All Cox Plate runners pass vet checks
Racing Victoria (RV) veterinarians completed their inspections of all 12 G1 Cox Plate runners on Friday morning. While the majority were checked on Thursday, the Joe Pride-trained Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) was inspected following his arrival in Melbourne from Sydney and was passed suitable to race.
Payne’s pair in Spring Champion Stakes
Trainer David Payne’s last Group 1 winner was in the 2020 G1 Spring Champion Stakes with Montefilia (Kermadec {NZ}). This year, he has two runners in the race, Persian Wonder (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}) and unbeaten Proxima Dea (Tarzino {NZ}). “If you told me at the start of the season we’d have four group race winners I’d have said 'I don’t think so',” Payne told racingnsw.com.au.
“We’re a little 16 horse stable and we don’t compete at the top of the market so we’ve been very lucky. You can only be impressed (with Proxima Dea), she’s surprised me every time and I just hope she keeps surprising me.
David Payne | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“She has found a way to win. There was half a length between three or four horses the other day so it’s going to be luck in running as well. She’s always toughed it out, in every run she’s had to do it tough, and she hasn’t won by a big margin. But she tries.”
TAB announce no commission on Exactas for Spring Carnival
TAB has announced it will take no commission on Exacta bets for Group 1 races held on Saturdays during the Spring Carnival, with the launch of ONE POOL Xtra.
“The Exacta is one of the most popular exotic bets with TAB customers, especially in races with short favourites,” Tabcorp's general manager of trading, David Beirne, said.
“We’ve been working hard to create more value for punters who bet on the Tote and this is another step in that direction. We’re proud to give racegoers a larger slice of the pool, more value for money and further showcase what ONE POOL can do for the industry.”
Inglis announces Spring Carnival Sale
Inglis announced a Spring Carnival Sale to run early next week, closing on Wednesday October 28, with shares in G1 Melbourne Cup contenders Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) and Wine Dark Sea (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) on offer. “Vauban is an established performer at the highest level, while Wine Dark Sea is an exciting stayer with the profile to make a big impression in Australia,” Inglis Digital Business Manager Nick Melmeth said
“Both offer buyers the opportunity to become immediately involved in the spring racing action. There is the potential to facilitate additional suitable entries until Monday morning, so I’d encourage any owners or syndicators interested in offering shares to contact me or a member of the Inglis Bloodstock team.”
Nick Melmeth | Image courtesy of Inglis
Vauban resumed this spring with a ninth placing in last Wednesday’s G3 Geelong Cup. He is the winner of 10 of his 33 starts with earnings over $2.6 million. Wine Dark Sea made his Australian debut in the G1 Caulfield Cup but was caught up in the mess created by the two fallers and finished 11th. Both guaranteed a start in the G1 Melbourne Cup as Vauban sits 14th in the current order and Wine Dark Sea is 19th in the order.
Magic Millions Digital opens for bidding
Proven producer and Group 3-placed Agueda (General Nediym) leads the latest Magic Millions Digital Sale. She is offered with a King's Gambit filly foal-at-foot. She is the dam of seven winners from seven to race including last season’s winning juvenile Harry Met Sally (Yes Yes Yes) who ran fourth in the Listed VRC TAB 2YO Plate. The sale closes on Wednesday October 28.
Opportunities to buy equity in horses trained by the likes of Ciaron Maher, Annabel and Rob Archibald, Chris and Corey Munce, and Michael Hickmott headline the racehorse shares section. Winning mare Celestial Grace (Deep Field) offers a chance to buy a mare from the family of Group 3 winner Camporella (Exceed And Excel). Dual winner Girls On Fire (Better Than Ready) ran fourth in the R.Listed Magic Millions Perth 2YO Classic.
Uncertain forecast ahead of Cox Plate
Melbourne has enjoyed an unseasonably hot week ahead of Saturday’s G1 Cox Plate. “This is more February, March weather,” Flemington track manager Liam O'Keeffe told racenet.com.au.
