Yellow Brick wins the $1 million The Archer
Tommy Berry is keen to keep the ride on Yellow Brick (The Mission) after winning Tuesday’s rescheduled The Archer. “Thanks to James McDonald, he is the one who got me up here,” Berry told racenet.com.au.
“I will try to keep this ride and he can ride something else now, that would be nice. It was a good effort by the Sears team to get this horse up for this race, twice, and he was worth coming back for the second time. He is a big horse and takes a bit of winding up, it was a good effort today as he was first-up.”
The Group 3 winner took his record to ten wins and $3.9 million and is trained by Tony & Maddysen Sears. He was sold by Waylon J Stud for $20,000 at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale.
New Illawarra Grange track gets thumbs up
Jockeys and trainers were pleased with new Illawarra Grange track which had it’s first race meeting on Wednesday. Local Kembla Grange trainer Mitch Beer celebrated the first winner on the new surface with 3-year-old gelding Above The Law (Harry Angel {Ire}). “Terrific to train the first winner – I'm sure we'll turn up on a trivia night or under a bottle top somewhere one day,” Beer told racenet.com.au.
“But on a serious note the feedback all day was excellent. Chad Schofield jumped off and said that it's as good a provincial surface he's raced on which is a pretty big statement. Horses were leading and winning, coming from last and both from on and off the fence. Results were class and tempo related and that's what punters want.
“I've seen the project from start to finish, first with Dave Anderson before he moved to Randwick to the current crew who are doing a fantastic job. It's just a real credit to the club. I can see a large number of meetings getting moved here because of the way it will cope with the rain and that's good for everyone. I must admit with some of the things that have happened in the past week with tracks I was a bit nervous for the club but it performed up to everyone's expectations. It's just a huge boost for racing in the region.”
Divine Dot a family affair at the ‘Bool
Juvenile filly Divine Dot (Overshare) made it two wins from three starts when victorious at Warrnambool on Tuesday. “I will be back (home) for Mrs McArdle’s birthday, I’m driving the truck, so my blood alcohol will be double zero,” trainer John McArdle told racing.com.
“My older brother did say, 'we can find a box for her' (Divine Dot) down here, but no, I’ve got to get home and do some work, and if I don’t turn up for her birthday, she might take the horse off me – she did breed it and is an owner. I’ve got to go home and make sure the owner is happy.”
The homebred is the last foal of Miracle To Me (Bel Esprit) who has produced two other winners.
Uncertain Glory faces big task on debut
Wednesday’s juvenile race for fillies at Warwick Farm has attracted an exciting field including $2.6 million yearling Sumeria (Zoustar) trained by Ciaron Maher and Michael Freedman-trained Uncertain Glory (Zoustar). “She's a nice type and I was very happy with the way she trialled at Rosehill,” Freedman told racenet.com.au.
Uncertain Glory | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“She's quite big and lean and she did everything right in her trial the other day, so I didn't think she needed a second trial for education and for fitness knowing there's a suitable race waiting for her. I think she's ready to go. The run will bring her on but I'm happy to go into the race off the one trial.”
Hanseatic gelding arrives for Guineas
Lisa Latta-trained Platinum Pantheon (Hanseatic) has arrive in Queensland for the G3 Gold Coast Guineas, having run third in the G3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes last start. “He went really well in the Cambridge Breeders’, and I think the draw just beat him,” Latta told Loveracing.nz.
“He is nominated for the Gold Coast Guineas this Saturday and then we will go along from there, there are a couple of nice 3-year-old races.”
Bustling back after two years off
Part-owner Max Whitby is thrilled to see former good 2-year-old Bustling (Frosted {USA}) back at the races after almost two years off with injury. Trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, Bustling won four of his five starts at three including two at Group 3 level and was slated for the 2024 The Everest before injury stopped him facing the starter. “It's a long way from The Everest to this race,” Whitby told racingandsports.com.au.
