Cover image courtesy of Matt Vella Racing Services

The graduates to come through Matt Vella Racing Services speak for themselves. Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt), Fireburn (Rebel Dane), Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon), Hayasugi (Royal Meeting {Ire}), Celestial Legend, Fireball (Snitzel), Icebath (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}), Campione D'Italia (Snitzel), Providence (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and many more headline a list that includes G1 Golden Slipper winners and an Everest champion.

While the results have been remarkable, Vella believes the foundations are laid long before raceday, with a philosophy centred on understanding each individual horse.

Learning his craft

Vella's journey into racing began almost by chance, growing up near one of the sport's most famous establishments.

“I started off as a young kid, I actually lived down the road from Bart Cummings' old establishment Princess Farm. I never really knew about racing before then but as a 12-year-old they gave me a job as a stable hand and it has kind of gone from there.

“From there I met a really good trainer called Scott Singleton. He took me under his wing and taught me all the ropes about track work and kicked me off in sort of the racing department there.”

Singleton played a significant role in shaping Vella's early career before his interests shifted towards breaking and educating young horses.

“He was a great person for me to learn the ropes and how track work worked etc. He was a very good horseman himself and then from there on, I just sort of decided I wanted to go down the horse breaker way of work more so than the trainer line and I then went and worked at Darley and then with Gary Fraser and learnt my craft.”

It was during that time Vella also drew inspiration from outside the traditional racing industry.

I actually learnt a lot from stock horsemen and have incorporated my own sort of technique with a bit of that which has served me well.”

A major turning point came through businessman and owner Sir Owen Glenn, whose support helped establish the business Vella operates today.

“The biggest tipping point for me would have been, about 12 years ago I met Sir Owen Glenn and started doing all his work and he's just been a dead set blessing to me. He set me up, he funded me for a little while through Glenn Haven.

Sir Owen, as he got older, he didn't want to race as many so it was a bit pointless of him to have that whole big set up so we sold that and I went back out on my own and he just supported me through Matt Vella Racing which he still does to this day.

"I'm on his Go Bloodstock board and he looks after me like I'm his own blood so he's been a real massive help to me. I will forever be grateful to him, through him I have got to know guys like Henry Field who has been a massive supporter of mine and the whole Coolmore team, so it has been quite a journey.”

Today, Vella still operates from Hawkesbury, where he believes the facilities play a major role in producing well-educated young horses.

“I've worked really hard to get to where I am today as Matt Vella Racing, our location is on the track here at Hawkesbury and it is a great location to educate horses from.”

Building horses, not just breakers

For Vella, breaking in is about much more than teaching a horse to carry a rider. The aim is to produce a relaxed, educated athlete that is ready to continue progressing once it reaches the trainer.

“We've broken in a lot of nice horses and a lot of nice early 2-year-olds since then and that does come from having them nice and educated throughout the year. We are able to do a fantastic job with all the facilities here, we've got bush tracks, back tracks, arenas, all of that sort of stuff,” Vella said.

“Then we get the young ones on the track and we've got a lake and a basin and they just get so much more advanced than being on the track.”

The process generally spans three weeks, with consistency forming a key part of the program.

“Our process involves breaking in the horses for between 21 and 24 days, they can have longer if needed, but we work seven days a week, so it is a constant three weeks.”

Drawing heavily on stock horse techniques remains a defining feature of Vella's approach.

“I have learnt so much and taken a lot of my thinking of how stock horses work more so than just racing. We do the usual process of working them through, getting them in the barriers as part of a positive experience and get footage of them on the track for the owners and trainers. We have our systems and as I said, so much has been learnt from stock horsemen, which I really believe in those processes.”

“We ride them very soft on the mouth, we want them to be easy to ride once they get to the stables, and being on track and using a track is a massive help in achieving this.”

Summing up his philosophy simply, Vella believes success comes from understanding the horse rather than forcing it.

“The secret is working with the horse, not against them.”

Busy all year round

Vella now breaks in around 200 horses annually and works with many of Australia's leading trainers and bloodstock operations.

