Daily News Wrap

Cambridge Stud enjoys G1 Otaki Maori Classic victory

Cambridge Stud principals Sir Brendan Lindsay and Lady Jo Lindsay-owned 6-year-old mare Jaarffi (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) celebrated her first black-type win with a tough win in the G1 Otaki Maori Classic at Ellerslie. She’d had 14 attempts at stakes level for multiple placings, but had yet to crack a win until managing one at the highest level on Saturday.

Jockey Warren Kennedy made the most of the wide gate to stay out of traffic and took the Lance Noble-trained mare down the centre of the track where she wound up late to dive at the leader Pier (NZ) (Proisir) on the line to win by a nose. Provence (NZ) (Savabeel) was third, less than a length from the lead pair.

“Obviously I am absolutely thrilled as she did deserve this,” Noble said.

“She is not an easy mare to train and to achieve this after all the work the staff have put in over the last few years, along with Warren, and for Sir Brendan and Lady Jo, it is just brilliant. The plan is to go onto the Bonecrusher Stakes in a fortnight and all being well we will.”

The homebred has won five of her 24 starts and over NZ$953,000. A half-sister to Listed-placed Crystal Fountain (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}), she is the final foal of Pride Of Tralee (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice), a half-sister to Group 1 winner Serenade Rose (Stravinsky {USA}). She becomes the 14th Group 1 winner, and 105th stakes winner, for Iffraaj (GB).

Lucky Vega’s That’s Gold wins G2 Avondale Guineas

Chris Wood-trained 3-year-old gelding That’s Gold (Lucky Vega {NZ}) will head to the G1 New Zealand Derby after winning Saturday’s G2 Avondale Guineas. He’d won at Group 3 level earlier in the spring, and took his record four wins from 15 starts and over NZ$415,000.

“I have got good clients. I put all my syndicates together myself and it took a while to piece this one together when I bought him, but we finally got it done and the results are shown today. He was very strong to the line,” said Wood.

“Yulong tried to buy him back at one stage, but I didn’t tell the owners too much about that. I wanted to keep him as I knew what we had under the bonnet.” Wood purchased him from Yulong’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale draft for $57,500. They have a yearling filly by Written Tycoon out of his dam, Longmu (Sebring), but Yulong sold Longmu via Inglis Digital in 2025 for $13,000 to Big G Thoroughbreds.

Two for Freedman with G2 Millie Fox Stakes winner

Trainer Michael Freedman had a stakes double at Rosehill on Saturday with Ninja (Farnan) winning the G2 Hobartville Stakes followed the next race by 4-year-old mare Cinsault (Brazen Beau) winning the G2 Millie Fox Stakes. Raced by Godolphin, Cinsault has won four of her five starts this campaign and a total of five from 14 in her career.

It was her first black type win and she becomes Brazen Beau’s 28th stakes winner. She is a daughter of Listed winner Fitou (Street Cry {Ire}) and becomes the 191st stakes winner for Street Cry (Ire) as a damsire.

Stakes double for Brazen Beau

Brazen Beau made it a second stakes winner for the day when Wayne Brown-trained Power Beau won the Listed City Of Marion Stakes at Morphettville. It was the first stakes win for the 5-year-old gelding who became his sire’s 29th stakes winner.

Winner of seven of his 23 starts, Power Beau has earnings over $200,000. He was originally a NZ$180,000 yearling, sold by Phoenix Park, and was on-sold via Inglis Digital in 2023 for $14,000 to Silver Dale Farm.

On the same card, Eventually (Helmet) won the G3 Lord Reims Stakes to take his record to seven wins and earnings over $390,000.

New stakes winner for Anders

Saturday’s G2 Autumn Classic was won by Matt Cumani-trained 3-year-old gelding Single Choice (Anders). With three wins from eight starts and earnings over $290,000, he becomes his sire’s second stakes winner. “Single Choice is a horse that's a little more hardy. He can handle more races, more often,” said Cumani.