“But after all this horse has been through, he's been so unlucky with feet issues, we are just happy to get him back racing. We got the message this morning that Bustling worked well so it looks like he will go to Caulfield on Saturday – we're back baby!
“It has been very frustrating over the last two years or so as the horse has had feet problems but hopefully that is all behind him now. We had all these expectations when we got the horse because his form was so good and the time he ran to win the Karrakatta Plate was as good as Overpass in The Quokka the same day.”
Pollard off to a flyer
Trainer Todd Pollard gained his licence in March 2026 and so far has five wins from 14 starts. He’ll run Valencia Roc (NZ) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) at Eagle Farm on Wednesday. “It’s been a very good start and I’ve been very lucky,” Pollard told racingqueensland.com.au.
“I can’t believe the start I’ve had to be honest. You need a lot of luck in this game and fortunately I’ve had some starting off. I grew up around Matamata in New Zealand and when I was 12, I got my first job in the industry working after school for Graham Richardson. That’s when I was bitten by the racing bug and I always wanted to be a trainer since then.”
Todd Pollard | Image courtesy of Racing Queensland
Weir heads to Warrnambool
Trainer Taige Weir’s father earned the tag ‘back Weir, drink beer’ at Warrnambool prior to his downfall, and now his daughter heads there on Wednesday with Kings Reflection (Royal Meeting {Ire}). Since gaining her licence a couple of months ago, Weir has three wins from 16 starts. “Our systems are working and it's an extra bit of pressure lifted that they're going well,” Weir told racenet.com.au.
“My worst fear was getting my licence and everyone saying, ‘oh, she's going to be like her dad or this and that,' then coming out and I can't be competitive. They've come out and been competitive and it's helped get my name out there, so I'm very proud. We're going really well and I've got a great team behind me and amazing support from loyal owners.”
Stern Idol sets modern day record in Brierly
Ciaron Maher-trained Stern Idol (Ire) (Raven’s Pass {USA}) won his second Brierly Steeplechase and carried 75kg with his ears pricked in doing so. This is a metric record, and just outside the weight-carrying record held by Aqricolo (Le Glaneur) in 1927 with 12.7 stone (approximately 79.5kg).
“Look at the horse. He looks absolutely fantastic. He could walk into the mounting yard in the middle of the spring and he wouldn't look out of place,” Maher said. All runners completed the course.
Double for I Am Invincible
Champion Sire I Am Invincible celebrated a double at Taree on Tuesday with maiden winner Kissavos and Tony Ball-trained Where’s The Fire who took his record to five wins.
Ball purchased Where’s The Fire via Inglis Digital in January 2024 for $15,000 and he’s won his latest two runs in succession.
Black type mares added to Gavelhouse
Stephen Marsh Racing will offer Group 2 winner Hitabell (NZ) (Embellish {NZ}) and dual Listed winner Glamour Tycoon (Written Tycoon) in the upcoming Gavelhouse Plus auction which runs from May 13-20. “They’ve been two standout mares for us and it’s now at the stage of their careers where it’s time to offer them to the market as breeding prospects,” Marsh told Loveracing.nz.
Stephen Marsh | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
“I’m sure they’ll all have their share of admirers on Gavelhouse Plus and will be quality additions to anyone’s broodmare band. Hitabell is been a very classy mare who was really fast over the sprint distances but also showed that she could run out a strong mile. She was a very good winner of the Listed race at Wanganui, then stepped up and beat a strong field in the Eight Carat at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, one of our premier fillies races.”
Hong Kong battle to the wire
Two years ago, Francis Lui won four of the last five races of the season to beat Pierre Ng is the Trainer’s Premiership in Hong Kong. This year, the battle is a four-way event with 20 meetings to go. The top four are separated by just three wins with Mark Newnham leading the way on 51.
Caspar Fownes and Danny Shum are equal on 50, while David Hayes is on 48. Lui sits next on 45 and 13-time champion John Size on 43. There’s plenty of time for this to go to any of the six.
