Hot And High thrills in Belmont Guineas
Dion Luciani-trained 3-year-old filly Hot And High (Too Darn Hot {GB}) bounced back from her only race day defeat last start, when second in the Listed Raconteur Stakes, to win Saturday’s Listed Belmont Guineas.
Now the winner of six of her seven starts, this was her second Listed victory after winning the Listed Sir Ernest Lee-Steere Classic in the spring. She was made to work for the victory, winning by only a nose from Prince Of Dala (Snippetson) with Herault (Gingerbread Man) in third.
Raced by Cape Fall Thoroughbreds, Hot And High is the third foal and second winner for High Conviction (Snitzel) who won three of her six starts. High Conviction is a daughter of G3 WATC Sires' Produce Stakes winner Paris Petard (Mujahid {USA}), and she’s also a half-sister to Paris Cracker (Viscount), the dam of Listed winner Saloon Bar (Sessions).
Kohler Kid wins TL Cooney Handicap
The main race for 3-year-olds at Ipswich on Saturday, the TL Cooney Handicap, was won by Michael Lakey-trained Kohler Kid (Speith {NZ}), ridden by Justin Stanley. He took his record to three wins from nine starts with earnings over $220,000. “He has that tendency to over-race, he got that from his mum and his brother is the same. If he can learn to settle, he'll be a really good horse. We try everything to keep him settled,” Lakey said.
“I've known Justin a long time now, we've been friends for a long time so it's great to team up for a win. (Kohler Kid) had a little issue so we had to regroup and he missed a run, hence why he was four weeks between starts. We had him down the beach and then he had a nice easy trial in preparation for this race.” Kohler Kid was a $3000 purchase at the Capricornia Yearling Sale. He is one of two winners, from two to race, for Tartufo Bianco (I Am Invincible).
Spring stakes targets for De Bergerac
Trainer Grahame Begg will target stakes races on the Flemington straight in the spring for Saturday’s winner De Bergerac (Zoustar). “He loves the straight and the Zoustars love it. I identified that ages ago that the Zoustars really excel up the straight,” Begg said.
“They are prolific straight horses. Northern Meteor (Coolmore Stud Stakes winner) – sire of Zoustar – and Zoustar himself loved the straight. His (De Bergerac’s) full sister C’est Magique ran second in the Coolmore up the straight.
“He could go to Perth and be a Winterbottom horse in a fast-run race. He’s got a decent race in him. He’s a good sound horse. A bit quirky, but he’s a tough horse.”
Sydney apprentice race heats up
Siena Grima closed the gap to five behind Braith Nock in the Sydney Apprentice Jockey’s Title with a win on Chris Waller-trained Tazima (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) who has won three of his past four starts. “He really is (tough and consistent), my concern today was the track is a bit harder than last time and he is a few weeks between runs but he is just so tough and felt beautiful building up into the straight,” Grima said.
“A big thank you to all the people out there, I get a lot of lovely messages and thanks to Chris and the owners for keeping me on.” There are 11 city meetings remaining in Sydney this season.
Four in succession for Vegas Jack
Barista and hobby trainer Craig Conron’s Vegas Jack (So You Think {NZ}) made it four in succession with a win at Flemington on Saturday. “It's great to be back here and it's great to have a winner here,” Conron said.
“I still think (Vegas Jack) is still 6-12 months away really (development wise), what we're getting now, it sounds silly, is a bonus.”
Conron’s 97-year-old father Graham followed doctor’s advice and watched from home. “He only got out of hospital late Thursday and they were a little bit worried about the forecast but he'll be watching. He would've been roaring (at the television) no doubt.”
Racing at King Island continues to be uncertain
The King Island Racing Club has bounced back from having the 2025/26 season cancelled and has planned a strong set of dates for January 2027, but is still awaiting confirmation from Tasracing. “Time is running out due to so much needing to be organised to host another successful King Island Racing season,” King Island Racing Club president Audrey Hamer wrote in a recent email to Tasracing executives and Racing Minister Jane Howlett.
“TasRacing is currently finalising race dates for the coming racing season, including the possibility of re-commencing racing on King Island. It would be inappropriate to comment further given the TasRacing Board is yet to endorse next season's programming and associated funding,” said TasRacing CEO Andrew Jenkins.
The racing schedule for 2027 will only cover Thoroughbreds and Harness. “I would love to be able to get back to the King Island races again – but things are looking very grim for the entire Tasmanian racing industry,” Braddon Labor MP and Infrastructure, Tourism and Events spokeswoman Anita Dow said in a press release.
“TasRacing's draft schedule for next season reduces race meetings across harness and thoroughbred racing. With the loss of 40 per cent of its wagering revenue from the Liberals' ban on greyhound racing, we are already seeing TasRacing struggling financially. We've always said that if the King Island community can demonstrate it wants to keep racing, TasRacing should support it. We'll do everything we can to support that happening.”
Saturday sire doubles
Brutal (NZ) sired a double at Randwick with 3-year-old filly Bird Whistle who took her record to three wins and earnings over $200,000. Glorious Moments won the last on the card to take his record to four wins from seven starts with earnings over $280,000. The $85,000 yearling is a half-brother to Group 2 winner Stretan Angel (Harry Angel {Ire}) and Stretan Ruler (Wild Ruler).
My Admiration sired the first two winners at Port Hedland with My Tea and Wing It. Nicely bred Farneax (Exceed And Excel) won the Coasty Cup at the same meeting. He is out of Group 1 winner Daysee Doom (Domesday) whose 3-year-old is stakes placed Ruination (Wootton Bassett {GB}).
