Sixth Nathan Berry medal for James McDonald
James McDonald has won the 2026 Nathan Berry Medal, his sixth overall, with 15 points ahead of Tommy Berry on six, while Zac Purton and Jamie Melham were equal third with five points. McDonald first won the inaugural title in 2014 with Tommy Berry, then won in 2021, before adding 2023 (jointly with Joao Moreira), 2024, 2025, and now 2026.
In Flight takes off late to claim Sapphire Stakes
A well-judged ride and a perfectly timed run saw In Flight (Flying Artie) claim the final feature on the program, surging through along the inside to take out the G2 Sapphire Stakes at Randwick.
“The big doubt over her has been her ability to handle dry tracks,” Pride said.
“That was another box she had to tick, and she’s done that today. It’s the biggest win of her career so far.”
In Flight was purchased for $220,000 by Proven Thoroughbreds and Pride Racing from Goodwood Farm’s draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale. Trainer Joe Pride admitted there had been some pre-race queries, particularly around conditions and the distance.
In Flight winning the G2 Sapphire Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
By Flying Artie, In Flight is out of Listed B Thoughtful Stakes winner Waveline (USA) (Stravinsky {USA}), making her a half-sister to stakes-placed Waimea Bay (All Too Hard). Her dam is also a half-sister to Group 3 winner Eddie Haskell (USA).
WA Derby won by Sentimental Legend
Grant and Alana Williams-trained consistent 3-year-old gelding Sentimental Legend (Brutal {NZ}) won Saturday’s G2 WA Derby over 2400 metres. Winner of the Listed Melvista Stakes last start, his two length demolition took his record to four wins from six starts and earnings over $380,000.
A half-brother to Listed winner Sentimental Hero (Al Maher), he is out of Sentimental Star (More Than Ready {USA}), a winning half-sister to Star Encounter (Jeune {GB}). He is one of four stakes winners for Brutal (NZ), who is also the sire of Group 1 winner Nepotism.
G3 RN Irwin Stakes won by Super Smink
West Australian mare Super Smink (Super One) came east for the second time in her career, winning the G3 RN Irwin Stakes at Morphettville. She hadn’t raced since running fifth in the G3 Gold Rush in the spring. “She flew over Tuesday to Melbourne, then trucked over to Adelaide on Thursday. She came in really good order and we were happy with her,” said trainer Dan Morton’s assistant Shelby Colgate.
“Thanks so much to the Gowers for helping us out. We’ll push on to the Sangster and Goodwood.” The win was her seventh – all at stakes level – and took her earnings over $1.6 million. She was bought by Morton Racing for $45,000 from Forest View Farm’s Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale draft. She is the first foal of Sminky Shorts (Snitzel) who has a Playing God yearling filly.
G3 Auraria Stakes won by Mating Call
Brazen Beau added stakes winner number 32 when Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray-trained 3-year-old filly Mating Call won the G3 Auraria Stakes at Morphettville. “Awesome. She was in a bit of trouble, and to Emily (Finnegan)’s credit, she got there,” said Dan Clarken.
“She’s got serious ability. We’ll head towards the Oaks now and hopefully that’s where she’ll show up what she’s really got.” A winner on debut, she now has two wins from seven starts and earnings over $170,000. Second placed Freedom Flame (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) and third placed Naraghi (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}) will likely also head to the Oaks.
Mating Call is out of Monopole (High Chaparral {Ire}) who has produced three winners and placed in the Listed Tasmanian Oaks as well as winning three times.
Regeneration wins the Listed Redelva Stakes
Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained 3-year-old gelding Regeneration (King’s Legacy) won Saturday’s Listed Redelva Stakes at Morphettville to become his second season sire’s second stakes winner. “He’s a progressive 3-year-old and will head to the Tobin Bronze, and maybe the Goodwood,” said Sam Freedman.
Winner of three of his six starts, and over $165,000, Regeneration beat home Tycoon Star (Written Tycoon) and Signature Scent (Written Tycoon). “We trained him as more a sprinter this time around, we’ve kept him sharp. He’s a beautiful horse.”
Anthony Freedman and Byron Rogers bought him for $220,000 from Bhima Thoroughbreds’ draft at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. He is the second foal of Orchids (NZ) (Savabeel) who ran fourth at her only start, and is a full sister to Group 1 winner Atishu (NZ) and Group 3 winner Mazzolino (NZ).
