The Euphrates shortens for Metrop after G2 Kingston Town Stakes victory
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained The Euphrates (GB) (Frankel {GB}) came to Australia as a Listed winner over 2600 metres and was fourth in the G1 Irish St Leger. They bought him at the 2024 Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training for 250,000 gns (AU$493,000), but then he wasn’t sighted for almost two years.
Fourth in the G2 Chelmsford Stakes two weeks ago at his Australian debut, The Euphrates led for jockey Tim Clark and stuck on well to win by just over three-quarters of a length from Ciaron Maher-trained Juja Kibo (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) with Chris Waller-trained Soul Of Spain (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}) in third.
“His run over the mile returning was great and he's been able to go out and really back that up under more suitable conditions today. We are mindful though that he hadn't raced for two years so we'd like to think there's more improvement still to come,” Bott said.
“He's got that tactical speed and cruising speed and to be able to sustain it which is going to open up a lot of doors for him moving forward. The Metropolitan has always been the plan but we are thinking even further ahead with him.
“Big picture has always been the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup with him. He's got two-mile form in Europe so he can certainly stay the trip at a high level which he showed here today.”
General Salute set for Alan Brown
Winning Saturday’s G3 Bill Ritchie Handicap has earned Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained General Salute (Russian Revolution) a ballot exemption for the G1 Epsom Handicap, but he will likely head to the $1.5 million Alan Brown Stakes instead. “He hasn't had the preparation now (for an Epsom), We missed a run the other week in the Tramway. He spiked a bit of a temperature a month ago, so he'll probably go to the Alan Brown now,” Alexiou said.
Winner of the Listed Winter Stakes back in July, General Salute took his record to five wins from 20 starts and $1 million. Matcha Latte (Maurice {Jpn}) was second and Headley Grange (Exosphere) third.
General Salute is a half-brother to Group 2 winner Brutality (Shamus Award), and their dam is stakes placed Star Salute (General Nediym).
Consistent Point Barrow adds third Group 3
Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained 4-year-old mare Point Barrow (Blue Point {Ire}) has now won three Group 3 races with her one-third of a length victory in the G3 How Now Stakes at Caulfield. “She's a proper mare, she's got her day in the sun at some stage at the top level. We've had a couple of cracks, we'll have another go, probably on the last day, that sprint (at Flemington) that's been the plan the whole way through,” Sam Freedman said.
“She could be a player there on fresh legs while everyone else chases Everests.” Her stablemate Inkaruna (I Am Invincible) was third, with the pair split by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained Bridal Waltz (Snitzel).
Point Barrow took her record to six wins from 11 starts with earnings over $670,000. She was a $400,000 purchase by her trainer from Yarraman Park Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft. Her dam, Group 3 winner Take Pride (Reward For Effort), has two winners from as many to race.
Maher quinellas the G3 Naturalism Stakes
Ciaron Maher has two guaranteed runners in the G1 Caulfield Cup after he trained the quinella of Saturday’s G3 Naturalism Stakes with Zahrann (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) and Saint George (GB) (Roaring Lion {USA}). “It’s what you get out of bed for in the morning,” jockey Ethan Brown said about Zahrann.
“I would like to thank the owners for keeping me on. Ozzie (Kheir) rang me before he got here (from the UK) and said he had a good one and said I had to get on to Ciaron to have to ride it. He was primed today. He had a lovely run in transit. I had to trust the horse as I knew he had the turn of foot and he proved that today.”
Winner of the G3 Royal Whip at the Curragh as a 3-year-old, Zahraan has had four starts in Australia and this was his first victory on local soil.
Melbourne Racing Club’s shifting track issue
The Melbourne Racing Club will launch an investigation after a section of the track was unusable on Saturday. The rail was moved further out to avoid the section and the meeting was able to go ahead. “During a routine track inspection on Saturday morning an issue was identified with a number of the standard track repair plugs near the inside rail, some of which appeared uneven or loose,” the club’s statement said.
“The use of these plugs is standard maintenance practice undertaken regularly at racecourses, with safety of the horse and riders paramount, the decision was made to move the rail out as a precautionary measure.” The first race started ten minutes later than planned.
Ka Ying Rising gallops his way to Sydney
Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) turned in a flawless gallop at Sha Tin on Friday morning. The Everest hero is aiming to defend his title in the A$20-million race on October 17. The world's highest-rated horse sped 1200 metres in 1:21.07 and completed his final 400 metres in :22.60. Trainer David Hayes was present for the work.
The gelding has won his last 21 trips to the post and lowered his own Sha Tin track record when covering 1200 metres of the G3 HKSAR Chief Executive Cup Handicap in 1:06.11 on September 6. He will leave for Sydney on Sunday night.
