Spicy Martini signed for Inglis The Everest slot
G1 Stradbroke winning mare Spicy Martini (Justify {USA}) will run in the Inglis slot for this year’s G1 The Everest. “We have had an eye on her for some time and believe she is capable of posting a career best effort in The Everest,” Inglis CEO Sebastian Hutch said.
“One of the most significant things for us wanting to chase her for our slot is she has run a new peak figure each start this year – including a G1 victory in The Stradbroke - which tells us she is headed on an upward trajectory and is continually improving and nobody knows where her ceiling is yet.
“She is versatile, having won on everything from a Good 4 to a Heavy 10, she can settle on pace or come from worse than midfield, she’s a dual winner at 1200m but is also a Group 1 winner at 1400m which we believe is a significant advantage in an Everest, she was huge first-up when crossing the line alongside Joliestar and being less than a length from winning The Shorts and we feel the race will bring out the best in her.
“Inglis graduates have won six runnings of The Everest and we have run 2nd and 3rd with runners in our slot, so we are excited to have another crack at the race in 2026.”
Guest House out for three months
Co-trainer Mick Price has informed punters that G1 Golden Slipper winner Guest House (Home Affairs) will need a three month spell after sustaining a near-hind hamstring injury. “He worked this morning (Rosehill) and they weren’t happy with his action. They had a look at the near-side hind and the ultra-sound showed there was some disruption in the fibres of the ligaments attached to the hamstring,” Price told racing.com.
“We’ll get a second opinion, but we don’t doubt the first opinion will be correct. It’s basically three months rest up and then get him ready for the autumn. He’s basically done a hammy. But we’ll get him back.”
G2 Metropolitan winner Juja Kibo on Cup pathway
Ciaron Maher split up Juja Kibo (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) and Mr Monaco (GB) (Territories {Ire}) and it paid dividends with both taking out the spoils in their respective challenges. Juja Kibo won the recently downgraded G2 Metropolitan Handicap for jockey Sam Clipperton. “Pretty sure the prizemoney is the same,” Clipperton said.
Juja Kibo, who hadn’t won since September 2025 but has had six stakes placings since then, took his record to five wins with earnings over $930,000.
“On the back of that, you have to look at Victoria. The St Leger is up here but Victoria is very enticing. We'd love to see where he fits in. If he was going to run in the Melbourne Cup, whether you have to go through Caulfield (Cup) or not we'll have to see, but we'll definitely have a look at that,” stable assistant Jo Gerard-Dubord said.
“The Melbourne Cup is probably the one we want to get to. We'll see how he pulls up first and see the best way to get there.”
Mr Monaco gains Melbourne Cup run
Ciaron Maher celebrated a stakes treble at Flemington with The Next Episode (Snitzel), Saintly Dancer (NZ) (St Mark’s Basilica {Fr}) and G3 Bart Cummings Stakes winner Mr Monaco (GB) (Territories {Ire}) who has gained a ballot free entry into the G1 Melbourne Cup.
“He did have good wet form, so we thought we'd send him down the highway and now he's here in Melbourne and has got a ticket,” Maher said.
“There's a great ownership group and now they're in the Cup. The next month and a bit, when you get one in the Cup is the most thrilling time for the owners.”
Twice a winner in England, Mr Monaco has won four races in Australia and this was his second Group 3 after the G3 NE Manion Cup earlier this year. Astute Bloodstock and Ciaron Maher paid 410,000 gns (AU$822,000) for him at the 2024 Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale.
Listed Paris Lane Stakes won by Cote Atlantique
Henry Dwyer-trained Cote Atlantique (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) came off two stakes placings in his last two starts to salute in Saturday’s Listed Paris Lane Stakes. A Group 3 winner in Ireland, he won the 2025 Listed Seymour Cup. He now has five wins from 23 starts with earnings over $600,000.
Henry Dwyer Racing and Hurworth Bloodstock paid 340,000 gns (AU$682,000) for him at the 2024 Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale.
Listed Murray Bridge Gold Cup won by St Lawrence
Gavin Bedggood-trained St Lawrence (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) has hit a run of good form, coming off a last start win to take out Saturday’s Listed Murray Bridge Gold Cup. The 8-year-old gelding took his record to 10 wins and over $1.2 million.
The Lofty Thoroughbred Group purchased him via Inglis Digital in mid-2025 for $85,000 and he’s earned over $250,000 since then for them.