“I have a great range of clients, John O'Shea, Michael Freedman, James Harron, John Camilleri, Segenhoe when they were going and Sir Owen Glenn of course.”

He credits much of that success to the people around him.

“I have a great team, I have employed the right staff, it is a hard thing to get right, but I have a great team of riders and ground staff, who are very good horsemen.”

While he still trains a handful himself, breaking and pre-training are now the clear focus.

“To train one or two it is easy enough to incorporate with the everyday happenings at the property. I have cut back on the training, I don't enjoy training lots, I probably wasn't that good at going to the races and getting beat!”

“It served its purpose when I was at Glenn Haven, as I would get a few of Sir Owen's that didn't make the grade with the trainers, so my aim was to get wins for their pedigree page, and that worked particularly well. But it is something I have cut right back on.

“I do still train a few for him though, I have Twinkling Star who has won three of her five starts from the stable, so the system still works and she may run again this Saturday.”

The workload remains substantial.

“Most of the work done is breaking in and pre-training and give or take we would break in roughly 200 horses a year, so we are pretty busy all year round. We actually just finished the last of them and that was a lovely colt, a full brother to Switzerland that cost James Harron and the Coolmore team a fair bit of money, but he is a lovely colt, so that is this year's breakers done.”

Lady Of Camelot - An emotional sale ahead

Among the many horses to come through the system, the G1 Golden Slipper winner, Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon) holds special significance.

“She has been a very good horse. Just recently we made the decision between Steve O'Connor and Sir Owen Glenn that we would sell her through a private tender because there is only a select few people that can afford her. I'm always sitting in on these meetings with the Go Bloodstock team and that was the decision that has been made, which is exciting.”

The connection extends through generations of the family.

“She is out of the Miss Debutante line, who has also left Queen Of The Ball and Platinum Jubilee, I have been involved with all of them with breaking in and pre-training and it is just a very very good family.”

“I had Miss Debutante when I first started working for Sir Owen, so that makes her very special. It's actually a bit emotional to see her go up for sale for myself and Steve and everyone involved.”

Despite her later achievements, Lady Of Camelot wasn't an obvious standout early on, which shows the nature of picking good ones from an early age is not always that simple.

“Lady Of Camelot herself was very plain early on, but she was a pocket rocket, had a big girth, very strong but very straight forward mentally.”

Another recent graduate to catch Vella's eye is Steel Will (I Am Invincible), who resumed with an impressive victory at Wyong after placing behind The Next Episode (Snitzel) on debut earlier in the year.

“Sometimes you can get a feel for a really nice horse and I got that from Steel Will after I broke him in, I actually sent out a video message to Sir Owen after his breaking in where I gave him a good wrap.

“He won really nicely the other day and I just loved him as a colt after breaking in.”

“You could say he was disappointing in his first prep, but he was very great on Sunday. He wasn't doing things right, he's the type of horse you can definitely get a feel for.”

However, Vella says identifying elite talent isn't always straightforward.

“Some horses you just know, I loved Dame Giselle after breaking, Classique Legend simply had no idea on what he was doing, even in pre-training Stay Inside always felt like a gun, but Marhoona kind of slipped through the cracks a bit and was very plain and look what she has achieved.”

“It can be a really mixed bag and you can very much get one very wrong from early on.”

In The Congo impresses

Working with hundreds of young horses each year also provides Vella with an early indication of which stallions are producing stock that impress. With Newgate Farm's In The Congo one that has particularly caught the eye.

“I love In The Congo, I really love what I have seen from them. I also love the Anamoes. They are really nice horses and I think Artorius is going to be alright, hopefully he keeps getting the support as they are nice horses.”

“Even though they are second-season sires, I can't get enough of the Stay Insides, they are lovely sharp horses and I love the Home Affairs, he has massive potential.”

Looking back on the journey, Vella remains appreciative of those who have supported the business while continuing to focus on producing well-educated young horses.

“I have built a great business, I work very hard and our results speak for themselves, but I must say I am so grateful for the support of people like Sir Owen Glenn who has been a big supporter since day one, Steve O'Connor, and Henry Field.

