Waller and Hermitage pair set for JJ Atkins
Trainer Chris Waller will aim for his fourth G1 JJ Atkins Plate with Hermitage Thoroughbreds-owned pair of Tron Bolt (Toronado {Ire}) and Stormy Marco (Wootton Bassett {GB}).
“I don't care which one wins. I just want them both to run well. I am learning about them and hopefully both of them appreciate the step up to the mile and then we will see where they fit into their 3-year-old year later on,” Waller told racenet.com.au.
Chris Waller | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Stormy Marco didn't have much luck in the Sires', did he? If he had got luck, I think he would have been right in the finish. Tron Bolt is probably the more progressed of the pair, just because he has won his last two. But the other horse has done really well.
“Hermitage have been great supporters of mine and we have had a lot of luck together. These are both nice progressive horses and they are coming up here for their chance at winning a Group 1 and then hopefully they progress from that.”
Stradbroke could be Rothfire’s final run
Never say never with a tough old horse like Rothfire (Rothesay), but trainer Rob Heathcote is pragmatic about his run in Saturday’s G1 Stradbroke Handicap.
“The reality is that when you have got a horse who is eight years old, every time you put a saddle on their back it could be their last time at the races,” Heathcote told racenet.com.au.
“He has been very, very close to retirement on several occasions during his career, there were even some within the ownership group that felt at various stages that it might have been time to retire him. But part of the secret to his longevity is that we have been very conservative with him.
Rothfire | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“As soon as there has been an issue, a touch of jarring up, or a hoof issue, we have sent him for a spell and let him have the necessary breaks. The owners have known all along that I will know when the time is right, be it competitive spirit or soundness. As soon as one of those wanes, we will pull the pin.
“But he pulled up so well from his Doomben 10,000 win that I certainly wasn't tempted to retire him after that. Winning a Stradbroke would be the pinnacle of my career, no doubt. It is our number one race here in Queensland and I have trained for 29 years and gone close.
“The most heartbreaking one was when Linton went up the fence and won, that day Buffering ran second with a big weight.”
Fangirl will need to break weight record
Chris Waller-trained Fangirl (Sebring) has been given 56.5kg for the G1 Stradbroke Handicap and if she wins, she will be the first mare to carry that much weight in the race since Sweetheart (Ormond) shouldered 8st 13lbs (or 56.5kg) in 1899.
“Fangirl was great last start and with a bit of luck in running, she probably wins,” jockey James McDonald told racingandsports.com.au.
Fangirl | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I know she has to carry a bit of weight in the Stradbroke but she's an outstanding mare and will be hard to beat.”
Pride Of Jenni to step up in trip
Middle distance front-running star Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Jenni) will step up to 2200 metres for the first time in her career in Saturday’s Q22.
“After the race on the Saturday, I decided to go down and see Pride Of Jenni at her stable and she was bright as a button and really keen,” owner Tony Ottobre told racenet.com.au.
Pride Of Jenni | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I expected her to be a little bit tired but she wasn't at all. I waited a couple of days then rang Ciaron as we were talking about giving her a spell. After yesterday's gallop at the Gold Coast, Ciaron rang me and said, ‘she's going really well'.
“She won't run if the track is heavy. She'll be all right on a soft (7) but we're not running her on a heavy track again. It just takes too much out of her.”
NSW stewards discuss charges over disqualified O’Shea
After winning on Tom Charlton-trained Hovland (Dundeel {NZ}) on Wednesday at Warwick Farm, jockey Tommy Berry referenced speaking to the horse’s former co-trainer John O’Shea who is currently serving a four-month suspension.
“When talking about tactics he mentioned he'd spoken to Tom and John on the morning of the race,” Racing NSW chief steward Tom Moxon told racenet.com.au.
“We have checked phone records of those involved and we have spoken to those involved and are now giving consideration to our next steps.”
Cartoon Graveyard wins Swan Hill Cup
This year’s Swan Hill carnival concluded on Sunday with the Swan Hill Cup won by John Blacker-trained Cartoon Graveyard (Turffontein) with jockey Craig Newitt aboard.
