Daily News Wrap

Blue Diamond favourite Big Sky scratched

Co-trainer Mick Price believes scratching G1 Blue Diamond Stakes favourite Big Sky (Bivouac) was the correct decision. Big Sky passed the vet check on Thursday but Price noticed a change in his action on Friday morning. “In my mind, there's no doubt the decision is correct,” Price told racenet.com.au.

“I wouldn't subject any horse, in any race, anywhere, if I thought it could hurt them, especially 2-year-olds and such is the case with him. I wouldn't run a horse in a mile maiden based on what I saw this morning … information is clear, you got to act on it and we did act, 100 per cent the right thing to do has been done.

“We X-rayed him at 8.30am this morning and found there was enough going on immaturity wise to stop him and spell him. I'm getting a second opinion on whether we need any arthroscopic work … I have no doubt the decision is clean and clear and it's the correct thing to do. My owners would be quite disappointed, you could multiply that disappointment a lot if I was to be stupid and run him.”

Lindsay Park-trained Torture (NZ) (Sword Of State) was scratched on vet’s advice on Friday morning, while Phillip Stokes-trained Stretan Ruler (Wild Ruler) runs in Sydney’s G2 Silver Slipper instead. This promotes Almost An Angel (So You Think {NZ}) and Tough Romance (All Too Hard) into the field.

Strong Inglis Digital catalogue led by Anamoe breeding right

A breeding right in first season sire sensation Anamoe headlines the latest Inglis Digital catalogue, featuring over 500 lots and open for bidding now. The sale closes on Wednesday February 25. “This is one of the most appealing offerings that we have ever brought to market on Inglis Digital,” Inglis Digital Business Manager Nick Melmeth said.

“Anamoe is a young stallion that has the bloodstock market in Australia in raptures and given how few breeding rights were issued at the time of his retirement, this is a fantastic opportunity to secure access to a stallion that has all the attributes to be champion sire.”

Stakes winners North England (Farnan) and Blitzburg (Snitzel) would normally headline the sale, showing the strength on offer, while there is a 10% share in Aerodrome (Ole Kirk) and a 5% share in group winner Bosustow (Blue Point {Ire}).

Watch Me Rock ready for G1 Futurity

Trainer Mark Walker praised Group 1 winner Watch Me Rock (Awesome Rock)’s former trainers as the galloper has his first eastern start in Saturday’s G1 Futurity Stakes. “Watch Me Rock has just come over from Perth,” Walker told Loveracing.nz.

“He is a lovely horse and Grant and Alana (Williams) have him in wonderful condition, he only arrived on Monday. I think it is a bit of an open race, I know Treasurethe Moment is quite short but she is fresh-up, it is a horse race, and anything can happen.”

Vale Stephen Parr

Racing NSW sadly shared that jockey Stephen Parr died on Wednesday aged 68. “He enjoyed a successful career in the saddle, retiring from riding in 2012 but he remained involved riding trackwork until the 2016-17 season,” said the press release.

“Stephen was regarded as a gentleman by those who knew him and went out of his way to help others, he was a much loved husband, father, and grandfather and he died surrounded by his family.”

Nolen suspension reduced

Jockey Luke Nolen has successfully appealed his 24-meeting suspension with Victorian Racing Tribunal cutting his ban from 24 meetings to 20 on Friday. He returns to riding on March 6, and will be able to ride in the G1 All-Star Mile. On February 12, Nolen rode his mount Irreverent (I Am Invincible) into The Benchmark (Frosted {USA}) ridden by Lachlan Neindorf.

“We had a couple of words, but there was nothing in it – it wasn't anything abrupt or anything like that,” Neindorf told the inquiry. “I just sort of half recall Mr Nolen saying something like, ‘Bugger, probably cost me the race', but from memory it all went pretty quick, to be honest. I was sort of worried about my own horse and things going through my head.”

Nolen's lawyer Corey Cullen argued that the jockey deserved leniency based on a spotless record spanning 28 years, the significant financial hit from missing lucrative autumn carnival races, and his role aboard Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) in putting Australia on the world map.

Minister praises racing community

Victoria’s Racing Minister Anthony Carbines has praised the racing community’s efforts in the recent bushfires. “We just wanted to acknowledge that racing has got people’s backs in country Victoria in particular and where we can provide support and help, we will do that,” Carbines told racing.com at Friday’s fundraiser at the Seymour races.

“We are just really thankful too that Racing Victoria has stepped up … so we’ve been able to provide transport for those that need to move livestock and been able to provide accommodation as well. There will be other places across Victoria that will be threatened by fires, and we will still be able to stand up and provide that support.

