Five for Waller in Memsie
Trainer Chris Waller has five runners for Saturday’s G1 Memsie Stakes but thinks Angel Capital (Harry Angel {Ire}) has the fitness edge over Autumn Boy (The Autumn Sun), Beiwacht (Bivouac), Birdman (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}), and Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet Rock). “I'm really happy with Angel Capital, it's only bad luck holding him back from being multiple Group 1 winner,” Waller told racenet.com.au.
“He'll get his chance Saturday, I'm a little bit concerned about the track … his better runs are on better tracks, fortunately the beauty of Caulfield it does dry very well. All we need, I guess, is 48 hours of no rain and it could improve. He'll be depending on that … Angel Capital has had the benefit of the run in Sydney.”
Chris Waller | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Jimmysstar to take on hot Memsie
Ciaron Maher-trained Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) will run in Saturday’s G1 Memsie Stakes. “He worked at Warwick Farm yesterday (Monday) on the course proper. His work was very sharp. His two jumpouts have been very sharp, this prep, and I’m just rapt with the way he’s come up,” Maher told racing.com.
“I’m very much looking forward to him kicking off in the Memsie – 1400 metres is arguably his best trip, at the moment, and he’s got a great record at Caulfield. He’s full of running and zinging up in pretty slick times, and he hasn’t been asked to do anything, either. I’m sure he’ll make his presence felt.”
Autumn Glow is the best he’s owned
Arrowfield Stud’s John Messara thinks Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) might be the best horse he’s owned, even better than his mare Miss Finland (Redoute’s Choice). “It’s hard to go beyond her (Autumn Glow),” Messara said on SEN’s Giddy Up.
“We have had some good horses – we’ve been lucky enough over the last 40 years to do that. I think she’s something very special. I hate to use these words myself, I prefer for others to make judgements, but I think she’s world-class, I really do, and that’s the way she’s been rated at the moment, as well, by Timeform and all the other agencies.
“I think she’s really, really top-class, and I think she’s probably the best horse we’ve ever raced in that time slot of the last 40 or 50 years.”
Autumn Glow | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Music Time to resume in San Domenico
G3 Black Opal Stakes victor Music Time (All Too Hard) will resume in Saturday’s G3 San Domenico Stakes. “I said to Tommy Berry before his trial 'he hasn't had too much, a couple of nice gallops and one jump out, just go easy with him today and it's only going to benefit him,” trainer Gratz Vella told racingandsports.com.au.
“And he come back in and said 'Gratz, this horse is a lot more forward than what you think he is.' He's come on very well from his 2-year-old season, especially since that barrier trial. He had a good gallop Tuesday morning with one of my senior horses and matched strides with him, the jockey came in and said how good he was.”
Revengeance the forgotten horse in San Domenico
With several big name 3-year-olds headed to Saturday’s G3 San Domenico Stakes, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Revengeance (Hellbent) is something of a forgotten horse in the field. “He looks in excellent shape, he’s come back really well, he’s matured and strengthened up nicely off his early 2-year-old campaign,” Bott told Sky Sports Radio.
Revengeance | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“I liked his latest trial and he looks fantastic going into his first-up run. We’ve been able to give him the three trials, he’s had a nice steady build up and I’m sure there’s some nice improvement to come. I’d like to think he can measure up to these horses but I do think he will be better suited deeper into the campaign potentially getting out over a bit further as well.”
Seraphox on a Guineas path
Ciaron Maher-trained 3-year-old colt Seraphox (Harry Angel {Ire}) will run in Saturday’s G3 H D F McNeil Stakes at Caulfield, as he heads towards the G1 Caulfield Guineas. “We see him as a 1400-metre horse, miler and he's on a Guineas path,” Maher's assistant trainer Jack Turbull told racingandsports.com.au.
“He's forward and ready to run a bit of a race, but I'd say he'll be midfield and running on. He'll be competitive but he's probably not going to be as sharp as some of the others in that race.”
Morel inquest findings released
The findings into the death of trackwork rider Marina Morel have been released by Deputy State Coroner Derek Lee. She died when Lina’s Choice (Great Choice) had a fatal injury at Gulgong in February 2022 during trackwork. The coroner did not attribute fault to trainer Brett Thompson or BKB Racing, who rehabilitated the mare after an earlier injury.
The inquest report did not find any blame with Racing NSW’s existing reporting system but recommended some changes to strengthen outcomes. “I recommend to the chief executive, Racing NSW that Racing NSW develop and publish a written policy to reflect the current requirement that a horse that has not raced or trained for 150 days or more shall be subject to an examination by an official veterinarian and a barrier trial before returning to racing,” the report said.
