Hello Youmzain gets trans-Tasman stakes double
Cambridge Stud sire Hello Youmzain (Fr) celebrated a trans-Tasman stakes double on Saturday when Persian Wonder (NZ) won the G3 Ming Dynasty Stakes at Rosehill and Group 1-placed Sweetest Thing (NZ) won the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes at Riccarton. Persian Wonder was covered in TTR’s 3-Year-Old Summary.
"It was a hard watch as she had them coming at her from both sides, but fair play to the filly as she was headed but she kicked back,” co-trained Sam Bergerson told Loveracing.nz.
“She is a big striding filly and we think she will be better on good ground, but it is good to have Dad, who trained her before, as he has given me some good pointers. There is plenty of improvement to come as she is still quite an immature filly who needs to fill out, so we will need to nurse her along.”
Twice stakes placed at two, including in the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes, Sweetest Thing became the 17th stakes winner for her sire with Persian Wonder quickly following to make it 18. She was purchased by Chris Rutten and Roydon Bergerson for NZ$80,000 out of the Wentwood Grange draft at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
The victory, Sweetest Thing's first, took her record to a win and three placings from five starts with earnings over NZ$180,000. She is the first winner for Ocean Drive (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) who won twice in England and France, and is a half-sister to stakes winners Indian Days (GB) (Daylami {Ire}), Biniou (Ire) (Mozart {Ire}) and Reply (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}).
Cup entry for Shockletz with G3 Archer victory
Ciaron Maher-trained Shockletz (NZ) (Shocking) will try to copy her sire in winning the G1 Melbourne Cup after gaining a ballot-free entry when winning Saturday’s G3 Archer Stakes at Flemington. She won the 2500 metre event by 2.25 lengths from Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Think Giant (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) with her stablemate Jennivamoose (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) in third.
“They can dare to dream. The team has done a great job managing her. It has been a long-range plan to get her into the Cup. Back at Flemington, blinkers on, she’ll run two miles and they can dare to dream,” Maher said.
She becomes the 27th stakes winner for Shocking. A homebred for Eales Racing, she took her record to seven wins and earnings over $580,000. A half-sister to Listed winner Golden Payout (NZ) (Proisir), they are both out of Zelt (Red Ransom {USA}) who won twice in country Victoria.
Listed Tontonan Stakes won by Welcometotheshow
Trainer Tyler Donaldson-Aitken has plenty to contemplate after his 5-year-old entire Welcometotheshow (Showtime) won the Listed Tontonan Stakes at Flemington. “(In) four weeks time you've got the Toorak, you get in on the minimum there, hopefully off his win there, and then beyond that you've got a couple different options,” Donaldson-Aitken said.
“You've also got Sydney. You've got the Five Diamonds Prelude, Five Diamond, for 5-year-olds set weights and above, which is also appealing. So there's some options there now he's showing what he's shown today and we'll make another plan and see where the next step is.”
It was the first black type win for Welcometotheshow who won by three-quarters of a length from Henry Dwyer-trained Cote Atlantique (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and Lindsay Park’s Café Millenium (Not A Single Doubt). Welcometotheshow is the second stakes winner for Showtime.
His trainer paid $24,000 for him from Bowness Stud’s Inglis HTBA Yearling Sale. He is one of two winners for Kind Heart (Shamardal {USA}) who won twice in Sydney and is a daughter to Group 3 winner Natural Woman (NZ) (Generous {Ire}).
Appeared adds to Baker’s big day
Trainer Bjorn Baker had a big day with his colts Paradoxium (Extreme Choice) and Warwoven (Sword Of State) winning stakes races. At Rosehill, the imported Appeared (USA) (Justify {USA}) kept his unbeaten Australian record with his third win in succession here. He is also a winner in Ireland. “Amazing acquisition, the Darby team have done it again,” assistant trainer Luke Hilton said.
“Three wins is not easy to do for these Europeans to acclimatise immediately but he's done a great job and obviously he's getting better every time. He's had a really good platform to possibly look at next year now so we'll see if Bjorn gives him a break or possibly one more and then look at next time. He's creeping up in the ratings now and he's been able to put three together and it's a pretty hard thing to do.”
Sir Now adds Listed WH Wylie Handicap
Trainer Darryl Hewitt was thrilled when last start Group 3 winner Sir Now (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) made it two stakes wins in a row with Saturday’s Listed WH Wylie Handicap at Morphettville. “I was more confident today. He’s run alright on firm tracks before and I thought it would take a bit for them to catch him. He’s getting better, his manners have improved, he went into the barriers without a problem. He’s smartened up a bit,” Hewitt said.
