Legislative Council orders release of Hazzard Review
The NSW Legislative Council has ordered the release of the Hazzard Review into the NSW Thoroughbred Racing Act after passing a Standing Order 52 motion late on Wednesday evening.
The motion, moved by Nationals MLC Wes Fang, requires the report to be tabled within seven days after confirmation it was delivered to Racing Minister David Harris last Friday.
Speaking in support of the motion, Fang said the report should be released promptly for the benefit of the thoroughbred racing industry. He said the review was commissioned to examine the legislation underpinning the state's racing governance and argued its findings should be available to inform discussion around any reforms, adding that transparency and accountability were essential to maintaining industry confidence in the process.
Cormier trials ahead of Run To Roses
Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich-trained 3-year-old colt Cormier (Maurice {Jpn}) was last seen when second to Tron Bolt (Toronado {Ire}) in the G1 JJ Atkins Plate. On Wednesday, he ran third at the trials at Tamworth as he heads towards the G2 Run To The Rose Stakes next month.
“Campaigning in Queensland means he didn't get a lot of time off but I'm really happy with how he's done since the JJ Atkins,” Messara told racenet.com.au.
Paul Messara | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“The trials were scheduled for Scone but they were shifted to Tamworth so we just wanted to give him an even hit out and then in two weeks time at Muswellbrook we'll ask him to do a bit more. He'll have a good hit out there.
“All going well from Muswellbrook, he'll go two and a weeks into the Run To The Rose and then the Golden Rose and the Caulfield Guineas.”
Aeliana update after trial mishap
Chris Waller says Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) is still on target for the G1 Memsie Stakes despite being scratched at the trials on Tuesday after getting her hind leg caught in the barriers. “She has minimal swelling and she is sound,” Waller told racenet.com.au.
“We, of course, gave her anti-inflammatories afterwards so they is obviously masking a little bit of swelling and a little bit of pain. She is 100 per cent sound on the anti-inflammatories. She is getting an ice hose four times a day and I would say by Friday, we will be able to say ‘yep we are in the clear'. You just never know bruising could be there but every sign you could see so far is fantastic.
“There is a trial next Friday and she will still be on track to run in the Winx Stakes eight days later or the Memsie Stakes 15 days later. We are very confident we will still be on track.”
Yellow Jersey might join hot Memsie field
Trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy might end up running their imported Listed winner Yellow Jersey (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G1 Memsie Handicap this spring. “I was at Rosehill on Friday last week and he couldn’t have trialled much better, he was nearly a bit too sharp, I thought, ‘How are we going to get you to relax over 2000 metres?’,” co-trainer Calvin McEvoy told racing.com.
“He’s locked in to trial on August 14 at Flemington, Mark Zahra’s riding him. Our original plan was to kick him off in the Heatherlie Stakes over 1700 metres (at Caulfield on August 29), but he might just be too sharp for that. So, we’ll see how he trials, then decide whether it’s the 1700-metre Heatherlie or the Memsie.”
Finalists for Best Victorian Trainer announced
Racing Victoria announced on Wednesday that four stables are in the running for the 2025-26 Most Outstanding Training Performance award. Cindy Alderson, Henry Dwyer, Tony and Calvin McEvoy, and Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman are all in the running.
Alderson has been nominated for Jigsaw (Manhattan Rain) who won the G1 Auckland Railway Stakes, G1 William Reid Stakes and The Quokka. Dwyer’s nomination is for Asfoora (Flying Artie) who was crowned Europe’s champion sprinter at the 2025 Cartier Racing Awards.
The McEvoys are on the list for dual Cups winner Half Yours (St Jean {Ire}) and the Moody/Coleman stable gets a nomination for dual Group 1 winning 3-year-old filly Sheza Alibi (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}).
Moir goals for Cavalry Girl
Last start Listed winner Cavalry Girl (Bivouac) will head to Caulfield on Saturday with the G1 AJ Moir Stakes as a long term goal. “The strength of the win in the Listed company in Adelaide shows us that this is a logical step for her,” trainer Tom Dabernig told racing.com.
“She’s been in really good form this time in and that fitness she’s got behind her should be to our advantage as we get into early spring. But we recognise it is going to be a step-up for her. It’s only a smallish field but there’s a lot of speed.
Cavalry Girl | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“There are races like the Moir and that coming up but we will revisit it on Saturday. We’ve even thought we could freshen her up on the water walker and try and reintroduce her and extend the prep, but at this stage no firm plans beyond Saturday.”
Princess Series goals for Bangkok Hottie
Trainer David Payne will resume 3-year-old filly Bangkok Hottie (Too Darn Hot {GB}) at Randwick on Saturday with a Princess Series campaign as the aim. “If you’ve got a good filly you want her to be competitive in a race like that,” Payne told racingnsw.com.au.
