Waller thrilled with Autumn Glow after gallop
Chris Waller was thrilled with Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) after her gallop at the races on Saturday. “I got a feeling I don't get very often just watching her work then,” Waller told racenet.com.au on Sunday. Autumn Glow will run in Saturday’s 7 Stakes.
Autumn Glow | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“It was quite exciting – like I needed to speak to someone about it so I got over to the strappers. You sense they are really going well but we don't push the button much at home. It's hard to quantify how much she's come on from the Winx (Stakes) but talking to James (McDonald) he said she's definitely improved with what he felt today.
“I couldn't be happier with where she's at going into next week.”
Sheza Alibi to stay in Melbourne until Golden Eagle
Co-trainer Peter Moody reiterated that Saturday’s impressive G1 Makybe Diva Stakes victrix Sheza Alibi (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) won’t go to Sydney until the G1 Golden Eagle. “The Golden Eagle is her race, and we haven't hidden that fact,” Moody told RSN on Sunday morning.
Sheza Alibi | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“She won't go to Sydney again before the Golden Eagle, unfortunately the King Charles, which is the perfect race, but it's run in Sydney, that's 99 per cent off the table. That brings us back to Caulfield, where you've got two races in three weeks. You've got the Toorak Handicap and the Might And Power Stakes. Do we give her exposure to 2000 metres (in the Might And Power Stakes) and then go three weeks back to the 1500 metres of the Golden Eagle?
“She has been nominated and has a first acceptance for the Cox Plate, but that was more of an insurance policy. Had she come out and been quite one-paced yesterday, and screamed out 2000 metres, we might have had to reassess.”
Joliestar could copy Nature Strip on Saturday
Trainer Chris Waller was cagey about the chance of star sprinting mare Joliestar (Zoustar) when she resumes in Saturday’s G2 The Shorts. “Just that she's come back – it's a long, long trek to the UK and back,” Waller told racenet.com.au.
Joliestar | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“We did it with Nature Strip and I think he was very impressive first up so Saturday is just a matter of seeing her come back.” Nature Strip (Nicconi) won the 2022 G1 King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, returning to Australia to win the 2022 G2 The Shorts when resuming the next spring.
Seven Caulfield Cup contenders in quarantine
Racing Victoria announced that all seven G1 Caulfield Cup contenders who have entered quarantine in the UK have passed the first round of vet checks. “The first seven international horses targeting the 2026 Spring Racing Carnival yesterday (Saturday) entered pre-export quarantine in the UK and Ireland where they will remain for two weeks prior to travelling to Melbourne,” Racing Victoria’s head of racing Paul Bloodworth told racing.com.
The seven are: Harry Charlton-trained Wine Dark Sea (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}), Roger Varian-trained Enfjaar (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Ciaron Maher-trained Point Of Law (GB) (Frankel {GB}), and the Joseph O’Brien-trained quartet of Starford (Ire) (Beckford {GB}), Omni Man (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Small Fry (Ire) (Harzand {Ire}), and Kizlyar (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}).
“All seven hold nominations for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups and have satisfied RV’s pre-travel veterinary protocols, passing a compulsory scan of their distal limbs and completing two physical veterinary examinations so far – they must undergo a final examination in quarantine.”
Amphitrite adds Japanese group winner
G1 MRC Thousand Guineas winner Amphitrite (Sebring) has produced a group winner in Japan with Sunday’s G2 Sho Rose Stakes victrix Monroe Walk (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) who is now unbeaten in four starts.
M’s Racing paid ¥68.2 million (AU$624,000) for Monroe Walk from Northern Racing’s JHRA Foal Sale draft. Amphitrite is one of three winners out of Caulfield city winner Ocean Dream (Redoute’s Choice) who is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Marble Halls (NZ) (Nassipour {USA}).
Mr Brightside okay after Makybe Diva run
Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) might not have won a historic fourth G1 Makybe Diva Stakes on Saturday, but concerns for the fan favourite quickly grew when he pulled up lame in a hind leg. “It’s all good news, the horse is absolutely fine, no problem at all and we will continue on with his prep,” co-trainer Ben Hayes told racing.com on Sunday.
Mr Brightside (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He’s nice and sound this morning, which is really standard for him, so we’re all happy with Mr B.” He finished in seventh with jockey Blake Shinn saying the 9-year-old gelding didn’t let down on the Good 3 surface.
Pateman thrilled with Carnarvon Cup win
Jockey Kate Pateman won Saturday’s Carnarvon Cup on Pharoah Show (American Pharoah {USA}) and thanked her family for helping support her journey back to the saddle. “It’s very surreal because after I had Phoenix, I never thought I’d be able to come back (to riding),” Pateman told racingwa.com.au on Sunday.
“If it wasn’t for (husband Aaron) I couldn’t do it at all – we’re a very good team. I’ve been chasing this Cup win since that day way back then because it was such a thrill. We’ve been coming to this track for, God knows, so many years and it’s one of my favourites.