“I am very grateful, and with all of my clients and trainers that I pre-train for such as John O'Shea and Tom Charlton and Michael Freedman, I will always be grateful for the quality of horses that come through my operation.”

Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography

If you believe in signs, New Zealand syndicator Matthew Corban received a good one on Saturday, when 4-year-old mare Attractiveness (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}) jumped from barrier one to win the first race at Rosehill Gardens on the opening day of the 2026/27 racing season.

The victory was the mare’s third from eight starts for trainers Richard and Will Freedman, who bought her alongside Corban’s Inspire Racing and Pinhook Bloodstock International (FBAA) for NZ$120,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale in 2024. In fact, she was the very first yearling that Corban bought with long-time friend Will Freedman.

Winners are what write your story, particularly in the early days of a business, and the Australian success of horses Corban has bought has him seriously considering a trans-Tasman expansion.

Growing together

Corban and Freedman’s friendship dates back more than a decade, and the friendship between their fathers, Marcus and Richard, dates back far longer. Matthew and Will were first formally introduced by Yarraman Park Stud’s Matt Scown, and their friendship solidified properly when Freedman, having started his training career in Scone, joined his father in partnership at Rosehill.

“He’s been a great mate, and we have been through a fair bit together,” said Corban. “There was a time where I was trying to get on the Godolphin Flying Start and Will was on the course at the time, and he was giving me some advice about how to get on it.

“Ironically, I didn’t get on. I made it to the final interview stage, but not the program itself. At that point, he had come back to Sydney and I was working for Racing New South Wales, so we started to hang out a bit more. We have taken a few trips together, like going to Royal Ascot.”

“He stood me up in Prague once,” recalled Freedman. “We went to Ascot together and then we were supposed to meet up again in Prague. He was leaving from Gatwick and I was going from Heathrow, and when I got to Prague, I called him and he said, ‘oh yeah, I didn’t make the flight’.

“So he’s owed me a nice horse for that. If your friendship can survive being stood up in a foreign country, then there’s not much that can shake it.”

The friendship continues to be built on a mutual respect for each other’s business acumen. After several years working for Racing NSW, including assisting to launch the first Everest carnival, Corban returned home to New Zealand to launch Inspire Racing in 2023.

The previous year, Freedman had returned to Sydney and was hard at work building up the Rosehill stable with his father. One of the standouts of their first full season training together was G3 Kembla Grange Classic and twice Group 1-placed Pavitra (American Pharoah {USA}).

“He has the Freedman name, but he has always done things on his own merits,” Corban said. “He reads every book, he did the Flying Start, he worked hard in Scone before he came back to Sydney. We always knew he was really serious about training, he has an incredible mind.

“He had two winners on Saturday and it seems like over the last few months he’s had a winner nearly every Saturday.”

“It’s been really nice watching Matthew forge his own way,” Freedman said. “He has had a lot of different roles in racing and he has landed on syndicating horses in New Zealand, and it is really starting to come together.”

Great to achieve with friends

Attractiveness is just the first horse in Freedman’s stable that Corban has purchased, but her achievements have opened the door to more in the future.

“I got a lot of enjoyment out of Saturday,” Corban said. “It’s always great when you achieve these sorts of things with friends. I am hoping that next year we can have a bit of a renewed focus on adding yearlings to his stable.”

“Racing is always a lot more enjoyable with someone that you like,” Freedman concurred. It is a good thing their friendship is so strong, when they had to stretch their budget a little to take home Attractiveness.

“I think she was the first yearling Matthew bought for his operation altogether,” Freedman said. “We were at Karaka and she was a beautiful yearling. Hello Youmzain wasn’t quite as popular as he has gotten, and Matt said to me, ‘I’ll take 40% if she sells for up to $80,000’.

“Then she passed in and I said, ‘we’re going to have to go to $120,000’, and Matt said, ‘no, only $80,000’. Then I went back to him later and said, ‘we bought her for $120,000’, and he said, ‘fine, we’ll sort it out’.”

