Daily News Wrap

Racing Victoria announces 2026/27 program

Racing Victoria have released the calendar for the next season with 16 meetings moved to night meetings to better meet fans preferences which was based on attendance and turnover data. “The 2026/27 race dates are the product of genuine consultation with Clubs and stakeholders, and we appreciate the collaborative approach taken,” CEO Aaron Morrison told racingvictoria.com.au.

“The Valley's continued redevelopment and Caulfield's important post-Carnival renovation have shaped the most notable changes next season. This is headlined by the move of the Ladbrokes Cox Plate to Flemington, which will maximise customer engagement for this major, and Group 1 meetings allocated to Caulfield and Sandown as we balance the workload across all of our metro tracks.

“Punters are engaging more with racing later in the day and later in the week, so we’ve looked to match that appetite with our available track inventory and through more flexible programming, whilst again being without our premier night track for the season.

“The data strongly supports our move to add more twilight meetings, grow the number of Friday afternoons at our strongest performing country wagering venues and reallocate a group of secondary country meetings from weekends to Mondays.

“Our Wednesday metro twilights deliver 14 per cent more turnover than equivalent day meetings, while Friday afternoon meetings are increasingly popular with customers and the five country tracks we’ve identified deliver above average turnover per race for the timeslot.”

Highview Stud announce stallion fees

New Zealand’s Highview Stud have announced the fees for their four resident stallions. Proven Group 1 sire Wrote (Ire) will stand for NZ$12,000 plus GST. “He has had a Group winner in Hong Kong, New Zealand and Australia this season and you’ve got to remember he has done it off some smaller crops,” Highview Stud’s Brent Gillovic said.

“His yearlings averaged $170,000 at the Karaka Yearling Sales and his winners-to-runners ratio is very high. His stock are particularly popular in Hong Kong where he has had nine individual winners from 14 to the races. We pondered whether to increase his fee, but given the state of the economy in Australasia, it is just a nice time to sit back and give breeders a chance.”

G2 Phar Lap Stakes winner Mr Mozart, a son of Snitzel, will stand his third season for NZ$6,000 plus GST. “Mr Mozart covered 173 mares in his first two seasons, so he gets every opportunity. Everybody's rapt with his first foals,” Gillovic said.

Divine Prophet, who will be represented at Royal Ascot by Generosity, and Santos will both stand for NZ$5,000 plus GST.

Racing Queensland announce Gold Coast centre

Racing Queensland have announced they will open the new new state-of-the-art racing education and high-performance training centre at the Gold Coast Turf Club by the end of next financial year. “We have been working closely with Racing Queensland on this initiative for the past year and we are truly excited to be involved in what is a significant advancement for the industry,” GCTC CEO Steve Lines told racingqueensland.com.au.

“It further enhances a lot of hard work we have done with education sector through both the Equine Program at The Industry School. Furthermore, we have made significant investment in developing a state-of-the-art stabling complex at TrainTech which now can also be supported by this long-term forward-thinking Workforce Blueprint.”

RQ Acting CEO Lachlan Murray added; “This project marks the first step in a broader redevelopment of training facilities across the state, as part of a long-term commitment to building a skilled, professional, and sustainable racing workforce.

“Through strong collaboration and the support of the Gold Coast Turf Club, the former TrainTech facility will soon be transformed into a state-of-the-art racing education and high-performance training centre. This initiative forms a key pillar of RQ’s Industry Workforce Strategy, focused on attracting, developing, retaining, and sustaining the future racing workforce across all three codes.”

Best still to come for Vivy Air

Ciaron Maher-trained Vivy Air (Hellbent) runs in Saturday’s G3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup and the stable think there’s more improvement in her. “Confidence is a big thing, she didn’t win for a while but after she won at Randwick she took the next step,” assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord told racingnsw.com.au.

