Blind Raise has a fighter on his team
UFC fighter Jack Jenkins is a part-owner of 3-year-old gelding Blind Raise (NZ) (Ace High) who runs in Saturday’s G1 Cox Plate. “A couple of years ago, I snuck into the Cox Plate breakfast to watch the barrier draw and Brenda from Moonee Valley ended up giving me tickets,” Jenkins told racenet.com.au.
Blind Raise (NZ) | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“A few years later, I'm now here with a runner, it's pretty exciting. I am more nervous watching a track gallop than having a fight. When you fight, you're in control and it's probably similar to other things but with the horses, you've just got to sit back and watch.
“If I've got a bit of an opinion of the horse, I like to bet so that's even more nerve-racking.” His next fight is on February 7. “The UFC will tell me six weeks out who I'm fighting so I just have to be ready for whoever.”
Flash flooding forces Saturday move to Eagle Farm
Doomben’s Saturday meeting has been moved to Eagle Farm after 200mm of rain fell in Brisbane on Thursday. “The transfer has been necessary following heavy and continuous overnight rainfall and a determination that irrespective of the weather which eventuates between now and Saturday, the racing surface at Doomben will not be suitable for racing on,” Racing Queensland said.
“As a consequence of the transfer there has been (minor) changes to the distances of some of the races on the program.” SES Brisbane responded to 72 calls for assistance on Thursday and there were 277 calls for assistance across Queensland.
“Over the next 24 hours, we see an easing trend in terms of the likelihood of intense rainfall should decrease across south-east Queensland,” BOM’s Steve Hadley told abc.net.au.
“There could still be some heavy bursts of rain over the next 24 to 72 hours over across southern and central parts of Queensland.”
Decent draw for Autumn Mystery
Rory Hunter-trained Autumn Mystery (The Autumn Sun) has drawn 7 for Saturday’s G2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup. “It’s been a long time coming for him to actually draw a barrier,” Hunter told racing.com.
Autumn Mystery | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“It’s critical in these races that you can get a gate that suits your horse, and the way the tempo is going to be, it gives us a real chance on Saturday. We drew wide the other day, so unfortunately, we just ended up back where we were and Teo (Nugent) had to make a long, sustained run. But he was only beaten a length and I think with a barrier, we go pretty close to winning the race.
“We just think he's a real Flemington type of horse, especially stepping out to the 2500 metres. This is really right up his alley and I think hopefully in 12 months' time, he's going to be matching it with the big boys… we’re excited for the weekend and for the future.”
Why So Hard ready for mile in Callander-Presnell
Jockey Tyler Schiller likes the mile for Why So Hard (All Too Hard) in Saturday’s G3 Callander-Presnell Stakes at Randwick. “He’s a big striding horse, he’s well winded, and I think he’s had enough grounding,” Schiller told racingnsw.com.au.
“He’s had two trials going into that run and I thought it was a pretty strong run race, maybe that’s why he looked so good coming from back, but there wasn’t a lot that made up a lot of ground other than the horse he followed.
“I think he will be perfectly fine at the mile, he’s possibly looking for further in time but it’s come too quick for a Spring Champion.”
Distance stretch for Linebacker
Winner of the G1 Randwick Guineas at three, Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth) will run in Saturday’s Five Diamonds Prelude. “He looks like he’s going great, he’s still not quite there in his coat but other than that we’ve had a good straightforward prep with him,” co-trainer Tom Charlton told racingnsw.com.au.
Linebacker (NZ) | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“We’ve been really pleased with his first two runs back and it’s a more suitable track and distance for him third-up. It’s a competitive race and he’s been penalised for his Group 1 but this has been one of his target races for some time.
“We’re hoping to go to the Five Diamonds, he’s never stretched beyond a mile but we feel it might be time to have a crack at 1800m at Rosehill.”
Burles and The Cleaner back together
On Tuesday, the ashes of Longford trainer Mick Burles were interned with those of his best horse The Cleaner (Savoire Vivre {GB}) at Living Legends. Burles died in 2018 and his daughter Carissa kept his ashes safe until his final wish could be granted. The Cleaner, who lived out his retirement at Living Legends, died late last year suddenly from an aneurism.
