Wide draws no drama for Berry
Jockey Tommy Berry believes he can get a Group 1 double on Saturday despite his pair of runners both drawing wide. Yellow Brick (The Mission) has drawn barrier 17 for the G1 Kingsford Smith Cup and Solid Gold (NZ) (Savabeel) has gate 18 for the G1 Queensland Derby. “Yellow Brick was brilliant first-up, he handled them quite comfortably. If you go back through his form, he's never run a bad race and is rarely out of the placings,” Berry told racingandsports.com.au.
Tommy Berry | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He's up to Group 1 level as he proved with his Stradbroke Handicap run last year (second to War Machine) which was massive. But the horse is often plagued by bad barriers and he hasn't drawn well again (barrier 17). He's going well and just needs a bit of luck.
“Solid Gold drew wide last start and she had six weeks between runs so we played it safe and rode her quietly early. But I was really impressed with the way she hit the line and going to 2400m will suit her. She has another bad barrier but she is versatile so we will look at the speed in the race and see how the track is playing before deciding how we are going to ride her.”
Rothfire given reasonable weight for Stradbroke
Trainer Rob Heathcote was pleased with the 56.5kg awarded to Rothfire (Rothesay) for the G1 Stradbroke Handicap, but the 8-year-old gelding will need to come through Saturday’s G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup first. “I thought that was a very reasonable weight for a horse coming off a Group 1 win,” Heathcote told racenet.com.au.
“He would firstly have to go well on Saturday and then obviously pull up well. He's really well, he's done super since his euphoric Doomben 10,000 win. I loved this deck (soft Eagle Farm surface) here this morning. I would love that on Saturday and if he got that, he would run a race in the Kingsford Smith.”
Double Derby chances for Beauty Swift
Matt Smith-trained Beauty Swift (Pierro) will head to Hong Kong next season with the prestigious Hong Kong Derby as a long term target, but first he runs in Saturday’s G1 Queensland Derby. “They're Hong Kong owners. They've got all the 'Beauty' horses there, Beauty Generation and those horses,” Smith told racingandsports.com.au of owner HC Kwok.
“They're looking for horses to take to Hong Kong to be competitive there as their father would rather race them up there than here. He's a nice stayer. He's progressive, and I think he'll keep improving.
“He's the right horse. In the Rough Habit Plate (when second), the top four seemed to be staying on better than the rest.”
Shinn plans return by end of July
Blake Shinn has not ridden at the races since breaking his leg in four places in a fall in November 2025, but is hoping to be back by late-July. “I've been on the horses riding them in the trotting ring for about a week now to build up my leg muscles,” Shinn told racingandsports.com.au.
Blake Shinn | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“It feels good just to back in the saddle. I think in the next week to 10 days I will be back out on the track riding horses in cantering exercise. My plan is to go through the process step by step – trotting, cantering, jump-outs, barrier trials then races.
“I want to tick every box first but I'm very feeling confident. There is no pain in my leg, it feels super, but I don't want to rush my return. I'm looking to be back riding in races towards the end of July. I want to be '120 per cent' when I start riding in races again.”
Berzelius ready for Sires' Produce
Michael Freedman-trained 2-year-old colt Berzelius (Extreme Choice) heads into the G2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes having run fourth in the G3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic last start. “There were excuses for Berzelius last start,” jockey Tommy Berry told racingandsports.com.au.
“The Gold Coast track didn't suit him. He dropped the bit coming to the corner and couldn't get any momentum until well into the straight. He will appreciate the bigger Eagle Farm track and Michael (Freedman, trainer) has put the visors on for the Sires which will also help him. He's a lovely colt and can run a very competitive race.”
Free entry to Rosehill on Saturday
The Australian Turf Club and the NSW Bookmakers Cooperative will host the eighth annual Bookmakers Recognition Day at Rosehill on Saturday and general admission is free. “It is fantastic the ATC continues to honour long-term NSW Bookmakers who have been part of the fabric of racing for over 150 years,” Chairman of the NSW Bookmakers Cooperative, David Dwyer told racingnsw.com.au.
“This year the club recognises Sandro D’amore, Greg Millett, Denham Carter and Peter Taylor, who have been part of the colour and energy of the betting ring for many decades between them. The racing and bookmaking community is still in mourning following the death of Sydney bookie Sandro D’amore, who regularly offered top value to the punters and always gave them a good bet.
“On-course bookmakers continue to offer better value to punters on track and betting to bigger minimum bets than off-track bookmakers. The punters on course still love to have a bet on their pick and collect that cash in hand when their selection wins.”
