Toronado celebrates stakes winner no 53
Michael Grantham-trained 3-year-old gelding Westbound (Toronado {Ire}) bolted home by 2.7 lengths in the Listed Aquanita Stakes at Belmont to become the 53rd stakes winner for Toronado (Ire). The Peters Investment-owned gelding took his record to five wins from nine starts with earnings over $280,000.
He is a half-brother to Group 1 winner Western Empire (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) and Listed winner Western Temple (Dream Ahead {USA}) out of Group 2 winner Western Jewel (Jeune {GB}). Western Jewel has a Playing God yearling colt and a weanling filly by Lightsaber.
Arabian Rose wins the Glasshouse
Arabian Rose (Alabama Express) provided trainer James Healy with his first stakes winner when successful in the Listed Glasshouse Handicap. Cifrado (Encryption) and Anemacore (NZ) (Unusual Suspect {USA}) filled the minor placings.
“She's a beautiful horse and the best is yet to come. She'll go for a good break now because she hasn't had one for a while. It's my first stakes winner and I'm so glad it was with this horse,” Healy said.
“We've got a great bunch of owners in this horse, and I have to give credit to the staff at home as well. This race has been the plan for a long time now… I'm so happy for Tiff (Brooker), she's been part of the stable from the start and this win will mean more to her than anyone. She does so much work for the stable, I wanted to reward her for the ride.”
The 4-year-old mare becomes the seventh stakes winner for Alabama Express. She was a $100,000 graduate of the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale and was purchased by Healy via Inglis Digital in January 2025 for $7000. She took her earnings over $320,000 with her sixth career victory, with all six coming for Healy.
She is one of four winners for Dubai Me Roses (Cape Cross {Ire}) who is a winning half-sister to Listed winner Navy Shaker (Polish Navy {USA}).
New stakes winner for Justify
The Listed Santa Ana Lane Final was won by Lindsay Park-trained Ndola (Justify {USA}) to become the 12th Southern Hemisphere born stakes winner for his sire, and 63rd globally. The 4-year-old gelding took his record to seven wins and over $630,000 in earnings. Lingani (America) and De Bergerac (Zoustar) filled the minor placings.
“He’s really gone from strength to strength. He’s improved off last preparation, and to sprint so well fresh, he’s in for a good preparation,” co-trainer Will Hayes said.
“We’ll have a look at the Aurie’s Star, but he’s also good around a bend, so we’ve got some options. It’s just such a thrill to get a winner at Flemington in the Devitt and Gordon colours; they’ve been such good supporters of the stable for a long time.”
A half-brother to Listed winner Hearcomesthestar (Zoustar), the pair are out of Hear The Chant (Nicconi) who won the G3 MRC Thoroughbred Club Stakes and four other races.
New winner for Captivant
First season sire Captivant added winner number three when Richard Litt-trained 2-year-old filly Iced Fury won on debut at Wyong on Saturday. D Hardy purchased her for $2000 via Inglis Digital as a yearling in June 2025.
She is the second foal and first winner for Special Date (Snitzel) who won twice. This is the family of Group 1 winner He’s No Pie Eater (Canny Lad).
D’Argento filly wins Belmont Oaks
D’Argento added his second stakes winner when Grant and Alana Williams-trained 3-year-old filly Ladies Pro won the Listed Belmont Oaks on Saturday by nearly three lengths from Pony Up (Dirty Work) and A Summer Fling (Pierro).
Ladies Pro was sold by Bowness Stud for $45,000 to Williams Racing and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale. She is the first foal of winning mare Il Professionale (Pierro) from the family of Group 1 winning full siblings Universal Prince (Scenic) and Universal Queen (NZ).
She also becomes the 12th stakes winner for Pierro as a broodmare sire, who also sired the third placegetter A Summer Fling.
Detonator Jack adds to Allen’s good run
In Saturday’s Listed Winter Championship Final jockey John Allen added to his good run of recent times with seven wins from his last 13 rides. He won on Ciaron Maher-trained 7-year-old gelding Detonator Jack (NZ) (Jakkalberry {Ire}) who was unplaced in both his starts so far this campaign. “It’s pleasing to get a winner here at Flemington, and for Ciaron,” Allen said.
“Rides are a little scarce in town, especially in winter when a lot of trainers use a lot of claiming apprentices. I like to keep my momentum going by riding a lot in the country.”
Detonator Jack won from Gavin Bedggood-trained pair of Freedom Rally (Rubick) and Just Folk (Magnus). Detonator Jack may not have won since the 2023 The Gong, but he has picked up several stakes placing in the interim, and took his record to seven wins and 11 placings from 37 starts with earnings over $1.8 million. It was his first stakes win, and he became the eighth stakes winner for his sire who died in 2018 after his fourth season.
Detonator Jack is a half-brother to Group 1 winner Madison County (NZ) (Pins) and their dam, Red Delicious (NZ) (No Excuse Needed {GB}) has a yearling filly by Satono Aladdin (Jpn) and a weanling filly by Ace High.
Pair of juvenile winners for Maurice
Maurice (Jpn) added a pair of juvenile winners across Australia on Saturday.
