All about the draw for Lady Shenandoah
Trainer Chris Waller will make a Sydney or Melbourne decision on Group 1 winner Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel) once the draws are released later in the week. “I'd like to see a good draw, Melbourne is a long way to come if she's going to draw wide,” Waller told racenet.com.au about the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.
Chris Waller | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“She ran in the Manikato this time last year and had no luck from the wide draw, she's also nominated for Sydney and trying to avoid Autumn Glow because she's got similar ownership, the Rupert Clarke (is the preference).”
Stablemate Angel Capital (Harry Angel {Ire}) will run in the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke. “I'm very happy with him, we thought we'd go to the Manikato and then backtracked a little and he'll probably run in the Sir Rupert Clarke, in which he was unlucky in last year,” Waller said.
“It looks like he's got a good weight, obviously had no luck in it last year. I've been happy with his runs and he should be ready to peak third up on Saturday. We've got to win that Group 1, he was very unlucky in it last year and I thought he might've been top weight but there's a higher-rated horse (Tom Kitten nominated) which has helped with the weight, so it's probably an invitation to run.”
Spicy Martini seeking The Everest slot
Trainer Toby Edmonds will run Spicy Martini (Justify {USA}) in Saturday’s G2 The Shorts as he hunts for a slot in the G1 The Everest. “Houtzen was a 3-year-old filly coming out of the Magic Millions and Golden Slipper. We won a Group 3 (Champagne Stakes) in Melbourne with her leading into The Everest so it was a completely different preparation to Spicy Martini who is 5-year-old mare,” Edmonds told racingandsports.com.au.
Spicy Martini | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
“But the experience of that first Everest was great and although I don't think anyone thought it would last the race has gone ahead in leaps and bounds since. We would definitely consider going to the Everest if there is interest in her. That has been the plan for this preparation.”
Blind Raise set for Caulfield Guineas
Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained 3-year-old gelding Blind Raise (NZ) (Ace High) will run in Saturday’s G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude and galloped on course on Tuesday. “He worked nice. He was out to work with the stable mate, wasn’t out to do much, had a look around and he stretched out that last bit,” Busuttin told racing.com.
“He looked to work well and Blake (Shinn) was happy. It will be another challenge obviously, we’ll see how we go this time, but I’d imagine he’s going to be very competitive. His coat is still not there yet, his coat is nowhere near where we’d like it to be, but I think we’ve got a month until the Caulfield Guineas to get that right but everything else, he’s going well.”
Global Goal has Flight in mind
Trainer John Sargent is planning the way for Global Goal (Pinatubo {Ire}) to reach the G1 Flight Stakes. She runs in Saturday’s G2 Tea Rose Stakes. “She seems to have done well since the Silver Shadow,” Sargent told racingandsports.com.au.
“We've just spaced her runs and gave her a trial the other day and I've added side winkers as she just seems to go through a flat patch in her races. It seems to have got her to concentrate better so she'll wear those on Saturday, and the extra distance should help.
“She's owned by the same owners as Four Moves Ahead, and she went to the Furious and then went and won the Tea Rose. But this filly's probably a lighter filly than that, so she doesn't need a lot, so I decided to miss that race and carry on to the Flight Stakes.”
Air Assault aiming for second Balaklava Cup
The 2024 Listed Balaklava Cup winner Air Assault (Justify {USA}) is back for another crack on Wednesday. “I'm quite pleased with the way he's come up with those two runs under his belt,” trainer Andrew Gluyas told racenet.com.au.
“He looks good and his attitude is great. He's earnt the weight, he'll be able to carry that, there's no doubt about that, and it will be interesting to see how Balaklava plays on the day. He's very much ready to run a strong mile.”
Wilde wants the carpark in Naturalism
Wanting a suitable draw is a normal wish, and for trainer Symon Wilde, he’d love if Darkbonee (Palentino) drew the carpark in Saturday's G3 Naturalism Stakes at Caulfield. “He got in among horses and just panicked (last start), it looked like. He showed his greenness and inexperience, I suppose, and threw the race away when he just hated being in there,” Wilde told racenet.com.au.
Symon Wilde | Image courtesy of Wilde Racing
“He's just lacking a little bit of experience and race smarts. In all his runs, he's come around them but that was the first time he got boxed in. He pulled up well and we'll keep trundling on. He's going to struggle to get into the Naturalism. If we don't get to the aims we're looking at, there's plenty of good second tier races. With a three-week break, it works out really well as it's his second run over 2000m and he just needs racing.”
Osbourne has Cup fever
Jockey Saffie Osbourne would love to win the G1 Melbourne Cup. She became the first female jockey to win a British Classic aboard Highwayman (Persian King) in the 250th anniversary G1 Betfred St Leger. “Everyone wants to win a Melbourne Cup,” Osborne told SEN’s Giddy Up With Gareth Hall.
“I was injured during the Melbourne Cup Carnival last year, and I was hobbling around on crutches next to (boyfriend) Sam (Cavanough). It was an amazing day (Cup Day) to watch. I actually went to each of the four days at Flemington and it was amazing. They put on such a great show, and it was a brilliant atmosphere to be a part of. I’d quite like to have a ride in it this year.”
And on Highwayman running in the Cup? “To win a British Classic, he’s obviously a pretty good horse. He’s a very unexposed horse and all he’s done is improve through his career. He’s very straightforward and has a very good mind, which will obviously stand him in good stead in a race that has so much build-up to it.
“I could see him having a seriously good chance.”
Found The Gold heads to Canterbury
Stakes placed 3-year-old filly Found The Gold (Too Darn Hot {GB}) will kick off her campaign at Canterbury on Wednesday. “We’re hoping that somewhere in the spring she might be able to run in a black type fillies race but one day at a time,” trainer Ron Quinton told racingnsw.com.au.