The Cleaner won 19 of his 58 starts and over $1.3 million. “Mick and The Cleaner is a great racing story and for them to finally rest together is a testament to an industry that truly knows how to take care of its own,” Peter Staples, author of Mick And The Cleaner, told racing.com.
Sporting mates hope to win Listed Northam Cup
Sunday’s Listed Northam Cup will have a big squad of fans in attendance supporting Jason Pateman-trained Royal Toronado (Toronado {Ire}). WA basketballer and South Bunbury premiership player Jeff Hayres is part of the Cede Nullis syndicate that also includes WA Football Volunteer of the Year Craig Cahill and Haywards Medallists Peter Old and Wayne Watterson.
“There is an expectation as a team and as mates on the sporting field, so there is probably an unfair assumption that you will have success off the field as well,” Hayres told racingwa.com.au.
“Friendship and banter are both buoyed by winning at the racetrack. It’s not only the foundational mateship between people who have been friends for a long, long time, but the added joy and adrenaline rush of winning a race drives an extra feeling among the tribe.
“I’d highly recommend it to others. It’s great for mateship and helps keep those bonds and communications alive when you move on in life in different directions and it’s also just great humour. It’s a great day out when you’re an owner of a horse and you have that interest rather than just going to the track.”
Previously trained by the suspended Grant and Alana Williams, Royal Toronado has seven wins and earnings over $500,000. He comes off a last start third at Belmont.
Harry Angel 3-year-old wins on debut
At Thursday’s Mornington meeting, Clayton Douglas-trained 3-year-old gelding Regal Harry (Harry Angel {Ire}) won on debut. Maluka Thoroughbreds sold him to Douglas for $35,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. He is the third foal and second winner for Kings Brook (Hinchinbrook) who won six races including three in Melbourne.
Profondo celebrates first trial winner
At the trials in New Zealand on Thursday, first season sire Profondo celebrated a winner when 2-year-old gelding Wildcatter (NZ) won the first heat by 2.5 lengths for trainers Peter and Shaun McKay. He is a half-brother to Group 2 winner Frosted Gold (NZ) (All Too Hard) and Listed winner Sunshine Mighty (Murtajill).
The second heat went to Stephen Marsh-trained Mister Houdini (Harry Angel {Ire}) who won by 3 lengths. Sword Of State filly Dragon’s Edge (NZ) won the juvenile third heat by a length.
International campaign for Colourful King
Trainer David Eustace is contemplating an ambitious international campaign with Colourful King (Blue Point {Ire}) that includes the G1 Lightning Handicap in Melbourne and Royal Ascot. “I’ve inquired about the Lightning Stakes in Australia, which is mid-February, and then Royal Ascot is certainly a possibility. Timing wise, if we keep him fresh, it would be OK,” Eustace told scmp.com.
“They’re the two international targets. Australia wise I don’t know if it’s possible in the autumn and whether the quarantine is open or not. Ascot is something we’re keen to do if the horse is in form and I feel that he’s proved it’s a realistic target. Zac (Purton) has said for a while that at the top of his game, he gives him the feel of a horse that could win a race like [the King Charles III Stakes].”
Orman and Purton nab trebles at Happy Valley
Jockey James Orman rode his first treble in Hong Kong on Wednesday night aboard Caspar Fownes-trained Verbier (Fr) (Toronado {Ire}, Chris So’s Malpensa (NZ) (Nicconi) and the Ricky Yiu-trained Solid Win (Starspangledbanner). “It’s my first treble in Hong Kong and I’m very excited, very happy,” Orman told scmp.com.
“I came here with good rides, but didn’t really expect to get three wins but I’ve been working hard this season and slowly getting the results. It would be good to pass 30 wins for the season, but everyone knows how hard it is and I would like to ride a black-type winner here, but it’s hard with my weight.”
Purton added another treble to his record on Mark Newnham’s Ace (NZ) (Tivaci), David Hayes-trained Turin Champions (Harry Angel {Ire}) and Frankie Lor’s classy sprinter Bottomuptogether (Shamus Award). Written By had a double with Virtus Glory and Super Sixty.