Bangkok Hottie | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“If you think they’re going to race in Group races they should be competitive. It’s a kick off for her to go to the Silver Shadow and she looks a nice type going forward. She’s come back very good, she’s a strong filly now. She’s not big, I’d say average, but she’s got a bit stronger for sure. We’re aiming at the Princess Series but she has to step up.” She won two of her three starts at two.
Forest King to prove Rose credentials
Trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton will take 3-year-old gelding Forest King (Tiger Of Malay) to Gosford on Thursday to see if he’s on song for a G1 Golden Rose campaign. “He’s a nice 3-year-old with plenty of upside,” O’Shea told racingnsw.com.au.
“His win at Canterbury at his first start was full of merit, so much so that we stepped him straight up to Group 3 company in the Pago Pago Stakes in the lead-up to the Golden Slipper. He had a good break and came back and had a couple of trials before resuming at Rosehill with a sixth in a Saturday grade race.
“He’s come through that race well and he should run really well at Gosford. He has the ability to go on to better races, so we’ll assess that after we get through Thursday’s run.”
Corstens on rail position
Troy Corstens would like to see racecourses trial keeping the rail in the True position for all meetings. “It would take all the pressure off track managers – the track will be what is going to be,” Corstens said on SEN’s Giddy Up program on Wednesday.
“It will be up to the jockeys to see how good they are at finding the best part of the track. I think it would create great theatre.”
Stakes placed Image Artist wins
At Murray Bridge on Wednesday, Patrick Caboche-trained 3-year-old filly Image Artist (Trapeze Artist) won her maiden by 1.2 lengths. She was placed in the Listed Cinderella Stakes at two.
A bargain $3500 purchase by Dunn Thoroughbred Racing from Widden Stud’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale draft, she took her earnings over $36,000. She is one of two winners, from four to race, from Image (Exceed And Excel).
Image Artist as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Spring 3-year-old winner for Dracarys
Dracarys added a new winner when 3-year-old gelding Dragon Magic won at Doomben for trainer Shaun Dwyer. He debuted in the Gold Nugget back in January as a 2-year-old and now has a win from three starts.
Bought by Dwyer Thoroughbred Racing for $20,000 from Oakwood Farm’s Magic Millions March Yearling Sale, he’s already earned more than that. He is the first winner for De Belle Of Cannes (Lope De Vega {Ire}).
Tattersalls October Book 1 catalogue released
A Wootton Bassett half-brother to Derby winner Christmas Day features among the potential headliners in another blue-blooded catalogue for Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, with a total of 469 lots set to go under the hammer at Park Paddocks during the three-day sale beginning Tuesday, October 6.
Nineteen of the top 20 stallions in Europe will be represented, with the late Wootton Bassett leading the way by number of yearlings with 35 lots catalogued. As well as the half-brother to Christmas Day – who was a Book 1 yearling himself when purchased by Jamie McCalmont Bloodstock for 450,000gns (AU$912,000) – notable lots from the penultimate crop of Wootton Bassett include a half-sister to another of this year's Classic winners in Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Precise, as well as a colt out of the GI E. P. Taylor Stakes scorer Mutamakina.
“The publication of the catalogue for Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale is always a significant milestone in the bloodstock calendar, and this year's edition presents buyers with a catalogue of exceptional quality and remarkable depth,” said Tattersalls managing director Matthew Prior.
“The racecourse remains the ultimate measure of any sale's success, and, so far in 2026, October Book 1 graduates have enjoyed another outstanding season. Derby and Classic winner Christmas Day has been joined at the highest level by Group 1 winners Estrange, Maltese Cross, Mission Central, Portfolio Duration and Venetian Sun, underlining once again the sale's unrivalled ability to produce elite performers.
“Four of those Classic and Group 1 winners have siblings catalogued in this year's Book 1, while buyers will also find an outstanding collection of beautifully-bred fillies that will undoubtedly attract the attention of owners, breeders and leading stud farms from around the world.”
NBC retains Preakness TV rights
NBC Sports, which holds the rights to broadcast the Kentucky Derby, will also retain the rights to broadcast the Preakness Stakes, according to a report on Front Office Sports.
The site says that the result came after a “hard-fought bidding war,” which included bids from FOX, Amazon, and Netflix, quoting unnamed sources. NBC has broadcast the Preakness since 2001, taking over for ABC Sports.
A spokesman for the Maryland Jockey Club declined to comment, but the site said that Governor Wes Moore planned to announce the news in a press conference Wednesday at noon. An announcement in response to the NYRA-Churchill series for 3-year-olds is also expected at that time. On Monday, Churchill Downs and NYRA announced a new six-race series for 3-year-olds offering bonus money that includes the Derby and Belmont Stakes, but not the Preakness.
Japan Cup for Calandagan
Six-time Group 1 winner Calandagan (Gleneagles) was a notable absentee as 15 horses stood their ground at the latest entry stage for the Juddmonte International at York, with all roads leading back to Tokyo and a Japan Cup defence for the horse named Longines World's Best Racehorse for 2025.