“She’s always shown a bit of promise. All her trials have been good and she won at Newcastle, and she ran well there at Scone (Listed Woodland’s Stakes).”
Beer and Carpenter win race named in their honour
The Mitch Beer and George Carpenter Moruya Trainer Of The Year maiden plate at Moruya on Tuesday was won by Beer and Carpenter-trained 3-year-old filly Yamashita (Tiger Of Malay). She became the 12th winner for her second season sire.
Mitch Beer Racing and Heywood Racing paid $40,000 for her from Redbank North’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft. She’s the fourth winner from four to race for Pillow Talk (Foreplay) who won three times, including once in Sydney.
Pierata sires double at Bowen
On Tuesday at Bowen, Pierata sired a double. Kris Thomas-trained 3-year-old gelding Touch Base took his record to two wins from six starts with a 1.1 length victory. He was a $6000 purchase by his trainer from the Capricornia Yearling Sale.
Tom Button-trained 4-year-old gelding Bang Stick took his record to five wins from 14 starts with earnings over $116,000. His trainer paid $10,000 for him from Amarina Farm’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft.
TripAdvisor’s anti-horse racing policy
Anyone researching historic racing venues such as Saratoga and Keeneland on Tripadvisor in recent weeks has been met with a stark message from the popular website. The pages for several American racetracks now include the following disclaimer: “This business does not currently meet Tripadvisor's Animal Welfare Policy.”
Dig a little deeper and you will find Tripadvisor's corporate policy regarding activities that involve animals. It reads: “Tripadvisor will not allow ticket sales via its platform for, and will not generate booking revenue from, specific experiences where domesticated animals are put at heightened risk of injury or death for the sake of sport or entertainment. This means Tripadvisor does not enable booking for experiences that involve animal racing, such as most dog, horse, and camel racing, or for rodeo-style events, where the format of the activity typically creates these risks. Experiences with domesticated animals, such as working or riding animals, animal exhibitions, petting zoos and farms, community fairs or festivals, and cultural events, can still be booked on Tripadvisor when they follow responsible animal welfare practices guided by the Five Domains of Animal Welfare.”
In 2016, Tripadvisor introduced the policy to stop ticket sales and bookings for attractions where tourists come into direct contact with captive wild or endangered animals.
Tripadvisor is now no longer making its website available to anyone attempting to purchase tickets to horse racing events, a policy that apparently went into place earlier this month. The TDN reached out to Tripadvisor's media relations department Monday asking for a comment and for clarification. As of the deadline for this story, Tripadvisor had not responded to the email sent by the TDN.
New Zealand to keep three key Group 1 races
The Asian Pattern Committee (APC) confirmed the Group 1 status of three major New Zealand races: the New Zealand Oaks, New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes and Telegraph Handicap. “We demonstrated why each race, on its individual merits, continues to warrant Group One status,” New Zealand’s representative on the APC and NZTR Senior Handicapper, Bruce Sherwin said.
“The Committee considered those submissions carefully and supported our position. This is an excellent result for New Zealand racing and breeding.”
New Zealand juvenile trials on Tuesday
On Tuesday’s trials at Ellerslie, Stephen Marsh-trained 2-year-old filly Princess Grazi (Capitalist) won the first heat over 800 metres. The second heat went the way of Lauren Brennan-trained 2-year-old colt Glory Of Spring (NZ) (Sword Of State).
At Foxton, the first heat over 600 metres was a deadheat between Johnno Benner-trained stable mates 2-year-old filly Peri Peri (NZ) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) and 2-year-old colt Hitman (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}). The second heat, over 850 metres, was won by Lisa Latta-trained 2-year-old colt Hezanicon (NZ) (Hanseatic).
Keeneland respond to Repole’s transparency claims
The Keeneland Sales team has responded to Mike Repole's charges of a lack of transparency regarding his purchase of an Uncle Mo yearling, hip 5, at the 2025 Keeneland September Sale.
Mike Repole | Image courtesy Keeneland
“Keeneland's published summary results reflect what occurs in the sales ring, including the hammer price recorded at the conclusion of bidding,” read a statement from Keeneland. “This is consistent with standard auction practices worldwide.”
Repole had questioned why he had been offered the yearling as a private sale later in the day, but the sales sheet still reflects the original price hammered in the ring.
“Forty-eight hours ago, I disclosed that a horse I bought last year for $500,000 had first been signed for by an agent at $900,000, then somehow came back to me. That post sent shockwaves through the industry because this isn't just about one horse or one transaction. It raises serious questions about cheating, corruption and the integrity of the entire sales process. I have demanded answers from Keeneland's senior leadership ”
Record betting for Woodbine’s biggest day
Hosting four Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races on the same day for the first time proved to be a lucrative draw not just for racing connections, but also for the betting public as Woodbine's Turf Champions Day generated a record handle of over US$14 million (AU$19.65 million) over the course of the 12-race card, the track announced Monday morning.
The event returned to the E.P. Taylor Turf Course for the first time since the course underwent extensive renovations, and generated an event record all-source total handle of US$14,013,429 (AU$19.65 million). The total figure includes the Woodbine Stakes Pick-3, which is identified as a separate card in tote systems. The prior mark was set in 2021 when handle hit US$13.8 million (AU$19.37 million).
“Turf Champions Day continues to demonstrate the strength and appeal of Woodbine's turf racing,” said Michael Copeland, CEO of Woodbine. “Setting an event record handle is a significant achievement, and it reflects the quality of competition, the support of all the owners, trainers and participants, and the enthusiasm of our fans and wagering customers.”