“He's a horse that's going to go to derbies, hopefully. We might need him for all three derbies, so I want to space it out and I don't want to back him up. Two weeks between races for me is a short backup and he's just a big, heavy horse. I think racing sparingly will work for him.”

Originally sold by Kingstar Farm at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for $80,000 to Riversley Park, they on-sold him to Cumani at the New Zealand Bloodstock ReadyToRun Sale for NZ$80,000.

Anders also added a new winner at Mudgee when Bjorn Baker-trained 3=year-old filly Curie won at her fourth start.

So You Think adds G3 Mannerism Stakes victrix

Michael Mehegan-trained 4-year-old mare Bossy Benita (So You Think {NZ}) become her sire’s 68th stakes winner when she won Saturday’s G3 Mannerism Stakes at Caulfield. “I was bitterly disappointed not to win the Bellmaine,” said Mehegan.

“But today, if you go on that view, she's third-up, she was always going to be pretty hard to beat. She's very strong. I always thought she was up to this class. It’s pretty rewarding when a plan comes off.” Bossy Benita has won five of her 14 starts and over $380,000. MJM Racing purchased her for $85,000 from Springmount’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale draft.

G3 Uncle Remus Stakes winner heads to The Kiwi

The Kiwi contender 3-year-old filly Belle Cheval (NZ) (Savabeel) heads there as a last start winner after taking out Saturday’s G3 Uncle Remus Stakes at Ellerslie. It was her second Group 3 win in succession. “She worked well during the week and she is just going from strength to strength. She keeps on improving, which is fantastic to see, she is building the right way,” said Te Akau Racing’s assistant trainer Reece Trumper.

Winner of three of her five starts, she has earnings over NZ$300,000 and is a half-sister to Group 1 winner The Bostonian (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) and Group 3 winner Cheval D’Or (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}).

New stakes winner for Wootton Bassett

The loss of Wootton Bassett (GB) was underlined by the G3 Zeditave Stakes victory by 3-year-old colt Pallaton, who becomes his sire’s third Southern Hemisphere stakes winner with his oldest crop here being 3-year-olds. His other two stakes winners locally are West Of Swindon and Napoleonic who ran second in Saturday’s G2 Hobartville Stakes.

“So, we haven't seen the best of him, but he's had a few issues in the past. But Michael and the boys and his relations... I think they’ve put things together. Two weeks ago, in the Rubiton, (we were) disappointed. We were hoping he would fare much better and this was the test of that. So, Michael's the driver. But after today hopefully he goes into the Newmarket,” said owner/breeder Anthony Gow-Gates.

A winner on debut at two, Michael Freedman-trained Pallaton took his record to three wins from 10 starts with earnings over $395,000. He is one of six winners, and the first stakes winner, for Listed Talindert Stakes winner Anevay (Exceed And Excel).

Emotional win in G3 Avondale Cup

Only a day after Reliable Man (GB) died, his 7-year-old gelded son Final Return (NZ) won the G3 Avondale Cup at Ellerslie. Previously the winner of this spring’s G3 Counties Cup, Final Return took his record to four wins and eight placings from 28 starts with earnings over NZ$430,000.

“This was our aim as the stepping stone to the Auckland Cup in a fortnight. He went into this race last year and didn’t have a very good trip and this year he is a bit stronger and is doing everything right. Being by Reliable Man, who died yesterday, it was a bit sad, so we told him he was flying the flag for his Dad,” said trainer Janelle Millar.

Bennett Racing’s Listed Victoria Gold Cup

Bennett Racing and trainers Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin combined to win the Listed Victoria Gold Cup with 6-year-old gelding Magnaspin (Magnus) who took his record to eight victories, and this was his first win at black type level. He becomes the 34th stakes winner for his sire who died in 2023.

Magnaspin took his earnings over $1 million, and he was a $60,000 purchase by Bennett Racing from Maluka Thoroughbreds’ 2021 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale draft. He’s the first foal of Luxaspin (Hard Spun {USA}) who hasn’t had a foal since a 2-year-old full brother to Magnaspin.

