Cover image courtesy of Racing Photos
With G1 Manikato Stakes day moved from it’s usual Friday night slot at Moonee Valley to Sunday at Caulfield, it was the Ciaron Maher yard who dominated proceedings winning five races on the ten-race card.
“There is nothing better today have a day like this where you’ve got a horse like Jenni who goes along from the front and a horse like Jimmy who is electric, it is a very special day,” Maher said.
“I could not be prouder of the team. We’ve got an amazing team.”
The G1 Manikato Stakes belongs to Jimmysstar
Ciaron Maher-trained Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) hadn’t won since the G1 CF Orr Stakes last spring, but he put that behind him in style on Sunday when he showed his customary acceleration to fly home from near last under jockey Ethan Brown.
Dual Group 1 winner Beiwacht (Bivouac) lead into the straight from last year’s winner Charm Stone (I Am Invincible) with Extragalactic (Deep Field) finding a gap between the pair. Wider out Oliveanotherday (Nicconi) looked threatening but it was Jimmysstar who came flying from the back of the pack to storm down the centre of the track.
He won by three-quarters of a length from Extragalactic and Charm Stone.
“He was going the same with or without them (blinkers). I think it was just the run he likes to have. Browny was very confident that he wanted to ride him like the Oakleigh Plate. Just let the speed (go),” Maher said.
“He jumped terribly and he rode him confidently and went at the right time. When he lets rip, there’s no better horse. I’m just thrilled. He’s such a little ripper of a horse. To have him out of form or not quite at his best is a hard pill to swallow but that was pretty special.”
It was Jimmysstar’s fourth elite level victory and took his record to 12 wins from 30 starts and earnings over $10 million. He will head to the G1 The Everest now.
“The Everest, probably, certainly heading that way on the big track at Randwick. I can’t thank my team enough. God, he was electric then.”
“The Everest, probably, certainly heading that way on the big track at Randwick. I can’t thank my team enough. God, he was electric then.” - Ciaron Maher
Jimmysstar (NZ) | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Sales: Not offered at auction, Jimmysstar was a private purchase by Ozzie Kheir after he won two of his first three starts in New Zealand.
Pedigree: One of two stakes winners for Listed Feilding Gold Cup winner Anniesstar (NZ) (Zed {NZ}), Jimmysstar is a full brother to G3 Manawatu Breeders Stakes winner and G1 Queensland Oaks-placed Charms Star (NZ).
Anniesstar who won five races is a full sister to G3 Awapuni Cup winner Jacksstar (NZ) who won seven times and placed in the G1 Auckland Cup.
Anniesstar died in 2023. Her final foal, 4-year-old gelding In’Kantosstar (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) has won his last three starts in succession for Ciaron Maher.
It’s a three-peat for Pride Of Jenni in the Feehan
Sunday’s G2 John F Feehan Stakes was run at Caulfield in 2026 while Moonee Valley undergoes a restoration, and the change of location made no difference to the wonderful 9-year-old mare Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai).
Just like in the last two times she won this race, in 2024 and 2025, she was set alight by jockey Declan Bates to take a strong lead and dared the rest of the field to run her down. Her impressive lung capacity and toughness was on display as she won by 1.5 lengths.
Yulong’s top mare Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express) was tough in second place for trainer Matt Laurie and it was almost two more lengths back to Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained gelding Pounding (Exceed And Excel) in third.
“She looked comfortable, even more comfortable in the run. She must have felt good underneath him (Bates) because he hadn't gone for her before the turn which normally he would have,” trainer Ciaron Maher said.
“She (Pride Of Jenni) looked comfortable, even more comfortable in the run. She must have felt good underneath him (Bates) because he hadn't gone for her before the turn which normally he would have.” - Ciaron Maher
“No surprise. We were very rapt with her since the winter. Tony and his team manage her well and our team certainly know her very, very well. I can't thank the whole team at Cranbourne (enough). That's where she spends most of her time but she went to Ballarat for a gallop this prep which all the staff were happy about.
“She's just phenomenal. She's such a great mare. To have her back at this age and arguably in as good a form as ever, it is quite remarkable.”
Pride Of Jenni’s third G2 Feehan Stakes win took her record to 14 wins from 49 starts with earnings over $12 million. She has four elite level victories.
“She's just made of different stuff. We know it now. All the signs at home were that she's as good as ever. I really came here full of confidence at how well she was going,” Bates said.
