Four in a row for Roulette King
Coming into the G2 Alister Clark Stakes, Trevor Rogers-trained 3-year-old gelding Roulette King (Casino Prince) had won three in succession. He stepped up into group class for the first time with a gutsy 0.2 length victory over Chris Waller-trained Savisanta (NZ) (Savabeel) with Kaye Jay (Crackerjack King {Ire}) in third.
Now the winner of four of his five starts, Roulette King becomes the 25th stakes winner for his retired sire. “This was his Grand Final. This was the race we set him for. We’ll get him home and see what happens, but he’s a horse for the future so we won’t go knocking him around,” said Rogers.
Sold by Bombora Downs for $50,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale to T Templeton, Roulette King now has earnings over $390,000. His dam, Balmodena (Good Journey {USA}) has produced five winners from as many to race. She is a winning half-sister to Listed winner Diamonds (Rich Enuff) and Group 1-placed Masthead (Written Tycoon).
WA’s darling proves her form in the east
In Saturday’s G3 Epona Stakes at Rosehill, last season’s G3 WA Oaks and G2 WA Derby victrix Machine Gun Gracie (Maschino) took her form to the east coast when winning for new trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes. Now the winner of five of her ten starts, with earnings over $700,000, Machine Gun Gracie outscored Polymnia (Dundeel {NZ}) by nearly two lengths with Placid Pearl (D’Argento) in third.
Machine Gun Gracie was sold by Scenic Lodge at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale for $45,000 to John Chalmers Bloodstock (FBAA) and Erkelens Racing. Her dam, city winner Gracie May (Written Tycoon) has produced two other winners.
Catch The Glory wins Birthday Card Stakes
Rosehill’s big day out concluded with the G3 Birthday Card Stakes won by Jason Coyle-trained Catch The Glory (Zousain) with Inkaruna (I Am Invincible) in second. The pair chased down the front running Spring Lee (Zoustar) who was game in holding on for third.
Catch The Glory was resuming after winning the non-black type The Warra in November, and this is her official first black type victory. She becomes the fourth stakes winner for her sire, Zousain.
With six wins from 15 starts and earnings over $650,000, Catch The Glory was purchased by Coyle at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale for $50,000 from Bhima Thoroughbreds.
Juvenile winner for Hanseatic
Second season sire Hanseatic added a new juvenile winner when Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained 2-year-old gelding The Speed Machine lived up to his name with a three length victory on debut at Morphettville.
Sold by Cornerstone Stud for $16,000 at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, he was offered at the Magic Millions Horses-In-Training Sale by Tennyson Park where Newlands Thoroughbreds paid $85,000 for him.
He’s the third foal and first winner for Everybody Dance (Roman Emperor {NZ}) who won three races in country Victoria.
Sydney Cup beckons for Mr Monaco
In Saturday’s G3 NE Manion Cup at Rosehill, Ciaron Maher-trainer Mr Monaco (GB) (Territories {Ire}) was trapped wide without cover for the trip but stuck on for a tough victory to take his record to five wins from 15 starts. He becomes the 21st stakes winner for his former shuttle sire.
“Onwards to the Sydney Cup and given how well he stayed today, he would probably line up straight off this run. But we will just see how he comes on from this run,” Maher said.
A 35,000 gns (AU$69,000) yearling, he was purchased by Astute Bloodstock and Ciaron Maher for 410,000 gns (AU$813,000) at the 2024 Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale. He has earnings over $380,000.
Queensland Derby target for Barrengarry
Trainer Joseph Ible will set 3-year-old gelding Barrengarry (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) for the G1 Queensland Derby after he won at Rosehill on Saturday. “To do that at just his fourth start. It's very exciting,” Ible said.
“You shouldn't made decisions on race day but maybe going straight to the 2000 metres for the Packer Plate might be the right thing to do. I can't wait to see what he can do when we get him up to 2000m and beyond. He's taking the steps and handling everything we ask of him. He keeps getting better and better. Long-term I'm thinking the Queensland Derby might be a good target for him.” He has won two of his four starts and was a $10,000 purchase by DJI Bloodstock from Valiant Stud’s Inglis Ready2Race Sale.
