Daily News Wrap

Royal Ascot winner might head to The Everest

Mission Central (No Nay Never {USA}), winner of Tuesday’s G1 King Charles III Stakes, might head to the G1 The Everest. “Now, I won't do the race planning for them,” said breeder Eddie O'Leary as he launched into a helpful suggestion for Aidan O'Brien as to where he should be campaigning Mission Central. “But he's a lovely little horse to go to The Everest.”

With Ka Ying Rising set to return to Sydney for the A$20 million contest, it may sound more like Mission Impossible but Tom Magnier, who runs Coolmore's Australian division, did not dismiss the idea of the 3-year-old gelding taking up Coolmore's slot in the race come October.

“He's definitely a horse we'd have a look at. It would be great fun to get Aidan and the team down there,” Magnier told Australia's Channel 7.

That will have been music to the ears of O'Leary, who runs Gigginstown House Stud for his brother Michael alongside his own Lynn Lodge Stud operation. With Mags O'Toole he had shelled out a decent sum – 400,000gns (AU$798,000) to be precise – for Mission Central's dam Thar She Blows (Zoffany) in 2022.

If that seems a lot to pay for an unraced filly, she was by that stage a full-sister to Prosperous Voyage, who handily won the G1 Falmouth Stakes in the months prior to the Tattersalls December Mares Sale. There's also the matter of the influential mare Monroe back there as Thar She Blows' third dam, and anyway, it wasn't long before she started repaying the O'Learys in the sales ring when Mission Central, her first foal, sold for 625,000gns (AU$1.25 million) at Book 1.

“When you're breeding horses, this is where you want to be,” said Eddie O'Leary from the paddock at Ascot. “He's a beautiful horse. I'm glad the boys got him and I'm glad he's turned out to be a good horse. He was a fantastic yearling and he made plenty of money. I'm glad he's a racehorse because he's the mare's first foal, so it's great.”

Honeysuckle equal top lot at Magic Millions Digital

Brisbane trainer Steele Ryan paid a sale topping $30,000 to acquire nicely related 2-year-old filly Honeysuckle (The Autumn Sun) at Wednesday’s Magic Millions Digital Sale. The filly who has had three starts is a half-sister to stakes placed Flying Bonus (Snitzel) who has won in Melbourne and Hong Kong. This is the family of Casino Prince, Best Of Bordeaux and G1 JJ Atkins Plate winner Prince Fawaz.

Fetching the same price with the winning bid coming from bloodstock agent Neil Jenkinson, was broodmare Wexford Miss (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}). A winner over 1400 metres, she is a maiden mare, and importantly is a full sister to G2 Shannon Stakes winner and $1.4 million earner Waterford (Ire) and a half-sister to Listed Wagga Wagga Cup winner Wicklow (Ire) (Twilight Son {GB}).

The 59 lot catalogue saw 36 lots pass in, so there are still plenty of opportunities to follow up with those.

Bigger targets for Loft Vega

A big spring awaits Wexford Miss’s 3-year-old half-sister Loft Vega (Lope De Vega {Ire}) after she made it two wins in succession at Caulfield on Wednesday. “First and foremost, special credit to Denistoun Park – we were in a spot of bother six months ago with this filly and the team there has done a remarkable job. She was very naughty at the gates – we couldn’t even get her in – she was scratched on a couple of occasions at the races, so credit to them,” trainer Alex Rae told racing.com.

“Thanks to (her owners) Lofty and Todd Wilson for being patient with her. She’s just a bit of a diva. She was an expensive yearling and she’s come into our small stable, so she’s probably always been put on a pedestal.

“She’s a very talented filly. It’s probably a big call for this time of year, but we think she can potentially get to stakes grade in time over a little bit further. That will do her for this campaign, we’ll put her on ice and bring her back for the back-end of the spring.”

Sold by Cressfield at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $310,000 to Lofty Group, Loft Vega is a half-sister to the aforementioned Wicklow and Waterford.