Beskar doubles up in Listed South Pacific Classic
Last start Listed Darby Munro Stakes victor Beskar (Snitzel) proved it was no fluke when winning Saturday’s Listed South Pacific Classic at Randwick. The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained 3-year-old colt took his record to three wins from nine starts with earnings over $300,000. He beat home Mareth (Harry Angel {Ire}) and Regal Award (Ole Kirk).
“We had planned to take a trail but he jumped really well and (jockey Damian Lane) went with him,” Anthony Freedman said. “He has become genuine this horse. He has always shown us good ability and just lost his way, needed gelding. We have changed up a lot with him. We hardly work him and it's working for him.”
Sold by Widden Stud at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock paid $600,000 for him on behalf of Pinecliff Racing. He’s the second winner of Group 2 winner Sword Of Light (New Approach {Ire}) who is a half-sister to Listed winner Sword Of Justice (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}).
Single Choice heads to the SA Derby
After proving his stamina in winning Saturday’s Listed Galilee Series Final, Single Choice (Anders) will head to the G1 South Australian Derby. “I worked with (dam) Sebring Sally at Chris Waller’s and she was fourth in an Oaks so there’s a bit of stamina there for him,” trainer Matt Cumani said.
“At the breeze ups, he showed a good bit of speed, but he had a lovely languid walk and so I was open minded about what distance he would get. But I didn’t think he’d be a derby horse. He’s got a turn of foot, which is obviously vital. People often say it’s all about stamina but if you’ve got a turn of foot you can put in a devastating final finish that you need to put some of those slower horses to bed.”
Previously winner of the G2 Autumn Classic, Single Choice now has four wins from 10 starts with earnings over $400,000. He was bought by Cumani Racing for NZ$80,000 from Riversley Park’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale draft. They had pinhooked him from Kingstar Farm’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft for $80,000.
His dam, Sebring Sally (Sebring) is a Listed winning half-sister to Group 3 winner Roy’s Riveria (All Too Hard).
McWoody wins Listed Port Adelaide Guineas
Alabama Express added a new stakes winner when John Symons and Sheila Laxon-trained 3-year-old colt McWoody won the Listed Port Adelaide Guineas at Morphettville. In second was Bootlegger (Too Darn Hot {GB}) with Cannae (Maurice {Jpn}) third. “He’s a very nice horse on the way up. We haven’t got anywhere near the bottom of him yet,” said Symons.
“We’ll probably take him back to Melbourne, and maybe for one run, then come back for the Derby.” Winner of three of his six starts, McWoody has earnings over $120,000. He was sold by Yulong at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale for $27,500 to Rikki McDonald Consulting.
A half-brother to Listed winner Dunwoody (NZ) (Preferment {NZ}), he is out of winning mare Queen Ouija (Street Cry {Ire}).
Listed Anniversary Vase Handicap won by Al Duca
In a big day for the Anthony and Sam Freedman stable, 5-year-old gelding Al Duca (Al Maher) became the 41st stakes winner for his sire in winning the Listed Anniversary Vase Handicap at Caulfield. Winner of eight of his 19 starts and over $540,000, Al Duca is one of seven winners for Sienna Sunrise (NZ) (Bertolini {USA}).
Arran Bay victorious in Listed City of Adelaide Handicap
Phillip Stokes-trained 7-year-old gelding Arran Bay (All Too Hard) took his record to 11 wins with victory in Saturday’s Listed City Of Adelaide Handicap at Morphettville. It was his third Listed win. “He’s a ripper. Really happy for the Jacksons and Saundrys. He’s been around forever this horse, and he’s kept on progressing. He’s a tough competitor, hard to get past, and it’s very satisfying,” said Stokes.
“We’ll probably come back for the Bart Cummings.” A half-brother to Listed winner One For One (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}), Arran Bay is the last foal of Stolen Girlfriend (Canny Lad).
Zoustar juvenile wins at Gold Coast
On Friday night, Chris and Corey Munce-trained 2-year-old filly Olivoni (Zoustar) won over 1000 metres, coming back in trip from her debut second over 1100 metres. Munce Racing purchased her from Torryburn Stud for $200,000 at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
She is the third foal and second winner for Jedastar (I Am Invincible) who is a Group 3-placed full sister to Group 3-placed Rulership, who won the Inglis Millennium on debut before it was upgraded to a stakes race.
Fearless Win does it at Doomben
Juvenile filly Fearless Win (Astern) was fourth last start in the G3 BJ McLachlan Stakes just after Christmas, and took that form to Doomben where she won over 1110 metres for trainer Allan Chau.
