Daily News Wrap

Johnstone stuns at Sandown

On Wednesday, apprentice jockey Jabez Johnstone had seven rides at Sandown for four wins, two seconds and a third. He won on Stay Silent (Deep Field), Blue Willow (Blue Point {Ire}), Foire De Trone (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) and Here’s Matilda (Shamus Award).

Blue Willow adds to Anamoe pedigree

Blue Point (Ire) had a double at Sandown, with Blue Willow as well as winning the first with 3-year-old filly Miss Lola, who is covered in the Wednesday Racing feature. Both Blue Points were out of Redoute’s Choice mares.

Blue Willow, a half-sister to Group 1 winning sire Anamoe, took her record to two wins from 13 starts. “That's her Grand Final,” Ciaron Maher’s assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said.

“That's a great result for Godolphin and everyone involved. She's a talented mare but it hasn't worked out for her in the last couple of starts with barriers and race patterns. It was a good ride by Jabez. He took his time, got on the back of something and had a bit of fake cover and kept her balanced and it was good to see her finish off.

“The breeding season is coming up, and she does have a lot of quality and value there,” Turnbull said. The next step for the rising 5-year-old mare would be up to her owners. As well as Anamoe, Group 1 winner Anamato (Redoute’s Choice) has also produced Listed winner Anamba (GB) (Shamardal {USA}).

Sweet sixteen for Waller

A double at Kensington on Wednesday saw trainer Chris Waller celebrate his sixteenth successive Sydney Trainer’s Premiership. His winners were Godolphin 2-year-old Sequinned (Pinatubo {GB}) and Concordia Wind (Justify {USA}) to give him 183 Sydney metropolitan wins for the season.

Stable apprentice Siena Grima won the Sydney Metro Apprentice Jockey title with 34 wins, while James McDonald won the Sydney Metro Title for the tenth time. “Chris is a relentless worker, and he does a lot of it himself,” assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth told racingandsports.com.au.

“Plenty of people get accolades for him, but he is the driving force. Amazing that he has gone and broken his own records again. He had a bumper year in terms of the top tier horses, and I think we've also had more provincial winners than we had last year. Every category has been stronger this year without expanding in terms of numbers. It's pretty cool.”

Victorian Metro season wraps up

Ciaron Maher, with 104 wins, is the Victorian Metro Champion Trainer for the season. Maher trained all four of apprentice jockey Jabez Johnstone’s winners at Sandown on Wednesday. Craig Williams is the Metro Jockey winner and the Apprentice title went to Luke Cartwright who had a winner on Walter Spur (Fighting Sun) at Sandown.

Treasurethe Moment back with quiet jump out

On Wednesday, Matt Laurie-trained Group 1 winner Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express) had a quiet jump out at Mornington, ridden by Daniel Stackhouse. “Daniel was very happy,” Laurie told racing.com

“He said she began with enthusiasm and she could have led them up, if he’d wanted to, but obviously being her first trial and on soft conditions we just wanted to follow them around and get the first one under the belt. (Memsie) is the logical kick-off.”

Barood moves to Empress Park Stud

South Australian farm Empress Park Stud has acquired Barood for the 2026 breeding season. He will stand for $3300 inc GST. “A beautifully bred son of Choisir, Barood is a full brother to Champion European Sprinter and internationally successful sire Starspangledbanner. He combines an exceptional pedigree with outstanding conformation, athleticism and temperament—qualities we believe are being reflected in his progeny,” said the press release.

“Although only a small number of his offspring have reached the racetrack, we have been encouraged by everything we've seen so far. We believe Barood has all the attributes to develop into a sire of genuine significance, and we are excited to play a role in that journey.

“We would like to sincerely thank Ros and the team at Rosden Park for the professionalism and dedication they have shown in standing Barood. We are honoured to continue his stud career and look forward to building on the excellent foundation they have established.”

Clarken joins forces with Sorby

South Australian trainer Will Clarken has announced that assistant trainer Charlotte Sorby will join him in a partnership for the upcoming season. “She's extremely hardworking, passionate and a great horsewoman. She's super organised and really does keep the wheels turning, which is most important in this day and age,” Clarken told racenet.com.au.

“She's obviously had a couple of runners in her own name, but she wants to go training, and I've got great respect for how hard it is to start on your own these days. I haven't seen a young person start from the bottom in South Australia and really succeed for a while, because you have to have the horses and the ownership group behind you.

