Unit Five on Coolmore Stud Stakes pathway
Last season’s R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic victor Unit Five (Supido) is being set for the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes. The 3-year-old colt has had a couple of jump outs recently and will resume on Saturday.
“We'll give him the opportunity,” Ciaron Maher's National Assistant Trainer Jack Turnbull told racingandsports.com.au.
Jack Turnbull | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He had three months out to prepare for this time of the year and I think that time has done him the world of good. He's strengthened but he hasn't grown tall. He is a bit bigger but he's a magnificent looking animal and he looks fast and athletic.
“I was stoked with his trials. He had one on the grass and one on the poly. We kept him on the bit on the poly being an artificial surface, but he is very sharp and he looks good and he's in a good place.”
Pembrey likely to head to Sydney
Queensland trainer Tony Gollan will likely bring G3 Magic Night Stakes winner Pembrey (Prague) to the G2 Silver Shadow Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.
“She's improved and we'd like to see her show her worth and pick up from where she left off,” Gollan told racingandsports.com.au.
Tony Gollan | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“We got to give her a really nice break off the Slipper and we've had plenty of time to bring her up. She has had jumped out and trialled well both times. She has been at Randwick for a week now.”
Opt-out change in gambling reform bill
At the second reading of the Interactive Gambling Act Cost Recovery Levy Bill on Monday, Communications Minister Anika Wells introduced a clause allowing Australians to opt out of all gambling advertising.
“This Bill ensures that the costs of administering, operating and enforcing those reforms, should they be needed, can be recovered from the wagering industry,” Wells told parliament.
“The Government has listened carefully to the evidence presented during the recent Senate Inquiry and through ongoing stakeholder engagement. We are particularly concerned by evidence about wagering inducements and the role these practices can play in encouraging gambling and exacerbating gambling-related harm.
“It is expected that the government’s reforms will respond to these concerns by introducing new restrictions on inducement-based marketing and establishing the Wagering Advertising Opt-Out Register, which will provide Australians with a one-stop shop to opt out of seeing wagering advertising on online platforms.”
Additionally, it is proposed that wagering providers pay for compliance with the clause via a levy. “This Bill will enable the ACMA to recover the costs of those activities through a levy imposed on licensed interactive wagering service providers. It is appropriate that the wagering industry, rather than the taxpayers, bears the costs of regulating these activities,” Wells said.
“The levy established by this Bill is intended solely to recover the costs associated with the administering, operating and enforcing of these reforms.”
Ryan opens stable at Macedon Lodge
Trainer Sara Ryan will complement her Wyong yard with stables at Victoria’s Macedon Lodge.
“The chance to train at Macedon Lodge was something I just couldn't pass up,” Ryan told racenet.com.au.
Sara Ryan | Image courtesy of Sara Ryan Racing
“It gives me an incredible opportunity to grow the stable and continue developing horses at the highest level. I'm excited to continue to build my young stable with the support of Macedon Lodge, my existing New South Wales owners and new clients in Victoria.”
Toorak Jewel back in work
Paul Shailer-trained 3-year-old filly Toorak Jewel (Tassort) who was an impressive winner of The Debut as a juvenile is back in work.
“Toorak Jewel is back in work and is up to three-quarter pace now. She will trial on the 5th of September. Not sure (if she will come to Sydney). We will give her at least one or two runs up here and see how she goes and make a call after that,” Shailer told racenet.com.au.
Paul Shailer | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
Shailer runs another Tassort mare on Tuesday at Grafton on Tuesday called Desert Angel. “She was really good first-up. I thought maybe give her the benefit of the doubt second-up coming off a long break that she might have suffered from a bit of second-up syndrome so gets to a more suitable trip and strips a fitter horse.”
New winner for Home Affairs
Second season sire, and Champion First Season Sire, Home Affairs added winner number 22 when Richard and Will Freedman-trained 3-year-old gelding Fawlty Affairs won his maiden at Bathurst on Monday by 1.3 lengths. He was fourth in the Listed Valley Pearl Stakes at two.
Fawlty Affairs is in the second foal and second winner for Sybella (Snitzel) who is a winning half-sister to Listed winners Tawteen (Stratum) and Well Sprung (Star Witness).
