Daily News Wrap

Well Written arrives in Sydney in good order

Trainer Stephen Marsh was thrilled with the way unbeaten dual Group 1 winner Well Written (Written Tycoon) travelled to Sydney ahead of Saturday’s G1 Epsom Handicap. “She left the Cambridge stable about 4pm on Tuesday and flew over and got here just after 10pm,” Marsh told Loveracing.nz on Wednesday.

“She walked off the float here like she had just come from home to the Cambridge synthetic, she’s unbelievable and didn’t have a sweat mark on her. She was born over here and flew to New Zealand as a weanling and flew to Riccarton for the 1000 Guineas, so she’s been on enough planes.”

She is boarding with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott at Randwick. “They have given us a beautiful stable here and she’s just so settled. We took her for a canter this morning, she doesn’t need to do any fast work, she’s very well and is ready for Saturday.”

Overshadow tops Magic Millions Digital Sale

Baramul Stud sold winning 4-year-old mare Overshadow (Exceedance) for $47,500 to top Wednesday’s Magic Millions Digital Sale. She was bought by Harding Stable and is out of Spice Star (Star Witness), a half-sister to G3 BJ McLachlan Stakes-placed Baby Wong (Press Statement).

“We've had a lot of luck buying tried horses online and bringing them up to the beach here in Newcastle,” James Harding said.

The two most popular offerings with 41 bids each were 6-year-old gelding Tuff Tu Mus (All Too Hard) who made $32,500 to Dean Williams Racing and 4-year-old mare Meet Me Halfway (Zousain) with Paul Kingsford Bloodstock paying $20,000 for her.

Tuff Tu Mus has won seven of his 16 starts for former trainers Lindsay Park Racing. “This is the first horse I have bought online myself and getting involved with the platform was very straightforward,” Williams said.

“We'll give him 10 days in the paddock. He's obviously city class so if we can get a win in Melbourne that will be a great result for the new owners.”

Perfumist looking to add to Baker’s big spring

Bjorn Baker-trained Perfumist (NZ) (El Roca) resumed with a win this campaign and heads to Saturday’s G1 Epsom Handicap for the in-form stable. “I think she is back to her best. She has got 50kg and a run under her belt,” Baker told racenet.com.au.

“She will be able to put herself up on speed, she has a flexible racing pattern so can sit off them too. The draw is what it is, I'd have preferred her to draw two or three but we can't change what we've got. History shows wide draws are not the worst thing in big Randwick miles and she's got the speed to offset it with a lightweight.”

Cox Plate or Caulfield Cup decision looms

Last year’s G1 Caulfield Cup and G1 Melbourne Cup winner Half Yours (St Jean {Ire}) will run in Saturday’s G1 Turnbull Stakes. “We're confident he'll run very well,” co-trainer Calvin McEvoy told racenet.com.au.

“We've been pretty open about this being a decision-making race … where he finishes will determine whether he's going to a Cox Plate or a Caulfield Cup. I don't see why he can't run top three on Saturday.”

Grafterburners set for another Sydney raid

Trainer Kelly Schweida will bring Grafterburners (Graff) to Sydney for the G2 Premiere Stakes against the best sprinters in Sydney. “I thought his run in The Shorts was super and he was beaten less than two lengths,” Schweida told racingqueensland.com.au.

“The stewards said he got a bit of a trim up at the 600 metres and his rider (Jason Collett) had to sit up on him in the last 100 metres. He’s that type of horse that keeps building and building in his races, so it was a great run.

“It’s another horrendous field he’s facing in the Premiere Stakes and it looks nasty. But, he’s pulled up well after The Shorts and he’s larger than life.”

The Euphrates heads into Metrop well

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained last start winner The Euphrates (GB) (Frankel {GB}) should get the two miles of the G2 Metropolitan Handicap on Saturday. “It was an impressive win the other day, he ran time, it’s the right style of lead up for the Metropolitan,” Bott told racingnsw.com.au.

“He’ll sustain that pace you saw the other day, he’ll run the same time over a mile as over 2000m as over 2400m and hopefully he’ll sustain the same over two miles.”

Five year off the track partnership announced

Racing NSW and Equestrian Australia have formalised a five-year partnership to assist retired racehorses. “Our commitment to the welfare of Thoroughbreds doesn’t stop when a horse finishes its racing career. It is important that we continue to support horses as they transition into the next stage of their lives and ensure that they all find a suitable new home,” Racing NSW Interim CEO Graeme Hinton said.

