Maher to lease Crown Lodge
Racing NSW recently purchased Crown Lodge from Godolphin and on Friday, trainer Ciaron Maher announced that he would lease the property at Warwick Farm. In his press statement, Maher stated that he planned to leave the Racing NSW-owned Bong Bong facility and the Australian Turf Club-owned Leilani Lodge to focus on Crown Lodge.
Magic Millions digital opens for bidding
Honeysuckle (The Autumn Sun), a $475,000 yearling now 2-year-old filly who has had three starts headlines the latest offerings at Magic Millions Digital with 59 lots on offer. Trading Room (Kobayashi) is a lightly raced 3-year-old filly who is a winner from her only four starts to date.
Shares in racehorses with leading trainers such as Annabel and Rob Archibald, Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, Brad Widdup and Todd Smart are all listed, as well as stakes placed broodmare prospect Asian Daze (Ire) (Frontiersman {GB}).
Arion Pedigrees and U.S. Jockey Club strike deal
The Jockey Club Information Systems (TJCIS) has entered into an agreement to license North American racing and pedigree data to New Zealand-based Arion Pedigrees, a leading provider of pedigree, racing, and bloodstock information throughout Australia, New Zealand, and other Southern Hemisphere markets.
The arrangement is designed to expand the reach of North American Thoroughbred data and create new opportunities for breeders, pedigree professionals, and sales companies abroad.
“Expanding the influence of the North American Thoroughbred around the globe begins with extending the availability of North American breeding and racing data into new markets,” said Matt Iuliano, president of TJC Innovations.
TJCIS officials said they expect the agreement to increase the visibility of North American bloodlines in international markets while fostering the development of new technology-driven data products.
Arion Managing Director Kyla Johnston welcomed the partnership.
“We are very pleased to have the opportunity to work with The Jockey Club Information Systems and bring North American racing and pedigree information to our customers throughout the Southern Hemisphere,” Johnston said. “We look forward to working closely with the team to expand access to this data.”
Berzelius has talent for JJ Atkins
Jockey Tommy Berry believes Michael Freedman-trained 2-year-old colt Berzelius (Extreme Choice) has the talent to win the G1 JJ Atkins Plate, but maybe lacks a bit of maturity. “I think as a 3-year-old he is going to be even better because he will mature,” Berry told betsy.com.au.
Berzelius | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
“He just wants to do things his way at the moment. He switches on and off in races and when we hit the front in the Sires he thought it was over. He is still learning how to race. There is no doubt about his class or the trip in my mind, but it is his focus and attitude that is my main concern.”
Desert Lightning to shake up Stradbroke
Co-trainer Peter Moody thinks Desert Lightning (NZ) (Pride Of Dubai) can win Saturday’s G1 Stradbroke Handicap. “He did a bit of work in the run in the Kingsford Smith, but I think it's brought him on nicely for the Stradbroke,” Moody told racingqueensland.com.au.
“He goes there in terrific order. More importantly, we've just got to be good enough and that's quite often the problem. It's always a tremendous time of year in Queensland and made even better if you can win a race or two.
“So, we are looking forward to that and really looking forward to being here on Saturday on track. Let's hope we get a great crowd out here for Queensland's signature race day.”
Sydney Cup for Thebudgiesmugla
The long term plan for the G1 Sydney Cup with cleverly named Bjorn Baker-trained Thebudgiesmugla (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) begins on Saturday in the Listed Queen Elizabeth II Cup. “We don’t have to rush to get him through this year and get him up to the 3200m distance,” Baker’s racing manager Luke Hilton told racingnsw.com.au. Thebudgiesmugla is out of Hot Pants (NZ) (Keeper {NZ}).
Thebudgiesmugla (NZ) | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“He’s matured extremely well from last preparation and there’s signs there’s more to come. He could potentially be a Sydney Cup horse next year. He’s closer to his true weight as opposed to the Brisbane Cup, he was a fair way out of his true weight in the Group 2. He’s well in at the weights, it gives him a good advantage. He’s got a very good grounding having the 2100m, the 2400m, the 2000m runs and now the 2400m again.”
Small field calling Brave Call
Trainer Kris Lees will step Brave Call (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) up in grade for the Listed Queen Elizabeth II Cup on Saturday, hoping he’ll benefit from the small field. “Brave Call is looking for 2400m, and it's the right opportunity to try him in stronger grade,” Lees told racingandsports.com.au.
“The Cup doesn't have a big field (nine acceptors), and he is ready to run well. Even though he has won on wet ground, the improving track won't do him any harm at all. I trialled him (at the Beaumont track on May 4) in between those two races as there wasn't a suitable race.”
