Daily News Wrap

Mare in foal to Extreme Choice announced for Chairman's

Listed Debutant Stakes winner Kiki Express (Sepoy), in foal to Extreme Choice, has been announced for the Inglis Chairman’s Sale. “Kiki Express is a spectacular looking mare and her first two foals have been both A++ physicals,” Newgate Farm's Henry Field said in the Inglis press release.

“Her Anamoe filly, that sold for $800,000 earlier this year, was a beautiful filly and her Ozzmosis weanling filly is equally outstanding. She's a blue chip investment, being a young, fast mare, proven to produce stunning foals and carrying an October cover to Extreme Choice. Extreme Choice has the highest Group 1 winners to runners ratio of any stallion on the planet and his Group winners to runners strike rate is just under 10%, which is phenomenal.”

Winner of two of her 12 starts, Kiki Express was most recently sold through the 2024 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale where James Harron Bloodstock purchased her for $350,000. She is a daughter of Maloose (Redoute’s Choice) who won the Listed Schweppervescense Stakes (now the Centaurea Stakes).

Three late entries paid for Golden Slipper

On Monday, the connections of three horses, Pembrey (Prague), Closer To Free (Street Boss {USA}) and Music Time (All Too Hard), all paid the $150,000 late entry fee for the G1 Golden Slipper. The barrier draw will be held on Tuesday morning.

The rail will move slightly for Saturday’s meeting. “We are making the small move out 2 metres to get them on fresh, clean ground for Slipper Day. Our latest information is that we won't get too much more than 5 or 6mls of rain on both days,” Australian Turf Club's General Manager of Racecourses Michael Wood told racingandsports.com.au.

“That would be ideal so we can have a similar sort of track to last Saturday.” After members voted to keep Rosehill racecourse, it would be great to see a big crowd there on Saturday on a day which promises much exciting racing.

Autumn Glow ready for number 11 in George Ryder

Trainer Chris Waller expects unbeaten Group 1 winner Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) to be peaking for Saturday’s G1 George Ryder Stakes. “I’m excited about the George Ryder for her, she’s going to be at her peak for the first time this preparation,” Waller told racingnsw.com.au.

“So 1500 metres, three weeks between runs, is a perfect set up for her.” The decision on her next step will be made after the George Ryder with options including the G1 Doncaster Handicap, G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes or G1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes.

“The first two options would be our preferences it’s just a matter of whether we choose the Doncaster or Queen Elizabeth. It was a good test second-up to know she can run a mile as well as she did off a short run up.”

Purton facing logistical issues for Golden Slipper

Hong Kong’s champion jockey Zac Purton is struggling to get a flight to Sydney for Saturday’s G1 Golden Slipper where he’s booked to ride Pembrey (Prague). “It's not looking good. It's all because of the war and what's going on in the Middle East at the moment,” Purton told racenet.com.au.

“Because of that conflict a lot of the flights are being re-routed through Hong Kong now and as a result all the flights are full. It means I'm in the lap of the gods and praying for a hail mary.

“From what I've seen of (Pembrey) I think she's a great chance in the race. I'm really keen to get there to ride her but it's outside of my control. The only way it'll happen is if a spot opens up on a flight before jockeys' need to be declared. James (McDonald) is in the same position. He wants to get over here to ride on Sunday but you just can't get a ticket.”

Aeliana to step out of Glow’s shadow

Group 1 winning mare Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) has run second to her unbeaten stablemate Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) in both her runs this campaign, but gets a chance to avoid her in Saturday’s G1 Ranvet Stakes. “She’s come back stronger and her first two runs have been fantastic,” trainer Chris Waller told racingnsw.com.au.

“She’s got the best form going into the Ranvet. This time last year she ran second by a nostril on the same day in the Rosehill Guineas to Broadsiding and came out with an emphatic Derby win. She is where she needs to be.

“She’s holding her condition much better this prep, she’s showing signs of maturity and her coat looks great. She held her condition okay but her coat was terrible in the spring, she still ran well. She’s come back a different horse.”

Everything under control for Chayan

Jockey Craig Williams told trainers Annabel and Rob Archibald if he needed to come to Sydney to ride Chayan (I Am Invincible) in trackwork before Saturday’s G1 Golden Slipper. “I asked Annabel if she needed me to come up and ride the filly trackwork before the Slipper,” Williams told racingandsports.com.au.

“But Annabel said the filly is very straight forward, she's a delight to work with, and she wanted to keep the filly to her routine. If they need me I will be there but Annabel said everything was under control.

“A lot of people like to say they are very even but every year we will have a lot of good horses come out of the 2-year-old crop. We can be guilty of being critical of the 2-year-olds but they are our future and they are always stand up.”

