Cox Plate at Flemington to suit Sir Delius
Sir Delius (GB) (Frankel {GB}) resumes in Saturday’s G1 Makybe Diva Stakes and co-trainer Gai Waterhouse is looking forward to getting him to the G1 Cox Plate, which will be at Flemington while Moonee Valley is being refurbished. “It will definitely suit this horse (Cox Plate being) at Flemington,” Waterhouse told racenet.com.au.
“We live to dream, that's why we come every year, so hopefully the dream will be the Cox Plate this year. They're important races (Makybe and Turnbull), they're stepping stones to where you want to be. It's a Group 1 race (Saturday) worth a lot of money and a lot of prestige, he's an entire, so every Group 1 adds to his value as a stallion.
Sir Delius | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“It's going to be a hard race to win but we're in it, that's the main thing, so we'll give it a shake. He'll go on to the Turnbull (Stakes) … keep everyone very entertained and everyone backing him should follow him, at present it's third-up in the Cox Plate.
“But things change with horses … Dad (Tommy Smith) used to say, ‘Don't send an owner a program because the horse might change it', and it's very true.”
Autumn Glow to gallop at Rosehill
Fans who want to see Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) in action can catch her in an exhibition gallop at Rosehill on Saturday following race 1. Stablemate Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) will also gallop. “We’re right on track for an outstanding Sydney Everest Carnival, and the excitement is building with some of Australia’s very best horses set to light up the track in the weeks ahead,” Australian Turf Club Chief Executive Steve McMahon said.
“The quality of competition we’re seeing is exceptional, and race fans can look forward to seeing many of the sport’s biggest stars competing on Sydney’s premier stage. Along with the champion horses the Australian Turf Club is planning to bring further value and benefits to all of our Members and customers on track in coming weeks.
“You have to be here for it.”
King backs Warwoven for Run To Roses
Jockey Rachel King will ride Bjorn Baker-trained Warwoven (Sword Of State) in Saturday’s G2 Run To The Roses. “The draw is a little bit tricky but I think second-up he has more of a fitness base that will help him and up in trip will definitely help him,” King told racenet.com.au.
Warwoven | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“It is not as bad as last start but not far off. Even last prep when we were going towards the Slipper, I was keen for him to get up over further. He has always felt like the kind of horse that will appreciate that little bit further. He is big and strong.”
Emotional win for Payne
Trainer Patrick Payne celebrated a city win on Wednesday with Listed winning 4-year-old gelding Buccleuch (Peltzer) at Sandown, a day after his father Paddy Payne Snr died. “Patrick has been very good to me and his whole family has been very welcoming,” jockey Billy Egan said.
“Paddy Sr had an incredible life and he raised an amazing family. He had a pretty good sense of humour when I met him and he passed that onto his kids, that's for sure.” Buccleuch has won two in succession and five in total including the Listed Taj Rossi Series Final as a juvenile.
Benson honours McGovern in award speech
Amanda Benson has thanked the late-Shane McGovern and his wife Kim when speaking to Racing Queensland about her recent QOTT Acknowledged Retrainer of the Year Award. “It’s a huge honour to win - I just love thoroughbreds, and I love everything about them,” Benson told racingqueensland.com.au.
“I feel so lucky that I get to work with them every day, I love how willing they are, and their work ethic, and they're good at everything.”
“Kim (McGovern) has been sending horses to me since I became a retrainer - I think I've had five or six from Kim so far, and she's just been amazing to deal with. All of her horses arrive in magnificent condition, they look like show hacks. She doesn't send them to me until their manes have been pulled and their hooves have been trimmed, and they're all the most beautiful types. I just feel incredibly lucky that Kim has chosen me to send her beautiful horses to.”
Her most recent horse from the stable is Tuck (Hellbent) who won for Shane McGovern in 2024. “I think he could probably take on the world in eventing, he's just an absolute superstar horse. I hope that in Shane's honour he does take on the world because he's just a lovely, lovely horse.”
Seminal to show class on debut
At Newcastle on Thursday, John O’Shea and Tom Charlton will debut 3-year-old filly Seminal (Street Boss {USA}). “She’s a very nice filly and has shown plenty of potential at home and in her trials,” O’Shea told racingnsw.com.au.
“Zac (Lloyd) came off her just after the start in her second last trial, but Tommy Berry rode her subsequent to that and she ran a solid third. She’s ready to go to the races and Zac is back on her. She should get over a bit more ground but the 1300m is a nice starting point for her and hopefully she is hitting the line well.”
John O’Shea | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Juniper stays unbeaten
Grant and Alana Williams-trained 3-year-old filly Juniper (Russian Revolution) made it two from two at Belmont on Wednesday. Raced by Lynward Park Stud and partners, she is the third winner from as many to race for Listed winner Fontainebleau (Alfred Noble {Ire}).
