G3 Kembla Grange Classic won by Feminino
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Feminino (NZ) (Tivaci) won Friday’s G3 Kembla Grange Classic for 3-year-old fillies by 0.1 lengths from John O'Shea and Tom Charlton-trained Burn The Sky (Zoustar) with Michael Freedman-trained Profoundly (Farnan) picking up black type in third.
The Judi Wanless-owned filly took her record to two wins from three starts, and earnings over $180,000. Curran Bloodstock purchased her from Waikato Stud’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale draft for NZ$320,000. She is the second foal of Magazine (NZ) (Savabeel) who placed in the Listed Hill Smith Stakes and won three times.
New Racing Queensland Board announced
On Friday, the Crisafulli Government announced the appointment of six new members to the Racing Queensland Board. RQ’s new Chair is Matthew McGrath, who led the 2025 Queensland Racing Review. “I am thrilled with the make-up of the Racing Queensland Board, and I am confident they will deliver reforms that will signal a new era for the industry,” Minister for Sport and Racing and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tim Mander told racingqueensland.com.au.
“It was imperative we have a Board that continues to represent the three codes of racing, while adding directors that will champion both integrity and regional and country racing. Racing’s impact on the state is now close to $2.5 billion per year and is responsible for around 14,500 full-time jobs for Queenslanders, so it is vital its governance model is effective and efficient to benefit the State.”
The five other new members are Kym Daly, Michelle Morton, Gary Cunningham, the Honourable Jane Prentice and Sally Branson.
J-Mac aiming for Coolmore Classic hat trick
Jockey James McDonald has won the past two G1 Coolmore Classics on Zougotcha (Zoustar) and Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel). This year, he rides Lazzura (Snitzel) in his attempt at the hat trick. “Lazzura, she’s extremely honest, she’s a very good horse,” McDonald told racingnsw.com.au.
“She’s been stumped with a big enough weight in the race but she’s had the perfect preparation in terms of how we wanted to map it out. Her first-up run was great and she’ll improve on that and she’s had a mid-prep trial as well, it all sets up to give her the best opportunity to run extremely well.”
James McDonald | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Basil Nolan inducted into Queensland Racing Hall Of Fame
Basil Nolan will be inducted into the Queensland Racing Hall Of Fame, recognising his decades of service to horse racing in the state, headlined by his deep commitment to Raheen Stud as well as his service to the Thoroughbred Breeders Queensland Association and Thoroughbred Breeders Australia. “It’s unbelievable – I truly never expected to be in the Queensland Racing Hall of Fame,” Nolan told racingqueensland.com.au on Friday.
“It’s a great surprise and I’m appreciative of everybody who has made this happen. It’s not just an honour for me, it’s for the thoroughbred breeders in Queensland and the people that make it up, alongside my wife who is my backbone.”
Nolan began his career as a bookmaker, giving him a broad industry outlook. “Basil has made an enormous contribution to racing, not only here in Queensland but right around the country,” Racing Queensland Director Graham Quirk said.
“Even at the national level since 2014 Basil has led the Thoroughbred Breeders Association, and at a time in life when other people would be putting their feet up, Basil is soldiering on fighting the good fight and fighting it hard.
“Basil has a sense of determination, he gets right to the core of an issue, and he’s a fighter; those three ingredients make for good, strong leadership. It’s hard to imagine that anybody will serve as president for 25 years of a state jurisdiction. That’s what Basil has done and that’s why he’s a very deserving Hall of Fame inductee.”
Holt skirts floods to make to the Jewel
Trainer Georgie Holt drove 20 hours from Townsville to Brisbane with unbeaten juvenile Better Blitzem (Better Than Ready), taking a major detour to avoid flooded regions, ahead of Saturday’s QTIS Jewel 2YO race. “That took me a few extra hours and we were on some pretty wild roads. It was a bit hectic there for a little while and very anxious times,” Holt told racenet.com.au.
“It took me about 11 hours to get to Rockhampton, which normally takes about seven or eight. It's the first time I've ever driven a horse down here myself this far, normally we just chuck them on the transport trucks.
“I rang my husband (jockey Aidan) and I was like, ‘this is not a good time, I'm so nervous' so we had to slow right down. I've got this 2-year-old colt (Better Blitzem) on the float by himself and I had to bring my two kids as well. So we've had a bit of a trek but we made it here safely and the horse travelled brilliantly, he's an amazing little animal.
“Satisfied Mugs ran second to Sheza Alibi in Townsville (in June last year). And we keep saying ‘Oh well, at least we ran second to a Group 1 winner once'. But it's good for people to remember that it's not impossible, especially with these young horses, no one knows their potential until they get out there.”