Kalgoorlie Golden Saddle won by Want A Winner
Yes Yes Yes won a major slot race in The Everest and now he’s sired the winner of a slot race with Want A Winner in the $1 million Golden Saddle at Kalgoorlie. Trained by Sean and Jake Casey, the 5-year-old entire took his record to five wins from 10 starts with earnings over $590,000. He was racing in the Yarrandale Stud slot.
Hancock Quality Bloodstock (FBAA) paid $85,000 for him from Newhaven Park Stud’s Magic Millions National Weanling Sale draft. He is the first foal of Sydney winner Ridicule (So You Think {NZ}) who has a 3-year-old and 2-year-old by Farnan.
Listed Kalgoorlie Cup won by Royal Law
Trainer Ashley Maley and jockey Tash Faithfull were first across the line in the Listed Kalgoorlie Cup with Royal Law (Pierro) but had to wait as second placed Sowar (Sepoy) protested the result. Royal Law kept the victory to become the 43rd stakes winner for Pierro.
“I said to my partner today, if I won the Kalgoorlie Cup, I reckon I could about retire,” Faithfull joked, but then quickly said she’d stick around for a bit longer.
“Credit to Ash’s training. Geez he was tough. He’s been brilliant, he’s tough as nails and you’d love to have ten of them.”
Maley purchased him for $12,000 from Peters Investments via Inglis Digital in June 2024. He’s the first foal of Listed winner Royal Star (Redoute’s Choice) whose 3-year-old filly Royal Reflection (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) won on debut recently.
Wanaruah caps Snitzel’s big day
Brett and Georgie Cavanough-trained 5-year-old entire Wanaruah (Snitzel) capped a big day for deceased Champion Sire Snitzel who won stakes races at Randwick with Wonka and at Flemington with The Next Episode and Musandam.
Winner of the Listed Bob Charley AO Stakes over winter, Wanaruah took his record to five wins from 11 starts with earnings over $530,000. Raced by Fernrigg Farm and partners, he is one of three winners for Group 2 winner Mella Maria (Star Witness).
Treble for Alpine Eagle at Launceston
On Friday night, Armidale Stud sire Alpine Eagle sired a treble on the eight-race card. Glenn Stevenson-trained Alpine Fury came home by 1.25 lengths to record his fourth win from eight starts and remains unbeaten for this campaign in two starts.
Barry Campbell-trained Wolf Junior added his second victory, coming off a second last start. The treble came in the last when Alpine Fury’s stablemate Eaglefurther was victorious. Like her stablemate, she has won two in succession and has a career tally of five wins from 23 starts.
Weekend sire doubles
Capitalist sired a double at the transferred Pakenham meeting on Friday night. Grahame Begg-trained Headbanger won over 1000 metres to record to third victory in nine starts. Mick Price and Michael Kent-Jnr-trained Cashout won by three lengths to make it three wins from six starts.
Written Tycoon had a double at Bundarra on Saturday with Northern Eagle and The Commanche. A Lot (USA) sired a double at Kalgoorlie with Dirty Habits and Odinaka who took his record to seven victories.
At the Sunshine Coast on Friday night, Nicconi sired a double when a pair of 4-year-olds won their maidens. David Vandyke-trained Indamouse thumped the 1800 metre opening field with a 5.25 length victory. The double came with Garnett Taylor-trained Castaway who won over 1400 metres by 3.8 lengths.
G3 Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes won by Qali Al Farrasha
Te Akau Racing’s Group 1-placed 6-year-old mare Qali Al Farrasha (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) won Saturday’s G3 Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes from Royal Flower (NZ) (Proisir) and Girl Talk (NZ) (Zed {NZ}).
“The track was a little bit worrying, but she is a pretty good horse, is Group 1 placed and I thought this was an easy kill for her. It was a good training effort by Mark and Sam, and she was just the best horse in the race,” jockey Wiremu Pinn said.
The winner of four of her 24 starts won the 2025 G2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes. She is a full sister to Listed winner Nucleozor (NZ). Bred by Nearco Stud Ltd, Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis and Westonlea Bloodstock’s David and Matthew Peacocke from lightly raced Burgundy mare Nucleonic (NZ), Qali Al Farrasha is raced by Ellis and the Peacockes.
New stakes winner for American Pharoah
Saturday’s Listed Kaimai Stakes at Matamata over a mile went to Astoria Brooke (NZ) (American Pharoah {USA}). Her recent run of form for the Tony Pike stable has seen her win four of her past five races and this was her first stakes victory.
“She was impressive today although the strong tempo helped her,” Pike said.