Fortunately for them, the 4-year-old has already surpassed her purchase price in her first two operations, with earnings just a tick under $140,000 and has now proven herself more than capable of Saturday metropolitan racing.

“One of Matthew’s owners said something very humbling on Saturday,” Freedman said. “He said, ‘coming over to Randwick or Rosehill and competing at this level was a bucket list item for me’.

“I think, when we talk about syndications, it gives people the opportunity to come over and experience these bigger, more exciting race days. That’s something Richard and I try to sell ourselves on too.

“It’s about more than just racing, because racing is ultimately a game where there's plenty of disappointment and plenty of runs. It’s about the experience of the whole day.”

The whole experience

“When Attractiveness was beaten in her first run at Rosehill, Matthew was there with his whole ownership base all day, enjoying all of the racing,” Freedman continued. “It’s not just about the two minutes of your horse’s race, it’s a full experience. Racing is supposed to be entertainment, it’s supposed to be fun and a good experience, and I think Matthew is doing a great job at delivering that.”

The emphasis on the whole picture remains important for both trainer and syndicator, particularly when the reality is that it is impossible to make every horse a winner.

“I think the old selling point about racing making you heaps of money is over and done with,” Freedman said. “I think even the most naive of participants understand that that’s a little fanciful. It’s about dreaming, and fulfilling some of those dreams - and sometimes those dreams are having a runner on a Saturday in the city.

“This mare has won her way out of Midway grade and can now race for the best part of $160,000. That’s nothing to shy away from. If you can get a good one in Australia, they can pay for their annual training fees pretty quickly.”

Racing has always had to compete with other sports and hobbies for the public’s free time - and disposable income - and Freedman acknowledged the role syndication has had in making sure racing remains part of more people’s lives.

“I don’t think many people get into racing to make money, but when it can at least pay for itself, the enjoyment becomes pure enjoyment,” he said. “With new syndication models, like Matthew’s, it is important to get these decent horses early. It is a game of momentum, and it's important to get those wins early to try and get the ball rolling.”

Pros and cons

There is the potential for Corban to send more horses across the Tasman in future from his existing stable.

“There might be a few horses currently in training in New Zealand who could come over after the summer, but that is something I would discuss with my owners,” Corban said.

“I still want to support the trainers I use in New Zealand and there is a certain style of horse that suits Sydney racing. It’s amazing to be at Rosehill in the middle of winter and have a Soft 5 track. Whereas in New Zealand, this is what we call ‘Heavy 10 season’!

“And the beauty of having horses trained at Rosehill or Randwick is that there’s jump-outs at home almost every week, and trials on their home track every two weeks. It’s really efficient getting horses ready to race in Sydney. The costs might be higher, but if you have horses with the right ability, it’s worth it.”

The other driver for Corban to consider sending more horses to Australia is some of the uncertainty surrounding the New Zealand industry at the moment. The release of Project Stamina - an independent review into the industry’s infrastructure and viability - in July has placed seven racecourses in the country under threat of closure.

“There is a fair amount of uncertainty about the way forward,” Corban said. “I am of the opinion that decreasing stakes would be detrimental to the industry, but I feel there will be a bit of a stalemate after the news of tracks being closed.

“I acknowledge that some things have to change, and as a country, we have some of the most exciting young trainers and young stallions coming through that can help New Zealand to be really successful. But at the same time, it is hard to predict how the next three years are going to go. I don’t have a grand solution to it all, I can only control what my operation is doing.”

Corban noted it had been a particularly tough year for syndication and that he was thankful for an existing ownership base who continued to support him.

“I did pre-empt that people might be scaling back, so I went for much more commercial sires this year,” he said. “There is an election coming up here as well, and no matter who wins it, you will have people feeling pessimistic afterwards.

“In terms of economic confidence, we often look overseas to see what’s happening, but we don’t know how that will apply to us yet. Things could get better, or they could get worse, it’s just unclear for now.”

Doing the right thing

If Attractiveness’s winning season opener on Saturday was tipping the scales in favour of an Australian expansion, the penultimate race on the card gave Corban another significant sign.

