Daily News Wrap

Capitalist juvenile wins Magic Millions SA 2YO Classic

Lindsay Park’s ability to place juveniles was at the fore on Saturday with Medicinal (Brazen Beau) winning the G3 Ottawa Stakes at Flemington, while at Murray Bridge, it was the 2-year-old gelding Rich On Bubbles (Capitalist) who demolished the Magic Millions SA 2YO Classic field by over four lengths.

Unplaced in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes in his only pre-Christmas start, Rich On Bubbles is two from two this autumn. Lindsay Park paid $200,000 for him at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from Kingstar Farm’s draft. He’s the second winner for Listed winner Champagne Boom (Spirit Of Boom) who previously produced stakes placed Stoli Bolli (Deep Field).

Aussie raider takes home G2 Auckland Cup

Bypassing Monday’s G2 Adelaide Cup in favour of Saturday’s G2 Auckland Cup over the same two mile trip worked out perfectly for Henry Dwyer-trained Paradise Storm (Fr) (Masked Marvel {GB}). The stayer was dominant with a 6.25 length victory over Manzor Blue (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) and Age Of Sail (GB) (Frankel {GB}). “It is just terrific. Winning a cup overseas somewhere just takes it to another level,” Dwyer said.

“There is so much more that goes into it and so much more that can go wrong. On a risk to reward scenario, it is just a massive thrill. The intention was always to go to the Adelaide Cup. I don’t even remember nominating the horse for this race and then Craig (Baker, Auckland Thoroughbred Racing) rang me up and I asked what it was worth and he said $600,00, so I said we better go there then.”

The G2 Auckland Cup has a prize pool of NZ$600,000 and the G2 Adelaide Cup is worth $350,000. Paradise Storm has now won six of his 21 starts and over $500,000. He becomes the first stakes winner for Masked Marvel (GB). He was purchased for €170,000 (AU$280,000) at the 2024 Arqana Summer Sale by Narvick International and De Burgh Equine, when he was the winner of three races in France.

Second stakes winner for Strasbourg

Adelaide Plains Bloodstock sire Strasbourg, a G2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes winning son of I Am Invincible, celebrated his second stakes winner when 4-year-old mare Moxie won Saturday’s G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Classic in New Zealand. Trainer and part-owner Ken Harrison was thrilled when his plan to freshen her up worked.

“It’s pretty unreal,” he said. “We just thought we would freshen her up and bring her back to 1400 metres, which might be her go, and it worked out. I am happy as.”

Winner of five of her 11 starts, and over NZ$450,000, Moxie was sold by Rosemont Stud at the Inglis Great Southern Sale for $6000 to Lyndhurst Farm, who on-sold her via the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for NZ$10,000 to her trainer. Moxie is the last live foal for Pearly Kate (NZ) (Pentire {GB}) who was retired as a broodmare in 2024. A winner herself, Pearly Kate produced three other winners and is a full sister to stakes placed Calm Courage (NZ) and a half-sister to stakes placed Southern Courage (NZ) (Bahhare {USA}).

Keys stable thrilled with G3 Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap victory

Scheelite (Real Steel {Jpn}) won Saturday’s G3 Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap over x metres for trainers Ken and Kasey Keys. “It's a huge thrill. It means an awful lot. We've only got a small team, but when you get one like this, who promises the world, it's just taken a while for it to happen,” Kasey Keys said.

“I’d love to get him up to Sydney, but we'll let the dust settle and see how we go from there.” The 5-year-old gelding won by 1.25 lengths from Group 1 winner Here To Shock (NZ) (Shocking) and On Display (Fastnet Rock). He took his record to four wins, having won his first two starts at two, then not greeting the judge again until April 2025. With earnings over $500,000, he becomes the tenth stakes winner for Real Steel (Jpn), who is best known for Forever Young (Jpn).

Collingrove Stud sold him for $80,000 to his trainers at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale. He is the second stakes winner for Magnus mare Miss St Tropez, whose 4-year-old gelding is Group 3 winner Althoff (Written Tycoon).

Gangsta Granny wins G3 Wenona Girl Quality

A Group 3 winner in the spring, Team Hawkes-trained Gangsta Granny (Written Tycoon) resumed with victory in Saturday’s G3 Wenona Girl Quality at Randwick. She took her record to five wins from 10 starts with earnings over $660,000. Earning black type in second was Cosmonova (Zoustar) with Asgarda (The Brothers War {USA}) in third.

