Dabernig’s big day with stakes double
Tom Dabernig celebrated a stakes double at Caulfield with G2 Caulfield Sprint winner Cavalry Girl (Bivouac) and Shadhavar (Pride Of Dubai) winning the G2 Tristarc Stakes. Winner of the Listed Regal Roller Stakes three starts ago, Shadhavar took her record to seven wins, three at stakes level, with earnings over $619,000.
Prime Thoroughbreds, who also bought Cavalry Girl, paid $85,000 for Shadhavar at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale from The Chase’s draft. She is the second foal of Cross Legend (Sebring) who is a city winning half-sister to Group 2 winner and sire Thronum and Listed winner Cythera (I Am Invincible).
Apocalyptic wins Listed Silver Eagle
Last season’s G1 Flight Stakes winner Apocalyptic (Extreme Choice) reversed a run of poor form to win Saturday’s Listed Silver Eagle against a hot field. “She is back to her best today. It's really satisfying because for the last six to twelve months, she has been going as well as she was twelve months ago at home, but on race day she has been doing a few things wrong,” trainer Michael Freedman said.
“As long as she pulls up okay, I can't see any reason why we wouldn't have a crack at a race like that (Golden Eagle) because she is one of the better horses I've ever had anything to do with. I'm just so thrilled to see her back in form.”
Winner of four of her 10 starts and over $1.7 million, Apocalyptic was a $400,000 purchase by MyRacehorse and Freedman along with Julian Blaxland from Coolmore Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft.
Two Kosciusko’s in a row for Messara and Gavranich
Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich have won The Kosciusko two years running with Chains Of Love (I Am Invincible) joining last year’s winner Clear Thinking (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). “I thought she was going to run last- I don't know how she won,” Messara said.
“It was a great win. We were five deep from the start and honestly I thought we had no hope. It was an amazing effort by our horse.”
Beautifully bred, Chains Of Love is a daughter of Group 1 winner Stay With Me (Street Cry {Ire}), herself a daughter of the wonderful Miss Finland (Redoute’s Choice). Stay With Me has also produced Listed winner Waltz On By (I Am Invincible), and stakes placed Duvana (Dundeel {NZ}).
G3 Angst Stakes won by Unleeshing
Bjorn Baker quinellaed the G3 Angst Stakes at Randwick on Saturday with last start winning 5-year-old mare Unleeshing (Dundeel {NZ}) unleashing a late sprint to get a three-quarters of a length win over stablemate Pillow Fight (Zoustar). Ciaron Maher-trained Vivy Air (Hellbent) was third.
“Pillow Fight kicked away and I was watching Pillow Fight then I noticed what is this horse coming. It was Unleeshing unleashing her massive sprint for a massive amount of owners. What a great job 'My Racehorse' is doing, they are promoting the game better than me,” Baker said.
“I will see how Unleeshing pulls up and then we will consider our options. The Invitation is worth a lot of money and if she was to get an invite, we would definitely consider it. The Empire Rose is a Group 1 and the extra week probably works in her favour so there's a bit to think about.”
Unleeshing became the 41st stakes winner for her sire. She was sold by Blue Gum Farm at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale for $80,000 to MyRacehorse, Bjorn Baker, and Clarke Bloodstock. A half-sister to dual Group 2 winner Imelda Mary (NZ) (Ferlax {NZ}) and stakes placed Mountain Guest (Tarzino {NZ}), the trio are out of unraced Eleesha (Encosta De Lago).
G3 St Leger winner So You Are heads to Melbourne Cup
So You Are (So You Think {NZ}) followed up Unleeshing’s group win with victory in the G3 St Leger at Randwick to give trainer Bjorn Baker a race to race stakes double. So You Are won the 2600 metre race, which dates back to 1841, to make it three stakes wins in succession.
“We’ll be there. The race that stops two nations. He’s a really, really good stayer. I can’t wait to see him over two miles,” Baker said.
