Half Yours and Janice McKenna star at Victorian Breeder Awards
Saturday night’s 2026 Victorian Breeding Awards saw Janice McKenna win Yulong Leading Victorian Small Breeder for the second successive year. Champion Victorian Bred Racehorse was won by G1 Caulfield Cup and G1 Melbourne Cup winning Half Yours (St Jean {Ire}) who was bred by McKenna (as Ms J Thomson). Half Yours’ dam La Gazelle (Desert King {Ire}) won the Avenel Equine Hospital Champion Victorian Broodmare.
McKenna also bred Flying Done (Kermadec {NZ}) who won the Racing Victoria VOBIS Horse of the Year.
Yulong Stud won the Kentucky Equine Research & BARASTOC Champion Victorian Breeder while Lindsay Park brother Ben, Will & JD Hayes were awarded the Racing Victoria VOBIS Trainer of the Year for the second successive year.
Half Yours | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
Toronado (Ire) was crowned IRT Champion Victorian Sire and Blue Point (Ire) won the Racing Victoria VOBIS Sire of the Year. Godolphin won Racing Victoria VOBIS Nominator of the Year, headlined by Steel Move (Blue Point {Ire}) winning both the VOBIS Gold Stockade and VOBIS Gold Carat. The Sportsbet Champion Victorian First Season Sire was won by Extreme Warrior.
The Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners Association Rising Star Award went to Rosemont Stud’s stallion manager Matt Taylor. It was a three-way tie for Inglis Service to the Industry Award going to Bucklee Farm’s Leeanne Smith, and Peter and Pauline Liston of Three Bridges Thoroughbreds.
Inglis Champion Victorian Bred 2YO was awarded to G1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Streisand (Magnus). The filly was bred by Don and Elizabeth Byrne of Eldon Park Stud. Magic Millions Champion Victorian Bred 3YO went to Godolphin’s Tentyris (Street Boss {USA}).
Blue Gum Farm announce new farm manager
Blue Gum Farm has appointed former Milburn Creek Assistant Manager Siobhan Smyth as Farm Operations Manager. “Siobhan comes from one of the best farms in Australia and has spent many years under the tutelage of Scott Holcombe, who is widely acknowledged as one of the country’s leading stud managers,” Jason Stenning said in a press release.
“We undertook a comprehensive search, and Siobhan was the perfect fit. She has an outstanding résumé, is exceptionally detail-oriented, highly process-driven and possesses an exceptional understanding of thoroughbred breeding and farm management. We’re thrilled to have her leading the farm into the future.” Joining Smyth is highly respected horsewoman Jane Hearn, who has been appointed Broodmare Manager.
Guest House to trial on Tuesday
Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained G1 Golden Slipper winner Guest House (Home Affairs) is set to trial on Tuesday at Warwick Farm. “He had his final gallop here (at Rosehill) this morning on the course proper and went through his gears really nicely,” stable representative Ben Elam told racingandsports.com.au.
“I'm looking forward to getting him back to the trials where we can let him do a little bit more.” He is being aimed at the G1 Golden Rose.
Guest House | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Asfoora so close in G2 King George
Friday's G2 King George Qatar Stakes was a visual delight, with four across the track at the finish with American Affair (Washington DC) edging Goodwood's five-furlong feature.
Placed once in four starts since his career-best success in Royal Ascot's King Charles III Stakes last June, the Jim Goldie-trained 6-year-old was delivered stand's side by Paul Mulrennan to deny Rumstar (Havana Grey), Time For Sandals (Sands Of Mali) and Asfoora (Flying Artie) with a length separating the quartet who all finished widths apart from each other.
Henry Dwyer was buoyed by the return to form of Asfoora and refused to draw the curtain yet. “She has had a fair bit of racing and a lot of travel and she has made us incredibly proud,” he said.
“She was left by herself probably 100 metres too early and that probably told in the last 50 metres. I am incredibly tempted by the Nunthorpe, but I don't think it is my decision. I will make a phone call to Akram, the owner. At the end of the day, it is his money and his horse and he can decide what he wants. Off today, you would think there is no reason not to – the door is ajar.”
Shinn returns with a win
Jockey Blake Shinn returned to the saddle on Saturday at Flemington and quickly got a win under his belt when victorious on Nearco Frod (Fr) (Hunter’s Light {Ire}) in the first on the card. He hadn’t ridden at the races since a bad leg fracture on Melbourne Cup Day last spring. “It's just a great feeling, it's been a bit of a journey,” Shinn said.
“It's nice to be coming home a winner and not in an ambulance that's for sure. It's like I never left really, to get the support of all the leading trainers and owners has been quite humbling. I've had to ensure I'm ready for today and I've got a great team that's helped me in the recovery and rehabilitation phase and they're here today.