Her unraced dam, Miss Hawaii (Manhattan Rain) is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Eremein (Timber Country {USA}), Group 3 winner Peace Force (Bernardini {USA}) and Listed winner Gliding (Flying Spur). Gangsta Granny was bought by A Koundouris for $240,000 from Lime Country Thoroughbreds’ Inglis Easter Yearling Sale draft.

Ahha Ahha provides much needed boost for owners

In winning Saturday’s G3 Matron Stakes, Ahha Ahha (Starspangledbanner) provided a big boost for her owners. “It's just great for all the owners. Ross and Andy, who's been really sick, I've got to send my best wishes to Andy over in Hong Kong. He had a heart attack and hadn't been in a good way,” said trainer Clinton McDonald.

“Bonnie and Wayne and Tony Blackshaw and Dom. So a great ownership group, great effort by the staff to get her to win a Group 3. As trainers, that's what we need to do with these mares, is try to win black-type races.”

In what was her first black type win, Ahha Ahha just beat home Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel) and Sea What I See (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Recording her fourth victory, Ahha Ahha took her earnings over $390,000 and she becomes Starspangledbanner’s 60th stakes winner.

Purchased by her trainer from Rosemont Stud’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale for $250,000, she is part-owned by Upper Bloodstock. One of six winners for Tragic Moment (USA) (Pivotal {GB}), Ahha Ahha is a half-sister to stakes placed Rocket Star (Star Witness).

Trapeze Artist keeps on marching

The current run on form for the progeny of Trapeze Artist continued with the G3 Aspiration Handicap victory of Chris Waller-trained 4-year-old mare Pinito. Previously a Listed winner at three, she also ran second in the G1 Queensland Oaks last season for owners Godolphin.

“She showed good form in a Queensland Oaks as a 3-year-old so if we can gradually get her up in distance that will be a good plus. The Epona would be perfect. Her first-up run was excellent. We even thought about running her in a Coolmore (Classic), but she had a long time off and she was second-up so we decided to take the easy steps,” said Waller.

Godolphin purchased her from Widden Stud’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale draft for $260,000. She took her earnings over $480,000 in beating home Starphistocated (Churchill {Ire}) and Polymnia (Dundeel {NZ}). Pinito’s dam Waltzing Wodka (Sebring) is a winning sister to Group 2 winners Catch A Fire and Seaburge, as well as a half-sister to Group 2 winner Zloties (Snitzel).

Waltzing Wodka has been to Trapeze Artist for all her six foals with the three to race all winners.

Sweynesday wins dramatic King’s Plate

Multiple Group 1-placed Alabama Lass (Alabama Express) was fortunate to escape major injury when she crashed through the running rail dislodging jockey Sam Collett who was also uninjured in the dramatic incident. Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained Sweynesday (NZ) (Sweynesse) had been challenging her for the lead and the incident left him out in front for rider Masa Hashizume.

Aussie raider, Henry Dwyer-trained Cote Atlantique (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) flew home for second with Platinum Attack (Santos) in third. Sweynesday was third in the G1 Auckland Railway Stakes behind Aussie sprinters Jigsaw (Manhattan Rain) and Arkansaw Kid (Harry Angel {Ire}) last start.

“It’s not the way you want to win a race as I was standing next to one of the owners of Alabama Lass, who I know very well, while I used to show jump many years ago with Ken and Bev (Kelso),” James said.

“I feel for them but we will take it (the win). He is a very good horse and wasn’t that well weighted today as he was giving weight to Alabama Lass, while he also started from the outside barrier. He is a very good horse and we do have a race called the Stradbroke in the back of our minds, which may now become a reality that he has a few more dollars in the bank.”

Sweynesday becomes the ninth stakes winner for his sire. He was sold by Pertab Racing for NZ$80,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale to E Koh and King Power. His dam, Keep Thinking (Faltaat {USA}) is a winning full sister to Listed winner Faaltless from the family of So You Think (NZ).

Group 3 winner Legacy Bound resumes with win

The G1 Goodwood Handicap is the main aim for 3-year-old gelding Legacy Bound (Ole Kirk) who resumed with a victory in the first at Flemington. A Group 3 winner at two, he was third in the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at his last start in the spring.

“He'll come here in 21 days, on the 28th, for the 3-year-old half-million-dollar race. And then he'll go to the Mackay Stakes, now the Hawkes in Adelaide. And then two weeks after that, he'll go to the Goodwood. So he's got a four-race program where we've kicked off one of them,” said trainer Robbie Griffiths.

Ole Kirk took his tally to 37 winners when 3-year-old Tipsy Miss won at Gunnedah.