Her trainer purchased her for $10,000 from Clarke and Croft Bloodstock’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft. She’s the third winner from as many to race for Red Tsarina (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) who is an unraced half-sister to Group 2 winner Luke’s Luck (Show A Heart).
Hanseatic juvenile wins in Perth
At Ascot on Saturday, Luke Fernie-trained 2-year-old filly Striking Alibi (Hanseatic) won on debut. Fernie Racing purchased her from The Chase’s Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale draft for $10,000. She earned over $43,000 in his debut effort.
Striking Alibi is the fifth winner from five to race for Strykum (Stryker) who won the Listed Queen Adelaide Stakes.
Too Darn Hot juvenile wins in New Zealand
Walkin In Memphis (Too Darn Hot {GB}), trained by Andrew Forsman, won the juvenile event at New Zealand’s feature meeting at Otaki-Maori on Saturday. Having run sixth on debut, he won at his second start by 1.7 lengths.
Offered by Blue Gum Farm twice, Walkin in Memphis first went through the Inglis Great Southern Sale where J Wardle and B Debono bought him for $80,000, and then he sold again through the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale were JCG Thoroughbreds paid $130,000 for him. The 2-year-old colt is the second winner for Tennessee Gold (Lonhro), a winning half-sister to Listed winner Pergram (General Nediym).
At the same meeting, expensive 3-year-old filly Avantaggia (Wootton Bassett {GB}) added her second career win from five starts. The first foal of Group 1 winner Avantage (Fastnet Rock) was a $2.1 million purchase by David Ellis from Coolmore Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft.
Crouch wins Listed Hawkes Bay Cup
Crouch (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}) came off a third in the G2 Awapuni Gold Cup to win Saturday’s Listed Hawkes Bay Cup. Trainer Mike Breslin will aim him at the Listed Sandown Cup next. “He is just coming of age if you look at his Wellington Cup run earlier and the Awapuni Cup run last time,” Breslin said.
“Today there was a bit more cut in the track and I said to Chris (Dell), who hadn’t ridden him before, that the horse would maintain a gallop and that’s what he did. I’ve pencilled in the Sandown Cup, which is a two-mile race in Aussie in late May, for him.
Crouch (NZ) winning the Listed Hawkes Bay Cup | Image courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images)
“He may be a touch below the top guns as there is also a two mile race at Flemington around the same time but you normally get all the imports in that as it is a qualifying event for the Melbourne Cup, so I think we will take him over for the Sandown Cup instead.” A NZ$20,000 yearling, he has earnings over NZ$400,000.
Listed Inglewood Stakes goes to Bona Sforza
Bona Sforza (Written By) hadn’t won since collecting the Listed Welcome Stakes on debut at this meeting last year, and the 3-year-old filly made it a second Listed victory in the Listed Inglewood Stakes. Trained by Samantha Finnegan, the 3-year-old filly has two wins from six starts.
Widden Stud sold her as a weanling for $65,000 at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale to Highline Thoroughbreds who on-sold her at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale to her trainer for NZ$150,000. She took her earnings to around NZ$140,000. She is one of three winners for stakes placed Thwayya (Snitzel). Her 5-year-old gelding Machine Head (Lean Mean Machine) won at Ipswich on Saturday.
Aquis Farm bred Platinum Attack wins Listed sprint
Saturday’s Listed City Of Napier Sprint was won by last start Listed winner Platinum Attack (Santos) for trainer Lisa Latta, who purchased him for $37,000 at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale. “The key to him is switching him off,” Latta said.
“The minute he gets up travelling a bit keen he can’t quite finish it off and today they ran along at good speed which definitely helps. When he does switch off he has a blistering turn of foot. He has been in work all season long and has been competitive all the way and hasn’t gone a bad race. We would love to try him at 1400m at some stage but we will let the dust settle from today before we make any decisions.”
Bred by Aquis Farm, G1G Racing & Breeding and Fly Horse, he was sold by Glastonbury Farms. He has earnings over NZ$440,000 with eight wins from 23 starts.
Brown clocks up 3000 with Grade 1
In the GI Maker's Mark Mile at Keeneland on Friday, Zulu Kingdom (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) went gate to wire to hand trainer Chad Brown the 3,000th win of his career. Chad Brown won the Maker's Mark Mile on two prior occasions with Raging Bull (Fr) (by Dark Angel {Ire}) in 2021 and Yulong-owned Carl Spackler (Ire) (by Lope de Vega {Ire}) in 2025. Named Outstanding Trainer five times, Brown had his first winner with Dual Jewels (Jules) at Churchill Downs November 23, 2007.