“It’s (racing industry) a great family and even the fundraiser we’ve got here today at Seymour for the meeting, we’ve got all the codes represented and all our country clubs and the metros are up here.

“You can’t thank the CFA enough and they are working again today in this region with still fires pressing, but it’s a great opportunity for the community to come together and raise some funds with Racing For The Regions, and to thank them.

“I think of some of the great work what we’ve seen across the racing family when fires have been pressing is the offer from those who have floats and trucks have been able to move some of the livestock that were pressed through the bushfire up here and the family really came together.”

Pricey Seychelles wins maiden

At Pakenham on Thursday night, Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained 3-year-old filly Seychelles (NZ) (Proisir) won her maiden at her fourth start. The full sister to Group 1 winner Prowess (NZ) sold for NZ$1.6 million at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.

Double for Farnan

Kia Ora Stud second season sire Farnan sired a double on Friday night with a pair of 3-year-olds; Farindira kicked off the action by breaking his maiden at Canterbury when on debut for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. After originally being purchased as a weanling for $120,000 from Clarke & Croft Bloodstock, the gelding was more recently a $47,500 Inglis Digital purchase as a 2-year-old for Bott.

Later in the evening at Cranbourne, fellow 3-year-old Blethyn won his second race in eight starts for Matt Laurie. The gelding was a $120,000 yearling purchase for his trainer at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale from the draft of Bell River Thoroughbreds.

New winner for Doubtland

Second season sire Doubtland added winner number 17 at Pakenham’s Thursday night meeting with the victory of Julius Sandhu-trained 3-year-old gelding Mr Independent. He was having his fourth start, and had been a $40,000 purchase by Three Star Racing from Collingrove Stud’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale draft.

Debutant winner for Ole Kirk

Last season’s Champion First Season Sire Ole Kirk added a debutant winner on Friday at Seymour with Robbie Griffiths-trained 3-year-old gelding Lunar Force. Ole Kirk now has 32 winners, five stakes winners, while Lunar Force is the first foal of G3 WA Oaks winner Lunar Impact (Real Impact {Jpn}).

Lunar Force was sold by Newhaven Park Stud at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for $90,000 to Griffiths de Kock Racing and Peter Ford Thoroughbreds (FBAA). His half-brother by Dundeel (NZ) heads to the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale as Lot 179.

Russian Camelot gets new winner

Second season sire Russian Camelot (GB) added winner number 12 when Cindy Alderson-trained 3-year-old filly I Belong won at her third start at Seymour on Friday. She bolted home by an impressive six lengths.

Her dam, winning mare Love To Live (Excites) is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Waking Moment (Authorized {Ire}).

Bivacco wins at Canberra

Ciaron Maher-trained 3-year-old gelding Bivacco (Bivouac) won at Canberra by 3.5 lengths to become his second season sire’s 34th winner. Bivouac has four stakes winners.

Sold by Newgate Farm to Triple Crown Syndications for $150,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Bivacco is the first foal of Taylor’s Dream (Rubick), a half-sister to G2 Silver Shadow Stakes winner Swift Witness (Star Witness).

Zoustar had a double at Canberra with Zoufield and Aristocrat.

Sun Sister wins at two at Ipswich

Gary Doughty-trained 2-year-old filly Sun Sister (Sun City) won at Ipswich on Friday at her second start to give her third season sire a new juvenile winner. She is the second winner for Call Me (Sequalo) who is a half-sister to Listed winner Flamboyer (Clang).

Reliable Man dies aged 18

Former European stallion Reliable Man (GB) has died in New Zealand, GaloppOnline reported on Thursday. The G1 Prix du Jockey Club-winning son of Dalakhani was 18.

Gestut Rottgen's Frank Dorff told the publication, “This morning we received the sad news from New Zealand about the death of the stallion Reliable Man. He had to be operated on, unfortunately he had to be euthanized as a result of complications after the operation.”

Bred by N. P. Bloodstock, the grey would win his first three starts in succession as a three-year-old, culminating in the 2011 edition of the Prix du Jockey Club. Third in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris, Reliable Man bounced back with a win in the G2 Prix Niel that September. Third in the G1 Prix Ganay first up at four, he wound up second in the G3 La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte several starts later. Traveled to Canada and eventually Australia, his final victory was also his career finale, as he ran out a 2.5 length winner of the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick in the April of 2013.

At stud, the son of On Fair Stage (Sadler's Wells) would spend several seasons at Gestut Rottgen in Germany and transfer to Haras du Thenney and Haras d'Annebault in France. He returned to Rottgen for the 2021 Northern Hemisphere breeding season and remained permanently in residence at Westbury Stud in New Zealand after the 2022 Northern Hemisphere breeding season where he shuttled beginning in 2013. His 29 stakes winners include 20 group scorers, among them G1 VRC Oaks heroine Miami Bound, G1 Railway Stakes victress Inspirational Girl, G1 Preis der Diana winner Erle, and G1 New Zealand Oaks scorer Miss Sentimental.