Not A Single Doubt had a double at Caulfield as a damsire with Triumvirate (Royal Meeting {Ire}) and Prestige Forever (Ole Kirk).

Schwarz sister hunting black type

Ciaron Maher-trained Silver Wedding (Zoustar) is a last start winner heading to the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic at Ipswich on Saturday. The full sister to Group 1 winner and young sire Schwarz has won four of her 13 starts. “She has got a huge pedigree, being a sister to Schwarz,” Maher told racingandsports.com.au.

“And Brendan and Jo (Lindsay), they have been good supporters of the stable. She's a horse that we've always given time to but has always shown ability. We've seen glimpses (of form) lots of time and each prep she improves. When she was up in Brisbane last time she improved and when she went to New Zealand, I thought that was a huge run, given the ground she covered.

“She's had a break and even in her run first-up, you can see she's improved again, although she showed she was very forward in condition with her first-up run. The 1000 (metres), it didn't surprise me, but I thought it might be too short for her, but she was very dominant and the step up to 1200 metres (on Saturday) will suit. Ipswich can be a bit tricky, but I think she will show her class.”

General Salute ready to go one better

Second when resuming last start in the Listed Bob Charley AO Stakes, Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained General Salute (Russian Revolution) will look to go one better in Saturday’s Listed Civic Stakes. “I thought he went terrific over an unsuitable journey, if he gets clear running at the top of the straight he goes close to winning the race,” Ryan told racingnsw.com.au.

“He can race handy or back in the field, I’d like to see it playing a bit fair. The rail is out 6m so it could suit on pacers a bit but Tim (Clark) knows him, he knows how to ride him, and he’ll know how the track is playing by then.

“He’s a very honest horse, people could say he’s a non-winner then you look at the horses that beat him. His form last time in, he ran third in the Show County to Lazzura who came out and won a Group 1. He ran second in the Theo Marks to Autumn Glow, third in the Alan Brown to Headley Grange and Gringotts ran second. He ran second to Transatlantic at his first go at 1500m.”

Cifrado eyes up consolation prize

Rex Lipp-trained Cifrado (Encryption) missed the G3 BRC Sprint by a nose, and hence a ballot free slot in the G1 Stradbroke Handicap, but runs in Saturday’s Listed Eye Liner Stakes as consolation. “He wouldn't have been out of place at all in the Stradbroke,” Lipp told racenet.com.au.

“He was terrific in the BRC Sprint and, if the jockey hadn't dropped his whip, who knows what might have happened? The owner then said he would pay the late fee into the Stradbroke, so that's what we did.” He missed making the field as an emergency runner.

“Cifrado will carry 60kg on Saturday, but he carries that every morning with our track work rider. The first time he raced at Ipswich he bolted in, so let's hope he can do that again. I have won the Eye Liner before (with Quick Response in 1994) and the only race I haven't won on Ipswich Cup day before is the Cup. I am keen to space Cifrado's runs, so after this he may go to the Ramornie in Grafton in July.”

Widdup’s Home Affairs colt to resume

Trainer Brad Widdup’s 2-year-old colt Internal Affairs (Home Affairs) will resume at Gosford on Thursday. He placed in the R.Listed Inglis Nursery in December and has trialled since then. “Internal Affairs is a lovely colt that showed us plenty in his only two race starts,” Widdup told racingnsw.com.au.

“He led them up on debut and was beaten less than two lengths by Fireball. He went on to win a Group 1 in the autumn and has won more than $2 million. His second start in the Nursery was good as well and he had a nice break after that.

“We’ve given him two trials in preparation for his return to racing and he’s performed well in each of them. Kerrin [McEvoy] was on in both trials and he’s sticking for the Gosford event. The heavy track first-up isn’t ideal but all indications are he’ll handle it.”

Payne signals potential change in Formestane case

Trainer Patrick Payne told the Victorian Racing Tribunal on Wednesday that he is considering changing his guilty plea to not guilty based on information about Formestane being naturally produced by horses. “New information has come up on our desk,” Payne told the VRT on Wednesday.