“I’ve finally got it again and country racing is just so important to all of us. If we don’t have country racing, we don’t have racing at all – it’s the backbone to everything.”
New winner for Portland Sky
Second season sire Portland Sky added winner number seven when Robbie Griffiths-trained 3-year-old filly Portland Rose won at Kilmore on Sunday. She debuted in the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (f), which was her only start at two, and was placed when resuming last start.
Griffiths Racing paid $80,000 for her from Widden Stud’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale draft. A half-sister to stakes placed Celestial Storm (Zoustar), Portland Rose is the second winner for Group 2-placed Sebring Dream (Sebring).
At the same meeting, Magnus sired a double with Makusha and Fortyfour Magnum.
St Mark’s Basilica adds new winner
At Sale on Sunday, second season sire St Mark’s Basilica added a new Southern Hemisphere winner when Charlotte Littlefield-trained 3-year-old gelding Mister Whiskers won on debut by two lengths. Hayfields Racing and Intel Bloodstock (FBAA) paid $170,000 for him from Coolmore Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft.
The third winner from three to race for Casuarina Forest (Fastnet Rock) whose first two foals are Group 1-placed Arcora (Justify {USA}) and Group 3-placed Foxy Cleopatra (American Pharoah {USA}). Casuarina Forest is an unraced full sister to Group 1 winner and sire Foxwedge, Listed winner She’s A Fox and stakes placed Paulownia, who is the dam of Group 3 winner Lilac (Justify {USA}).
New winner for Splintex
Second season sire Splintex added winner number seven when Daniel O'Connor-trained 3-year-old filly London Rose won her maiden at Northam by four lengths on Sunday. Placed at two, London Rose was bought by Mike Santich for $6000 from Darling View Thoroughbreds’ Magic Millions Perth Winter Yearling Sale draft.
London Rose is the first foal of London Miss (City Place {USA}) who won four times and is a half-sister to stakes placed Khutulun (Soldier’s Tale {USA}).
Castelvecchio gelding wins on debut
At Bathurst on Sunday, Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained 3-year-old gelding Prince Of Verona (Castelvecchio) won on debut. Triple Crown Syndications paid $100,000 for him from Arrowfield Stud’s Magic Millions National Yearling Sale draft.
He is the second winner for unraced Holiday Romance (Snitzel) who is a daughter of dual Listed winner Fictional Account (Ire) (Stravinsky {USA}).
Avdulla hoping for Hong Kong licence extension
Jockey Brenton Avdulla is hoping to get his Hong Kong licence extended beyond February, but knows he needs results. “I’ve got no ambitions to go home. That’s one thing I’ll make clear, I don’t really want to go home,” Avdulla told scmp.com.
Brenton Avdulla | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
“I’ve been here three seasons – I had a good first season, a really solid second one when I finished fourth and rode 47 winners and then below par last season, but I still rode 21 winners. I lost a fair bit of support the second half of last season and I’m just trying to work hard this season, build some support up from trainers and owners and if I can do that, I’ve got no doubt that we can ride some winners and get flowing again and extend the season to the second half.
“I was disappointed to only receive six months, but what do you do? The Jockey Club has high standards to uphold and they felt like six months was what I deserved. I’ve got the fire in the belly a bit more to prove I deserve to be here.”
Forever Young back for another American crown
The reigning Japanese Horse of the Year and Eclipse Award Champion Older Dirt Male Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) tops a field of seven assembled for the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup September 18 to open the new Belmont Park.
Forever Young (Jpn) | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
The 10-furlong route for 3-year-olds and up provides a “Win and You're In” berth for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic in October at Keeneland.
“I am delighted to be able to compete in the United States again with Forever Young, following our participation over the past two years,” said trainer Yoshito Yahagi. “It is also a great honor to run in New York at this very memorable time, coinciding with the reopening of the historic Belmont Park racetrack. Through these two races, the Jockey Gold Cup and the Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland, I hope to contribute to the further development of American horse racing.”
Taylor Made to celebrate 50 years
Mark Taylor was just seven years old in 1976 when his 19-year-old brother Duncan and Mike Shannon started Taylor Made as a broodmare operation on leased land. “It was on the land that became Dromoland, but back when I was seven, it was Tartan Farm,” said Taylor. “I don't remember the exact relationship, but we were basically taking care of Tartan's mares on that piece of property, and they were one of our big clients.”
Fifty years later, Mark Taylor is the President and CEO of the country's largest sales endeavour and perennial leading consignor, who has catalogued nearly 12 percent of Keeneland's 4,642 horses in this year's September Sale. They stand the country's leading sire, Not This Time. And it's fair to say the whole family has taken their father's lesson about the importance of the client to heart.
But as important to the family as all the success is following in their father's footsteps in regards to helping people.