Wellington Cup winner needs ballot win for Melbourne Cup
Lisa Latta-trained G3 Wellington Cup winner Manzor Blue (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) needs to win Saturday’s G2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup to grab a ballot free entry into the G1 Melbourne Cup. “We just thought the big, roomier track (of Flemington) would probably suit her better, and the extra 100m,” Latta told Loveracing.nz about the decision to bypass Wednesday’s G3 Geelong Cup.
“She has travelled well and you just don’t know until you get in amongst these horses and line up. It is a strong field.”
Record entries for Breeders’ Cup meeting
An unprecedented 255 pre-entries have set a record for the Breeders' Cup World Championships, as Thoroughbreds from far and wide prepare to converge on Keeneland Race Course for racing's premier two-day festival on October 30-31.
Representing a record 222 individual horses, including 79 international contenders–the second-highest number in history behind 80 in 2024–the list underscores the global prestige of the Breeders' Cup.
The international reach of the World Championships is once again reflected in the regionalism of its pre-entries, with horses bred in 10 countries (Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Japan, South Africa, and the United States) on six continents (Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America).
“This historic level of participation is a testament to the strength and prestige of the Breeders' Cup World Championships,” said President and CEO of Breeders' Cup Limited Drew Fleming. “We are deeply grateful to our board of directors, members, nominators, and participants from around the globe for their unwavering support, and to our racing department for the tremendous work that goes into assembling a lineup of this calibre. We also thank our great partners at Keeneland and look forward to welcoming the world to their historic venue for another thrilling edition of the Breeders' Cup, where the very best of our sport will compete on racing's biggest international stage.”
Headlining the action is Japan's Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), whose historic victory in last year's GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic marked a defining moment for Japanese racing. Forever Young will return to defend his title against a world-class group of challengers when the Classic resumes its traditional position as the final race on Saturday's card, bringing the World Championships to a conclusion at 6:16 p.m. ET. The marquee event anchors a festival worth more than US$34 million (AU$48.5 million) in purses and awards, highlighted by 14 Grade I races.
Justify heads Coolmore’s roster for 2027 at US$200,000
Standing at a fee of US$200,000 (AU$285,000), Justify will lead the 2027 roster of Coolmore America stallions, according to a press release from the farm Wednesday morning. The roster is enriched by the addition of high-profile Grade I winners Nysos, Journalism, and Magnitude.
Justify | Standing at Coolmore America
The fee for Magnitude, the winner of the G1 Dubai World Cup and GI Stephen Foster Stakes this year, has not been set, but will be determined after he competes in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic on October 31.
Newcomer Nysos will stand for US$80,000 (AU$114,000). He is a seven-time graded stakes winner, with victories in the GI Metropolitan Handicap and the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. He completed a career with eight wins and two seconds from 10 starts, all of them in graded stakes company after breaking his maiden.
Three-time Grade I and Classic winner Journalism will stand for US$60,000 (AU$85,500). He was the only horse to compete in all three Triple Crown events in 2025, finishing second in the Derby and Belmont Stakes and winning the Preakness. He is also the winner of the Grade I Santa Anita Derby and GI Haskell.
“We are delighted to present our 2027 stallion roster, which combines proven quality at the highest level with an exciting intake of new talent,” said Charlie O'Connor, Coolmore America's Director of Sales. “Nysos combined speed with remarkable consistency, Journalism brings a Classic-winning record and an outstanding physique, and Magnitude showed his quality with decisive victories in Dubai and the Stephen Foster. We're looking forward to cheering him on in the Breeders' Cup Classic before he joins us.”
Nyquist filly heads Day 3 at Fasig-Tipton October Yearlings
The Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearlings Sale concluded its third of four sessions Wednesday and, while the auction is off the lofty pace of its record-setting 2025 renewal, it continued to produce a day of steady trade.
