Steward’s report into Caulfield Cup adjourned
Racing Victoria stewards have adjourned their report into the falls in the G1 Caulfield Cup until the two fallen jockeys Mark Zahra and Jye McNeil can give evidence. They have already heard evidence from jockeys Rachel King on Green Spaces (Street Boss {USA}), Jabez Johnstone on Kings Valley (Ire) (Territories {Ire}) and Ethan Brown on Zahrann (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}).
The Victorian Jockeys Association confirmed on Sunday morning that Zahra was discharged from hospital on Saturday night, while McNeil was discharged on Sunday morning.
Half Yours (St Jean {Ire}) will likely spell following his fall, while Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) was euthanised. “No decision at the moment but he won’t be able to work for 10 days so I think our campaign is over,” Half Yours’ co-trainer Tony McEvoy told racing.com on Sunday morning.
“So, as disappointing as that is, we are still overjoyed that he seems okay. We are very lucky. He had four staples in a near foreleg and four staples put in an off-hind leg and he had a laceration under his chest, but all pretty superficial stuff in the scheme of things.”
Wexford recalls their Oaks winner Ohope Wins
The sad loss of Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) in the G1 Caulfield Cup when she was bought down by the fallen Half Yours (St Jean {Ire}) has been felt across the Tasman where she began her career with Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott.
“She was incredibly kind, just very willing,” Scott told Loveracing.nz.
Andrew Scott | Image courtesy of Wexford Stables
“Yes, she was incredibly talented, but she was a kind soul. She was just one of those nice animals that was willing to learn, willing to quicken, really sound, and had high levels of ability.
“What she showed to us during her brief career, she rates up with some of the best horses we’ve trained, there’s no doubt about it. She was a very good horse to us and we were very proud of her achievements when she went to Australia.
“The team is heartbroken. She was a special part of our team, but we feel for Team Waller and Team Yulong as well. (Yulong Head of Racing) Danny Rolston rung last night and he was really upset. He said they’d done everything they could to save her and he was very sad to deliver this news to the team.
“It’s never easy, no matter what. When you have a loss in the team it’s felt, regardless of ability, but it was a bit of a sombre night last night for sure. She was a very loved mare on both sides of the Tasman and we certainly won’t forget her.”
Ohope Wins was bred by Bill Gartshore and his family and raced under their Gartshore Bloodstock before being sold to Yulong. She won her maiden at start number four in the G2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes, adding the G2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic and G1 New Zealand Oaks before a trip to Australia where she was fourth in the G1 Vinery Stud Stakes before adding the G1 Australian Oaks to her record. All up, she had four wins from 12 starts with earnings over $1.5 million.
Ceolwulf to back up into Cox Plate
Running second to Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) in the G1 King Charles III Stakes on Saturday has Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) ready for Saturday’s G1 Cox Plate.
“It wasn't a trot and canter but it wasn't the test of stamina. The only positive… of course, he picked up $850,000 (prizemoney) but he didn't have a tough run and you saw Chad (Schofield) switch him off the last 50 metres,” trainer Joe Pride told racenet.com.au.
Joe Pride | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He seems really good (Sunday) morning. We'll be accepting on Tuesday morning for the Cox Plate… he's been to Flemington before now, he did that trip last year and handled things really well.”
In foal Infancy hoping for a run in The Invitation
Trainer Kris Lees is hoping 6-year-old mare Infancy (Wandjina) can get a run in The Invitation before she heads off to stud. She’s recently been served by Anamoe.
“She’s had a little freshen-up where she went to a stallion, being Anamoe, and she’s still positive,” Lees told betsy.com.au.
“The majority race better (in foal). Some have an adverse effect, but there’s no suggestion of that. She ran really well in the Tibbie. They walked and she charged home. It will be five weeks into the Invitation with a trial.
“Her win record isn’t great because she is a backmarker, but she’s raced at a high grade, she’s a dual stakes winner, and has had numerous bad luck stories, as those style of horses do. All her best runs have been at Randwick, and any rain won’t hurt her.”
G3 Eurythmic Stakes won by King Of Light
Dan Morton-trained 4-year-old gelding King Of Light (Earthlight {Ire}) added to his outstanding record on Saturday evening in Perth, winning the G3 Eurythmic Stakes. He has won seven of his eight starts, five at stakes level, and took his earnings over $760,000.