“We've had to (put 60mm week to Friday), to keep it in the Good 4 range, a 31 degree day with strong northerly winds in the middle of October is nearly unheard of. It's up and down, I think I've walked under a ladder and seen a black cat at the same time.
“It's more tonight, as to how much we back off, it looks like the forecast has lightened off a little bit, I'm banking on, to be honest maybe, one or two millimetres (rain). There is still the risk of a thunderstorm, how I have to think about it is, ‘Is there enough rain to not water?' and there's not. There's no certainty in getting 7mm of rain (Saturday).”
Healy backs Brooker for The Invitation
Queensland raider Arabian Rose (Alabama Express) will be ridden by jockey Tiffani Brooker in her first ever Sydney ride. “More new for me than her, I guess. It was a bit last minute for me to go down and ride her, but obviously very appreciative of James (Healy) and the owners for the opportunity,” Brooker told racenet.com.au.
“The more I think about it, it's a fantastic opportunity and a great experience to soak it all in. It's a huge day down there, so it'll be good to get on a horse I know really well and see how she performs.”
Arabian Rose | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
Ciaron’s Star has a lot to live up to
Ciaron Maher-trainer Ciaron’s Star (I Am Invincible) has plenty to live up to, given her moniker. She runs in Saturday’s Listed Brian Crowley Stakes at Randwick. “She just took a bit of time to come to hand, she was looking fair for some time and took a while to drop her coat,” Maher’s assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord told racingnsw.com.au.
Ciaron's Star | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“It was just in the last couple of weeks before her first-up run she turned the corner. It’s a perfect race for her, she has a good draw and has naturally improved from her first up run where she was very good. She had the right run too, didn’t do any work and had the chance to be strong late. She’s very push button, she tries hard.”
Smooth Chino set for Melbourne victory
Jockey Austin Galati has come east to ride Indianna Weinert-prepared Smooth Chino (Maschino) in the G2 McEwen Stakes at Flemington. The former WA galloper ran second in the G2 Gilgai Stakes last start. “I honestly thought I rode a stride or two past the finish post,” Galati told racingwa.com.au of the controversial finish last start.
“Skybird had me beat fair and square. When I saw Ben (Melham) perch and sit up and his horse come back to him that quick, it probably made it look worse. I still think Skybird beats me either way.
“He's definitely maturing a bit better. He's handling the racing environment better. He still sweats up. He's just a naturally hot horse. I used to think he was just green and dumb, but I think that's just always how he's going to be. He's very wayward and his head moves before his body does sometimes, but that's just him. He's got a massive motor there, so we can't complain.”
Paradoxium ready for Coolmore after trial win
Jockey Jason Collett flew to Melbourne to ride Paradoxium (Extreme Choice) in a trial at Flemington on Friday morning ahead of next week’s G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes. “He had another experience up the straight and flattened out nicely – all systems go for next week,” Collett told racenet.com.au.
“Couldn't have been happier with how he felt this (Friday) morning. We are right on target.”
Paradoxium | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Randwick’s juvenile trials
On Friday, there were two trials for juveniles with Ron Quinton-trained colt Overleap (I Am Invincible) winning a 740 metre heat by half a length. The $320,000 purchase by Gall Bloodstock from Yarraman Park Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft is the fifth foal of stakes placed Overstep (Exceed And Excel).
The fillies heat over the same distance went to Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Infallible (Hellbent) who was sold by Torryburn Stud to BBA Ireland for $180,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Eastern buyers circling for Profit Motive
Trainer Mitch Pateman is fending off offers for exciting 3-year-old filly Profit Motive (Capitalist) after her stunning win on Wednesday. “My good mate Robbie Loggie owns half of her and he's been with me since the start. He's had a stack in between her and now, so it's really good for him to have another good one,” Pateman told racingwa.com.au.
