Geisel Park dispersal and Vibrant Sun headline Magic Millions Digital
A major dispersal from one of Western Australia's most respected breeding operations is set to take centre stage at the Magic Millions Digital auction, which closes on Thursday.
The Geisel Park Stud Unreserved Dispersal presents buyers with a wide range of opportunities across racing and breeding stock, with 60 lots catalogued including racehorses, fillies, shares, weanlings, yearlings and broodmares.
Duchess Of Gossip (All American) is a 6-year-old mare carrying her first foal by Playing God after being covered in her maiden season last spring. A five-time winner on the track, she was also twice placed third in the Listed Jungle Mist Classic.
Also in foal to Playing God is Rosebank (Helmet) who won three races during her career and has already produced four foals. She is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Gabbidon (Bel Esprit), and hails from the family of the G2 West Australian Derby winner A Lot Of Good Men (A Lot {USA}), and the G1 Railway Stakes winner Bustler (Playing God).
Outside of the Geisel Park dispersal, one of the headline offerings of the sale is G1 Australasian Oaks winner Vibrant Sun (The Autumn Sun), who is being offered unreserved on account of Sheamus Mills Bloodstock.
Long Leaf moves to Victoria
West Australian-sire Long Leaf will relocate to Victoria’s Grassdale Pastoral for the 2026 season. The son of Fastnet Rock will stand at a fee to be announced. “Long Leaf brings together many of the qualities regional breeders are searching for. He was an early-running 2-year-old, a stakes-winning juvenile, a million-dollar race winner at three and he is by one of the great Australian stallions in Fastnet Rock,” Grassdale Pastoral Director and Highland Bloodstock Principal Christopher Constantine said.
Long Leaf | Standing at Grassdale Pastoral
“We believe there is a significant opportunity to build a breeding operation in Gippsland that complements Victoria’s established breeding regions while providing local breeders with greater access and value. He is a proven producer of winners.”
Grassdale has recently changing hands after more than 150 years of ownership by the one family. Long Leaf’s oldest foals are 4-year-olds and he has sired 27 winners from limited opportunities.
Freedman decision to be announced in July
Trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman faced the Victorian Racing Tribunal on Wednesday in relation to charges of race-day treatment of two horses, Kira (Lonhro) and Moonhaven (Shalaa {Ire}) on August 16, 2025. Neither trainer was present when the nebuliser was given and both horses were scratched by stewards. A decision will be announced on July 1.
Anthony and Sam Freedman | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“There is accountability and some culpability (on trainers) in this case because the system broke down but you'd assess it as relatively low. The point of importance is the administration was not authorised, or intended, or a directed act of either trainer,” Freedman's barrister, Matthew Stirling, told the VRT.
Tough barrier for Single Red
Trainer Andrew Forsman has the visitor’s draw for the G1 Queensland Oaks with Single Red (NZ) (Vanbrugh). “We would have loved a good draw, that’s probably what cost her in her first couple of runs over there – just being left exposed without cover and electing to go forward, which hasn’t worked out both times,” Forsman told Loveracing.nz.
“She was left a bit of a sitting shot turning for home. I guess from the wide draw we will try to snag her back for a bit of cover and hope the race is run genuinely so she gets her chance. She hasn’t been beaten far, she’s been right there and while last start was disappointing, she wasn’t far away. If she does get some luck in the Oaks, she’s going to be competitive again.”
Yoshida gets outside chance in the Oaks
Jockey Kenji Yoshida will ride outsider Norty Forty (Prince Fawaz) for trainer Kevin Kemp in Saturday’s G1 Queensland Oaks. “Wondai last weekend, Eagle Farm for the Group 1 this weekend, these things happen I suppose,” Yoshida told racenet.com.au.
“I decided I wanted to be a jockey when I was 14 years old, I took an exam to try to get into the Japanese Jockey Academy but I couldn't get through. I came to Australia in 1998, Nozi (Tomizawa) had come to Australia a year before me. When I came here, I had never ridden a horse before.
“There was a school at Deagon (in Brisbane) that was having quite a few Japanese students, learning the English language and learning how to ride horses. Kempy has supported me, not only in this race but for a long time now.” Yoshida has won almost 800 races but only ridden in a few Group 1 races.
Stradbroke golden ticket for The Inflictor
Fan favourite and truckie-trained The Inflictor (Under The Louvre) needs to win the G2 Moreton Cup on Saturday to gain a ballot-free ticket into the G1 Stradbroke Handicap. “At this stage he’s struggling to get into the Stradbroke, but there will be a lot of dropouts from horses above him in the order of entry,” trainer Craig Cousins told racingqueensland.com.au.