One of five stakes winners from the first crop of Earthlight (Ire) across both hemispheres, King Of Light was bought for $120,000 by Morton Racing from Amelia Park’s Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale draft. He is one of four winners for Queen’s Parade (NZ) (Dalghar {Fr}) who is a winning half-sister to Group 3 winner Spirit Bird (NZ) (Savabeel).
Debutant winner for Wootton Bassett
At Toowoomba’s Saturday night meeting, Pat Webster-trained 3-year-old gelding Super Intent (Wootton Bassett {GB}) won on debut. Sold by Fernrigg Farm for $30,000 as a weanling, he went through the Infinity Thoroughbreds draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where he made $85,000 to the bid of Keddstock.
He is the first foal of stakes-placed Bons Abroad (Bon Hoffa), a full sister to Listed winner Bons Away and a half-sister to stakes-placed Street Icon (Street Boss {USA}).
New winner for Stay Inside
Second season sire Stay Inside celebrated his 15th winner when Tom Dabernig-trained 3-year-old filly Strength Within won at Horsham on Sunday. She was having her second start, having run almost last on debut as a juvenile. Dabernig and Pinhook Bloodstock (FBAA) bought her for $80,000 from Segenhoe Stud’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale draft.
She is the first foal of Karak (USA) (Karakontie {Jpn}) who was a dual Listed winner in America.
Also in Victoria, at Moe, two 3-year-olds won on debut being Nickibi (Nicconi) and Go Maggie Mae (NZ) (Proisir).
New winner for Wild Ruler
Second season sire Wild Ruler added winner number 24 when 3-year-old filly Francie Rules won in New Zealand on Sunday for trainer Bill Thurlow. She was having her third start and was sold by Mapperley Stud to her trainer for NZ$60,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale. She is the first foal of Toronado (Ire) mare Francie Girl who is a winning half-sister to Listed winner Bello Beau (Brazen Beau).
New winner for The Odyssey
Second season sire The Odyssey added winner number five, from nine runners, when Paul Shailer-trained 3-year-old gelding The Epic Journey won on debut at Lismore. He is the first foal of Miss Silky (Zoffany {Ire}), a winning half-sister to Listed winner Anagold (Anabaa {USA}).
At the same meeting, Matthew Dunn-trained 3-year-old filly Sparkling Betty (Graff) won on debut. Toronado (Ire) sired a double with Lenny Star and Toroness.
Amphitrite’s Monroe Walk wins G1 Shuka Sho
G1 1000 Guineas winner Amphitrite (Sebring) is the dam of Sunday’s G1 Shuka Sho victrix Monroe Walk (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), who broke the course record and kept her unbeaten record intact.
My Wish to fly Newnham’s flag in Monday’s Group 2
Racing in Hong Kong this weekend will be on Monday and the G2 Sha Tin Trophy will be missing Invincible Ibis (Hellbent) after he sustained a tendon injury this week. Trainer Mark Newnham will run stablemate My Wish (Flying Artie).
“I’m not sure what recovery time we’re looking at yet. Obviously it’s not ideal, but the horse comes first and it’ll be when he’s ready, he’s ready,” Newnham told scmp.com.
My Wish | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
“I’ve been very pleased with (My Wish). He’s had three trials now. He’s going in there pretty forward, which he needs to. When he won this race last year, he’d already had a run under his belt, and he went in with 115lb. So, 131lb this time, but he’s done enough work. He’s not a heavy horse, so he’s going in fit enough, but he’ll still need things to go right for him. I want him at his best in December and later on in the season. So, whatever he does on Monday, he’ll certainly improve again.”
Violence retired from stud duties
The sire of Grade 1 winners like Forte, Mullikin, Volatile, No Parole and Dr. Schivel, Violence (by Medaglia d'Oro) has been officially retired from commercial breeding by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa and will become a private stallion at Newtown Anner Stud.
“His semen quality and fertility has been substantially reduced, so we had to be careful about how many times we bred him and the results were not what is required of a commercial stallion in Kentucky,” Sikura told the Blood Horse's Eric Mitchell. “We tried everything in the world, brought in the experts, and we got to a point where we could not be fair to our customers and our shareholders. He is a wonderful horse, and it is very disappointing.”
Oscar Performance to stand for US$60,000 in 2027
Mill Ridge Farm shared its stud fees for the 2027 breeding season and once again sire Oscar Performance (by Kitten's Joy) will stand for US$60,000 (AU$86,200) in the new year, according to a press release from the outfit on Saturday morning.