“The way she took the tight gap in the home straight was good to see and I think it was her best win to date. She really has been holding her form well and apart from an unplaced run on an unsuitable heavy track she has been right amongst it in this campaign.”
She is the 69th stakes winner for her sire and is raced by Trelawney Stud owners Brent and Cherry Taylor. She is the second foal and one of three winners for Listed winner Astor (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}).
Emphatic wins G1 Alcibiades against hot field
With the GI Spinaway Stakes winner, three 'TDN Rising Stars’, and a full-sister to this year's GI Kentucky Oaks victress among the field of seven assembled for the GI Darley Alcibiades Stakes on Keeneland's opening day Friday, it was Gainesway Stable and Andrew Rosen's 2-year-old filly Emphatic (Nyquist), who fell into none of those categories but came home the winner.
The Pennsylvania-bred and US$260,000 (AU$375,000) Keeneland September graduate remained unbeaten in three starts to capture the Alcibiades and punch her ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. The Alcibiades is a 'Win and You're In' race for the Juvenile Fillies, which will be held over this track in four weeks, and Emphatic earned a fees-paid berth to the championship event with Friday's score.
Trainer Brendan Walsh indicated the Breeders' Cup is on Emphatic's dance card.
“She was a little tricky (in her early days of training),” said Walsh. “She could have gone either way mentally, and it's a big tribute to my team that they got her to go the right way. She got better for racing, which I think is the hallmark of a good horse. We saw it here today.”
Gulfstream Park trainers allege illegal injections by stranger
Several trainers based at Gulfstream Park allege that earlier this year, horses who were sent off at low odds for their respective races at the track had been illegally administered Lasix the night before without their knowledge, leading to a string of poor, beaten performances if the horses weren't already scratched.
Details around these alleged incidents, and the extent of the ongoing investigations into them, remain hazy. According to Bill Badgett, executive director of Florida operations for The Stronach Group (TSG), investigators for the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) tested a horse trained by Bruno Tessore which had allegedly been involved.
In July, a ten-second black and white nighttime video clip dated July 17 circulated on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) purporting to be taken within Bruno Tessore's barn. The video shows an individual with a backpack enter a horse's stall. The video stops before any other details are shown.
“HISA came in and took blood tests on that particular horse, and all the results came back negative,” said Badgett on Wednesday.
Neither Gulfstream Park management nor a representative of the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) disclosed the name of the horse tested. The TDN has independently confirmed the horse in question was the Tessore-trained Holy Cow (Catholic Boy), who was entered to run on July 18 but was scratched before the race. Reached via text, Tessore said he'd prefer not to comment on the matter.
The TDN has spoken with several other trainers with horses stabled at Gulfstream Park who believe multiple horses between them had been administered a substance by someone without their knowledge the night prior to their scheduled race.
The trainers speculated that the horses had been administered Lasix (meaning they would have been administered a double dose of the drug before running which could render them flatter than usual), though they stressed how this was conjecture at this time. The trainers all asked for anonymity for fear of reprisal for speaking out.
The trainers detailed a similar set of circumstances, including how the horses in question were all heavily bet for their respective races. They described how the grooms checked on the horses on the morning of the races and found the water buckets empty and the horses unusually quiet. One trainer described seeing an excessive amount of liquid on the stable floor. In some cases, the individuals tending to the horses observed swelling or bumps on the horses' necks, indicating a potential injection, some of trainers said.
Three of the trainers provided TDN with the names of four separate horses and the races in which they performed badly. The first races date back to early May. Another three horses were scratched before running, according to the three trainers. Among the four who ran, three were favoured and all three finished out of the money. The fourth was the second choice in the wagering and finished second at odds of 17-10.
The TDN reviewed the results of those four races and could not find any obvious signs, such as suspiciously low exacta or trifecta payoffs, that would indicate a betting coup. One trainer told the TDN that after his filly was beaten and pulled up to return home, the jockey subsequently told him the horse could barely raise a trot. Several trainers have recently installed cameras around their Gulfstream Park barns.
G2 Jessamine to Serenas Ghost
With what track announcer Kurt Becker described as an “eventful” run down the stretch, Serenas Ghost (Girvin) ducked and dived her way past the pacesetting 5-2 second choice Seneca Park (Golden Pal) to post the 22-1 upset in Friday's GII Jessamine Stakes at Keeneland, a 'Win and You're In' race for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
“It's really exciting,” trainer Joe Sharp said. “I trained her mom (Sirenusa) and her dad, and she really seems like a perfect combination of both of them. Both horses were extremely gritty and just loved the game, and she's displayed that since day one. My assistant Kylie Wellington had her up at Turfway and had a lot of confidence going into her first race. I was watching the replay during the post parade and started to get excited again because the way (today's) race unfolded was very similar to the first time out.”
