Updated Golden Slipper order
Following Saturday’s racing, the updated order for the Golden Slipper was released with seven horses already gaining automatic entry to the race. Music Time (All Too Hard) is currently the 16th in the order with eligible earnings of $180,000.
A final field will be declared on Tuesday morning before the barrier draw at Rosehill Gardens from 11am.
Birdman into second favourite for Cup
Chris Waller-trained import Birdman (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}) firmed into second favouritism for the G1 Australian Cup after winning the G2 Peter Young Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday. “He’s a different horse this prep. His three runs have shown that. He’s absolutely on song,” Waller’s Flemington stable manager Lizzie Collett said.
“These imports do take a while to adjust. This prep, he has turned into a magnificent horse, and each run has been outstanding. In the straight today, he didn’t ask him until he had to and he put them away very easily.” The last start G2 Blamey Stakes winner now has five wins from 19 starts and over $1 million.
At the same meeting Jigsaw (Manhattan Rain) made it five wins in succession in the VOBIS Gold Sprint. He won New Zealand’s G1 Railway Stakes at the start prior.
QTIS Jewel 3YO goes to consistent Fabulantes
On the Gold Coast, Rob Heathcote-trained 3-year-old gelding Fabulantes (Star Turn) made it three in succession when winning the QTIS Jewel 3YO to take his record to five wins and over $500,000 in earnings.
The full brother to Group 1 winner Startantes was previously stakes placed when third in the G3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic at his second start at two.
Vauban makes it a pair of G3 Sky High Stakes
Just as he did in 2025, expensive import Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) won the G3 Sky High Stakes again in 2026 to take his career tally to 10 wins from 30 starts and $2.2 million. “He's such a remarkable horse, he really is,” co-trainer Adrian Bott said.
“Australia has really got behind him and so has the ownership group. He's been a great ride for them, he's back here on the back of a Melbourne Cup campaign and he looks as good as ever. Really proud of the horse and hopefully set for a nice preparation. He gives you such tremendous satisfaction this horse.”
He heads to the G1 Tancred Stakes, a race he ran third in last year. “Arguably he's come back better this year and it looks to be a lovely race for him. He's obviously going to be better suited as he gets deeper into the preparation, over a little bit further as well.”
Brilliant fortnight for All Too Hard mare
Cristal Clear (Exceedance) won the G2 Ajax Stakes at Randwick and will be set for the G1 Doncaster Handicap. Cristal Clear becomes the second stakes winner for broodmare Cristal Eyes (All Too Hard) this season, following his year younger half-sister Sass Appeal (So You Think {NZ}) who won the G2 AV Kewney Stakes last weekend. Cristal Eyes is a Group 3-placed half-sister to Group 3 winner Flying Evelyn (Not A Single Doubt).
“The Doncaster was our aim this preparation, we thought we might have to go through the Doncaster Prelude. Full credit to Braith (Nock) and our team at home, they've presented him in really good order today. I thought Braith rode him perfectly first-up. We said 'just have him where he's happy and see where he's at' and he was excellent,” said co-trainer Rob Archibald.
It was the first stakes win for apprentice jockey Braith Nock, and the 4-year-old gelding becomes the sixth stakes winner for Exceedance. He took his record to six wins from 16 starts with earnings over $700,000. Group One Thoroughbreds and Annabel Neasham Racing purchased him for $50,000 from Noorilim Park Stud’s Inglis Ready2Race Sale.
New stakes winner for Maschino
Maschino is having a great season out west and he added a stakes winner number 11 on Saturday when Neville Parnham-trained 3-year-old filly Masmelo won the Listed Natasha Stakes. Second last start in the Listed WA One Thousand Guineas, Masmelo took her earnings over $135,000.
Parnham Racing purchased her for $3000 from Gervase Park Stud’s Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale draft. She is the second foal for winning mare Melteme (Blackfriars) who hasn’t had a foal since.