“He’s tough. Even mid-race, they weren’t quite going quick enough so two miles is better. I’m sure he’ll be able to get into the Melbourne Cup off that, so hopefully he comes through well.”
The 5-year-old gelding now has seven wins and nearly $1 million in earnings. He is one of three winners for Tornado Gal (Hard Spun {USA}) who is a city winning half-sister to Listed winner Skyt (Nicconi).
G3 Harry White won by War Machine
Joe Pride’s tough 9-year-old gelding Private Eye (Al Maher) was sent out as favourite in the G3 Harry White Stakes at Caulfield but was just pipped on the post by Lindsay Park’s War Machine (NZ) (Harry Angel {Ire}) in the 1400 metre sprint. Gavin Bedggood-trained Hughes (Russian Revolution) was a length back in third.
Winner of the 2025 G1 Stradbroke Handicap, War Machine had been winless since last spring. He now has eight wins and over $3.5 million in earnings. Passed in as a yearling and a 2-year-old, War Machine is one of five winners for Caserta (Hussonet {USA}). She is a winning half-sister to Group 3 winner Fire In The Night (Danewin).
G3 Reginald Allen Stakes won by Beyond The Reef
Flying Artie celebrated his 15th stakes winner when 3-year-old filly Beyond The Reef won her maiden in the G3 Reginald Allen Stakes. Trained by John Sargent, she took out the 1400 metre 3-year-old fillies race by 1.15 lengths from Pin Up Sheila (Pinatubo {Ire}) and Hello Liz (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}).
“I love these fillies, that's for sure. I used to train the mother for Tricolours, Miss Moana. She won a few races at Randwick and was second in a South Australian Fillies Classic,” Sargent said.
“This filly has always shown a bit, but today was a bit of a throw at the stumps. But it's a Group race, your home track. She'd been hitting the line strongly at the provincials, so it was worth a go.”
Raced by Tricolours Racing and partners, Beyond The Reef placed in all her three starts prior to this victory. She is the first foal of Group 3-placed Miss Moana (NZ) (Uncle Mo {USA}) who is a full sister to stakes placed Hollywood Mo and a half-sister to Listed winner Stay Focused (Cosmic Force), and stakes placed pair Ningaloo Star (Deep Field) and Stay Cosmic (Cosmic Force).
Listed Gothic Stakes won by Milsons Point
Ciaron Maher-trained 3-year-old gelding Milsons Point (Blue Point {Ire}) opened his career last season with a win on debut and hasn’t won since until Saturday’s Listed Gothic Stakes where he was sent out as a long shot by punters. He won by 0.4 lengths from favourite Mark Walker-trained I Am Aria (I Am Invincible) with Dominic Sutton-trained Shooting Brake (Home Affairs) in third.
The Godolphin owned gelding took his earnings over $320,000. He is one of four winners for Ventura (Lonhro), a half-sister to Group 1 winners Denman and Preserve (Canny Lad) and Listed winner Rio Osa (Canny Lad). Preserve is the dam of Group 3 winners Safeguard and Archives (Helmet).
Listed Hill Smith Stakes won by Kosaji
Last start Gifford Hill Guineas-placed 3-year-old colt Kosaji (Maurice {Jpn}) became the 37th stakes winner for his sire when winning his maiden in South Australia’s Listed Hill Smith Stakes. Trained by Phillip and Tommy Stokes, Kosaji won by 0.2 lengths from Andrew Gluyas-trained Churchill Rose (Churchill {Ire}) with three lengths back to Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray-trained The Obvious Child (Doubtland) in third.
“He had to be tough today. Class over this trip has got him over the line,” Kerrin Stokes said.
“We’ll let the dust settle and he’s nominated for the G1 Victoria Derby following in the footsteps of Goldrush Guru, it’s a recipe for success. I’d like to thank John Messara and the team at Arrowfield, good to get a win for them.”