Serenas Ghost is the 19th stakes winner and third graded stakes winner for the late Girvin who passed unexpectedly in August at just 12-years-old at Kentucky's Airdrie Stud.
Nakatomi goes back to back in Phoenix
Nakatomi (Firing Line), winner of the 2024 GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. at Saratoga, went from last to first to deliver a well-timed, repeat victory in Friday's 'Win and You're In' GII Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes on opening day at Keeneland.
It was the first victory for comebacking jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., who had been sidelined since suffering an ankle injury on August 8 at Saratoga.
Nakatomi, campaigned in partnership by Qatar Racing and Mrs. Fitriani Hay, also finished second in this race in 2023 and 2024. His resume also includes a longshot third-place finish in the 2023 GI Breeders' Cup Sprint at Santa Anita and a close second in last year's G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen.
“Longevity,” winning trainer Wesley Ward said of the 7-year-old gelding. “We turn him out at Fergus Galvin's Hunter Valley Farm (Galvin is also racing manager for co-owner Qatar Racing). His daughter (Elle-Marie) feeds him every day, gives him carrots and candy, rides him there. He's just a wonderful horse to be around. That bunch of months off where they're not training is key to longevity. He comes back fresh in the spring and he's still winning.”
Breeders' Cup Sprint, to be held at Keeneland Oct. 31, next?
“Hope so,” Ward replied. “I'll talk it over with Fergus and (the connections) and see if that's what they want to do. He shows he's still got it.”
Skippylongstocking to stand in 2027
Daniel Alonso's GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational winner Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator–Twinkling, by War Chant) will retire to Amsterdam Two Farm in Middleburgh, NY for 2027, at the conclusion of his racing career, the farm announced on Friday.
In a deal brokered by Michael Slezak and Matt Bowling of Bowling Bloodstock, the earner of over US$6 million (AU$8.6 million) will go to stud after an attempted defence of his win in the Pegasus at Gulfstream in January.
The son of Exaggerator out of the four-time black type-producing War Chant mare Twinkling will stand for US$3500 (AU$5000), pending his performance in the October 31 GI Breeders' Cup Classic.
“At nearly 17 hands, Skippylongstocking is about as imposing as a stallion prospect can be,” said Ken Williams, manager of Amsterdam Two. “In a market that values size and scope, I can't wait for breeders to lay eyes on this absolute mountain of a horse.”
Palace Pier's half-brother My Cloud to stud for 2027
Royal Ascot winner My Cloud (Blue Point) will stand at Mickley Stud next year. His 2027 stud fee will be announced in due course.
A half-brother to notable five-time Group 1 winner and sire Palace Pier (Kingman), My Cloud was bred by Coolmore. He changed hands for €325,000 (AU$530,000) out of the Arqana May Breeze-Up Sale in 2023. Racing for Victorious Forever and trainer Roger Varian, he was second twice and broke his maiden by 13 lengths at Newcastle in his third start. His greatest claim to fame was his victory in the 2025 Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot, which increased his official rating to 104. He retired a winner of four of his seven starts with two seconds.
“We are delighted to welcome My Cloud to Mickley Stud,” said Mickley Stud's Richard Kent. “Combining the speed and precocity of the Blue Point/Shamardal sire line with one of Europe's most accomplished contemporary families, My Cloud offers breeders an exciting combination of performance, pedigree and commercial appeal.”
RMG announce media rights in Britain
Long-term extensions for the audio-visual and data rights of 33 British racecourse shareholders were agreed to by the Racecourse Media Group (RMG), the organisation announced on Friday.
The extensions include all aspects of RMG's media and data rights portfolio, encompassing streaming (Watch & Bet), direct-to-home broadcasting, terrestrial television and international betting and non-betting rights, plus pre-race and race-day data rights, through to December 31, 2033.
Racecourses included in the agreement are: the Jockey Club Racecourses, York, Goodwood, Ayr and 16 small independent racecourses. The agreements ensure that some of British racing's most iconic events, including the Randox Grand National, Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, Betfred Derby, Qatar Sussex Stakes and Juddmonte International Stakes, will remain part of RMG's portfolio until at least 2034.
