Daily News Wrap

Waller leads Caulfield Cup nominations

Trainer Chris Waller has 18 nominations among the 124 horses who have signed up for the G1 Caulfield Cup’s first nominations which closed on Tuesday. Joseph O’Brien has 15 as does Ciaron Maher. The trio of stables far outweigh the remainder with the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable nominating five runners, the same number as from the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr yard.

Last year’s winner Half Yours (St Jean {Ire}) has a nomination for the 2400 metre Group 1 race which runs on October 17. Jamie Melham will ride him. G1 Australian Derby winner Green Spaces (Street Boss {USA}), trained by Bjorn Baker, is the current $9 pre-post favourite.

“The 150th Caulfield Cup is a significant milestone for the Melbourne Racing Club and Australian racing, and we are delighted with the quality and depth of horses nominated for this historic running,” MRC Chief Executive Officer Tanya Fullarton told racingandsports.com.au.

“With 24 Group 1 winners among the nominations, including reigning Caulfield and Melbourne Cups champion Half Yours and an exciting group of emerging 4-year-olds, there is enormous quality already building towards October. We have made this year's Caulfield Cup the richest in the race's history at $6 million, and the strong increase in international nominations adds another dimension to what is shaping as an outstanding 150th running of one of Australia's great races.”

Last year saw 147 first nominations and the year before achieved 173.

Campione D’Italia might resume against older horses

Trainer Chris Waller is contemplating resuming Group 1-winning colt Campione D’Italia (Snitzel) in Saturday’s G3 Show County Quality at Randwick against the older horses. “I'd be leaning towards the Show County with him,” Waller told racingandsports.com.au.

“I think he'll get in with about 53 kilos. Taking on the older horses isn't easy, but I'm petrified of missing the lead-up to the Golden Rose with any horse, so I'd rather get him started earlier, get fitness in his bank.

“He's really muscled up and matured as a 3-year-old now. He's exciting. The Golden Rose looks a perfect race for him and then perhaps we'll shorten him up and bring him back for the Coolmore.”

Natural Fling aimed at Moir Stakes

Last start G3 Quezette Stakes winner Natural Fling (Home Affairs) could head to the G1 AJ Moir Stakes on September 5. “She’d have 50 kilograms over the 1000 metres and there’s no Black Caviar around,” co-trainer Tony McEvoy told racing.com.

“The highlight sprinter is Jigsaw, who is a star, as well as The Everest winner Giga Kick, who trialed the other day, but is an older horse now. Not that many (three-year-olds) have been able to pull it off but she’s better than many so we will consider it. It’s on the table.

“I went the conservative way with Sunlight from the Quezette (into the G3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes) but this might just be an opportunity for the filly. If she happened to go to the Moir and win it, you’d run next in the Manikato and then you go to a Coolmore (Stud Stakes), so it all fits in.”

Racing NSW partner with Pony Club

Racing NSW and Pony Club NSW announced a landmark partnership on Monday that will see riders from 220 pony clubs gain access to new career pathways into the NSW thoroughbred racing industry. “This partnership formalises the industry’s long-standing relationship with Pony Club and opens up new opportunities for exciting careers in racing,” Racing NSW Acting Chief Executive Graeme Hinton said in a press release.

“So many of our leading participants have come through the Pony Club system which is a testament to the vital foundation of skills they are taught. Importantly, this partnership will also see more young riders introduced to retired thoroughbred racehorses and provided with the education and experience necessary to support them.”

Spicy Martini heads to The Shorts on way to Everest

Trainer Toby Edmonds will run G1 Stradbroke winner Spicy Martini (Justify {USA}) in The Shorts ahead of a tilt at the G1 The Everest. “She's feeling well. She's been back in work for about four or five weeks now. She's up galloping and she's due to trial on the 8th of September, I may even trial her next Tuesday but I haven't made up my mind yet,” Edmonds told racenet.com.au.

“We'll get The Shorts out of the road first and then work out what happens because she's got a lot of options. The Everest is definitely one of the goals if we get a slot, but it depends how she comes back.”

