Daily News Wrap

Reserve Bank sells through Inglis Bull Ring

Botty’s Bloodstock have purchased G1 Goodwood Handicap winner Reserve Bank (Capitalist) through the inaugural Inglis Bull Ring sale. “I thought it was a great opportunity to secure a horse of his calibre,” Aaron Bott told inglis.com.au.

“Reserve Bank was an outstanding racehorse with genuine top-class speed and was a Group 1 winner at three in open company, which is a rare accomplishment. He possesses an impressive physique and is a grandson of influential sires Written Tycoon and Fastnet Rock.

“I can’t disclose the plans for his immediate future, but we’re just thrilled to have secured him and excited for his future at stud. The Bull Ring concept is fantastic and Nick Melmeth from Inglis Digital was great throughout the process.”

Vendors Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, on behalf of the ownership group, were equally as thrilled. “There wasn’t one stallion master that wasn’t aware that Reserve Bank was going through the Inglis Bull Ring, which is a fantastic and unique concept combining transparency and confidentiality, two of the most important factors when facilitating sensitive stud deals,” co-trainer Michael Kent Jnr said.

Reserve Bank has five wins from 11 starts with earnings over $880,000. As well as the G1 Goodwood Handicap, he has won the G2 Tobin Bronze Stakes and Listed Redelva Stakes, and placed in the G2 Danehill Stakes. One of two Group 1 winners for his sire, the other being young sire Captivant, Reserve Bank is a half-brother to Group 3-placed Ornithology (Too Darn Hot {GB}) from Our Songbird (Fastnet Rock), a city winning half-sister to two stakes winners.

Spring plans still uncertain for Alibi

Co-trainer Peter Moody discounted an early spring clash between Sheza Alibi (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) and Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun). “A very tentative plan – and I am saying very tentative – would be maybe even first-up in a race like the Makybe Diva? Second-up in the King Charles in Sydney and then third-up in the Golden Eagle,” Moody told racing.com.

Autumn Glow is likely to make her return in the G1 Winx Stakes in Sydney, and is being kept to sprinter/miler distances after her one miss over 2000 metres in the autumn.

“The great thing about it is because she’s a mare, you’ve got a race every Saturday for (Sheza Alibi). If you miss one, there is one the next Saturday – 1400 to a mile – at weight-for-age, or fillies and mares, or set weights and penalties.”

New winner for Home Affairs

First season sire Home Affairs added winner number 13 when Chris Waller-trained 2-year-old filly Cosmo Girl won at Gosford on debut on Thursday. She is owned by Resolute Racing, who purchased her from Silverdale Farm’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft for $675,000. Silverdale Farm pinhooked her from Newgate Farm for $430,000 at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale.

Home Affairs has four stakes winners from his first crop, led by G1 Golden Slipper winner Guest House. Cosmo Girl is the second foal and first winner for Witherspoon (Exceed And Excel) who is a Group 3-placed half-sister to Group 1 winner Manuel (Commands) and Group 3 winners Taking Aim (Choisir) and Sun Patch (Exceed And Excel).

Jones return still uncertain

Reigning Brisbane Champion Jockey Angela Jones is unsure about when she will return to the races. She broke her collarbone in a fall in May. “The surgery went pretty much as expected, although the surgeon did say it was a little bit fiddly,” Jones told racenet.com.au.

“It was quite a small bone that he was trying to put the plate on and he also wasn't aware before he opened it up that I had lost so much of the muscle that had torn off the bone. It is the thing that is making the recovery drag out a bit, because the surgeon wants to see the muscle reattach to the bone before I start doing too much.

“The surgeon has left me in the dark a little bit, I go back on the 30th (June) and hopefully he says I can start moving it and seeing where I am at. But at the last appointment, he didn't really want me doing anything with it, he just wanted me keeping it still so that the muscle could heal. He hasn't really given me a timeline.” She is currently third on this year’s Brisbane premiership table on 54 wins, behind Ben Thompson on 76.5 and Ryan Maloney on 68.

History to help Cavalry Man

With five of the last ten Listed Ipswich Cups having been won from barrier 10, 11 and 12, Lindsay Gough-trained Cavalry Man (So You Think {NZ}) will bounce from barrier ten. “He has prepped up well but we have our fingers cross from a sticky draw,” Gough told racingqueensland.com.au.

“I've done my job so it is up to Robbie Dolan now. I'll leave it to him. He's competed at the top level winning the Melbourne Cup and he's ridden more winners than me. Ideally we'd like to get some cover.”