Arrowfield Stud sold him for $250,000 at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale and have retained a share with Stokes Racing and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) marked down as the buyers. He is the fourth winner from five to race for Group 3 winner Teaspoon (Snitzel) who is a full sister to Group 3 winner Aliyana Tilde, the dam of G1 Caulfield Guineas winner and sire Private Life. Teaspoon is also a half-sister to Geiger Counter (USA) sired stakes winners Smytzer’s Trish, dam of Listed winner Swish Trish (Redoute’s Choice), and Stella Artois, dam of Group 2 winner Freestyle (Snippets).
New stakes winner for Alabama Express in Listed Alinghi Stakes
Julius Sandhu-trained 5-year-old mare Gentle Steel (Alabama Express) became the eighth stakes winner for her sire when crossing the line 0.4 lengths in front of Dance To The Boom (Exceedance) in the Listed Alinghi Stakes at Caulfield. Another length away in third was Photograph (Blue Point {Ire}).
“It's a huge result, not just for the stable but the connections, the staff, the horse more importantly because it sets her up now it ticks one box so we go back home and just make sure she recovers well and there's probably another race for her in spring and it kind of sets her up for the future which is huge for the owners and for Maluka Thoroughbreds,” Sandhu said.
“It's a confidence booster for everyone in the stable. We know this game is hard, you go around in circles, the good, the bad and the ugly. And when the good times come along, it's important to sit down and take a deep breath and celebrate with the people who do all the hard work when we get there. I'm lucky. I've got a good team around me and you're only as good as your people.”
Winner of six of her 12 starts and over $330,000 in earnings, Gentle Steel was withdrawn as a yearling by Maluka Thoroughbreds. She is one of three winners for Calmante (Street Cry {Ire}) who is an unraced half-sister to Group 3-placed Calming Influence (Commands) who is the dam of Group 1 winner Caballus (I Am Invincible).
Brilliant Hot And High adds another stakes win
Dion Luciani-trained 4-year-old mare Hot And High (Too Darn Hot {GB}) won Saturday’s Listed RS Crawford Stakes in Perth to take her record to seven wins from eight starts, with her only loss being a Listed second last season.
Owned by Cape Fall Thoroughbreds, Hot And High is the third foal and second winner for High Conviction (Snitzel) who won three of her six starts for the same ownership.
Headwater double at Darwin
Headwater sired a double at Darwin on Saturday. Paul Shiers-trained Rising Water took his record to two wins, while Tommy Logan-trained Steamy Mist made it three career wins.
Debutant winner for Home Affairs
At Cranbourne’s Friday night meeting, Scott Cameron-trained 3-year-old gelding Splendacious (Home Affairs) won on debut to become the 29th winner for his second season sire. Steve Richards Racing paid $100,000 for him from Morning Rise Stud’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale draft.
He is the first foal of stakes placed Splendoronthegrass (So You Think {NZ}) who is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Mumbai Muse (Zoustar), Listed winner Jazz Etude (I Am Invincible) and stakes placed Mumbai Jewel (I Am Invincible).
At the same meeting, Lindsay Park-trained 3-year-old colt Ranarsson (Ole Kirk) stayed unbeaten in winning for the second time.
G3 Sweynesse Stakes to Platinum Attack
Platinum Attack (Santos) took his record to four black type wins and nine career victories when successful in Saturday’s G3 Sweynesse Stakes at Ellerslie over 1215 metres. Trained by Lisa Latta, he won by 1.4 lengths from Reward Smile (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) and Jaarfi (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}).
“He is a very good horse who just hasn’t had all the luck with the tracks he has struck and some of the way the races have panned out for him,” co-owner John Street said.
“Races like the Telegraph (Gr.1, 1200m) and the Railway (Gr.1, 1200m) are natural targets while he may also go south for one of the big sprints during New Zealand Cup Week. No matter what happens, after 40 years in the game any win is a good one and worth a celebration and that is what we will be doing tonight.”