Impressive last start winner heads to Warwick Farm

Last start winner Heroic Deed (Farnan) heads to Warwick Farm on Wednesday with trainer Nathan Doyle hoping to cash in on his good form. “I don’t think I’ve had one be that impressive for a while. He had no luck being three deep no cover but he just idled into the race, he didn’t even slap him up, gave him one squeeze at the furlong and that was it,” Doyle told racingnsw.com.au.

“I’d rather give a horse an opportunity going to town while they’re still down in the weights. I felt now is probably the right time and he seems to be a horse that should aim up heading to town.”

From Hong Kong to Gold Coast and maybe back again

Trainer Allan Chau arrived in Australia from Hong Kong as a 6-year-old child, did his jockey apprenticeship here, and has a goal of training in Hong Kong one day. He heads to Wednesday’s Ipswich meeting with 3-year-old gelding Ted Lasso (Sebring Sun) and 3-year-old gelding My House (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}). “Ted Lasso was bred by my mate, Craig Ruttley, who stands Sebring Sun at his Glenthorne Farm in NSW,” Chau told racingqueensland.com.au.

“His last run was good, but he got well back as he hasn’t got good gate speed. His last 200 metres was very good considering where he was in the run and this is only his third start and he’s still very green.

“I want to give myself every chance to train in Hong Kong over the next five to 10 years. I’m a dual citizen, which is an advantage to get a licence over there.”

Racing Mates celebrates ten years

Racing NSW’s mental health program Racing Mates celebrates ten years this month. “The true success of Racing Mates over the past ten years is measured by the barriers that have been broken down right across regional and rural New South Wales,” Racing NSW General Manager-Participant Welfare, Phillip O’Brien told racingnsw.com.au.

“Our community barbecues and Ambassador networks have given the grassroots racing community a reliable, familiar shoulder to lean on. What we have delivered over the last decade is a lasting culture of care – proving to every trainer, jockey, and stablehand that no matter how isolated their track might be, they are never working through their hardships alone.”

New winner for Stay Inside

Second season sire Stay Inside added winner number 12, and third winner in the past four days, when Andrew Dale-trained 3-year-old gelding Jailhouse won at Ballarat on Tuesday. He is the third winner for unraced Fadetta (USA) (Rock Hard Ten {USA}) who is a half-sister to three stakes winners led by G1 Hollywood Derby victor Seek Again (USA) (Speightstown {USA}).

King’s Legacy adds spring 3-year-old winner

At Grafton on Tuesday, David McColm-trained 3-year-old filly Nukatabe (King’s Legacy) came off a last start third to win her maiden by 2.6 lengths. She is the fourth winner from four to race for Kimigayo (Show A Heart) who is a half-sister to stakes placed Gold Anthem (Made Of Gold {USA}) who is the dam of Group 1 winner and sire Starspangledbanner.

Ka Ying Rising the star attraction for opening day

Hong Kong’s season opens on September 6 and Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) will likely run in the G3 Chief Executive’s Cup. “I’m very excited to ride Ka Ying Rising, very excited to get back on him again this week – he trials Friday. David’s very happy with him, the horse looks great from all the videos I’ve seen,” jockey Zac Purton told scmp.com.

“Hopefully we can have another good season with him and start off here in Hong Kong, go to Australia, and keep doing what we did last season. It certainly gives me something to look forward to.”

Juvenile trial winners in New Zealand

Trainer Stephen Marsh quinellaed the 2-year-old trial at Te Rapa on Tuesday with the colt Mister Houdini (Harry Angel {Ire}) clearing away from the filly Bourbon Miracle (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}). Bhima Thoroughbreds sold Mister Houdini for $85,000 at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale and he was pinhooked by Hallmark Stud through the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for NZ$180,000 to a bid from his trainer and Dylan Johnson Bloodstock.