“A strong demand for retired racehorses and more people understanding how to successfully retrain and manage them are important parts of that process. By working more closely with Equestrian Australia, we can provide greater support and education to the people taking these horses on.

“That also creates an opportunity to build stronger connections between the racing and equestrian industries and promote the many career pathways that exist across the Thoroughbred industry.”

Rank outside gives Lemarie first Group 1 runner

Trainer Alex Lemarie will have his first Group 1 runner when Parisest Magic (Prague) takes on Saturday’s G1 Flight Stakes. "My father Michel bought her online for $6000. I gave her two runs as a 2-year-old,” Lemarie told racingnsw.com.au.

“She went enormous on debut when third over 1200m at Gosford at $71 in May on a good track, then didn’t relish the heavy ground a few weeks later at Rosehill Gardens. I put her away after that with the Flight Stakes in mind, and hopefully the forecast rain doesn’t eventuate.

“I am fully aware it is going to be tough on Saturday, but I believe she is a black type filly. There is no pressure at all because we are the rank outsider. Hopefully some of the other fillies won’t manage the ‘mile’, and I’m confident my filly will.” She was placed on debut at two behind future Listed winner I Am Dirty (I Am Invincible).

McCall announces retirement

Queensland trainer Natalie McCall has announced her retirement. “The stable is running okay, it's just burnout,” McCall told racenet.com.au.

“It's just a lot of years into the same industry and it just wears you down a bit. At some point, you've got to make a decision to be a cranky person the rest of your life or go and be happy. You don't enjoy a whole lot in life when you're worn down, so you've got to decide whether it's worth it or if you want to do something different.

“I have zero plans to leave the industry, I'd love to stay in it in a different role. For now, I'm just going to have the rest of the year off. I'm going to have Christmas and New Years like a normal person, which I have never done. I'll spend some time with family, have a good break and then consider my options.

“The relationships are great, my staff, clientele and the people you meet along the way are amazing. There's plenty of lifelong friendships and respect. I couldn't have done it without everyone's support, so there's a lot of gratitude.”

Tiny Light wins on debut

Tony Gollan-trained 3-year-old gelding Tiny Light (Earthlight {Ire}) won on debut at Doomben on Wednesday. Twin Hills Stud sold him for $140,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale to his trainer and John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA). He is the first foal of Tiny (Lonhro) who is a winning half-sister to Group 2-placed Micro (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}).

Hanseatic gelding wins on debut

At Balaklava on Wednesday, Richard and Chantelle Jolly-trained 3-year-old gelding Fast Food (Hanseatic) won on debut. John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) bought him for owners Price Bloodstock Management for $70,000 from Crossley Thoroughbreds’ Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale draft.

Fast Food is the second foal and second winner for Ray’s Dream (Squamosa) who is a winning half-sister to Group 3 winner La Rocque (Kuroshio).

Giavellotto aimed at Hong Kong repeat

The G1 Hong Kong Vase is the priority for former winner Giavellotto (Mastercraftsman), after a Breeders' Cup tilt was ruled out by trainer Marco Botti on Tuesday.

A winner of the G2 Hardwicke Stakes over subsequent G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes heroine Kalpana (Study Of Man) at Royal Ascot, the 7-year-old won the Vase in 2024. Second in 2025, he was last seen running fourth in the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden in Germany on September 6.

“It didn't go to plan in Germany, but he has come out of the race well and I think we will stick with our plan to go back to Hong Kong,” said Botti.

“It was always the plan and we'll keep him fresh and although it's a few months away, we'll go straight there. We had the thought of going Breeders' Cup and if he had won in Germany maybe we would have been tempted to go there, but now I think we will speak to the original plan.”

Daryz ready to double up in Arc

Francis-Henri Graffard described Daryz (Sea The Stars) as “the best” he has ever trained as he applied the finishing touches to his bid to go back-to-back in the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp on Sunday.

Just seven horses have tried to complete the double with consecutive Arc wins, but not since Alleged in 1978 has a colt doubled up.

“When he is right and things go his way with a good pace he is probably the best I have had. He is physically a very impressive horse who has a strong powerful back end which can really produce acceleration and the work this morning went well,” said Graffard.

“There was four runners and three horses with a lead horse. Daryz was sitting at the back and he came really nicely under Mickael Barzalona. Mickael was very pleased with him and reported the horse had a normal blow afterwards.