“I would probably like a sign that what I’m thinking of doing is the right thing, and her win wasn’t the only sign,” he said. “The first horse me and my brothers were involved in, that inspired me to become a syndicator, was called Carbonados. He won his first start at New Plymouth, then he was sold to the Hayes boys, and he ended up winning race nine on Saturday as well.”

It was a seventh career win for Carbonados (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) and took his career prize money to over $388,000.

“That was a different kind of full circle moment,” Corban said. “It felt a little supernatural. I found it hilarious, but I also thought, ‘maybe I am in the right place’.

“We sold another horse to the Hayes boys a while ago who is called Cruiserweight now, and he’s been pretty successful for them in just a few starts. We got him at the same sale we bought Attractiveness.”

If that isn’t vindication of the model, what the third could be is unclear.

“We do buy a few nice horses and having these kinds of results opens a few doors,” Corban said.

“I actually joked with him about it on Saturday, I said, ‘you might actually be a good judge at this’,” Freedman said. “He said, ‘well, I had to be good at something’, and I think he has found what that is.”

Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography

Gringotts stretches out with purpose

There was no shortage of talent in the 1000-metre Group trial at Warwick Farm, but it was the Ciaron Maher-trained 7-year-old Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) who stole the show.

Ridden by Louise Day, Gringotts scored by just over three lengths from dual Group 1 winner Beiwacht (Bivouac), who was given a controlled ride by Nash Rawiller, while Group 1-winning juvenile Campione D’Italia (Snitzel) worked home nicely to finish a further half-length away in third.

Gringotts, the 12-time winner of just under $6.5 million was last seen finishing runner-up to the outstanding Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) in the G1 George Ryder Stakes before producing a brave fourth carrying topweight in the G1 Doncaster Handicap behind the excitement machine Sheza Alibi (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}).

After an encouraging second in an 800-metre Gosford trial on July 22, and now this impressive effort, Gringotts now appears primed for his racetrack planned return in the G1 Winx Stakes.

Aside from the impressive win by Gringotts, there was early drama when the Chris Waller-trained Aeliana (Castelvecchio) was a late scratching after kicking in the barriers.

“Light Infantry was good actually, his first trial was great and his second one was very good today, he’s pulled up very well and he is going to come on a bit in the coat, we are looking to run him in the Memsie at the end of the month,” Trainer Ciaron Maher said via his stable's social media.

“Gringott’s trialled very well this morning, I asked Louise (Day) to give him a stretch the last furlong, he is nice and big and round and strong in condition, he’s pulled up great, I loved the way he stretched a little bit late, he is ready to go for the Winx, the Group 1 over 1400 metres first-up.

“So very happy with him, I think he is in for a super campaign.”

Gringotts' dam, Miss Bluebell (NZ) (Savabeel), has recently produced a Proisir 3-year-old filly named Madame Nightingale, a Satono Aladdin (Jpn) 2-year-old colt, and is due to foal to Per Incanto (USA) in October.

Warnie wins, as Marhoona and Tempted catch the eye

The Ciaron Maher-trained Warnie (Ire) (Highland Reel {Ire}) proved too strong in the second of the Group trials this time over 900 metres, scoring by just under half a length in his first public appearance since finishing eighth in the G1 Stradbroke Handicap behind Spicy Martini (Justify {USA}) almost eight weeks ago.

Ridden positively by Sam Clipperton, Warnie travelled strongly before finishing off down the inside of trial leader Marhoona (Snitzel).

The Golden Slipper and Galaxy Handicap winner was excellent under a quiet ride to finish second, while Knobelas (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) was solid in third after racing outside the leader throughout.

The classy Group 1-winning Street Boss (USA) pair Tempted and Another Wil, also prepared by Maher, were both given quiet trials to finish fourth and fifth respectively in a heat where most runners were never fully tested.

Warnie was purchased from the 2023 Tattersalls 2YO Horses In Training Sale by Bennett Racing and Blandford Bloodstock for 65,000gns (AU$139,000). He is out of the winning mare Cumbfree (Ire), a daughter of English 2000 Guineas winner and successful sire Footstepsinthesand (GB). She is a half-sister to French Listed winner On Call Now (GB) (Acclamation {GB}).