“We've asked stewards to answer a few questions. If I plead guilty and it's put to bed and then RV starts doing their investigation and say, ‘Well, you're weren't guilty', it's hard to go backwards (clear name). I do think it's important to have some of these questions answered, please.” Payne-trained Hard To Cross (NZ) (All Too Hard) was found to have Formestane in its system on May 15, 2024.

Double for Ole Kirk at Canterbury

On Wednesday, Ole Kirk sired a double at Canterbury with 2-year-old filly Demerzel, covered in our Wednesday Racing piece, and 3-year-old filly Gatwick. Gatwick won her maiden for trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr. They purchased her from Vinery Stud for $90,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

Gatwick is the first winner for I Am Invincible mare Invincible Express who won six races, five in succession in Queensland.

Double for Spirit Of Boom at Doomben

Spirit Of Boom is much missed in Queensland and he sired a double at Doomben on Wednesday. Marcus Wilson-trained 2-year-old gelding Blacksmith won on debut. He was bought by his trainer for $25,000 from Eureka Stud’s draft at the Magic Millions March Yearling Sale. He is one of four winners for Iriomote (Exceed And Excel) who is a winning half-sister to Group 1 winner Walton Street (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}).

Spirit Of Boom’s other winner was Jack Bruce-trained 3-year-old gelding Moshulu Spirit who took his record to two wins from three starts.

Maurice juvenile wins at Belmont

Over in WA, Maurice (Jpn) sired a debutant 2-year-old winner when Grant and Alana Williams-trained filly Fugaku won over 1200 metres. Owned by Mt Hallowell Stud, Fugaku is the first foal of Biarchi (Free Eagle {Ire}) who placed in the G2 South Australian Fillies Classic.

Tzaferis moves to Murray Bridge

James Tzaferis has been announced as the new General Manager of Murray Bridge Racing Club. “This is a bit of a change of pace for me but I’m excited to step into club-land as General Manager of the Murray Bridge Racing Club,” Tzaferis told his previous employer betsy.com.au.

“I’m a local that is passionate about racing, especially in this community, so I am very excited to be a part of writing the Club’s next chapter. I’ve loved my time in racing media, particularly at Betsy, where I was afforded a level of freedom and editorial independence.”

Wilson-Taylor moves to New Zealand

Jockey Kyle Wilson-Taylor will move to New Zealand at the start of the new racing season in August. “I will be there for the spring and summer carnivals, that is the plan. I want to go and ride in some good races and they have a lot of good racing coming up, I feel there is a great opportunity for me there,” Wilson-Taylor told racenet.com.au.

“I will be based in Matamata, but I am going to float between there and Cambridge. I've been going well the last few weeks in Queensland, although winter carnival time is hard for any Queensland jockey given the riders that come up from here down south. I am young and I like to travel and ride in different places, anywhere you go and ride you will always come back better.”

His fiancé, Brisbane Champion Jockey Angela Jones, will remain in Queensland. She is currently injured, so will assist him in moving and the pair intend to shuttle back and forth over the spring and summer.

410k Early Voting colt tops OBS June

With a colt by Early Voting topping the day's results, the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's June 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale concluded its first of three sessions Tuesday with an average and median ahead of last year's record-setting figures.

During Tuesday's session, 163 horses sold through the ring for a gross of US$9,066,000 (AU$12.7 million). The average was US$55,620 (AU$78,700)–up 26.5% from last year's opening session–and the median of US$30,000 (AU$42,500) was up 15.4% from the corresponding 2025 figure. The cumulative average from last year's two-day June sale was US$51,107 (AU$72,000) and the median was US$25,000 (AU$35,400), both highwater marks for the auction.

A colt from the first crop of GI Preakness Stakes winner Early Voting topped the session when selling for US$410,000 (AU$580,000) to trainer Greg Compton on behalf of MAG Racing Stables. The juvenile was consigned by Julie Davies, whose past June consignments have included multiple Grade I winner Adare Manor (Uncle Mo) and multiple stakes winner Solitude Dude (Yaupon).