Facing older company for the first time in his career and after six scratches which included an also-eligible, Zulu Kingdom's primary adversary here was the heavily bet reigning Champion Turf Male Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). The defections would be of huge significance though since one could argue that Zulu Kingdom would be the lone speed.
At the bell, the 5-1 shot took the car keys and began to establish himself as the frontrunner. The Brown trainee continued to make every pole a winning one through the far turn. At several points in the race, Notable Speech's efforts to find some running room were thwarted as he attempted to navigate between rivals towards the end of the backstretch.
Zulu Kingdom entered the lane unopposed, while Notable Speech was behind a wall of horses with no place to go. Looking for the wire, Zulu Kingdom declared victory over One Stripe (Saf) (One World {Saf}) and Rhetorical (Not This Time). The favourite finished fourth.
First winner for son of Wootton Bassett
Haras de Castillon's first-season sire Texas (Fr), a son of Wootton Bassett (GB), was off the mark with his initial crop on Friday as Azamra took the first at Marseille-Borely.
Standing at a fee of €3800 (AU$6300), the Poule d'Essai des Poulains runner-up was represented in the five-furlong Prix de Carro by the Nicolas Perret-trained filly who began in the worst possible manner by ducking right out of the stalls and taking a fierce grip in rear without cover. Still able to surge by her peers and gain the advantage a furlong out, the 6-1 shot edged the contest by a neck from Sunny Queen (Kingman) under Antonio Orani.
The winner is out of the unraced Zahiya (Invincible Spirit) who is a half to the Listed scorer Dalkova (Galileo) and hails from the esteemed Aga Khan Studs family of Darshaan. It includes the likes of Sadler's Wells' Daliapour and fellow luminaries Rewilding (Tiger Hill) and Too Darn Hot (Dubawi).
Turf record for Into Mischief filly
When the ground settled in the G3 FanDuel Limestone Stakes at Keeneland on Friday it was 3-year-old filly Slay the Day (Into Mischief) who took home the win and set a new stakes record going 5 1/2 furlongs on the grass. The final time of 1:01.99 was a new stakes record for the Limestone–upgraded to Grade III status for the first time.
“The way she ran the first time on the grass, she obviously found her surface,” said trainer Brian Lynch. “Then you've got a rider like (jockey) Johnny (Velazquez), who can handle that sort of stuff under pressure. She left there running and got herself in a good spot. She touted herself all week, that she was doing well, and when we saddled her she never turned a hair.
“She took everything in her stride here. We're just so thrilled that she's doing what she's doing and she's found her surface. She's a beautifully bred filly and now she's a Grade III winner.”
Slay the Day is the 196th black-type winner and 99th winner at the graded level for Spendthrift standout Into Mischief. She is the first foal of Mind Out (Tapit), a US$1.2 million (AU$1.7 million) purchase by Dana Bernhard out of the 2021 Keeneland November Sale. Mind Out is a half-sister to dual Canadian champion Miss Mischief (Into Mischief).
Stringer joins Tattersalls
Sammy Stringer has joined Tattersalls as a new digital marketing executive. She began her new role on Wednesday, March 25.
Previously, she was a social media account manager at JSC Communications. A graduate of the British Horseracing Authority's Development Programme, Sammy was part of the marketing departments at British Champions Series and Great British Racing, before her time at JSC where she oversaw several social media accounts and campaigns, as well as leading the marketing and operations for the Henry Cecil Open Weekend.
Tattersalls marketing director Jason Singh said, “We are delighted to welcome Sammy to Tattersalls and to the marketing team. Sammy's creativity, technical expertise, and forward-thinking approach to digital marketing will play a key role in continuing to evolve our global digital footprint.”
Weir joins UK Tote Board
Andrew Weir MBE BBS JP has been appointed as a non-executive director of the UK Tote Group Board.
A full member of the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) since 1997, Weir is chairman of the Pacific Basin Economic Council and independent non-executive director on the Board of the Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited. He previously served as global chairman of asset management and regional senior partner in Hong Kong of KPMG. Also an elected steward and board member and trustee of the HKJC, he brings over 35 years of professional governance experience advising listed companies, public bodies, and investment funds.
John Williamson, chairman of the UK Tote Group, said, “We are pleased to welcome Andrew to the UK Tote Group Board. His extensive business expertise and deep understanding of the racing industry make him well placed to support our strategy and the execution of our exciting growth plans, both in the UK and internationally. We are delighted to have Andrew join the team.”