Riding fee increase for South Australia

On Thursday, Racing SA and the South Australian Jockeys’ Association (SAJA) announced an increase in riding fees from the 2026/27 season, following the formalisation of a new three-year agreement.

The riding fee will increase to $265 in 2026/27, $270 in 2027/28 and $275 in 2028/29, excluding GST. Barrier trials fees also see an increase to $95 in 2026/27, $100 in 2027/28 and $105 in 2028/29, excluding GST.

“Jockeys are an integral part of our industry, and this agreement recognises the skill, professionalism and dedication they bring to South Australian racing, both on race days and in broader equine education and training,” Racing SA CEO Nick Bawden told racingsa.com.au.

Difficult update on Bennett

Jockey Kristy Bennett remains unconscious after a fall at the trials more than two weeks ago. “Kristy remains stable after suffering traumatic brain injury and vertebrae fractures,” the family said in a statement on Thursday.

“She remains unconscious and her rehabilitation could take years to complete and her journey dealing with this injury is far from over. Going forward, we won't have any updates for some time while the amazing doctors and nurses do their incredible work providing Kristy with the best possible care.

“On behalf of our family and Kristy we want to express our deepest gratitude to everyone in Queensland and Western Australia for their unwavering love and support.”

Long term Ingham target for Glorious Moments

Trainers Jim and Greg Lee want to see enough from Glorious Moments (Brutal {NZ}) on Saturday to warrant setting him for $2 million G2 The Ingham in the spring. “We’re going to head toward the Winter Stakes with then then give him a little break then concentrate on The Ingham,” Greg Lee told racingnsw.com.au.

“He needs to win, if he has any chance of winning these other races he needs to win. Otherwise you’re not going to win races like the Ingham.”

Bustling getting closer

One time 2024 The Everest favourite Bustling (Frosted {USA}) ran second in the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes last start, and has come to Sydney for Saturday’s meeting to chase better ground. “We’re slowly working off two years of fat, he’s a big strong sprinting animal now,” co-trainer Michael Kent Jnr told racingnsw.com.au. He didn’t race between September 2024 and May 2026.

“He was always going to be vulnerable first-up at 1000m with 62kg, he ran excellent second-up on a heavy 8 beaten by a horse who is a better wet tracker. It’s been a very long journey but fingers crossed we can get him back in the winner’s stall.

“I think watching horses like Jigsaw and Giga Kick, who also had long layoffs, find their way back as older horses gives you hope. He’s only a 4-year-old so he’s lightly raced, and very sound. Yes, we’ve had to be patient but I think we’ve got the horse back now. I’m really happy with him, he has not put a foot wrong all preparation.”

Alderson wins award but misses a run

Trainer Cindy Alderson has won the Victorian Country Achiever Award for 2026 but her runner in the race named in her honour, Ruakaka Raider (NZ) (Redwood {GB}), is unlikely to get a start as second emergency. “It's a great honour, I'm quite surprised,” Alderson told racenet.com.au.

“It's a pretty strong race, obviously, I can't get into the field! It's a little bit shorter of his ideal trip but I am very happy with the horse … if he does sneak into the field he probably wouldn't be the worst horse I'd send around there.”

Ton for Neindorf

Jockey Lachlan Neindorf celebrated his 100th win for the season when victorious aboard Enver Jusufovic-trained Unapproachable (Brutal {NZ}) at Moe on Thursday. The 4-year-old mare has now won two of her six starts.

Unapproachable was purchased by Danny Power Bloodstock via Inglis Digital in March 2023 as a weanling for $11,000. Her dam, winning mare In The Moment (NZ) (Keeper) is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Autumn Jeuney (Jeune {GB}).

Wexford’s Wootton Bassett colt to debut

Wexford Stables trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott are bullish about the debut on Saturday of 2-year-old colt Coniston (NZ) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). “He’s a promising young horse and think he’s got a bright future,” Scott told Loveracing.nz.

“He worked well on Tuesday morning, he’s trialled well and has a good level of education. He’s drawn a little wide (11), but we still think he’ll be quickening home strongly. He’s well bred and we’ve left him a colt and we’re pretty confident that he will perform well on debut.”

Bred by Graham and Helen-Gaye Bax, who remain in the ownership, Coniston is the first foal of Le Gai Soleil (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), a Listed winning half-sister to Group 1 winner Danzdanzdance (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}).

Daubeney top Flying Start graduating class

Kildangan Stud hosted the Godolphin Flying Start graduation on Friday, June 12, where Matthew Daubeney was announced as the top student for 2026 having achieved the highest overall grade.

