Heavy track perfect for Da Vinci
Trainer Bevan Laming is thrilled with the heavy track forecast for the G3 Winx Guineas as it will suit his runner Call Da Vinci (Under The Louvre). “We want to study the field and his opposition before deciding if he’ll run,” Laming’s son Richard told racingqueensland.com.au.
“The wet won’t worry him as he’s won and been placed a few times on heavy tracks. I dropped him back in grade last start when he ran third in the Cooney at Ipswich, but he still couldn’t put them away.”
Midnight Dynamite set for another winter run
Bjorn Baker-trained Midnight Dynamite (Pierata) will bounce from his Listed Civic Stakes win into Saturday’s Listed Winter Stakes at Rosehill. “He’s one of those horses you always hope you get, that keeps improving and that’s definitely him at this stage,” Baker told racingnsw.com.au.
Bjorn Baker | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“It’s nice when you get a horse that can keep progressing through the grades, you never quite know where they are going to end up. He’s always shown ability, he did run a close third in the Gosford Guineas at Wyong, and he’s just continued to improve.”
Rustemo steps up in grade
Winner of his last three starts in succession, Kris Lees-trained Rustemo (Russian Revolution) steps up in grade to the G3 Winx Guineas on Saturday. “He has come a long way this preparation,” Lees told racingqueensland.com.au.
Wake up call for trainers
Australian Trainers' Association president Troy Corstens has reminded trainers to be vigilant around the race day treatment rules following the 28 day suspension of Anthony and Sam Freedman. “Any race day treatment, whether it be a topical ointment or anything, is an instant disqualification, which trainers need to be super aware of,” Corstens told racenet.com.au.
Troy Corstens | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“Everybody needs to tighten up because if somebody makes a mistake it has massive ramifications … we want to get the actual facts and directions from the VRT. It's something we will be chasing up and letting our members know our advice.
“It's a real wake up call for every trainer in Victoria though, we need to be absolutely vigilant.”
It’s good until it’s not
The Victorian Jockey’s Association CEO Matt Hyland, son of late champion Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Pat, has responded to jockey Craig Newitt being questioned by Racing Victoria stewards over having his son in the jockey’s room. “I'm in a difficult situation because I understand,” Hyland told racenet.com.au.
“I grew up doing exactly the same thing (in the jockeys' room with dad). It's all good until it's not good, these sorts of things are all good and harmless until all hell breaks loose and then it becomes a problem, and we're in 2026.
Matt Hyland | Image courtesy of Victorian Jockeys Association
“On the balance of negatives and positives, it's easier to have a child-free zone … consider the worst case scenario: A jockey has a catastrophic injury on race day and we have a son or daughter in the room. It's a highly emotive situation. How do we manage that and who's responsible for managing that?
“It's not going to pass the pub test if something goes wrong … and unfortunately the people I represent are doing a job where they can get injured. It's just a matter to what degree they get injured, but we see both ends of the spectrum.”
Racing Victoria posted a statement on the issue. “The Rules of Racing prohibit anyone other than riders with engagements on the day to enter the jockeys room without the prior permission of the stewards … the jockeys' room is a workplace for professional athletes in a high risk job. Children are not permitted within there for safety, wellbeing and professional reasons.”
Second again for Pounding
Co-trainer Katherine Coleman hopes Pounding (Exceed And Excel) can overcome his run of second-placings in Saturday’s Listed Caloundra Cup. “Pounding is probably going to run second on Saturday, just like he has in almost every other race this preparation,” Coleman joked with racingqueensland.com.au.
Pounding | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He's on the seven-day back-up, which we know he can handle. He is honest. He always goes out there and runs a race. He just needs the stars to align and everything to fall into place for him to win one. Hopefully Saturday is the day.”
Renowned reminds Ryan of Standout
Trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou will debut 2-year-old colt Renowned (Standout) on Friday at Goulburn. “Standout was an outstanding looking horse. This bloke's got the flaxen-mane and tail like he had and white face on him like Standout,” Ryan told racenet.com.au.