“If he does happen to win the Moreton Cup, then I’ll need to talk to his owners about whether he backs up a week later in the Stradbroke. It’s not every day you get the chance of running in a Group 1, but the final decision will be up to the owners.”
ATC to honour long serving members on Saturday
Saturday sees the running of the Listed-Bob Charley AO Stakes and the Australian Turf Club will honour many of their long term members. Charley is a former Chairman of the Australian Jockey Club, inaugural Chairman of the NSW Thoroughbred Racing Board and inaugural Chairman of the Australian Racing Board.
“ATC Members are an integral part of our Club’s future and success, and these groups of 40 and 50-year plus Members continue to be a significant reminder of our past and present,” Australian Turf Club's CEO, Steve McMahon said.
“It’s also most appropriate we honour and celebrate these Members along with Bob Charley AO and the raceday named in his honour, for the long and great service Bob has given Sydney racing, our Club and the wider industry. We thank all ATC Members for their support and ongoing Membership as we join on Saturday for this special day of appreciation.”
Five women will join the 40-Year Foundation Female Member category and 24 men will be honoured for 50 years of membership.
Trio of debutants line up for Lamont Classic
Thursday’s Lamont Classic for juveniles at Wagga will feature ten runners, three of them on debut. Nick Olive-trained Star Of Lily (Standout) is the most experienced horse in the field as a winner from three starts. “She got a bit lost in Melbourne. She is going great and I expect him to be right in it, but the wet track is the question,” Olive told racingnsw.com.au.
He also has Termeilian (Gold Standard) in the field. “She has the experience which is worth a fair bit. I bought her at the Magic Millions and Termeilian was bred by her owner Ralph Tierney. Ralph has had a lot of horses with me over many years including Oneforian and Craft.”
Juvenile winner for Flying Artie
At Doomben on Wednesday, Tony Gollan-trained Tengun Tommy (Flying Artie) won at his second start, having debuted in The Debut. The 2-year-old gelding was sold by KBL Thoroughbreds for $6000 at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale to Yathroo Racing. He is the first foal of She’s A Tigress (Better Than Ready) who won five races including on debut at two.
Redoute’s Choice had a double at the meeting as damsire with 2-year-old filly La Barrita (St Mark’s Basilica {Fr}) and Bluepinot (Blue Point {Ire}).
Double for I Am Invincible
I Am Invincible sired a double at Gatton on Wednesday with 3-year-old gelding Yoweri who won his maiden for trainer Tony Gollan. Stablemate 3-year-old filly Chantilly took her record to two wins from five starts.
At Warwick Farm, I Am Invincible sired 3-year-old filly Lady Invictus who won at her second start for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. She is one of only two live foals for Group 3 winner Crown Witness (Star Witness).
Snippetson juvenile wins at Belmont
In the west, at Belmont on Wednesday, Daniel Morton-trained 2-year-old filly Ace Queen Suited (Snippetson) broke through for her first victory at her fifth start, having placed twice previously. Morton Racing purchased her for $32,500 from Greenfields Lodge’s Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale draft.
Snippetson had a double at the meeting with 3-year-old gelding Brazen Butcher who took his record to two wins from five starts.
Lloyd to ride in England
Jockey Zac Lloyd will have his first English raceday ride on Friday at Doncaster. “I landed in England on Monday night at around 10pm and it was straight to work,” Lloyd told racenet.com.au.
Zac Lloyd | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“On Tuesday morning I rode three for George Boughey and then went over to the July track and watched some Godolphin horses through going their paces. I got to watch some good horses, Opera Ballo, Rebel's Romance, it was cool. Tomorrow morning I'll be riding out for Charlie (Appleby) at Moulton Paddocks so I'm really looking forward to that opportunity.
“I'll have my first rides on Friday and then back-up and do it again on Saturday. I've got at least four rides on both days so I'm extremely appreciative for the support. I'm riding a horse called Ruler Of Time for Charlie (Appleby) and I think I'm also down on one for Harry Charlton.”
Prague filly set for black type target
Trainer Michelle Bradley will run Prague 2-year-old filly She’s No Saint at Ellerslie on Saturday ahead of a planned run at black type in August. “I’d love to get a win out of her and my main plan is to aim toward the Northland Breeders’ Stakes here at Ruakaka in August,” Bradley told Loveracing.nz.
“She’s been in strong fields, and I was really happy with her first couple of races to get into the Karaka Millions and didn’t disgrace herself at all. She got through a heavy track at the Avondale trials, so I don’t think she’ll mind Ellerslie.”
