Favourite Jimmysstar all in for Memsie
Trainer Ciaron Maher believes G1 Memsie race favourite Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) can make himself heard on Saturday. “His two jump-outs have been very sharp this prep and I'm just rapt with the way he's come up. You could say his runs in the autumn were not right up to his best, but he seems to have come back really well and seems in a good spot,” Maher told racingandsports.com.au.
Jimmysstar (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I'm really looking forward to kicking off in the Memsie. The 1400 (metres) is arguably his best trip at the moment and Caulfield, he's got a great record as well. He's raced the best plenty of times. He was very good against Ka Ying Rising over six (furlongs, 1200m) and you would think he's better over seven (1400m). He's got a good base and has come up well and I'm sure he will make his presence felt.”
His full brother In’kantostar (NZ) won on Friday at Geelong for the same stable and took his record to two wins from three starts.
RWWA CEO resigns
Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) Chief Executive Officer Ian Edwards has announced his resignation. He will remain in the role until November 13 to assist with the transition to a new CEO. “Ian has led RWWA through a significant period of transformation, growth and innovation,” RWWA Board Chair Karen Farley SC told racingwa.com.au.
“During his tenure, RWWA delivered a number of landmark initiatives, including the launch of the TABtouch Western Trilogy – the world's only tri-code slot race series – expanded the reach of WA racing through new broadcast and distribution partnerships, including the launch of Racing WA TV, and continued to innovate the WA TAB to ensure it remains competitive in an increasingly dynamic wagering market.
“Just as importantly, Ian has strengthened RWWA from the inside out, helping build a more capable, connected and strategically-focused organisation. Through investment in our people, culture, workplaces and long-term planning, he has positioned RWWA for the future.
“On behalf of the Board, I thank Ian for his leadership and dedication to racing and wagering in Western Australia. We are grateful for his ongoing commitment to supporting a smooth transition over the coming months.”
Private Eye and strong Godolphin draft heads Magic Millions digital
An unreserved 10% share in Group 1 winner Private Eye (Al Maher) opens the latest Magic Millions digital sale, and this lot will close early on Monday. The remainder of the sale closes as usual on Wednesday with a seven-strong draft from Godolphin being one of the highlights.
Godolphin’s draft includes Steel Move (Blue Point {Ire}) a three-time winner who has earned over $368,000, last start winner Zebra Finch (Exceed And Excel), and multiple city placed Matima (Lonhro). Kurrinda Bloodstock are selling an unreserved 2% share in So You Pence (So You Think {NZ}), the current favourite for the $2 million The Kosciuszko.
Private Eye | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Expensive Cash set for Five Diamonds
Stakes placed Cash (Snitzel) resumes at Morphettville on Saturday for trainer John Hickmott, who would like to set him for the Five Diamonds. “I'd love to set him for a race like the Five Diamonds in Sydney,” Hickmott told racenet.com.au.
“In saying that, there's a lot of races at Flemington this year that are going to very suitable as well. I'd like to win a race at Flemington on Cup Day again, it would be lovely to do it three years in-a-row.” Michael Hickmott Bloodstock and Douglas Whyte paid $1.1 million for him from Arrowfield Stud’s 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft. He has won three of his 10 starts.
Prizemoney boost for Queensland
The 2027 Northern Queensland Winter Racing Carnival will get a $3.5 million prizemoney boost with the four Cup races to be worth $200,000 each and the four Guineas races to be worth $100,000 each.
“The Northern Queensland Winter Racing Carnival continues to go from strength to strength, and this investment is a clear vote of confidence in the clubs, participants and communities that make it such a special part of the Queensland racing calendar,” Acting Racing Queensland CEO Lachlan Murray told racingqueensland.com.au.
“With more than $3 million in prizemoney on offer in 2027, there will be added incentive for owners, trainers and jockeys to target the carnival and showcase their horses across Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns.
“The carnival plays an important role in supporting the racing industry across Central and North Queensland, driving visitation, generating local economic activity and creating opportunities for regional participants to compete.”
Betoota Cup kicks out Desert carnival
It reads like an obscure trivia question. What state does five-time Betoota Cup winning trainer Kym Healy from? The South Australian-based trainer has won the first leg in Queensland’s Simpson Desert Racing Carnival in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2019 and 2024. The carnival will also feature next week’s Birdsville Cup and the Bedourie Cup.
Healy brings last year’s winner Equal Balance (Hinchinbrook) back again this year as well as stablemate Grinzinger Bishop (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}). “I reckon I’ve been going to Betoota for the last 15 years. I used to race camels in Darwin a long time ago, but I no longer do that and use them for people to ride on the beaches at Victor Harbour,” Healy told racingqueensland.com.au.
“I think Grinzinger Bishop is the better of the two, as old Equal Balance is headed for retirement. A mate of mine at Birdsville is going to use him to muster cattle and I’ll leave him at Birdsville after he runs in the Bedourie Cup.”
Zoustar interstate double
Nicely bred 3-year-old filly Over Excited (Zoustar) won on debut at Geelong on Friday for trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman, and was the pick of trio of 3-year-old winners on the card. The Bell River Thoroughbreds homebred is a half-sister to Group 3-placed Farcited (Farnan) with both out of Group 1 winner I Am Excited (Snitzel).
At Gosford, John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained colt Peyton (Zoustar) won his seasonal debut. He placed twice at two including behind group winner St Gotthard (Snitzel). Owned by Rosemont Stud, he is the first foal of Mildred (Hinchinbrook) who won the G3 Chairman’s Stakes and Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes.
New winner for Jonker
Second season sire Jonker added winner number seven when his 3-year-old filly Formal Affairs won at Cairns on Friday for trainer Tom Button. Platinum Bloodstock purchased her for $27,500 at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale from Elswick Park.
