Listed Sale Cup won by Makdane
Michael Kent-trained Makdane (Impending) won Sunday’s Listed Sale Cup, beating Freedom Rally (Rubick) and Aztec Ruler (Universal Ruler).
“I thought he might’ve found a couple of these a bit sharp for him today, but they went very hard, and we just had a lovely soft run, and he was the last man standing, I felt,” Kent told racing.com.
“He loves the wet. He’s a useful enough animal, he won first-up last time over a mile, so he’s good fresh. It’s a good result.” Makdane took his record to six wins from 26 starts and earnings over $470,000. He becomes stakes winner number five for Larneuk Stud-based Impending.
Makdane is one of two winners from six named foals for Danestroem (Elvstroem), who won eight races and placed in the G3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes. Danestroem is a half-sister to stakes-placed Consorting (Legion).
Browell determined to have Moonee Valley ready
Moonee Valley Race Club CEO Michael Browell is determined to bring the Cox Plate home for 2027.
“I look forward to hosting Racing Victoria just before Christmas and showing them the progression we have made and to give them the confidence we can deliver a return next year,” Browell told racenet.com.au.
“Our focus over the past eight weeks has been this… working with the VRC to deliver a spectacular Cox Plate Day. We'll come in on Monday, and we'll be blinkers on, focused on the return to racing next year.
“I've got a brilliant team at The Valley and we're laser-focused that we're back there next year. It's all progressing, we're working closely with Racing Victoria… hand in glove in partnership with them to make sure they're comfortable racing can return. Once the turf is down and the horse stalls are under construction… Some people need to see the finished product before they can fully grasp the opportunity there.”
Beatty carries on in Listed Belgravia Stakes
Last season’s G3 WA Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Beatty (Gingerbread Man) resumed on Saturday evening as a 3-year-old colt with victory in the Listed Belgravia Stakes. The Sean and Jake Casey-trained colt has now won five of his six starts, three of them at stakes level, for earnings over $560,000.
Beatty | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
Bred and raced by HW Daly, Beatty is one of four winners out of juvenile winner Femmette (Murtajil) who has a yearling full brother and a Rommel colt foal to come.
Jigsaw invited to Hong Kong international meeting
Group 1-winning sprinter Jigsaw (Manhattan Rain) may have ended his unbeaten streak on Saturday, but he’s been invited to Hong Kong to take on Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) at the region’s international meeting in December.
“It is something we might do. We wouldn’t make that decision until we have our next run, but he’s fully vaccinated,” trainer Cindy Alderson told racing.com.
Jigsaw | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He’s been invited. I don’t think that run has put him out of it. Obviously, it’s disappointing to see him do that and to see the (winning) run come to an end.”
Victoria Derby distance under review
Rumours of distance shortening continue to plague the time-honoured G1 VRC Derby with the race under review by the Asian Pattern Committee.
“We are working closely with trainers and Racing Victoria to ensure the race attracts the best quality fields in line with its Group 1 status,” VRC chief racing officer Leigh Jordon told racenet.com.au.
“This year's increased prizemoney is a great step forward… You only need to look at the honour roll of winners to understand the quality of the race. Last year's winner Observer went on to win the G1 Australian Guineas and we look forward to the 173rd edition this year.”
The prizemoney was recently lifted to $3 million, something Waller thinks will help. “The Victoria Derby is probably similar to a Melbourne Cup, it's Derby Day, it sets the scene for the week, they can't afford to lose that,” Waller told racenet.com.au.
“I guess it comes down to either money or the distance, and that's up to the (VRC) to make the decision… It's important that it stays a Group 1. I'd say (prizemoney) is one way of making sure the best horses are here, and maybe it's an overall approach.”
Three of the last five winners of the Derby have gone on to add further Group 1 victories to their career tally, making queries over quality seem to be motivated by something other than racetrack results.
Sheza Alibi set for Golden Eagle
Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained Group 1-winning mare Sheza Alibi (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) is ready for the G1 Golden Eagle, and Moody likes the form around her.
“It’s amazing, we’ve seen Kingswood bounce off that hard run (when fourth in the Might And Power) to win the Caulfield Cup, we’ve seen Birdman bounce off that run (when third) to be beaten a small margin in the Cox Plate,” Moody told racing.com.
Sheza Alibi | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Cosmic Crusader was also able to bounce back off his hard run in the Caulfield Cup to win the Cox Plate, so we're pretty hopeful she can make amends. She had a week at the farm after the race on the grass and just jogging on the treadmill.
“We brought her back to the stables on Monday and she just trot and cantered all week. We did some pace work on Thursday because she was feeling too well. She’ll just have a little sprint up on Tuesday morning just to stretch the legs and she’ll be right to go.”
Injured jockey report: Dale Cole
Racing NSW reported on Sunday that apprentice jockey Dale Cole was dislodged after the winning post in race six at Albury on Saturday after his mount, Manwari (Menari) clipped heels and fell.