“This bloke has copped everything well, it's his second or third prep. I wouldn't like to see the track get any worse because on his trials, he doesn't handle heavy ground. Standout was no good in the wet either.
“His (Renowned's) last trial was good. He's a pretty laid-back bugger. I don't really like putting blinkers on them at their first start but I thought he trialled heaps better with the blinkers on in his third trial.” First season sire Standout has only 18 foals in his first crop, and from three runners, he has sired the winner Star Of Lily.
Country Victorian races get prizemoney boost
Racing Victoria’s earlier announcement that the 2026/27 program will include more evening meetings has led to an increase in prizemoney for country racing with a boost of around $1 million spread over at least 14 meetings.
“In building our schedule for next season we allocated meetings where customers want them to grow wagering, attendance and viewership. The classification of meetings is the next step in our process,” Racing Victoria's Head of Racing, Paul Bloodworth, said in a release.
“Allocating premium country meetings to premium country tracks supports the enhancements we’ve made to the schedule which will ultimately see more racing later in the day and later in the week.”
Smith granted licence in NSW
Daniel Smith, who previously rode as Terry Treichel in the Northern Territories, has been granted a licence to ride in NSW. Thoroughbred Racing Northern Territories banned him from December 2020 until December 2025 for betting infringements.
“Disqualified for 3 years for 2 charges under AR229(1)(h) of making false declarations. A further 3 years was imposed for 30 charges under AR115(1)(e) & AR115(1)(c) for placing bets when licensed as a jockey under the name Terry Charles Treichel,” said the steward’s report.
He rode as Treichel but had legally changed his name to Smith and had opened betting accounts as Smith. “This is a unique set of circumstances not seen before in Australian Racing,” the stewards' report read in 2020. “The covering of a change of identity and subsequent volume of betting whilst licensed as a jockey is unprecedented.”
Juvenile winner for Zousain
At Hawkesbury on Thursday, Zousain added a juvenile winner when Chris Waller-trained 2-year-old filly Jaipur Maison won her maiden. A full sister to G3 Red Roses Stakes winner Amelita, Jaipur Maison is the third foal and third winner from Miss Amelia (More Than Ready {USA}). Miss Amelia is a winning daughter of boom juvenile Amelia’s Dream (Redoute’s Choice) who also produced stakes placed trio of Better Land (Shamardal {USA}), Impasse (Sepoy) and Goodlucktome (Written Tycoon).
Outgoing CEO James Heddo’s horse Squeezebox (Epaulette) ran second in the race named in his honour.
Blue Point adds juvenile winner
At Ballarat on Thursday, debutant 2-year-old gelding Judas Tree (Blue Point {Ire}) won for trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy. The Godolphin-owned juvenile is the second foal and second winner for G3 James HB Carr Stakes winner Laburnum (Denman).
Dracarys juvenile makes it four
Graham Hughes-trained 2-year-old filly Alberta Bound (Dracarys) took her record to four wins from nine starts with a nearly five length romp in the first at Mackay on Thursday. With earnings over $113,000, the filly was bought by Leon Morton for $45,000 from Oakwood Farm’s Magic Millions March Yearling Sale draft.
The tough filly is one of four winners, from as many to race, for Alberta (Magic Albert) who was a maiden winner at Lismore.
Dettori injured in car accident
Recently retired Champion Jockey Frankie Dettori has sustained broken ribs and injured his hand in a car accident in Newmarket on Wednesday.
Kheir buys German Derby prospect
The Ralph Beckett-trained Bay Of Brilliance (New Bay), last seen finishing fourth in the Derby, will sport new colours when he lines up in Sunday's G1 Deutsches Derby at Hamburg, with Australian owner Aziz 'Ozzie' Kheir having bought into the colt since his excellent effort in defeat at Epsom.
Purchased for 140,000gns (AU$284,000) at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Bay Of Brilliance went to post for the Derby as the winner of two of his four previous starts for owners Valmont, having won twice in the autumn of his 2-year-old campaign, before returning to action with a narrow defeat to Maltese Cross (Sea The Stars) in the Listed Lingfield Derby Trial Stakes.