“Once again. Ciaron Maher producing her on the day. It was for me to just sit and steer and enjoy the ride.
“I didn't even go for the whip in the end. I could feel her. She was giving me everything. I felt like I was always winning, but for a horse to race the way she does, time and time again she finds more which most horses simply don't have.”
Ten-time Group 1 winner Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) loomed for a moment but faded out till last.
“He’s our champion so we certainly won’t be putting him in any undue risk,” co-trainer Will Hayes said after the race. "It was another firm track, maybe he needs more cut out. We’ll let the next 24 hours sink in. I am sure it’s (retirement) in the back of everyone’s mind as a nine-year-old, but we’ll just see how he comes out of the race.”
Declan Bates | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Sales: Pride Of Jenni was sold by Segenhoe Stud at the 2019 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale to Cape Schnack Stud for $100,000.
Pedigree: The first foal of four-race winner Sancerre (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) who has been spectacularly unlucky at stud with three dead foals from her first six seasons at stud. Her only other runner is a winner, Awaterre (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}), and she has unraced 4-year-old Pouilly Fume (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) and has a 2-year-old filly by Hello Youmzain (Fr).
Sancerre is a daughter of G1 Queensland Oaks winner Vouvray (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), granddam of Listed winner Champ Elect (Choisir).
Diameter set for Guineas after G2 Bill Stutt Stakes win
Godolphin’s beautifully bred 3-year-old colt Diameter (Brazen Beau) had to show all his fighting characteristics to punch through traffic under jockey James McDonald to get his nose in front when it counted in the G2 Bill Stutt Stakes.
Sitting just in behind the leaders, Diameter had to thread through a gap to chase down the leader Scarole (Ole Kirk) with Somethings Burnin’ (Too Darn Hot {GB}) flying on the outside. Group 1 winner Lara Antipova (Russian Revolution) tried to go with the trio but they pulled way with Diameter diving on the line to win by 0.15 lengths from Somethings Burnin’ with Scarole a third of a length from the winner in third.
“It looked a bit dicey at the top of the straight, to be fair. I had a willing partner to get us through that. But he was lucky. He was superior and he did a really good job,” McDonald said.
“There’s a good race in a couple of weeks here for him and it has group one next to its name so I could definitely see him figuring in that. He’s on the way up. He’s a dude. He’s an absolute gentleman. He bounced well and travelled comfortably. If anything, a little bit quiet but he was there for me when I needed it.”
Already Group 1 placed as a 2-year-old when third in the G1 Champagne Stakes, Diameter will be set for the G1 Caulfield Guineas.
“He’s going great. He showed us in the autumn that he’s up to the better horses,” trainer Chris Waller said.
“He’s (Diameter) going great. He showed us in the autumn that he’s up to the better horses.” - Chris Waller
“He means a bit to us, being a son of Brazen Beau, so it is good to have him for Godolphin.” Waller trained Brazen Beau to win the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes and G1 Newmarket Handicap.
Already a Listed winner at two, Diameter took his record to two wins from nine starts and earnings over $430,000.
Chris Waller | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Sales: A homebred for Godolphin.
Pedigree: Diameter is the fourth winner and third stakes winner out of Circular (Street Cry {Ire}), a five-time winner and Group 3 winner. She is also the dam of G1 Newmarket Handicap winner and sire Cylinder and Group 3 and Listed winner Parisal (Astern).
Circular had a Too Darn Hot (GB) colt this spring. This is the extended family of champion Lonhro and his Group 1-winning full brother Niello.
New stakes winner for The Autumn Sun in G2 Stocks Stakes
Lucy Yeomans-trained consistent mare Changing Colours (The Autumn Sun) was rewarded with her first black type when victorious in the G2 Stocks Stakes. Danny O’Brien-trained Sass Appeal (So You Think {NZ}) rolled along in front on the fence with Blake Shinn taking Changing Colours from a mid-field position to accelerate down the centre of the track.
Changing Colours kept coming and overtook the brave Sass Appeal to win by a length with Dan O’Sullivan-trained Too Darn Discreet (Too Darn Hot {GB}) another 1.25 lengths back in third. Changing Colours has now won four in succession.
“It's incredible. These are the things you dream about and we get out of bed for this horse. She's our one that is keeping the team alive at the moment as we've got all unraced horses. To have her as leading the way is really special,” Yeomans said.