“He is a 10-furlong good-ground horse with a massive turn of foot. The only reason why he won the Arc over soft ground and a mile and a half is because he is a very good horse. I really prefer him on good ground because he can really produce his turn of foot.

“So I'm really happy that the race is being run on good ground.”

Tawny Port to skip Melbourne Cup

GII Belmont Gold Cup Stakes winner Tawny Port (Pioneerof the Nile) will bypass the G1 Melbourne Cup in Australia in November and instead point towards the GI Canadian International Stakes on October 3 at Woodbine.

In a social media post made by Clement Racing Stable, the horse's trainer notes that travel and quarantine restrictions played a role in the decision, saying “After discussions with the connections, we have made the decision that Tawny Port will bypass the Melbourne Cup due to travel and quarantine requirements. His next race will be in the GI Canadian International at Woodbine on 10/3.

"It was an honour to receive a golden ticket to the Melbourne Cup after his win in the GII Belmont Gold Cup, and we hope to have a horse in this prestigious race one day in the future!”

Massive catalogue for Keeneland November Breeding Sale

The Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, which begins just three days after the track hosts the Breeders' Cup for the third time, has attracted a catalogue of 3397 horses. The nine-session auction begins November 3 and continues through November 11.

“In late October and early November, the connection between racing and sales really comes to life here with the Keeneland Championship Sale at Historic Castleton, the Breeders' Cup World Championships, the November Breeding Stock Sale and the Horses of Racing Age Sale,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said.

“There's a real advantage to being both a racetrack and a sales company. The success we have in the sales ring and in racing allows us to continue investing in projects and endeavours that are important to the future of our sport. When you put all of that together, it creates tremendous opportunity for the Thoroughbred industry and, ultimately, for the horse.”

The November Breeding Stock Sale will open with a single-day Book 1 with a select group of 258 broodmares, broodmare prospects, and weanlings. Included in the session are GI Jenny Wiley winner Expensive Queen (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), GI Test Stakes winner Kilwin (Twirling Candy); Sheza Smoke Show (Wilko), the dam of Grade I winner Princess Noor; champion Super Corredora (Gun Runner), GI Gamely Stakes winner Thought Process (Collected); and GI La Brea Stakes winner Usha (Tiz the Law), as well as her dam Animal Appeal (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}).

Sydney Moon joins Arc Sale as wildcard

Recent Listed winner Sydney Moon has been added to the October 3 Arqana Arc Sale as a wildcard. The son of first-season sire Thunder Moon, himself a son of Zoffany, will be offered as lot 38. The gelding claimed the Listed Grand Criterium de Bordeaux on Monday, September 28. Trained by Amy Murphy, he is now rated 97.

His dam is a half-sister to listed winner and the group-placed Munsef (Zafonic). The multiple group winner Sharaniya (Alleged) is also in the family, as is G1 Prix Vermeille heroine Sharaya (Youth).

Vale John Salzman, Snr

John Salzman, Sr., who trained champion Xtra Heat, passed away on Monday. He was 81.

Salzman started his training career in 1978, achieved his first victory in 1979, and retired in 2025 with a record of 828 wins and US$16 million (AU$23 million) in purse earnings.

His best horse was Xtra Heat, whom he purchased as a yearling for US$5000 (AU$7200) and raced in partnership with Kenneth Taylor and Harry Deitchman. The filly won 11 graded stakes races, including the 2001 GI Prioress Stakes and was named that year's champion 3-year-old filly after finishing a close second in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint. She was third in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen the following year.

On the board in 33 of 35 starts, Xtra Heat won 26 races and earned US$2,389,635 (AU$3.4 million). She was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2015.

Salzman's training legacy lives on through his family. His son, John Salzman Jr., is a successful trainer based in Maryland. His daughter-in-law, Megan, won her first race as a trainer on Sept. 13. Megan is the widow of Salzman Sr.'s son, Tim, who passed away earlier this year after a long, brave battle with cancer.

White Turf to celebrate 120 years in 2027

In February 2027, White Turf will celebrate its 120th anniversary on the frozen Lake St Moritz.

A variety of events will commemorate this long-standing tradition, including a historical exhibition and an anniversary celebration featuring a parade and a live art performance. With the theme “120 Years of Fascination – Snow, Dynamism, Courage, Elegance,” White Turf will bring together the past, present, and future on February 7, 14, and 21.

The historic White Turf St Moritz meeting began in 1907. Besides the three race Sundays, there will also be two family days–February 13 and 20.