At the same meeting, Neville Parnham-trained 3-year-old filly Supersmash (Splintex) made it two wins in succession. She was unplaced in her first four starts.
Snitzel double at Kensington
Snitzel sired a double at Kensington on Wednesday with Chris Waller-trained 3-year-old colt Wonka, who is featured in the Wednesday Racing coverage. The Champion Sire’s double came a race later when Ciaron Maher-trained 3-year-old colt Threads won in the Godolphin colours.
Threads, who placed in the G3 Black Opal Stakes at two, is the first foal of Tailleur (Shooting To Win). She won the G3 Triscay Stakes and is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Raiment (Street Cry {Ire}).
Brave Smash double at Devonport
Brave Smash (Jpn) sired a double at Devonport on Wednesday. Bradley Franklin-trained Nicalbi won his maiden, and Angela Brackey-trained 4-year-old gelding Brave Jet made it two career wins.
Stratosphere also sired a double at the same meeting with Glory Mission and Out Of The Sphere.
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Ashkirk makes it two
Matthew Dunn-trained 3-year-old gelding Ashkirk (Ole Kirk) backed up his maiden win with a second victory at Ipswich on Wednesday. Fourth on debut, he has won two of his three starts. He won by 2.15 lengths for jockey Jett Newman.
Sold by Gilgai Farm for $24,000 at the Inglis Great Southern Sale as a weanling, he was pinhooked by Vinery Stud at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale where he made $70,000 to Dunn, Neil Jenkinson (FBAA) and Topline Thoroughbreds.
Churchillian retired
Tony Pike-trained Group 3 winner Churchillian (NZ) (Churchill {Ire}) has been retired. “Obviously, with the stud season just around the corner, the owners decided it was a good time to sell,” Pike told Loveracing.nz.
“She's getting vetted, and the owners have accepted a private offer. She was a really tough mare. She overcame a couple of injury setbacks throughout her career and always managed to bounce back from those. She was maybe not a Group 1 mare, but just a genuine stakes-class horse. Not many win 11 of 28, it's an impressive achievement.”
Pencarrow Stud sold Churchillian for NZ$100,000 to PA Willetts at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale. Her 11 victories netted her connections NZ$406,000.
Satono Reve retired to Shadai Stallion Station
Champion and multiple Group 1 winner Satono Reve has been retired and will take up stallion duties at Shadai Stallion Station next year, NetKeiba reported on Monday.
Trainer Noriyuki Hori told the publication, “Satono Reve returned to Japan on the 6th after spending four months in Britain. He is currently undergoing import quarantine at the JRA Horse Racing School and is scheduled to move to Shadai Stallion Station on the 17th, where he will begin his career as a stallion.
“With the owner's understanding, we were able to campaign him according to what suited the horse, and as a result Satono Reve safely came through all those challenges. Since traveling to Britain, he was able to make three starts consistently, and I am full of gratitude to him for continuing to give his best.”
Bred by Shirai Stud Farm, the son of Lord Kanaloa brought ¥54,000,000 (AU$484,000) as a foal from Satomi Horse Company at the JRHA Select Sale. A debut winner at three for Hori, he would go on to win the Listed Shunrai Stakes, as well as a pair of Group 3 events at five. He ended that campaign with a third in the G1 Hong Kong Sprint in December.
Successful in his first G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen in 2025, he would go on to finish second in both the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize back in Hong Kong, and in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes in the UK. This season was much the same, with another victory in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen followed by second-place finishes in the same two races. Third in the G1 July Cup to Comanche Brave (Wootton Bassett) in July, he signed off his career with a ninth in the G1 City Of York Stakes in August. He retires with a mark of 21-9-5-2 and US$5,862,779 (AU$8 million) in earnings.
A son of winner Ciliege (Sakura Bakushin O), Satono Reve is a half-brother to multiple group winner and G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen/G1 Sprinters Stakes second Hakusan Moon, by the late Admire Moon, as well as G3 Bavarian Classic hero Warring States (Victoire Pisa).
Al Riffa retired
Australian Bloodstock-owned triple Group 1 winner Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) has been retired. “Unfortunately, it's not good news. Sarah, Joseph O'Brien's vet, has scanned him again in consultation with our vet Rob McGuinness and unfortunately the suspensory has actually come away,” Jamie Lovett wrote to owners.
“From a rehab perspective, given his age and he's quite a big masculine heavy horse, the prognosis is poor, to rehab him from a racing perspective. So given his age and and taking advice from both vets I think, unfortunately, the only decision to make is to retire the horse.
“The injuries sustained won't affect his future career as a stallion, so that's what we need to focus on now. He's an outstandingly performed horse, he's got a big pedigree, and he's a striking looking stallion, so he ticks every box in that regard.”
Emmet Mullins purchases Jim Bolger's training stables
Emmet Mullins has purchased Jim Bolger's Glebe House and will become “more Flat oriented”, the Racing Post reported on Tuesday. Bolger, 84, listed the property in May.