G2 Japan Trophy won by Omega Bay
Trainers Peter and Trent Didham legged their apprentice Sam McNab onto Omega Bay (NZ) (Time Test {GB}) for the G2 Japan Trophy at Tauranga and it paid off when he finished quickly to win. “We thought it was a good race for him as he has just kept on improving and he only finished three lengths off them in the Thorndon Mile where he was down in the worst part of the track,” Peter Didham told Loveracing.nz.
“I’m just really happy for Ian and Dave (Scott) who bred and own him as he is a horse going places and is doing a really good job for them. We do think he will run 2000 metres as he relaxes beautifully and while he is still learning he is just the coolest horse to have around as he is so professional, carries weight well and doesn’t know when to give in.”
It was the first stakes win among five career victories for the 5-year-old gelding, and he is the 12th stakes winner for his sire. He’s the only winner for Bit Of Crumpet (NZ) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}) who is a half-sister to Listed winner Sir Luminar (Choisir).
Stakes placed Dirty Work filly breaks through
Byron Cozamanis-trained 2-year-old filly Never Ordinary (Dirty Work) ran second in the Listed Cinderella Stakes on debut and made it an easy victory at her second start with a four length win at Morphettville on Saturday.
Purchased for $1250 via Inglis Digital in February 2025 by W McGuire from Blue Gum Farm, Never Ordinary is the third foal and third winner for Satin Sashes (More Than Ready {USA}). Satin Sashes is a winning half-sister to Listed winner Assail (Charge Forward).
Saxon Warrior adds juvenile winner
At Gosford on Saturday, Paul Perry-trained 2-year-old gelding Don’t Look Back (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) won on debut. He was sold via Inglis Digital in May 2025 for $6500. Don’t Look Back is the second foal for Sodalicious (Starspangledbanner) who is a half-sister to stakes placed Cliff House (Starcraft {NZ}).
At the same meeting second season sire Farnan added winner 43 with 3-year-old filly Olivia Twist.
Cosmic Force juvenile wins in Perth
Stefan Vahala-trained 2-year-old filly Jedi Dream (Cosmic Force) had a dream start to her career with a two length victory on debut at Ascot on Saturday. She was bought by Vahala Racing for clients SM and KB Bloodstock for $130,000 from Kirks Bridge Farm’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft.
Jedi Dream is the first winner for Reeh (Sebring) from the family of Group 1 winner Summer Passage (Snitzel).
Two juvenile winners for Capitalist
On Friday night at the Sunshine Coast, Stuart Kendrick-trained 2-year-old colt Sling (Capitalist) was a winner at his third start. Sold twice, both times for $80,000, Sling originally went through Newgate Farm’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft bought by Shane McGrath Bloodstock, then was onsold by Alma Vale Thoroughbreds at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale to Kendrick Racing.
He’s the second winner for imported mare Spring Tempest (Can) (Spring At Last {USA}). At the same meeting, Ole Kirk added a new winner with 3-year-old gelding Youre Not The King who won on debut.
Capitalist | Standing at Newgate Farm
On Saturday at Ipswich, Chris and Corey Munce-trained 2-year-old gelding Naughty Neil (Capitalist) opened his account at his second start. Purchased by N Boyle at the March 2025 Inglis Digital Sale for $13,000, Naughty Neil is out of My Brilliant Choix (Choisir) who is a winning half-sister to Group 2 winner French Emotion (Snitzel). Capitalist had a double at the meeting with Law Marshal.
New winner for Hanseatic
At Geelong on Saturday, Rosemont Stud-owned and Jason Warren-trained 3-year-old filly Wild Roses Grow (Hanseatic) became winner number 24 for her second season sire. She is the fifth winner for Malpara (Snitzel) who is a winning daughter of Group 1 placed city winner Empress Lily (Zabeel {NZ}).
Group 1 next for kiwi juvenile winner
Trainer Robbie Patterson will set Saturday’s winner Ronaldo (NZ) (Ribchester {Ire}) for the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes in a fortnight. “He is just a cool horse, he even buttoned off with the horse outside him racing him and put half a length on him. I see he had the cheek to prick his ears over the line. They are good signs,” Patterson told Loveracing.nz.