“Obviously, when the marble came out and we drew wide, we either had to bite the bullet and go forward or ride him quiet,” Newitt said.
“The beauty about riding for Johnny and Tegan (Keys) and (foreman) Scotty (Brunton) is they don’t give you many instructions, so I was able to watch the first half-a-dozen races, and I was happy enough to come wide on him, so I just left him alone. I trusted that he was going to be there for me at the finish, which he was.”
Previously a Listed winner in the 2025 Murray Bridge Gold Cup, Cartoon Graveyard took his record to eight wins from 33 starts and over $500,000. He was a $50,000 purchase by Brunton Racing and Tasmania Bloodstock from Motree Thoroughbreds’ Magic Millions Tasmania Yearling Sale draft.
Juvenile winner for Pierata
Rex Lipp-trained 2-year-old filly Hide The Pierata (Pierata) won at Toowoomba on Saturday night. It was her debut. Originally sold by Waylon J Stud for $10,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, she was onsold via Inglis Digital in October 2025 for $2750 to W Benson.
Hide The Pierata is the fourth foal and second winner for Hidden Code (Encosta De Lago) who is a winning half-sister to stakes-placed pair Let Me Try Again (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}) and Amsterdam (Ire) (Danehill {USA}).
Double for Lloyd in England
Jockey Zac Lloyd rode a double at Doncaster on his second day riding in England.
“I've always wanted to spend the Australian winter overseas getting a bit of experience,” Lloyd said earlier this week.
Zac Lloyd | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“After the autumn I had, it opened a few doors and George Boughey got in touch about potentially coming over for some lightweight rides at Royal Ascot, which was a fantastic opportunity.” He won on Michael Bell-trained Any Which Way (GB) (Almanzor {Fr}) and Daniel and Claire Kubler-trained Arctic Dawn (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}).
Platinum Pantheon to stay in Queensland
Palmerston North sprinter Platinum Pantheon (Hanseatic) will stay in Queensland after his runner-up effort in the Listed Queensland Day Stakes at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
“We would be flat getting into the first Group 1 sprint of the season (in New Zealand) at the moment, so we are probably better to push forward a little bit on this side and give him a nice spell over here and then bring him back,” trainer Lisa Latta told Loveracing.nz.
“There is a nice 1350 at Ipswich in a fortnight and we will look to head there next. He is thriving over here, and the trip will be the making of him. Hopefully we can come back here next year and aim for some really nice races.”
Strong wagering for Belmont Stakes
Saturday's blockbuster Belmont Stakes Day program, highlighted by Golden Tempo's victory in the 158th running of the G1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets, generated all-sources handle of US$116,077,378 (AU$165 million) and paid attendance of 46,128.
On-track handle for the 14-race Belmont Stakes Day card, which included six elite-level races among seven 1raded stakes, was US$13,416,742 (AU$19 million). With a new and re-imagined Belmont Park scheduled to open September 18, the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets will return to its Long Island home in 2027. The event was temporarily shifted to Saratoga from 2024-26.
Book'em Danno adds Grade 3
This past season, Eclipse Award voters were forced to choose between the season-long body of work assembled by Atlantic Six Racing's Book'em Danno (Bucchero) and the brilliance shown in a pair of big-figure victories achieved by Bentornato (Valiant Minister), capped by success in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint. That contest was purposely given a pass by the Book'em Danno team.
Book'em Danno prevailed in one of the closest battles on Eclipse evening, and on Saturday afternoon at Saratoga in the G3 True North Stakes, the argument was settled belatedly on the racetrack, as Book'em Danno raced handy enough to a very fast pace, confronted the even-money favourite inside the final furlong and edged away to score by a deceptively easy margin.
“He's been training unbelievable. Unbelievable,” said winning trainer Derek Ryan. “He got beat the first time because I ran him one work short. “I left it up to Paco. He said I'm going to be close. I said, 'If he's two behind him [No. 3, Bentornato] turning for home, he'll get him.' And that's what happened.
“He (Lopez) knows the horse so well. He knows what I want. I want him on the outside, make your move on the outside, and it worked out perfect.”
