Contingency plans in place for sodden Flemington
Flemington racecourse had 55 mm of rain on Friday prompting the Victoria Racing Club and Racing Victoria to put contingency plans in place for the G1 Turnbull Stakes meeting on Saturday. “We're full steam ahead, but obviously we have contingency,” VRC head of racing Leigh Jordon told racenet.com.au.
“Like for any big sporting event, we need to have a contingency plan. Our aim is to go full steam ahead, it's Heavy 9 (now) and (track manager) Liam (O'Keeffe) said we could race today, so our plan is to race (Saturday). It's a Heavy 9 and safe for racing, our plan is to go full steam ahead because as we know, Flemington (the track) handles the water really well.
“From a club perspective we want to race tomorrow but obviously we're dictated to by what happens today and tomorrow.”
Share in Ninja headlines Inglis Digital Sale
A 1% share in The Everest contender Ninja (Farnan) headlines the latest Inglis Digital Sale. “In winning the G2 Missile Stakes at WFA on his seasonal debut, Ninja recorded a WFA Performance Rating of 104, a rating that would have been good enough to see him figure in the top three of the past four editions of The Everest,” the Inglis press release said.
Ninja | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Other exciting entries include G3 winner Oh Diamond Lil (So You Think {NZ}), a 5% share in Cherry Bomshell (Lucky Vega {Ire}) and a 1.25% share in Queensland’s proven sire Better Than Ready. In total the October (Early) Online Sale has 263 lots – 134 racehorses (72 race fillies), 74 racehorse shares, 36 broodmares, 12 yearlings, 6 unraced stock.
Listed Hannan’s Handicap won by Hoba West
On Thursday night, the Kalgoorlie carnival kicked off with the Listed Hannan’s Handicap won by Summer Dickson-trained Hoba West (Epaulette). “I used to come here (Kalgoorlie) with my sister, and she’s not here anymore,” an emotional Dickson said.
“I had a lot of confidence in this horse and really believed he was the best horse in the race.”
The 7-year-old gelding took his record to six wins from 25 starts and earnings over $350,000. He becomes the 25th stakes winner for his sire, and is a homebred for Cape Fall Thoroughbreds. Hoba West is one of four winners for unraced Hoba (Northern Meteor).
Staying test for Aethelwulf in Metrop
Matthew Smith-trained Aethelwulf (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) will get to test his stamina and class in Saturday’s G2 Metropolitan Handicap over 2400 metres. “It’s a big job ahead of him, I want to see him win but most horses get to a level and get beaten,” Smith told racingnsw.com.au.
“I don’t know if we’ve found that level yet but he’s taking on some pretty nice horses. I can’t fault him, he’s really well. He hasn’t raced that often, his races have been spaced and that’s why he handling it so well.”
Collett likes Nonu’s mental strength
Jockey Jason Collett likes the mental tenacity of G3 Breeders’ Plate debutant 2-year-old colt Nonu (NZ) (Anamoe). “You want them to handle the occasion well, that’s a good starting point and he did that,” Collett told racingnsw.com.au.
“It’s everything from the journey there to how they are in the birdcage, you obviously want them to trial good as well. He’s up in behind so he still has more growing to do, so for him to be here and producing it says there’s raw ability there.”
Jason Collett | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Victoria announces $80 million investment promise
Victorian Racing Minister Anthony Carbines has announced an election commitment to increase the Victorian Racing Industry Fund (VRIF) from $72 million to $80 million over four years if the Labor government is returned.
“If we’re re-elected, our Labor government’s going to make sure it’s not just a VRIF fund that supports communities and racing, it’s going to be up to $80 million,” Carbines told racing.com.
“An increase in VRIF means an increase in club contributions, virtually doubles the contributions to upgrade community infrastructure, upgrade our tracks, the customer experience.
Racing NSW announce programming working group
Racing NSW have formed a programming working group with representatives from the NSWTA, ATC and Provincial Clubs who will have their first meeting on October 9.
“Total Turnover (and therefore revenue) on races is negatively impacted where field sizes are less than 12 and significantly impacted when less than 8,” Dr Saranne Cooke, Chairman Racing NSW said in a press release.
“It is therefore critical that all possible measures are being deployed to align programming to ensure we maximise our field sizes to generate maximum wagering turnover. The Working Group will consider a range of potential initiatives to trial following the Everest Carnival.”