“Dale reported feeling light headed. He was transported to hospital via ambulance for further assessment. Dale’s head scans revealed one spot of concern, so he was admitted for further observation.”
Double for Wild Ruler at Port Macquarie
On Sunday, second season sire Wild Ruler celebrated a double at Port Macquarie. Paul Snowden-trained 3-year-old filly De Riguer won on debut. Owned by Matthew Sandblom’s Hollymount Stud, she is the first winner for Decorous (GB) (Toronado {Ire}).
Hollymount Stud also had a debutant winner in Northam on Sunday with Simon Miller-trained 3-year-old filly Duchess Of Dance (Flying Artie), while Simon Miller also trained debutant winner 3-year-old gelding Bysin (Star Turn) at Northam.
Jenny Graham-trained 3-year-old gelding Wild Monarch (Wild Ruler) took his record to three wins from six starts with earnings over $73,000. He was a $20,000 purchase by his trainer from Alma Vale Thoroughbreds’ Magic Millions National Yearling Sale draft. He is a half-brother to Group 3 winner Bound For Home (Rubick).
The other meeting in NSW at Coonabarabran was abandoned after the fifth race when a thunderstorm caused damage to the surface.
Big day for Blessed Anna
Sunday’s Townsville meeting saw the juvenile event won by Terry McGovern-trained 2-year-old gelding Castle Hill (Barbaric). He becomes the ninth winner for his second-season sire Barbaric and the first from his second crop.
Eureka Stud sold Castle Hill at the Magic Millions March Yearling Sale for $15,000 to TNT Lodge. He is the final foal and eighth winner for Blessed Anna (General Nediym) who is an unraced half-sister to Listed winner Zebulon (NZ) (All American).
Blessed Anna’s 5-year-old gelding Ask Me Mate (Better Than Ready), trained by Bill Kenning, was also a winner at the meeting and took his record to five wins and earnings over $140,000. He was a $62,000 sale at the same sale several years prior to Castle Hill.
G3 Thompson Handicap won by Tisse
A well-judged ride by jockey Kelly Myers has allowed $18 chance Tisse (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) to win his first black type in Sunday’s G3 Thompson Handicap. The Allan Sharrock-trained 6-year-old gelding took his record to six wins from 26 starts with earnings over NZ$245,000.
“He’s such a grouse horse, I just love him,” Myers said.
“I was following Astoria Brooke the whole way and didn’t want to let her out of my sights. She sort of went out and the gap just presented in front of us and he was an absolute jet.” He is the second winner for Miss Percy (NZ) (Sir Percy {GB}), who is an unraced half-sister to Group 1 winner Titch (NZ) (Lord Ballina).
Grade 1 winner Classic Q for Fasig-Tipton
After the Breeders' Cup, G1 First Lady Stakes winner Classic Q (Classic Empire) will head to the Fasig-Tipton November Sale.
“It's a tough decision, but we're ready,” said part-owner Hugh Dailey. “We want her to do big things as a broodmare.”
Fasig-Tipton's Boyd Browning said the filly, who will sell as Hip 176 with Bluewater Sales, will be one of the standouts on the Night of the Stars.
“Classic Q is the only dual Grade 1-winning older turf filly or mare in 2026,” he noted. “When the lights are the brightest, she shows up and delivers the best performances of her career. She has clearly demonstrated that she's a superior miler. For years people would say milers make the best stallions, so the same could apply to a filly or a mare starting her breeding career.”
Bottas adds Grade 2 victory
Implementing a strong turn of foot on the turf, 'TDN Rising Star,' Bottas (Vekoma) ran down the lane nicely to take the 22nd running of the G2 Bryan Station Stakes on closing day at Keeneland Race Course on Saturday. It was the colt's third stakes win of late in as many tries.
“It's been a lot of fun,” said Case Clay of the management company of the same name, who represented the winning owner. “(Trainer) Miguel (Clement) and his team have done an outstanding job with him. He's now three-for-three (in graded stakes), and I think he's really coming into his own. We're very much (looking forward to his 4-year-old season). We might take a shot at California at the end of next month (the G1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar) and then put him away for a little while and then look forward to a 4-year-old campaign.”
Barbadian Runner wins at Maryland again
For the second straight year, Barbadian Runner, who hammered for US$5,000 (AU$7110) at the Fasig-Tipton Mid-Atlantic Eastern Fall Yearling Sale in 2023, won the showcase race on Saturday's 41st annual Jim McKay Maryland Million program at Laurel Park.
“I thought we might be a little bit farther back. Normally he doesn't break that sharp. I mean, the last race (a win in a $200,000 open-company stakes at Delaware Park), I was kind of riding him to keep him in position. And so, when he did (break alertly, I thought), 'Oh, this is great,' because he put me where I needed to be, and that's often what he does when he's on his game,” jockey Forest Boyce said.
