale graduate was purchased by Simon Croucher and Stuart Padman. He is the first foal of winning mare Who Doubted Me (Not A Single Doubt), a half-sister to Group 2 winner See You In Heaven (Divine Prophet).
His half-brother by Tagaloa will be offered at the Magic Millions March Yearling Sale.
New winner for Cool Aza Beel
Second season sire Cool Aza Beel (NZ) added winner number 15 when Nicholas Thomas-trained 3-year-old gelding Import won at Esperance on Saturday. He was having his third start and was a $9000 Inglis Digital purchase by his trainer in March 2025.
Rommel double at Ascot
Western Australian sire Rommel scored a double at Ascot with 2-year-old filly Maria Lucia scoring by two lengths on debut for trainers Sean and Jake Casey. She was purchased by Yenrise for $105,000 from Mogumber Park’s Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale draft. Her 3-year-old older brother is Listed winner Do I Feel Lucky (Dirty Work), while her yearling half-brother by A Lot (USA) will go to this year’s Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale as Lot 32
Rommel’s other winner on the card was Simon Miller-trained 3-year-old gelding Twisted Steel who has won three of his seven starts.
In other country meetings on Saturday Yes Yes Yes sired a double at Tamworth with Flamboyant Lad and Gloryess, while Star Turn enjoyed a double at Hanging Rock with Vinnie’s Turn and Turnaquid.
G3 Wellington Cup won by Manzor Blue
Lisa Latta-trained 5-year-old mare Manzor Blue (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) has taken out Saturday’s G3 Wellington Cup over two miles in an upset. “We have had a lot of niggles with this mare this season, she had a lot of back problems. We have worked extra hard to get her right,” Latta said.
“She only ran sixth here a fortnight ago and I said to Kate (Hercock) ‘should we press on to the Wellington Cup?’ she said ‘press on, I think she is back’. At that time it didn’t even look like she would make the field. Good on Kate, she deserved it, she pinched runs and she got there.”
Manzor Blue becomes the 30th stakes winner for Almanzor (Fr) and has won three of her 21 starts and over NZ$279,000. She was sold by Milan Park at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for NZ$130,000 to Go Racing.
New stakes winner for Staphanos
Staphanos (Jpn) added a new stakes winner on Saturday when 4-year-old mare Special Sakura (NZ) won the Listed Fulton Family Stakes at Ellerslie for trainer Janelle Millar. “We’ve always thought a lot of her and I also have her full-sister at home as when Luigi (Muollo, Novara Park principal) asked if I wanted her as well I couldn’t say yes quick enough,” Millar said.
“She is a tall, lanky thing that we have had some trouble with in keeping the weight on her, but lately she has been eating really well and looks a very happy horse. I haven’t looked at what is coming up but this will give her plenty of opportunity to start in some nice races and a mile at her next start might be just perfect for her.”
Bred and raced by Luigi Muollo under his Explosive Breeding Ltd banner, Special Sakura becomes the third stakes winner for Novara Park’s Staphanos, a son of Deep Impact (Jpn).
Forever Young to defend Saudi Cup crown
The likely fields for the rich G1 Saudi Cup card are taking shape, with American champion and Japanese Horse of the Year Forever Young (Real Steel) set to defend his crown. In the night's other Group 1, the newly elevated G1 Neom Turf Cup, sees runners from seven nations compete, led by Japanese trainer Yoshito Yahagi's Shin Emperor (Siyouni), who won the 2025 edition.
The G2 Red Sea Turf Handicap is dominated by Joseph O'Brien runners in Group 2 scorer Tennessee Stud (Wootton Bassett), G1 Melbourne Cup second Goodie Two Shoes (Fastnet Rock) and Sons And Lovers (Study Of Man). Willie Mullins, who won the 2021 Neom Turf Cup, has entered Absurde (Fastnet Rock).
Ifyousaidso tops OBS Online January Sale
The winning Florida-bred 3-year-old filly Ifyousaidso (Cajun Breeze) topped the 2026 OBSOnline January Sale for 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age when she sold to Dare to Dream Stable Management LLC for US$110,000 (AU$158,000) on Friday. Consigned as hip 402 by breeder Shadybrook Farm, Ifyousaidso is a full-sister to multiple stakes winner Cajun Casanova and stakes-placed Full Disclosure.
Overall, the OBSOnline January sale grossed US$297,400 (AU$426,700) with 14 horses sold and two RNAs. The 14 to sell averaged US$21,243 (AU$30,200) with a median of US$13,000 (AU$18,700).
Arqana February Sale catalogue released
The two-day Arqana February Mixed Sale features 400 lots, including Sign And Seal (Hurricane Run), the dam of Group 1 winner Beaute Cachee (Literato), on February 17-18. The catalogue includes 152 mares and 81 fillies, as well as 50 short yearlings, and the complete dispersal of Al Shahania's thoroughbreds, and four stallion shares set to go under the hammer during the first session.
The second session will consist of the second breeding stock portion, following on from the dispersal of Franck Leblanc, a selection of two- and three-year-old stores, 14 two-year-olds, and 75 horses-in-training.
Fort George wins G3 Dubai Millennium Stakes
UK trainer Ed Walker won Friday night’s G3 Dubai Millennium Stakes in a thriller with Fort George (GB) (Territories {Ire}) over 2000 metres. “That was fantastic,” said owner Dr Jim Hay. “Kieran couldn’t pull the horse up! Alex (Cole, Racing Manager) and Ed Walker will put their heads together and come up with a plan, but it was always the intention to keep him here right up until World Cup night.”
Too Darn Hot colt looks promising in Meydan
The Coolmore partners' Title Role (Too Darn Hot) rattled home a convincing winner of the Jumeirah Guineas Trial in the Meydan opener on Friday. Keen early under James Doyle, the Simon and Ed Crisford-runner kicked four deep in early straight, seized command at the 300-metre mark and stormed away to victory, his second in four starts.
“The slow pace did suit him, as the little worry was going up in trip,” said Doyle. “He was the one to beat so the guys were happy to follow me rather than pitch me out, which was nice. I wanted to go as slow as I could for as long as I could before I let him go and then he ran home well. The way he galloped through the line and galloped out suggests [this trip] is no problem at all.”