Notified to put Oaks on agenda
Archie Alexander-trained filly Notified (Maurice {Jpn}) has the G1 VRC Oaks on the agenda if she shows up in Saturday’s Listed Super Impose Stakes. “She could be an Oaks filly – she’s done nothing wrong so far and will continue to improve over further,” Alexander told racing.com.
“She’s run well at Flemington before (in the Byerley); she got back and it was only her third ever start and she’s had a run since. The further we go the better with her…we just need to see a little bit more from her if we’re going to go to those better races.”
Notified as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Kendrick Racing announce partnership
Trainer Stuart Kendrick has added son Bayley to a training partnership and they have four runners going to Eagle Farm on Saturday. “It's definitely been a goal for a long time pretty much since I started working for him,” Bayley told racingqueensland.com.au.
“It was always kind of a part of the goal to build up the knowledge and learn a lot from him to eventually go into partnership. Hopefully I can take over when he eventually steps away from it, but now it's very exciting. Dad isn’t looking to finish up anytime soon, but with me being in partnership now, he can have some time away and take it a little easier.
“He has taught me a lot of patience about horses and people at the same time. Patience is one of his big ones and trusting his gut. He has always been a trainer who has looked at his horse and gone with his instinct.”
Royal Accord wins juvenile trial at Randwick
On Friday, Michael, John and Wayne Hawkes-trained 2-year-old colt Royal Accord (Home Affairs) won the only juvenile event at the Randwick trials. Michael Freedman-trained 2-year-old colt Macho (Ole Kirk) lead most of the way only to be swamped by Royal Accord at the end with just over three-quarters of a length separating them on the line. The winner’s stablemate 2-year-old colt Torshavin (Maurice {Jpn}) was third.
Racing Mates wins leadership award
Racing NSW’s program Racing Mates has won the Leadership in Workplace Psychosocial Safety Award at the 2026 WayAhead Mental Health Matters Awards. “We are incredibly proud of how far Racing Mates has come over the last ten years,” Racing NSW General Manager of Participant Welfare and program leader, Phillip O'Brien told racingnsw.com.au.
“This achievement would not be possible without the incredible support of race clubs right across New South Wales. By generously hosting our events and wholeheartedly embracing the program, these clubs provide the vital local connection needed to reach our participants.
“This award belongs to them, to our dedicated network of counsellors and ambassadors, and to every participant who has shown that no matter how isolated your track is, you are never riding this track alone.”
NSW Country racing awards announced
Friday saw the NSW Country Racing Awards celebrated at the annual Country Racing conference in the Racing NSW offices in Sydney. The 2025/26 award winners are:
Simon Nivison Special Achievement Award – Colin Hodges OAM
Country TAB Race Club of the Year (Cat A) – Murrumbidgee Turf Club
Country TAB Race Club of the Year (Cat B & C) – Gundagai-Adelong Race Club
Outstanding Achievement Award (Community & Picnics) – Deepwater Jockey Club
Country Trainer of the Year – Matthew Dunn
Country Jockey of the Year – Pierre Boudvillain
Country Apprentice Jockey of the Year – Jacob Stiff
Country Approved Rider of the Year – Leandro Ribeiro
Double for Stratum Star at Dubbo
Group 1 winning sire Stratum Star might have been exported to China in mid-2025 but on Friday, he sired a double at Dubbo with Rod Northam-trained Questionable who made it two wins in three starts and three career wins in total. Brett Robb-trained Nimble Star took his record to four victories, three of them at Dubbo.
New winner for Portland Sky
Second season sire Portland Sky added winner number 10 when David Vandyke-trained 3-year-old gelding Groening won at Rockhampton on Friday. He was having his third start and is raced by Irwin Racing and partners.
Passed in as a yearling, Groening is the third winner for Chic And Happy (Starcraft {NZ}), a winning half-sister to stakes placed Pearl Congenial (Gio Ponti {USA}).
Standout’s first winner does it again
Second season sire Standout has only 19 foals in his first crop, and his first winner 3-year-old filly Star Of Lily hit the winner’s circle for the second time on Friday. Trained by Nick Olive, who bought her for $26,000 from Corumbene Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft, Star Of Lily is out of winning mare Lilith (Hinchinbrook).
Postponed G1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic won by Minaret Station
OXO Equine LLC homebred Minaret Station (Instilled Regard), so often part of the conversation this year but not seen in the winner's circle since the American Derby at Churchill more than 15 months ago, outkicked a host of top-level competitors to win Thursday's GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes at Belmont Park. The 1 1/2-mile contest was run over firm turf despite the nor'easter that postponed this race and the rest of Belmont's cards last Saturday and Sunday.
