Joliestar selected for The Everest
Chris Waller and partners will run Cambridge Stud-owned mare Joliestar (Zoustar) in their The Everest slot for the third year in a row. “Her form over the past 12 months has been that of the premier Australian sprinter,” Waller told Loveracing.nz.
“She went to Royal Ascot and performed admirably against some of the best sprinters in the world, which gave everyone involved enormous confidence in just how good she is. To have her represent the slot for a third consecutive time is a fantastic result and we're incredibly excited to see her back at Royal Randwick.”
The five-time Group 1 winner ran fifth in 2025 and seventh in 2024.
Joliestar | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Giga Kick will have another crack at The Everest
Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) has been confirmed to run in the Coolmore slot for the G1 The Everest. He won the race as a 3-year-old in 2022 and was second in 2024. Only Yulong and James Harron have yet to announce their slot runners.
Brown keen for Wolf Gap in Guineas
Jockey Ethan Brown thinks Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Wolf Gap (Palace Pief {GB}) can get the mile of Saturday’s G1 Caulfield Guineas. “He'll give himself every chance to run a strong 1600. He's shown us every indication that he will, especially as a 3-year-old,” Brown told racenet.com.au.
Wolf Gap | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“This has been his aim since the start of the prep. The mile won't be an issue. He's held his form well, strengthened slightly and he's ticking over nicely. As he's a colt, they probably wanted to keep the work up to him a bit, but he trialled against older horses and went really well.
“He had a nice quiet trial the other day and that will top him off for Saturday. Hopefully he'll get a nice soft run and he has an electric turn of foot.”
Overpass to run on Everest Day
For the fifth year in succession, Overpass (Vancouver) will run on Everest Day, this year in the G2 Sydney Stakes. He ran in The Everest three times and won the Sydney Stakes last year. Trainer Bjorn Baker sent him for an exhibition gallop on Randwick's Kensington track on Wednesday. “I really wanted him to have a sound out in the gallop,” Baker told racenet.com.au.
“Now we'll just keep him ticking over until we get to Randwick on October 17. He's come back from the UK and he's going as well as ever. It's business as usual for him. I'm expecting to see the Overpass we all know and love when he runs.”
Arabian Rose aimed at The Invitation
Trainer James Healy will aim Arabian Rose (Alabama Express) at The Invitation if she runs well in Saturday’s G3 The Nivison on Saturday. “She was at the end of the prep when we came down in February but I wanted to take her down and see how well she travelled, to see if we could do anything different for next time because she gave me the feel we would be back,” Healy told racingnsw.com.au.
“I won’t change a lot, she travelled pretty well last time and it’s all coming to fruition so hopefully we can be in the finish. I was confident we could win the Glasshouse, I tipped her out and she did very well in the paddock.
“She’s a lot stronger again this time, I had this race in the back of my mind since after the Glasshouse and everything has worked out, we’re going there full of confidence.”
Attrition in good form for Hill Stakes
Mitchell Freedman-trained Attrition (Churchill {Ire}) will come to Sydney for the G2 Hill Stakes at Rosehill. “We’ve taken a slightly different path with running (third) in the Underwood, we thought he was looking for a bit further than the mile of the Feehan,” Freedman told racingnsw.com.au.
Attrition | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He wasn’t without a bit of bad luck last start. He got forced into a spot we didn’t want to be in, the box seat, and as a result when the race was coming on he was probably travelling better than the eventual second placegetter but wasn’t able to build his momentum.
“We know that’s not something he likes but I thought he was very good picking up after he had his momentum stopped and still attacking the line.”
Sheza Alibi’s half-brother set for Gloaming
Nomadic (King’s Legacy), the 3-year-old half-brother to Group 1 winner Sheza Alibi (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}),will run in Saturday’s G3 Gloaming Stakes. He comes off a last start win at Kembla Grange. “He had to dig deep to fight off Gai's horse, but I think he went better ridden more positively and put up on speed,” trainer John Thompson told racingandsports.com.au.
“They beat the rest of them a fair way. We'll try him over a bit further and see how he handles it. He came through that run like he hadn't had a run, so fingers crossed. He's a valuable colt if he comes good.”
Dundeel double at Gold Coast
On Wednesday, Dundeel (NZ) sired a double at the Gold Coast. Stuart and Bayley Kendrick-trained Dun Darte Cheap won his maiden in the first on the card. Arrowfield Stud sold him for $170,000 to Ohukia Lodge at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and he was pinhooked through the Inglis Ready2Race Sale where High Calibre Racing and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) paid $150,000 for him. He is a half-brother to Listed winner Modella (Castelvecchio).
