Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
Sav On Ice fends them all off in the cup
It was the big 5-year-old grey gelding Sav On Ice (Puissance De Lune {Ire}) that was toughest of them all in the 2026 running of the Listed Balaklava Cup in the hands of Kayla Crowther, meaning the grey went back-to-back in the feature race after also winning in 2025.
In five starts since last year's success, he may have been through two other trainers and not finished better than eighth but none of that mattered as he capitalised on a nice handy spot in running and fought strongest when it counted by just over a length for his trainer Garret Lynch.
While Sav On Ice had a nice handy spot in running, the seven-time stakes winner Air Assault (Justify {USA}) and the 2024 winner of this race had a lovely spot in about fifth one off the rail while the race favourite Cicala (Tamasa) settled midfield on the rail.
When the grey hit the front, Air Assault went with him, but in the end Sav On Ice pulled too many punches, with Bamyan Buddha (Rich Enuff) running on for third just ahead of the favourite Cicala who was a tidy fourth after Jamie Melham did a good job eventually getting clear running from a tricky spot.
Winning trainer Garret Lynch explained that he thought Sav On Ice was going well, he just wasn't sure where he lined up and conceded the win was a bit of a surprise.
Sav On Ice winning the Listed Balaklava Cup | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
"We knew he was going really well, we just didn't know exactly where he was at. I'm over the moon," Lynch said.
"He has improved every run for us, this is a bit of a surprise, but a really good one."
"He (Sav On Ice) has improved every run for us, this is a bit of a surprise, but a really good one." - Garret Lynch
Sales Info: Sav On Ice was purchased by his former-trainer Darryl Carrison for $90,000 from Brooklyn Park Stud’s 2023 Magic Millions Tasmania Yearling Sale draft.
Pedigree Info: Sav On Ice is one of five winners from five to race for the unraced Mastercraftsman (Ire) mare Shemakhan (NZ). Shemakhan is a half-sister to the Listed HKJC Ladies' Purse winner Top Act (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), and she is out of an unraced daughter of G1 Chantilly Prix de Diane winner Shemaka (Ire) (Nishapour {Fr}).
Since producing Sav On Ice, Shemakhan has left a 4-year-old mare named Gee Tee (Grunt {NZ}) who has been a winner over 1400 metres, and an unnamed 3-year-old filly by Royal Meeting (Ire) before she died in 2024.
Saffron Veil gets her reward as Group 1 thoughts emerge
The writing was on the wall that a maiden win was near for the smart Chris Waller-trained 3-year-old filly Saffron Veil (Wild Ruler), who came into Wednesday’s maiden on the back of two strong seconds at her only two starts, including a strong second at 3-year-old BM64 level, and so it proved under a clever James McDonald ride.
Caloocan Beauty (USA) (Justify {USA}) may have been reluctant to enter the gates, but she was quick to get out of them, going straight to the lead under Tim Clark. McDonald, meanwhile, parked Saffron Veil into third, one-off the rail, as he kept the Waller stablemate Biarritz (Castelvecchi) three-wide on the pace with no cover.
Video: Watch Saffron Veil's race replay at Canterbury
Off a strong enough tempo, Caloocan Beauty kicked strongly at the 300-metre mark, but Saffron Veil idled up and proved too strong. Momentarily, Affari (Home Affairs) came out of the pack and looked a threat, but second was her lot, just over half a length from the winner. Caloocan Beauty held third, while Lindermann’s (Lonhro) half-brother Iommi (Written By) ran on to finish fourth.
“Third time lucky and she did a good job for Ichi (Yusuke Ichikawa, Bloodstock and PR Manager for Rising Sun Syndications) and the Rising Sun syndicate, they bought a nice one,” said stable representative Charlie Duckworth.
“I think both first and second, they're both well above Wednesday grade. I know obviously Affari now has to go and win her maiden too, but they're both promising horses with plenty of upside left in them.
Saffron Veil winning at Canterbury | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
"She did enter Flight Stakes and Thousand Guineas thoughts when she first stepped out at the races, so you've got to still keep the Thousand Guineas in mind. The Flight will obviously come around too quickly but that's what we're thinking," Duckworth said.
Winning jockey James McDonald believes the filly has plenty of class.
“She’s a quality filly with a bright future and she can adapt to circumstances during a race too,” he said.
“She’s (Saffron Veil) a quality filly with a bright future and she can adapt to circumstances during a race too.” - James McDonald
“She did it well and was always in control. I think she can run a bit further too.”
Sales info: Saffron Veil was purchased for $350,000 by the Rising Sun Syndicate and Healthy Wood Co from The Chase draft at the 2025 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: Saffron Veil is out of the dual winner and Listed-placed Cappadocia (Northern Meteor), who has already left the G1 Randwick Guineas winner Communist (Russian Revolution) among her three winners.
Cappadocia is also a half-sister to the Group 1 winning sprinter Zip Zip Away (Bellotto {USA}) and the Listed winner and Group 1-placed Zipanese (Bellotto {USA}). She is also a half-sister to the dams of the stakes winners Extremely Lucky (Extreme Choice) and Hostwin Saturn (Stratum).
