Big double for Phillip Stokes
Trainer Phillip Stokes won the G3 Cummings Stakes in South Australia and The Coast in NSW on a successful Saturday.
Arran Bay (All Too Hard) continued his consistent campaign with his third black type victory in his last four starts when successful in the G3 Cummings Stakes. The 7-year-old gelding has now won 12 of his 45 starts with earnings over $1.1 million.
“He's a very special horse to the stable. Great today for (part-owners) Alan Jackson to be here on course with Bernard (Saundry), he's been a big supporter of our stable for a long time and this will mean a lot to him, because before I trained for him, his trainer was Bart Cummings. So he really wanted to win his race,” said Stokes.
Athanatos (I Am Immortal) won The Coast at Gosford to take his record to four wins with earnings over $800,000. “This was a big prizemoney race, and the owners will be wrapped. I'm getting a bit of a handle on Sydney now. It's something we want to explore more and have more of a presence up there, so it's important to identify horses to send up. He might be a horse we now have to look at Brisbane with.”
Note: The Coast is noted on Racing Australia as a Listed race but has yet to be ratified by the International Pattern Committee. Athanatos was previously a Group 3 winner in the G3 SAJC Chairman’s Stakes this time last year.
Consistent King thrills in Takeover Target
Peter Snowden-trained King Of Roseau (Capitalist) made it three wins in succession when diving to win the Listed Takeover Target Handicap at Gosford. He has now won three stakes races in succession, and seven of his 24 starts for $2.4 million in earnings. “I could see the horse on his inside (Harry's Yacht) making his run with King Of Roseau but I just felt he would find a way,” Snowden said.
“King Of Roseau is in a frame of mind where he just wants to win. He has always been a good sprinter but he's gone to the next level this season. He's won six of his last nine starts and he just keeps getting better.
“He will go to the Kingsford Smith Cup next and 1300m is probably his best distance, then onto the Stradbroke Handicap.” A $95,000 purchase from Ashleigh Thoroughbreds at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by Pulse Racing and Pinhook Bloodstock, King Of Roseau is one of only two foals from Dominca (Choisir) whose first foal is maiden winning filly Antilles (Written By).
Nightline set for Oaks after Bracelet win
Trainers Tony and Maddysen Sears will set Nightline (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) for the G1 Queensland Oaks after her one length win in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet. The 3-year-old filly has won four of her eight starts and this was her first stakes win. “I've got a good friend here in Lee Freedman. I think he's actually a genius trainer and he's been telling me for weeks, he said Tony, she'll win the Oaks,” Tony Sears said.
“So when someone like Lee tells you that, you're full of confidence. This horse is very very special. You know she's got gears that probably a lot of horses haven't got.” Sold by Westbury Stud at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for NZ$75,000 to Paul Moroney Bloodstock, Catheryne Bruggeman and Sears Racing, she took her earnings over $290,000.
Nightline is the first foal of Decimal (NZ) (El Roca) who is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Fontelina (Testa Rossa).
Listed Silk Stocking won by She’s Got Pizzazz
Zoustar mare She’s Got Pizzazz won Saturday’s Listed Silk Stocking at the Gold Coast for trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman. It was her fourth victory and third at stakes level, and she took her earnings over $480,000 with the one length win.
Owned by Dorrington Farm, She’s Got Pizzazz is a full sister to Group 1 winner Mizzy and both are out of Listed winner Missy Cummings (Magnus).
Listed Centaurea Stakes won by Private Legacy
The Autumn Sun mare Private Legacy backed up her 2025 victory in the Listed Centaurea Stakes with a second victory in the race in 2026. This year, the Gregory Hickman-trained 5-year-old mare won in a blanket finish from Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray-trained Mating Call (Brazen Beau) and Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Brave Miss (Rebel Raider).
“Greg (Hickman) couldn't be here today but he's done an amazing job with this horse and a lot of us owned her mum, Private Secretary, who won up at the Magic Millions. So, just very happy. It's her last race today before she goes to the sales. So, fairytale finish… the sale is in a few weeks, so we'll see how we go,” said owner Michael Woodlands.