Juvenile winner for King’s Legacy
Tommy Wong-trained 2-year-old colt Hostwin King (King’s Legacy) won on debut at Kembla Grange on Saturday. He was purchased by J Tam for $210,000 from Eureka Stud’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft.
Hostwin King is one of three winners for stakes placed Prada Miss (Northern Meteor).
Juvenile winner for Pierata
Pierata added a juvenile winner on the Gold Coast on Saturday when Kris Zahmel-trained 2-year-old colt Trev bolted home in the first by 2.4 lengths. Trev is the first foal of Daisy Street (Snitzel) who won in Brisbane on debut and is a daughter of Listed winner Belle D’Amour (Jet Spur).
The other juvenile race on the card was won by Glenn Thornton-trained debutant filly My Utopia (Better Than Ready) who was purchased by her trainer for $60,000 from Toolooganvale Farm’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft. She is the second foal of city winner Howwonderfullifeis (Your Song).
Juvenile winner for Nicconi
At Belmont, Luke Fernie-trained 2-year-old filly In Good Nicc (Nicconi) came off two poor runs to surprise in the first on the card. Peter and Luke Fernie purchased her for $90,000 from Einoncliff Park’s Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale draft. She is the third winner from as many to race for Hot Goods (Time Thief) who won her first five starts in succession and had six wins in total.
Parr given 20 day suspension
Australian jockey Josh Parr was given a 20 day suspension by British stewards after breaching the whip rules when third on Overpass (Vancouver) on the first day of Royal Ascot. On Friday, the whip review committee found Parr “to have used his whip three times above the permitted level of six from approximately one and a half furlongs out.”
He was ruled out from July 3-11 inclusive and July 13-23 inclusive. He was also fined £1,250 (AU$2358).
Beamish joins training ranks in Tasmania
Liam Beamish has had his trainer’s licence for three weeks and will have his first runners on Sunday at Hobart with The Real Man (Deep Field) and Henley Extreme (Extreme Choice). The brother of trainers Dylan Clark and Max Beamish has plenty of experience. “I rode trackwork for The Real Man and Henley Extreme when they were with Stevo (Glenn Stevenson), and the owner who brought them into that stable is one of my mates,” Beamish told tasracing.com.au.
“I’ve always done a lot with the horses with Stevo, and now I have my trainer’s licence; the owner has decided to support me. I’ve pretty much ridden trackwork since I was 15 or 16 at John Blacker’s and Dylan Clark’s.
“I was an apprentice farrier and moved away and spent some time with Kris Lees and the Cummings stable. I rode some work for them and have pretty much done the same thing since I came back. Training was always something I wanted to get into.”
Nicely bred Silvery Breeze aimed at Group 3
Sunday’s G3 Premier Plate will feature Silvery Breeze (Dundeel {NZ}) who will be ridden by Andrea Atzeni for trainer David Eustace. “He’s done nothing wrong all season, he’s been very consistent – he’s not been out of the first four actually, so it just shows you how consistent he is,” Atzeni told scmp.com.
“Obviously all his best form has been at the Valley, although he has won at Sha Tin his first time racing and he ran well at his first start for the season. It looks like the 1800m will suit him, he obviously won over 1800m the last day.
“He’s up in grade, so he’s obviously up against it a little bit, but he’s carrying a light weight and he’s a pretty consistent horse, so hopefully he can run well.” The 5-year-old is a full brother to Group 3 winner Ain’tnodeeldun out of Listed winner Ain’tnofallenstar (Starcraft {NZ}).
Drama in last at Royal Ascot
There was drama after the Palace Of Holyroodhouse Handicap that closed Royal Ascot's Friday card, as the impressive winner Bacio (Maclean's Music) looked in danger of losing the contest in an inquiry.
Having made all in dynamic fashion to capture the five-furlong test and the imagination of all in attendance, the heavily-supported Wesley Ward-trained colt looked likely to be thrown out as Juan Hernandez initially weighed in light. After some anxious moments, it was discovered that some equipment had been mislaid and Ward, who was winning his first Royal Ascot race since 2021, gave the lowdown.
“We were taking some pictures and the horse jumped and the overgirth fell off, so it didn't go through the scales when Juan weighed back in. They found it in the winner's circle, put it back on and we're all good,” he explained.
Soumillon appeals suspension
Christophe Soumillon has appealed the eight-day suspension he received for 'team tactics' when aboard Aidan O'Brien's Puerto Rico (Wootton Bassett) in Tuesday's G1 St James's Palace Stakes, according to the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).
The Belgian was riding one of two Aidan O'Brien-trained runners in the one-mile race alongside G1 Irish 2000 Guineas hero Gstaad (Starspangledbanner) and was deemed by the stewards to have ridden “in a manner to benefit Gstaad.”
The stewards ruled Soumillon had ridden his mount “in such a way that intended to give an advantage to another horse from the same stable, in that he moved his mount away from the rail thereby ensuring a clear run for Gstaad on his inside.”
When confirming the 45-year-old had appealed the suspension, the regulator also indicated the appeal would be heard remotely by the independent disciplinary panel on Friday June 26.
Group 1 winner Supremacy to move
Group 1 winner Supremacy will relocated to March Hare Stud in the U.K. for 2027. A fee for the Middle Park Stakes hero will be announced later. By Mehmas, the bay also won the G2 Richmond Stakes and stood at Yeomanstown Stud beginning in 2022.
With his first crop just 3-year-olds, he has sired 34 winners from 117 runners (34%). His best performer is the G3 Dick Poole Stakes and Listed National Stakes heroine Anthelia. Supremacy joins Magna Grecia, Charming Thought, Invincible Army and Roseman on the March Hare roster.