“He galloped and he ran on well down the straight and he did it nicely, he did it all well – and his recovery was very good,” Hayes said. “He's eating his food. He's ready to go after his last piece of work.”
After a two-week quarantine, Ka Ying Rising will trial at Randwick on Tuesday, October 6. He will be accompanied to Australia by his retired stablemate Ka Ying Glory (Turn Me Loose).
Knock Off wins G3 Metric Mile
New Zealand’s G3 Metric Mile was run at Trentham on a Heavy 9 and it was Gerard Cvitanovich-trained 7-year-old gelding Knock Off (NZ) (Fabulous {NZ}) who thrived in the mud to record his first stakes win. The last start winner took his record to six wins and is a homebred for the Cvitanovich family.
“We didn’t know how he would handle the track, but he deserved it (the victory),” Cvitanovich said. “Once the tracks began to suit him, he has come right. He is an enjoyable horse to have and is a joy to work with. It’s great to have everyone (the family) in him and this is just great.”
Knock Off is the second foal of three-time winner Princess Nicole (NZ) (Rusty Spur {USA}) who wasn’t served again until 2022, producing a now 3-year-old full sister to Knock Off.
He is the first stakes winner for the unraced Fabulous (NZ), a son of High Chaparral (Ire) who broke his shoulder as a 2-year-old. “I would not allow the veterinary surgeons to euthanise him so I kept him in a box for the year and the shoulder mended. It was a great reflection of the horse’s temperament that he was able to put up with that and be confined for that length of time,” stud master Peter McKenzie said in 2019.
Unbeaten Ole Kirk colt on target for Guineas
Te Akau Racing’s unbeaten 3-year-old colt System Of Play (Ole Kirk) will head to the G1 NZ 2000 Guineas after taking his record to two from two at Ellerslie on Saturday. “He is a very exciting colt on the way up. He has a lovely temperament, and everything has gone to plan, except the weather, this time around,” assistant trainer Reece Trumper told Loveracing.nz.
“We’ve been in discussions with Michael (McNab) right through and he thought 1400m first-up would be no problems. That’s why he is the 2000 Guineas favourite as he is some horse. We will see how he pulls up before we make any decisions and he will enjoy a week out of the stable on the water treadmill.”
Baramul Stud sold him at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale for $180,000 to Ohukia Lodge who put him through the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale where he made NZ$480,000 to the bid of David Ellis. He is the second foal and second winner for Statuesquely (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}), a Sydney winner who placed in the G3 Belle Of The Turf Stakes.
Geegees Mistruth wins second Tasmania Horse Of The Year
Tasmanian-owned and bred Geegees Mistruth (Wordsmith) has won the Tasmanian Horse of the Year title for the second year in succession. The Tasmanian Thoroughbred Racing Awards were held at Wrest Point Casino on Friday night. “These awards are about recognising and celebrating the horses, trainers, jockeys, breeders and owners who make our industry strong,” Tasracing CEO Andrew Jenkins said.
“They provide the opportunity to pause and celebrate all of our successes and reflect on the dedication and passion of everyone involved in Tasmanian thoroughbred racing.” Aristopolos (St Mark’s Basilica {Fr}) won Tasmania 2-Year-Old Of The Year and Sanniya (Stratosphere) won Tasmania 3-Year-Old Of The Year.
Maurice sires city double at Caulfield
Arrowfield sire Maurice (Jpn) celebrated a double on Saturday at Caulfield and both were part of a treble for trainer Ciaron Maher. Icelady won the G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude and was covered in the 3-Year-Old feature story.
Emperor Tzu took his record to four wins with his last three in succession when victorious in the first on the card. Maher also won the G3 Naturalism Stakes.
New winner for Home Affairs
Leading second season sire Home Affairs added winner number 25 when Michael Freedman-trained 3-year-old gelding Gridlock won his maiden at Newcastle on Saturday. Bought by his trainer and Tony Fung Colts for $350,000, Gridlock was sold by Segenhoe Stud at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Gridlock is a half-brother to stakes placed Fermoy (Zoustar) out of Fundamentalist (Not A Single Doubt) who was a Listed winner who was five-times Group 1 placed including second to The Autumn Sun in the G1 Randwick Guineas.
Wild Ruler adds new winner
Second season sire Wild Ruler added winner number 20 when Kelly Schweida-trained 3-year-old filly Metric won at Eagle Farm on Saturday. She is the first foal of stakes placed Montelena (Rubick) who is a half-sister to Listed winner Ron’s Call (Magic Albert).
