Guest House set for Blue Diamond warm up
Jockey Jamie Melham will ride Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained 2-year-old colt Guest House (Home Affairs) in a gallop alongside a stablemate on Tuesday morning as final preparation for Saturday’s G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (c&g). “I think that horse has improved heaps in two weeks,” Price told racenet.com.au.
“We'll sit him off one on Tuesday and he'll get a nice gallop. He'll turn up in the 1100 and be hard to beat.” He won on debut at Cranbourne. “I don't think Cranbourne helped him. Cranbourne was a race that I had to run him in to get his timing right.
“It's about timing and a tickover trial because too many weeks between runs is not good for that big, strong colt. Guest House is a big, solid horse and I thought, without overdoing it, that it would give him a bit of an adrenalin boost. It should get him ready for the 1100 and that will top him off for the Blue Diamond.”
Feroce has Futurity target
G1 Australian Guineas winner Feroce (NZ) (Super Seth) will target the G1 Futurity this autumn after he returned at the trials on Friday for trainer Dom Sutton. “He’s come back really well, and he did show us plenty in the spring so we’re hopeful,” Sutton told racing.com.
Feroce | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“The beginning of the spring was really good for him as he ran a personal best when third in the G1 (Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes) and then we got things wrong tactically in the Toorak. After that, we went to Sydney (for the Golden Eagle) and it rained the morning of and the ground was horrific and he never went a yard in it.
“But he’s shown that he is up to that level and if he runs well on Saturday then he’d probably go to the Futurity Stakes two weeks later.”
Doncaster a possibility for Sabaj
Trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr will look at the G1 Doncaster Handicap for Sabaj (Manhattan Rain) after he ran third in a jump out at Cranbourne on Monday. “I do think it is the best we’ve ever had this horse,” Kent Jnr told racing.com.
Michael Kent Jnr and Mick Price | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He’s just improving that bit by bit. Strengthening every prep, so we’ll see where the autumn takes us. He’s very progressive – he’s on an upward trajectory. Not sure where his ceiling is yet so that’s what it so exciting with him.
“The Doncaster could be a target, just see how he goes but he feels like he’s in really good form. It was a lovely trial. Only had three weeks off after the Ingham (on December 13), so a short turnaround. He’s thrived. He’s dappled from head to toe – he looks enormous, the horse.
“He settled back and closed very hard late and had a nice healthy blow so he’s pretty right. He’ll kick off on Saturday week in the Listed Elms over 1400 metres at Flemington.”
Pride Of Jenni to defend All Star Mile title
Former Horse Of The Year Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) won the All Star Mile in 2024 and could be back to attempt a second in 2026. Tom Kitten (Harry Angel {Ire}) won the 2025 edition when it was first upgraded to Group 1 status. “She’s in very good order actually,” trainer Ciaron Maher told racing.com.
Pride Of Jenni | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Very happy with her condition. She looks fantastic. Her demeanour is good and just the way she is applying herself to her work is just the same as normal. The All-Star Mile might be an option, but we will see how she jumps out.” The multiple Group 1 winner was last seen in the G1 Cantala Stakes this spring when fifth.
Brilliant trial winner set to run on Saturday
Lindsay Park-trained Nervous Witness (Star Witness) thrilled trial watchers with a 10-length victory and now will take that form to the races on Saturday. “As we saw in his trial, he's got a high cruising speed and he's always been a horse that trials very well, so don't let that trick you,” co-trainer Ben Hayes told racingandsports.com.au.
Ben Hayes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He was a boom Hong Kong sprinter, he had a great record, but towards the end Dad just felt he had lost him, but we think we've found him again. We were able to give him a good break, and they don't get that opportunity in Hong Kong to go out in the paddock.
“There's a nice race in Sydney, a (benchmark) 94 over 1000 metres next Saturday, and he should get in beautifully there. If he was to run well, we could back him up in the Lightning Stakes (at Flemington the following week) or in the Oakleigh Plate two weeks later, then there is the Newmarket, and he should get in with no weight.”
Listed Bunbury Classic won by Playin’it Sweet
Adam Durrant-trained 3-year-old filly Playin’it Sweet (Playing God) added her second career Listed win in Sunday night’s Listed Bunbury Classic over 1200 metres. She previously won the Listed Burgess Queen Stakes in the spring, and has a career tally of six wins from 11 starts.
Two other 3-year-old fillies picked up black type in running second and third, being Talkanco (I’m All The Talk) and Pure Silver (D’Argento) respectively. Playin’it Sweet is a homebred and has earnings over $580,000 for owners, the Cosgrove family.
She is the third foal and third winner for Sweet Ora (Oratorio) who is a city-winning half-sister to Listed winners La Famelia (Strategic) and Sixth Legion (Strategic).
Xcessive Force set for Country Championship
Danielle Seib-trained Xcessive Force (Brutal {NZ}) will be set for the Country Championships Qualifier on March 1 as part of a long term plan to run in the $1 million 2026 Country Championships Final on April 4. She will run on Saturday. “Xcessive Force has a fair bit of class on her side,” Seib told racenet.com.au.
Danielle Seib | Image courtesy of Inglis
“She's always shown plenty of ability but now she is starting to put the race-craft together. That was evident first-up at Goulburn there last Tuesday. She's come back in good order.”