Oscar Performance, a multiple Grade 1 winner, leads all North American stallions with percentage of Grade 1 stakes horses from starters in 2026. The figure tops leading sires such as Not This Time, Gun Runner, Into Mischief and Justify, the release said.
“His ability to move up his mares with his 2-year-olds performing at the highest level on a $20k stud fee suggests his future is very bright,” said Mill Ridge's Price Bell. “When you consider he is “book full” these last four years and in-utero mares are at a fee of $60,000, we are excited for his shareholders and breeders supporting him. We have decided to maintain his fee of $60,000 for 2027 and look forward to the future.”
Capability Brown gets O’Brien his 17th Killavullan Stakes
Aidan O'Brien's roll of honour in Leopardstown's G3 Mongey Communications Killavullan Stakes is headed by 2004 winner Footstepsinthesand (Giant's Causeway) and he bagged a record-extending 17th renewal, and an afternoon Group 3 double, with 2-year-old colt Capability Brown (Dubawi) making all in the seven-furlong contest.
“Wayne (Lordan) gave him a peach of a ride,” said Ballydoyle's Chris Armstrong. “The horse is unbelievably genuine and has kept progressing from run to run. He thrives on racing and he's one to look forward to for a trial next year. If he came through today well, Aidan might even look at France next weekend. He just takes his racing so well and, mentally, he's coming along. When Wayne really got down into him, he really stretched out to the line and won nicely.”
Capability Brown, who becomes his sire's 214th Group winner, is the seventh of eight foals and one of five scorers out of the G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes-winning European champion Maybe (Galileo), herself a full sister to Group 3-winning G1 Prix Marcel Boussac and G1 Criterium International placegetter Promise To Be True and the dual Group-placed Barbados.
Maybe, also kin to the dam of G1 St Leger hero Continuous (Heart's Cry), is out of a Listed-winning half-sister to G1 Oaks and G1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) heroine Dancing Rain (Danehill Dancer).
The winner is full to a yearling colt and a half to G1 Racing Post Trophy and G1 2000 Guineas hero Saxon Warrior (Deep Impact), G3 Gallinule victor Drumroll (Deep Impact) and the Listed-placed duo More Beautiful (War Front) and Pavlenko (Deep Impact).
Seven-figure Wall Street wins Group 3
Coolmore's 2-year-old colt Wall Street (Sea The Stars) annexed his debut over one mile at Leopardstown with a TDN Rising Star display in August and returned to the Foxrock venue to notch a black-type breakthrough, and a record-extending 15th renewal for Aidan O'Brien, in Saturday's G3 Mongey Communications Eyrefield Stakes. He cost 1 million gns (AU$2 million) at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale.
“He has the makings of a smashing colt for next year,” said Ballydoyle's Chris Armstrong. “His maiden couldn't have worked out any better and, all being well, he'll come back here for one of the trials [next year]. He was still pretty raw with Wayne [Lordan], but I suppose with the way the track is set up today he could never really get him balanced and into a rhythm. In fairness, when he asked him, he went forward nicely. There's still plenty of improvement in there and he's one that will make the winter a wee bit shorter.”
Movie Night wins G2 Raven Run Stakes
There was no speed duel to worry about in the G2 Lexus Raven Run Stakes, and Movie Night (Speightstown) made the most of it in the lane to collect her first Graded victory.
“Night racing can be a little different, and the three fillies that came down to the wire in the last race [the Dogwood] were three really solid fillies,” said trainer Will Walden. “None of them deserved to lose. [In today's race, they] spread out. She broke sharp. When you keep her in the middle of the track, she tends to shut off and relax, which is what [Flavien Prat] alluded to there. I think that's what happened, but she was full of run when called upon.”
Alter Adler colt tops day 2 of BBAG
Trainer Henk Grewe snapped up a son of Alter Adler (Lot 226) for €49,000 (AU$79,000) to top the second day of the BBAG October Mixed Sale in Germany on Saturday.
Consigned by OH Consignment, the colt is out of Abadessa (The Gurkha) and is a half-brother to G3 Dr Busch-Memroial hero Asker (Aclaim). This is also the family of G3 Killafullan Stakes winner Coral Beach (Zoffany).
At the close of trade on Saturday, 97 lots sold from 150 offered (64%) for a gross of €867,600 (AU$1.4 million). Overall, the sale's aggregate was €2,058,600 (AU$3.2 million) for 167 sold from 237 offered (70%). The average came in at €12,326 (AU$19,800) up 18% and the median was €9,000 (AU$14,500).