Listed Parramatta Cup goes to Piggyback

The G1 Sydney Cup or G1 Tancred Stakes are options for Listed Parramatta Cup winner Piggyback (Trapeze Artist). “She does like Rosehill. It's a bit different, weight-for-age compared to a race like today where she had no weight, but it's definitely a race we have to consider. It's not always the strongest, but races like a Sydney Cup, two-miles is a bit different but they're races you need to consider,” said Ciaron Maher’s assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord.

The 5-year-old mare, previously a Group 3 winner in the spring, took her record to seven wins and over $610,000. She was purchased by Dynamic Syndications through Magic Millions Online in September 2022 for $27,000. Please note that this race is listed as a Group 3 on Racing Australia but this hasn’t been ratified by the Asian Pattern Committee.

Fear The Wind adds Listed Detonator Stakes

In Perth, the Pearce brothers won the Listed Detonator Stakes with Fear The Wind (Fiorente {Ire}) who hadn’t won since 2023. He took his record to eight wins and over $410,000, and becomes the 12th stakes winner for his G1 Melbourne Cup winning sire.

At the same meeting, second season sire Hanseatic added a new juvenile winner with 2-year-old colt Morning Thunder who won on debut for trainer Luke Fernie. He was a $200,000 purchased by Baycon from Flinders Park Stud’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale draft. The third winner from as many to race for Contrite Heart (Dane Shadow) who won three times including a Sydney 2-year-old race.

Second season sires win at Gold Coast

Three second season sires added new winners at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Chris Waller-trained multiple city placed 3-year-old filly Saveur (Ole Kirk) won her maiden to become the 33rd winner for Ole Kirk. Fasvara (Farnan) won at his second start for owners Kia Ora Stud, while Cool Moon (Cool Aza Beel {NZ}) won her maiden.

City double for Pierata

Pierata celebrated a city double at Doomben on Saturday with Carravilla taking her record to five wins for Chris and Corey Munce. Matthew Hoysted-trained Chief In Charge made it three wins in succession with his victory, and has four career wins.

Queensland Oaks Day joins state birthday celebrations

Queensland will celebrate 167 years on June 6 and Queensland Racing Minister Tim Mander announced on Saturday that Oaks Day at Eagle Farm on June 6 will form part of the celebrations, alongside NRL, AFL and Super Netball fixtures.

“Trackside will be awash with Queensland pride by way of Queensland-only produce across our diverse menus and a Queensland-themed cocktail,” Brisbane Racing Club boss Karl deKroo told racenet.com.au.

Aristopolos makes it five in Listed Gold Sovereign

John Blacker-trained juvenile colt Aristopolos (St Mark’s Basilica {Fr}) was again impressive with a two-length victory in the Friday night’s Listed Gold Sovereign Stakes. He’s now unbeaten in five starts, twice at Listed level, with earnings over $300,000. Second went to Stuart Gandy-trained filly Momentslikethese (Tiger Of Malay) with Shane Nichols and Hayden Black-trained filly Woosh (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in third.

“Every time he’s jumped out of the barriers or trialled up with older horses, he’s gotten better and better,” trainer John Blacker said.

“Our plan is now to tip him out for a break, and then we’d love to come back and win the Alfa Bowl with him. I don’t want him going to the paddock there for too long and getting too heavy as a colt; we want to keep him as a colt as long as we can.”

Victoria dominates Tasmanian Oaks

Victorian trainers filled the top four placings in Friday night’s Listed Tasmania Oaks with Phillip Stokes-trained Kazaru (NZ) (Embellish {NZ}) taking the victory from Henry Dwyer-trained Zuleika (North Pacific) with Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin-trained Missy Agravation (Kermadec {NZ}) in third.

OTI-owned Kazaru becomes the sixth stakes winner for her sire, and she was previously stakes placed at two. Winner of two of her seven starts with earnings over $150,000, Kazaru was bought by OTI and Phil Cataldo Bloodstock for NZ$27,500 from Cambria Park’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale. She is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Daqiansweet Junior (NZ) (Sweet Orange {USA}).