Tenth winner for Fierce Impact

Fierce Impact (Jpn) added his tenth winner when Matthew Smith-trained 3-year-old gelding Eureka Rebel won at Hawkesbury on Saturday. He’s the second winner for Elusive City (USA) mare Magnanime (GB) who was a Listed winner in France.

New winner for St Mark’s Basilica

First season sire St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) added his third Southern Hemisphere winner when Pat Webster-trained 2-year-old gelding Apostle (NZ) took out the first at Eagle Farm on Saturday. He trialled twice in the spring for trainer Michael Freedman, before being sold via Inglis Digital. Saturday was his second start, having run third on debut.

Initially sold by Curraghmore at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling Sale for NZ$72,500 to Hallmark Stud and M Kirwan, Hallmark Stud offered him at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.

James Harron Bloodstock and Tony Fung Colts paid NZ$220,000, and recouped $75,000 via Inglis Digital in October 2025 when William Bain bought him. Apostle is a half-brother to Group 3-placed Bronte Beach (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}).

Spirit Of Boom juvenile wins in WA

Spirit Of Boom celebrated a juvenile winner in West Australia when Neville Parnham-trained 2-year-old filly Here The Boom won the opening event at Bunbury on Saturday. She was having her third start. Ridgeport Holdings sold her to her trainer at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale for $40,000.

The third winner for Iamhere (I Am Invincible) whose Playing God yearling colt was purchased by Neville Parnham for $80,000 at the recent Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale. This is the family of Group 1 winner Triscay (Marscay).

Double for Encryption at the Gold Coast

Encryption sired a double at the Gold Coast with Ciphertext and 3-year-old gelding Boss Mode, whose full sister will be offered by Eureka Stud at this week’s Magic Millions March Yearling Sale as Lot 231.

Campaldino wins Listed Randwick City Stakes

Last season’s G2 Brisbane Cup winner Campaldino (NZ) (Ghibellines) flew home to win Saturday’s Listed Randwick City Stakes from Athabascan (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}) and Juja Kibo (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}).

Winner of two races in New Zealand as a late 3-year-old, he was fantastic this time last year winning four in succession, finishing with the G2 Brisbane Cup victory. One of two winners for Zuzana (NZ) (Shocking), who is out of an unraced full sister to Listed winner Laebeel (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).

Bargain buy Bright Legend wins Listed Moonee Valley Night Cup

On Friday night at Pakenham, the Listed Moonee Valley Night Cup was won by bargain buy 5-year-old mare Bright Legend (Churchill {Ire}). Trained by Joanne Mugavin, Bright Legend becomes the 33rd stakes winner for former Coolmore Stud shuttle sire Churchill (Ire). In beating home Flamin’ Romans (NZ) (Ghibellines) and Steel Run (Real Steel {Jpn}), Bright Legend took her record to four wins from 23 starts with earnings over $210,000.

“This is the biggest win to our name yet, so very thrilled and I'm still shaking. I grew up in Warrnambool and started in the industry when I was about 15 with some great trainers down Warrnambool way,” said Mugavin.

“I moved around Australia a bit, working for other trainers as well, and ended up back in Warrnambool, and bought a place on course there. I started training with just one or two horses, and, yeah, the team's slowly growing, but we're definitely getting there, and the winners always help. We've got nine racehorses all up with 20 horses in work with a couple of pre-trainers and breakers. We do a lot of freshening up down at the beach for a few trainers.”

Bright Legend has been through the sales ring on four occasions, most recently when purchased by Mugavin via Inglis Digital in 2025 for $2500. Initially sold by Fairhill Farm for $22,000 to Hollymount Stud at the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale, she went through Kingstar Farm’s Inglis May Yearling Sale draft. Legend Racing paid $26,000 for her but offered her through Inglis Digital as an unraced 3-year-old filly in 2023 where Hillside Farm paid $8500 for her. Hillside Farm sold her to Mugavin via the same platform when she was a maiden winner at Taree from 14 starts.

Fast Network’s Dubai trip under query

Trainer Dennis Yip is uncertain about whether Fast Network (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}) will travel from Hong Kong to the G1 Al Quoz Sprint at the end of the month, given the war in the region is making travel difficult. He runs on Sunday at Sha Tin as part of his usual preparation. “I’m not sure – after this Sunday we’ll see. At this time, I can not say as it’s hard to tell,” Yip told scmp.com.

"He’s going well and he’s in very good form. He’s got top weight. We’ll see the draw, but I think he’s got a good chance.” He has placed behind Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) in his last three starts.