St Mark’s Basilica sires Italian Derby winner
Forty-five years on from the success of the Ian Balding-trained Glint Of Gold in the Paul Mellon silks forever synonymous with Mill Reef, Andrew Balding emulated his late father at Milan's San Siro Racetrack on Tuesday as the blue-blooded Venetian Prince (St Mark's Basilica) emerged victorious in a pulsating finish to the G2 143rd Derby Italiano.
“No, it was a bit of a guess,” said Balding when asked whether he was always expecting Venetian Prince to improve for the step up in distance, having finished 10th in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket when last seen.
“It's difficult in a big field like that and with the [heavy] ground. When they all spread out, we didn't know quite how we were going. But I was delighted with the ride as well. Obviously, Jason started with us as an apprentice and rides regularly for us, so I was thrilled for him.”
He continued, “If he comes back alright, I'd imagine we'd probably go to the [G2] King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot. He doesn't get a penalty for that and he obviously stays well. Watching him today, he looked like another furlong would be right up his street.”
Venetian Prince, who becomes the second European Classic scorer from the first crop of St Mark's Basilica after Prix de Diane heroine Diamond Necklace, is one of six winners from as many runners out of Arabian Queen (Dubawi), the winner of the G1 Juddmonte International when taking the notable scalp of Golden Horn in 2015.
Arabian Queen's sextet of winners bred from Jeff Smith's Littleton Stud also includes the multiple Group 1-placed See The Fire (Sea The Stars), who recently won the G2 Middleton Fillies' Stakes at York for the second consecutive year. Venetian Prince's other siblings include the G2 Royal Lodge Stakes runner-up Royal Playwright (Lope De Vega) and Listed King Charles II Stakes third Arabian Storm (Kingman), plus Northumberland Plate hero Spirit Mixer (Frankel).
Aktem ready for inaugural Breeze Up Sale
Aktem will bid to throw down a marker with its first-ever breeze-up sale taking place at Maisons-Laffitte on Wednesday, where 81 juveniles will go under the hammer.
The sales company's Daniel Cooper has outlined hopes for the breeze-up sale to grow and revealed that there could be considerable scope for a much bigger catalogue in the future provided Wednesday's first foray into the market goes well.
“It's our first breeze-up sale but everything went to plan during the breeze. All of the jockeys were very happy with the track, which was laid out in excellent condition. We had a big thunder shower just before the breeze, so that did soften the ground up a little, but, apart from that, everything went well and a lot of people turned up,” Cooper said.
“It is a young sale but hopefully it can kick off. We have the location and we have the track so it's very convenient for vendors and buyers. We think we have a nice bunch of horses on offer for our first-ever breeze-up sale so fingers crossed it can all go well and we have something to build on going forward.
“When we were putting a breeze-up catalogue together, we asked the question about times. We weren't doing times but, at the same time, if somebody wanted to bring their speed cameras, they could. If all of the breeze-up handlers were saying we need clocks, we would have got clocks. They seem to be divided on clocks and I am old-fashioned myself when it comes to clocks.”
Twenty-two Breeders’ Cup members elected
Breeders' Cup Limited has elected 22 individuals to serve as Breeders' Cup Members, the group announced Tuesday. The Breeders' Cup Members are elected every other year by Breeders' Cup foal and stallion nominators through a proportional voting system based on the level of nominations paid to the organisation.
There are a total of 39 elected Breeders' Cup Members. The Members meet each July and elect individuals to the Breeders' Cup Board of Directors, which oversees the activities of the organisation.
*Indicates current, incumbent Members; #Indicates Members that will serve a two-year term
Antony Beck*
Gatewood Bell*
Carrie Brogden
Case Clay*
Alan Cooper*#
Everett Dobson*
Gerry Duffy
William S. Farish, Jr.*
Hutton Goodman
Jonathan Green*
Lynn Hancock
Fred W. Hertrich, III*
Jak Knelman*
M.V. Magnier*
Pope McLean, Jr.*
Charles O'Connor
John M.B. O'Connor
Garrett O'Rourke*
Daisy Phipps Pulito*
Tom Ryan*
Phillip Shelton#
Shunsuke Yoshida*
“Strong leadership and diverse perspectives are essential to ensuring Breeders' Cup continues to thrive, from delivering record-setting editions of the World Championships to supporting key industry initiatives,” said Barbara Banke, Chairman of the Breeders' Cup Board of Directors. “I am pleased to welcome both newly elected and returning Members and look forward to working together to advance the Breeders' Cup mission in the years ahead.”
