Daily News Wrap

Smooth Chino wins G3 Northam Stakes

Sunday’s G3 Northam Stakes was won by Indianna Weinert-trained Smooth Chino (Maschino) who won by 0.8 lengths from Fluro Neuro (Gingerbread Man) and West Star (Playing God). Smooth Chino took his record to seven wins from nine starts, having only missed in his two runs prior to this victory.

A Listed winner at three, Smooth Chino added another Listed victory during the spring to make this his third black type win. He took his earnings over $660,000 and was a $40,000 purchase by his trainer from Mogumber Park’s Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale draft.

Romantic Thor wins G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup

Former Aidan O’Brien-trained Romantic Thor (USA) (Justify {USA}) celebrated his first victory in Hong Kong in Sunday night’s G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup over 2400 metres. He is currently trained by Danny Shum and had previously won a Listed race in Ireland in 2024 for O’Brien before heading to Hong Kong.

TTR will cover the whole Hong Kong meeting in the next issue.

Sedgwick to join Yulong

On Sunday Yulong announced that Allison Sedgwick will join the team as NSW Nominations Manager.

"With the purchase of Segenhoe Stud, the development of a second world-class stallion farm in the Hunter Valley, and the arrival of two exciting new stallions, there is plenty to focus on. I’m very much looking forward to working with breeders this coming season and showcasing the depth and quality of Yulong’s young sires," Sedgwick said in a press release.

She has been with Kia Ora for the past two years, and previously spent 11 years with Darley.

“Allison is an outstanding addition to our growing team and a key asset to Yulong’s continued development. Her industry reputation is second to none, and alongside Victorian Nominations Manager Harry King, she will play an integral role in driving the strength and progression of our stallion roster,” said Chief Operating Officer Sam Fairgray.

The Archer postponed

The $1 million The Archer slot race, run by the Central Queensland Amateur Turf Club at Rockhampton has been postponed. Queensland Racing Integrity Commission stewards announced the postponement just before race one took place, noting soft patches at 200-metre, 150-metre and 80-metre marks.

“When we arrived on course today we inspected the track and we identified those three patches,” QRIC Chief Steward Josh Adams said.

“The track as a whole is in good order, it's a Good 4, but those three patches – the one at the 80-metre is the one with the major concern, it's close to a Heavy 8 that patch. It isn't a small patch, it goes to about five (metres) off the fence as well, so there's no way for our riders or horses to avoid it. It's such a critical part of the race as well, either tiring horses or horses that are under full pressure.”

The issue was found to be caused by a sprinkler mishap and is the second time in three weeks for the same track. “We're investigating it now but there looks to be a leak in the ring main of the irrigation,” Rockhampton Jockey Club CEO David Aldred told racenet.com.au.

“It's a 20-year-old irrigation system – we can't say with concrete evidence that that's the issue but there's something that's causing a wet spot on the track. When the irrigation comes on it's flooding through a leak in the ring main. We've got a specialist coming out here in the morning on a public holiday to try and get to the bottom of it to ensure we get this race meeting going on Tuesday.

“I've had discussions with the (Central Queensland) Amateur Turf Club, as I have with Racing Queensland and other people of importance. I can understand that they're angry. If it was on the other foot, I'd be angry as well. We had dignitaries here today like the Racing Minister, Racing Queensland officials, several slot holders, the visiting trainers and jockeys.

“You don't think lightning strikes twice but it has. Unfortunately for us it's happened again on another very big race day, our highest prizemoney race day of the year, so certainly I can understand everybody being angry.”

Thornton and Thalestris win at Sale

Jockey Damien Thornton has recently moved home to Victoria after a stint in Queensland and enjoyed his first winner on home soil on Sunday with promising 3-year-old filly Thalestris (I Am Invincible).

“Queensland was great and I had plenty of success, but this is home and I certainly enjoy it a bit more,” Thornton said post-race.

The beautifully bred filly is a half-sister to recent G3 Kindergarten Stakes winner Blue Door (Stay Inside) from two-race winner Notting Hill (Pierro). This is the Redoute’s Choice family. Thalestris’ full brother will be offered by Yarraman Park Stud at the upcoming Inglis Australian Weanling Sale as Lot 428.

Sepals back on track for Stradbroke

Cliff Brown-trained Group 1 winner Sepals (Calyx {GB}) is back on track for the G1 Stradbroke after a short let up following his last start seventh in the G3 Doncaster Prelude.

“He had 10 days off and he's come back in tremendous order,” Brown told racingandsports.com.au.

“He just wasn't himself, but he seems right now. I don't think he appreciated the track up in Sydney, but just afterwards when we got him home, he just wasn't himself. We know him intimately and he wasn't right.