That form was upheld at Epsom when Maltese Cross occupied the runner-up spot behind Christmas Day (Camelot), with Kheir also being represented by a key player in that Classic in the shape of the third-place finisher, James J Braddock (Zarak).
“Our Australian partners were keen to go to Germany, as the aim is to take him to Australia at the end of the year,” explained Alex Elliott, racing adviser to Valmont. “But, to qualify for those 'Cup' races out there, you need to have finished in the first three of a Group 1 to gain automatic entry. Doing that in any Group 1 is not easy, but Germany felt the easiest choice to achieve that.
“If he finishes in the three this weekend, then he could race on in Europe a bit longer than anticipated. If he wins the German Derby, we could be thinking St Leger. We'll take things one step at a time, but he was sold under the pretence that he would head to Australia later on this year.”
Newnham back into second in Hong Kong
Trainer Mark Newnham joined Danny Shum in second place on the Hong Kong Trainer’s Premiership with the victory of Lucky Sam Gor (NZ) (Press Statement) taking him to 60 wins for the season, six behind the leader Caspar Fownes. Lucky Sam Gor was part of a double for jockey Hugh Bowman who also won on Jolly Brilliant (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) at the Reunification Anniversary meeting.
“He’s been fantastic this season. He’s gone from Class Four all the way through,” Newnham said. “It helped getting barrier one and Hugh gave him a great ride, but the horse has been consistent all the way through – he’s held his form fantastically well.”
Karis Teetan and Zac Purton also rode doubles, while the Reunification Cup was won by David Hall-trained Ka Ying Attack (NZ) (Too Darn Hot {GB}).
Royal Ascot performers added to Tattersalls July
Twelve wildcards have been added to the Tattersalls July Sale, which will take place from Tuesday 7th to Thursday 9th July, including Capall Rasa (Footstepsinthesand) who produced a highly encouraging performance when fifth in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot, finishing just two lengths behind the winner.
Another with Royal Ascot form is Regal Ulixes (Ulysses), placed in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes, and to be offered as lot 504D by Andrew Balding's Kingsclere Training Stables with a Timeform rating of 106. The three-day Tattersalls July Sale numbers 815 lots and features high-class consignments from leading owner-breeders including Godolphin, Juddmonte and Shadwell Estate Company.
Chalkstone Racing buy up at Tattersalls Online
Last weekend's Curragh maiden winner Suspicious Mindz (Bated Breath) was the most expensive lot to change hands during Wednesday's Tattersalls Online July Sale when bought for 50,000gns (AU$101,300) by Chalkstone Racing, a new venture operating out of Malton.
Chalkstone Racing also came away with fellow last-time-out winner Great Dream (Invincible Spirit) for 30,000gns (AU$60,800). Consigned by William Haggas' Somerville Lodge, the 3-year-old showed improved form when scoring by 11 lengths at Ffos Las a fortnight ago.
“Both will come and join our newly-established operation in Malton,” Chalkstone Racing's Stuart McFarlane said. “We have long-term plans for the stable and some shorter-term plans as well where we are looking to secure some quality horses in training who have demonstrated plenty of potential.”
Olympian announced as speaker for HRWA
Olympic champion Elana Meyers Taylor has been named as the keynote speaker at this year's Horse Racing Women's Association Conference, which returns to Lexington, Kentucky for the second year in a row and will be held Monday, October 12 through Wednesday, October 14.
The fifth annual HRWA Conference offers attendees the opportunity to enjoy a welcome reception, an esteemed slate of speakers and three panel discussions, a special presentation of the Jane Goldstein Award, a guided networking session, and an afternoon of racing at Keeneland.
“Every meaningful opportunity in my life came because someone believed in me, encouraged me, or gave me a chance–a chance I often had to fight for. The medals are great, but the people are what matter most. That's why communities like HRWA are so important–they create those opportunities for others,” said Taylor.
“I'm honoured to be part of this year's HRWA conference and excited to share my experiences while discussing the power of mentorship, meaningful relationships, and creating opportunities for the next generation of women leaders.”