Webb awarded scholarship
Jockey Alyssa Webb has been awarded the $5000 2026 Thomas Foods International sponsored Scholarship by the Carbine Club of South Australia. “Alyssa was an obvious nominee with her natural talent and extraordinary determination to maintain her health as well as she has with Crohn’s disease,” Racing SA’s Talent Manager Ruby Mayers told racingsa.com.au.
“She has to work harder than everyone else and at times, has had to miss out on race rides due to required medical appointments to manage her illness.”
Seib pair to excel at wet Gosford
Canberra trainer Danielle Seib doesn’t mind a wet track for her pair of 3-year-old runners at Gosford’s Thursday meeting. Willingham (Justify {USA}) heads there in preference to Wednesday’s Canterbury meeting. “He has drawn a soft gate in a much easier race than the Canterbury assignment so we decided to head that way,” Seib told racenet.com.au.
“You would expect he would get around Gosford with no dramas and he has shown more than enough ability in his short career to date. He is a beautifully educated horse and came down to us in really good order after being in work with Gai (Waterhouse) and Adrian (Bott).”
Look Here (Zoustar) came to Seib from Peter Snowden’s stable. “She arrived in terrific order and we have just been keeping her happy and ticking over. I thought she has contested races stronger than this and finds an easier provincial target this week.
“The trip looks to suit and she has drawn to not have to do too much work. You never really know how they will handle a heavy surface until you try but her form, her action and her breeding suggests she should hand it.”
From busted leg to Group 1 starter
Brisbane Racing Club starter Brad Richardson made his Group 1 debut this carnival with the G1 Doomben 10,000 a few weeks ago, but three years ago, he couldn’t have foreseen having this job. The former apprentice jockey worked as a clerk of the course and barrier attendant in Brisbane before an accident in 2023 left him with a badly broken leg.
“After weight brought my race riding days to an end, I was a stablehand and work rider with Kelly Schweida. I then took up a chance to be a clerk of the course in Brisbane, but the barrier accident killed off the trackwork side of things - you have to cop these things on the chin,” Richardson told racingqueensland.com.au on Wednesday.
“My wife Erica and children Charley and Abbey were absolutely tremendous during the seven months or so when I was out of action. So too was the Brisbane Racing Club. A member of the starting team was retiring around the time of my comeback and I was offered his spot.”
Cooly wins for Queensland coach
Queensland State Of Origin coach Billy Slater’s King Road syndicate part owns Wednesday’s Caulfield winner Cooly (Cool Aza Beel {NZ}) who took her record to three wins from nine starts with earnings over $112,000. “It was really good to see her bounce back, she’s a really progressive filly,” co-trainer Katherine Coleman said.
“We won’t push her too hard at this stage, but I think while she gets through the softer ground, if we can keep her going, it’d be silly not to.”
Third winner for Splintex
First season sire Splintex, a son of Snitzel, added his third winner on Wednesday when Josh Brown-trained 2-year-old filly Chixfromthestix won on debut at Belmont for jockey Lucy Fiore. She was sold by Gervase Park Stud at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale for $16,000 to her trainer.
She is one of only two foals for Minicoop (Sebring), whose first foal is winning 3-year-old filly Whoa Nellie (Deep Field). Minicoop is a full sister to Group 2-placed Seberate.
Juvenile winner for Supido
Supido, who sired this season’s R.Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Unit Five, had a juvenile winner at Doomben on Wednesday with Paul Butterworth-trained filly Run Like A Girl. Placed last start, Run Like A Girl was bought by Butterworth for $20,000 from KBL Thoroughbreds’ Magic Millions March Yearling Sale draft.
A half-sister to Listed winning 3-year-old Bona Sforza (Written By), she becomes the fourth winner from four to race for stakes placed Thwayya (Snitzel).
Juvenile winner for Capitalist
Michael Hickmott-trained 2-year-old gelding Lynch (Capitalist) won at Gawler on Wednesday, having run third on debut last start. His trainer spent $100,000 to acquire him from Newgate Farm’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft.
The promising juvenile is a full sibling to Group 3-placed Clemenceau, with both out of stakes placed Capital Commander (Commands).
Zaaki on track for Olympic debut
Four-time Group 1 winner Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) retired from racing in 2024 with 15 wins and over $11.1 million in prizemoney. Now he’s being ridden by Australian Olympian Shenae Lowings, and the pair heads to Melbourne to compete in the 3 Day International Event in a fortnight.
“It’s been a great journey, and he’s turning out to be as much of a champion in eventing as he was on the racetrack, so it’s really exciting,” Lowings told racing.com.
“I think a lot of these good horses just really want to be good at anything they do, and Zaaki’s definitely one of them. He wanted to be good on the racetrack and he wants to be good at the new career he's doing now. He just loves it. He is honestly loving every minute of this new career of eventing.