At Foxton’s trials, the 600 metre 2-year-old trial was won by Kurtis Pertab-trained filly Captive Audience (Captivant) from stablemate gelding Mean Ambition (Lean Mean Machine). Kingstar Farm sold Captive Audience for $15,000 at the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale to Paul Moroney Bloodstock, and Highline Thoroughbreds sold her at the New Zealand National Yearling Sale for NZ$85,000 to her trainer.

Fasig-Tipton New York breaks more records

Fasig-Tipton opened its week in Saratoga with a record-smashing select sale, and the sales company ended the week with another trifecta of records at its New York-Bred Yearling Sale, which concluded on Monday with its highest gross, average, and median.

“167 hours ago, we kicked off the 2026 yearling sale season in Saratoga, and it exceeded all of our expectations, literally from start to finish,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr. “The first horse in the ring in the main sale brought $650,000. The last horse in the ring tonight was $150,000. There was very, very competitive bidding, lots of interest, lots of enthusiasm. It's almost been a magical seven days. We're thrilled to death as a team, as an organization.”

Through two sessions, 203 New York-bred yearlings sold for a record US$24,628,000 (AU$34.6 million), just up from the previous record set last year when 199 yearlings sold for US$23,870,000 (AU$33.5 million). The 2026 average of US$121,320 (AU$170,000) edged up 1.1% over last year's record figure of US$119,950 (AU$168,000), while the median, which was a record-tying US$85,000 (AU$120,000) in 2025, rose 17.6% to US$100,000 (AU$141,000).

Trainer Miguel Clement, with John Kimmel and Nick Sallusto as agents, made the highest bid of the New York sale, going to US$550,000 (AU$774,000) to acquire a colt by Life Is Good from the Denali Stud consignment. He topped both Monday’s session and the sale.

Vale CK Khaw

Jockey Khaw Choon Kit has died in hospital eight days after a race fall at Sungai Besi meeting on Aug 9 in Malaysia. He was riding debutant 3-year-old gelding Team Work (Unite And Conquer) who shied and hit the running rail dislodging Khaw. “He’s such a special human being and everybody loved him. Work ethic-wise, he’s second to none. On and off the track, he’s such a caring person. He loves animals and was very passionate about racing,” Team Work’s trainer Richard Lines told straitstimes.com.

“We’re closely knit as a racing community, and everybody will miss him. My wife, stepson (ex-jockey) Winston (Cheah Wei Wen) and I have been visiting him every day since his fall. His parents also flew in from Penang and we were all by his bedside when he passed. Winston is very close with him and he will be driving his parents back home today. My wife and I will be flying to Penang tomorrow for his funeral on Friday.”

See The Fire heads to Sceptre Sessions

The dual Group 2 winner See The Fire (Sea The Stars), who has also finished in the first three at Group 1 level on no fewer than seven occasions, will be offered at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale, which takes place from Monday, November 30 to Thursday, December 3.

The Littleton Stud homebred filly will be consigned by Andrew Balding's Park House Stables and is set to be one of the highlights of the fifth edition of the Sceptre Sessions.

See The Fire enjoyed her finest hour when winning last year's G2 Middleton Fillies' Stakes at York by 12 lengths, while she was also beaten just a short neck when finishing second in the G1 Prix de l'Opera at ParisLongchamp later that year.

“See The Fire has given Jeff Smith and the Littleton Stud team some wonderful days on the racecourse and has been a model of consistency throughout her career,” said Littleton Stud manager David Bowe. “She is a gorgeous-looking filly, incredibly sound, and has competed at the highest level, running in Group 1 company on a remarkable 14 occasions. She will be offered in training and gives both owners and breeders the chance to acquire a top-class racehorse from one of the finest families in the Stud Book.”

See The Fire is one of seven winners from as many runners out of the G1 Juddmonte International heroine Arabian Queen (Dubawi) who, in turn, is out of the dual G2 Lancashire Oaks scorer Barshiba (Barathea).

Her siblings include this year's G2 Derby Italiano winner Venetian Prince (St Mark's Basilica), the G2 Royal Lodge Stakes runner-up Royal Playwright (Lope De Vega) and the Listed King Charles II Stakes third Arabian Storm (Kingman).