“I think if you bring the right horse here, if you bring a good horse, then there are plenty of people here to buy them,” Davies said. The dark bay colt is out of Cara Dura (War Front) and from the family of Exchange Rate. He worked a furlong in :10 flat at last week's under-tack preview.

“I stable at Delaware Park, so he will go up there,” Compton said. “We race at Oaklawn over the winter, so he may get a little break for 30 days and then we'll get him back going again.”

Habibi added to Arqana Summer Sale

Habibi, fourth in Sunday's G1 Prix de Diane, is a new addition to the Arqana Summer Sale from June 30-July 1.

Set to sell as lot 400, the daughter of Le Brivido has won two of her four outings as a juvenile. Racing for Jan Romel and Ecurie Nicolato, she was runner-up in the Listed Prix Rose de Mai in March and was also fourth in the G2 Prix Saint-Alary. Currently rated 49 (rating 108), the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained filly is a versatile racing prospect and a granddaughter of G3 Prix Penelope third Hermance (Enrique).

Part-owner Romel said, “Habibi has all the qualities of a group filly, and with that a large capacity for improvement still. She is a very calm, easy filly that is good in her head and always gives her best. She really has that attitude that all trainers are looking for. What impressed me most after the Prix de Diane is how easily she has recovered from the race. Even though she ran in the second fastest edition of the Prix de Diane ever, she recovered almost straight away. That leads us to think that she did not use all her resources, and she still has room to improve.”

Japanese Oaks winner to skip Arc

Juryoku Pierrot, who carried Seina Imamura to victory in the Japanese Oaks in May, will not take up her entry in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe this autumn, according to trainer Ryo Terashima.

The daughter of Happy Value (Zenno Rob Roy) will instead target the third leg of the Japanese Fillies' Triple Tiara, the G1 Shuka Sho at Kyoto on October 18 prior to a run in the November 15 G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup. Imamura is expected to retain the ride.

Terashima told Net Keiba, “We've decided to stay domestic this year. Her win in the Listed Wasurenagusa Sho was so impressive that we pushed from our side just to get her entered, but even watching her in the paddock, she's not an easy horse. Her ability is extremely high, but for this year, we felt it was better to proceed in order, first against her own generation in a Group 1 and then against older horses in a Group 1.”

He added, “At the moment, we're planning to go straight to the Shuka Sho and then on to the Queen Elizabeth II Cup without using a prep race. If she still has something left, the owner and I have also discussed possibly targeting the year-end Arima Kinen. From a pedigree standpoint, there is a desire to challenge a race like the Arc. We'd like to produce the kind of results in Japan that make people say, 'Maybe we should have gone after all,' and then perhaps consider that kind of opportunity again next spring.”

Horses killed in Saratoga barn fire

A barn fire that broke out early Tuesday morning has claimed the lives of 17 horses at Saratoga Casino Hotel, which sits off Nelson Avenue in Saratoga Springs and is directly across the street from the Thoroughbred track.

The barn housed a total of 18 horses and was completely destroyed. One horse escaped the barn and sustained minor injuries. No people were hurt, according to the casino hotel and fire department.

The horses belonged to two trainers who stabled their horses in the barn. Trainer Robyn Mangiardi lost 11 horses, while trainer Timothy Benson lost six horses.

The fire was contained to a single barn and did not spread to adjacent structures. Security personnel from both Saratoga Casino Hotel and the nearby Saratoga Racecourse, along with emergency responders, acted quickly to evacuate horses from neighboring barns and secure the surrounding area. Approximately 350 horses are typically housed on the backstretch.

“The loss suffered today is heartbreaking for our racing community,” said Chief Executive Officer of Saratoga Casino Hotel Sam Gerrity. “Our thoughts remain with Robyn, Tim, their teams, the horse owners, and everyone affected by this tragedy. We are deeply grateful to the security personnel, first responders, and racing staff whose swift actions helped protect the horses and people in the surrounding barns.”