Riverina Lulu set for Quezette Stakes
Saturday’s G3 Quezette Stakes at Caulfield will feature Grahame Begg-trained Riverina Lulu (Blue Point {Ire}) who won on debut in July. “She was really exciting, we were really rapt with her,” Begg’s racing manager, Rohan Hughes, told racing.com.
“She was really impressive that day. Obviously, you give yourself a chance post-race to digest it all and go through it all and we walked away feeling that what we saw was the real deal and that she is entitled to a crack.
Riverina Lulu | Image courtesy of Victoria Racing Club
“Grahame gave her a little break after that for about a week. He let her have a week in the paddock to cool her jets for a bit. She’s come back into the stable since. She looks fantastic, she’s trained-up beautifully and done everything Grahame has asked her to do, so it’s all systems go to the Quezette.”
Chilly Girl given long build up to Rosebud
Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained Chilly Girl (Trapeze Artist) missed the G1 Golden Slipper through injury and has been given a long build up for Saturday’s Listed Rosebud Stakes. “She’s been in at Rosehill for 11 weeks and had two or three weeks pre-training,” Ryan told racingnsw.com.au.
Chilly Girl | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“She’s had a really good grounding, a long foundation, and she has trialled up very good. She trialled well last week against Group horses. Whenever we put her in a jump out or trial before she raced, in her race, her two trials this time she’s never disappointed.
“The day she won the Widden she ran faster time than the colts and did it all herself because she led. I think she will run well.”
Stars out for exhibition gallops at Rosehill
The Chris Waller stable will hold several exhibition gallops at Rosehill on Saturday over 1000 metres after race one. Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) will be ridden by James McDonald, while Kerrin McEvoy sits on Autumn Boy (The Autumn Sun).
Dual Group 1 winner Beiwacht (Bivouac) will be ridden by Tim Clark, while champion apprentice Siena Grima rides Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet Rock). Expensive mare Barnavara (Ire) (Calyx {GB}) will be ridden by Tyler Schiller, Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel) gets the services of Zac Lloyd and Group 1 winning juvenile, now 3-year-old colt Campione D'Italia (Snitzel) will be ridden by Tommy Berry.
Four horses battle for Queensland Horse Of The Year
The Queensland Horse Of The Year will be announced at a ceremony on August 30 at The Star Brisbane. The four nominees are Rothfire (Rothesay), Spicy Martini (Justify {USA}), Transatlantic (Snitzel) and Yellow Brick (The Mission).
“The star power on show in Queensland has again risen to the top over the last 12 months, with three individual Group 1 winners amongst the finalists sure to make the final decision tough for the judging panel,” Acting RQ CEO Lachlan Murray said.
“At the same time, it’s important to recognise the vital support the Queensland Off-The-Track Program provides our animals post-racing, which will be celebrated through the Queensland Acknowledged Retrainer of the Year Award. I’d like to wish the best of luck to all of our nominees, and look forward to celebrating another historic season at The Star later this month.”
A total of 27 awards will be presented including Queensland Trainer, Jockey and Apprentice of the Year, as well as the Darby McCarthy Performance of the Year. Four new members will be inducted into the Queensland Hall of Fame, Jack Booth (Trainer), Jim Byrne (Jockey), Basil Nolan (Associate) and Planet Ruler (Kaoru Star).
Orman’s double for Mum in Brisbane
Jockey James Orman rode a double at Eagle Farm on Wednesday including winning on Beat The Rap (Drumbeats) for his mum, Ipswich trainer Caroline Allardyce. “It's good to be back (from Hong Kong) and good to ride a winner for Mum and Dad which is awesome,” Orman said.
“I think my last winner for them in town would have been in 2014. So it's been a long time coming between drinks. You are never overly confident, but this looked this horse's race to win if he could. He was third-up and he got a nice time in front and was too good.”
He also won on Tony Gollan-trained Midnight Spirit (Spirit Of Boom).
Al Riffa to miss Melbourne Cup
Australian Bloodstock-owned Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) will miss this year’s G1 Melbourne Cup after sustaining a minor injury in training. “It's a little lesion and how that looks basically when the swelling goes,” Luke Murrell told racenet.com.au.
