Global Goal set for Spring Champion Stakes
G1 Flight Stakes winner Global Goal (Pinatubo {Ire}) will run in the G1 Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick on Saturday. “She put on 15kg so I thought ‘back you come’ and she’s done very well. She’s only needed a couple of gallops to get her right for Saturday,” trainer John Sargent told racingnsw.com.au.
Global Goal | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“She’s got the form on the board against some nice fillies and gets a couple of kilos from the colts. With this on your doorstep for that money you’re mad not to stay here and go for it. She’s starting to relax a bit more in herself, she was always on the go a bit, and is more seasoned. The Pinatubos are doing a lot in England over a bit of ground and the dam’s side is the same, she’s quite relaxed in her races and has a good turn of foot at the end.”
Vale Rob Burnet
Robert Burnet, a respected racing media publisher, has died. The founder of thoroughbrednews.com.au, Burnet ran the platform for over thirty years with his work taking to racing across Australia, New Zealand and Asia. “Robert was always the best dressed Racing Journalist in the Media Room,” Gary Crispe, Executive Director Racing and Sports, told thoroughbrednews.com.au.
Rob Burnet | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“While many of us had just one suitcase, Rob would turn up at the airport with at least two large cases and many suit or sports coat bags and his roller business case. Rob had a different outfit for every occasion and when combined with impeccable taste in socks and different shoe, he put the rest of us one outfit, boring Journalists to shame! To say Rob was a dapper dresser is an understatement.”
Twenty charity partners for Golden Eagle announced
Racing NSW has listed the 20 charity partners for the G1 Golden Eagle. “A total of $6.2 million has already been donated to charity since the first edition of the Golden Eagle in 2019, with a further $1 million being donated this year,” Racing NSW Acting Chief Executive Graeme Hinton told racingnsw.com.au.
Graeme Hinton | Image courtesy of Racing NSW
“We are immensely proud of the charity component of the Golden Eagle and excited for our 2026 charity partners being involved to represent some very worthy causes. Golden Eagle Day is the fastest growing raceday of the Sydney Spring, with the Golden Eagle race being the second most wagered upon NSW race each year, behind only the TAB Everest.” The full list is on Racing NSW’s website.
Verona Rose ready for The Invitation
With a Group 1 as the main goal for the season, Gary Portelli-trained Verona Rose (Castelvecchio) will run in the G2 The Invitation on Saturday. “The preparation was around trying to get Group 1 against her name and that might still be the target, I’ll see how she goes this weekend as I may back her up in Melbourne,” Portelli told racingnsw.com.au.
Gary Portelli | Image courtesy Portelli Racing
“It’s worth a million bucks (to the winner) and she already has multiple black type already. She’s right in this race I’d say. We’ve had a lot of fun with her, it’s a massive syndicate with good people who have enjoyed the run.”
Vale Philip Neck
Racing administrator Philip Neck has died suddenly. A Life Member of the South Australian Breeders' Association, Neck began his career working for Ra Ora Stud and Windsor Park Stud in New Zealand as well as farms in America and England before returning to the family farm of Dibden Park Stud. During his life, he held roles such as Chair of the Onkaparinga Jockey Club (now Oakbank), Chief Executive of the West Australian Turf Club, and CEO of the Darwin Turf Club before establishing PDN Racing international to assist the Asian Racing Federation with conference organisation.
Andrew Harding, Executive Director, Racing, of the Hong Kong Jockey Club wrote, “Philip's involvement has been described as a turning point in the professional organisation of the Asian Racing Conferences, which become during his period the largest and most global conference for thoroughbred racing, drawing speakers and delegates from across the world.”
King Of Light aimed at G1 WA Railway Stakes
Trainer Dan Morton will aim last start group winner King Of Light (Earthlight {Ire}) at the G1 WA Railway Stakes. “He's one of our high-class horses and he'd come back in great order,” Morton told racingwa.com.au.