Bennett Racing colours shine again through Tornado Valley

The Bennett Racing colours were again to the fore in the final Group trial when the talented 3-year-old colt Tornado Valley (Too Darn Hot {GB}) proved too strong in a heat packed with quality, including this year's G1 Golden Slipper winner Guest House (Home Affairs).

Attica (Lonhro) showed good speed to lead before Regan Bayliss allowed Tornado Valley to stride forward and assume control. Guest House settled midfield between runners for Zac Lloyd, while Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) and the $5.6 million filly Chayan (I Am Invincible) both settled towards the rear.

Tornado Valley kicked strongly in the straight at his second trial after finishing behind Beiwacht a fortnight ago.

Jimmysstar charged home from near the tail to grab second under Louise Day, narrowly ahead of Attica, while Guest House also worked home well under little pressure.

Chayan was given a very quiet trial by James McDonald and finished at the rear.

Ben Elam, who heads the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr Sydney stable, said the performance was exactly what the team had hoped to see.

“He's gone terrific,” Elam told Racenet.

“Being his first trial he wasn't out to do too much and I liked that when he saw Jimmysstar (to his outside) he clicked up and dug in and kept working through his gears.

“They went at a pretty sedate tempo early and ripped home late. Zac (Lloyd) was happy and he's recovered well so it's ticks all around for him.

“The plan is to trial again on the Randwick course proper Friday week and that will be 15 days into the San Domenico (on August 29).

“His first three runs this time in are all at home at Rosehill so that's why we wanted to get him away for today's trial and his next one at Randwick as well. Just to keep him stimulated and his mind ticking over.”

The winner Tornado Valley was purchased by Bennett Racing for $300,000 from the Rosemont Stud draft at last year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

He is out of Oklahoma Girl (Fastnet Rock), a three-time winner who placed in both the G2 The Roses and G1 Queensland Oaks. She is a half-sister to G3 Sapphire Stakes winner Sure Knee (Snitzel).

This is the family of Northern Meteor and Smart Missile. Oklahoma Girl has since produced a Pinatubo (Ire) 2-year-old colt and, after slipping to Churchill (Ire), was not served last spring.

Hostwin King returns in style

The Tommy Wong-trained early season 3-year-old Hostwin King (King's Legacy) continued his progression with a narrow but impressive victory over 792 metres after winning consecutive races as a 2-year-old at Kembla Grange and Canterbury during the winter.

The speedy 3-year-old filly Satin Summer (Written Tycoon) led from the outset under Tim Clark, with Oryx (Exceed And Excel) racing outside the leader.

Video: Watch Hostwin King's trial at Warwick Farm, video courtesy of Racing NSW

Louis Beuzelin settled Hostwin King perfectly in the trail before taking the inside run in the straight to narrowly defeat the game Satin Summer.

The well-bred Tenenbaum (Snitzel) was the eye-catcher, surging through the middle from worse than midfield to finish an encouraging third.

Hostwin King was purchased by J Tam for $210,000 from the Eureka Stud draft at the 2025 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

He is the third live foal from the four-time winner and Listed-placed Prada Miss (Northern Meteor), whose first three runners are all winners. Her other winners are In My Room (Spirit Of Boom) and Milano Boom (Spirit Of Boom).

This is the extended family of G1 Australasian Oaks winner Irish Darling (Ivory's Irish), this season's Listed-winning juvenile Gin Twist (Home Affairs), Group 2 winner Our Famous Eve (NZ) (Fast 'N' Famous) and 25-time winner Battle Eve (NZ) (Battle-Waggon {GB}).

Prada Miss has since produced a yearling colt by Encryption and is due to foal to Don Corleone any day.

In Secret's sister impresses

The Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained 3-year-old filly Secrets Within (I Am Invincible), a full-sister to dual Group 1 winner In Secret (I Am Invincible), continued her impressive progression with a smart victory in Heat 12

After finishing fourth in her debut trial at Scone on July 1, the well-bred filly took another step forward under Zac Lloyd.