She is the first foal of Red Doulton (Red Dazzler) who won five races including one in Brisbane.
Zafar kicks off Guineas campaign
Te Akau Racing’s 3-year-old colt Zafar (Snitzel) who won the Listed Champagne Stakes at his only start at two will resume on Saturday at Riccarton ahead of a G1 NZ 2000 Guineas campaign. “He travelled back to Te Akau Stud and had a really good spell after his good win down here in the autumn,” assistant trainer Hunter Durrant told Loveracing.nz.
“He strengthened up really nicely and he has come back really well. He is a really straightforward colt. I think they had a few little problems with him early on, but the autumn trip helped him mature, and he is doing everything really well. He has settled in, he is happy, and he just eats, sleeps and repeats. That is what you want in a colt with big aims.”
Orientate dies aged 28
Champion sprinter and sire Orientate was euthanized on August 17, at Gainesway Farm due to the infirmities of old age. He was 28, according to a press release from the stallion centre.
The son of Mt. Livermore was bred in Kentucky by Gainesway. Orientate was purchased by Bob and Beverly Lewis for US$250,000 (AU$347,000) during Keeneland September in 1999 and placed in the care of Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas.
After showing early versatility with stakes wins on both dirt and turf at age 3, Orientate found his peak form as a 4-year-old sprinter in 2002. He posted consecutive victories in the GII Commonwealth Breeders' Cup Stakes, GIII Aristides Handicap, Smile Sprint Handicap, GII A.G. Vanderbilt Handicap, GI Forego Handicap and a decisive triumph in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint.
His 2002 campaign earned him the Eclipse Award for Champion Sprinter–completing a career in which he retired with 10 wins from 19 starts and US$1,716,950 (AU$2.4 million) in earnings.
Orientate took up stud duty at Gainesway in 2003 before putting in five seasons at Northview Stallion Station in Maryland. He shuttled to Australia in 2003 and 2004, siring three Listed winners.
Over 15 crops of racing age, he sired 562 winners of 2,214 races with progeny earnings surpassing US$51.6 million (AU$71.7 million). His top runners include multiple Grade 1 winner Intangaroo and GI Alabama Stakes winner Lady Joanne, alongside Grade/Group 1 winners Declassify and Lady Sprinter. He also established a lasting legacy as a broodmare sire, featuring on the maternal side of Eclipse Award winners Shanghai Bobby and Jaywalk.
“Orientate was a special horse to everyone at Gainesway,” said Gainesway's Antony Beck. “To breed a champion of his caliber, watch him achieve greatness on the track, stand stud at the farm, and then have him return home to live out his pensioned years was a true privilege. He was a class act through and through and will be dearly missed.”
Orientate returned to Gainesway in 2018 to reside as a pensioner at the farm where he was born. He will be buried on the farm grounds.
Antiquarian retired
Grade I-winning millionaire Antiquarian (Preservationist) has been retired “following the discovery of a minor suspensory injury underneath his left ankle,” according to Centennial Farms and its partners who campaigned the 5-year-old.
“The prognosis is excellent, but he will not be able to defend his title in the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup or make the Breeders' Cup Classic,” read a press release sent on behalf of Centennial. “Antiquarian owes us nothing and has been a wonderful horse for our Centennial partners and the Pletcher barn. He will return to Middleburg, Virginia and we will be announcing a stallion deal in the near future.”
Antiquarian, from the first crop of Centennial's fellow GI winner and millionaire Preservationist, was bred by Brereton C. Jones, whose Airdrie Stud was home to the late stallion. The highlight of his resume was a victory in the 2025 Jockey Club Gold Cup, for which he received a 108 Beyer Speed Figure, one of his four triple-digit Beyers.
“Antiquarian's record and individuality speak for themselves, but campaigning an elite son of a Centennial star is a unique joy, with much of the same team and many of the same partners involved in both,” read the press release. “He is the leading son of the late Preservationist, who would be among the Top 20 sires in the nation by number of 2026 graded stakes winners. It has also been rewarding to watch his female family develop since he first joined our roster. He is the first foal out of Lifetime Memory and the next two are both winners, including GIII Delaware Oaks and Virginia Oaks winner Fondly.”
Grade 1 winner Nutella Fella headlines Fasig-Tipton digital
Fasig-Tipton has catalogued 262 entries–including GI Hopeful Stakes winner Nutella Fella (Runhappy)–for its August Digital Sale which is now open and will close Tuesday, September 1.
The winner at two of the Hopeful, Nutella Fella (hip 2) placed at three in the GI Woody Stephens Stakes over the same dirt surface where he posted a 96 Beyer. The current 5-year-old is being offered during the online sale as a stallion prospect by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.
“Nutella Fella's strengths are his speed and precociousness during his career,” Taylor Made Account Manager Alex Payne told the TDN. “He was undefeated as a 2-year-old and won a Grade I during that same campaign.
“He gives stallion farms around the world the chance to stand a top-level winner by a Breeders' Cup champion sprinter. It's hard to get a Grade I winner at 2 on your farm, and this gives anyone an opportunity to acquire him.”
Delhi Race Club demolished by government
Bulldozers moved into Delhi Race Club on Thursday, demolishing its old stables, bookies ring, winning post and other key racing structures after the Indian government took possession of the 53 acre site in central New Delhi. The news was reported by The Times Of India.
The demolition followed a local court's refusal to halt an August 11 eviction order issued under India's public premises law, which requires the club to vacate land it has occupied for nearly a century.
Club officials said most of the more than 250 horses have already been returned to owners, with the remainder to be moved within the next two weeks. “We have been given time until September 14 to sort everything out. We are planning to send the remaining horses to their owners in the next one or two weeks,” the official was quoted in The Telegraph Online.