Radical Dude debuts with a win
At Cranbourne’s Friday night meeting, Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained 3-year-old gelding Radical Dude (Farnan) added a fresh winner for his second season sire when winning on debut. Anthony Freedman and Michael Wallace Bloodstock purchased him from Glenlogan Park’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft for $70,000.
He’s the second winner for Group 3-placed Apertif (Bernardini {USA}) who is a half-sister to Group 1-placed Listed winner Malt Time (Adelaide {Ire}).
New winner for Russian Camelot
Russian Camelot (Ire) added his 13th winner with Grinzinger Tundra who won at Alice Springs on Saturday. Trained by Kerry Petick, who purchased the 3-year-old gelding via Inglis Digital in January this year for $35,000, after he’d placed four times in nine starts. This was his first start for Petick.
He is one of three winners for Taqdees (Redoute’s Choice) who is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Wee Nessy (Snitzel).
Inflamed adds G3 South Island Thoroughbred Breeders on the back up
A winner over 1500 metres last Sunday in the Publican’s Cup, Inflamed (NZ) (Ghibellines) flew home to win the G3 South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes at Riccarton on Saturday. It was her second black type win, having won the Listed Stewards Stakes in November.
“I was a wee bit doubtful to start her, but Dad said we’re going as she’s a mare and we need that black type,” co-trainer Shane Anderton said. Bred and raced by Brian Anderton ONZM and the estate of his late wife Lorraine, Inflamed has won eight of her 35 starts and has earned almost NZ$326,000. She is closely related to Group 1 winner Smokin’ Romans (NZ) (Ghibellines).
Platinum Attack wins Listed Lightning Handicap
Consistent 5-year-old gelding Platinum Attack (Santos) added the Listed Lightning Handicap at Trentham for his second Listed win in his career six victories. He was coming off a third placed effort in the G3 King’s Plate, where he was hampered by Alabama Lass (Alabama Express) when she went through the rail and was uninjured.
“This is one of his favourite tracks but he sure hasn’t had things go his way lately,” trainer Lisa Latta said. “He has had wide draws, wet tracks and he just needs to get that bit of cover where he can switch off in the running. I just think he is better when ridden a touch patiently and when he gets into the open he can explode.”
Bred by Aquis Farm, G1G Racing & Breeding and Fly Horse, he was sold by Glastonbury Farms to his trainer for $37,000 at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale.
O’Brien to take on Ka Ying Rising
Trainer Donnacha O'Brien is plotting an audacious tilt at the lucrative Chairman's Sprint Prize at Sha Tin on April 26 with his globetrotter Comanche Brave (Wootton Bassett), who will have the unenviable task of bringing superstar sprinter Ka Ying Rising's winning sequence to an end.
Comanche Brave has been racking up the air miles over the winter. He hit the frame in the inaugural Abu Dhabi Gold Cup before running a fine third in the 1351 Turf Sprint at the Saudi Cup meeting. O'Brien has elected to bypass the Dubai World Cup fixture in favour of Hong Kong, and is optimistic of cashing another valuable cheque with the four-year-old colt.
“Comanche Brave will probably take on Ka Ying Rising in Hong Kong later next month but I would be hoping that it won't be a big field and we can pick up some good prizemoney,” O'Brien said. “He will like the track and the trip so, all being well, it will be something to look forward to.”
Caladagan set for Dubai over Hong Kong
The Aga Khan Studs' Calandagan (Gleneagles) has been cleared to travel to the UAE and contest the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan next week. Rated the Longines World's Best Racehorse of 2025, the gelding won the G1 Japan Cup, among other triumphs closer to home last term.
The familiar green and red silks will also be carried by Rayevka (Blue Point), who is already based in Dubai ahead of the G1 Al Quoz Sprint.
Calandagan | Image courtesy of Coolmore Stud
Nemone Routh, racing manager for the family, said, “We've been very happy with Calandagan. This race has always been his target as we weren't keen on sending him to Hong Kong. He had an entry, but we didn't think it was the right race as it would have been a difficult start to the year to go out there.