Dan Morton | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
“From our point of view, we went in confident that he was going to put his hand up and have a good prep for us. We've mapped everything towards that (Railway).” He runs in the G2 Lee Steere Stakes next.
Zahra condemns online abuse
Jockey Mark Zahra is grateful to have avoided serious injury in the G1 Caulfield Cup fall. “We discussed it, and look, if I was a footy player I'd probably have a fitness test on Saturday morning and work out whether I'm right to go,” Zahra told racenet.com.au.
Mark Zahra | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I didn't really want to leave trainers in the lurch if I didn't get up for Saturday. If you look at the fall, and someone says you're only going to miss a week, you'd be pretty happy with that. I was just sore all up the left side, got the absolute sh– knocked out of me, but I never lost consciousness, which is a miracle, considering how I got flung to the ground. My head and that was all right, but I was very lucky.
“I think I had more texts and calls from falling in the Caulfield Cup than I had winning it, everyone wanted to see how I was, so it was nice to know I'm still loved!”
Zahra spoke out against the online vitriol hurled at his fellow jockeys. “I see everyone had their stewards caps on, on social media, and trying to blame people, but there's no need for it. Sometimes, no one has to be blamed … I was very unlucky to fall.
“Everyone starts pointing their fingers, but we've got a very good stewards team here in Victoria and I had faith in them. I watched it, everyone watched it, and everyone was of the same opinion, the right outcome was made.”
New routine the key for Deakin
Phillip and Tommy Stokes-trained Deakin (Fr) (Australia {GB}) runs in Saturday’s G2 Moonee Valley Cup. “We sent him up to Sydney and it didn't work out. But we feel that the Moonee Valley Cup is the right race for him and it is time for him to shine in that,” Phillip Stokes told racenet.com.au.
“We have had him up at the farm a little bit and we are hoping that will turn him around and rejuvenate him. His work (since) has been good and by race day he will be where we want.”
Prince Of Verona stays unbeaten
Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained 3-year-old gelding Prince Of Verona (Castelvecchio) took his record to three wins from as many starts at Warwick Farm on Wednesday. He won at Bathurst and Goulburn prior to Wednesday’s win. Arrowfield Stud sold him for $100,000 at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale to Triple Crown Syndications.
Prince Of Verona is one of two winners for unraced Holiday Romance (Snitzel).
New winner for Barbaric
Second season sire Barbaric added winner number eight when Adam Campton-trained 3-year-old filly Moonlit Aura won at Eagle Farm on Wednesday. She was having her second start, having run second on debut earlier this month. Campton Racing paid $70,000 for her from Lyndhurst Stud Farm’s Magic Millions March Yearling Sale draft and the farm has retained a share in her.
Moonlit Aura is the seventh winner for Listed winner Lune Rouge (USA) (Malibu Moon {USA}) who is a half-sister to fellow American Listed winners Bound (USA) (Jump Start {USA}) and Road To Mandalay (USA) (Sea Of Secrets {USA}).
Splintex adds new winner
Second season sire Splintex added winner number nine when Neville Parnham-trained 3-year-old gelding Tex ‘n’ Cee won his maiden at Belmont on Wednesday. He had run second in all his three starts prior to this. Not offered at auction, Tex ‘n’ Cee is the first foal of G1 Kingston Town Classic (now G1 Northerly Stakes) winner Kay Cee (Playing God). Kay Cee is a full sister to Listed winner September Born.
Fiennes to play Cecil in biopic
Three-time Oscar nominee Ralph Fiennes has confirmed his casting as Sir Henry Cecil in a biopic of the legendary Newmarket trainer and his world champion racehorse, Frankel. Shooting on the film, which has a working title of Unbeaten, is expected to begin in 2027.
The biopic will be directed by BAFTA winner Nora Fingscheidt, with the screenplay written by Bash Doran, who has worked on the likes of Boardwalk Empire. Fiennes has also signed on as an executive producer.
