Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Race-day Recap
Global Goal (Pinatubo {Ire}) added to her impressive pedigree with victory in the G1 Flight Stakes. She is trained by John Sargent for Pinecliff Racing.
Expensive colt The Next Episode (Snitzel) dug deep to win the G2 Danehill Stakes for trainer Ciaron Maher who had a treble at Flemington. The victory made it three stakes wins for Snitzel.
The G1 Thousand Guineas is the target for the G2 Edward Manifold Stakes winner Saintly Dancer (NZ) (St Mark’s Basilica {Fr}), trained by Ciaron Maher.
Snitzel gained his second stakes winner for the day with Listed Dulcify Stakes winner Wonka for the Chris Waller stable. Wonka heads to the G1 Spring Champion Stakes.
The Listed Super Impose Stakes won by Miss Waititi (NZ) (Circus Maximus {Ire}) for the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr yard. She will be aimed at the G1 Victoria Oaks.
Global Goal too strong in G1 Flight Stakes
Global Goal (Pinatubo {Ire}) produced a powerful late surge to claim the G1 Flight Stakes at Randwick on Saturday, proving too strong for her rivals in the closing stages.
Settled second last by Dylan Gibbons in the seven-horse field, Global Goal was asked to make her run in a tactical affair, with Queen's Gamble (Anders) a surprise leader and Bangkok Hottie (Too Darn Hot {GB}) stalking in second.
Bangkok Hottie looked set to prevail inside the final furlong, but De Armas (Ardrossan) and Global Goal both knuckled down late, with Global Goal showing superior strength to score by a neck while Bangkok Hottie fought on bravely for third, a further half-length away.
Trainer John Sargent said the filly had been timed perfectly for her Group 1 target.
“She is going to the paddock Monday then either the Spring Champion Stakes of the 1000 Guineas. There is not a lot of her and she will be better in the autumn. She deserved it, she was peaking at the right time.”
Global Goal winning the G1 Flight Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Sargent was full of praise for Gibbons' ride.
“Dylan rode her a treat today. It was always going to be tactical but he used his head, got on his ‘bike’ early and she outstayed them.”
“Dylan rode her (Global Goal) a treat today. It was always going to be tactical but he used his head, got on his ‘bike’ early and she outstayed them.” - John Sargent
Gibbons was delighted to see Global Goal find the strength when it mattered most.
“When I saw I drew out today, I thought we’re going to get clear air, and when you give her clear air she’s an absolute demon.”
“So once I set out after them – and to her credit she has chased down some good fillies because that last furlong I thought I was motoring well enough to win but when I wasn’t taking ground off them I got a bit worried. But her last fifty or twenty metres, that’s a horse that wants to win.”
John Sargent and Dylan Gibbons after Global Goal won the G1 Flight Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Sales: Dean Hawthorne purchased Global Goal on behalf of Jonathan Munz for $250,000 at the Easter Yearling Sale, where she was offered by Arrowfield Stud, who bred the filly with GSA Bloodstock.
Pedigree: Global Goal is the third winner from three foals to race from Tides (Fastnet Rock), a metropolitan-winning full sister to triple Group 1 winner Shoals (Fastnet Rock) and stakes-winner Groundswell (Fastnet Rock), from the family of blue hen Shantha's Choice (Canny Lad).
The Next Episode thrills in G2 Danehill Stakes win
Snitzel saved his best for later in the day when he recorded an interstate stakes treble with $2.8 million colt The Next Episode. Resuming in the G2 Danehill Stakes for trainer Ciaron Maher, he was ridden quietly by Mark Zahra. The field was bunched with 400 metres to go with Pocketfullofcash (Rich Enuff) leading them from Natural Fling (Home Affairs) with Mbube (Rubick) making his move.
The Next Episode came from out wide and near last with Natural Fling taking up the lead with Mbube closing but The Next Episode was all class in swamping everyone to win by a third of a length from Natural Fling with Mbube a length back in third.
“He had a couple of trials in Sydney and wasn't quite ready. We brought him down here and he was very slick behind Jimmy (Jimmysstar). And I thought we were right back on track then. I wanted to give him a look down the straight so that wouldn't be an excuse. We had a trial here the other day and I was mindful he blew the clock up 10 days earlier and I wanted to keep him on the bit and have him ready for today,” Maher said.