Arabian Melody wins after long layoff
Muswellbrook trainer John Bannister has defied the odds to get Arabian Melody (Pride Of Dubai) back in the winner’s circle, two years, four months and 14 days after her last start, with the now 6-year-old mare winning at Newcastle on Monday.
She has undergone two sets of bone chip surgery and fought off a fungal infection in hoof in that time. Previously with Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Arabian Melody was placed at two. She was ridden to victory by Grace Palmer. “And young Grace, she rides her all her work and has been helping me quite a lot and is going quite well at the moment,” Bannister told racenet.com.au before Monday’s win.
Originally a $60,000 yearling, Arabian Melody was purchased by Matthew Jackson for $700 from an Inglis Digital Sale in 2023. She has since had a pedigree upgrade with her half-brother Worx (Capitalist) now stakes placed.
Winner number 12 for Graff
Group 1 winner and second-season sire Graff sired his 12th winner when Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained 3-year-old gelding Good’n’you won at Newcastle on Monday at his second start.
Sold by the Alma Vale and Kitchwin Hills partnership as a yearling via Inglis Digital for $700, he is raced by North Bloodstock and Cinco Star Racing. He is the first foal of city winner Don’t Doubt Lara (Not A Single Doubt) who has a 2-year-old colt by Zousain.
New winner for King’s Legacy
Second-season sire King’s Legacy added winner number 31 when Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained 3-year-old colt God Save The King won on debut at Newcastle by an impressive two and a half lengths.
He was sold by Bhima Thoroughbreds at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale to James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership for $775,000. King’s Legacy was also a Harron purchase. God Save The King is the last foal of stakes placed Serenade (Star Witness) who is a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Stratum Star (Stratum) and Group 3 winner and sire Prague.
CEO of gaming company arrested for domestic violence
Laurence Escalante, CEO and executive chairman of Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW), has been arrested on domestic violence charges in Perth. VGW owns gaming brands such as Chumba Casino, Global Poker, LuckyLand Slots and LuckyLand Casino.
“We are aware of the serious charges made against Mr Escalante. These are unrelated to VGW and personal in nature. However, we can confirm Mr Escalante will be taking a leave of absence from his role as CEO and executive chairman of VGW,” said a statement from the company.
The eight charges include aggravated home burglary, stealing, aggravated assault occasioning bodily harm, criminal damage, and persistently engaging in family violence, as well as three counts of possessing prohibited drugs with intent to sell or supply, including cocaine and MDMA.
Egan set for return mid-February
Jockey Billy Egan hasn't ridden on race day since January 15 after he sustained muscular injuries when kicked by a horse in the groin at the Flemington jump outs. “It got me right in the groin. I was pretty close to being gelded,” Egan told racenet.com.au.
Billy Egan | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“It (the kick) tore muscles in the hip and tore muscles in the groin. It's just muscles and tendons that have to heal up, thankfully. A couple more centimetres to the left, it would have been the end of me.
“In the last week, we've made good improvement with rehab. The hardest thing has been the range of motion, how far I can bend forward or back and just trying to stretch that out and get a bit of flexibility.
“It's been maybe three weeks now but we're trying to make it a six-week injury but it could be a bit longer. I'm aiming to ride on the 14th because that would be six weeks since it happened. I see the physio again on Tuesday night but it could be longer.”
Unbeaten Capitalist puts record on the line
On Tuesday at Grafton, Cathleen Rose-trained 4-year-old gelding Dividends Paid (Capitalist) will attempt to make it two from two. “I purchased him online as a yearling. I actually purchased him as a Breeze-Up horse but my partner and I ended up fighting over what's going for sale and what's not so he ended up staying in the stables,” Rose told racenet.com.au.
“I paid $13,250 for him. He'd be the dearest horse I've got, ever. We've just had to take our time. He had a testicle up high and I wanted to get rid of it before I raced him. He'll go over a bit more ground that's for sure.”
Press Link set for G1 Stradbroke
It’s a long way from Sha Tin to a Brisbane win, and then to the G1 Stradbroke, but that’s the path Press Link (Press Statement) will take after returning from Hong Kong to win at Eagle Farm on Saturday in his first start since 2024. “They tell me he suffered from some leg injuries,” trainer Rob Heathcote told racenet.com.au.
Rob Heathcote | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“He's come to me after having plenty of time off. We obviously look after him with tender loving care and it's worked. He went into that race on Saturday and Vlad (Duric) was effusive in his praise of the horse.
“The suggestion is that he's going to get better at 1400 metres and the mile. I'll give him another 1200 metres in a couple of weeks because he had a year off and I don't want to stretch him out and flatten him too quickly. He didn't win by a lot on Saturday but the way he hit the line suggests that there's plenty more to come.”
Alvarado to return to riding after Saturday’s incident
Jockey Junior Alvarado, regular rider for 2025 Horse of the Year Sovereignty, is expected to return to action on Thursday at Gulfstream Park after being shaken up late on Saturday's G3 Holy Bull Stakes program.
The 39-year-old was replaced on his three scheduled mounts on Sunday, taken off his final two mounts on Saturday, both in stakes, after being thrown to the turf by Multiverse (Practical Joke), who clipped heels on the first turn in an optional claiming allowance for 4-year-olds and up. Multiverse was not injured.
Agent Mike Sellitto said Sunday that Alvarado, who was transported to the hospital following the spill, received stitches on his knee but was otherwise unharmed. He was cleared to ride Sunday but took the afternoon off to further his recovery.