Simply Steffi impressive at Cranbourne

Juvenile filly Simply Steff (Graff) won at Cranbourne on Thursday night for trainer Clinton McDonald. The 1.25 length win was at her second start, having run in the Listed Merson Cooper Stakes on debut.

Sold by Holbrook Thoroughbreds at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale for $15,000 to Shane McGrath Bloodstock and Clinton McDonald Racing, Simply Steff is the first winner for Listed Talindert Stakes winner Casquets (Fastnet Rock).

New city winner for Farnan

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained 3-year-old gelding Farindira (Farnan) gave his rivals a lesson at Canterbury’s Friday night meeting with a 2.6 length victory on debut. He becomes his second season sire’s 38th winner, with four of those at stakes level.

Sold by Clarke and Croft Bloodstock at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale for $120,000 to Kia Ora Stud and his trainers, he went through Inglis Digital in June 2025 where Adrian Bott purchased him for $47,500. He’s the third foal of Group 2-placed Somethingvain (NZ) (Falkirk {NZ}).

At Cranbourne’s night meeting, Farnan’s 3-year-old gelding Blethyn took his record to two wins from eight starts with a win for trainer Matt Laurie.

One for the fans, Constitution Hill’s flat debut thrills

Former Champion Hurdle hero Constitution Hill (Blue Bresil) attracted a bumper crowd for his Flat debut at Friday evening's Southwell fixture and sent supporters home contented after witnessing the 9-year-old romp to an impressive 9.5 length tally in the 12-furlong SBK Road To Cheltenham Novice Stakes.

“He felt like a machine at home,” said Oisin Murphy. “There wasn't a lot of strength in depth in that race and if he was to continue on the Flat he'd have tougher assignments, but the feel was exactly the same. For a big horse that has been jumping, he has a lot of speed and he's a joy to ride. Everything went to plan and it's great he's got such a reception. I wanted to get in amongst them and give him an idea of what a Flat race was like because obviously his next assignment, if he runs on the Flat, it would probably be in a black-type race.”

Constitution Hill won his first 10 outings over jumps, with the 2023 Champion Hurdle one of eight victories at Grade 1 level, but hit the buffers with a trio of falls and one fifth-place finish last year. The win was a confidence booster for the horse and a relief for his fans.

Supreme Court decision to change uncertainty on tarriffs

Industry stakeholders within the European bloodstock business will have cause for relief after Donald Trump's controversial tariffs were struck down by the US Supreme Court on Friday.

A cloud of uncertainty had been hovering over the movement of horses to the US since Trump's tariffs were first mooted last year. However, with a 6-3 majority, the Supreme Court ruled that Trump exceeded his authority when he imposed tariffs via a law reserved for national emergencies. They also said that he needs congressional approval to impose taxes on imports.

It has been reported that over 1,600 horses have been permanently imported into America from Britain and Ireland alone over the past four years. Under Trump's tariffs, imports arriving from Britain were due to incur a 10 per cent tariff, while those coming from the EU were to be charged 15 per cent.

Not only does Friday's announcement have a major impact on sales companies such as Goffs, Arqana and Tattersalls, but the quashing of any tariffs is also good news to the private horses-in-training market, which has been so strong historically.

First group winner for Charlatan

Labwah gifted her sire Charlatan the first graded/group winner of his young stallion career when running off with the G3 UAE Oaks at Meydan on Friday. Thanks to her 7.5 length victory, the Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum-owned filly earned 50 points toward a start in the GI Kentucky Oaks in May.

“She's out of a middle-distance dam and a ten-furlong stallion so the distance was an advantage for her – we came here confident,” said trainer Salem bin Ghadayer after his third UAE Oaks win.

On whether the filly will pursue the Kentucky Oaks or face colts in the G2 UAE Derby, he said, “I will go back to His Highness Sheikh Hamdan (bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, owner) as she was his pick from the breeze-up sale. I will ask him what he wants to do, but she is ready for both options.”