“Looks like she'll most likely stay here and race through the carnival. The way she travelled up to them on the corner are probably the two most impressive parts. I went into Wednesday thinking at least we'd get a pretty good guide as to where she was at because Lady Torque had some really good juvenile form around some really nice horses. So to put it away the way that she did, yeah, looks very exciting.”
Spain to feature in Netflix dart show
Jockey Zac Spain and darts player has been selected as one of the challengers for Netflix’s upcoming live special, Beat Luke Littler. A small group has been chosen to take on world No.1 and two-time world champion Luke Littler in a one-leg shootout for a potential £501,000 (AU$955,000) prize. The event will stream live on Netflix from 7pm UK time on October 30.
Spain recorded the highest checkout and most 180s during the 2026 season with Darts Melbourne before travelling to the UK to audition for the Netflix event. “It’ll be an amazing night and I’m just really looking forward to getting started,” Littler said.
“There’s half a million quid up for grabs, I won’t be going easy at all. I’ll be wanting to beat everyone who comes up. Maybe the first few legs could be a bit nervy, but once I get going then I don’t think anyone will stop me.”
New winner for Wild Ruler
Second season sire Wild Ruler added winner number 25 when Richard and Will Freedman-trained 3-year-old filly The Wildling won her maiden at Scone on Friday. She debuted a year ago in the G3 Gimcrack Stakes. Silverdale Farm sold her for $100,000 to Tricolours Racing at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She is the fourth foal and fourth winner for Tarabai (Sepoy), a city winning half-sister to Group 3 winner Kaizad (Capitalist) and stakes placed pair of Cornrow (Duporth) and Socialist (Capitalist).
At the same meeting, Scott Singleton-trained 3-year-old gelding The Autumn Wind (Pierata) won on debut. He is not related to The Autumn Sun who scored a double at the meeting with Four Inthe Morning and Mainstay.
Life Is Good breeding right added to Championship Sale
Three additional supplements have been added to the catalogue for Keeneland's Championship Sale on Wednesday, October 28, at Castleton. A 2.5% fractional interest in leading sire Upstart; a lifetime breeding right in Life Is Good; and a 50% ownership interest in stakes-winning 2-year-old filly Citrus Springs (Olympiad), who was pre-entered in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland on October 30.
Fasig-Tipton October Yearlings close to last year’s records
The Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearlings Sale concluded its four-day run with another day of steady trade and a record-tying median Thursday in Lexington. Through four sessions, 1,096 horses sold for US$65,920,000 (AU$93.9 million). The average of US$60,146 (AU$86,000) was down 8.2% from last year's record-setting figure of US$65,491 (AU$93,400), while the median tied the 2025 record figure of US$30,000 (AU$42,800).
“It was a near record-breaking edition of the 2026 Fasig-Tipton October Yearling sale,” said Fasig-Tipton President Boyd Browning, Jr. “There was a very significant level of commerce transacted over the last four days. It was a solid marketplace from start to finish. There was a slight decrease in the average from last year, which had a dramatic increase from 2024 to 2025. You always want to be on an increasing incline, but realistically, it was basically right in line with our expectations.
“It was basically the same trends that we've seen throughout 2026,” Browning continued. “There was great competition at the upper levels, but to get to the upper level, you've got to jump through the hoops. And if you don't jump through one of the hoops, there is a significant penalty involved.”
A total of 63 yearlings sold for US$200,000 (AU$285,000) or over during the October sale, down from the 90 who hit that mark a year ago. A colt by Not This Time brought Thursday's top price of US$500,000 (AU$713,000). Consigned by Taylor Made Farm, the colt was signed for by West Coast Racing.
Arqana Yearlings continue in same vein
The sustained demand for yearlings was labelled as “stunning” by top bloodstock agent Mags O'Toole at Arqana on Thursday after she paid €110,000 (AU$176,000) on a Territories colt from Charles Briere's Fairway Consignment – the same figure that Jeremy Brummitt went to on a Teofilo colt from Haras du Mont dit Mont on behalf of Middleham Park.