The second-ever graded winner for trainer Will Walden when he captured Keeneland's GII Castle & Key Bourbon Stakes as a 2-year-old in 2024, Minaret Station's win marked the third career Grade I score for Walden following Rhetorical (Not This Time)'s victories in the 2025 GI Coolmore Turf Mile and this year's GI Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic.
“This horse (Minaret Station) has been incredible from the start, just ultra-consistent whenever we put him out there,” said Walden. “He's just been the epitome of consistency in the afternoon and in the morning and just couldn't be prouder of him.”
Instilled Regard is the sire of three small crops to race and five black-type performers from just 56 career starters. Minaret Station is his sole stakes winner to date and his first Grade I winner. A son of Arch, Instilled Regard stands at Taylor Made.
Possible international targets for Colourful King
Trainer David Eustace will contemplate international targets for Thursday’s G3 National Day Cup victor Colourful King (Blue Point {Ire}). “He did it well – the race worked out well. He jumped clean, which is something he’s getting better at, and he travelled very nicely,” Eustace told scmp.com.
“He hasn’t got a lot of options so he needs to be right when you have these races down the straight. It’s nice to see him execute well – he got in a bit of a battle and showed a bit of tenacity too.
“He’ll probably run in the Group 2 over 1200m [Premier Bowl on October 25] in three weeks – we’ll give him the chance to do that. Then, there’s the Group 3 down the straight in January [Bauhinia Sprint Trophy]. We’ll certainly consider [international targets]. I’ll have a chat with Zac (Purton) – they’re a long way away, but when you travel a horse, you do need to plan a long way out so we won’t over-race him and maybe have him ready for races towards the end of the Hong Kong season.”
Twice a winner in Australia as a 2-year-old when named Blue Renegade, Colourful King now has seven career wins. He becomes stakes winner 34 for Blue Point (Ire) and is the fourth stakes winner for his dam Listed VRC Red Roses Stakes-placed Hard Rider (NZ) (Maroof {USA}). She previously produced Group 3 winner Big Chill (Artie Schiller {USA}) and Listed winners Utah Saints (God’s Own) and Hard Stride (Street Sense {USA}).
Ghaiyyath colt tops last day of record-breaking Goffs Orby Sale
The record-breaking Book 2 session of the Goffs Orby Sale was brought to a roaring close on Thursday when a homebred Ghaiyyath colt from Gerrardstown House Stud was knocked down to American-based agent Deuce Greathouse at €195,000 (AU$316,000).
All told, there were nine horses sold in the Book 2 session for €100,000 (AU$162,000) or more, with the sale headed by the €210,000 (AU$340,000) Cotai Glory filly that sold here on Wednesday.
Every single metric rose pretty substantially. Turnover rested at €9,808,000 (AU$15.9 million), which is up 14% on last year's figure. The €28,429 (AU$46,000) average was also up by 13% and the €22,000 (AU$35,600) median climbed 10%. What has perhaps been missing at some of the other yearling sales in Britain in recent times has been a solid base. But not here. The clearance rate was up by 1% to 87%. So, in short, the appetite for horses was sustained right through from Book 1 to Book 2.
Goffs chief Henry Beeby commented, “Orby 2 always has a hard act to follow, coming immediately after the market leading Orby Book 1 and never more so than this year when Monday and Tuesday set records for turnover, average and median at a sale of depth, strength and vibrancy.
“But Orby 2 has only continued the positivity with its own new highs for average and median that came from two days that enjoyed a terrific buzz and atmosphere right to the end headed by a record number of six figure transactions. We have always maintained that this is a sale that outperforms expectations and, as with Orby 1, Irish breeders stepped up with their yearlings sending us a superb selection of smart, commercial yearlings.”
Simon Cox shares BHA vision
New British Horseracing Authority (BHA) chair Simon Cox has expressed his view that racing should be “focusing our efforts on growth, not just managing decline” in a statement issued on the day that he formally started in the role.
Having been appointed following the short stint of Lord Allen at the helm of British racing, Cox could not have taken over at a more crucial juncture for the sport. “I am a lifelong racing fan and it is an honour and privilege to be today taking the role of chair of the sport's governing body,” said Cox in Thursday's statement.