An enthralling edition of the Juddmonte International remains in prospect, with outstanding 3-year-old Constitution River (Wootton Bassett) and last year's winner Ombudsman (Night Of Thunder) heading the list of remaining contenders, along with Andrew Balding's Item (Frankel), a dual Group 2 winner over course and distance.
A return to the Knavesmire for Calandagan – who was previously second to City Of Troy in the 2024 Juddmonte International – would have given the race an extra dose of star quality, but that eventuality has now been ruled out for Francis-Henri Graffard's stable star after his runner-up finish in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.
“He came out the King George fine, but we all felt he needed a bit of a break,” said Nemone Routh, French racing manager and director for owners the Aga Khan Studs.
“We didn't think it was the right thing to do to go to York. He likes the track and always tries his hardest, but we just didn't think that it was fair to him to ask him to do that. He'll get a little bit of a summer break with the idea of an international run, which is more than likely going to be the Japan Cup.”
She continued, “I think the Japan Cup is such an amazing race, and a tough race, but it suited him last year and he liked the track. It's a lot of travel and we saw how hard it was for the Japanese horses who came over for the King George. It's a big trip and it really does take a certain type of horse to do it. You need the quality, but you also need one who can take that travel.”
American Affair and Asfoora clash in Nunthorpe
The latest entries for the other Group 1 races at the Ebor Festival – the Coolmore City Of Troy Nunthorpe Stakes and Sky Bet City Of York Stakes – were also published on Tuesday.
This year's Group 1 winners Notable Speech (Dubawi), Thesecretadversary (St Mark's Basilica) and True Love (No Nay Never) feature among 25 contenders for the City Of York, while American challenger Bacio (Maclean's Music), French filly Rayevka (Blue Point) and Australia's defending champion Asfoora (Flying Artie) promise to bring plenty of international intrigue to the Nunthorpe.
They are joined among 27 entries by the last two winners of the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot in American Affair (Washington DC) and Mission Central (No Nay Never).
Having rediscovered the winning thread in last week's King George Stakes at Goodwood, American Affair is reported to be firmly on course to bid for further top-level honours at York, with an appearance at the Breeders' Cup also set to come under consideration.
“He's been up the gallop and seems grand,” said trainer Jim Goldie. “That [York] is the plan and then we'll see. If we win the Nunthorpe, we might consider America as I think it's one of those 'win and you're in' races.
“It's a big ask and he's not a straightforward horse to travel. If we win the Nunthorpe, we'll obviously have to think about it, but it's probably not as straightforward as you might think. We've achieved what we set out to do, which was to win that race at Goodwood, so we'll put the genie back in the bottle. If we win the Nunthorpe, we might just try to win the King Charles again next year!”
Vale Robby Albarado
Former jockey Robby Albarado passed away in Saratoga following complications from a heart procedure. He was 52.
Albarado, who retired from race riding in December of 2021, won 40 Grade I races during his career. He was the regular rider of Horse of the Year Curlin, aboard whom he won the 2007 GI Breeders' Cup Classic and GI Preakness Stakes, as well as the 2008 G1 Dubai World Cup.
Albarado rode the Ken McPeek-trained Swiss Skydiver to victory in the 2020 Preakness Stakes and had been galloping horses for the trainer in recent years. He underwent surgery at Saratoga Hospital last week to put stents in to alleviate a blockage near his heart and was convalescing at McPeek's home where he passed away Monday night or Tuesday morning.
“He and I worked together over the years,” McPeek said. “He won a lot of big races for me. And towards the end of his career, the job he did on Swiss Skydiver in the Preakness and going into the race, we worked together every day. It was beyond special.”
McPeek continued, “He was a cross between a son and a little brother, I suppose. But he was a really valuable part of our team. And just a really great guy all together. You can't imagine how many people have reached out. Whenever we had a horse that I needed him on, he'd go, wherever we needed him to go. If that was in Florida, he'd go to Florida. If it was Louisiana, he'd go to Louisiana. He was staying in my house here in Saratoga because we had some horses that I wanted the best on. And he was the best.”
Qatar Racing to sponsor Champions Day
Qatar Racing will succeed its parent company, QIPCO, as title sponsor of British Champions Day, the single most valuable day in the British racing calendar with total prizemoney of £4.35 million (AU$8.3 million).
QIPCO announced earlier this year an extension of their support of British horse racing's flagship race day until 2028. This new agreement will see the headline sponsorship switch to become Qatar Racing British Champions Day, including individual sponsorship of all seven races.
Announcing the new arrangement, HH Sheikh Fahad Al Thani paid tribute to his family's longstanding commitment to the sport and to QIPCO's pivotal role in establishing British Champions Day as one of the world's premier racing events.
He said, “Whilst the title sponsorship will transfer to Qatar Racing for the next three years, this reflects the continued commitment of my brothers to British racing and in particular that of QIPCO chairman HH Sheikh Hamad Al Thani. Since the inaugural QIPCO British Champions Day in 2011, our family's ambition has been to support the very best of British racing and that commitment remains as strong as ever.”