“But physically is where we’ve seen the most changes. She’s a big girl and she always needed to furnish, every time she comes back in she seems to furnish a bit more. The fact is she is getting stronger, improving physically, and a bit of confidence has helped. I feel we’ve learned a bit about her as well. The longer we’ve got them in work the more we do with them the more we learn and we can adapt with how we train them and how we ride them.”

Sunday’s The Archer to be best yet

Trainer Tony Gollan has two runners in Sunday’s $1 million The Archer, Rockribbed (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) and Boomtown Boss (Spirit Of Boom). “This is by far the strongest Archer we've seen, particularly in depth of field,” Gollan told racingqueensland.com.au

“So, whatever wins it, you can expect them to really play their part this Stradbroke Season. My horses probably do not get in as well as some others in the field. There are some really high-rated horses there under the set weights and penalties. They are probably getting a touch better than mine.

“It's a unique race where it sits at the start of this carnival and it'll be about how horses’ preparations have gone leading into it. It's very early in our carnival to be going over 1300 metres up there and we're all eight hours away from home. So, it's a whole new journey for us all here from the South East corner.”

Inglis to hold weanling seminar

Inglis are hosting a weanling seminar on Monday May 4 at 5pm at the Riverside Stables Sales Complex. Guest speakers include Shane McGrath, Dr Chris Lawler, Libby Bleakley and Rae-Louise Kelly. The seminar will discuss points like raising a weanling, limb deformities, weanling nutrition, and a discussion on pinhooking.

Racing reaches out to McGovern

Racing Queensland have donated $50,000 and the Queensland Jockeys' Association have added $5000 to a fundraiser for jockey Shane McGovern which has garnered more than $76,000 to assist him in his recovery. McGovern has had both legs amputated after a bad fall during trackwork in early April. Surgeons at Townsville Hospital removed his right leg on Wednesday night, only two weeks after removing his left leg below the knee. Both legs sustained severe crush injuries.

“He's in recovery at the moment and he had a good night afterwards apparently. He's sedated of course, but he's going to have to have other operations I would suggest,” Australian Jockeys' Association health and safety officer Kevin Ring told racenet.com.au on Thursday.

Different Gravy trials well ahead of Derby

Trainer Henry Dwyer was happy with Thursday’s trial from Different Gravy (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) as he heads to the G1 Queensland Derby. “I don’t really try to come to these Caulfield trials from Ballarat as it gets too hard to get here, but I needed a trip away with him and a race-like scenario which was good and he had the blinkers on and coped it with all well,” Dwyer told racing.com.

“Previously he’d won over 1800 and 2000 metres here, so it is always going to be another step to get to 2400 metres, but I think this preparation he’s been a bit more dour and he’s starting to settle with the blinkers now, so we are where we need to be.”

Former good juvenile to resume

Danny O’Brien thought Listed Oxlade Stakes winning 3-year-old colt Brave Design (Brave Smash {Jpn}) was going to die, but he’s pulled through and will resume on Saturday, almost a year after he ran fourth in the Listed Tattersalls Stakes at Eagle Farm behind Autumn Boy (The Autumn Sun) and Sheza Alibi (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}). “Getting ready for the spring, he just had a bit of an infection that lodged in a sesamoid, unfortunately,” O’Brien told racing.com.

“We’re not sure how it got in there, but it was in his bloodstream and ended up localising to his sesamoid and he had to be in the vet hospital for three or four weeks getting some high-grade antibiotics. I was certainly more worried about saving him for a while there, rather than thinking he was going to get back to the races. He was very brave and toughed it out.

“He’s come back really well. We’ve taken our time with him. He’s still a colt, so he’s quite a big horse now and he certainly needed a few trials to get his fitness back. We’ve given him a pretty thorough grounding for Saturday, and he’s ready to go.”

Morphettville to raise funds for RDASA

Morphettville Racecourse announced on Thursday a new charity partnership with the Riding for the Disabled Association of South Australia (RDASA), and they have announced Clare Lindop as the 2026 ambassador.