Irish Next Generation grant winners announced

The ITBA Next Generation has announced the introduction of the ITBA Next Generation Breeders' Grant, sponsored by Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) and the Irish EBF.

The grant will be awarded annually, and with immediate effect in 2026, to young breeders in recognition of the achievements of horses they have bred. In year one, it will be awarded to two young breeders – one in the Flat racing category and one in the National Hunt racing category.

The inaugural recipients of the ITBA Next Generation Breeders' Grant are Joann Lyons and Jack Fogarty, with each receiving a €5000 (AU$8300) Irish EBF Stallion Farms Voucher, redeemable against the next covering of one of the recipient's mares.

Lyons, who earlier this year also received the ITBA Next Generation Award at the Irish National Breeding and Racing Awards, bred last year's G2 Gimcrack Stakes winner Lifeplan (Kodi Bear). Fogarty, meanwhile, has bred a number of talented National Hunt performers.

Fixed Odds legislation introduced for Kentucky

Fixed-odds wagering has already made it to states like New Jersey and Colorado. It could also be a fixture in Kentucky thanks to a bill just introduced into the state legislature by Republican Representatives Matthew Koch and Michael Meredith.

HB 904 is a sweeping piece of legislation with several key components designed to essentially expand and modernize the gambling infrastructure in the state. The contextual background of this bill appears to be an attempt to seriously grapple with the impacts from Computer Assisted Wagering (CAW) on the betting pools.

“A track or association that holds a license to conduct horse racing, sports wagering, or a licensee offering fantasy sports contests under this chapter or its affiliate shall not participate in or contract with platforms that offer events contracts through a prediction market or have a beneficial interest in the proceeds of prediction markets,” the bill states.

Last year, fixed-odds wagering was also legalized in West Virginia. It followed New Jersey, where it debuted at Monmouth Park in 2022.

“I remember us having discussions [on fixed odds] in committee going back 10 years,” said Damon Thayer, a veteran lawmaker with 22 years serving the Kentucky State Senate. “As a fan, I like it. I know when I go to England and Ireland for racing, which I do annually, I prefer to go to the bookmakers so I can shop and get the best price.”

Prediction markets under discussion

So-called prediction markets have become all the rage across a wide swath of topics, from election results to gas prices to the amount of snowfall might occur in a given place. That topic was the subject of a panel entitled 'Prediction Markets and Wagering: An Emerging Threat To Horse Racing and Interstate Horseracing Act Revenue' during Thursday's session of the National HBPA Conference at Oaklawn Park.

Speakers agreed that prediction markets have the ability to dwarf even sports betting in America. The prediction-market platform Kalshi reportedly took in more than US$500 million (AU$711 million) in trading volume on the Super Bowl. Bloomberg has reported that Polymarket took in US$529 million (AU$751 million) on the timing of USA strikes in Iran. And Polymarket reportedly took in US$1.2 million (AU$1.7 million) overseas on the 2025 Kentucky Derby.

Prediction markets, which are not subjected to state gaming taxes and do not have the consumer protections built into state regulation, say that they offer something akin to futures contracts. They insist this does not constitute a wager and the danger to horse racing is real, experts agree.

“I think that the prediction market is a real threat to the horse-racing industry unless we handle it correctly,” said Dennis Drazin, the chairman and CEO of Darby Developments, which operates Monmouth Park.

According to panelists, there are better than 60 lawsuits pending and the consensus is that the issue will advance all the way to the USA Supreme Court, a final decision years down the road.

“I think we have a very strong case, because we have federal laws that control this,” said Drazin, joining the panel via Zoom. “It's not something that's trying to create state law. And I think as things go on, this has been a very important week.

“There were two very important decisions by the federal court saying that, basically, the prediction market does not preempt state law, and they dismissed those cases and sent them back to the state court. So I think certainly there's a lot to be said and a lot to be litigated.”

Dave Basler, the executive director of the Ohio HBPA, agrees with Drazin that litigation might be the ultimate answer, but Michele Fischer, a wagering consultant and vice president of SIS Content Services, believes that prediction markets could be beneficial to horse racing.

“We missed the mark with sports betting for the horse-racing industry,” she said. “It's a highly regulated form of gambling, and that's something that's still on the table for horse racing. I think that the conversation needs to be a little wider. We sit here and look at all the threats, which they all can be. But where are those opportunities for this new market we've been talking about for 20 years? Where are all the eyeballs that we wanted on horse racing? What are they watching?”