Cecil, who was awarded a knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II in 2011, was crowned Britain's champion trainer 10 times between 1976 and 1993, before enduring a lull which resulted in him saddling just 12 winners on the Flat in 2005. He also battled stomach cancer, including whilst masterminding the illustrious career of Frankel, who was unbeaten in 14 starts when he retired in 2012. Cecil died just a few months later, back where he belonged at the top of the sport through his expert handling of the Juddmonte superstar.
“I knew nothing about the legendary Henry Cecil until I read Bash Doran's screenplay,” Fiennes told www.deadline.com. “I was compelled and moved by it and by Henry's story with the great horse Frankel. Henry was – and still is – a unique figure, complex and competitive in the very specific world of horse racing. I'm particularly excited to be collaborating with Nora Fingscheidt. I was blown away by her film The Outrun.”
British and Irish foal crop falls again
The combined British and Irish foal crop has dropped again in 2026, according to Weatherbys' official Return of Mares for 2026, with 11,312 foals registered as of September 30, a decline of 2.4% from 2025 and 17.2% from 2023.
The decline was particularly pronounced in Britain, where 3,670 foals were registered, down 6.3% from 3,915 in 2025. Ireland recorded 7,642 foals, a marginal decrease of 0.5% from last year's 7,678. The combined foal crop has now declined for three consecutive years, having stood at 13,670 in 2023, 12,809 in 2024 and 11,593 in 2025.
Starman headed the list of busiest stallions in 2026 with 324 mares covered, followed by Maxios (309), Los Angeles (292) and Delacroix (282).
Daryz to stand at Gilltown Stud in 2027
The Aga Khan Studs have announced that dual Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Daryz will stand alongside his sire, the legendary Sea The Stars, at Gilltown Stud.
Winner of four Group 1 races from nine to 12 furlongs and renowned for his dazzling turn of foot, Daryz hails from one of the most distinguished families in the stud book and will be an exciting addition to the stallion ranks in Ireland.
*I think it's a great day for Gilltown, a great day for Ireland. Daryz is an exceptional racehorse. He's a really, really good individual with a beautiful pedigree and a great race career. I think he'll be a great addition to the stallion ranks in Ireland,” Pat Downes said.
Al Riffa gets 2027 stud deal
Three-time Group 1 winner Al Riffa (Wootton Bassett) and G2 Prix Eugene Adam hero My Prospero (Iffraaj) have joined the burgeoning roster at Capital Stud for the 2027 breeding season. Stud fees for both stallions will be announced in due course.
Trained by Joseph O'Brien, Al Riffa won five of his 21 races and ran in nine different countries, with his career earnings exceeding US$1.8 million (AU$2.6 million). He made the breakthrough at the top level when winning the 2022 National Stakes at the Curragh as a 2-year-old, with his other Group 1 triumphs coming later in the 2024 Grosser Preis von Berlin at Hoppegarten and last year's Irish St. Leger back at the Curragh.
Initially owned by the Al Riffa Syndicate and later in partnership with Masaaki Matsushima, Al Riffa was purchased by Australian Bloodstock in the aftermath of his Irish St. Leger success and went on to finish seventh when burdened with top weight in that year's Melbourne Cup. The son of Wootton Bassett was last seen finishing third when trying to win July's G2 Curragh Cup for the second consecutive year.
“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Al Riffa to Capital Stud,” said the County Kilkenny operation's Ger O'Neill. “Horses with his profile are incredibly difficult to find – he had the speed to win a National Stakes at two, the class to compete with the very best middle-distance horses in Europe and ultimately the stamina to win an Irish St Leger in such impressive fashion.”
My Prospero, meanwhile, joins Capital Stud following two seasons at Haras des Faunes in France where he commanded a fee of €3,000 (AU$4800). The son of Iffraaj will stand in partnership with his owner and breeder, Mrs Tsui.
