Daily News Wrap

Asterix emphasises Waller’s big day

Trainer Chris Waller had four winners at Randwick with the two Group 1 winners and 7-year-old gelding Asterix (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) who surprised in the G3 JRA Plate over 2000 metres, as well as Captain Furai (Toronado {Ire}) in the last. “I didn't know what to expect 2000m first-up,” Waller said of Asterix.

“We gave him a few trials and that but I don't expect too much with horses like that. It was great to see, he has got some NZ Derby form back.” Asterix won the G1 New Zealand Derby at his fourth start in 2022. Since then he’s added the 2024 G2 Avondale Cup before arriving in Australia in early 2025. A winner in the spring, this was his second win for the Waller stable. He has six wins in total with earnings over $1 million.

Curraghmore sold him at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale for NZ$450,000 to Bruce Perry Bloodstock. He is out of imported stakes placed mare Mourasana (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}) who had a colt by Chaldean (GB) in 2025.

First stakes winner for Hanseatic

Hanseatic had an exciting juvenile at Mornington with The Speed Machine, and followed up his good day when he added his first stakes winner in the Listed HC Nitschke Stakes with Lindsay Park trained Rohesia. The 3-year-old filly ran third on debut to Within The Law (Lucky Vega {Ire}) in the R.Listed Inglis Banner Stakes. She took her record to three wins with earnings over $330,000.

Sold by Rosemont Stud at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale for $150,000, Rohesia was purchased by Lindsay Park. She becomes the 14th stakes winner for I Am Invincible as a broodmare sire, being the first foal of Vinni Rose. Vinni Rose is a winning half-sister to Listed winner Centrefire (Shooting To Win).

Recon leads Cosmic Force double

Pat Carey and Harris Walker-trained 4-year-old gelding Recon (Cosmic Force) became his sire’s sixth stakes winner when victorious in the Listed Hareeba Stakes at Mornington. Cosmic Force celebrated a double on the card when former Listed Bendigo Guineas winner Wonder Boy returned to the winner’s circle.

Recon took his record to six wins and earnings over $287,000. A half-brother to Listed winner Who Dares (Deep Field), the pair are the only two foals for Orvassa (Equiano {Fr}) who won twice and is a half-sister to stakes placed Riverina Cyclone (Frosted {USA}).

Kings Valley wins Melbourne Cup ticket

With a ballot-free entry into this year’s G1 Melbourne Cup on the line, it was Ciaron Maher-trained Kings Valley (Ire) (Territories {Ire}) who won the Listed Mornington Cup for an emotional Lachie Neindorf. “I know it is going to sound outrageous, but it probably means more to me winning one of these than it does any of my Group 1s,” Neindorf said.

“It’s just for the simple fact when I first came over here as an apprentice I lived in Mornington and I went back and built myself from the ground back up and felt like I was trying to rebuild a skyscraper and then came back and had another go over here and based myself here again and this is more so home for me than Adelaide.”

Ciaron Maher Bloodstock bought him for 140,000 gns (AU$277,000) at the 2023 Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale. “They (owners) bought him as a future cups horse and now they’ll get their chance,” said assistant trainer Jack Turnbull.

Queensland or Hong Kong for Mornington Guineas winner

Matt Laurie celebrated the quinella in the Mornington Guineas on Saturday with 3-year-old gelding Pavlich (Written Tycoon) and filly Grand Omaha (Omaha Beach {USA}). “His win at Bendigo was quite special and we gave him a trial in between. The writing was on the wall as he was very well for today. He’s a quality horse and I’m very pleased for the ownership group,” said Laurie.

“I’m hopeful we’ll get to retain him. He’s a genuine Hong Kong prospect now, but we could look to take him to Queensland, there’ll be a race up there for him.” Winner of three of his six starts with earnings over $120,000, Pavlich cost Hong Kong Bloodstock, Matt Laurie, and Wilannah Park $300,000 from Yulong’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale draft.

New stakes winner for Brave Smash

Eagle Farm’s Listed Daybreak Lover Plate went to Chris and Corey Munce-trained Brave Monarch (Brave Smash {Jpn}) who demolished the field by over two lengths to become his sire’s fifth stakes winner. The 3-year-old gelding has won four of his six starts and over $280,000.

“The Stradbroke wouldn't be out of the question but we'll try and get the Queensland Guineas in between,” said jockey Martin Harley.

Hancox Bloodstock purchased him for $20,000 from Yulong’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft. He’s the fourth winner, and first stakes winner for Puppet Queen (USA) (Kingmambo {USA}).

Spicy Martini wins Listed Ascot Handicap

Toby Edmunds-trained 4-year-old mare Spicy Martini (Justify {USA}) won the Listed Ascot Handicap at Eagle Farm to record her third stakes victory in a five win career. She took her earnings over $620,000. In second was Group 1 winner Uncommon James (Cable Bay {Ire}) who hasn’t raced for twelve months, and Payline (Shooting To Win) was third.

