Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Race-day Recap
James McDonald made history in style, powering Autumn Boy to a stunning G1 Rosehill Guineas triumph to claim a record-breaking 130th Group 1 win and eclipse Damien Oliver.
Getta Good Feeling (So You Think {NZ}) added another Group 3 race to her record with an impresssive win in the G3 Alexandra Stakes for trainer Danny O'Brien and jockey Billy Egan.
Beskar (Snitzel) povided a big upset in the Listed Darby Munro Stakes at Rosehill. The Anthnony and Sam Freedman-trained gelding was tough when it counted and scored in stylish fashion.
Point Barrow (Blue Point {Ire}) roared back to her brilliant best with an explosive victory in the G3 Don Casboult Classic.
History made: Record-breaking McDonald rides Autumn Boy to Rosehill Guineas glory
James McDonald etched his name into Australian racing history in emphatic fashion, steering Autumn Boy (The Autumn Sun) to victory in Saturday’s G1 Rosehill Guineas to claim his 130th Group 1 win - moving one clear of the legendary Damien Oliver.
Trained by Chris Waller, Autumn Boy settled midfield as McDonald executed a perfectly judged ride in a race shaped by tempo and tactics.
Observer (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) rolled forward to control proceedings but was pressured from the outset, ensuring the race was run at a genuine clip while McDonald remained patient, stalking his main danger every step of the way.
Travelling strongly, Autumn Boy was angled clear approaching the home turn by McDonald and, once balanced, quickly asserted his superiority. He surged past Observer, putting the race beyond doubt in a matter of strides to score by ever widening two lengths in a dominant display.
Observer was unable to relax in front and ultimately had little defence when the pressure was applied ultimately gripping onto third, while Green Spaces (Street Boss {USA}) ran on well into second.
Autumn Boy winning the G1 Rosehill Guineas | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The milestone victory took McDonald’s tally to 100 Group 1 wins domestically while also advancing to 130 worldwide.
“It’s lovely, but it’s a testament to the horses that I ride because they are phenomenal,” McDonald said. “To get to a mark like this, it’s obviously special… I’m just blessed with a great family and great support crew.”
“It’s lovely, but it’s a testament to the horses that I ride because they are phenomenal, To get to a mark like this, it’s obviously special…” - James McDonald
He was quick to keep the focus on the broader journey rather than the individual accolade. “I’m humbled by the support… I’m very proud of it.”
McDonald now sits in rarefied company, with only three legendary jockeys ahead of him in terms of total global Group 1 wins: Mike Smith (153), Christophe Soumillon (158) and Ryan Moore (218).
James McDonald with Autumn Boy after winning the G1 Rosehill Guineas | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Sales info: Waller Racing and Mulcaster Bloodstock bought Autumn Boy from Amarina Farm’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft for $200,000.
Pedigree info: Autumn Boy is one of two winners for Rosegarden (NZ) (Savabeel), an unraced daughter of multiple stakes winner O’Reilly Rose (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}). Close in the family is Shamexpress (NZ) and G1 Caulfield Cup winner Affinity (NZ) (Zamazaan {Fr}).
Point Barrow powers back into form at Caulfield
Talented filly Point Barrow (Blue Point {Ire}) returned to her brilliant best, producing a dominant and professional performance to claim the G3 Don Casboult Classic for 3-year-old fillies at Caulfield.
Prepared by the Freedman stable and ridden with confidence by Daniel Stackhouse, Point Barrow relished the drop back in grade and a return to her own age and sex.
From the outset, the race was run at a genuine tempo, with Bassett Babe (Wootton Bassett {GB}) punching forward from the inside draw and joined in the early stages by Torsheen (Toronado {Ire}). Stackhouse allowed Point Barrow to find her rhythm just off the speed, settling into a stalking position that proved ideal as the race unfolded.