Fasig-Tipton October Yearlings day 2 shows promise
Activity ticked up during the second session of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearlings Sale in Lexington Tuesday and when the four-day auction reached its halfway point, figures remained within striking distance of the auction's record-setting 2025 renewal. After two sessions, 537 yearlings have sold for US$33,012,500 (AU$47 million). The average of US$61,476 (AU$87,500) held basically steady with last year's two-session figure of US$61,280 (AU$87,400), while the median was up 16.67% to US$35,000 (AU$50,000) from US$30,000 (AU$42,800) a year ago.
Boyd Browning Jr | Image courtesy of Fasig-Tipton
“It was a strong second session of the October sale,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr. “As we kind of indicated yesterday, we thought we had a higher number of top-end horses today and that is evidenced by the results. Once again, we saw competitive bidding throughout the day. I don't think there were any significant surprises in the marketplace. We've seen the same trends that existed at the beginning of the 2026 yearling season continue through the later portion of the 2026 yearling season. Overall, it's a healthy marketplace.”
Leading Tuesday's session, and the overall sale so far, were a pair of yearlings who sold for US$800,000 (AU$1.14 million). Donato Lanni, bidding on behalf of Jerry Lundergan's Lundergan Stables, went to that figure for a filly by Uncle Mo from the Heartwood Farm consignment. Later in the session, Mahmud Mouni matched that bid to purchase a colt by Into Mischief on behalf of Tagermeen Racing. The colt was consigned by Dixiana Farms.
Arqana October Yearlings day 1 on par with last year
Godolphin and its associated Rabbah Bloodstock contributed to a solid start to the Arqana October Sale on Tuesday, with Rabbah in particular making their presence felt through the purchase of nine yearlings for €1,456,000 (AU$2.3 million).
It was Anthony Stroud who signed for the day's top lot on behalf of Godolphin after bidding €360,000 (AU$576,000) for the Blue Point first foal of Ronea (Sea The Stars), a daughter of the Group winner and producer The Juliet Rose (Monsun). The colt was bred in partnership by Ecurie des Monceaux, Guy Heald and Meridian International and is from the family of Godolphin's Arabian Crown (Dubawi), who has had a productive season and has won the G1 Canadian International and G3 Kilternan Stakes since the catalogue was printed.
An improved clearance rate of 81%, achieved from the sale of 154 of the 191 horses offered, saw the figures settle at roughly the same level as the opening day 12 months ago. With the adjusted format of this sale – to four days from six last year – direct comparisons are difficult but the average of €91,649 (AU$146,500) and median of €75,000 (AU$120,000) stood up well against the 2025 figures of a €93,144 (AU$149,000) average and €70,000 (AU$112,000) median. The turnover this time was €14,114,000 (AU$22.5 million), which was pretty much on par with last year when seven more horses were marked as sold.
Early Voting dies of colic
Early Voting (Gun Runner), winner of the 2022 GI Preakness Stakes, has died at the age of seven following an acute onset of irreversible colic, according to a press release issued Tuesday by his owner, Dr. Padraig O'Casaigh. The stallion was humanely euthanized.
Standing at Taylor Made Stallions, Early Voting had made a promising start to his stud career, with his first crop of runners hitting the track in 2026 (116 foals of racing age), including GI winner Miss Monica. After covering 89 mares according to the Jockey Club's 'Report of Mares Bred' last season, his fee was set at US$50,000 (AU$71,300) in 2027.
Dr. O'Casaigh paid tribute to the stallion and thanked the team at Taylor Made for their care. “This outstanding freshman sire will not only be remembered for his tremendous success on the racetrack, but also his warm and loving personality,” the statement read.
Group 3 juvenile winner for Ghaiyyath
Still a maiden entering The Curragh's G3 Staffordstown Stud Stakes on Tuesday, Juliet Cooper's 2-year-old filly Chattering Classes (Ghaiyyath) took a leap forward to shed that tag in the mile feature.