Listed Gosford Gold Cup won by Asterix
Chris Waller-trained Asterix (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) set a weight carrying record when he made it two wins in a row in taking out the Listed Gosford Gold Cup by a length on Saturday. He won the G3 JRA Plate last start and has won seven of his 26 starts and over $1.2 million. The 2022 G1 New Zealand Derby winner carried 61 kg to victory over Zaphod (Ire) (Zarak {Fr}) who carried 53kg with Touristic (GB) (Frankel {GB}) carrying 54.5kg into third.
“He's a happy horse and is going better than ever. He has strung back-to-back wins together. He is extremely underrated but as long as he is winning, we don't mind,” stable representative Zane Jones said.
“You would have to say a trip to Queensland beckons after that, his effort was full of merit.” Bruce Perry Bloodstock paid NZ$450,000 for him from Curraghmore’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale draft.
Cifrado bounces back in last at Gold Coast
Rex Lipp-trained Cifrado (Encryption), a former dual Group 2 winning juvenile, bounced back to form when taking out the Listed Australian Turf Club Trophy at the Gold Coast on Saturday by one-third of a length from Tuned (Zoustar) and Redford (Snitzel). He has won six of his 33 starts and over $1.8 million and was ridden by Tom Sherry.
“Believe it or not I sat until just after midday to see who was available for the ride and Tom's manager rang,” said Lipp.
“His ride was scratched and then when I put him on to ride but they thought it was Tommy Berry so at one point I had two Tom's booked. It all got sorted out and everything's just panned out beautiful.”
Cliff Little purchased him for $320,000 from Eureka Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft. Cifrado is a half-brother to Listed winner Miami Fleiss (Spirit Of Boom) and their dam Madame Fly (Excites) is a winning half-sister to Group 3 winner Chapter And Verse (Rothesay).
Snitzel had a double at the Gold Coast meeting with Group 3 winners Beadman and St Gotthard.
Ton comes up for Mott
Jockey Jamie Mott made it 100 wins for the season when successful on Highvol (Microphone) at Caulfield on Saturday. “You’ve just reminded me actually,” Mott said after the race.
“When I left home this morning, my wife said, ‘You’ll get the 100 today’. Obviously, it’s a massive achievement. I couldn’t do it without the support of owners of trainers and I’m having a great season and hopefully it keeps getting better and better.”
Mott made it a double for the day when winning on Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained Plymouth (The Autumn Sun).
He’s A Machino salutes in Ascot redemption
A debut winner for Sean and Jake Casey before three runs in stakes grade, He’s A Machino (Maschino) dashed back into form with a near three-length victory at Ascot in Saturday’s $80,000 Croser Sparkling Plate.
“We have had a really blessed season with our young horses and young jockeys,” said Sean Casey, praising the ride of apprentice Natika Riordan on the colt.
Video: Watch race replay of He's A Machino, video courtesy of Racing WA
“She’s come on so well, it was a beautiful ride. She nearly could have said, ‘I’ll just take the sit and let them cross’, but she took the initiative to push through and she knew she had a very fit horse underneath her. Then the horse even gave her a kick at the finish, so it was really pretty to watch.”
"The horse (He's A Machino) even gave her (Riordan) a kick at the finish, so it was really pretty to watch." - Sean Casey
After placing in the Listed Perth Stakes, He’s A Machino had run sixth in the G2 Karrakatta Plate, which Casey felt gave the colt the edge on Saturday’s run.
“He ran a really good race in the Karrakatta,” he said. “And he was obviously very fit, so we didn’t have to do much with him after that run. He’s got beautiful bloodlines and family, he’s an absolute credit to local breeding on both sides of his pedigree, and he’s just a stunning animal.”