Stablemate Italian Dancer took his record to six wins and earnings over $119,000. Kendrick Racing paid $85,000 for him at the Magic Millions Horses-In-Training Sale from Kenmore Lodge. He is a half-brother to Listed winner Lim’s Bighorn (Better Than Ready).
At the same meeting, Chris Waller-trained 3-year-old gelding Egmont (Harry Angel {Ire}) won on debut.
Double for Maschino at Bunbury
On Wednesday at Bunbury, Maschino’s 3-year-old filly Flying In The Wind won on debut for trainer Adam Durrant. Owned by Oakland Park Stud, she is a half-sister to Listed winner Sail Session (Sessions).
The double came up for Maschino when Tara Itzstein-trained Consolidated took his record to two wins from ten starts.
Early Voting priced at $50,000
Early Voting, whose first crop has been headed by Grade I winner Miss Monica, will stand the 2027 breeding season at Taylor Made Stallions for US$50,000 (AU$72,000), stands and nurses, according to a release from Dr. Paddy O'Casaigh, whose Fission Biomedical International owns 90% of the stallion.
The Classic-winning son of Gun Runner has been represented by 12 winners from 36 starters from his first crop, including Miss Monica, a six-length winner of the GI Debutante Stakes. His other black-type performers include Early Encore, and He Is No Lie, runner-up in both the GIII Bashford Manor Stakes and GIII Iroquois Stakes.
Early Voting's yearlings have averaged US$166,590 (AU$240,000) this year, led by a colt purchased for US$1.25 million (AU$1.8 million) by M.V. Magnier and White Birch Farm at Keeneland September.
“Performance is everything in racing,” said Taylor Made Stallions President Ben Taylor. “Early Voting has it all. In the barn, on the track, at the sales. He leaves a lovely athletic type, and they can run. We already have 47 bookings for the 2027 breeding season.”
Baeza retired to Spendthrift Farm
Baeza (McKinzie), winner of the 2025 GI Pennsylvania Derby, has been retired from racing and will enter stud at Spendthrift Farm in 2027.
Campaigned by Lee and Susan Searing's C R K Stable and his breeder Robert Clay's Grandview Equine, Baeza hit the board in 10 of 13 starts and retires with earnings of US$2,344,700 (AU$3.3 million).
In addition to his 2.25 length win over Magnitude in the Pennsylvania Derby, which earned him a 105 Beyer Speed Figure, Baeza hit the board in five other Grade I events, with runner-up efforts as a sophomore in the GI Santa Anita Derby and third-place efforts in the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont Stakes.
“Baeza gave us so many great moments, but his run in the Kentucky Derby is something we'll never forget,” said Lee Searing. “To watch him come charging down the stretch on the biggest stage in our sport was an incredible thrill. He proved that day that he belonged with the very best of his generation, and he continued to show us that throughout his career. We're incredibly proud of everything he accomplished on the racetrack and we look forward to supporting his stud career with our mares.”
A US$1.2 million (AU$1.7 million) Keeneland September yearling, Baeza is the third Grade I winner out of Broodmare of the Year Puca. He is a half-brother to GI Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic) and GI Belmont Stakes winner Dornoch (Good Magic).
Girvin filly tops day one of OBS October Yearling Sale
Only moments into Tuesday's opening session of the OBS October Yearling Sale, a filly by the late sire Girvin (Hip 12) realized a session-topping US$190,000 (AU$272,000) from CJ Thoroughbreds.
At the conclusion of the initial session, a total of 129 head brought US$3,525,000 (AU$5 million) for an average of US$27,326 (AU$39,000), which was up from US$22,266 (AU$32,000) in 2025. The median also increased from US$15,000 (AU$21,500) to US$20,000 (AU$28,700) in 2026. The leading consignor on the day was Beth Bayer, who sold 15 head for gross sales of US$419,000 (AU$601,000).
Girvin | Image courtesy of OBS
Consigned by her breeder Glen Hill Farm, Tuesday's topper is out of the stakes-producing mare Jewish Guilt (Curlin). Girvin, who entered stud at Airdrie in 2019, died suddenly in 2026.
“I thought she was an outstanding physical,” explained Marette Farrell, acting agent for CJ Thoroughbreds. “We're also big supporters of Girvin and were very sad for Airdrie that he unfortunately passed away. He was really a stallion on his way up.”