Jessica Harrington | Image courtesy of Ireland Thoroughbred
Trainer Jessica Harrington's daughter Kate said, “She came out of her last race as if she hadn't had a race and the tacky ground was the only concern, but they turned it into a true stamina test and she really came to the fore in the last furlong. We'll put her away for the winter and I would imagine the owners would want to go to the Salsabil with her. We'll see the best of her going a mile and a quarter up to a mile and a half.”
Hazelton joins Keeneland
Keeneland has added respected racing broadcaster and industry professional Scott Hazelton to its team full time starting in January, expanding his work across marketing, content and customer engagement initiatives, with a focus on racing and sales, the organization said in a Tuesday release.
“Keeneland has changed my life in so many positive ways, it's difficult to put into words,” Hazelton said. “Being surrounded by the knowledge and experience of so many people across the Thoroughbred industry has made these some of the best years of my career. I look forward to making that experience year-round and continuing to grow alongside the Keeneland family. I'm equally excited to bring my own family into such a special community that is committed to making our industry the best it can be.”
O’Kelly gains new role with Tattersalls
Tattersalls has announced the appointment of John O'Kelly as its Brand Ambassador and International Representative, continuing his longstanding association with the company following the conclusion of his auctioneering duties at Tattersalls last year.
In this role, O'Kelly will, as before, represent Tattersalls in a variety of ways, including bloodstock inspections and attendance at domestic and international sales and race meetings.
“I am delighted to continue my association with Tattersalls in this new capacity,” said O'Kelly. “In my 34 years as an auctioneer and representing the company, I have built tremendous professional relationships with breeders, vendors and purchasers worldwide. I look forward to maintaining those connections while further contributing to the success of Tattersalls.”
Debut win for expensive Amo Racing purchase
All at Amo Racing have much to dream about over the winter after their €3 million (AU$4.8 million) Arqana August topper now 2-year-old filly Marylebone (Night Of Thunder) pulled off a smooth winning debut at Yarmouth on Tuesday.
Trainer Kevin Philippart de Foy added, “We've taken our time with her, I was worried about the ground but she's done everything right. The trip is the bare minimum, so she is a nice filly to look forward to. The slow ground and the wind are a lot to take on first time, but she's got a great brain. There was a bit of pressure on our shoulders, so it's a relief.”
Her dam Prudenzia (Dansili) does nothing but produce millionaire yearlings, it seems, with her latest son of Siyouni selling for €1million (AU$1.6 million) exactly to Yoshito Yahagi at Arqana's flagship sale in August. That was her ninth progeny to make or surpass that figure since the Irish Oaks heroine Chicquita sold there for €600,000 (AU$960,000) in 2011, with the globe-trotting Group 1 winner Magic Wand making €1.4million (AU$2.2 million) five years later and the current sensation Diamond Necklace going for €1.7million (AU$2.7 million).
Marylebone is her most expensive yearling to date, reaching well beyond the €2million (AU$3.2 million) paid by Coolmore for Gulliver's Travels in 2020. Prudenzia's six stakes performers also include the Group 3 winner Philomene by Night Of Thunder's sire Dubawi, who like Chicquita was runner-up in the Prix de Diane, while Chicquita is in turn responsible for three stakes performers including Dubawi's Curragh Cup winner Emily Dickinson.
Goffs Autumn Yearlings add 33 wildcards
Thirty-three lots have been added to the catalogue for the Goffs Autumn Yearling Sale, which takes place from Monday, November 2 to Wednesday, November 4. They will be offered as lots 789-821 at approximately 4.30pm on the final day of the sale.
The supplementary entries include a number of well-bred yearlings, including lot 812, a Coulsty half-brother to the G1 Prix Jean Romanet scorer Aristia (Starspangledbanner) from Rathasker Stud, and lot 820, a Sioux Nation half-brother to the Listed-winning sprinter Shades Of Blue (Kodiac) from Newtown Stud.