“British racing is a wonderful sport. Many of the world's best horses, jockeys, trainers, staff, courses, festivals and races are all here. British bloodstock is globally renowned, and we are fortunate to be home to some of the most successful and committed owners and breeders.
“Having seen six consecutive quarters of attendance growth it is clear that racing retains its popularity and its well-established place in the British public's collective conscience.”
He continued, “My long-term priority is growth for British racing. This needs to feature the right mix of attracting new fans and retaining our existing ones, attracting domestic and international viewing and betting audiences, continuing the rise in racecourse attendances, and incentivising racehorse breeding and ownership and attracting investment into the industry.
“All of this must be underpinned by the highest quality of horse and human welfare and world-class integrity and regulation, so that participants, investors and the public can be confident in our standards. …
“However, my view is simple: British racing should be focusing our efforts on growth, not just managing decline. Our standing in the pantheon of sporting heritage, our contribution to the economy, our importance to communities nationwide and the important part we play in maintaining the role of the horse in British society all demand it.”
Breeders’ Cup winner joins Sceptre Sessions
Last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Balantina has been added to the star-studded cast for the Tattersalls December Mares Sale, which takes place from Monday, November 30 to Thursday, December 3. The daughter of Ten Sovereigns will be offered as part of the fifth edition of the Sceptre Sessions.
Trained by Donnacha O'Brien, Balantina's productive 2-year-old campaign also yielded a third-place finish in the G3 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot and a runner-up effort in the G3 Prix Six Perfections at Deauville, prior to her Breeders' Cup victory at Del Mar. She was last seen finishing third behind the multiple Group 1 winners Blue Bolt and Precise in July's G1 Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket.
“Balantina capped off an outstanding 2-year-old season with a dominant victory in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf,” said Mark Taylor of Taylor Made Sales, who will consign the filly on behalf of her ownership group.
Kathynmarissa gets Breeders’ Cup entry in Flower Bowl
Freshened off the heels of her last afternoon appearance–a win in the July 18 GI Dunkin' Diana Stakes at Saratoga–Michael Dubb and Michael J. Caruso's Kathynmarissa (American Pharoah) captured Thursday's GII Flower Bowl Stakes at Belmont Park. The 1 1/4-mile contest is a 'Win and You're In' for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
“She's just been a model of consistency,” said trainer Chad Brown. “So much heart. Pace was against her today a bit, and the runner-up had the jump on her, and this filly didn't have to get there, but I just think the last 70 yards was just heart for this horse. And that's what I see in the morning, she has a lot of heart. She is a very solid horse that just wants to do right, she wants to win, she wants to just leave it all out on the racetrack. So, I'm very proud of her.”
Keeneland introduces broodmare age limits
Beginning with its 2027 January Horses of All Ages Sale, Keeneland will institute several updates to its Conditions of Sale, establishing new requirements related to the age of broodmares offered through the auction house, the upset price for all Keeneland sales to US$2500 (AU$3600) and the introduction of an additional eligibility requirement for pregnant mares entered in the January Sale.
“Beginning in 2027, mares older than 18 years of age will not be eligible to sell at Keeneland, except as part of a complete dispersal. Mares that are 18 years old must be in foal at the time of sale to be eligible.”
Juddmonte sponsors community outreach job
Racing Welfare, the horse racing industry's human welfare charity, announced on Thursday that Juddmonte has pledged to fund the charity's Community Engagement Officer (Thoroughbred Stud and Breeding Sector) role for the next three years.
The dedicated Community Engagement Officer role was created in 2023 to raise awareness of the support available via Racing Welfare to those working in the breeding community, with the sector making up only 5.7% of the people supported by the charity in 2022.
Keith Haggins has been in the position since July 2024 and brings nearly 30 years of experience working within the Thoroughbred breeding industry.
On behalf of Juddmonte, Chief Operating Officer Mike Saunders said, “Juddmonte is delighted to support Racing Welfare's Community Engagement Officer role for the Thoroughbred Stud and Breeding Sector and to help build on the excellent foundations established by the Gerald Leigh Charitable Trust. It is a fitting continuation, given Juddmonte's connection with the late Mr Gerald Leigh, whose Cayton Park Stud became the first Juddmonte property when it was acquired in 1980.
“With breeding at the heart of Juddmonte, we recognise the vital contribution of stud staff and the challenges they can face. Keith's work has already made a significant difference in increasing awareness of the support available through Racing Welfare, and we are pleased to help ensure that this important work continues to grow and reach even more people across the breeding community in the years ahead.”