Ascot to leave racecourse alliance
Ascot Racecourse is set to leave the Racecourse Association (RCA) at the end of the year, due to the fact that “sufficient progress has not been made” to address concerns about the organisation's governance structure.
In March, following Lord Allen's resignation as chair of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and the failure to establish an independent BHA Board, a joint-statement was released by the Jockey Club and four large independent racecourses – Ascot, Goodwood, Newbury and York – which called for an urgent review of the governance structure at the RCA.
In a letter written to the chairman of the RCA, Wilf Walsh, the signatories requested measures by the end of April that would deliver a Board and voting representation that is balanced and credible; an environment where significant views from key racecourses can influence outcomes; and an organisation that can act decisively on matters affecting the wider industry.
“The decision to move away from the RCA was not taken lightly and was guided by our view that this is in the interests of the long-term health of the sport,” said Ascot Racecourse chief executive Felicity Barnard.
“In the period since 3rd March, we have engaged constructively with the RCA and remained clear and consistent with our request for governance reform; reform that we believe is necessary to reflect the evolving needs of our sport and its stakeholders.
“Regrettably, sufficient progress has not been made. We remain committed to working collaboratively within the industry to enable Ascot to continue to contribute to the shared success of the sport.”
Causeway follows in Paddington’s footsteps
History may not ultimately repeat itself, but so far Causeway (Wootton Bassett) is doing a fine job of mimicking Ballydoyle's recent kingpin Paddington as he completed the Madrid-Tetrarch double on Monday.
Sent off the 9-4 favourite for the Irish 2000 Guineas trial over the same course and distance, the relative of Magical and Rhododendron worked his way past stablemate Neolithic (Sioux Nation) inside the final furlong en route to a two-length success from Andab (Saxon Warrior). Neolithic was a neck behind in third.
“He's a lovely, big relaxed horse and we always felt that stepping up to a mile would suit him well,” Aidan O'Brien said. “He has his prep done now if the lads want to come back for the Guineas and I'd imagine we'll see what happens in France at the weekend and how Gstaad is.”
Vale Frank Calvarese
Frank Calvarese, who held the position of head starter at the NYRA tracks from 1984 through 1993, passed away Thursday at his home in West Palm Beach, Florida. He was 96.
He died of heart failure.
“He was a great horseman and a great man,” said his wife, Lisa. “He was ill for about a month, but during the last year he had been on the decline. But he looked so young. He looked great. He still had his black hair and he grew a goatee. He even looked great in death.”
Calvarese began his work in racing in 1955 as a member of the gate crew at Delaware Park. He also worked eight years for trainers Bill Mitchell and Ed Christmas before joining George Cassidy's NYRA starting crew.
He was promoted to the head job in 1984. When he was an assistant starter, Calvarese was so respected by trainers that many insisted that he handle their top horses, a list that included Secretariat and Ruffian.
“He handled Secretariat and was very good friends with so many trainers like Frank Martin and Allen Jerkens,” Lisa Calvarese said. “He was there when Ruffian broke down. He was the first to get to her.”
Great White aimed at Preakness
Trainer John Ennis said Great White (Volatile), who reared up and fell before he was loaded into the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby and was scratched, escaped without a scratch and is a strong possibility to run in the GI Preakness Stakes.
“I've taken worse falls out of bed,” Ennis quipped by phone on Monday. Regular rider Alex Achard, who also escaped injury in the incident, is scheduled to ride.
“When he reared up, the pony rider pulled against him and he just turned him over,” Ennis said. “He'll do that. He'll rear up, but he never falls over. So when he runs next time, he won't go with the pony. He'll be fine. He doesn't need a pony. He's a very good boy.
He continued, “Straight after when he fell over, we brought him back to the barn, gave him a bath and took him out for grass. He was fresh, like he wanted to run. [Sunday], we took him out for a roll. He rolled and got up bucking and squealing and everything. He's not tired. He's ready to go. He jogged two miles this morning perfect. We'll train him all week and breeze him Saturday. And if he breezes good and I'm happy with him, he'll have an entry in the Preakness.”