Currently based alongside his uncle Willie in Closutton, the 36-year-old dual purpose trainer already has a Grand National to his credit. Glebe House has approximately 158 stables, larger than Mullins's current operation.
“There are 150-odd stables there so it's a much bigger operation to what I have here,” he told the publication. “Here where I am, I didn't want to get too big too quick. I was doing things slowly and more gradually but this is the kick up the backside I needed to drive on and try to take the next step.
“I have always had Flat and jumps horses since I started but it's probably fair to say that I won't be targeting as many Cesarewitches anymore. We will definitely be looking out for yearlings now with the view to hitting the ground early with 2-year-olds. We're going to be more Flat-orientated from now on.”
Mullins, who will saddle Winday (Galiway) in the G2 Doncaster Cup on Friday, does not have a timeline for the move. He added, “The finer details have to be finalised but, even if it was the new year, wouldn't it be great. We'll still concentrate on the jumps season at home here over the winter and it will be an interesting spring trying to get to grips with Coolcullen.”
Zelzal colt tops day 1 of Osarus Yearlings
A colt by Zelzal topped the first day of the Osarus La Teste Yearling Sale in France on Tuesday. Christophe Escuder paid €45,000 (AU$72,400) for the April foal.
Consigned as lot 79 by Haras de Castillon, the bay is a son of G3 Prix de Lieurey second Moonlight In Paris (Literato). He is also a half-brother to two black-type horses: Bellaciaociao (Camelot) and Czajkowski (Flintshire), second in the G3 Prix de Conde.
Tuesday's top filly was lot 86, a son of Van Beethoven and Night Candle (Mehmas). Part of the Haras du Saz draft, the granddaughter of stakes winner Epatha (Highest Honor) sold to €40,000 (AU$64,300) to FR Bloodstock.
Of the 130 horses catalogued, 125 went through the ring at La Teste. Ninety horses found new homes (72%) for a gross of €1,012,500 (AU$1.6 million). The average rose 10% to €12,006 (AU$19,300), while the median increased by 17% to €10,000 (AU$16,100).
Wooded half-share added to AKTEM
A half-share in Wooded and a breeding right to Palace Pier have been added to the AKTEM Online Stallion Sale which will take place on September 25.
Wooded, by Wootton Bassett, is a winner of the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye. His Woodshauna won the G1 Prix Jean Prat, while Jawwal was second in the Prix de l'Abbaye. The half-share entitles the owner to one nomination every year.
By Kingman, Palace Pier won five times at the highest level. G1 Cheveley Park Stakes third Royal Fixation has won a Group 2. The stallion also has Group 3 winners A Bit Of Spirit, Southend, and Dr Omran.
Najidi Storm becomes shortest-priced loser in British racing history
Juddmonte's Najidi Storm (Frankel) became the shortest-priced loser in the history of British racing at Goodwood on Tuesday when he was beaten into second in the Cleansing Service Group Novice Stakes at odds of 1-33 ($1.03).
The previous record was jointly held by Doom (2023) and Royal Forest (1948), both of whom were beaten at 1-25 ($1.04).
The beneficiary of Najidi Storm's misfortune was the Charlie Pike-trained Wreck It Ronnie (Zelzal), who was not for stopping at the head of affairs as he ploughed through the testing conditions to win by a length and a half.
“This is a remarkable result that almost nobody would have predicted,” said William Hill spokesperson Lee Phelps. “While it's only a fairly quiet Tuesday at Goodwood, statistically it's the biggest upset we've ever seen in British racing.
“Odds of 1-33 about Najidi Storm were so short that there was little to no interest in the market from a betting perspective. It clearly wasn't worth a go at that sort of price, while the other two contenders looked inferior on paper and didn't attract much interest, either.”
Repole offers to fund investigation into HISA
Mike Repole has sent a letter to Everett Dobson, Chairman of The Jockey Club, and Lisa Lazarus, CEO of HISA, offering to fund a “comprehensive independent investigation into HISA conducted by a mutually agreeable third-party investigator,” at a price of up to US$10 million (AU$13.8 million). The goal of the investigation, the letter says, is to restore public confidence in the institutions of HISA and The Jockey Club.
“If HISA is confident in their governance, security, and practices, an independent investigation should confirm that,” the letter reads. “On the other hand, if problems exist, the industry deserves to be aware of that, and HISA should own up to its shortcomings and work to repair those problems. Similarly, an independent investigation would make clear the extent of the connections between HISA and The Jockey Club.”
Repole has made prior offers to fund an investigation to explore if the veterinary data accessed by Marshall Gramm was shared by others, or if others had had prior access to it.
In a statement to the TDN, a HISA spokesperson said, “HISA has received the letter from Mr. Repole and intends to respond to it before the time by which he requested a response in the letter. HISA has nothing to hide and is open to any and all good-faith conversations about the integrity of our systems and operations.”