Coolmore Stud sold Spicy Martini to her trainer as a yearling via Inglis Digital for $8000. She is one of four winners, from as many to race, for G3 Vanity Stakes-placed Extra Olives (Redoute’s Choice).

McGovern faces long recovery

Queensland country jockey Shane McGovern has had one leg amputated following a terrible race fall on April 8 when a horse collapsed on him and crushed him. “At the beginning it was always a possibility. We said to save his life, take it off. I'd rather have him alive,” McGovern’s wife Kim told racenet.com.au.

“I guess he's got to come to terms with it too, but being such an active person, I have no doubt he'll try and ride trackwork again, no doubt at all.”

The Queensland Jockeys' Association has established a GoFundMe page to support the McGoverns through Shane's long rehabilitation.

Aristopolos makes it six

Unbeaten Tasmanian 2-year-old colt Aristopolos (St Mark’s Basilica {Fr}) took his record to six wins in Friday night’s Alfa Bowl. He took his earnings over $330,000 with the victory, and his six wins include two at Listed level.

Sold by Armidale Stud to trainer John Blacker for $60,000 at the Magic Millions Tasmania Yearling Sale, Aristopolos is out of stakes placed Flying Krupt (Krupt) who had a King’s Gambit colt in 2025.

At the same Launceston meeting, Harry Angel (Ire) had a double with Anthela and Cherokee Dancer.

Stakes placed Price Tag wins maiden

At Cranbourne’s night meeting, 3-year-old filly Price Tag (Zoustar), a $600,000 yearling, won her maiden at her first start at three. In five starts at two, all in stakes class, she’d placed in the G3 Blue Diamond Preview (f) and Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes.

Her 2-year-old half-brother The Next Episode (Snitzel) ran second in the G3 Kindergarten Stakes last start. They are the first two foals of Group 3 winner Humma Humma (Denman).

Craiglea Monnie wins at Thangool

Busy juvenile filly Craiglea Monnie (Craiglea Boz) celebrated her first win at Thangool on Saturday for trainer Krystal Johnson. The 2-year-old was having her ninth start for the season. She is the only runner for her sire, who is an unraced son of Warhead, a son of Viscount.

Craiglea Monnie is the second winner for Craiglea Moneta (Rapid Man).

Return to confidence in Easter Handicap

A race fall in Hong Kong knocked the confidence out of 5-year-old gelding Lupo Solitario (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) but back in New Zealand with trainer Danica Guy, he has stepped up to win Saturday’s G3 Easter Handicap in a thrilling finish.

“That was wonderful as I really didn’t think he could do it today as I thought the track might be too wet for him,” Guy said.

“I said to Bill (Pinn) we have to go to Plan B and go forward and he is such an honest, tough horse. I’m so grateful to get him back here as we all love him. He is just wonderful to have in the stable and I have to thank a lot of people for getting him back to where he is. I think that might be it for him this season and we can bring him back for Hawke’s Bay in the Spring.”

Winner of the G3 Bonecrusher Stakes as an early 3-year-old in 2023, he went to Hong Kong as the winner of three of his six starts. He fell in his fourth start there, and had three more mediocre runs before heading back to his original trainer Guy. Saturday’s win was his third start back.

Brisbane an option for Solid Gold

Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained 3-year-old filly Solid Gold (NZ) (Savabeel) added her first black type win in Saturday’s G3 Championship Stakes over 2100 metres at Ellerslie. In recording her second win, she became the 159th stakes winner for Savabeel.

“She hasn’t had a lot of luck with gates and the like so it was nice to finally see her draw well (3) and especially for her first time over ground,” Wellwood said.

A homebred for Waikato Stud, she is a full sister to G1 Australian Derby winner Major Beel (NZ). “She is a good horse, simple as that and she has put a couple together so we will now have a chat with Mark and Pip (Chittick) and make a bit of a plan (for her). Brisbane is still an option but we won’t make any decisions until we have had a chat with her connections.”

Americans buy StrideMaster

StrideSAFE has reached an agreement with the shareholders of StrideMaster to acquire 100% of the Australian company, a strategic move that will transfer sensor production from Australia to Kentucky, the company said in a Friday press release.

Besides obvious cost efficiency, relocation of manufacturing to Lexington will also advance StrideSAFE's goal of fast-tracking production of stand-alone sensor systems specifically for use by trainers and veterinarians to monitor horses breezing.

Dr. David Lambert, CEO of StrideSAFE, said, “The acquisition of StrideMaster represents a milestone moment in the growth of the StrideSAFE business. It means the company will now be positioned to satisfy the ever-growing demand of trainers and vets who want to monitor horses during workouts. It will serve a great need as their horses can now be assessed in the mornings, even before they've run in their first race.”

Dam of $2.3 million filly added to Online Sale

Brazen Persuasion, whose 2-year-old Jackie's Warrior filly sold for US$2.3 million (AU$3.2 million) earlier this week at auction, has been supplemented to Fasig-Tipton's April Digital Sale, according to a press release from the sales company on Friday.