“This role aligns my passion for careers with my love of horses, while highlighting the impact of volunteers and the important role horses, and retired racehorses play in supporting Riding for the Disabled participants and creating fun opportunities for learning and connection,” Lindop told racingsa.com.au.

Treble for I Am Invincible at Wyong

I Am Invincible dominated the meeting at Wyong on Thursday with a trio of winners. Michael Freedman-trained 3-year-old filly Miles Of Glory won the first to take her record to two wins from nine starts. She is a half-sister to Group 3 winner and sire Growing Empire.

Michael, John and Wayne Hawkes-trained 3-year-old gelding I Am Adonis won his maiden at his fourth attempt. He is a half-brother to this season’s G2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Grinzinger Heart (Toronado {Ire}).

Bjorn Baker-trained 3-year-old filly Dolce Vita won her maiden at start number three. Baker and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) paid $400,000 for her from Kia Ora Stud’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale draft. She is a half-sister to Group 2 winner and sire Zululand, and to stakes placed pair of Chicago Bull (Exceed And Excel) and Moscow Night (Written Tycoon).

Lonhro had a double as a damsire at the same meeting with Fairway To Heaven (Zoustar) and Norton Road (Stratum Star).

Better Off Alone victorious at Wagga

Bjorn Baker-trained 2-year-old filly Better Off Alone (Better Than Ready) won at Wagga Wagga on Thursday at her fifth attempt. She debuted as a pre-Christmas juvenile in the G3 Gimcrack Stakes and has run second in her last two starts.

She was sold by Yarramalong Park for $120,000 to Darby Racing at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She is the third winner for winning mare Not A Single Woman (Not A Single Doubt) whose six foals are all by Better Than Ready.

The Wagga Town Plate at the same meeting was won by Harry’s Bar (Harry’s Angel {Ire}) whose three wins have netted his connections over $350,000.

Juvenile winner for Farnan

Farnan’s 2-year-old filly Cavill Avenue won on debut at Ballarat on Thursday for the Hayes brothers. Lindsay Park and Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock paid $200,000 for her from Blue Gum Farm’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale draft.

A half-sister to group-placed Voldemort (Not A Single Doubt), Cavill Avenue is out of winning mare Devious Maid (Sebring), a full sister to Group 2 winner Bring Me The Maid.

Whyte treble at Happy Valley

Trainer Douglas Whyte enjoyed a treble at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. “We’ve only had five runners and three winners – it’s been a great night. The Valley has always been a special place for me, more so as a trainer than as a jockey. It’s vibrant, tactical and leaves no room for error,” Whyte said.

“[The close finishes] make it extra sweet – I probably won’t sleep tonight! It makes it more special.” He won with Giant Ballon (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Gameplayer Elite (Brz) (Kentuckian {USA}) and Find My Love (GB) (Frankel {GB}).

Mark Newnham won with Armor Golden Eagle (NZ) (Ace High) to regain the lead on the table at 50 wins, equal with Caspar Fownes, while a David Hayes double took him into fourth.

Reflecting on inaugural Group 1 success

Geegees Mistruth (Wordsmith)’s managing owner Ben Geard was reflective a few days after their ‘geegees’ brand won their first Group 1 in the G1 Robert Sangster Stakes last Saturday. The decision to take the 2025 Tasmanian Horse Of The Year to mainland trainer Mark Walker had resulted in 12 runs without a win until Saturday. “There were plenty of people, including myself, in the last few months, wondering whether we’d done the right thing,” managing owner Ben Geard told tasracing.com.au on Thursday.

She was bred by Ben’s parents, Paul and Elizabeth Geard. “Unfortunately, Dad isn’t here to experience it, but Mum is really chuffed. It’s really special for the family. We’ve been in the game for a long time, and there have been numerous people who have chipped in along the way, and everyone is super proud of her.

“To get the Group 1 is rare enough, but to have owned the mare, to have owned the stallion, to have bred and raised her up on the farm, it’s very cool.