Inglis Ready2Race Sale topper Signature Scent (Written Tycoon) was second and former WA galloper Smooth Chino (Maschino) was third. Sir Now took his record to 11 wins from 28 starts and earnings over $580,000. He is the second foal and first winner for Yamnaka (Fighting Sun) who is an unraced half-sister to group-placed Crafted (Starcraft {NZ}).
Exceed And Excel double at Doomben
At Doomben on Saturday, Champion Sire Exceed And Excel celebrated a double with two former Godolphin-owned geldings. Gram, trained by Tony Gollan, made it six wins in succession.
High Calibre Racing managing director Dale Maguire paid $75,000 via Inglis Digital in November 2025 and at the time, he’d placed twice from five starts. Bred by Godolphin, Gram is a full brother to Group 3 winner Zulfiqar and his winning dam, Sayf Shamal (Elusive City {USA}) is a half-sister to juvenile winner Essaouira (Exceed And Excel). Essaouira is the dam of Group 1 winners Astern and Alizee (Sepoy).
Exceed And Excel’s double came with Declan Maher-trained Stanislaus, who was bought by Flying Start Syndications via Inglis Digital for $55,000. The winner of six races is a half-brother to Group 1 winner Golden Mile (Astern).
Fovea impressive on debut
Bjorn Baker-trained 3-year-old filly Fovea (Farnan), a full sister to Group 3-placed Farnicle, won on debut at Kembla Grange on Saturday by 2.5 lengths. She is the second foal, following Farnicle, of G1 New Zealand Oaks winner Jennifer Eccles (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}).
Several other 3-year-olds won at Kembla Grange on Saturday including Temptation (Lucky Vega {Ire}) and Sky Deck (Written Tycoon) who both added their second career wins.
Pulsator wins on debut
Snitzel’s 3-year-old gelding Pulsator won on debut by 2.3 lengths at Kembla Grange for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. He was a $600,000 purchase by his trainers and Kestrel Thoroughbreds at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from Glenlogan Park’s draft.
Pulsator is a half-brother to Rosemont Stud’s Extreme Warrior and Listed winner Thrillster (Starspangledbanner). At the same meeting 3-year-olds Legaselli (King’s Legacy) and Cap D’Ail (Exceedance) won their maidens.
Barghest stays unbeaten
At Morphettville, Gordon Richards and Damien Moyle-trained 3-year-old gelding Barghest (Fierce Impact {Jpn}) bolted home by over four lengths to take his record to two from two. Sold by Newhaven Park at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale for $27,000, he was bought by Gordon Richards Racing.
He is the third foal and second winner for Outlaw Miss (Rubick), an unraced half-sister to Group 1 winning sprinter Gytrash (Lope De Vega {Ire}).
Debut winner for Pierata
Rob Heathcote-trained 3-year-old filly Pierantes (Pierata) won on debut at the Sunshine Coast’s Friday night meeting. The half-sister to Group 1 winner Startantes (Star Turn) and Group 3-placed Fabulantes (Star Turn) is one of seven winners from seven to race for Funtantes (Easy Rocking). Funtantes won the G2 Champagne Classic (now the G2 Spirit Of Boom Classic) at two.
Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy won by Justin Case
Winner of the G3 Matamata Slipper Stakes last season, Kris Shailer-trained 3-year-old gelding Justin Case (Banquo) added the Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy to his cabinet on Saturday with a tough, close victory. “I have a lot of confidence in the horse as I really think he can gallop,” Shailer said.
“It was really good to see him settle outside the leader rather than having to be in front doing all the donkey work. He was pretty big in condition today and just held on, so it was great. I haven’t got a plan for him now and, although he has a nomination for the 2000 Guines, I’m just not sure we will go down that path.”
The winner of three of his five starts and over NZ$190,000, Justin Case is one of five winners for Group 2 winner Do Ra Mi (NZ) (Savabeel) who has also produced stakes placed Hangar (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}).
Godolphin wins USA 2025 Owner Of The Year
Godolphin was honoured as both the 2025 National Owner of the Year and 2025 National Breeder of the Year at the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) annual TOBA National Awards Thursday in Kentucky.
Additionally, Gregory Kilka and Christine Connelly of Bright View Farm were named the 2025 National Small Breeder of the Year presented by BloodHorse and The Jockey Club. Kilka and Connelly bred Eclipse Award-winning sprinter Book'em Danno (Bucchero).
The Cot Campbell Partnership of the Year award presented by Central Bank was presented to Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, honoring the organization's racing success with six graded stakes winners, including three Grade I winners.