Costa given 12-month disqualification for cobalt positive
The Emirates Racing Authority has handed Australian expat trainer Michael Costa a 12-month disqualification after cobalt levels above the acceptable threshold were detected in a pre-race swab in one of his horses racing at Jebel Ali on March 15.
In a report published by ERA stewards on June 3, the stewards' investigation found that the horse in question had been exposed to a number of products containing measurable levels of cobalt, including a custom feed formulation containing a high concentration of cobalt. The horse had also received treatment on March 9 that hadn't been recorded.
The stewards accepted Costa's submission that it was likely the horse had been exposed to higher levels of cobalt than Costa was aware of, but they weren't satisfied that exposure alone could lead to the positive.
Costa pleaded guilty to two charges issued by stewards, receiving the disqualification for the charge of presentation of a horse to race with cobalt levels in excess of 100 micrograms per litre in urine.
Costa has spent several seasons training for Sheikh Ahmed’s Jebel Ali Stables in Dubai, recording 112 in the period, before announcing in March that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East had convinced him to bring his family back to Australia. He currently has a licence application before the QRIC with the intention of establishing a stable in Queensland, and was buying yearlings at the recent Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale.
Winner number two for Captivant
John McArdle-trained 2-year-old filly Neotropical (Captivant) bolted home at Bairnsdale by 3.25 lengths on Friday to become the second winner for her first season sire. His first winner is G2 Spirit Of Boom Stakes winner Vantorix.
Neotropical was sold by Mullaglass Stud at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for $40,000 to Nunkeri Park and Red Gum Racing. She is the second foal and first winner for I Like Toucans (Shooting To Win) who is a daughter of Group 1 winner Carry On Cutie (More Than Ready {USA}).
Juvenile winner for Peltzer
Second season sire Peltzer added a juvenile winner at Muswellbrook on Friday with Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained 2-year-old gelding Breakout who won at his third start. He is the third winner for Surely Not (Onemorenomore) who won twice in her career.
Yuki wins on debut in fog
Foggy conditions at Ballarat on Friday didn’t deter Ciaron Maher-trained debutant 3-year-old colt Yuki (Frosted {USA}) who galloped to a 1.5 length victory for Godolphin. He is the second foal of Kinshachi (Commands) whose first foal is Listed winner Kin (Impending).
Commands had a double as a damsire on the card with Symon Wilde-trained Big Rooster (Shalaa {Ire}) who is out of Crystal Diamonds (Commands).
First winner for Wigram
Apprentice jockey Tom Wigram blamed the pony races for getting him into racing after he rode his first winner at Taranaki on Friday on Allan Sharrock-trained Bridie (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}). “From when I was about five I rode ponies and every weekend we went show jumping,” Wigram said.
“I wasn’t hugely successful, but I loved horses and the thrill of going fast and jumping. I saw the pony scurries come up and I thought ‘what better way to get into it (racing)’. The pony scurries is a very good initiative, it was very popular and it still is. It was a good introduction to racing.”
The meeting was abandoned after four races due to starting gate malfunctions.
McDonald to ride for Wathnan at Ascot
James McDonald will once again ride second string for Wathnan Racing during the Royal Ascot meeting next week.
The Kiwi-born McDonald earned his fifth Royal Ascot winner aboard Wathnan's Crimson Advocate (Nyquist) in last year's G2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes. Overall, the Wathnan colours were first past the post five times during the 2025 edition of Royal Ascot.
“We've got a young fellow from New Zealand who's not too bad called James McDonald on the teamsheet,” said Wathnan's racing adviser Richard Brown when asked about riding plans in races where the old gold and peacock blue will have multiple representation.
“James Doyle will have first choice on everything but he will be giving James McDonald as much information as he can on the others we have. He's a huge addition for the week and to have James Doyle riding as your first jockey and James McDonald as your second jockey, you are simply giving yourself the very best chance you can and it's the best of both hemispheres working together, hopefully for success.”
White Abarrio to stand at Gainesway
White Abarrio (Race Day), winner of the 2023 GI Breeders' Cup Classic, will join the stallion roster at Gainesway following the conclusion of his racing career, co-owner C2 Racing Stable announced via X Thursday morning.
“Racing fans, we're absolutely thrilled to share that White Abarrio will enter stud at Gaineswsay Farm in Lexington, Ky after his racing career. Before he heads to the Bluegrass, he'll run next in the Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs,” the tweet read.
Already the winner of four Grade I events and Grade I-placed an additional three times, White Abarrio captured the 2025 GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational, 2023 GI Whitney Stakes and 2022 GI Curlin Florida Derby.