Secrets Within jumped cleanly to lead, with Gone To Gowings (Farnan) sitting outside under Nash Rawiller, while the promising well-bred filly Satin Serenade (Frankel {GB}) enjoyed a perfect run behind the leaders with James McDonald aboard.

Video: Watch Secrets Within's trial at Warwick farm, video courtesy of Racing NSW

When asked to quicken in the straight, Secrets Within responded strongly to narrowly defeat Gone To Gowings, while Satin Serenade and Chataigne (Brazen Beau) both worked home nicely under quiet rides.

Secrets Within was purchased by the Laguna Partnership and John Sargent Racing for $2.3 million from the Segenhoe Stud draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

She is out of dual Group 3 and three-time Listed winner Eloping (Choisir), who has become a star producer with four winners headed by G1 Newmarket Handicap and G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes winner In Secret.

This is also the family of Group 3 and Listed winner Of The Brave (Starspangledbanner) and Group 3 winner All Courage (Danzero).

Since producing Secrets Within, Eloping has left a 2-year-old colt by I Am Invincible, purchased by Tom Magnier for $800,000 from this year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, before missing in each of the past two breeding seasons.

Cover image courtesy of Churchill Downs

A new six-race series of races for 3-year-olds, to be conducted at Churchill Downs, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course from May to September, will debut in 2027 under a partnership between Churchill Downs Incorporated and New York Racing Association, the two organizations announced in a press release Monday.

The series will begin with the GI Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May and continue with the GI Belmont Stakes on June 5. Those two marquee Classic races will be followed by the Matt Winn Stakes, at Churchill on a date in July to be determined, the GII Jim Dandy Stakes in late July or early August, the GI Travers Stakes in late August, and concluding with a championship race at Churchill Downs in September.

“The Thoroughbred Championship Series will extend the excitement of the sport across a five-month season,” said Bill Carstanjen, Chief Executive Officer of CDI. “The Kentucky Derby introduces millions of fans to a new generation of Thoroughbred stars each year, and this series gives those fans a reason to stay engaged with the sport's biggest stars throughout the season.

By connecting these premier events through one championship, we're creating a season-long storyline that benefits the future of Thoroughbred racing.”

David O'Rourke, President and Chief Executive Officer of NYRA, added, “This series is designed to showcase the sport's best 3-year-olds across a season-long championship, elevating our biggest events and creating the next generation of fans. The return of the Belmont Stakes to a newly transformed Belmont Park makes this an especially exciting moment for our sport.

“Together with Churchill Downs and our television partners, we are building on tradition to carry the excitement of these marquee races through the entire season.”

Split broadcasting to enhance spread

A unified points system will be designed to encourage the nation's leading 3-year-olds to compete against one another more frequently and, in addition to individual race purses, a US$5 million (AU$7.12 million) prize pool will be awarded based on the final standings.

Each race will be broadcast to a national television audience. The Churchill Downs races will air on NBC, while the NYRA races will air on FOX.

CDI and NYRA will work collaboratively on the series' rules, nominations process, marketing, sponsorship, wagering opportunities and television distribution. Broadcast, sponsorship and commercial partnership details will be announced as agreements are finalized.

Prominent owner Mike Repole expressed his support for the concept.

“For me, just reading it that Churchill and NYRA are working together is a super-important part of the story,” he said. “What I really am encouraged by is not only the fact that the tracks are working together, but that Fox and NBC are working together. “What I really am encouraged by is not only the fact that the tracks are working together, but that Fox and NBC are working together.” - Mike Repole

“In every successful sport, all the teams in the leagues work together, and NYRA and Churchill Downs are the two biggest teams in our industry. In any pro sports league, there are multiple media outlets who cover it, and multiple national networks. In racing, they compete and don't work together. So the fact that they're going to split the coverage and have Fox talking about the next one on NBC and NBC talking about the next one on Fox is significant.”

Repole is not only a horse owner, but is also part of the ownership group of the United Football League and heads their business operations.