Debutant winner for Hanseatic
Brett and Georgie Cavanough-trained 3-year-old gelding Stop The Meter (Hanseatic) was impressive on debut at Scone winning by two lengths. Cavanough Racing spent $13,000 to acquire him from Raheen Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft. He is the only foal of Capheta (Capitalist).
At the same meeting, Scott Singleton-trained 3-year-old gelding Sir Boom A Lot (Spirit Of Boom) won his maiden at start number two, having run second at the same track on debut. S Reid purchased him for $50,000 from Crossley Thoroughbreds’ Inglis Premier Yearling Sale draft. He is the first winner for Lady Highly (High Chaparral {Ire}) who won three races, one in Sydney.
WA 2025/26 Metro Trainers' title under review
Trainer Michael Grantham has been directed to attend a stewards inquiry for an arsenic detection in Western Miss (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) after she won on July 8. He won the Perth Metro Trainer’s title with 60 wins, with Grant and Alana Williams finishing second with 59 wins. Team Williams trained the second placed horse that day, Conchetta’s Dream (Doubtland).
If the stewards decide to disqualify Western Miss, Grantham will return to 59 metro wins for last season, and Team Williams will gain a win with the promotion of Conchetta’s Dream, thus reversing the Championship order. Watch this space.
Cody’s Wish colt tops day 1 of Fasig-Tipton New York yearlings
The Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearlings Sale buoyed by a bevy of incentives in the state's racing program, opened with a solid opening session Sunday night.
“It was an excellent opening session of the 2026 New York-Bred Sale,” Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr. said at the close of business on Sunday. “Statistically, it was right on par with the overall sale last year, which was a record-breaking sale.”
During the session, 63 yearlings sold for a gross of US$7,622,000 (AU$10.6 million). The session average was US$120,984 (AU$169,000) and the median was US$100,000 (AU$140,000). While the average and median dipped slightly from comparable figures from the opening session of the 2025 auction, they were just ahead of the record-setting cumulative figures from last year's auction. The cumulative average in 2025 was a sale record US$119,950 (AU$167,000) and the median was a record-tying US$85,000 (AU$119,000).
Ten yearlings sold for US$200,000 (AU$281,000) or over during Sunday's session, led by a colt by Cody's Wish who sold for US$360,000 (AU$505,000) to Lee Lewis. The yearling was consigned by Sequel, which also consigned the session's top-priced filly, a daughter of Golden Pal who sold for US$320,000 (AU$449,000).
Coolmore’s Avec Toi remains unbeaten
Coolmore and Westerberg's TDN Rising Star 2-year-old colt Avec Toi (No Nay Never) maintained his unbeaten record and followed up a first stakes victory in last month's Listed Prix Roland de Chambure with a dominant performance in Sunday's G3 The Aga Khan Studs Prix Francois Boutin at Deauville.
“He really is an incredible horse and what a machine he is,” beamed trainer Christopher Head. “He's been like this since the beginning of the season and we just don't know his limit. It's sky high and he's probably the best horse I've ever trained.
“I love the No Nay Nevers and they really do a fine job. We're really lucky with him mentally and he's more like a 3-year-old. We need to discuss plans with the owners and there's a possibility he might go to the [September 6 G3 Prix La] Rochette before the [October 4 G1 Prix Jean-Luc] Lagardere. The Breeders' Cup is also an option, he can go anywhere, and we'll see what the lads want to decide.”
Third Rancho Bernardo for Sweet Aztec
Collecting yet another Graded stakes trophy for her case, Sweet Azteca (Sharp Azteca) took the G3 Rancho Bernardo Stakes at Del Mar for the third straight year on Sunday. The race was also part of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Dozen Bonus Series heading toward the G1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, that will be run at Keeneland on October 31.
“Juan [Hernandez] was saying she relaxed nice for him, she wasn't pulling as hard,” said trainer Richard Baltas. “She did whatever he wanted. Juan rode the perfect race and got the job done. I was worried about something happening with her standing in the gate too long but she's been standing really good lately and didn't move a muscle. I'm glad it's over. She ran like I knew she would.”
Sweet Azteca is the lone Grade 1 winner for 2017 GI Cigar Mile winner Sharp Azteca, who stands at Shizunai Stallion Station in Japan. Sweet Azteca, a third generation homebred for Pamela Cee Ziebarth, is out of the Grand Slam mare So Sweetitiz, herself a multiple stakes winner for Ziebarth.