Medaglia D’Oro dies aged 27
Leading sire and former shuttler Medaglia d'Oro passed away on Friday at Jonabell Farm at the age of 27.
The sire of 31 Grade I winners, his top progeny include Eclipse champions Rachel Alexandra, Songbird, and Nitrogen as well as three-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year Golden Sixty. He was pensioned from stallion duties at the end of 2025. Medaglia d'Oro will be buried at Jonabell Farm.
“Medaglia d'Oro leaves a legacy that will not be forgotten,” said Dan Pride, COO of Godolphin America. “He achieved greatness on the track and in the stallion barn. We are grateful for all who supported him through the years. He knew he was special and quickly became a fan favourite on the farm.”
He made his racing debut in December of 2001 as a juvenile, running second at Turfway Park for Joyce Bell and trainer David Vance. He would go on to break his maiden by over four length as a 3-year-old in his next start at Oaklawn Park.
Owner Edmund Gann and legendary five-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Bobby Frankel took notice, and he was sold privately to those connections following his sophomore debut.
Medaglia d'Oro's first start under the new ownership was a winning one as he made his stakes debut in the GII San Felipe S. After a second-place finish in the GI Wood Memorial S., he ran fourth in the GI Kentucky Derby at odds of 6-1 in a field that included winner War Emblem, as well as Proud Citizen, Harlan's Holiday, and Johannesburg. He ran unplaced in the GI Preakness S., and then finished a close second to longshot Sarava in the GI Belmont S.
Medaglia d'Oro claimed a pair of graded stakes wins at Saratoga in the GII Jim Dandy S.–by 13.75 lengths–and the GI Travers S. following a memorable stretch tussle with Repent under Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey. The sophomore's season ended with a second-place finish in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic behind another long-odds winner in Volponi.
After a freshening, the colt began his 4-year-old season with three consecutive victories in the GII Strub S., the GII Oaklawn H., and the GI Whiney H., this time beating rival Volponi and remaining undefeated at Saratoga. He then ran second in his next two starts in the GI Pacific Classic S. behind Candy Ride (Arg), followed by the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, this time behind a new rival in Pleasantly Perfect.
Medaglia d'Oro returned to the track at five, claiming one more Grade I in the Donn H. and then crossing the globe to run second to Pleasantly Perfect in the G1 Dubai World Cup. Although he never ended up with a championship title on the racetrack, Medaglia d'Oro retired with a record of 8-7-0 from 17 starts as a seven-time graded stakes winner.
The three-time Grade I winner was retired to Hill 'n' Dale Farm as the property of Audrey Haisfeld's Never Tell Farm. Two years later, he was moved to Haisfield's Stonewall Stallions. He stood his first season at stud for US$35,000 (AU$50,000), entering the same year as several other influential stallions in Tapit, Candy Ride, and Speightstown.
His first crop celebrated four eventual Grade I winners in C.S Silk, Warrior's Reward, Gabby's Golden Gal and, of course, Rachel Alexandra. Not long after his first-crop star brought down the house at Pimlico in her dramatic Preakness victory, Medaglia d'Oro was purchased for an undisclosed price by Sheikh Mohammed's Darley Stud and moved to Jonabell Farm, where he stood in partnership with Colts Neck Stallions.
Starting in 2010, he was shuttled regularly to Australia for the Southern Hemisphere breeding season. Medaglia d'Oro made his mark as a sire of outstanding female racehorses early on, when after three years at stud, six of his first eight Grade I winners were fillies. In his first 10 crops, 12 of his 23 Grade I winners were fillies, including Songbird, Rachel Alexandra and Elate.
As of October 2026, his tally had risen to 31 elite-level winners and 26 individual millionaire progeny worldwide and 190 individual stakes winners. He is a quality broodmare sire, thus far producing 68 group/graded winners including 13 Group/Grade I horses. His sire sons from his Australian crops include G1 Golden Slipper winner Vancouver, G1 Golden Rose winner Astern and Gold Coast Guineas winner Nostradamus.