“My lesson from the UFL is the more people talking about your sport, the better,” he said. “It creates news on top of news. Four years ago, when I said I was starting the National Thoroughbred Alliance, I said we need unity, alignment, and collaboration. We saw a little bit with thoroughbred aftercare and the SAFE Act, but inside the industry I think this is the first sign that two major tracks, instead of trying to compete, are trying to align.

“Everyone is talking about why we walk all over each other with the big race days and race schedules, and so if the two biggest entities out there are willing to have a relationship, that can trickle down.

“This is something we have to do with every facet of the game–tracks, breeders, trainers, etc. This biggest sign of collaboration and unity. I have a great relationship with Bill Carstanjen and David O'Rourke and they definitely speak a language that other people don't speak. The sport doesn't just need innovation; it needs evolution. I'm not sure which one is more important. But if you combine the two, it's a really great start.”

Additional information regarding the race schedule, points system, eligibility rules, prize distribution, and branding will be released shortly.

A momentum builder

Carstanjen and O'Rourke each read from prepared statements during a media teleconference Monday afternoon, echoing their comments from the morning press release.

“At its core, the Thoroughbred Championship series is about the future of our sport. Thoroughbred racing has everything people love about sports. It has extraordinary equine athletes, iconic races, legendary venues, and traditions that have captivated fans for generations,” said Carstanjen.

“Each of the six races matter as we build new traditions and standards of equine excellence, culminating with the crowning of a champion at the finale of the series to be held in September at Churchill Downs. You do not have to win every race or even any particular race to become the champion. The winner will be the horse who demonstrates consistent excellence and stamina in the face of the world's toughest competition across the six races.”

Added O'Rourke: “The Triple Crown shows us every year how powerful these events capture the public imagination. Our aim is to carry that energy across the full season and give the fans a reason to stay with the sport's best 3-year-olds from May into the fall. We also believe a stronger, more connected 3-year-old season is good for everyone in the sport, for the horses, for the horsemen, and for the fans who follow them.”

After the teleconference was truncated due to apparent technical issues, a Zoom meeting with O'Rourke was quickly organized by New York Racing Association officials.

“This is a very familiar format to the casual sports fan,” he offered. “It's a points system across the entire season essentially. This builds on top of the Triple Crown alongside it. It doesn't change anything with that.”

A festival enhancer

The absence of the Preakness in the TCS was the issue of much discussion across social media on Monday, and elicited a post on X from trainer Bob Baffert.

“I am in favor of any and all new ideas to grow racing and increase interest in our sport. So I welcome The Thoroughbred Series introduced by Churchill and the NYRA and I look forward to competing in the new series,” Baffert wrote.

“But the greatest achievement in racing will always be winning the Triple Crown–The Kentucky Derby, The Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. The Triple Crown has sustained our sport for more than 150 years, and it will continue to do so for another 150 or more, if we appreciate it and care for it.

“The Preakness is integral to racing's history, present, and future, and I hope nothing detracts from its significance. If I have the right horse, I'll continue to run in Baltimore every May, as well as in The Thoroughbred Series.”

O'Rourke said that the Series, which requires a horse to participate in four of the legs to be eligible for any bonus structure, will only serve to enhance the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival and could lead to similar series down the road.

“This builds momentum into the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, but through it as well,” he said. “I think this is huge. It gives us a foundation to build off us. We're starting with 3-year-olds, but the conversations could go into other divisions. This is the conversation starter now and we have a foundation we can layer things on top of. So I think we're open to conversations together with Churchill.”

O'Rourke said that while no conversations have taken place to date involving two of the summer's seven-figure sophomore preps–the GI Haskell Stakes and GI Pennsylvania Derby–those discussions could take place going forward.

“Those conversations would have to make sense,” he said. “This was just formed now, and now that (the details of the TCS) have been released, those conversations will happen. It's quite a busy couple weeks up (in Saratoga), but I'm sure there will be lots of conversations.”

For their part, the Maryland Jockey Club had no immediate comment on Monday's announcement, but its CEO Bill Knauf confirmed that the organization would be issuing a statement on the situation this coming Wednesday, August 5.