Unbeaten Big Sky to resume in Poseidon
Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Group 3 winner Big Sky (Bivouac) will resume in Saturday’s Listed Poseidon Stakes and is on a G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes pathway.
“He's a high-octane fast colt. He's got a beautiful temperament,” Kent Jnr told racenet.com.au.
Big Sky | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“You could ride him on a piece of spring in his slow work but, like a lot of good colts, he just wants to run fast. We're thinking it will be particularly strong this year with the McKenzie being over 1300. We're hearing that trainers are avoiding that and preferring to go the following week to the Poseidon.
“Maybe they're also trying to get to Flemington on the better track as well. It's a beautiful program. The 1100, three weeks into the Danehill, then you can put the Blue Sapphire in the middle, which will give you two weeks then another two weeks into the Coolmore.”
Pembrey to go into Coolmore fresh
After jockey Tommy Berry felt Pembrey (Prague) was flat in Saturday’s G2 Furious Stakes, trainer Tony Gollan is changing her program to freshen her into the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes.
“Both of her best figures she has produced have both been her first-up runs. That's just factual… You want to see her back that performance up,” Gollan told racenet.com.au.
Pembrey | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
“She has pulled up well from the G2 Furious Stakes at Randwick on Saturday and will have a slight freshen up on her path to the Coolmore Stud Stakes on VRC Derby Day.”
Mr Brightside aiming for fourth Makybe Diva Stakes
Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) has won the last three G1 Makybe Diva Stakes, and is aiming for a history making fourth on Saturday.
“The run has really bought him on. He’s really improved in the coat. He was nine months off the scene and while he got well beaten, it was still a very good performance,” co-trainer Ben Hayes told racing.com.
Mr Brightside (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He ran second (in the Memsie) the year before and came out and won the Makybe Diva quite easily. It’s a hot field but we could not be happier with him. I think he just peaks (for this race) every year. A run really switches him on and so he’ll have a perfect coat by the Makybe Diva.
“He seems great. He’s sound and he’s a very happy horse.”
Guest House confirmed to Golden Rose
Co-trainer Mick Price confirmed that Guest House (Home Affairs) will miss the G2 Run To The Roses this weekend and head directly into the G1 Golden Rose over 1400 metres at the end of September.
“I’m happy not to be running him,” Price told racing.com.
Guest House | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“That track, when he raced first-up, they were breaking class records, he broke the track record, which was a bit of a surprise to me. I think that track was a lot firmer than what the rating would suggest, and I thought he was a bit jarry for a few days there afterwards.
“We don’t need to race and race. I think four weeks between runs is fine. I think he will turn up in beautiful condition in the 1400 metres. We don’t want too much racing for him, because if he does win the Golden Rose, we want to drop him back to the 1200 metres of The Everest, which is looking like it will be a stiff test now, it’s looking like being a very stiff test!
“He’s got a fair amount of good racing ahead. If he was to run in The Everest, and then come down and back-up in the Coolmore, I want to allow for that.”
Gunn appointed President of TasBreeders
Motree Thoroughbreds’ Mandy Gunn has been appointed as the new President of Thoroughbred Breeders Tasmania (TasBreeders), succeeding Armidale Stud’s David Whishaw.
“David has laid the platform and been such an inspiring president,” Gunn said.
Securing the long term future of the Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale is one of her key goals. “It would encourage breeders to commit and give breeders confidence to keep breeding. We also need commitment from the State Government that the Tasbred Bonus will continue and grow into the future.”
Phil Bingley and James Green have joined the committee, while former president Rob Dixon returns to the committee.
Apprentice wins Birdsville Cup
Apprentice jockey Samantha Pointon’s work ethic was rewarded on Saturday when she won the iconic Birdsville Cup on Lachie Manzelmann-trained Raetihi (NZ) (Savabeel).
“I make the most of it everywhere I go pretty much,” Pointon told racingqueensland.com.au on Monday.
“Because I've done so much travelling, nobody's afraid to ask me if I will go somewhere. I have great friends and family in places such as Cairns, Townsville and the Atherton Tablelands who let me stay with them when I am up there to ride.
“That’s just the significance of the race, I just didn't quite realise how big it was. It is absolutely crazy and it really didn't sink in quite as much until I got back to our hotel at Bedourie after the race. I just had so many people messaging me, so many people saying that I'm written in history now and that is just so crazy to comprehend. It is a really good feeling.”
Pointon is the sixth female rider to win the Cup. Rebecca Kerwin was the first in 2003, followed by Kayla Cross, Brooke Richardson, and Emily Finnegan. Emma Bell was promoted to last year’s victory while first past the post in 2025 was apprentice Bailie Baker.
Trio of winners for Lonhro as damsire
On Monday at Dubbo, Lonhro dominated the winner’s lists with three winners from his daughters. Brett Thompson-trained 3-year-old gelding Mazort (Tassort) is the sixth winner for Ms Mazetti (Lonhro), who has also produced stakes-placed Ad Astra (Tassort).