At the same meeting, well bred mare Esha (Extreme Choice) took her record to four wins. She is a daughter of Group 1 winner I Am A Star (I Am Invincible).
Brutal filly wins on debut
Gary Colvin-trained 3-year-old filly Artie’s Gal (Brutal {NZ}) won on debut at Wagga Wagga on Saturday. Newgate Farm sold her for $9000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale to her trainer and she’s the fourth winner from four to race for Artie Fartie (Artie Schiller {USA}).
Royal Meeting gelding wins on debut
At Echuca on Saturday, Ashleigh Smith-trained 3-year-old gelding Tallingas Chief (Royal Meeting {Ire}) won on debut. He is the second winner for Sunday School (Keep The Faith) who is a winning half-sister to Listed winner Valliano (Equiano {Fr}).
Forever Young adds another global Grade 1
Lyrics from Rod Stewart's 1988 song “Forever Young” went, “May sunshine and happiness, Surround you when you're far from home.” The rocker's sentiment has certainly followed Japanese globetrotting superstar Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), who arrived at the newly renovated Belmont Park looking to earn a visit to yet another winner's circle.
In Friday's GI Jockey Club Gold Cup–part of the Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' Challenge series–the 5-year-old did just that when he took the feature at 'Big Sandy,' which his connections were using as a prep for next month's GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic title defence at Keeneland.
Never out of the money across 15 races, Forever Young came ashore for the GI Kentucky Derby in 2024 and finished a game third.
The Yoshito Yahagi trainee hit the board in the Breeders' Cup Classic that same year, then won what was the first of two G1 Saudi Cups in 2025 and 2026. Yoshito told turf outlets this past week that the door was open to head to King Abdulaziz Racetrack one more time this coming February.
In between Saudi Cup wins, the world-class runner captured the Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar last November. Forever Young was last seen as the runner-up to Magnitude (Not This Time) in the G1 Dubai World Cup in late March.
“I'd like to say thanks to Belmont Park to support us and we are really glad to have won the Opening Day Jockey Club Gold Cup,” said Forever Young's trainer Yoshito Yahagi.
“That's a special memory, our day. This achievement is great for us. Obviously, at the race side, I'm not satisfied with how he ran today. You know he had a big spell [time off], but we will target the Breeders' Cup next. I think I will never see a horse like this again in my life and in my career.”
Baeza and Further Ado added to Spendthrift roster for 2027
Spendthrift Farm will add Grade I winners Baeza (McKinzie) and Further Ado (Gun Runner) to its stallion roster for the 2027 breeding season, according to a release from the stallion centre late on Friday evening.
A US$1.2 million (AU$1.68 million) Keeneland September yearling, Baeza placed in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes at 3 before winning the same race his sire did, the G1 Pennsylvania Derby. Baeza continued to compete at the highest level as a 4-year-old, which included running third in Friday's GI Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park. By the conclusion of his racing career, he is expected to have made eight top-level starts across two seasons.
“Baeza is a stallion prospect who checks boxes from every direction,” Spendthrift General Manager Ned Toffey said. “He's a beautiful, athletic horse, and that kind of sustained performance at the highest level speaks to his soundness, talent, and tenacity. Then you add an exceptional family that has already produced two Classic winners. He brings a rare combination of proven class, durability and pedigree, and we think he's going to be an extremely compelling option for breeders.”
Further Ado, campaigned by Spendthrift Farm and trained by Brad Cox, emerged as a top-class two-turn runner at 2 after breaking his maiden by 20 lengths at Keeneland, which garnered him 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard,' honours. The colt followed that up with a victory in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs.
At three, Further Ado captured the GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes by 11 lengths and added the GIII Matt Winn Stakes in 1:41.26, the second-fastest running of the race behind only his sire Gun Runner. A potential starter in next month's GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, Further Ado is scheduled to start and serve as the favourite in Saturday's Pennsylvania Derby at Parx.
“When you're looking for a horse capable of carrying forward the influence of a sire like Gun Runner, you want brilliance, athleticism, two-turn speed and a physical to match. Further Ado has shown us all of those things,” said Toffey. “He's an athletic mover with the kind of presence and efficiency you want to see in a stallion prospect. We've believed in this colt from the beginning, and we're incredibly excited to welcome him home to Spendthrift.”
Irish Oaks winner added to Sceptre Sessions
Johanna Walsh (Sea The Stars), the impressive winner of this year's Irish Oaks at the Curragh, is the latest Group 1 performer to join the star-studded cast set to be offered at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale, which takes place from Monday, November 30 to Thursday, December 3.