Ronaldo (NZ) winning at Wanganui | Image courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images)
“He will get a mile now I would say. He looks like a 3-year-old now, he is exciting. I don’t know if he has the turn of foot of a Coventina Bay (former stable Group 1 winner) but he has got a sustained gallop and that will win him a lot of races. He is only two, there is so much upside to him, he could be one of the better 3-year-olds next year.”
Now the winner of two from two, Ronaldo is bred and raced by Ron and Shirley Miller, and is out of seven-win mare Miss Daisy (NZ) (Any Suggestion).
Dubai Racing postpone meeting after missile activity
Iranian attacks continued on Friday in Dubai, with nearby activity forcing officials at Meydan Racecourse to put a temporary hold on racing during the final meeting of the Dubai Racing Carnival.
The day's opening event, a Group 3 contest on the turf for the Purebred Arabians, went off as scheduled at 5:30 p.m. local time and the horses were on their way through the tunnel that connects the pre-parade ring/saddling enclosure for the second race, which was scheduled to jump at 6:05 p.m. local time. As horses continued to filter into the parade ring, those in the lowest levels of seating could be seen moving to inside areas of the facility.
To follow was an announcement from track commentator Pat Comerford that read: “Ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen. There is an alert that has come through from the Ministry of Defense that due to a current situation and potential missile threats, immediately seek a safe place here in the closest secured building. Steer away from windows, doors and open areas and please wait for further instructions. Please make your way in an orderly fashion inside the grandstand until we wait for further information.”
Comerford returned to the mic approximately 22 minutes later, indicating that the all-clear signal had been given for racing to resume. The runners for the second race made their way back from the pre-parade ring and the rest of the program was completed in its entirety, albeit about 30 minutes behind schedule.
American-based trainer Librado Barocio has been in Dubai for several days to oversee the preparations of Lovesick Blues (Grazen), an intended starter in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen on Mar. 28. Barocio has been staying at the hotel adjacent to the racetrack and reported that he has seen and heard drones overhead.
“Today there was a big bang and a big cloud of black smoke,” he said via text. “The explosions were approximately two to three miles away.” He hastened to add that at no point has he felt unsafe since his arrival.
Earlier Friday morning, the Dubai Media Office confirmed that 'debris from a successful interception caused a minor incident on the facade of a building in Central Dubai' and that no injuries were reported. Video posted on social media showed black smoke emanating from near the Dubai International Financial Centre located about two miles north of the iconic Burj Khalifa. In the last several days, a drone also struck just outside a terminal at Dubai International Airport, closing the airspace for a time.
Despite the turmoil and uncertainty of the situation, American-based connections are moving ahead with plans to participate in various races on Dubai World Cup night. While the Dubai World Cup meeting goes ahead at this stage, other countries in the region have cancelled upcoming sporting events. Horse racing has been postponed in nearby Qatar and Bahrain, each country having been attacked since the onset of the war 13 days ago, and on Friday it was announced that Formula 1 Grand Prix races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia scheduled for April are set to be called off this weekend owing to the conflict.
Trio of lots for Arqana Digital
The catalogue for the Arqana Online March Sale has three lots. Leading the three-strong group is debut winner Nity Galeste (City Light) (lot 1), who took a 1900 metre race at Chantilly. Related to top-tier winners Potri Pe (Potrillazo) and Mukhalif (Caerleon), he is joined by hurdler Nippon Go (Beaumec De Houelle) (lot 3).
Rounding out the catalogue is Leen (lot 2). The daughter of Danehill Dancer will be sold with her Torquator Tasso foal by her side. She is from an Aga Khan family featuring top-flight scorers Valyra (Azamour), Val Royal, Valixir, Vadamos, Vazira (Sea The Stars), Vadawina (Unfuwain) and Vadeni.
