Napoleonic to kick off in Missile
Group 3-winning 4-year-old entire Napoleonic (Wootton Bassett {GB}) will resume in Saturday’s G2 Missile Stakes. “He’s clearly a talented horse and if he can improve again, and there’s no reason he can’t, it puts him in the mix,” co-trainer Tom Charlton told racingnsw.com.au.
“He didn’t have long off so he’s quite forward for this assignment. It’s probably an above average Missile Stakes but there’s no reason why he can’t be very competitive.”
Napoleonic | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Ninja to put hand up for Everest
Trainer Michael Freedman is hoping Ninja (Farnan) does enough in Saturday’s G2 Missile Stakes that a slot holder for the G1 The Everest pays attention. “There’s lots of options on the table for him, it depends on how he comes back,” Freedman told racingnsw.com.au.
“I wouldn’t rule out setting him for an Everest if his form warrants it. He’ll be kept to 1200m and 1400m this campaign but there’s obviously also the Golden Eagle, being a 4-year-old, to have a look at.
Ninja | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“He had a nice long spell after running in the Randwick Guineas, he had his spell up in Queensland and four or five weeks of pre-training up there in the warmer weather and I think it’s done him good. I think mentally he’s a lot more mature than what he was six or 12 months ago. The campaign in Queensland had a lot to do with that so hopefully all going well the best is still ahead of him.”
Cornerstone dispersal headlines Inglis Digital
Cornerstone Stud’s 34 lot dispersal headlines the latest Inglis Digital sale, led by Jest Excel (Exceed And Excel), the dam of Group 3 winning juvenile Shiki (Too Darn Hot {GB}). Bennett Racing are offering 74 lots.
The sale includes five 5% shares in G1 Queensland Oaks winner Fireball Miss (Bivouac), as well as stallion shares in Extreme Warrior, Nicconi, Rebel Dane, and Fierce Impact (Jpn).
Vale Ottavio Galletta
Prominent owner-breeder Ottavio Galletta died this week aged 82. Best known as the owner of Castelvecchio and Profondo, he started out lucky with one of his first horses being 1976 Australian Harness Horse of the Year, Don’t Retreat. “It is with immense sadness that I say goodbye to my great friend and stable supporter Ottavio Galletta,” trainer Richard Litt said on his socials.
“There are no words to describe how much gratitude I feel towards Ottavio for all he has done for the stable, and for my career. The faith and loyalty he showed when he entrusted me with horses like Castelvecchio and Profondo will never be forgotten. I will miss his support, our conversations, and our wonderful friendship.
“My condolences go out to Ottavio’s wife Wendy and to his whole family at this sad time.”
Group 1-placed Mating Call resumes in Behemoth
Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray-trained Mating Call (Brazen Beau) resumes in Saturday’s G3 Behemoth Stakes and comes off a successful 3-year-old campaign where she ran second to Panova (Trapeze Artist) in the G1 Australasian Oaks. “We're really happy with her. She's come back bigger, stronger. She's more composed about all the day-to-day things,” MacGillivray told racenet.com.au.
“She jumped out well the other day, and we had a nice gallop on the Parks (track) last weekend. We are ready to go. She's obviously won over 1200m before, not in such illustrious company, but we think she's definitely ready to run a really nice race.”
Australian races added to World Pool
A total of nine new fixtures spread across the UK, Australia and South Africa will be debuted by the World Pool across the final four months of 2026.
Three races will be commingled on Winterbottom Stakes Day on November 28 in Australia at Ascot. This is the first time the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC)'s global pools will be in action from Western Australia. The World Pool will also be utilised for full cards on September 19, Caulfield's Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes Day, and November 5, Flemington's VRC Oaks Day. A single commingled race is the G1 C F Orr Stakes on November 14. Returning to the World Pool for the first time since 2023 is Flemington's G1 Turnbull Stakes Day. In South Africa, another day has been added in Turffontein's Summer Cup Day on November 28.
At Doncaster, the G1 St Leger, which is celebrating its 250th anniversary, will be globally commingled for the first time on September 12. It is an International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) Top 100 Group 1 race. At Haydock, there will be a full card of eight races on September 5. Newmarket's Fillies' Mile Day on October 9 has been confirmed, and the Rowley Mile will also host Sun Chariot Stakes Day on October 3. The latter was previously part of the World Pool in 2023.
Racing SA announce prizemoney changes
On Friday, Racing South Australia announced changes to prizemoney commencing on September 1 with an emphasis on increases in prizemoney for higher-grade Saturday racing, 3-year-old races and selected feature events, and a focus on retaining quality horses in South Australia and strengthening commercial appeal.
“South Australian racing has continued to generate strong and competitive fields, and it is important that our prizemoney program supports that momentum,” Racing SA Chair Rob Rorrison said.
“These increases are deliberately targeted at higher-grade Saturday racing, our two and 3-year-old program and selected feature events where we believe they can provide the greatest upside. A stronger two and 3-year-old pathway encourages owners and trainers to retain promising horses in South Australia, while more competitive prizemoney also increases the appeal of our racing program to a broader audience.
“The repositioning of the Moorundi Classic and increased investment in key race days will give participants clearer pathways to feature interstate races and strengthen the quality and profile of South Australian racing.”
Acrobat adds winner number three
Second season sire Acrobat added his third winner when Scott Singleton-trained 3-year-old gelding Greyt Remlap won at Coffs Harbour at his third start. A $60,000 purchase by his trainer, he was sold by Carramar Park at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Greyt Remlap is the first winner for Exceed And Excel mare Navua Mist who won five races.