He was represented by a winner at Canberra on Friday with Miss Stalwart (NZ) who took her record to seven wins from 41 starts for trainer Nick Olive.

La Dorada selected for The Kiwi

Te Akau Racing’s La Dorada (NZ) (Super Seth) will run in The Kiwi in a fortnight, after being selected as ‘the people’s horse’. “We took her to Melbourne in the spring and for whatever reason she didn’t really come up,” co-trainer Mark Walker told Loveracing.nz.

“She had three weeks on the grass at Te Akau and it seemed to be the recipe to get her going well again. They were pretty tough races in the spring in Australia, but it was good to see her bounce back in New Zealand.”

Dirty Work filly to debut on Saturday

Trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray have a big opinion of Dirty Work 2-year-old filly Summer Schemer who makes her debut at Ellerslie on Saturday, with a long term Group 1 goal. “We nominated her for the Sires’ Produce before she even trialled, so we have got a healthy opinion of her,” Ritchie told Loveracing.nz.

“But you have got to measure up to these better ones. I feel the 1100m may just fall a little short, but if she can get a soft run on the fence and she is attacking the line then that will justify her spot, and we will certainly look for another run to head into that Group 1 race.”

NZTBA announces Sunline winner

On Friday, the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association announced that Niamh Waters is the 2026 recipient of the Sunline Trust International Management Scholarship. “As a proud Kiwi, it’s incredibly special to represent our industry on an international stage,” Waters told Loveracing.nz.

“It feels like a real vote of confidence, and I’m determined to make the most of the opportunity. I’m especially looking forward to my time at Coolmore Stud. To be immersed in an environment with that level of influence and excellence is incredibly exciting. I’m also really looking forward to Hong Kong, the racing environment there is so competitive and unique, and I’m excited to experience the high-performance culture that makes it one of the strongest jurisdictions in the world.”

Jubilant Winner becomes Richards' 100th Hong Kong winner

Jubilant Winner (Capitalist) was an impressive winner for trainer Jamie Richards by just over a length in the Class 3 Yue Yee Handicap over 1200 metres, defeating Happy Index (I Am Invincible) and Thunder Kit (Rich Enuf) in an all Australian-bred trifecta.

It wasn’t just an ordinary winner, it was trainer Jamie Richards 100th winner in Hong Kong, and it hasnt taken long after training his first Hong Kong winner in October 2022, when Handsome Rebel (Denman) won at Happy Valley.

Jubilant Winner was purchased by Sam Beatson’s Riversley park for $150,000 from the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. Before he was re-sold and Jamie Richards purchased him alongside Andrew Williams Bloodstock for NZ$160,000 from the 2022 Inglis Sydney Ready to Race.

Aussie-breds deliver on the ‘Year Of The Horse’ raceday

It was a good day for the Australian-breds as they won six of the 11 races on the day, aside from Jubilant Winner being successful. Other winners included Papaya Brose (Zousain), Flying Boom (Sazon Warrior {Jpn}), Baby Sakura (Tagaloa) who sold for $70,000 to R Chan out of the Supreme Thoroughbreds draft at the 2024 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

Gentlemen Legacy (Showtime) was joined by the impressive winner Hot Delight (Too Darn Hot {GB}) who John Foote purchased for $250,000 from the Attunga Stud draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

260 horses set for Fasig-Tipton Digital

Fasig-Tipton has catalogued 260 offerings for its February Digital Sale and with bidding now open through Tuesday, February 24, over half of the catalogue includes broodmares or broodmare prospects, the online auction said in a press release on Thursday.

There is Paynterbynumbers (Paynter) (hip 3), the dam of stakes winner Counting Stars (Honor A.P.). Mill Ridge Sales is the agent for this broodmare and Miss Tapirado (Tapit) (hip 37), who was a US$1.3 million (AU$1.8 million) 2-year-old in-training purchase. She is a full-sister to Bourbon War as well as a pair of stakes performers in Australia.

“The February Digital Sale catalogue features 260 horses, led by especially strong contingents of racing and breeding stock,” said Leif Aaron, Fasig-Tipton Director of Digital Sales. “Offerings include stakes winners and producers, more than 70 horses of racing age, over 140 broodmares and broodmare prospects–including mares with foals at foot–and 34 'short' yearlings. We started the year off with a bang in January and we're looking forward to helping our customers achieve continued success in February.”