He's A Machino winning the at Ascot | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
Casey confirmed the colt would head for a spell and return in the spring to take advantage of the Westspeed 3-year-old bonuses. “At the moment, the sky is the limit for him,” he said.
He’s A Machino is a homebred for the Caseys’ long-term owner HW Daly. He's A Machino is the seventh foal out of eight-time winner There’snonesosassy (Due Sasso), whose dam is a three-quarter-sister in blood to Listed Burgess Queen Stakes victress and Group 1-performed Achtung Baby (Sarab {Ire}). There’snonesosassy’s dam is also a half-sister to 13-time winner and dual Listed victor Scenic Assault (Scenic {Ire}).
Saxon Warrior adds juvenile winner
At Ipswich on Saturday, Chris and Corey Munce-trained 2-year-old filly Saxon Spirit (Saxon Warrior {Ire}) made the most of her raceday experience to win at her second start by a nose from Alto Luna (Puissance De Lune {Ire}) with Zou Zou Kapadokia (Lean Mean Machine) in third.
Purchased by Munce Racing for $32,500 from Kenmore Lodge’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft, Saxon Spirit is the third winner for Timid (Albrecht) who was a winner at Scone.
Starlust returns to training in UK
Riverstone Lodge’s sire Starlust (GB), a son of Zoustar, has been pulled from service and is back in training in the UK with trainer Ralph Beckett. “He got about 70 mares in foal, but his fertility wasn’t the greatest. We thought he might struggle for support in his second season, so we brought him back into training,” Alex Cole, racing manager to Starlust’s owners Jim and Fitri Hay, said.
According to the Australian Stud Book, Starlust covered 102 mares in 2025. “According to the trainer, it’s like he never left the yard. The plan is to run in the Temple Stakes. He’s certainly not infertile and he’s been left entire. A stallion career is not off the table and, if he gets a good one in his first crop in Australia, we can revisit the situation.
“He’s by Zoustar, so it'll probably be Australia and that is, of course, where his offspring will be running.”
Riches joins Dubbo Turf Club
Dubbo Turf Club has announced the appointment of Cameron Riches as General Manager, formerly the GM of Cairns Jockey Club in North Queensland. “I’m incredibly excited to commence with Dubbo Turf Club and to become part of the wider Dubbo community,” Riches told racingnsw.com.au.
"The club has excellent facilities, a passionate racing community and enormous potential for continued growth both on and off the track. I’ve been very impressed with the club itself and the opportunities that exist to continue building its profile, strengthening partnerships and delivering quality raceday experiences for members, sponsors and patrons.”
G3 Rotorua Stakes won by Churchillian
Tony Pike-trained 6-year-old mare Chuchillian (NZ) (Churchill {Ire}) added her second Group 3 victory in Saturday’s G3 Rotorua Stakes and her tenth career victory in total. “She is a marvellous horse and to see what she did today, she just put them away,” stable representative Chris McNab said.
“Tony (Pike) said we are probably best sticking to the fence and it has worked out as she would have got attacked on either side if she hadn’t. Kitty Flash had to do a lot of work to get outside her, which we had banked on, and everything went picture perfect the whole way. She is a good, tough mare and that is her tenth win today. Not many horses do that and she has been a great servant to the stable.”
PA Willetts paid NZ$100,000 for her from Pencarrow Stud’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale draft in 2021 and she took her earnings over NZ$350,000. A daughter of Fond Du Coeur (Ire) (Fastnet Rock), whose dam is a winning full sister to trip Group 1 winner Pride (Fr) (Peintre Celebre {USA}), the dam of G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly winner One Foot In Heaven (Ire) (Fastnet Rock).
Listed Rotorua Cup won by Pacifico
Andrew Forsman-trained Pacifico (NZ) (Ardrossan) won Saturday’s Listed Rotorua Cup over 2200 metres to become his sire’s ninth stakes winner. “He is a neat horse and just so honest. I wasn’t sure if he was going to run a strong 2200m on what is a very holding track, but it was a gutsy effort and a great ride from George (Rooke),” Forsman said.