Tom Charlton-trained 2-year-old gelding Mindgames won on debut at Wyong for an OTI-led partnership. Originally sold by Widden Stud for $40,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, he was on-sold by BMD Bloodstock at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale for NZ$170,000 to John O’Shea and Tom Charlton.
He is the first winner for Keepherinmind (NZ) (Keeper) who is a winning full sister to Group 1 winner Keep The Peace (NZ) and a half-sister to Listed winner Whosyourmaster (NZ) (Captain Rio {GB}) who also placed in the G1 (Auckland) Railway Stakes.
At the Gold Coast, Kris Lees-trained 2-year-old filly Misoto won at her second start. Vinery Stud sold her to Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) for $210,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She is the first winner for Etana (Shamus Award) who won the G2 The Roses and four other races.
Tully Hart is all heart for owners
Bred and part-owned by James Tzaferis, Murray Bridge winning 2-year-old filly Tully Hart (Royal Meeting {Ire}), trained by Jess Tzaferis, owes her life to part-owner Emily Murray who worked hard to help her when things went wrong with her birth.
She broke through at her fourth start, and is the first foal of Lady Bethany (NZ) (Niagara) who is a city winner of four races and a half-sister to Listed winner Spalato (NZ) (Elusive City {USA}).
Pierata adds juvenile winner
At Port Macquarie on Saturday, Con Karakatsanis-trained 2-year-old gelding Bound For Kos (Pierata) won at his second start, having run second on debut. Karakatsanis Racing paid $7500 for him at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where he was presented by Goodwood Farm.
Juvenile winner for Rommel
Dion Luciani-trained 2-year-old gelding Harbour Rise (Rommel) won the first on the card at Belmont on Saturday at his third start. Owned by BA Turner, he is the first foal of Petite La Femme (Safeguard).
Darwin Guineas won by Leveraged Buyout
Dundeel (NZ)’s 3-year-old gelding Leveraged Buyout won Saturday’s Darwin Guineas for trainer Dick Leech. He took his record to five wins and over $200,000 in earnings. Part-owner P Brittain purchased him via Inglis Digital in February 2026 for $22,500.
Formerly a $375,000 yearling, Leveraged Buyout is one of two winners for two-time Listed Prix Dahlia winner Rosental (GB) (Pivotal {GB}).
Four horses and riders escape injury in bad fall
Four horses were involved in a nasty spill as the field was about to enter the stretch of Friday's Wild Applause Stakes at Saratoga, but none of the horses nor jockeys were seriously injured in the incident.
I Love Giraffes, the mount of Paco Lopez, appeared to take a bad step and crashed to the turf, causing a chain reaction behind him involving Paris Carver (Javier Castellano), Smexy (Tyler Gaffalione) and Lovely Grey (Dylan Davis), none of which could avoid the fallen I Love Giraffes.
According to the New York Racing Association's Keith McCalmont, jockeys Lopez, Gaffalione and Davis were able to walk off the track under their own power, while Castellano was transported to First Aid by ambulance.
Roadster and Speaker’s Corner add stakes wins
A pair of 2-year-old fillies became the first stakes winners for their respective first season sires on Friday. Hot Rod Honey (Roadster) came from off the pace and drew clear late to become the first black-type winner for her freshman sire (by Quality Road) in Friday's Sharp Susan Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
Harper's Corner (Speaker's Corner) became the first stakes winner for her freshman sire (by Street Sense) with a 12-1 upset in Friday's opening day Schuylerville S. at Saratoga.
Trueshan’s sire Planteur dies
Flat and National Hunt sire Planteur (Danehill Dancer) passed away Friday at Chapel Stud from natural causes, the farm announced.
“Sadly, Planteur passed away today from natural causes shortly after being turned out into his paddock,” said Roisin Close, stud manager at Chapel Stud. “We feel incredibly fortunate to have been entrusted with Planteur on behalf of Simon Davies at DahlBury.”
Close continued, “Beyond his achievements as a stallion, Planteur was a much-loved member of the team. He was a true gentleman to handle, with a kind temperament that made him a favourite of everyone who worked with him. He will be greatly missed by us all, but we are immensely proud of the legacy he leaves behind.”
Some of Planteur's best progeny to date include champion stayer, three-time Group 1 winner Trueshan as well as dual Grade 1-winning chaser Gran Diose.
Kempton Racetrack under threat
Housebuilder Barratt Redrow has refuted suggestions it is planning to submit an application this year to build on the site of Kempton Park, as the course's future once again came under scrutiny.
Local MP Lincoln Jopp has secured a debate in Westminster Hall on Tuesday on the “Future of British Horseracing” when the issue is set to be discussed. However, both Barratt Redrow and Kempton's owners the Jockey Club insist it is a case of business as usual and nothing has changed.
A spokesperson for the Jockey Club said, “Kempton Park Racecourse remains the subject of an option agreement signed in 2018.
“This gave a housebuilder, Redrow, the right to purchase the racecourse for a significant sum, to be reinvested back into racing, if they were to achieve planning consent to build on it. This option remains in place and expires in 2028, with a limited ability to extend if a planning application is under consideration at that point.
“Any residential development would be dependent on planning approval and as that process has not started, the focus for us continues to be on hosting racing next year and into the future.”