“It is rare that a horse who comes to stud with such consistent high-class ability is a grandson of the two foremost breed-shaping stallions of the last decade, Tapit and Into Mischief,” said Antony Beck of Gainesway. “We look forward to seeing what accomplishments White Abarrio can add to his already impressive resume the rest of this year and are very excited for him to join the Gainesway stallion roster in 2027.”
Santa Bravado headlines London Sale wildcards
Five horses have been supplemented to the Goffs London Sale, set for Monday, June 15, on the eve of Royal Ascot. the sale will be held in association with ULYSSIA and Fitzwilliam Sports at Kensington Palace Gardens.
Santa Bravado (Iffraaj) (Lot 18) has been added after posting a tally in a Navan 10-furlong affair on May 16. He carries an entry in the Golden Gate Stakes at Royal Ascot.
De Sousa makes it 2000 in Britain
Silvestre de Sousa has ridden his 2000th winner in Britain with the success of Neyva's Angel (Harry Angel) at Yarmouth on Thursday. De Sousa has been champion jockey three times there in 2015, 2017 and 2018.
Currently 45, De Sousa had a long association with Mark Johnston, and was a retained rider for Godolphin from 2012-2015 prior to riding as number one jockey for King Power Racing. Other riders to have ridden at least 2000 winners in Britain include Ryan Moore, Luke Morris, Jim Crowley, Jamie Spencer and William Buick.
“I am incredibly proud to have reached this milestone in my career, after over 20 years as a professional jockey with so many amazing achievements, this is another great thing to have,” said the Brazilian. “I would like to thank everyone who made this possible for me.
“I was just a boy from Brazil, and to have this many winners in Great Britain is just a dream come true. England is my home now, and to do this here is so amazing, I am so lucky to have achieved such success.”
HISA declared unconstitutional
Nearly one year after being tasked by the Supreme Court of the United States to re-examine a 2024 ruling that the Horseracing and Safety Integrity Act (HISA) is partially unconstitutional, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on Thursday issued a new opinion that essentially came to the same conclusion that the three-judge panel had reached two years ago: Even though HISA's rulemaking structure is constitutional, its enforcement provisions are not.
The case dates to a 2021 lawsuit spearheaded by the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (NHBPA) and 12 of its affiliates against the HISA Authority and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
“In sum, we agree with the Horsemen that the FTC lacks adequate oversight and control over the Authority's enforcement power,” the Fifth Circuit's June 11, 2026, opinion stated. “HISA's explicit division of enforcement responsibility empowers the Authority with quintessential executive functions and gives the FTC scant oversight until enforcement has already occurred.”
The HISA Authority's chief executive officer, Lisa Lazarus, said in a contrasting emailed statement that her organization was not surprised that the Fifth Circuit stuck with its earlier interpretations of the law.
“Although expected, we are still disappointed by the Fifth Circuit's ruling, particularly given the Sixth Circuit's strong affirmation of HISA's constitutionality after the Supreme Court sent the cases back to the lower courts last June,” Lazarus said. “HISA remains the law of the land, and our rules and programs are fully in effect.”
Vale John Greathouse
John Greathouse, Jr., for years an integral part of the family-run Glencrest Farm, passed away on Wednesday. He was 82. According to his son, John Greathouse III, he died after problems resulting from a blood ulcer.
Glencrest was established in the middle of the twentieth century by John W. Greathouse and has thrived under the leadership of several generations of the family. According to his son, Greathouse, Jr. stepped down from his day-to-day role running Glencrest about 10 years ago, but remained a sounding board for the team.
“My father was a longtime horseman,” Greathouse III said. “He did it his whole life. He grew up on the farm and worked on the racetrack. He bred, raised and raced horses his whole life. When he stepped away, he enjoyed his retirement, but, unfortunately, he had some health problems.
“He was a hell of a horseman. It was great to get the chance to learn from him. I was blessed with a free education on how to do things and how to look at a horse and how to pick out a horse. He taught me how to pinhook, how to breed mares, what to look for, what not to look for. Our farm definitely wouldn't be what it is without him and my late uncle David.”
Vale Jimmy Iselin
Longtime horseman Jimmy Iselin died at his home in New York City on June 8 after a brief illness, according to the Daily Racing Form on Thursday. He was 84.
Iselin, who campaigned SW and sire Crafty Prospector, won 343 races from 2,286 starters from 1977-2017, according to Equibase.
Iselin was the son of Philip Iselin, instrumental in the launching of Monmouth Park and was appointed treasurer of the track in 1946. Philip Iselin succeeded Armory Haskell in 1966 as Monmouth president and served in that role as well chairman of the board until he passed away 10 years later.