Kendrick’s Wild Ruler filly a threat in Jewel
Trainer Stuart Kendrick believes his 2-year-old filly Another Champers (Wild Ruler) is a threat in Saturday’s QTIS 2YO Jewel. She won on debut at Rockhampton. “We thought it'd be an easier option to go up there and get the win,” Kendrick told racenet.com.au.
Another Champers as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“She's got a pretty high cruising speed and a really good turn of foot. Even though it was a small field up there she won well and I think she'll improve nicely off that. She's got to step up to this field, which is the better 2-year-olds running around, but in all her jumpouts she's been very impressive. Everything we've asked her to do has been very good so Saturday will give us a pretty good guide on where we are.”
Bidding open for Magic Millions Digital
The latest Magic Millions Digital sale is open for bidding with 41 lots on offer, led by the broodmare Riapinka (Bel Esprit), a half sister to recent Magic Millions 3YO Guineas winner Torque to Be Sure (Shamus Award). She is offered in foal to Mo’unga (NZ).
Arrowfield Training Centre present a trio of well-bred prospects that have been broken in or trialled. They include two unreserved fillies being Symbolise (Castelvecchio), a granddaughter of Miss Finland (Redoute’s Choice) and Wedding Vow (Dundeel {NZ}), a daughter of Group 3 winner I Am Serious (Choisir).
Bidding closes on Wednesday March 18.
New winner for Lucky Vega
Second season sire Lucky Vega (Ire) added a new winner when 3-year-old gelding Chowdown won at Pakenham’s Thursday night meeting for trainer Charlotte Littlefield. This was his first start this autumn having had two runs during the spring.
Hayfields Racing and Intel Bloodstock purchased him for $110,000 from Bigarra Park Stud’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale draft. Chowdown is the second winner for Group 2-placed winner Live In Sin (Noverre {USA}) who is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Live In Vain (Kenvain) and Listed winner Snort (Happy Giggle).
Ka Ying Rising leads World Thoroughbred Rankings
Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) stands firmly on top of the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, which were released on Thursday.
Given a mark of 128, the Hong Kong Horse of the Year is four pounds clear of his Hong Kong compatriot Romantic Warrior (Acclamation) at 124. Ka Ying Rising has rattled off a record 18-straight wins for a Hong Kong-trained horse, taking the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup over Helios Express (Toronado) (117) earlier this year before his G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup win. Former Hong Kong Horse of the Year Romantic Warrior has won both the G1 Stewards' Cup over Lucky Sweynesse (Sweynesse) (118) and the G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup this term.
Ka Ying Rising (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Third on rankings is dual G1 Saudi Cup hero Forever Young (Real Steel) on 123. When taking his second Saudi Cup in Riyadh, the Japanese Horse of the Year defeated the 121-rated Nysos (Nyquist). Fourth in the rankings is Royal Champion (Shamardal) (122). His main victory in 2026 has been a 4.75 length tally over Facteur Cheval (Ribchester) in the G1 Neom Turf Cup.
Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) is the highest ranked mare on the list at 117, putting her at equal 15th on the list.
Serena’s Song dies aged 34
Serena's Song, the 3-year-old filly champion in 1995 and the winner of 11 Grade I stakes races, passed away peacefully Wednesday at Denali Stud, where she spent her entire post-racetrack career. She died 25 days before her 34th birthday, but was officially considered 34 at the time of her death.
Inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2002, she won 18 of 38 starts and recorded 17 grades stakes wins. Her finest hour came when she defeated males to capture the 1995 GI Haskell Invitational Handicap.
“She had the elegance of a Grace Kelly, she had the moves of a Ginger Rogers, and she had the charisma of a Marilyn Monroe,” her trainer, Wayne Lukas, said at the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies for Serena's Song. “For you people that are a lot younger and don't have a clue as to what I'm talking about, she had the moves of Janet Jackson and the charisma of Britney Spears.”
A daughter of Rahy out of the Northfields mare Imaging, she was bought for US$150,000 at the 1993 Keeneland July Sale of Selected Yearlings. She began her career for Lukas and owners Bob and Beverly Lewis with a fifth-place finish in a May 28, 1994 maiden special weight race at Churchill Downs. In her fourth career start, she won her first stakes race, the GII Landaluce Stakes at Hollywood Park. She would prove to be one of the best 2-year-old fillies in training that year, winning the GI Oak Leaf Stakes and the GI Starlet Stakes. She also finished second in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, losing to stablemate Flanders.
But her 3-year-old year was the one in which she became a superstar. After his filly kicked off her season with three straight wins, Lukas got bold and ran her against the boys in the GII Jim Beam Stakes, a major prep for the Kentucky Derby. With Corey Nakatani aboard, she won by 3.5 lengths. Lukas originally said after the Jim Beam win that Serena's Song would be pointed for the GI Kentucky Oaks, but changed course and ran her in the Kentucky Derby. After setting blistering early fractions, she finished 16th.