“I recommend … that Racing NSW consider and assess the feasibility of introducing a requirement that a horse should be subject to a veterinary examination where it has not been active for a shorter period than 150 days, such as 60 days or more.”
Rothfire wins a trial
Tough dual Group 1 winner Rothfire (Rothesay) won a trial at Doomben on Tuesday. “He hasn't lost it, he has still got it,” trainer Rob Heathcote said afterwards.
“This is a question I get asked regularly, has he run his last race, will you retire him, what are you going to do? But it's like he is 4-years-old again, he's fantastic. He will be on a float down south and we look like going into the Group 1 Moir Stakes on September 5. Group 1, 1000m, to be run at Sandown this year, bring it on.”
New winner for Profiteer
Second season sire Profiteer added winner number eight when 3-year-old filly Double Dodger won on debut at Ballarat on Tuesday. Trained by Jerome Hunter, she won by 1.5 lengths. Rich River Meat Exports paid $20,000 for her as a weanling from Blue Gum Farm’s Inglis Great Southern Sale draft. Her 4-year-old half-sister Extragalactic (Deep Field) was second in last season’s G1 Goodwood Handicap.
Justify (USA) had a double at the meeting with a pair of maiden winners being Just Swift and Lancetta.
Another Champers wins again
Stuart Kendrick-trained 3-year-old filly Another Champers (Wild Ruler) took her record to two wins from five starts when victorious at Rockhampton on Tuesday. It’s the same track where she won on debut. Kendrick Racing paid $80,000 for her from Eureka Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft.
At the same meeting, Alisha Taylor-trained 3-year-old gelding Red Scentsation (Zousain) bolted home to win his maiden at start number two by 3.4 lengths.
Henderson joins Racing Queensland
Racing Queensland announced the appointment of Matthew Henderson to the role of Race Starter Specialist. “It’s fantastic to welcome someone of Matt’s experience and reputation back to Racing Queensland – an appointment that I’m sure will be well received by many trainers, jockeys and clubs,” RQ EGM Racing David Brick said.
“Efficient, consistent and safe race starts are critically important to the conduct of any race meeting, and this role will ensure continuous improvement of this function. In addition to the development of race starters and associated processes, Matt’s expertise and knowledge will be of benefit in implementing barrier attendant accreditation and training as part of The Next Lap’s commitment.”
Lucky Vega filly wins juvenile trial
In New Zealand, Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained 2-year-old filly Virtual Reality (Lucky Vega {Ire}) won a juvenile trial over 600 metres at Te Rapa on Tuesday. Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis paid $270,000 for her from Yulong’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft.
Breeding right in Blue Point sells for €480,000
A banner year for Blue Point continued on Monday when a lifetime breeding right in the Kildangan Stud resident was purchased by an unnamed buyer for €480,000 (AU$784,000).
This was the second breeding right in Blue Point to be offered via the Darley Winning Bid platform in 2026, with the first having sold for €470,000 (AU$767,000) last month. It entitles the successful bidder to present one mare for covering by the stallion, during each season, for as long as he is owned or managed by Godolphin.
Blue Point (Ire) | Standing at Kildangan Stud
Blue Point, who stood the latest season at Kildangan Stud for a fee of €100,000 (AU$163,000), is perhaps best known as the sire of the multiple Group 1-winning miler Rosallion, who began his own stallion career at Darley's Dalham Hall Stud in 2026.
Smullen-Tagg wins inaugural D. Wayne Lukas Award
Robin Smullen-Tagg has been named the inaugural winner of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association's D. Wayne Lukas Award. Smullen-Tagg has been the right hand of trainer Barclay Tagg for over 26 years and her expertise helped guide the careers of popular New York-bred Classic winners Funny Cide and Tiz the Law, both of whom were campaigned by Sackatoga Stable.
The D. Wayne Lukas Award was created by NYTHA this year to be given annually to a New York-based assistant trainer who demonstrates the qualities that the late Hall of Fame trainer exemplified–dedication, a strong work ethic, and a high commitment to excellence. The winner receives a trophy and $10,000. This year, the presentation will be held Sept. 2–Lukas's birthday–during the races at Saratoga.
“We established this award to spotlight the dedication of these unsung heroes that are so crucial to the success of every stable,” said NYTHA President Tina Marie Bond. “Robin is a consummate horsewoman, and is widely respected by everyone in New York racing. She always puts the horses first, and her work ethic sets a high standard for everyone on the backstretch.”