“Then when the rain came, it's documented that he handles that sort of track, so I wasn't concerned. I'm just so thrilled.
“It was a beautiful ride by Mark. He knew what he had underneath him. He rides those horses so well, when they need a bit of confidence. He rides them so well and it's a credit to him.
“It was a beautiful ride by Mark. He knew what he had underneath him. He rides those horses so well, when they need a bit of confidence.” - Ciaron Maher
Already a Listed winner at two, The Next Episode has now won four of his six starts with three in succession with earnings of almost $1 million. He will likely go to the G3 Blue Sapphire ahead of the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes.
“The plan is to have another run, but we'll just see how he comes through. He's a good colt and four weeks is the plan, so we'll if he has another run.
“Good horses, you obviously want them to go well. He was letting us know he wasn't quite there, but he's thrived and he will still improve. His coat has to come on a bit for a colt. He should present well in four weeks' time.”
The Next Episode winning the G2 Danehill Stakes | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Sales: Ciaron Maher Bloodstock paid $2.8 million for The Next Episode from Widden Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft in 2025.
Pedigree: With a price tag like that, you expect a big pedigree, and The Next Episode is one of 177 stakes winners for Snitzel, who added two new stakes winners on Saturday.
He is the second foal of three-time stakes winner Humma Humma (Denman) whose best win came in the G3 Proud Miss Stakes. She won six in total and placed in a further nine black type races. Her first foal is G3 Blue Diamond Preview (f)-placed Price Tag (Zoustar) and she has a 2-year-old colt by I Am Invincible and a yearling filly by Zoustar. She missed for her 2026 result.
Humma Humma is a half-sister to Listed winner Tycoon Humma (Capitalist) from the family of G1 Victoria Derby winner Manzoice (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}).
Saintly Dancer adds to St Mark’s Basilica’s record
Six lengths. Saintly Dancer (NZ) (St Mark’s Basilica {Fr}) thrived in Flemington’s wet with a Ethan Brown special along the rail over the mile in the G2 Edward Manifold Stakes for 3-year-old fillies to pull away from the chasing field and win by six lengths from Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Joely (Toronado {Ire}) with Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Beautiful You (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}) another three lengths away in third.
She led by a length into the turn and was clicked along by Brown and just bolted away from the rest of the field to win by ‘a country mile’. She will head to the G1 Thousand Guineas next.
“She's a light filly. She is fit and well and I didn't think she'd do that to them but, God, that was impressive,” Maher said.
“She looked really comfortable in the run and Ethan had her in a lovely rhythm. The team have done a great job up at Ballarat. She doesn't carry a lot of weight but she seems to do better up there.
“She's (Saintly Dancer) a light filly. She is fit and well and I didn't think she'd do that to them but, God, that was impressive.” - Ciaron Maher
“First Light, they've got another really nice chance heading to the (Thousand) Guineas. I was in two minds whether to go there but if there is a bit of juice in the track, you'd seriously have to consider it on the back of that.”
She becomes the seventh global stakes winner for second season sire St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) and his second in the Southern Hemisphere after last season’s exciting Tasmanian colt Aristopolos. His mare Diamond Necklace (Ire) runs in Sunday’s G1 Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe.
Ciaron Maher | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Sales: Wentwood Grange sold Saintly Dancer to First Light Racing and Ciaron Maher Bloodstock for $100,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Pedigree: One of two winners, from three to race, for So You Think (NZ) mare Thinkyoucandance who was a winner over 1300 metres, Saintly Dancer is a half-sister to a 2-year-old filly by Sword Of State and her dam is in foal to Derryn.
Thinkyoucandance is a daughter of G3 Bourbonette Oaks winner Orchestrator (USA) (Bernstein {USA}) who is from the family of G2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes winner and sire Zululand.
Wonka makes it a double for Snitzel
Champion Sire Snitzel, whose final crop are yearlings, won the Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes at Flemington with 2-year-old Musandam, then in Sydney, his 3-year-old colt Wonka won the Listed Dulcify Stakes. Later on the Melbourne card, his pricey colt The Next Episode made it a treble.