Record trade concludes Tattersalls October Yearlings
Books 3 and 4 occupy markedly different territory to the starting boom of Book 1, but consistently strong trade through the first week and a half of Europe's largest yearling sale led to either a trickledown or a rising tide – call it what you will – ensuring that the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale closed on a new high.
Record trade throughout the four books saw turnover exceed 211 million gns (AU$425.3 million) for the first time. A reduced intake of 1847 yearlings catalogued resulted in 1644 being offered in the ring and 1408 finding a buyer. Along with the record aggregate, there were new benchmarks for the average of 149,833gns (AU$302,000) and 80,000gns (AU$161,000) median.
Book 3, which concluded on Friday before the final group of 47 yearlings took to the ring for a condensed Book 4, finished largely on a par with last year's figures, though a particularly buoyant first day had brought nine six-figure lots, led by Whitsbury Manor Stud's Havana Grey filly out of Adaay Secret at 150,000gns (AU$287,000).
Elite Power leads Juddmonte USA fees for 2027
Juddmonte Farms has announced the 2027 stud fees for its USA stallion roster, headed by two-time Eclipse Champion Elite Power (by Curlin), who will stand for US$25,000 (AU$36,000) LFSN, and GI Kentucky Derby winner Mandaloun (by Into Mischief), whose fee has been set at US$10,000 (AU$14,400) LFSN, according to a press release from the farm on Friday.
Two-time GI Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Elite Power, the only son of Curlin to win Eclipse Awards in consecutive years, has established himself among the leading freshman yearling sires in the commercial marketplace in 2026.
Group winner Santagada added to Arqana
Santagada (Soldier Hollow) will sell at the Arqana Vente d'Elevage in December. A champion in Germany, she is a multiple group winner for trainer Pieter Schiergen.
Consigned to the sale by Ronald Rauscher, Santagada has won group races at two, three and four, with her most recent group tally in the G2 T. von Zastrow Stutenpreis, her six such victory.
Rated 110, Santagada is out of Listed winner Salve Venezia (Areion) and is from the family of G1 Preis der Diana heroine Salve Regina (Monsun), champion Schiaparelli, and Group 1 scorers Samum, Sea The Moon and Sosie.
Aga Khan draft headlines Goffs Horses-In-Training sale
A total of 86 lots, 10 of them from the Aga Khan Studs, have been catalogued for the Goffs Autumn HIT Sale.
The 107-rated Asakir (Zarak) (lot 64) is a Leopardstown maiden winner in the iconic green-and-red silks. The 3-year-old gelding ran fourth in the G2 Prix Chaudenay on Arc weekend earlier this month. Joining him is the 3-year-old colt Almazaan (Zarak) (lot 63), a maiden winner at The Curragh, while Sindagan (Mehmas) (lot 66) is another from the draft. He is rated 95 and broke his maiden at the Galway Festival.
BBAG topped by Torquator Tasso yearling colt
A yearling son of Arc hero Torquator Tasso caught the eye of Liberty Racing to the tune of €100,000 (AU$162,000) during the first session of the BBAG October Mixed Sale in Germany on Friday. Consigned by Gestut Westerberg, the son of the stakes-placed Tiziana (Touch Down) is a half-brother to the multiple stakes-placed Taiora (Tai Chi).
Three other lots breached the €50,000 (AU$81,000) mark, among them a son of Japan and the multiple group-placed Schutzenpost (American Post). Part of the Gestut Etzean draft, the half-brother to multiple stakes winner and two-time group-placed Schutzenzauber (Amaron) was purchased by I. A. Carvalho for €55,000 (AU$89,000).
At the end of the first day's trade, 67 lots sold from 87 offered (77%) for a gross of €1,058,000 (AU$1.6 million). The average was €16,030 (AU$25,900) and the median was €14,000 (AU$22,600).