“Brazen Persuasion is an exciting addition to the April sale after her current two-year-old by Jackie's Warrior was a session topper earlier this week, bringing $2,300,000,” said Leif Aaron, Fasig-Tipton Director of Digital Sales.

“She foaled a healthy filly by Bucchero just yesterday in New York. We're happy to be able to offer her connections a chance to offer the mare and foal without moving them from the farm.”

Bidding for the online auction opened Thursday and will close starting on Tuesday, April 21. Brazen Persuasion (hip 16), a graded stakes winning daughter of Indian Charlie, is consigned by Housatonic Bloodstock, agent for C J T Stables. She is offered with her 2026 Bucchero filly foaled April 16.

Group 1 next for Gilded Prize

Juddmonte's Gilded Prize (Frankel) followed up a debut score at Chantilly in November with a strong effort back there on sophomore return last month and continued her rise through the ranks with an impressive pillar-to-post performance in Friday's G3 Prix Cleopatre at Saint-Cloud.

“She's definitely taken a step forward there,” commented rider Colin Keane. “She's very big and still learning on the job. She's a filly with a big future and hopefully building towards Group 1 level.”

Francis Graffard added, “She's a very good filly and she answered the call today. Given her physique and attitude, I always thought she had the right profile to go to the Oaks at Epsom, but there is speed in her pedigree and she has a good gear change so will be my filly for the Prix de Diane.”

Gilded Prize is the third of five foals and one of two scorers from as many runners out of Grade III-winning GI Flower Bowl Invitational and GI Beverly D Stakes placegetter Grand Jete (Dansili), herself kin to the stakes-placed Diderot (Bated Breath).

Recent Grade 3 winner added to Keeneland HORA Sale

Trendsetter (Modernist), winner of the GIII Stonestreet Lexington Stakes at Keeneland Apr. 11, has been supplemented (Hip 32) to the Keeneland April Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale to be held the evening of Friday, Apr. 24 following the races on closing day of the Spring Meet, the sales company said via a press release on Friday.

Colebrook Racing, agent for Midway Racing, is consigning Trendsetter, a 3-year-old gelding by Modernist. “He's always been a very talented horse, but with every race he's improved and progressed and done things better,” said Davant Latham, who races Trendsetter in the name of Midway Racing. “He's getting braver, bolder and so much more professional with time. This horse does not have a bottom. I think he wants to go farther than a mile and a sixteenth, and he can run on all surfaces.”

Applications open for Ireland’s business course

Entries for the RACE-backed Start Your Own Business course are set to close on April 22. Delivered in partnership with Kildare County Council and Kildare Local Enterprise Office, the innovative six-week programme is designed to equip participants with the practical tools needed to turn an idea into a business.

The course combines on-campus learning with online sessions. Tailored specifically to the racing and equine industries, the programme covers every stage of the start-up journey from idea generation and market research to financial planning, compliance, and marketing. Participants will also gain insight into available grants, supports, and enterprise resources, helping them build a clear pathway from concept to launch.

The programme is fully funded and open to anyone aged 16 or over. No formal qualifications are required but places are limited and offered on a first-come-first-served basis.

Racing at Thurles to continue

Thurles Racecourse will continue to operate through March 2027, following discussions between Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) and Thurles Racing Company. The first meeting of next season is scheduled for October.

Last August, it was announced the course was to close with immediate effect after the Molony family, who had owned the track since the early 1900s, decided to retire from racing. After a public outcry championed by Willie Mullins among others, an agreement was reached to continue for another year.

Riona Molony said, “We are pleased to continue this short-term agreement with Horse Racing Ireland to allow racing to continue at Thurles. The operation of the racecourse is running smoothly under the management of Jessica Cahalan and this allows us more time to decide on the longer-term plans for the racecourse.”

Suzanne Eade, CEO of HRI, said, ”After consultation with the Molony family, we are delighted that racing can continue at Thurles for another winter season. I would like to acknowledge the contribution of the IHRB in facilitating this agreement, and to the wider industry for their ongoing support.”

Vale Doug Anderson

The Jockey Club of Canada's Chief Steward Doug Anderson has passed away, the organization announced in a release Friday.

The statement read: “It is with great sadness that the Board of Stewards of The Jockey Club of Canada shares news of the passing of Chief Steward, Doug Anderson, on Apr. 16. Recently announced as the 2025 Special Sovereign Award recipient, Doug will be dearly missed by his family, and his friends and colleagues in racing and beyond.

“Doug dearly loved his horses, and the sport of horseracing, regularly journeying to the Cheltenham Festival and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe each year. His passion for racing, breeding, and aftercare in Canada earned him posts as Chief Steward of The Jockey Club of Canada and a seat on Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (Ontario Division)'s Board of Directors.

We extend our deepest condolences to Doug's family and friends as they navigate this difficult time.” Anderson, an owner of Sovereign Award winners A Bit o' Gold and Millie Girl, raced as Braconcrest Inc.