Gai Waterhouse speaks to TDN
One of the most successful and recognisable figures in Australian racing, Gai Waterhouse has spent a lifetime immersed in the Thoroughbred industry. As part of TDN's Words to Live By series, Gary King asks Waterhouse about the people and advice that have shaped her remarkable career.
TDN: Who has been the most important mentor in your career, and why?
Gai Waterhouse: My father, T.J. Smith, and my husband, Rob Waterhouse. My father taught me the art of training, while my husband has given me a great understanding and insight into the many different areas of the industry.
TDN: What is the best piece of advice you've ever received, and who gave it to you?
Waterhouse: My father always highlighted the importance of keeping yourself fresh in order to see the trees from the forest. When it came to the two-year-olds, his best advice was to keep them short and sharp.
TDN: What advice would you give to a young person starting out in the Thoroughbred industry today?
Waterhouse: Go and learn from the best.
Caballo De Mar wins Doncaster Cup
As the class act in Friday's G2 Howard Wright Doncaster Cup, Victorious Forever's Caballo De Mar (Phoenix Of Spain) had only to avoid misfortune on Town Moor and duly delivered for a relieved George Scott.
Below-par in the Gold Cup and the Lonsdale Cup on his last two starts, the Prix du Cadran and Prix Vicomtesse Vigier hero was tried in blinkers to arrest the slump and travelled notably smoothly under Oisin Murphy tracking the pace. Sent to the front approaching two out, the 5-6 favourite may have been idling late with last year's Cesarewitch winner Beylerbeyi (Invincible Spirit) narrowing the winning margin to 1.25 lengths.
“It was very smooth, Oisin was able to keep the horse underneath him for a long way–he had to commit a bit sooner than he would have liked, but it's a case of back to how we love him,” Scott said of the winner, whose task was made more straightforward by the withdrawal of Ballydoyle's Queenstown. “It felt like there was a lot of pressure, but I have a very good team at home who know him, which very much helps.
“He's won two Group 1s in France and the Cadran is the obvious race for him, the tempo of those French races seems to suit him,” he added. “I think we've worked out that if they go a real hard gallop he needs to be out of the heat of the race. I just hope Scandinavia doesn't go there! If he doesn't, it looks an open division. He's taken us on a journey and is a cool horse a, special horse for us and you feel a responsibility towards him, so it's job done here and we can get back on track.”
Final Objective wins Flying Childers Stakes
Wathnan Racing's G2 Gimcrack second Final Objective (Sioux Nation) was all the rage in the pre-race betting exchanges and swooped late to continue an extraordinary run for his sire in a bunch finish to Friday's G2 Carlsberg Danish Pilsner Flying Childers at Doncaster.
“He's a testament to Hamad (Al Jehani) and his team because he has not been an easy conveyance whatsoever,” said James Doyle. “Faleh (Bughenaim), our Qatari jockey, has done a brilliant job with him. He rides him every day and has to suffer on a daily basis. I only ride him now and again, so I have to thank him. He was a bit wayward again late on, but that is just his nature, he's a bit tricky. I was just trying to hang on to their coattails because I was a little bit outpaced early.
“He's got decent form at six [furlongs] and this was his first time back at five, but it wasn't a problem as he's got more than enough speed. I thought he was going to win the Gimcrack, but when he got out he hung his chance away and I thought he was going to do a similar thing today. He's not easy, but he's more straightforward than he used to be.”
Arqana Yearling Catalogue includes full sister to Maltese Cross
A full-sister to this year's G1 Grand Prix de Paris winner Maltese Cross (Sea The Stars) features among 668 lots catalogued to sell at the Arqana October Yearling Sale, which takes place from Tuesday, October 20 to Friday, October 23.
The October Yearling Sale has produced a number of top-level winners over the last 20 years, including the Classic scorers Avenir Certain, Metropolitan, Natagora, Paddington, The Grey Gatsby and Treve. Usually held over five days, the sale will be staged over four days in 2026.
AKTEM releases Turnover Sale catalogue
Twenty-five horses in training will be offered as part of the AKTEM Turnover Sale in Maisons-Laffitte on Friday, September 18. The session begins at 1.30pm, with the inaugural AKTEM Flat Yearling Sale following immediately afterwards.
Among the key lots catalogued for the Turnover Sale is the three-time winner Pas Dansant (Muhaarar), who also finished fifth in this year's Listed Prix Moonlight Cloud at Deauville. Trained by Olivier Trigodet, the 3-year-old most recently filled the runner-up spot in a Class 2 race at La Teste.