“John Gaines wrote the forward to my dad's book (Joe Taylor's Complete Guide to Breeding and Raising Racehorses), and I read it a couple of times a year because he really just nailed everything about my dad. But one thing he said is, ‘All these things Joe Taylor can do are not the most important because his favourite thing and the thing he's best at is helping people.' That's what he was all about, just giving young people a chance, trying to launch young people, coaching people. My dad was very bad at firing people. If somebody had a drinking problem or whatever their problem was, I don't think he knew how to handle it, but he would somehow find a way to keep them going, keep them afloat.”
The Taylor Made mission statement has been honed and refined over the years, but Mark Taylor thinks they have it pretty perfect now. “A lot of times, mission statements are on a wall and they don't mean anything. And we had some mission statements before that I don't think were really what we were. They just sounded good. But we created what our mission statement is now, and I think it's pretty close. We say we exist to bring our customers' Thoroughbred dreams and goals to life, and be a force for good by living out our Christian values while earning a profit.”
Fifty years on from that first leased land, the farm has grown from a 120-acre parcel to 1,600. Duncan Taylor has taken a step back while still lending his expertise to the venture. And the new generation of children-both Taylors and Paynes-are stepping up.
“So we'll see,” says Mark. “We'll see how the next 25 years go.”
Chris Waller talks to TDN
Chris Waller has built one of the most successful training operations in world racing, but the principles behind that success are refreshingly straightforward. In the latest instalment of TDN's Words to Live By series, Waller discusses the influence of veterinarian Dr Tim Roberts and why simple systems and hard work remain the foundation for success.
Chris Waller | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
TDN: Outside of your family, who has been the most important mentor in your career, and why?
Chris Waller: Dr Tim Roberts. He is a specialised horse veterinarian, and his experience with horses and keeping things simple from a management perspective has been a huge benefit for horse longevity, welfare and return to owners.
TDN: What is the best piece of advice you've ever received, and who gave it to you?
CW: “Your name and integrity is everything.” Peter V'Landys, CEO of Racing NSW.
TDN: What advice would you give to a young person starting out in the industry today?
CW: Start by using simple systems and keep improving them. Work hard, and that will allow you to grow, succeed and stay in control.
More Thunder wins G2 Park Stakes
Back to what is probably his ideal trip in Saturday's G2 Park Stakes, Saeed Suhail's More Thunder (Night Of Thunder) revived his fortunes to regain the winning thread.
Runner-up in the Queen Anne in June, More Thunder is heading back to Ascot for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes according to Maureen Haggas. “He needed to win, the last twice it all went wrong and today he showed what a good horse he is,” she said.
“It's really important with him to allow him to get into his stride early on and to breathe – if you're at him, it doesn't work. It's just the way it's got to be. He was so cool about everything today and he looked fantastic and Tom said he felt fantastic. I'd say he'll go to Champions Day and have another go at a mile – he runs well at Ascot.”
Dewhurst next for G2 Champagne Stakes winner
Godolphin homebred Desert Castle (Frankel), a G1 Dewhurst entry, followed up a taking TDN Rising Star debut over seven furlongs at Newmarket last month with an equally impressive effort for Billy Loughnane in Saturday's G2 Betfred Champagne Stakes at Doncaster.
“We went there with a bit of confidence hoping he's a nice horse, he's gone and obliged and I'm delighted with that performance,” said Charlie Appleby. “We'll head to the Dewhurst now.”
Desert Castle, who becomes the 126th Group-race winner for his sire, is the 11th of 12 foals and one of six scorers out of G2 Flying Childers victrix Sand Vixen (Dubawi). Sand Vixen is a half-sister to Listed-winning G3 Greenham third So Will I (Inchinor) and to the dams of the G3 Prix Eclipse runner-up King Of Spades (Foxwedge) and the stakes-placed Irish Gent (Ten Sovereigns).
Breeders’ Cup victrix adds Grade 2
It was all Spendora (Audible) in the GII Fasig-Tipton Locust Grove Stakes as the defending GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner trifled with the field, taking them pillar-to-post Saturday at Churchill Downs. “She was very impressive again today,” said Flavien Prat. “She broke well and travelled easily on the lead and showed her class once again.”
Now a winner of three straight, including the GII Molly Pitcher Stakes July 18 at Monmouth and the GII Shawnee Stakes May 30 at Churchill, Splendora has won eight of her last nine. At the highest level, she captured Santa Anita's GI Beholder Mile Stakes this spring in addition to the Filly & Mare Sprint last fall.
“We're very thankful for Mike Talla for allowing us to buy into her,” said Randy Boyd after the Locust Grove. “He's a great friend and we're enjoying sharing this success with him. We wanted to have a small but quality broodmare band. We have a couple of great horses now between Vahva and Seismic Beauty. Splendora will probably be joining them sometime in the near future. We hope now she can take us to the Breeders' Cup.”