“If we didn't run in Dubai then we'd have been looking at races in the summer. He's in great form and we already have a filly out there with staff. We've been keeping in close contact with them. We've assessed the whole situation, worked the horse again this morning and he's in great form so we've taken the decision to send him and run him next weekend.”
EU transport rules under discussion
A meeting of the Members of European Parliament (MEP) Horse Group was held in Brussels on March 5 and arranged by the European Horse Network (EHN). The European Federation of Thoroughbred Breeders' Associations (EFTBA) was well-represented at the meeting by chairman Joe Hernon and Veterinary Advisory Committee chairman Des Leadon.
Carberry, co-chair of the MEP Horse Group, spoke next and touched on the EU Welfare in transport Proposals – stating that “one size could not fit all”, in this context. During a period for questions from the audience, Des Leadon used this opportunity to expand on the value to the rural environment and society as a whole, that is provided by stud farms.
He also used the opportunity to speak directly to President von der Leyen and to all present, to highlight the data provided by EFTBA (to the EU Commission, Council and MEPs) which shows conclusively, that there is no justification for prohibiting the transport of pregnant mares after 80% of gestation and no justification for prohibiting the transport of foals for foal heat matings.
Ocala offer second chance online auction
Horses that were either unsold or breezed and scratched from the recently concluded OBS March 2-Year-Olds In-Training Sale will be featured in a 'Second Chance' digital auction via the OBSOnline platform, the company announced Friday.
Entries will be available for viewing online beginning March 25 at noon. Horses offered will feature the same hip numbers they were initially assigned for the March Sale. They will be available for inspection at the location noted on their page. Medical information, including radiographs and video scopes, is available in the repository and can be accessed by buyers' veterinarians. Each horse will also have a walking video.
“It is definitely something new,” said Tod Wojciechowski, director of sales for the Ocala Breeders Sales Company. “The idea behind the Second Chance sale online is to provide an additional instance for consignors to sell their March horses as well as giving buyers another opportunity to reconsider horses they may have passed on or just overlooked.”
Share trading option for racehorses
It used to be that someone with limited financial resources had no chance of owning a quality race horse or even a fraction of one. That changed with the advent of MyRacehorse, which offers microshares in horses that can be bought for $100 or less. Now, there is a new player in the market, Morning Line. It, too, allows fans to buy into horses for only a few dollars. The difference is that a Morning Line customer is buying not just a horse, but a commodity that can be bought and sold.
Here's how it works: an owner decides to sell a percentage of his horse through the Morning Line platform. The value of the horse must be determined and the owner has to decide what percentage of the horse he or she wants to put up for grabs. Once that is done, shares in the horse are sold online. Universe (Global Campaign), who will start in Saturday's Louisiana Derby, is among the horses available. A share in Universe is currently trading at $36.10. Should he win the race, his price will obviously go up. If he runs “up the track,” his price will go down.
“I look at a horse like a company, and companies go up and down in their stock price based on a number of factors,” said Joel Funk, the CEO and co-founder of Morning Line. “With stocks, you've got your performance, obviously, and your earnings reports, and then you have a bunch of analysts on CNBC and Fox News talking about, 'Oh, I think the stock is going to perform X, Y, Z.' And then ultimately you have your public perception, which dictates what people are buying or what they're investing in. I believe that a horse can be looked at similarly. They share a similar economic structure, where they're both assets that generate value over time based on performance management and market perception.”
Morning Line operates as an SEC-compliant marketplace, where shares of horses trade as securities registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Morning Line issues 500 shares for each one percent of a horse offered on its platform. As an example, if Morning Line owns 10 percent of a horse, 5000 shares would be made available. Each share represents 1/50,000 of the value of a horse.
Anyone buying a share in a horse will also share in its earnings in the form of dividends. Should the horse go on to become a stallion, shareholders will be allowed to stay in and collect a portion of the millions in profits that are usually part of stud deals with top horses.