“My friends and family have come from all over Australia to be here, it's really nice to reward them for their support, first ride back to be a winner, it's special. It's been a process but I felt like I was ready for today and here we are … hopefully this is the start of a great season.”
He also won race 6 on Lindsay Park-trained Touchdown (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}).
Clark celebrates birthday with a treble
Jockey Tim Clark rode a treble at Rosehill on Saturday to celebrate his 40th birthday. Trainer Nathan Doyle was thrilled with the ride from Clark on 4-year-old gelding Funshow (Cosmic Force) as he made it three wins in succession and stepped up to city class at Rosehill on Saturday. Placed in his first four starts, the Kurrinda Bloodstock-syndicated galloper has three wins from seven starts with earnings over $180,000.
“He outrode them. You could see with the way he got to the front and gave him a few easy sections and then around the corner he really got going for home on him. He pinched a margin and that was the difference in the end. All credit goes to Timmy … it was on the corner where he won the race,” Doyle said.
“We‘ve just been patient with him and gelded him and took our time and we are seeing the results. He's only lightly raced and has a great group of owners in Kurrinda Bloodstock who are great supporters of the stable.” Originally sold by Ashleigh Thoroughbreds at the Inglis Sydney Weanling Sale for $55,000 to Riverstone Lodge and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA), he was pinhooked through the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale where Kurrinda Bloodstock paid $150,000 for him.
Clark’s other winners were Steel Strike (Exceed And Excel) and Carbonados (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}).
Ole Kirk mare set for spring stakes targets
Trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr will likely set 4-year-old mare Gatwick (Ole Kirk) for a stakes target after she won at Rosehill on Saturday. “She's a horse we've always had a good opinion of, and it's an interesting time of year,” stable representative Ben Elam said.
“She's rock-hard fit and there are probably some lower grade stakes races that might pop up where she's the rock-hard fit horse, and there are some more proven horses returning from a break.
“There is a little bit to ponder there . . . it's a good problem to have when you've got a progressive horse like this.”
Lindsay Park’s Run Harry Run wins in Sydney
Lindsay Park made the right choice in sending last start Mildura Cup winning 6-year-old gelding Run Harry Run (Written Tycoon) to Sydney as he won the Jockeys Celebration Day Handicap in a tough battle for jockey Nash Rawiller. “I thought I was lucky (to win the race), put it that way,” Rawiller said.
“He's come up in great order, looks a treat and the way the track is racing probably helped him a touch. Apart from jumping on his Melbourne leg on the winning post he did everything spot on.” Winner of the G3 Blue Sapphire Stakes at three, Run Harry Run now has six wins from 22 starts and earnings over $740,000.
Birthday present for Les Bridge
Trainer Les Bridge turned 88 on Friday and celebrated with the victory of Aye Aye Captain (Merchant Navy) at Rosehill on Saturday who was ridden by Kerrin McEvoy. “Les is a legend. My first winner for him was a mare of his way back in the 2000s, a good mare called Miss Zoe when I had just come out of my apprenticeship,” McEvoy said.
“Then when I moved to Sydney, I didn't ride a lot for Les early on but Carmel (Size) linked me up when she knew she had a smart one in Classique Legend. I have been doing a bit ever since with Les. He is old school and says it how it is.” Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt) won the G2 Shorts and G2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint on the way to winning the $15 million The Everest in 2020.
Plenty ahead for Te Akau’s Cranbourne stable
Te Akau Racing trainer Mark Walker started the season with a win at Flemington with Stage ‘N’ Screen (NZ) (Ace High), but it’s the rest of the team that has him most excited. “We’ve got a few aiming up at the spring this time,” Walker said.
“There’s a horse called Seize The Day, who won the Group 1 (in New Zealand) and Lara Antipova. Belle Cheval is here. Geegee’s Mistruth as well and Bellatrix Star ran really well the other day, so that was good. We’ve got a nice team that’s come together.
“There’s a lot more depth than we had last year, a little like our first season (at Cranbourne). When you have a lot of good horses retire at once, you’ve sort of got to rebuild. There was Skewiff, Imperatriz, Campionessa, Sans Doute and a few others.”
Playing God gelding salutes the judge
Playing God got his season off to a good start with 3-year-old gelding Godspeed winning at Belmont on Saturday for trainers Chris and Michael Gangemi. He was placed on debut last start at two. Gamgemi Racing paid $170,000 for him from Mungrup Stud’s Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale draft.
His dam, Cascada (Lonhro) has had seven live foals and they are all winners. She won two of her eight starts.
Roughie Hot Image surprises at Doomben
Ryan Tyrell-trained 3-year-old filly Hot Image (Lean Mean Machine) defied her $18 odds to bolt home by over four lengths at Doomben. It was the longest odds in the field and yet the shortest of her career, having started at $151, $71, $201, $91 and $41 in her past five starts (for one placing).