“I can offer her that and she can offer me her work ethic.”

Columbus to test distance aptitude

At Rosehill on Saturday, trainer Les Bridge will test rising 4-year-old gelding Columbus (Dundeel {NZ})’s potential to stay. “We’ve just played the long game with him. He cost a lot of money as a yearling and was really difficult. He had a bit of an injury in the paddock and was a bit slow getting to the races,” Bridge told racingnsw.com.au.

“We battled along because he’s so well bred and finally we had to make the decision to geld him. He’s a lovely horse and time might have been his friend at the end of the day. I think he will continue to improve especially as he gets up in distance, he’s bred to get a mile and a quarter which I think he will.”

The $1.5 million yearling has won two of his four starts. He is the third foal of Tides (Fastnet Rock), who is a winning full sister to Group 1 winner Shoals and Listed winner Groundswell.

Byrne to be inducted into Queensland Hall Of Fame

Jockey Jim Byrne will be inducted into the Queensland Racing Hall Of Fame. “I was looking for a new car when they rang me and I was totally taken aback, especially given I've only been out of the saddle for a bit over a year,” Byrne told racenet.com.au.

“It wasn't until I spoke to my wife and told her that I got a bit emotional, it is a massive honour and I feel extremely privileged. I understand the gravity of it and how huge it is.

With four Brisbane Metro Jockey Premierships and seven Group 1 wins, it’s the G1 Stradbroke that stands out. “The Stradbroke was massive for me, to be able to do that not long out of my time as an apprentice. But I didn't really understand gravity of it at the time. When I was young I was pig-headed, I wanted everything there and then. It wasn't until I got a bit older that I understood what being able to achieve those Group 1s really meant.”

The other inductees are Basil Nolan, trainer Jack Booth, who achieved some historic milestones during the early 20th century, and five-time Group 1 winner Planet Ruler (Kaoru Star).

King’s Gambit half-sister adds metro win

Lime Country Thoroughbreds paid $240,000 for placed 3-year-old filly Mimi’s (Extreme Choice) at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale and she’s increased her value with a metro win on Wednesday at Eagle Farm. “She's done a super job, and she's a filly with good speed, and she showed that in her trials and jump outs for me,” trainer Jack Bruce said.

“She came to me in really good order, and she's been able to carry that over 1000 metres today, which is really important. It's a valuable metropolitan win for a filly with a really good pedigree as she's a half-sister to King's Gambit, so she will go to stud now and she's a metro winner and a fast filly so hopefully she passes it on to her progeny.”

She becomes the fifth winner for Sultry Feeling (Encosta De Lago) who has also produced young sire King’s Gambit and his full brother 2-year-old winning colt Organised Crime (I Am Invincible) who won earlier this week.

Juvenile winner for Better Than Ready

Queensland’s top sire Better Than Ready added a juvenile winner at Eagle Farm on Wednesday with Desleigh Forster-trained 2-year-old filly Iransofar victorious at start number four. She was third in The Debut on debut. Her trainer purchased her for $50,000 from Yarramalong Park’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft.

Iransofar is one of four winners for Seagull (Exceed And Excel) who is an unraced half-sister to Listed winner Soothing (Lonhro).

Zousain double in South Australia

At Strathalbyn on Wednesday, Zousain sired a double. David Jolly and Justin Potter-trained 3-year-old gelding Xitan won on debut to open the card, cruising home by 1.2 lengths. Jolly purchased him for $50,000 from Widden Stud’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft.

Aaron Bain and Ned Taylor-trained 3-year-old gelding Leading Impact took his record to two wins from five starts. Headline Bloodstock paid $50,000 for him from Widden Stud’s Magic Millions National Yearling Sale draft.

Pierata adds juvenile winner

In the first at Belmont on Wednesday, 2-year-old gelding Properata (Pierata) won his maiden at start number five for trainers Daniel and Ben Pearce. Pearce Racing paid $230,000 for him from Gold Front’s Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale draft.

He is a full brother to stakes placed 3-year-old filly Perfectly Proper. Their dam, Prim And Proper (Alfred Noble {Ire}) won the Listed Supremacy Stakes as a 3-year-old.

Luke Fernie-trained 2-year-old gelding Marcos (A Lot {USA}) was also a winner on the card.