Al Riffa (Fr) | Image courtesy of Australian Bloodstock
“He's done a bit of rehab and red light therapy (already) … it's one of those where we wait and see. I would say it's 50-50 (racing or stud next season), if there's no improvement or not 110 per cent, I'd say it makes sense next year to go to stud. He's a Group 1 winner at two and trained on, as an older horse, he's pretty versatile, but I would say it's 50-50 at this stage.”
Novelty is Jonker’s first city winner
Second season sire Jonker added winner number six and his first city winner when 3-year-old gelding Novelty won at Eagle Farm on Wednesday. Trained by Toby Edmonds, he was making his debut.
Sold by Infinity Thoroughbreds for $20,000 at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, he was onsold as a yearling at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale for $2000 to E & M Racing. Novelty is the fourth winner for winning mare Novel Idea (New Approach {Ire}).
Headwater adds spring 3-year-old winner
At Bendigo on Wednesday, Arthur Pace-trained 3-year-old colt Hydro Rush (Headwater) won on debut. He is the second winner for A Little More Love (More Than Ready {USA}) who is an unraced half-sister to Group 2 winner Fast Clip (Snippetson).
Saxon Warrior (Jpn) had a double at the meeting with maiden winners Valda Warrior and Diamond Eye.
Devonport abandoned
A pair of spring 3-year-olds won the first two races at Devonport before the meeting was abandoned on Wednesday. John Blacker-trained filly All Intrigue (Tough Speed {USA}) won the first. It was her stablemate Brutal Empire (Brutal {NZ}) who impressed in the second with a 4.2 length victory.
The gelded Brutal Empire was sold by Kingstar Farm at the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale to B Debono for $37,000. He is the first winner for Bohemian Rose (Dissident) who is an unraced half-sister to Group 2 winner Tangled (Snitzel) and Listed winners Maules Creek (Redoute’s Choice) and Sebrose (Sebring).
New winner for Dirty Work
Simon Miller-trained 3-year-old gelding Raw Umber (Dirty Work) was victorious at Pinjarra on Wednesday at his second start. Mogumber Park sold him at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale for $45,000 to Jason Beer. He is the only foal for Rapture Miss (Smart Missile) whose four wins include the Country Classic in Sydney. She is a half-sister to Listed winner Transact (Dundeel {NZ}).
Unbeaten Bow Echo retired
The unbeaten treble Group 1 winner Bow Echo has been retired from racing after sustaining an injury in training to his left fore fetlock.
The 3-year-old colt had been entered for Sunday's G1 Aga Khan Studs Prix Jacques Le Marois in Deauville but he will instead eventually join the roster of stallions at Darley, which is home to his sire, the current champion Night Of Thunder, and his grandsire Dubawi.
In a statement confirming the news, the colt's trainer George Boughey said, “It is with great disappointment that we have to announce that Bow Echo has had a setback and will be retired from racing.
“It has been the honour of a lifetime to train a horse like Bow Echo, He has given us some extraordinary days and taken everyone involved on a journey we will never forget. To retire unbeaten, having won the 2,000 Guineas, St James's Palace Stakes and Sussex Stakes says everything about what an exceptional racehorse he has been.”
Bow Echo was bred by the late Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, who died in December 2025. He is out of the Invincible Spirit mare Aristocratic Lady, herself a granddaughter of the G1 Oaks d'Italia winner Zomaradah (Deploy), who is now best remembered as the dam of Dubawi and features in both the top and the bottom half of Bow Echo's pedigree.
Liam O'Rourke, Darley's Director of Studs, Stallions and Breeding said, “While it is very disappointing that we will not get to see Bow Echo on a racecourse again, he has been an outstanding flagbearer for his champion sire Night Of Thunder and is no doubt one of the most exciting stallions to retire to stud in recent years.
“Although his injury will prevent him from running again, he is otherwise in great health and we are immensely proud of all his achievements. Our thanks must go to George Boughey and all the team at Craven House, who have handled him superbly throughout his remarkable career.”