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Savagram (NZ) (Savabeel) tried to dictate terms and was four lengths in front heading into the turn, but the colt’s advantage was slowly and surely reduced by Chris Waller’s Wonka and Richard and Will Freedman-trained colt Genesis Runner (Gun Runner {USA}). Wonka and Genesis Runner went hammer and tongs to the line with Wonka just getting his nose in front when it mattered. Savagram held on for fourth with the winner’s stablemate Your Colour (Maurice {Jpn}) finishing nicely into third.
“When you have a Group 1 in your own backyard, you have to look at it with an in-form horse,” Waller said about the G1 Spring Champion Stakes.
“It's a bit of a jump going to 2000 metres for such a lightly-raced horse but he's going the right way.”
Attica (Lonhro) won the Dulcify / Spring Champion double last season.
Wonka winning the Listed Dulcify Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Sales: Chris Waller and Mulcaster Bloodstock paid $360,000 for Wonka at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale from Arrowfield Stud’s draft.
Pedigree: Wonka becomes his sire’s 177th stakes winner. Wonka is a full brother to Group 3 winner Origin Of Love and they are the first two foals for Re Edit (Camelot {Ire}) whose 2-year-old filly has been named Revision (Maurice {Jpn}) and she has a yearling colt by Maurice (Jpn). She missed for her 2026 result.
Re Edit won three races and placed in the G2 PJ O'Shea Stakes and is a half-sister to Group 3-placed Teodora (Teofilo {Ire}) who is the dam of Listed Tasmanian Derby-placed Helioson (The Autumn Sun).
Re Edit’s dam, Group 3-placed So Divine (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) is a full sister to G1 Victoria Derby and G1 Spring Champion Stakes winner and sire Monaco Consul (NZ).
Miss Waititi aimed at the Oaks after Listed win
New Zealand’s reputation for producing horses who thrive in the wet and over a trip came to the fore on Saturday at Flemington when inexperienced maiden 3-year-old filly Miss Waititi (NZ) (Circus Maximus {Ire}) took the shortest route home in the Listed Super Impose Stakes. She was having her third start.
Ridden by Craig Williams for the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr yard, she sat in behind the speed before striding through along the rail to win by 2.5 lengths. Ciaron Maher-trained 3-year-old gelding Vallice (Maurice {Jpn}) accelerated nicely from out wide to finish strongly into second with Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained stablemates gelding Cignetti (NZ) (Super Seth) and gelding Icy You (Pinatubo {Ire}) holding on for third and fourth.
“We do a lot of work with Phil Cataldo. Some we like, some we don't like so this one passed. We probably look at four or five a month and probably buy one. It's not easy. We buy plenty of New Zealand camels but this one, at least, it is going to the Oaks,” Price said. Miss Waititi ran second at the trials in New Zealand as a December juvenile before heading to the Price/Kent yard.
“It is always run-by-run. I would have to say, (owner) Tim Porter, the optimist on a horse that hadn't broken its maiden status, said to me, 'any chance you can give me an Oaks runner?' I said 'right, we've got Miss Waititi, a horse that hadn't broken its maiden status - no worries'.
“Anyway, we've plotted a course and we went to the 1800 because I thought the Edward Manifold might be a bit sharp for her. Brilliant ride by Willo. Followed the favourite, blew his whistle, up he went.”
Sales: Taken to the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale by Windsor Park Stud, Miss Waititi was passed in with a reserve of NZ$80,000.
Pedigree: She becomes the fourth stakes winner for Circus Maximus (Ire) whose first crop includes last season’s G1 New Zealand Derby winner Road To Paris (NZ).
Miss Waititi is the second foal of unraced Fastnet Rock mare Fritillary who has a 2-year-old full sister to Miss Waititi and is in foal to Auguste Rodin (Ire).
Fritillary is a half-sister to three-time Listed winner Scrumdiddlyumptious (USA) (Roman Ruler {USA}), G1 Belmont Gazelle Stakes-placed Hamsa (USA) (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}) and a full sister to R.Listed Inglis Banner Stakes-placed Ephesian.