A total of 12 trainees who had commenced the Godolphin Flying Start scholarship in August 2024 were joined by family, friends and representatives of University College Dublin, Godolphin and Godolphin Flying Start for what proved to be a memorable day.

Gallery: Godolphin Flying Start graduation, images courtesy of Andy Davies

Guests were welcomed by a stallion show hosted by the trainees. The occasion continued with the business plan showcase in the Godolphin Flying Start training suite. The graduation ceremony itself was preceded by addresses from executive director Clodagh Kavanagh, chairman Hugh Anderson and UCD executive education director, Tim Wray.

Lisa Jane Graffard was called upon to present each trainee with their Godolphin Flying Start Diploma. Lisa Jane continued by welcoming the new graduates into the Godolphin Flying Start alumni community with a warm and passionate speech.

Finally, Caroline Bunch and Matthew Daubeney delivered an appreciation on behalf of the class of 2026.

Bentley hopes to be back for spring

Jockey Harry Bentley hopes to be ready for the new Hong Kong season in September. He sustained a fractured forearm, fractured shoulder blade and five broken ribs in a fall last Sunday. “I had my first day of physio the day after surgery on my arm, so I’ve started the process of getting things back on track,” Bentley told scmp.com.

“It was obviously one of those things you never hope you’re involved in, but we know the dangers of the job and these things happen, so you’ve just got to dust yourself off and get back in the plate really.

“I’m very dedicated to rehab and getting back as soon as possible. Being still fairly young and fit, I would expect to be recovering pretty quickly and I’ve certainly got the target of coming back for the beginning of next season. It’s a good target to have and I’m going to be working hard to be as fit as possible for that.

“I’d say my forearm and my shoulder took the brunt of the impact and then I had a horse go over the top of me. Smiling Falcon actually ended up rolling on top of me, so I was underneath him for a moment,” Bentley said.

“I was able to just pull myself from underneath him and get to the side and that was the end of that really. To take out some positives, it could have been far worse and hopefully it’s not going to keep me out of action for too long.”

BHA confirms Equine Influenza case in racehorse

The BHA has confirmed a case of equine influenza in a vaccinated thoroughbred in a yard adjacent to Welsh Grand National-winning trainer Mel Rowley in Shropshire, England.

The horse came from the Goffs Arkle Sale in Ireland and arrived in the yard on June 12. It was reported to have been transported along with eight other thoroughbreds who were also purchased at the sale that took place between June 9 and 11.

It is understood that the BHA has contacted those responsible for the horses who came into contact with the horse. A statement released by the BHA on Wednesday read, “We are grateful to Mel and Phil Rowley for their prompt action to spot the signs of infection, ensure the horse was tested and report the findings to Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance.

“The infected horse arrived at the isolation yard on 12 June and at that point was not exhibiting any clinical signs of the virus. These developed late Saturday evening and subsequent testing confirmed the infection.

“The horse had been and remains in isolation, in line with the recommended infection control measures for any new horse entering licensed premises. No horses will be permitted to move to or from the yard or the licensed premises until we are confident that there is no wider risk to the industry.”

Winston appointed general counsel for HIWU

The Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) has named Janelle L. Winston as the successor to general counsel Michelle Pujals who has retired from the post, the organization said via a press release.

Pujals worked for HIWU for four years after spending two decades with the NBA's legal department, where she oversaw the development and administration of anti-drug programs for NBA players, coaches, and trainers. She was a member of the NBA/National Basketball Players Association Prohibited Substances Committee and the NBA Crisis Management Team.

“Michelle has been a key leader for the HIWU team since we were established in 2022,” said Ben Mosier, executive director of HIWU. “She has played an instrumental part in the buildout of HIWU and the Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program and ensuring that the Rules are applied and enforced correctly and consistently.

“HIWU will miss the unwavering commitment to integrity and fairness that Michelle brought to her role each day.”

Winston joins HIWU as general counsel after spending nearly a decade as counsel for the National Football League (NFL), where she administered its policies on substances of abuse and performance-enhancing substances. She also represented the NFL and its Member Clubs in labour-management disputes, conducted trainings for coaches and players on adherence to the NFL's personal conduct and gambling policies, and served as a board member for the Partnership for Clean Competition.

“I am thrilled to join HIWU at such an exciting time,” said Winston. “Coming from the NFL, I understand what it means to protect the integrity of a sport that millions of fans hold dear–and I bring that same sense of duty to this new role. I'll admit, after years in professional football, I never imagined I'd find athletes bigger than NFL linemen, but here we are, and I could not be more humbled or energized by the challenge ahead.”