O’Brien aiming to join elite club in Slipper

Closer To Free (Street Boss {USA}) gives trainer Danny O’Brien the chance to join an elite club if he can win Saturday’s G1 Golden Slipper. Only three living trainers, Chris Waller, David Hayes, and Lee Freedman, have won the Golden Slipper, Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate. Bart Cummings, Tommy Smith, Colin Hayes, Jack Denham and Maurice McCarten are the others to have achieved the feat. Winner of eight G1 Golden Slippers, Gai Waterhouse has all three of the four but no G1 Cox Plate yet.

“You don't get many opportunities in a Slipper, because you've got to have the right horse. We haven't had that many of them, so it'd be fantastic if we could tick that last box,” O’Brien told racingandsports.com.au. He won the G1 Melbourne Cup with Vow And Declare (Declaration Of War [USA}), the G1 Caulfield Cup with Master O’Reilly (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) and the G1 Cox Plate with Shamus Award.

“He travelled up well, he's settled well, he trialled well and he's a very straight-forward colt. Nothing seems to bother him. Everything he does, he just takes in his stride. He's got a great attitude. Jamie Melham jumped on him for the first time the other morning and she was very impressed with him. We just need, hopefully, a nice enough barrier and we'll see what the weather does, but there's not too many boxes left to tick with him. He's ready to go.”

William Reid to suit Jimmysstar

Ciaron Maher-trained Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto {NZ}) loves Caulfield and runs in Saturday’s G1 William Reid Stakes there while Moonee Valley is under renovation. “The William Reid is here at Caulfield, which is his favourite track,” stable assistant Jack Turnbull told racingandsports.com.au.

“He's had a faultless prep and his trials are obviously there to be seen. It would be nice to think he's come back better – he doesn't need to – but he tries, he's very competitive and he's clearly a very good horse.”

Trio of Derby options for Single Choice

Trainer Matt Cumani is weighing up several Derby options for Single Choice (Anders), being Queensland, Australian, or South Australia. “He’ll run in the Alister Clark on Saturday, and then we’ll work out a plan of attack from there,” Cumani’s racing manager Nik Plant told racing.com.

“There’s obviously Sydney, Adelaide and Queensland, but he needs to show us that he’s up to that level as well. We’re not 100 per cent sure if he can run out a strong 2400 metres. He’s by Anders, but on his dam’s side, he’s got good staying blood.” His dam, Sebring Sally (Sebring), won the Listed Stutt Stakes over 2100 metres and was fourth in the G1 Queensland Oaks.

Birdman on song for Australian Cup

The G2 Peter Young Stakes was won by Birdman (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}) who heads to the G1 Australian Cup next. “Yeah, he was good, he’s come back really sharp, so it was no surprise to see him let down like that,” trainer Chris Waller told racing.com.

“What he’s showing us, more than anything, is that he is actually quite a sharp horse; we don’t need to just continually talk about Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, we can talk about Australian Cups, because I think he is ready to peak over 2000 metres.”

New winner for Bivouac

At Monday’s only meeting at Port Macquarie, Kris Lees-trained 3-year-old filly On Any Tuesday (Bivouac) won a maiden to become the 37th winner for second season sire Bivouac. On Any Tuesday was sold by Yarraman Park Stud for $200,000 to Australian Bloodstock at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

On Any Tuesday is the second foal and second winner for winning mare Tuesday Special (Snitzel), a daughter of triple Group 1 winner Tuesday Joy (Carnegie {Ire}), a half-sister to Group 1 winner Sunday Joy (Sunday Silence {USA}) who is the dam of multiple Group 1 winner More Joyous (More Than Ready {USA}).

Anyone impressive at Nowra

The beautifully-bred Anyone (I Am Invincible) collected a maiden win at Nowra before the meeting was abandoned.

The Chris Waller-trained 4-year-old mare was successful in the 1400m maiden handicap in the hands of Jeff Penza.

Anyone is out of Unforgotten (Fastnet Rock), she was the winner of the G1 Australian Oaks on the track.

She herself was purchased for $2.75 million by Yulong from the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale

Anyone was purchased by Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) for $650,000 from the Yulong draft at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

Unforgotton has a Pierata filly on offer through the Yulong draft at the upcoming Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale as Lot 167.

Buckaroo likely out until spring

After finishing a disappointing fifth in Saturday’s G2 Peter Young Stakes, Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet Rock)’s autumn looks to be finished. “He’s OK but I don’t think he’ll run again this prep. It’s not definite yet, we’re doing another scope in the next few days and that will tell us a little bit more,” trainer Chris Waller told SEN’s Giddy Up.

“I’m not officially saying he’s not running for the rest of the prep, but you would need to get a tick of approval from us if you were going to invest on him in anything going forward, it’s as simple as that.