Travelling strongly throughout, Point Barrow was angled into clear running on straightening. She let down powerfully to overhaul the leaders, surging past them before drawing clear to score by a length over Torsheen, with Bassett Babe a further 0.4 lengths away in third.
Stackhouse was full of praise for the filly post-race, particularly given the challenges she has presented behind the scenes.
“She’s not easy, big thanks to the stable, they’ve done a fantastic job to get her back here today,” he said.
“She began well, just left her alone, then she gets a bit aggressive through the mid-stages and doesn’t make it easy, but I just had to trust her.
“She (Point Barrow) began well, just left her alone, then she gets a bit aggressive through the mid-stages and doesn’t make it easy, but I just had to trust her.” - Daniel Stackhouse
“We got a nice run through, and she really picked up and dug deep when I needed her.”
The victory was especially satisfying for trainer Sam Freedman, who admitted there was a sense of relief after her last-start effort in the G1 Oakleigh Plate, where she pulled up with issues.
“A bit of relief. She’s a good filly and we probably didn’t see the best of her in an Oakleigh Plate,” Freedman said.
“She trialled Monday and looked terrific. We’ve got a terrific team of vets and a good farrier, and she needed a bit of work after that last run. When you’ve got good people around you, you can work through those issues and get them back into form.”
Freedman also praised Stackhouse’s understanding of the filly, highlighting the strong partnership between horse and rider.
“He knows her so well, and he’s got full confidence in her. She’s still learning her craft and can get a little keen, but they’re a match made in heaven.”
“He (Daniel Stackhouse) knows her (Point Barrow) so well, and he’s got full confidence in her. She’s still learning her craft and can get a little keen, but they’re a match made in heaven.” - Sam Freedman
Connections are now likely to target higher-level sprint features, including a potential tilt at the G1 Robert Sangster Stakes.
Sales info: Point Barrow was purchased for $400,000 by Anthony Freedman Racing from the Yarraman Park Stud draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: Point Barrow is the second foal from Take Pride (Reward For Effort), she was a three-time winner, which included the G3 Champagne Stakes at Moonee Valley. This is the extended family of the outstanding Mummify (Jeune {GB}), who was a five-time Group 1 winner, including in the G1 Caulfield Cup.
Getta Good Feeling surges to Alexandra Stakes win
The Danny O’Brien-trained Getta Good Feeling (So You Think {NZ}) continued her rise with an authoritative victory in the G3 Alexandra Stakes over 1600 metres at Caulfield on Saturday.
Backing up from her dominant performance in the $1 million Inglis Sprint down the Flemington straight, the filly again showcased her class, confirming she has returned this preparation in outstanding order.
Billy Egan settled just worse than midfield and slightly wide, positioned outside the G1 Victoria Oaks winner Strictly Business (Grunt {NZ}). Up front, Next Jen (Ole Kirk) set the tempo with Morgana (Russian Camelot {GB}) applying pressure, ensuring the field was chasing throughout.
As the race unfolded, Egan eased into the contest out wide, and once balanced, the filly quickly asserted her superiority. She cruised past her rivals at the 150 metre mark and went on to score comfortably by three-quarters of a length. Classic Gem (Maurice {Jpn}) made good ground from the rear to finish second, while Morgana held on for third.
Stable representative Jack Howard was impressed with the manner of the win.
“Just the way that she had to do it all on her own today. The two leaders quickened and she got left a bit with a vulnerable area between the first two and three and four in the run, and the way she just balanced and built through her gears to go past them was really pleasing.”
Getta Good Feeling winning the G3 Alexandra Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
On her development and the role of Egan:
“She’s just continuing to improve. She’s a So You Think filly and we know So You Think fillies continued to improve all the way through to their 4-year-old spring and autumn campaigns.
“She’s a horse we've had a lot of time for throughout her whole career. Billy rode her on debut as a 2-year-old at Geelong, where we treated as a pure jump out that day and she flashed home and ran a nice third.