Riddell wins NZ Apprentice Premiership

The New Zealand National Apprentice Jockeys’ Premiership for 2025/26 was won by Amber Riddell who has an 18 win lead over her rivals with a couple of days to go in the season. “I am really pleased with how the whole season has gone,” Riddell told Loveracing.nz.

“My goal for the season was to win the premiership, so I am really glad to have achieved it. Winning the Gore Guineas on Better Shared was really special because it was my first Listed win.”

Coolmore buys into Magnitude

Magnitude (Not This Time–Rockadelic, by Bernardini) will stand at Coolmore's Ashford Stud upon his retirement, the farm announced Tuesday.

The Coolmore partners reached an agreement with the colt's owner Winchell Thoroughbreds to acquire the breeding rights. According to the release, Magnitude will continue to compete in the colors of Winchell Thoroughbreds for the remainder of his racing career before retiring to stand in Kentucky.

Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Magnitude is currently undefeated in his 4-year-old campaign and cemented his status as one of the world's best horses with a gate-to-wire victory over international superstar Forever Young (Real Steel {Jpn}) in the G1 Dubai World Cup at Meydan in March. He then backed up that performance in June by capturing the GI Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs, securing an automatic berth into November's GI Breeders' Cup Classic.

Welcoming the agreement, Charlie O'Connor of Ashford Stud said: “Magnitude has proven himself to be an absolute powerhouse, combining immense speed, balance, and incredible determination. His performances in the Dubai World Cup and the Stephen Foster showed the world what a talent he is.

“We've been watching him closely since his spectacular performance in the Risen Star at three, and we believe he has all the attributes to become an exceptional stallion. He is a striking, exceptionally good- looking horse with tremendous presence. We are thrilled to have come to an agreement with Ron and are looking forward to welcoming him to Ashford when his racing days are complete.”

Vale Andrea Phipps

Andrea (Ande) Phipps, the wife of the late-Ogden Mills Phipps, longtime chairman of The Jockey Club, died Tuesday in New York City after a short illness surrounded by her children, the family announced.

She was the matriarch of the Phipps Stable and the co-owner and breeder of 2026 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Golden Tempo.

Goffs Orby Yearling catalogue released

The catalogue for the Goffs Orby Sale, which was once again put in lights recently with the Irish Oaks success of star graduate Johanna Walsh (Sea The Stars), has been released. The catalogue features siblings to 22 Group 1 winners, headed by a Justify half-sister to four-time Oaks heroine and Orby sales-topper Minnie Hauk.

Commenting on publication of the Orby Book 1 catalogue, Goffs chief executive Henry Beeby said, “This is always an exciting time of the year as we launch the Orby catalogue but 2026 has us at a whole new level given the unprecedented support we have received from breeders and pinhookers this year.

“That means that buyers will find outstanding depth and quality at Orby Book 1 as even more leading vendors have backed the 2026 edition with a greater share of their best yearlings. Following consistent gains year on year, culminating in record trade at Orby 25 we were blown away by the hunger for places as we visited farms in the spring and were shown a mouthwatering selection of classy potential winners. We are extremely grateful for that support and believe it has produced the strongest collection of yearlings ever assembled at Kildare Paddocks.”

Book 1 of the Orby Sale takes place on Monday 28 and Tuesday 29 September and will be followed by the two-day Orby Book 2 Sale. The catalogue for Book 2 will be released on Wednesday.

Cha Cha Baby tops Fasig-Tipton Digital at 460k

The July Digital Sale on Fasig-Tipton Digital closed late Tuesday afternoon with gross sales of US$2,984,500 (AU$4.2 million) for 101 horses sold. Cha Cha Baby (Highly Motivated), a 9-length maiden special weight winner at Delaware Park on July 21, sold for US$460,000 (AU$660,000) to LC Racing LLC to top the sale. Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, consigned. Cha Cha Baby is a 2-year-old filly from her sire's first crop.

“I've started using digital sales more and more, but mainly for mares to this point,” said Mark Reid, who purchased Cha Cha Baby as agent for Glenn Bennett's LC Racing.

One Stripe retired to stud

Dual Grade 1 hero One Stripe (One World) has been retired due to injury to Ridgemont Stud in South Africa for stallion duty, the Sporting Post reported on Monday. One Stripe was diagnosed with a stress-related injury to his right foreleg after a veterinary assessment last week.