The Joseph O'Brien-trained filly will go through the ring as part of the fifth edition of the Sceptre Sessions, becoming only the second winner of the Irish Oaks to be offered at the December Mares Sale in the same year as her Classic success in more than 40 years. The first was You Got To Me (Nathaniel), who sold for 4.8 millions gns (AU$9.5 million) when headlining the Sceptre Sessions in 2024.
“Johanna Walsh is an immensely talented filly that Carriganóg Racing have the privilege of training on behalf of her owner Wells Watson,” said O'Brien. “She is a beautiful athlete and has been from the first day she entered our yard and should only improve as a four-year-old. She gifted us our first win in the Irish Oaks and should attract plenty of interest from the world's leading racing and breeding operations.”
Sosie to stand in India for 2027
The four-time Group 1 winner Sosie (Sea The Stars) will embark on a stallion career in India in 2027 after being purchased by Poonawalla Stud Farms in a deal brokered by Ajay Anne of New Approach Bloodstock.
“Mr Zavaray Poonawalla wants to breed a horse that is good enough to run in those races that Sosie won himself, so the aim is quite high,” Anne told TDN Europe on Friday. “That is the reason he's been very consistent in buying not just high-quality stallions but also high-quality mares.
“It's been quite a journey because I've been following this horse since the end of his 4-year-old career. There was fierce competition and, luckily, Mr Poonawalla was very clear in his mind that he wanted to buy him.”
Trained by Andre Fabre, Sosie retires from racing as the winner of seven of his 15 career starts. The Wertheimer et Frere homebred made a successful debut at Chantilly as a two-year-old, before returning the following year to prove himself one of the leading colts of his generation with wins in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris and G2 Prix Niel. He also finished third in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club and fourth in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
“He's a high-profile horse to go to India, a four-time Group 1 winner and a champion older horse in France,” said Anne. “He was favourite for the Arc at one stage and went on to win the Hong Kong Vase quite impressively. He's a beautiful horse, very well balanced and extremely correct. He has a beautiful action on the grass and his progeny should really enjoy the turf we have in India.”
Too Darn Hot sires winner of the first race at new Belmont
As the field of 12 sprang from the gate on a sun-splashed late-summer afternoon, the sold-out crowd of 6,000 let out an enthusiastic cheer. They were here not just for a day at the races, but to witness racing history, the opening day of the new Belmont Park, a project that had been more than three years in the making and cost in excess of $500 million.
Not everyone had the winner of the first race and the majority may have gone home with less gambling money than they came with, but it's doubtful that anyone left disappointed.
“I am blown away,” said NBC political analyst and racing fan Steve Kornacki. “They spared no expense. It's beautiful. The courses look amazing. This place is world class. I hope it brings people out. That is the question. They built the best facility in the country.”
The opening race turned into story in and of itself. The winner was Lisa Joy (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), who is trained by Shug McGaughey, who has been a NYRA stalwart as long as anyone on the circuit. McGaughey even swept the double, winning the second race with Davidson (American Pharoah).
“Belmont is my favourite place,” McGaughey said after the opener. “I've waited three years and to come back and to win the first race here is pretty special.”
Group 3 winner headlines next GoffsGo Sale
The catalogue for the GoffsGo Late September Sale is now online and features 40 lots. Divided between horses-in-training, breeding stock and yearlings, it will be held beginning Wednesday, September 23 at noon to Thursday, September 24 at 2 p.m.
G3 Renaissance Stakes hero Go Athletico (Goken) (lot 13) is the highlight of the horses-in-training, with Whytemontella (Kodiac) (lot 29), a barrier trial heroine at Leopardstown last month, also entered.
Goffs Group chief executive Henry Beeby said, “The GoffsGo Late September Sale presents another diverse catalogue and the platform continues to expand its reach with new sellers and buyers active for every sale. Its current top price of £245,000 is the highest price achieved by any UK or Irish online sale so far in 2026, that's a great achievement and one of which we are proud.”
Cracksman’s Amadeo tops AKTEM Turnover Sale
Topping the AKTEM Turnover and Flat Yearling Sales was Amadeo (Cracksman) (lot 19), who sold for €150,000 (AU$241,000) to Amiable DC Bloodstock and Emmet Mullins. Consigned by Alessandro Botti, the 3-year-old gelding has won twice in six starts and is from the same family as noted runner Moonlight Cloud (Invincible Spirit).
On the yearling side of things, a daughter of Zarak (lot 76) brought €36,000 (AU$58,000) from Georges Mullins. The grey was consigned by Haras de l'Hotellerie and is out of the multiple stakes-placed mare Angelissima (Dark Angel). GI United Nations Stakes hero Adhamo (Intello) is a half-brother to the dam.