The Coffs Harbour Cup, and a Big Dance entry, was won by Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Mighty Ulysses (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}).
Tiger Of Malay adds new winner
Second season sire Tiger Of Malay celebrated winner number seven when Gratz Vella-trained 3-year-old gelding Kip Star won at Canberra on Friday. He was having his fourth start. Vella Lodge bought him for $85,000 from the same Carramar Park Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft as Greyt Remlap (Acrobat).
Kip Star is the first foal of Toomai (Shooting To Win) who is a winning half-sister to Group 3-placed See Me Exceed (Sebring).
Hellfire Jess lives up to potential
Trainer Tom Dabernig debuted Hellfire Jess (Hellbent) in the G3 Maribyrnong Plate as a pre-Christmas juvenile last year. On Friday, she bounced into form winning her maiden at Mount Gambier. Prime Thoroughbreds bought her for $170,000 from Yarraman Park Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft.
Hellfire Jess is the second winner for Group 3 winner Flying Jess (Hinchinbrook).
Currie wins appeal against integrity department
Former trainer Ben Currie has won his appeal with the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT). The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) refused to grant him a stablehand licence but now must do so.
Currie initially served a lengthy ban from racing related to a "boost paste" being administered to a horse under Currie's watch and administering "shockwave therapy" to horses within seven clear days of racing. He returned in 2022 as a stablehand but was given an 18-month ban, reduced to nine-months, after his father Mark Currie’s horse End Assembly (Outreach) returned a positive swab for cocaine after a win at Eagle Farm.
Jockey Club round table includes fan initiatives
Several of the key issues facing the industry–owner retention, the foal crop, the marketing of horse racing to new and existing fans, and the importance of regional markets like Maryland, highlighted the 2026 Jockey Club Round Table on Matters Pertaining to Racing, but the issue of fan development took centre stage. The annual event was held at the Saratoga Springs City Center in Saratoga, New York.
After taking the helm as chairman one year and one day before the 2026 Round Table, Everett Dobson delivered the Round Table's opening and closing remarks. He stressed the day's central theme, fan development.
“Every initiative ties back to that single idea of fan engagement, because before any of us were in this room, we were fans,” he said. “That's what brought us here. That's what keeps us here. That's what's going to take us to the next level.”
Breeders’ Cup victor takes Ballyroan
November's GI Breeders' Cup turf hero Ethical Diamond (Awtaad) had suffered two defeats in hot company since that career high, but regained the winning thread with a battling display in a pulsating renewal of Thursday's G3 Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown.
“It was hard work, but he got the job done and that will bring him forward,” said Willie Mullins. “He's in a few races in Ireland and England, but I think there's a nice prize in Kentucky Downs in September over a mile-and-a-half that we might go for. I think it's a million-dollar race, so we might have a crack at that. It's a nice left-handed track, the ground is usually as hard as iron and it's a track where [high-class hurdler] Grabel won all those years ago [in 1990]. It was called the Dueling Grounds then, so we know the place.”
Princess Loulou dies aged 16
Princess Loulou, the dam of champion racemare Nashwa, has died at the age of 16, Blue Diamond Stud announced. She died following a bout of colic.
The daughter of Pivotal was purchased by Imad Al Sagar's Blue Diamond Stud at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale for 300,000gns (AU$607,000) in 2018. She became an integral part of the operation's broodmare band with Nashwa (Frankel) winning three Group 1s – including the Prix de Diane – along with her son Nebras (Dubawi) scoring at Listed level.
“It is a very sad day,” Al Sagar commented. “Princess Loulou has been key to the development of Blue Diamond Stud, firstly as a talented racemare herself and latterly as a Classic producer as the dam of our Champion Nashwa.
“With her wins in the Prix de Diane, Nassau and Falmouth Stakes, Nashwa gave us many memorable days on the track. She is now part of our broodmare band at the stud and has a very good Dubawi colt foal. We also have Princess Loulou's last foal, a Dubawi filly, to look forward to.
“Princess Loulou will be greatly missed by us and all the team at the stud. She leaves behind an important legacy and one that we are very proud to be part of. Princess Loulou leaves behind a yearling colt by Frankel, a full-brother to Nashwa named Nasheed, and a filly foal by Dubawi.”
Birdcatcher series launched
The inaugural Irish European Breeders' Fund (EBF) Birdcatcher Series was launched on Thursday. The series is a new autumn nursery programme designed to boost opportunities for juveniles with over €150,000 (AU$246,000) in total prizemoney. The highlight of the new series is a €20,000 (AU$32,800) bonus linked directly to the traditional Birdcatcher Premier Nursery at Naas Racecourse in October.
Joe Foley, Irish EBF chairman, said, “The launch of the Irish EBF Birdcatcher Series is a strong demonstration of our ongoing commitment to supporting two-year-old racing in Ireland. The intent with the €20,000 bonus is to focus connections on these valuable nursery races and ultimately target the €50,000 Birdcatcher at Naas in October. We look forward to seeing who might be in line for the bonus in year one.”
Win 2000 for Sanchez
With more than a decade riding in the USA, primarily in the Mid-Atlantic, jockey Mychel Sanchez recorded the 2000th victory of his North American career Thursday at Colonial Downs when he won the last race aboard Princess Summer (Mastery), a 12-1 Mike Maker trainee.