“I think Annabel (Archibald) told me he wasn’t very good over the jumps at the track, he was quite scared of them and didn’t really know what he was doing. When I got him, it definitely was a bit of a process. He wanted to be really careful, which means he didn’t want to knock the poles down.
“Once he figured out how to get over them, he’s just developed this amazing technique. Thoroughbreds don’t always have the best technique, but he really does. He’s got the front end, the back end, and he seems to have the scope, so he’s figured it out and he’s excelling.
“I truly believe he’s a good enough jumper to go all the way (to the Olympics). It’s just mentally and physically whether he wants to do that. His natural ability, I think, is good enough.”
Werner promoted in US Jockey Club
Kristin Werner, formerly the deputy general counsel and director of Industry Initiatives, has been promoted to vice president, Thoroughbred Strategy and Industry Initiatives, America’s The Jockey Club announced Tuesday.
“This promotion reflects The Jockey Club's continued commitment to serving the industry through initiatives that support and advance the Thoroughbred, both on and off the racetrack,” said Jockey Club president and COO James Gagliano.
“Kristin has played a key role in developing and leading efforts that strengthen welfare and safety for racehorses, expand opportunities for Thoroughbreds beyond racing, and foster collaboration across the industry. Her work speaks to both her leadership and her dedication to the mission of The Jockey Club.”
Vale Tony Ives
Racing communities around the world are mourning Tony Ives, one of the greatest and most popular international jockeys of recent decades who has died in Thailand at the age of 74 following a lengthy period of ill health.
Ives's first notable job was as stable jockey to Reg Hollinshead, who was arguably Britain's greatest tutor of apprentices during the latter years of the 1970s. For Hollinshead, Ives rode the first top-class horse with whom he was associated, Remainder Man, who was second in the 2,000 Guineas and third in the Derby in 1978.
Having ridden for one master trainer, Ives then took a retainer for another, one whose standards were, if possible, even higher. Bill O'Gorman was the perfectionists' perfectionist and is a man who has never suffered fools, gladly or otherwise. There can be no higher tribute to Tony Ives than that one could describe his partnership with O'Gorman as a match made in heaven.
During the early '80s, O'Gorman and Ives repeatedly won with a succession of terrific 2-year-olds and/or sprinters. Provideo (Godswalk), who set a 20th century record and equaled The Bard's all-time record by winning 16 races as a 2-year-old in 1984, was the most obvious simply because he was named 'Horse of the Year' by both Timeform and The Racegoers Club.
Ives's successes with O'Gorman brought his skills to the attention of a wider audience and led to his greatest victory. He became the regular rider of Lord Derby's massive gelding Teleprompter (Welsh Pageant), trained in North Yorkshire by Bill Watts. The pair landed one of the most famous British overseas victories when taking the GI Arlington Million in Chicago in 1985, the prize-money for which success, on top of his previous winnings, made Teleprompter the highest-earning British-trained racehorse up to that time.
In the 1990s, Ives accepted a position as a club jockey with the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, where he quickly established himself as one of the leading riders. A highlight of his time there was the victory of the champion sprinter Quicken Away (General Assembly) in the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize in 1991.
Back trouble forced Tony Ives to call time on his riding career when based in Macau in 1996, something which he shrugged off as “just an accumulation of old age and wear and tear”. By this time, the Far East had become home for him and for many years he continued to work at the track in Macau, as assistant trainer to his former weighing-room colleague Geoff Allendorf and for the Macau Jockey Club both as the starter and as a tutor in the apprentices' academy.
Friendly Soul fine after Haydock incident
A Tuesday inspection of Haydock Park's inner course found the surface unsuitable for racing and the May 29-30 cards have been abandoned, the racecourse announced on social media.
During Saturday's G2 Temple Stakes card, John and Thady Gosden's Friendly Soul (Kingman) took a false step on the inner course in the day's first race, the Listed William Hill Epic Boost British EBF Hedge Of Oak Stakes. A trio of inner course races were abandoned as a result.
“It was very unfortunate, very difficult [situation]. I took pictures of the hole, I knew it was at two and a half out and we found it. That's where she put her foot in. She went in about six inches, but she's fine. In the end, you could literally get your arm in it, and it was silty ground underneath. Obviously, it's an old drain that's collapsed. The track was in perfect order, but that was like a well-camouflaged trap, if you like,” John Gosden said.
“It's a miracle she was ok, to be honest. Luckily, she was travelling so well, everyone else was coming off the bridle, and he [Oisin Murphy] had a good hold of her. If he was in full stretch and the leg is out, that would have been a very different story. But fortunately, he was sitting with a double handful, and I think that was the key factor.”