“She's (Changing Colours) our one that is keeping the team alive at the moment as we've got all unraced horses. To have her as leading the way is really special.” -Lucy Yeomans
“Group 2 winning trainer, sounds quite nice doesn't it? Full credit to the team at home. We're a small team but we're all good mates and we work really hard. To win a race like this with Blake aboard. He rode our first winner and now he's ridden our first group winner.
“I can't thank this horse - Chippie - enough. She's so kind. We try and have our horses happy, healthy and this mare had a bit of swag about her today. She's knows she's good at the moment. She came here spot on today. There is not a thing wrong with her.”
A winner of three races for trainer Chris Waller earlier in her career, she was transferred to Yeomans in early 2026. She’s had five starts for her new yard for four wins, and in total has seven wins from 20 starts and over $630,000 in prizemoney.
“She's a Group 2 winner now, which is wild. Could be the Empire Rose and we dreamed of a Toorak. She's also a Magic Millions horse so there are options at the end of the year up in Queensland,” Yeomans said.
Sales: Yes Bloodstock and Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA) paid $400,000 for Changing Colours from Vinery Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft.
Pedigree: Changing Colours becomes the 12th stakes winner for The Autumn Sun and the second stakes winner for Cleanup (Dehere {USA}).
A half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Nettoyer (Sebring) and four other winners, Changing Colours is also a half-sister to juvenile winner and Listed Taj Rossi Series Final Handicap-fourth placed Pedicel (Redoute’s Choice) who is the dam of Listed winner Slipper Island (No Nay Never {USA}).
Cleanup, who won twice at two, is a half-sister to G3 Tibbie Stakes victrix She’s Clean (Redoute’s Choice), the dam of $2.5 million earner and G2 The Ingham winner Robusto (Churchill {Ire}). This is also the family of dual G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen winner Kinshasa No Kiseki (Fuji Kiseki {Jpn}).
G3 Scarborough Stakes to unbeaten Over The Bridge
Essendon stars Zach Merrett and Sam Durham must have been holding their breaths during the G3 Scarborough Stakes at Caulfield. The 3-year-old filly they part own, Over The Bridge (Toronado {Ire}) was in a three-way battle all the way down the straight with Mark Walker-trained I Am Aria (I Am Invincible) and John O'Shea and Tom Charlton-trained Scintillation (I Am Invincible). Jockey Mark Zahra lifted her on the line and she prevailed by 0.2 lengths from I Am Aria with Scintillation less than a length away in third.
“Sam and I were talking about it; we played in some big games, like ANZAC Day, in front of 100,000 fans. That put some butterflies in the tummy, we were pretty nervous before the race. To get the win was very good,” Merrett said.
Over The Bridge is part of Ciaron Maher’s micro-share racing arm Unbridled Racing.
“It’s fantastic. One, to get a win for the boys and two, for Unbridled. Adam (Holland) and the whole team have put a lot of effort into getting the business off the ground. To have a horse like this, she’s put the writing on the wall but that was pretty good today,” Maher said.
“To have a horse like this (Over The Bridge), she’s put the writing on the wall but that was pretty good today.” - Ciaron Maher
“To win a race like that second-up and I knew she was a bit raw. As Zach (Merrett) said, I put the cold water on Monday. I thought she was way unders what she should be, but the market had it right and her future is very bright. She’s got it all ahead of her.”
Now unbeaten in two starts, Maher isn’t planning her next start just yet.
“That was a fair target raising the bar off the maiden. I wouldn't think we could get all the way to the top on her first prep but we'll see. I'm sure she'll rate very well. We'll take our time. She's very bright.”
Sales: Ciaron Maher Bloodstock paid $250,000 for her from Kulani Park’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft.
Pedigree: Over The Bridge becomes the 54th stakes winner for Toronado (Ire) and the 61st stakes winner for Snitzel as a broodmare sire.
The second foal of winning mare Waafiya (Snitzel), whose first foal is Morphettville winner High On The Hill (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Over The Bridge is followed by a 2-year-old colt by Wootton Bassett (GB), a yearling filly by Pierata and is in foal to Home Affairs.
Waafiya is a daughter of G1 Australian Guineas-placed Listed winner You’re So Good (NZ) (Savabeel) whose stakes placed full sister Indrabeel (NZ) is the dam of Listed Lonhro Plate winner Madeira Sunrise (I Am Invincible). This is the family of dual Group 1 winner Melito (Redoute’s Choice).