They were the only two six-figure lots through the ring on the penultimate day of the October Yearling Sale.
“I have been surprised by how much stronger the market has been and I was frustrated three or four times on Monday when I followed in nice horses who I thought I'd have money to buy but didn't. I think there were better horses deeper into this sale than there normally is. I have stayed on for days three and four before and it turned out to be a damp squib but there were a lot of nice horses there today,” Brummitt said.
All told, 116 lots sold on Thursday at a clearance rate of 80 per cent, while turnover settled at €3.88 million (AU$6.2 million) [up by nearly 20 per cent on last year]. The average was up by 27 per cent to €33,457 (AU$53,500), while the median increased by 35 per cent to €27,500 (AU$44,000).
Kantharos moves to Ocala Stud for 2027
Kantharos (Lion Heart), the sire of US$3 million (AU$4.3 million) earner X Y Jet, dual-surface Grade I winner World of Trouble and leading New York-sire Bucchero, returns to Florida and will stand the 2027 breeding season at Ocala Stud for US$8,500 (AU$12,100), stands-and-nurses terms, the nursery announced.
Kantharos was a perennial leading sire in the Sunshine State before relocating to Hill 'n' Dale Farm in Lexington in 2016. The leading Florida-based stallion in that transition year by graded stakes winners, black-type horses and black-type winners, he finished that season the number two general sire in the state and the number one sire of 2-year-olds.
Ortiz breaks same ankle again
Five-time Eclipse-winning jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., who just returned October 2 from an ankle injury that kept him from riding for nearly two months, was unseated at the start of Race 9 at Keeneland on Thursday, October 22. The on-site UK HealthCare medical team removed Ortiz, Jr. from the track and evaluated him at First Aid before transferring him to a Lexington-area hospital via stretcher.
Keeneland released the following statement: “[Ortiz, Jr.] is alert and has been transported to the hospital for further evaluation of a possible lower extremity injury.”
On Thursday evening, Dave Grening of DRF reported via X that Ortiz, Jr. broke his left ankle and will have surgery. The left ankle is the same one responsible for the rider's nearly two-month hiatus this summer and early fall. There is currently no timeline for his return.
She's Good Trouble (Rock Your World), “stumbled a stride after the start and dislodged her rider.” Dream Runner Stables LLC's She's Good Trouble, a 2-year-old filly trained by Joe Sharp and making just her second lifetime start, stayed on her feet and ran with the field until she was caught by an outrider. She walked off the track under her own power and appeared to be uninjured.
Walsh resigns from The Racecourse Association
The Racecourse Association (RCA) issued a statement on Thursday to announce that Wilf Walsh has resigned from his role as Chair.
“Wilf Walsh has announced his resignation as Chair of the Racecourse Association and will leave his position on 31st December 2026,” read the statement. “Wilf joined the RCA as Chair in October 2021 and is currently serving his second term in the role.
“The RCA Board and Executive would like to thank Wilf for his expert leadership throughout his tenure as Chair, and wish him the very best for his future endeavours both within British racing and his other sporting interests.”
Darn Hot Gallop heads Tattersalls Online
Darn Hot Gallop (Too Darn Hot) (lot 95) sold for 49,000gns (AU$98,800) out of the Tattersalls Online October Sale on Thursday. The 3-year-old filly, consigned by Jamesfield Stables, was purchased by Tegbir Singh Brar of Darmesh Stud in India.
A three time winner, once on turf and twice on the all-weather, Darn Hot Gallop is a half-sister to G3 Prix Penelope heroine Agave (Dubawi), with the duo out of the multiple group-placed Contribution (Champs Elysees). The granddam Concentric (Sadler's Wells) is best known as the dam of dual Arc heroine Enable (Nathaniel).