It didn't take her long to rebound, and, with a new jockey in Gary Stevens aboard, she won two of her next three starts. She then headed to the Jersey Shore to take on the boys again in the Haskell. She was tiring in the stretch, but held on to win by three-quarters of a length. Serena's Song became the first filly ever to win the prestigious Grade I event.
“We came, we made history and we stamped her as one of the great ones,” Lukas said after the win. “I rank her right up there with any of the great fillies we've had.”
Serena's Song would go on to win two more major stakes that year, the GI Gazelle Handicap and the GI Beldame Stakes. But she could do no better than fifth in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff.
She slowed down a bit as a 4-year-old, winning five of 15 starts, but still managed to capture three more Grade I races that year, the GI Santa Monica Handicap, the GI Santa Maria Handicap and the GI Hempstead Handicap. In her final career start, she finished second in the GII Churchill Downs Distaff Handicap, which increased her career earnings to US$3,283,388.
“It's not what we can see that counts, it's ultimately what we can't see that makes them great,” Lukas also said during Serena's Song's Hall of Fame induction speech. “It's the inside, the heart, and she had plenty of that. She was tough.”
Bob Lewis was so fond of his Serena's Song that he told the Los Angeles Times in 1995 that it almost felt like the filly was part of his family.
“I tell people we've been fortunate to have two sons and a daughter, but I almost feel as though we have two daughters when you count Serena's Song,” he said. “We realize how fortunate we are to have her. She's the epitome of a racehorse. She just flows.”
Upon retirement, Serena's Song was sent to Denali. She was considered the first high-profile broodmare to land there. Serena's Song produced 12 foals, 11 that raced, and nine who have won. She was the dam of Sophisticat, a filly by Storm Cat, who won the GI Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2002. She also produced the Storm Cat colt Grand Reward, who won the GII Oaklawn Handicap in 2005.
“Serena had such a profound impact on many people's lives, especially the Lewis family, our family, and the staff who worked with her during her time at Denali,” said Conrad Bandoroff. “We are incredibly blessed and honoured that Bob and Beverly, and eventually their son Jeff chose to keep her with us and trust us with her care for three decades. She is and always will be the Queen of Denali Stud. I would like to think that Wayne had a stall ready for her up there, and that he, Bob, and Beverly welcomed her with open arms.”
Dubai World Cup winner Laurel River retired to Japan
Juddmonte Farms' Laurel River (Into Mischief–Calm Water, by Empire Maker), a spectacular and record-setting winner of the 2024 G1 Dubai World Cup, has been retired from racing and will begin covering mares at Big Red Farm on the island of Hokkaido in Japan from this season, according to a news item on the nursery's website. A stud fee will be announced in two weeks' time.
He retires with a record of 6-2-0 from 11 starts and earnings of $7,508,798.
Laurel River is one of 27 elite-level winners for Into Mischief and is bred on the exact same cross as Juddmonte's GI Kentucky Derby winner Mandaloun. His full-brother Castlewarden is also under the care of Seemar at Meydan and was third in the Listed Dubai Creek Mile last November.
Laurel River's first three dams are all daughters of GI Belmont Stakes winners. Granddam Soothing Touch (Touch Gold) was responsible for six winners, including Calm Water's four-time Grade I-winning full-sister Emollient; Hofburg (Tapit), a stakes winner and placed in the GI Florida Derby and Belmont Stakes; and stakes winner Courtier (Pioneerof the Nile), now a stallion in Brazil. Another of Soothing Touch's offspring, Cardamon (Pioneerof the Nile), produced 2025 GIII Mahony Stakes winner Spiced Up (Quality Road).
Secretariat saddle sells for $1.5 million
The custom-made saddle that was owned and used by Hall of Fame jockey Ron Turcotte when he rode Secretariat to victory in all three legs of the 1973 Triple Crown was sold by auction house Christies on Thursday for US$1.524 million (AU$2.17 million). This price makes it the most expensive piece of racing memorabilia to sell at auction.
Stallion anti-cap amendment added
A floor amendment has been added to HB 904–a sweeping piece of legislation seeking to legalize fixed-odds wagering in Kentucky–that is designed to essentially ensure no limit can be imposed on the number of mares bred to a stallion in the state.
It requires that the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation select and use an entity to act as “a registrar of Thoroughbreds” in the state, meaning it could choose an organization other than The Jockey Club, which is the current breed registry for the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico.
That “registrar of Thoroughbreds” is then unable to restrict “the number of mares that can be bred to a stallion or otherwise refuse to register any foal based upon the number of mares bred to the stallion.”
The language of this amendment is almost identical to that in a bill Osborne introduced in 2022. That bill was written in response to The Jockey Club's controversial mandate that any stallion born from 2020 onward would only be allowed to cover up to 140 mares. After that bill was introduced, The Jockey Club rescinded the cap.