“I was surprised there wasn’t that much pressure early as he got across (to the lead) by default. He had a soft time of it down the back (straight) on the fence and I think that proved the winning of the race. He is a horse that keeps surprising, keeps stepping up and is getting better and better with age.
“Now this horse has won over ground it opens up a lot more options for him. (Owners) Mark and John (Carter) are such huge supporters of the stable and it is a pleasure to train for them.” Passed in at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, Pacifico is the last foal of Carib (NZ) (Montjeu {Ire}), a winning half-sister to Group 2 winner My Tusker (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}).
Risk of fatal injuries report released in USA
A new Equine Health Advisory on the risk of fatal injury in Covered Horses previously placed on the Veterinarians' List as Unsound was revealed by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) on Friday.
The advisory, which is based on data drawn from the HISA Veterinarians' List, provides practical guidance, including on the use of wearable biometric sensors during training programs to provide additional insight into horses' condition and performance.
“Decisions to place a horse on the Veterinarians' List as Unsound are made with the utmost care and expertise by Regulatory Veterinarians, and it is crucial that they are supported in their work with as much data as possible, along with strong collaboration with trainers and attending veterinarians,” said Dr. Jennifer Durenberger, HISA Director of Policy and Industry Initiatives.
Jennifer Durenberger | Image courtesy of HISA
When horses are scratched, they may be placed on the Veterinarians' List or Stewards' List. In 2025, 3,297 unique horses were placed on the Veterinarians' List as Unsound by Regulatory Veterinarians at Covered Racetracks. As of March 31, 2026, 1,904 of those horses (nearly 60%) have not made a subsequent start.
Crucially, through the end of Q1 2026, approximately 20% of racing- and training-related fatalities involving Covered Horses at Covered Racetracks have occurred in horses who were either still on the Veterinarians' List as Unsound at the time of death, had been scratched by Regulatory Veterinarians prior to a recent race or removed from the Veterinarians' List as Unsound within the six months preceding the fatal injury.
Vale Doc Solomon
William Joseph (“Doc”) Solomon, beloved veterinarian, farm owner and mentor to many, has passed at the age of 84.
As founder and owner of Pin Oak Lane Farm, a full-service farm and equine veterinary clinic in York County, Pennsylvania, “Doc” Solomon was responsible for helping to raise a Kentucky Derby winner, Lil. E. Tee, the supposed supporting act who took a curtain call in the 1992 running of the race after favourite Arazi flubbed his lines.
Alongside the many talented horses that “Doc” Solomon helped nurture, he inspired many young veterinarians and other young horsemen and women whose careers intersected with Pin Oak Lane Farm.
“I am who I am today in part because of Dr. Solomon,” wrote Dr. Modesty Burleson, in an online profile for the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School, where “Doc” Solomon had also pursued his veterinary training many years prior.
“I loved helping him with the breeding work and became fascinated with everything related to breeding horses. He helped me choose Penn Vet–all the veterinarians I knew went to the School–where I then found a new community of mentors.”
Dual Derby winner Lambourn returns
History was made at Chester on Friday when the dual Derby hero Lambourn (Australia) took the G2 Huxley Stakes to provide Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore with a clean sweep of the May meeting's Stakes races.
Having to battle harder than Jan Brueghel, Constitution River, Benvenuto Cellini and Amelia Earhart had to complete the clean sweep in the extended 10-furlong contest, the 6-4 favourite who was last seen finishing fourth in the St Leger saw off Bay City Roller (New Bay) to prevail by a neck, with 1.25 lengths back to Ice Max (Dark Angel) in third.
Kevin Buckley was on hand to reflect on the unique achievement by the yard. “It's extraordinary,” the Coolmore representative said of the five-timer. “It's always special to come here, but to win all five Pattern races this week is very special and Ryan said he was always confident. It was a very good performance over that trip. I'd imagine now he'll be aimed at the Coolmore Coronation Cup at Epsom.”
