Treasurethe Moment on track for Memsie
Yulong’s super mare Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express) is making progress in Matt Laurie’s stable as she heads towards the G1 Memsie Stakes. “She had her first improving gallop this morning on the course proper,” Laurie told racing.com.
Treasurethe Moment | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“She tends to only have a couple of improving gallops before her first trial so, at this stage, she’ll just work up again on the weekend and she’ll have her first jump-out next week. There is still plenty left in her, I am sure. She was a late foal so she was always a little bit behind in that sense.
“She did some pre-training up on the Sunshine Coast alongside Soft Love and Grand Ohama so she’s got good grounding leading into her first trial. She’s never run badly. She’s been an incredible horse for us.”
Aztec Ruler to resume in Bletchingly
Trainer Matt Laurie is pleased with Aztec Ruler (Universal Ruler) ahead of his season resumption in Saturday’s G3 Bletchingly Stakes. “We’ve been more than happy with his work and he’s now got three solid trials under the belt,” Laurie told racing.com.
Aztec Ruler | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
“He’s still got to tidy up a little in the coat but he’s done more than enough work to kick off. Obviously, it won’t be easy, but he seems to be working very well. We were pretty happy to get the call up. He’s a horse that has a lot of Melbourne owners in him so I think they wanted to give him a go over here in the later part of his career. He’s achieved a good level over in Perth so there aren’t a heap of races left for him there.”
Lees juveniles ready for Wednesday
Kris Lees will run a pair of 2-year-old fillies, Adeleke (Fastnet Rock) and Golden Goddess (Maurice {Jpn}), at Canterbury on Wednesday with both having a decent chance. “Adeleke was an encouraging run on debut. She put her hand with the heavy track okay. Her work has been smart since then, she's got a soft draw so Dylan Gibbons will just find a nice spot in transit and give her a chance,” racing manager Danny Greer told racenet.com.au.
“Golden Goddess’s last trial at Scone was really pleasing and she appears as though she's come up in good order. I think she'll show enough fresh and give us a good sight and then want to build up to 1400 and even a mile.”
Old-fashioned King Pedro set for Metrop
OTI’s Terry Henderson is hoping to take last start Listed Grafton Cup winner King Pedro (NZ) (Eminent {Ire}) on a Sydney pathway to the G1 Melbourne Cup. “He’s got versatility and good ring craft and Kerrin (McEvoy) got off and wanted to lock himself in for the spring, so that’s a promising sign,” Henderson told racing.com.
“He’ll go to the (G1) Metropolitan (October 4). He’s just having a couple of weeks off, but the Metrop will be his chance to take the next step and get himself into the Melbourne Cup. He’s an old-fashioned Kiwi stayer, a bit like Doriemus. He had a relatively easy 4-year-old year and he’s ready to produce now.
“I think he’s very exciting. That race (Grafton Cup) didn’t rate all that highly compared to his win in Sydney, but he did a great job to score.”
Journalism takes on Mackay Cup
Lachie Manzelmann-trained 7-year-old gelding Journalism (I Am Invincible) shares a name with American G1 Preakness Stakes winner Journalism (USA) (Curlin {USA}), but none of that matters on Saturday when he contests the Mackay Cup. He was fourth behind David Vandyke-trained Keitel (Hellbent) in the Rockhampton Cup last start, and is on track for a $250,000 bonus if he can win the remaining three legs in the Northern Cup series.
Journalism | Image courtesy of Kentucky Derby
“(Keitel) gave nothing else a chance when he just swooped at Rocky,” Manzelmann told racenet.com.au.
“It's always easier when you don't have to travel. (Journalism) races terrific here and he won well in the lead-up race. Hopefully that's enough to get him where he needs to be.”
First ride a winner for Johnson
Apprentice jockey Ebony Johnson joined a rarefied club when riding her first winner at her first ride over the weekend aboard Power To Rule (Universal Ruler) at Derby. “It was pretty amazing considering a week before I didn’t even know Derby existed,” Johnson told racingwa.com.au.
“I had (Racing WA Jockey Coach) Peter Hall tell me I’m going to Derby this week and I said, ‘what’s Derby?’. Next minute, I ride my first winner there.”
Double for Hellbent
Tuesday’s Rockhampton meeting saw Hellbent sire a double. Ray Dart-trained I Am Voodoo took his record to 10 wins and 21 placings from 63 starts. Originally a $200,000 Glenlogan Park Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale graduate, Dart purchased him via Inglis Digital for $12,000 in June 2024. He’s won five times since then.
In the last on the card, Michael Stephens-trained Hou Long Gwai won for the second time in his career. A $90,000 yearling who became a NZ$450,000 breeze up sale graduate, he was a winner on debut at three, and later sold via Inglis Digital for $4750 in October 2025.