“It's nice for Bill. He's done a lot of work on her, he's done a lot of work for our stable. His strike rate at the moment, for us, is outstanding, and I think that's five rides on her for three wins and two placings.
Connections of Getta Good Feeling after winning the G3 Alexandra Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Hopefully he can keep the association and we can push forward.”
when asked about future targets:
“The cliche is you don't make plans raceday, but Danny's publicly said the plan is to hopefully get her across to Adelaide for the Oaks. She doesn't have that Group 1 on her page at the moment and that's obviously the aim.
“She's a multiple Group 2 winner and hopefully we can get that there.”
Sales info: Bred by Phoenix Broodmare Farm, Getta Good Feeling was sold by them at the 2023 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale for $400,000 to Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA). She was offered through Milburn Creek’s 2024 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale draft where Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock purchased her for $525,000.
Getta Good Feeling after winning the G3 Alexandra Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Pedigree info: Getta Good Feeling is a half-sister to G3 CS Hayes Stakes winner and dual Group 1-placed Elliptical (Dundeel {NZ}).
Getta Good Feeling is one of four winners for winning mare Marquise Da Rossa (Testa Rossa). Marquise Da Rossa has a 2-year-old full sister to Getta Good Feeling named Diamond Bloom (So You Think {NZ}), yearling filly by Alabama Express and was served by Dundeel (NZ) last spring.
Beskar causes upset in Darby Munro
On paper, the Listed Darby Munro Stakes looked an even contest, with 14 3-year-olds lining up over the G1 Golden Slipper distance of 1200 metres, and that’s exactly how it played out, with the Anthony Freedman and Sam Freedman-trained Beskar (Snitzel) producing a major upset at odds of over $80.
The result capped a successful period for the Pinecliff Racing camp, coming shortly after their star filly Getta Good Feeling (So You Think {NZ}) claimed Group 3 honours at Caulfield.
There was strong early tempo, with Hidden Motive (Capitalist) pressing forward to lead, while Beskar was right there alongside. James McDonald had Beadman away quickly from a wide draw and attempted to cross, but the pressure up front forced him to remain posted just off the speed.
Race favourite Skyhook (Written Tycoon) enjoyed a soft run midfield along the rail and worked into the race nicely approaching the turn. Beadman loomed into contention but peaked on his run, and with chances appearing across the track, the race was there to be claimed.
In the end, Beskar proved the strongest, sticking on gamely to score by just under a length. Agarwood (Wootton Bassett {GB}) was outstanding in second, while the Richard Litt-trained Caffe Florian (Snitzel) charged through along the rail to grab third for Jason Collett. Skyhook was honest in fourth, finishing out wide a length from the winner.
Beskar winning the Listed Darby Munro Stakes | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Co-trainer Anthony Freedman admitted the result came as a surprise, although couldn't work out why he was that bigger price.
“To be fair, he had run third in a Group 2 in Melbourne, why he was $80 I dont know, but it still was a bit of a surprise.
“The horse has got good talent, but sort of done things wrong, makes a mess of a few races it all went for him today, we were going to ride him a lot quieter than that, but he jumped really well and Damian changed tack, he ran third in the Kindergarten last year so maybe this works better for him in Sydney.”
Sales info: Beskar was purchased from Widden Stud for $600,000 at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale by Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock on behalf of Pinecliff Racing
Pedigree info: Beskar is the third foal from the G2 Let’s Elope Stakes winner Sword Of Light (New Approach {Ire}), who is a half-sister to Listed Tatt's RC Members' Cup winner and eight-time winner Sword Of Justice (Medaglia d’Oro {USA}).
Their dam Joyeuse (King’s Best {USA}) is half-sister to four stakes winners, including 11-time winner and triple Group 1 victor Flamberge (Exceed And Excel).
Sword Of Light has a Zoustar yearling colt that sells as Lot 135 from the Widden Stud draft at the 2026 Australian Easter Yearling Sale, a Zoustar filly foal, and was served by Too Darn Hot (GB) last spring.