She was sold by Figtree Thoroughbreds at the Magic Millions March Yearling Sale for Tyrell’s Fenwick Racing for $10,000. She is the first foal of winning mare Hot News (Press Statement).
Better Than Ready had a double at the meeting with Epic Proportions and Cunnamulla Fella. Also in Queensland, Zoustar sired a double at Tambo with Sheriff’s Star and Transceltic. Merchant Navy had a double at Yeppon with Harbour Chill and Ellibaby.
Spring 3-year-old winner for Dubious
On the first day of the new season, Daiki Chujo-trained 3-year-old colt Nozomu (Dubious) bolted home at the Gold Coast by 2.8 lengths. Owner Koji Oka bought him for $15,000 from Kenmore Lodge’s Magic Millions National Weanling Sale draft. He is the last foal of Written (Written Tycoon) who won seven races including at Caulfield. She has four winners from four to race.
Tough Dracarys filly wins again
At Townsville on Saturday, Graham Hughes-trained 3-year-old filly Alberta Bound (Dracarys) showed her busy juvenile season hadn’t had any negative impact with a 4.6 length victory. She won four of her ten starts at two, and in taking her win tally to five, she took her earnings over $150,000.
Leon Morton paid $45,000 for Alberta Bound from Oakwood Farm’s Magic Millions March Yearling Sale draft and she is one of four winners for Alberta (Magic Albert).
Track record at Goodwood for Shayem
Bolstered by a confidence-boosting score at Newmarket earlier this month, Abdulrazaq Mohamdi's homebred G2 German 2000 Guineas runner-up Shayem (King Of Change) upset the odds-on favourite Talk Of New York (Wootton Bassett) and lowered the track record with a defiant display in Friday's G3 HKJC World Pool Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood.
“We knew Billy (Loughnane) was going to go off at a nice gallop and Cliff [Lee] was the only one really to keep tabs on him,” said Burke. “Cliff is very good with his fractions and, from three out, I could see we were closing and the others weren't. Last year, you would have said that he was a soft-ground horse, but he has proven otherwise this year.
“We had no qualms about the ground or the track, as he handled the undulations at Newmarket well. Abdulrazaq [Mohamdi] will be delighted, as he is a homebred horse as well. He is a great supporter of ours from Dubai. There's a nice race at Kentucky for him in September and one at Colonial Downs as well. I would imagine he will get an invite to one of those on the back of that. If we do not go there, we could come back [here] for the [G2] Celebration Mile.”
G2 Amsterdam Stakes won by Local Knowledge
The 34th running of the GII Amsterdam Stakes was nothing short of a thriller as Local Knowledge (Yaupon) refused to lose Friday afternoon, and the race also marked the 800th graded win for Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez.
A US$625,000 (AU$890,000) OBS April purchase beat Solitude Dude (Yaupon) by a short head. “It was a pretty determined effort,” said Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.
“We were giving up seasoning again. In his second start off a long layoff, he had to run against older horses, and it was one of those things where I think it was a better race than it looked on paper. You could have looked at coming back in an allowance race, but he sold us on this stake the way he had been training.”
Goffs Orby Book 2 catalogue released
The lure of the Orby bonuses along with the prospects of unearthing a horse like Ballinea Star are just a couple of reasons, according to Goffs chief Henry Beeby, why buyers ought to be flocking to Book 2 of the company's flagship yearling sale.
“Orby Book 2 has firmly established itself as one of Europe's leading commercial yearling sales, consistently producing a plethora of winners while also delivering excellent results for breeze-up consignors,” Beeby said.
“The Goffs Two Million Series also creates a compelling reason to buy and increasing numbers of Book 2 buyers are ticking the box to qualify for the incentive. We look forward to welcoming buyers to Kildare Paddocks for the Irish National Yearling Sales week where, across both Orby Book 1 and Book 2, there are outstanding opportunities at every level of the market, complemented by a guaranteed €2 million in prizemoney.”
State of Maryland completes rights to Preakness
in a press release shared July 31, the office of the Governor of the State of Maryland revealed that it has completed its acquisition of the Intellectual Property (IP) Rights to the Preakness Stakes and Black Eyed Susan from 1/ST Racing.
Governor Wes Moore notified the racing entity June 18 that the state would be exercising its right of first refusal to match the US$85 million (AU$121 million) offer made by Churchill Downs, Inc. (CDI) to acquire the IP rights. The Maryland Economic Development Corporation (MEDCO) issued notes to finance the acquisition. No General Fund tax dollars were expended to acquire the rights.
“The Preakness Stakes is a cornerstone of Maryland's history, culture, and economy–so our administration is dedicated to preserving our state as a key power player in the Triple Crown for generations to come,” said Gov. Moore. “With this final acquisition we are not only leveraging the Preakness's iconic status and uplifting our horse racing industry, we are revitalizing the communities that directly benefit from the economic opportunities of the race.”