Te Akau stars step out at trials
At Tuesday’s Avondale trials in New Zealand, several Te Akau Racing stars stepped out. “July is a pretty quiet month for us, but we have got a nice team for the spring that is slowly building up, and it was good to see a few of them out and about today,” co-trainer Sam Bergerson told Loveracing.nz.
The Kiwi winner Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel) and Group 1 winner La Dorada (NZ) (Super Seth) both had quiet 1000 metre runs. Kinnaird (Home Affairs) won his heat, while He Who Dares (Snitzel) will wait for a jumpout later in the week.
Prizemoney boost for King George
Nick Smith, Director of Racing and Public Affairs at Ascot Racecourse, has heralded the “significant momentum” behind the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, with a top-class edition in prospect on Saturday and it being announced that the midsummer highlight will be worth £2.5 million (AU$4.8 million) from 2027.
Currently, the King George shares top spot with the Derby among the richest races staged on British soil, with Saturday's Group 1 feature set to offer total prizemoney of £2 million (AU$3.8 million) for the first time, having been run for £1.5 million (AU$2.9 million) when the Francis Graffard-trained Calandagan (Gleneagles) emerged victorious 12 months ago.
At £2.5 million (AU$4.8 million), however, the King George is set to stand alone as Britain's richest-ever race, offering £500,000 (AU$958,000) more than the Derby and £1 million (AU$1.92 million) more than the Sussex Stakes and Juddmonte International, both of which will be run for £1.5 million (AU$2.9 million) in 2026 following further prizemoney increases announced by Goodwood and York, respectively.
As things stand, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, which is currently worth €5 million (AU$8.1 million), will be the only race in Europe run for more than the King George in 2027.
“In a week where the significant prize-money boost to this year's King George has resulted in two of the best horses in Japan and France being set to run, as well as Irish Derby winner Benvenuto Cellini, and eight Group 1 winners in total, we are delighted to confirm further significant momentum for Britain's premier all-aged race with £2.5 million on offer next year,” said Smith.
“In a fiercely competitive international market, it is crucial that Britain's flagship midsummer races are appealing to connections of the world's best horses. The Elite Races Scheme, backed by the Levy Board and BHA in 2026, has played an important part in this venture as we continue to work with our racecourse colleagues at the Jockey Club, Goodwood and York to promote the midsummer highlights of British racing, namely the July Cup, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, the Sussex Stakes and the International Stakes.”
Ascot finances and attendance up
Ascot Racecourse announced on Monday its financial results for the 12 months ended December 31, 2025, which showed consistent growth across the board.
The track’s financial turnover increased by 4.8% to a record £118.6 million (AU$227 million), driven by strong performances across hospitality, retail catering, admissions and sponsorship. Racecourse attendance also grew strongly, with 532,956 racegoers attending Ascot's fixtures in 2025, a 3.7% increase on the 513,869 recorded in 2024.
Felicity Barnard, Chief Executive Officer at Ascot Racecourse, said, “Sustainable growth, both domestically and through our international relationships and partnerships, is fundamental to our long-term success. It allows us to invest in our site, enhance the customer experience and continue to strengthen our racing product.
“We were delighted to welcome over 286,000 guests to Royal Ascot in 2025 and saw attendances increasing again this summer for the third consecutive year. This continued growth reflects our focus on strengthening the Ascot brand and listening closely to what our guests value most.”
Fasig-Tipton New York catalogue released
A total of 318 horses have been catalogued for the upcoming Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearlings Sale, which will be August 16 and 17 in the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion in Saratoga Springs.
“This is a must-attend sale for those looking for high-quality yearlings,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning. “We've assembled a strong catalogue this year that showcases the best of the New York-bred crop.”
All New York-bred 2-year-olds are now competing for purse money equal to open company on the New York Racing Association circuit. In 2027, that purse parity program will expand beyond 2-year-old races to all New York-bred races.
“With expanded purse parity coming to the NYRA circuit in 2027, the New York-bred program will go from strength-to-strength,” said Browning. “There has never been a better time to participate in the New York-bred program.”
Newland and Insole dissolve partnership
Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole are set to go their separate ways, The Sun reported on Monday, bringing to an end a training partnership which has sent out 139 winners in Britain – 81 on the Flat and 58 over jumps – since its inception in December 2023.
“Jamie has done a great job for us,” Newland told The Sun. “He's been with us for two and a half years. I'm just changing the shape of the yard a bit.
“Economically, racing is quite a challenge at the moment and it is something Jamie and I have discussed over a number of months. I know he's got his own new yard coming on, so I wish him well. I expect it will be sorted over the next couple of months.”