Keeneland September Yearling catalogue released
Keeneland has catalouged 4,635 horses for the 83rd edition of its September Yearling Sale, which will cover 12 sessions from Monday, September 14 through Saturday, September 26, the auction company said via a Tuesday press release.
The 2026 catalogue features horses by 189 sires, including 24 first-crop sires represented by 1,072 yearlings. Of the horses in the catalogue, 722 yearlings are by North America's top 10 leading sires, underscoring the depth and quality found throughout the auction.
“The 2025 September Sale established a historic benchmark,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “With record participation and strong economic performance, buying power was evident at every level of the market. Selling at Keeneland comes with clear advantages: an unmatched auction team, world-class hospitality, a broad buying base with the highest quality of bloodstock and sellers and the full force of the global Thoroughbred industry.”
“This year's September Sale offers remarkable quality and depth from the opening session through the final day,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “With so many outstanding yearlings, placing horses throughout the catalogue required careful consideration. We are grateful to the breeders and consignors who continue to entrust Keeneland with their best horses. Now our focus turns to delivering the strongest possible marketplace for every buyer and seller.”
First Kiwi winner for Wilson-Taylor
Queensland jockey Kyle Wilson-Taylor celebrated his first victory in New Zealand when victorious on Margaret Falconer-trained Sharapova (NZ) (Grunt {NZ}) at Rotorua on Wednesday. It was good to get the monkey off the back, so to speak,” Wilson-Taylor told Loveracing.nz.
“She has competed in much better races than this, albeit she hadn’t won for a while, but the rest of the field hadn’t either. There was good pressure from the get-go, so that really aided her. She settled and won well.”
Epsom Derby winner heads St Leger entries
Betfred Derby winner Christmas Day (Camelot) headlines 27 entries for the 250th running of the oldest Classic in British Flat racing, the Betfred St Leger, which takes place at Doncaster on Saturday, September 12.
The St Leger has a prize fund of £700,000 (AU$1.3 million) this year and trainer Aidan O'Brien looks to hold a typically strong hand in his search for a tenth victory in the 1m6f event.
Christmas Day sprung a surprise in the Betfred Derby back in June when he relished the testing conditions to come home an emphatic winner, before stablemate Benvenuto Cellini (Frankel) reversed that form in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh. That pair feature among nine potential Ballydoyle representatives in the Betfred St Leger, along with the Irish Derby third Pierre Bonnard (Camelot), G2 King Edward VII Stakes winner Causeway (Wootton Bassett) and Prix du Jockey Club third Montreal (Sea The Stars).
David Attwood, clerk of the course at Doncaster, said, “What an exceptional list of entries we have got for this historic 250th running of the Betfred St Leger. Headed by Betfred Derby winner, Christmas day, we could also have Group 1 winner Maltese Cross and Royal Ascot winner Causeway line up for what is going to a memorable renewal of the race. All this made even more special by the fact that there could be Royal interest in the form of Point of Law, who carries the silks of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen.”
Record participation in Tattersalls Online
Record participation characterised the Tattersalls Online August Sale, with 437 bidders participating in the auction which was headlined by Castlehyde Stud's young broodmare Carriage (No Nay Never), who sold to Hardys of Kilkeel for 62,000gns (AU$124,000).
Offered in foal to Coolmore's six-time Group 1 winner Auguste Rodin, Carriage is a full-sister to the unraced Dont Ask Me At All, the dam of the G3 Salsabil Stakes winner and G1 Irish Oaks runner-up Wemightakedlongway (Australia). She is also a full-sister to the Listed-placed Emphatic Answer and a half to two other stakes performers.
The second highest price of 60,000gns (AU$120,000) was shared by two lots, including the Timeform 96-rated 3-year-old Richie's Rocket, who was purchased by George Baker Racing. Winner of a seven-furlong maiden at Lingfield, the son of New Bay most recently finished fourth in a competitive handicap at the Qatar Goodwood Festival.
A breeding right to exciting sire Palace Pier also fetched 60,000gns (AU$120,000) and was bought by J and A Young Racing Ltd. The Darley stallion has made an excellent start to his stud career, notably as the sire of last year's G2 Lowther Stakes heroine Royal Fixation and G3 Solario Stakes winner A Bit Of Spirit.