“When he gets a little bit tense, and that’s I think more the reason in the longer races where he just doesn’t quite finish his races off as well, he gets a bit anxious and struggles with his breathing. We just want to try and work out why that’s happening and if there’s something we can help with it.”

Newnham looking for bounce back in title race

Trainer Mark Newnham sits in equal third on the Hong Kong Trainer’s Premiership with 36 wins for the season, and hopes to close back in on his early season lead after a strong Wednesday night at Happy Valley.

Crimson Flash (Showtime) drops back in class after failing in the Listed Classic Mile last start. “He had the rating and we thought it was worth the throw at the stumps. He didn’t run out the mile, so he’s going back to his favourite track and distance. He’s drawn well, he trialled nicely last week, so he goes there in pretty good form,” Newnham told scmp.com.

Among his runners is the debutant 3-year-old gelding Diamond Sparkle (So You Think {NZ}). “He’s shown improvement in each trial. This will be his first start, I think he’ll probably need a couple of races before we see the best of him here in Hong Kong without previously trialling. He didn’t have a lot of education before he came so I think he’s going to need a race or two before we see some good form from him.”

Veight retired

Group 1 winner Veight (Grunt {NZ}) has been retired after a poor run on Saturday. “The vets went right over him on Saturday after that very disappointing run and gave him a clean bill of health. He had a 100 per cent clean bill of health heading into the race. He’s just decided he doesn’t want to run,” Tony McEvoy told racing.com.

“He won $2.1 million, he got us to the elite level in a really good race, the George Ryder. He won the Sires’ and ran second in the Caulfield Guineas and the Australian Guineas. He was a very good horse.”

Winner of five of his 19 starts, Veight won the G2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes at his second start, training on to win the G1 George Ryder Stakes in 2024 as a 3-year-old. Originally sold by Yulong at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale for $100,000 to Sledmere Stud and Cangon, he was pinhooked by Sledmere at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale where McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) purchased him for $220,000.

His dam is dual Group 3 winner Neena Rock (Fastnet Rock), whose half-sister Margaret’s Banter (Hvasstan) has a Grunt (NZ) filly for sale at this week’s Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale as Lot 348.

Calandagan still on for Dubai

Calandagan (Gleneagles) warmed up for a potential tilt at the $6-million Dubai Sheema Classic with a racecourse gallop at Saint-Cloud on Sunday, with trainer Francis-Henri Graffard confirming that, as things stand, his globetrotting stable star remains an intended runner in the Middle East despite the ongoing conflict in the region.

“He needed to work harder than at home. It did him good and I'm satisfied,” Graffard told Equidia following the exercise before racing at Saint-Cloud. “Potentially, he could return to this track to run in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.

“Before that, he could head to Dubai, although there are some uncertainties about the trip due to the current situation. For now, everything is in place for him to go. Princess Zahra Aga Khan is keen on the idea of travelling there.”

Last year, Calandagan filled the runner-up spot behind Japanese raider Danon Decile (Epiphaneia) in the Dubai Sheema Classic, before returning to Europe where he registered three consecutive Group 1 triumphs in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Champion Stakes. Last seen capping his outstanding season with a fourth top-level win in the Japan Cup, he was subsequently crowned Longines World's Best Racehorse for 2025.

The presence of Calandagan on World Cup night would be a welcome boost for officials in Dubai where racing has continued despite the threat of Iranian missile attacks. On Friday, racing was temporarily suspended at Meydan during the final meeting of the Dubai Racing Carnival.

The conflict has caused connections of several leading World Cup night contenders to abandon their plans to travel to the UAE. Danon Decile, for example, was recently ruled out of a defence of his Dubai Sheema Classic crown, in favour of targets closer to home.

“We haven't made a decision yet on whether he goes to Dubai or not,” Nemone Routh, racing manager for the Aga Khan Studs in France, added of Calandagan's prospects of making the trip.

“If he goes, he ships next Saturday. We will give ourselves the rest of the week to evaluate things and probably make a last-minute decision on Friday given what is happening in the Middle East. To be in a position to make a last-minute decision, you have to carry on and get him ready as if you are going to run, hence why he came to Saint-Cloud. It gives us the option to go and he seems in very good terms with himself. It might not have looked too impressive, but it was sticky ground and we were happy with him.”

Routh continued, “We have Rayevka still there [in Dubai] with our travelling head lad after running in the Super Saturday race and we are in contact daily. The staff there are quite low-key about it and don't feel particularly in danger or alarmed, but it's a very evolving situation and not one we have ever come across before.

“We're just trying to keep all options open as it would be the ideal race for him, but obviously we don't want to take any unnecessary risks. We will just monitor the situation and then make a decision on Friday on whether he ships Saturday.”