Boyd Browning, Jr | Image courtesy of Fasig - Tipton
“It was another very solid session,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr. “The numbers were pretty consistent with the first two days. It probably lacked a little bit of the star power, the upper-end fireworks, today that we had, particularly yesterday. That's just the way the catalogue falls alphabetically with 1,600 horses.”
Through three sessions of the October sale, 811 yearlings have sold for US$48,640,000 (AU$69.2 million). The average of US$59,975 (AU$85,500) is down 7.4% from the same point of the 2025 sale and the median remained constant at US$30,000 (AU$42,800). With 224 horses reported not sold, the buy-back rate was 21.6%, up from 19.7% a year ago.
Andrew Beck made the highest bid of Wednesday's session, going to US$725,000 (AU$1.03 million) to acquire a filly by Nyquist from the Gainesway consignment under his Young Squirrel Stables moniker. The Fasig-Tipton October sale concludes with a final session on Thursday.
Almeraq to join Shadwell Stud in 2027
Almeraq (Dark Angel), the top-rated sprinter in Europe following a hat-trick of Group 1 victories, has been retired from racing and will take up stallion duties at Shadwell's Beech House Stud from 2027.
Trained by William Haggas, Almeraq was an impressive winner at Yarmouth as a 2-year-old and has since demonstrated remarkable resilience, returning to the track to win three Group 1 events after taking a serious fall at York as a 3-year-old.
The son of Dark Angel gained his first top-level triumph when winning the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, one of the highlights of the international racing calendar, defeating an all-star cast of sprinters with a combined total of 18 Group 1 victories between them, including Australia's five-time Group 1-winning sprinter Joliestar and dual Japanese Group 1 winner Satono Reve.
Almeraq's stud fee for the 2027 breeding season will be announced in due course, with breeders having the opportunity to view him during the Tattersalls December Sales.
Mark Dean, general manager at Beech House Stud, said, “We are delighted to welcome a sprinter of Almeraq's calibre to the Beech House Stud roster. He combines truly elite speed with a fabulous sprinting pedigree, and he is a horse who I'm sure will make a strong impression on breeders. Given his outstanding credentials, we look forward to discussing matings with breeders and exploring how we can best assist them.”
Rembrand To Go added to Tattersalls
Group 2 winner Rembrand To Go is one of 21 wildcards added to the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale in Newmarket from October 26-October 29. Set to sell as lot 739H, the G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris hero and son of Shamalgan will be offered by Ecurie Miroslav Rulek.
Rated 113 by Timeform, Rembrand To Go is joined by eight wildcards from Coolmore, among them Confucius (No Nay Never) (lot 309B), who is a son of G1 Cheveley Park Stakes winner Millisle (Starspangledbanner). Rated 100, he has been placed twice at group level so far.
Young sires dominate Day 2 at Arqana Yearlings
It was a day for the young bucks to shine at Arqana. Onesto, Little Big Bear, Erevann and Triple Time, all represented by first-crop yearlings this year, featured among the sires of some of the higher-priced lots as Part II of the October Sale got underway in Deauville.
So too did Torquator Tasso, who has his first runners this year, one of which, the dual winner Nakila Sun, is entered for this Saturday's G3 Horris Hill Stakes at Newbury. On Wednesday top billing went to a Sioux Nation daughter of the Listed winner and Group 3-placed Les Vertus (Shakespearean), who joined the list of Rabbah purchases when bought by Jaber Abdullah for €190,000 (AU$305,000).
USA Thoroughbred Employee Award winners for 2026
David Carroll, assistant to this year's Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Cherie DeVaux, was among seven winners of this year's Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, hosted in Lexington on October 20. The award recognizes the unsung heroes that work in the Thoroughbred industry.
Joe Clancy, Publisher and Co-owner of the Saratoga Special, and serving his second year as judging panel chair, said, “This was my second year involved with the TIEA Awards and it was as rewarding and as challenging as last year. The task was not easy at all, but I and the other judges were honored to be part of this.
"It's rare for a triple dead heat in our business, but that's what it felt like while discussing the finalists in each category. We were amazed by everyone and this shows how many talented and dedicated people there are in the Thoroughbred industry. They truly are the backbone of our industry and are great ambassadors of our sport.”