“She’ll spell in Victoria, and we will just work out a plan for races in the Spring. Next season may potentially be her last as a racehorse, but we’ll just take it year on year and let her tell us.

“Everything is available for her, whether we breed from her as a family or once her racing career is done, we move her on. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. We’re just enjoying the ride at the moment.”

Walkin In Memphis to make stakes debut

Trainer Andrew Forsman will run 2-year-old colt Walking In Memphis (Too Darn Hot {GB}) in Saturday’s Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes at Te Rapa. “It was a confidence-boosting win (last start),” Forsman told Loveracing.nz.

“He has always shown nice ability, he has just been figuring things out through trialling and racing. I think he will keep getting better and better with the experience of raceday.

“We could have had him in the paddock by now and we did toss up between doing that or giving him another one, but given how well he has worked and how well he is coping, we thought the extra experience of racing in a competitive field like this on Saturday would really set him up nicely for next time around.”

First stakes winner for Life Is Good

The likelihood that Waggley (Life Is Good) would take the lion's share of the money at the windows in her stakes debut in the Listed Kentucky Juvenile Stakes was never really in question. In the final sixteenth, Super Saiyajin battled on and American Pope made up some late ground, but neither could catch Waggley, who finished 1.75 lengths ahead of Super Saiyajin with American Pope a head farther back in third.

According to bloodstock agent Ben McElroy moments after the race, Royal Ascot may be among options for the Dave Mowat's US$200,000 (AU$281,000) Keeneland September yearling buy. Waggley, who was the first runner/winner for her Freshman sire when scoring at Keeneland on April 8, also becomes the first stakes winner for Life Is Good, a son of Into Mischief.

Hard Spun mare tops Fasig-Tipton Digital at $310k

Starship Beauty (Hard Spun), a half-sister to GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks winner and GI Kentucky Derby hopeful Fulleffort (Liam's Map), brought US$310,000 (AU$435,000) from HX3 Incorporated during a one-horse 'flash sale' on the Fasig-Tipton Digital platform.

The 6-year-old mare was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, and was offered carrying her first foal by top 10 stallion Constitution. Starship Beauty is also a half-sister to 2025 GI Alabama Stakes heroine Power Squeeze (Union Rags) and to two-time stakes winner Call On Mischief (Into Mischief).

“It's always a lot of fun to offer a horse with a Derby connection,” said Leif Aaron, Fasig-Tipton Director of Digital Sales. “This mare already being a half-sister to Grade I winner Power Squeeze and to Kentucky Derby contender Fulleffort, plus being in foal to Constitution, makes her a really quality mare. We want to thank all the connections for the opportunity to sell Starship Beauty.”

Reed Ringler joins Keeneland

Keeneland has named Reed Ringler to its sales team beginning May 1, the auction house via a press release on Wednesday. In this new role, he will focus on client services, global recruitment and sales development.

Ringler brings a wealth of experience and deep industry relationships to Keeneland, having built a respected career across multiple facets of the Thoroughbred industry.

“Reed has been closely connected with Keeneland and our team for many years, and this is a natural progression of that relationship,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “He is highly regarded across the industry, and we are excited to welcome his expertise and relationships to the Keeneland team.”

Saracen headlines Tattersalls Online

The catalogue for the Tattersalls Online May Sale is now online and features 85 lots. Saracen (Siyouni) (lot 32), rated 103 by the IHRB, was a debut winner at The Curragh at two and he also placed third in the G3 Greenham Stakes.

Daneh Of Dandy (Dandy man) (lot 58), a two-time winner last season, is from the family of Juddmonte bluehen Hasili (Kahyasi). Another highlight is debut winner Director's Cut (Palace Pier) (lot 61) from the family of Light Infantry Man (Fast Company); and Al Aaliyah (Mehmas) (lot 45), a daughter of listed winner and group-placed Aljezeera (Frankel).