“I gave him a jump-out, which was okay, without being great, but then he had the 10 days off and I thought, if he's okay, we'll be able to continue on and if he's not, we'll go to the paddock. At this point he seems good and if he's right, we'll head up to Queensland, and he can have a run at the end of the month with the aim of hopefully getting him to the Stradbroke.”

Thoroughbreds Are Go returns Monday

Caroline Searcy’s national thoroughbred re-homing TV program Thoroughbreds Are Go (TAG) returns on Monday, May 4 on Sky Thoroughbred Central at 8pm AEST.

In this series, viewers will hear from renowned Show competitor and judge Belinda Scanlon about what Show judges look for in your off-the-track thoroughbreds in competition. Accomplished equestrian rider and thoroughbred re-trainer Victoria Farr (Fellowes) discusses her re-training routine and what owners should know about finding the right home for their ex-racehorses and also for horses that didn’t make the racetrack.

Well known clerk of the course Kelly Williamson demonstrates the patience and skill required for young ex-racehorses, highlighting the need to monitor the experience of anyone taking on a thoroughbred. And Charlotte Inglis, another accomplished equestrian gives advice on putting ex-racehorses in the hands of experienced junior riders.

Frank and Christine Cook’s Mystery Downs segment “Where Are They Now” finds well known ex-racehorses and broodmares away from the racetrack, showing the useful lives our favourite gallopers can live for the rest of their lives.

Divine Prophet juvenile wins on debut

At Toowoomba’s Saturday night meeting, 2-year-old gelding High Prophet (Divine Prophet) won on debut for trainer Troy Pascoe. His trainer purchased him for $4500 from Lucas Bloodstock’s Capricornia Yearling Sale draft.

He is the first winner for High Adversity (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) who won at the Gold Coast and Ballina.

Double for Star Turn at Sapphire Coast

At the Sapphire Coast on Sunday, Star Turn sired a double with maiden winner My Usher and 4-year-old mare Christmas Star who took her record to four wins with earnings over $110,000. Star Turn is the sire of 11 stakes winners led by Group 1 winner Startantes.

At the same meeting, Sooboog had a double with Sooo Crazy and Pambula Cup victor Delago Serg. Sooboog was exported to Indonesia in 2024.

Asfoora needed the run on resuming

Champion European Sprinter Asfoora (Flying Artie) finished 10th overnight in the G3 Palace House Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday in her seasonal return.

“She broke lovely, as usual. And she moved super (in the run),” jockey Oisin Murphy told racenet.com.au.

“But she hit a brick wall at the furlong pole. It was a real end-to-end (sustained) gallop. And (evidently) not as fit as she felt in her work, but she'll come on a tonne from it.”

“And I look forward to her at Haydock. The conversation is whether to have blinkers on her next time or not. That's up to you guys (the stable). She's honest enough to win without them, but she's just a bit sharper when they're on.”

Derby Day wagering down

Although all-sources handle for Derby Week rose to a new record of US$487 million (AU$676 million) - an amount increased by 3% from the record set in 2025 - handle on Saturday's G1 Kentucky Derby Day program was US$340 million (AU$472 million), down from the 2025 record of US$349 million (AU$485 million). All-sources wagering on the Derby itself was US$225 million (AU$312 million), again down from the 2025 record of US$234 million (AU$325 million).

Churchill Downs reported Kentucky Derby Day attendance at over 150,000.

Summer targets for Oaks winner

Douglas Scharbauer and Three Chimneys Farm's Always a Runner (Gun Runner), who delivered a decisive performance on Friday night under the lights at Churchill Downs to win the G1 Longines Kentucky Oaks, will ship to Saratoga and prepare for a summer campaign according to Chad Brown.

The trainer said the filly will target the major Grade 1 races for 3-year-old fillies upstate. The G1 Coaching Club Oaks at nine furlongs on the dirt is slated to run July 25. “These big races, with big fields, you have to have plans A, B, C, sometimes D,” Brown said. “We never got to Plan B, because that's exactly how we laid it out. Jose executed it perfectly, and this incredibly talented filly cooperated. She was there for him at every pole.”

Blue Bolt adds Listed win

Completing an early Saturday afternoon treble for the Andrew Balding stable, Juddmonte's Blue Bolt (Blue Point) made a winning start to a potentially fruitful campaign in Goodwood's Listed Conqueror Fillies' Stakes.

The dam is the G3 Prix Allez France winner Mayhem (Whipper), whose progeny include the Listed scorer and G2 German 1000 Guineas runner-up Sky Angel (Dark Angel) and the dual Listed scorer Sea Theme (Sea The Stars).