“It goes without saying that everybody involved is very disappointed,” said Hollywood racing manager Anthony Delpech. “One Stripe deserved to have won a Group 1 in America, but he nevertheless still made us all proud. That includes his fans in South Africa who got behind him every time he ran.

“His performances again showed that quality SA-bred horses can compete internationally. Graham Motion did a fantastic job with him and is world-class. And we still have our speed star Isivunguvungu in his yard. Hopefully we will have others who can carry the SA flag with pride in the future.”

Shadwell's Ghanaati dies aged 20

Ghanaati (Giant's Causeway), who memorably won both the 1,000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes in 2009, has died at the age of 20.

The Shadwell homebred was trained by Barry Hills to win three of her six starts, having also won a Kempton maiden by six lengths when making her second appearance on a racecourse at two. She then returned the following year to cause a 20-1 upset in the 1,000 Guineas, before proving that her Newmarket win was no fluke when producing an even more striking display to follow up in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. One of the leading fillies of her generation, she went on to finish third in the G1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood and second in the G1 Sun Chariot Stakes back at Newmarket.

A granddaughter of Shadwell's hugely influential Height Of Fashion, Ghanaati herself produced seven winners from as many runners after retiring to the paddocks, including the three-time Group 2 winner Mutasaabeq (Invincible Spirit), G3 Mahab Al Shimaal hero Wafy (Dubawi) and Royal Hunt Cup scorer Afaak (Oasis Dream).

Mo Town and Twain head to Turkey

The Turkish Jockey Club has bolstered its stallion ranks with a pair of new arrivals for 2027, with Mo Town on the move from Coolmore's Ashford Stud in America and Twain set to kick off his stallion career in the country following his retirement from racing.

Mo Town, the winner of the GI Hollywood Derby in 2017, has been based at Ashford Stud since 2019 and is the sire of 20 individual stakes winners. They are headed by Mystic Lake, whose 13 career victories include the GII Charles Town Oaks and GII Inside Information Stakes, along with Play The Music, who was Canada's champion female sprinter in 2024 when her wins included the GIII Royal North Stakes and GIII Whimsical Stakes.

Wootton Bassett colt Twain is one of six winners out of the G2 Rockfel Stakes heroine Wading (Montjeu), who is herself out of the G3 Blue Wind Stakes runner-up Cherry Hinton (Green Desert). A daughter of the legendary Urban Sea (Miswaki), Cherry Hinton can count both Galileo and Sea The Stars among her illustrious siblings.

Trained by Aidan O'Brien, Twain was an unbeaten 2-year-old, having won the G1 Criterium International at Saint-Cloud just eight days after making a successful debut at Leopardstown. He made only one subsequent appearance on a racecourse when returning from 18 months on the sidelines with a fifth-place finish in April's G3 Alleged Stakes at the Curragh.

Two young sires for AKTEM Stallion Online Sale

The first edition of the AKTEM Stallion Online Sale will be held on September 25. The first two lots are young sires Van Beethoven (lot 1) and Taj Mahal (lot 2).

Van Beethoven is a son of Scat Daddy and won the G2 Railway Stakes at two and was second in the GI Secretariat Stakes at three. His eldest runners are now four. His best progeny so far on the Flat is G3 Prix Daphnis third Ciaran, while four of his nine runners in the NH sphere have won.

Joining Van Beethoven is multiple group winner Taj Mahal, by Galileo. He is a full-brother to Group 1 winners Marvellous, and Gleneagles, with the latter responsible for the high-class Calandagan among others at stud. Their dam is You'resothrilling (Storm Cat), a full-sister to champion sire and runner Giant's Causeway, the “Iron Horse”.

Fraser celebrates first black type

It wasn't Ryan Moore or William Buick's name next to the winner of the Qatar Goodwood Festival's first black-type race of the week, but the little-known Kaiya Fraser as he steered Dr Rascal (Sottsass) to success in the G2 Vintage Stakes.

“It's a great day and I'm very happy to get the job done for Charlie and Julia Rosier–this means everything,” the 23-year-old Fraser said. “It's what we wake up for every morning. The gap was just wide enough for me to go through and I knew how much horse I had underneath me. He was brave enough to go and do what I asked him to do.”