Cover image courtesy of Inglis
With 2024 G1 Goodwood Handicap winner Benedetta (Hellbent) selling for $1.9 million at Thursday night’s Inglis Chairman’s Sale, there’s more on the line for Saturday’s 2026 field than the $1 million prizemoney pool.
Racing SA reported that the Morphettville track last Saturday resulted in “4 x winners settled forward, 3 x winners settled midfield and 2 x winners settled towards the rear.” The track has received 21.5 mm of rain over the last week, and the track is currently rated a Soft 7.
Watchme Win looking to improve on last year
Andrew Gluyas-trained Watchme Win (Harry Angel {Ire}) has a well-documented story of recovery from a freak accident. He was first seen at the trial as a January 2-year-old, back in 2023, when running third, but the promising youngster’s career was almost cut short when a loose horse ran through the trotting ring where Watchme Win was warming up. He took the brunt of the collision, with multiple injuries including fractures which required surgery.
His career was almost over before it began, but a mammoth effort by the whole team saw him back at the races almost eighteen months later as a late July 3-year-old where he won on debut.
Wacthme Win | Image courtesy of Racing SA
This time last year, Watchme Win won the G3 John Hawkes Stakes heading into the G1 Goodwood Handicap, but could only manage seventh in 2025. He’s back for another attempt in 2026, and comes into the race in similar form with three second placings in succession.
“It would be great (to win the Goodwood), we've had a few nice runs,” Gluyas told racenet.com.au.
“It would be great (to win the Goodwood), we've had a few nice runs.” - Andrew Gluyas
“I suppose the most recent was Another Award, running second, before that Augusta Proud, she ran well in the year that Takeover Target won. If he can race well, we'll be happy. If he can race well and win then we'd be ecstatic."
Purchased for $160,000 from Noorilim Park’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale draft by his trainer, Watchme Win counts prominent owner Harry Perks in his ownership.
“He (Perks) would be rapt. He's got strong interest through the mare (Watchmespin) with some other horses,” Gluyas said.
Andrew Gluyas | Image courtesy of Macdonald Gluyas Racing
“I don't know if he would be as proud as if he won an Oaks – that remains on the drawing board – but he'd be rapt with a good performance on Saturday.”
Watchme Win has six wins with earnings over $480,000 led by the Group 3 victory last year. He’s up against Super Smink (Super One) who heads to the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in June.
St Gotthard heads for black type
When you have an expensive colt in the stable, and he wins on debut, the obvious choice is to aim for some black type and that’s what Chris Waller has decided with impressive 2-year-old colt St Gotthard (Snitzel). Coolmore Stud’s Tom Magnier paid $2.7 million for the full brother to their young Group 1 winning sire Switzerland when he was presented by Arrowfield Stud at last year’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
“He’s obviously a nice colt and has worked well since his impressive debut. He’ll be the one to beat,” Waller said on his weekly preview YouTube channel.
“He’s (St Gotthard) obviously a nice colt and has worked well since his impressive debut. He’ll be the one to beat.” - Chris Waller
“We’ll make a decision on Gosford or the Gold Coast later in the week.” And that decision was made by Thursday morning. It would be G3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic at the Gold Coast.
St Gotthard is one of four unbeaten horses in the race, whose recent honour roll includes last year’s winner Beadman (Snitzel) who heads to the G3 Gold Coast Guineas this weekend. Group 1 winner and sire Stronger won this race, as did recently deceased Spirit Of Boom.
St Gotthard | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Paul Shailer-trained Silken Salute (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}) has won both his starts in Brisbane, while Michael Freedman-trained Berzelius (Extreme Choice) and Kelly Schweida-trained Duke Of Albemarle (The Odyssey) are both debut winners like St Gotthard.
The most experienced horse in the race is Tony Gollan-trained filly Boomelli (Spirit Of Boom) who attempts to do her sire proud in the same week he died. She comes off a last start victory in the Listed Calaway Gal Stakes and has won three of her five starts. Spirit Of Boom is also represented by Unloading who won on debut and was third last start.
Battle of the bold in Hollindale
G1 Melbourne Cup winners Half Yours (St Jean {Ire}) and Knight’s Choice (Extreme Choice) will go up against former Horse Of The Year Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) in Saturday’s G2 Hollindale Stakes. Front runner Jenni is bound to put the pace on up front over the 1800 metres, but that doesn’t bother Calvin McEvoy, co-trainer of Half Yours.
“The pace I’m not worried about, I think the pace is good. The genuine tempo that she will set is going to be suited to our horse but that genuine tempo around the Gold Coast track is going to make it really, really tough to run down. Stats and measures, I suppose it’s a leader's track, the Gold Coast,” McEvoy said.
Pride Of Jenni | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I’m not sure how far in front Pride Of Jenni will be from the rest of the field and from our horse, especially with us drawn nine but you can’t worry about it. It’s going to be a really good race, I’m excited for it but it’s definitely made the job more difficult in my opinion.”
Half Yours resumed this campaign in the G1 All-Aged Stakes at a distance well short of his best, and was only four lengths of speedster Beiwacht (Bivouac) when ninth.
“I thought he was terrific. 1400m on firm ground was never going to be an ideal setup for him and especially basically taking on the TJ field of our best sprinters, so I thought he acquitted himself beautifully. He got a little bit held up and he hit the line beautifully.
Half Yours | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He’s bounced out of the run and seems to have taken really good improvement going into this weekend.”
Knight’s Choice has had only one start since winning the 2024 Melbourne Cup, but has had several setbacks along the way including an outbreak of strangles in the John Symons and Sheila Laxon stable.
Pride Of Jenni, trained by Ciaron Maher, will bounce from gate three in her 48th start and comes off a last start fifth in the G1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes.
Knight's Choice | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Beadman is back for the Guineas
Having won the G3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic on this day last year, trainer Peter Snowden is hoping 3-year-old colt Beadman can bounce back on the same track in Saturday’s G3 Gold Coast Guineas.
“He's a good traveller and going back to the scene of the best win he's ever had, so hopefully he can replicate that on Saturday,” Snowden said.
“He's (Beadman) a good traveller and going back to the scene of the best win he's ever had, so hopefully he can replicate that on Saturday.” - Peter Snowden
China Horse Club, Newgate, Go Bloodstock and Trilogy paid $900,000 for Beadman from Arrowfield Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft. He won twice at two, including the aforementioned G3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic, and at three, he had two black type placings in the spring before winning the Listed Fireball Stakes when resuming this autumn.
His last two runs for mid-field efforts have been tampered by wide draws.
“From those wide gates, we've been forced to go forward on him, and I don't think it's the way to ride him. A bit more conservative might be the way to go.
Beadman | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He won that day at the Gold Coast by (almost) ten lengths by jumping and leading, but I think it was a false read because the track was a bog. He is a good wet tracker, a lot of horses didn't handle it and he did, and he just got further and further in front, so he might have been a bit flattered by the track.
“In my mind, his best runs have been when he's just sitting off the speed.” James McDonald will ride from barrier eight.