Cappadocia in recent times has produced a 2-year-old gelding by Russian Revolution who the Newgate Consignment will offer as Lot 222 at the upcoming 2026 Inglis Ready2Race Sale, and she is due to foal to Toronado (Ire) this spring.
Inner Gold proves too slick on ‘The Heath’
The Bennett Racing and Ciaron Maher combination is a potent one, and they have unleashed another one with Inner Gold, as the well-bred 3-year-old son of Zoustar was an impressive winner by just under half a length on the Caulfield Heath on Wednesday.
Mark Zahra took the good-looking colt straight to the front over the 1100 metres, and not a lot changed as he controlled the race in efficient style. Just behind him on settling was Our Bee Gee (Maurice {Jpn}) and the Logan Bates-ridden Valaroso (Nicconi).
Off the controlled tempo, Zahra kicked hard and always looked the winner. At the 100-metre mark, Bates snuck up on the rail aboard Valaroso and looked a hope, but it was Inner Gold that was a little strong for Valaroso, while Lomu (I Am Immortal) was a brave run in third, just under three lengths behind the runner-up, as he was caught three-wide near the pace.
Jack Turnbull, National Assistant Trainer for Ciaron Maher Racing was pleased with the win, and explained that he is a really nice horse that has just taken a bit of time this preparation.
"He has always been a nice cut of a horse, he showed us good toe early as a young animal," Turnbull said.
"He (Inner Gold) has always been a nice cut of a horse, he showed us good toe early as a young animal." - Jack Turnbull
"He took a little while to warm-up this preparation, taken a bit longer in his skin and coat and his condition wasn't there.
"But he tries really hard and as a bull that is very important.
Jack Turnbull | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Sales info: Inner Gold was purchased for $600,000 by Bennett Racing Pty Ltd from the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the Widden Stud draft.
Pedigree info: Inner Gold is the fourth foal from the talented She’s So High (I Am Invincible), who was a winner at Group 3 level, and at Listed level twice.
Further back in the family are the talented Group winners and stallions Deep Field and Shooting To Win, as well as other stakes winners Zaniah (Zoustar) and Listen Here (Elusive Quality {USA}).
She’s So High in recent times has produced a 2-year-old filly by Zoustar, a yearling filly by Zousain and is due to foal to Southport Tycoon later this month.
Crescent King back bigger and stronger
The Peter Snowden-trained Crescent King (Written Tycoon) showed good promise as a 2-year-old, running fourth and second at Warwick Farm in the early winter off a couple of nice trial wins, but he showed he has come back bigger and better as a 3-year-old after a break with a narrow but strong victory at Canterbury in the hands of the in-form Zac Lloyd.
There was good pace early as Better By Far (Farnan) maintained his fast start from a wide gate to slot across and lead in the hands of Tim Clark, while Lloyd aboard Crescent King gradually slid up to sit outside the leader, also from a wide gate.
The beautifully-bred Vatican (Wootton Bassett {GB}) was slotted straight into the one-one in the famous Coolmore colours by James McDonald and had a lovely spot to stalk the leaders.
Better By Far kept his run going well into the straight as Crescent King loomed ominously, but it took Lloyd until the 50-metre mark to take control, and he ended up defeating the front-runner by a long neck, with Vatican running into third, albeit a bit greenly.
A real eye-catcher was the Chris Waller-trained Snitzel’s Girl (Snitzel), who ran into fourth, in what was a good effort from back in the field in an on-pace dominated race.
Winning trainer Peter Snowden was impressed, even though the colt is far from the finished article and is still learning.
Crescent King winning at Canterbury | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“He’s still learning and did a few things wrong and wobbled around the corner, but he’s shown quality at home for a long time and is more settled this time than last,” said Peter Snowden.
“At the end of the day he’s a nice horse and I like him. I think he has a future.”
Snowden may now look at races like the Listed Brian Crowley Stakes among the options, but admits it only gets harder now, especially with a colt still learning.
"He's still very raw, but he's got the ability to get there," he said.
"He's (Crescent King) still very raw, but he's got the ability to get there." - Peter Snowden
"I just wanted to see what he did today first. But going to these Listed races now, it's a pretty tall ask. You've got to make sure you've got the right weapon, but I think he might be okay."
Sales info: Crescent King was originally purchased for $200,000 by Wei Jiaoqi from the Yulong draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, before being re-offered by Kenmore Lodge at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses In Training Sale, where Amy Feng purchased him for $300,000.
Peter Snowden | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Pedigree info: Crescent King is out of the juvenile winner True Moonlight (Not A Single Doubt), a blood-sister to the G2 Todman Stakes winner Gunnison (Not A Single Doubt) and the Group 3 and Listed-winner Selenia (Not A Single Doubt).
It’s also a strong extended family with the Group 2-winners Moonovermanhattan (Manhattan Rain) and Colorado Claire (Hussonet {USA}) featuring.
True Moonlight in recent times for her breeders Yulong Investments has left a 2-year-old colt by Lucky Vega (Ire) who is being offered by Yulong as Lot 154 at the upcoming 2026 Inglis Ready2Race Sale, a yearling filly by Pierata and is due to foal to More Than Looks (USA) in late October.