Michael Dobie-trained Puffin (Pariah) made it two wins in succession, and he is one of eight winners for Chaste (Lonhro). Rounding out the trio was Rod Northam-trained Questionable (Stratum Star) who is out of Unwise (Lonhro) and is her only winner.
Pretty Panther wins on debut
Olivia Osborne-trained 3-year-old gelding Pretty Panther (Redente) won on debut at Tatura on Monday. The homebred is the third winner from three to race for Pretty Possum (Hillman). She was a tough mare winning 11 of her 64 starts and placing in the Listed Manihi Classic.
Ace Stud buy Push The Boat Out
Unbeaten juvenile Push The Boat Out (Kodi Bear) will sport new silks when he makes his next appearance on a racecourse, having been bought by Ace Stud in the days following his success in the G3 Round Tower Stakes at the Curragh.
Trained by Michael O'Callaghan, Push The Boat Out made it two from two when turning over the G2 Coventry Stakes winner Great Barrier Reef (No Nay Never) in the Round Tower, less than three weeks on from his successful debut over the same course and distance.
Both of those victories were achieved in the colours of the Push The Boat Out Partnership after the son of Kodi Bear was purchased by O'Callaghan for 85,000gns (AU$168,000) at the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-up Sale.
“Since he won the Round Tower, Ace Stud have purchased the horse, which is very exciting. I'm delighted that they have chosen to leave the horse with us,” O'Callaghan told Racing TV's Luck On Sunday, before outlining future plans for the budding star of his Co. Kildare stable.
He continued, “He'll get an entry now for the Middle Park and also for the Dewhurst. We'll see how he is in the next few weeks. We'll stick at six furlongs for now, but we'll obviously discuss that with Paul Curran, Mr Zhang and all of the team. I think we're on the same page at the moment that, when the second entry stage closes for the Middle Park on Monday, he'll get put into that. Obviously, the Dewhurst is then a few weeks later and that'll be a second option.”
Field’s Words To Live By
Newgate Farm's Henry Field has built one of the most influential bloodstock operations in the Southern Hemisphere, but he is quick to acknowledge the people who helped shape his approach along the way.
In the latest instalment of TDN's Words to Live By series, Field discusses four major influences on his career, the value of positive intent and why persistence remains essential for anyone starting out in the Thoroughbred industry.
Henry Field | Image courtesy of Ashlea brennan
TDN: Who has been the most important influence/mentor in your career, and why?
Henry Field: There are really four people who have had a huge influence on me.
Gai Waterhouse took me under her wing when I was a kid and taught me an enormous amount about racing, people and how the world works.
John Magnier has the greatest breeding and racing mind our industry has ever seen. He started with very little and built an extraordinary global racing and breeding empire. I learned from him to think big and that with vision, determination and hard work, anything is possible.
My business partners at Newgate, Gavin Murphy and Matthew Sandblom, have also both been hugely influential throughout my career. I've learned an enormous amount from both of them.
TDN: What is the best piece of advice you've ever received, and who gave it to you?
Field: “The more positive your intent, the luckier you will become.” I really believe that to be true. If you approach people and opportunities with genuinely positive intentions, more often than not, good things seem to follow.
TDN: What advice would you give to a young person starting out in the Thoroughbred industry today?
Field: Have a clear vision of where you want to go, work relentlessly towards it, and never, ever give up.
Old Gold ownership prize for Arc
George Waud, owner of Maltese Cross and chairman of Old Gold Racing, has announced plans to fund a trip to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe for 100 of the syndicate's owners.
For existing Old Gold Racing owners, 48 winning packages – each for an Old Gold Racing owner and a guest – will be available through an owners' draw. The number of entries will be linked to the number of qualifying live Old Gold Racing shares held, with one share granting one entry.
Speaking to Old Gold Racing, Waud said, “The Arc is one of the great occasions in racing and, with Maltese Cross all set for Paris, I want as many Old Gold Racing owners as possible to be part of it. I've been lucky enough to experience some fantastic days through racing, and I know how much it means to be there in person, so I wanted to give our owners the opportunity to enjoy it together.
“Old Gold Racing is all about creating experiences and putting our owners at the heart of everything we do. Hopefully we can get 100 people over to Paris, have a brilliant weekend and, with a bit of luck, cheer Maltese Cross home in the Arc.”
Without Hesitation lives up to price tag
Without Hestitation (Jackie's Warrior), a US$2.3 million (AU$3.2 million) purchase at the OBS April sale earlier this year, graduated by 1.75 lengths in the night cap at Kentucky Downs Sunday to become the 10th winner for her freshman sire (by Maclean's Music). The 5-2 shot was hustled out to keep pace with the early leaders. She forged to the lead early on the straight and was pulling away late despite wandering in and out down the lane.
