Daily News Wrap

De Armas to back up into the Oaks

The well-trodden path from the G2 Wakeful Stakes into the G1 VRC Oaks will be taken by De Armas (NZ) (Ardrossan).

“Chris (Waller) has done a remarkably good job with her. She is a lovely filly,” OTI Racing director Terry Henderson told Loveracing.nz.

“We gave her a good, long spell after we bought her and I think that laid a good foundation for us to go into this prep. She took a little while to find her feet in those early trials, which weren’t all that impressive, but since then she has progressed and what she did in the Flight Stakes was very impressive.

“To be honest, until Saturday I thought she might have struggled to get 2000 metres, and that was put to bed. She ran a strong 2000 metres the other day. If history is any guide, there is no reason why she won’t get the mile-and-a-half.

“The (NZB Kiwi) was always our plan prior to her running so well on Saturday. We will have a good think about that after it (Oaks). She has been very effective at 1500 metres, so there is no reason why we wouldn’t consider it. She has been up a while, and she will need a bit of a break after this.” The Kiwi runs at Ellerslie in March.

Coffey cleared to ride in the Cup

After a fall on Derby Day, jockey Harry Coffey underwent surgery on his collarbone and has been cleared by orthopaedic surgeon Dr Andrew Oppy and Racing Victoria chief medical officer Dr Ben Barresi to ride in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup day meeting.

“Harry Coffey has been declared fit to fulfil his riding engagements at Flemington tomorrow,” Racing Victoria said on Monday.

He rides Shockletz (NZ) (Shocking) in the Cup.

Small’s Melbourne Cup miracle

Vo Rogue (Ivor Prince {USA})’s jockey Cyril Small has returned home from hospital after suffering a stroke back in July.

“Just enjoy the great race,” Small told racingqueensland.com.au on Monday, in the first time he has spoken publicly since suffering a devastating haemorrhage stroke on July 11.

“The likely winner of the race will be the horse who shows the most resilience and determination, no different to the race called life. My philosophy is to just get on with it and never give up.” He extended his thanks to staff at the Gold Coast University Hospital and everyone who sent him messages and visited him.

Wife Lynlea recalled that horrifying day. “Within an hour of Cyril being raced to the emergency department at Gold Coast University Hospital by ambulance with full sirens and flashing lights, our daughter Jess and I were given the devastating news by emergency doctors that Cyril would not survive. We were inconsolable.

“Our sons Daniel and Braidon were at their father's bedside within 10 hours, having travelled the 2000 kilometres from Warrnambool in Victoria. They were met at the airport by their ‘big sister', Cymone Perry who, along with her Dad and Cyril's best friend Jeff, owner of Vo Rogue, maintained a bedside vigil with our family beside Cyril in the ICU ward.

“Cyril miraculously opened his eyes the following morning when his ICU nurse called his name. While he could not speak or swallow and had minimal movement, only in his lower left arm, he could communicate with a nod of his head. But opening his eyes was a game changer.

“Cyril's speech continues to improve, but he still has some way to go. He can eat and drink now, something doctors were not confident he would achieve. He needs help with lots of everyday activities that most people take for granted, but he is working hard to gain his independence.”

Magnatear the omen for Big Dance

Two years after Sam Kavanagh died from cancer, his former galloper Magnatear (Written Tycoon) runs in the Big Dance for Kavanagh’s friend, trainer Will Freedman.

“Sam had always said to me he was a backward type and would probably race on into his seven or 8-year-old career, and he was right,” Freedman told racingnsw.com.au.

“He’d run some very good races for Sam and got on a bit of a roll pretty soon after we got him. I don’t think he thought he would reach these sort of levels, but at the same time Sam and I were at a similar stage of building stables at that point. Possibly he would have dared to dream he’d be one of the favoured runners in a $3 million race. He was an ambitious guy, Sam.

“Maybe there’s some divine intervention, maybe that’s what we need.”

Nick Ryan suspended

Racing Victoria has suspended Flemington trainer Nick Ryan over the alleged possession of a prohibited substance. Stewards found two syringes of Darbepoetin Alfa – synthetic EPO – in the glove box of Ryan's car on Derby Day.

“On Saturday, 31 October, Mr Ryan was charged with a breach of AR 250 (a) following an inspection of his stables at Flemington Racecourse where a prohibited substance was found in his possession,” stewards said.

“Mr Ryan was found to have in his possession, in the glove box of his motor vehicle, two syringes of Darbepoetin Alfa, which is a prohibited substance under Prohibited List A of the Australian Rules of Racing.

“At today’s inquiry, Stewards took evidence from Mr Ryan’s legal representative. Stewards accepted documented evidence that Mr Ryan was not able to attend today. Following an application by Mr Ryan’s legal representative, stewards further adjourned the matter for 28 days. Mr Ryan’s license to train horses has been suspended effective immediately pending the resumption of the stewards’ inquiries.”

Autumnheat set for Heritage Cup

Tuesday’s Australian Heritage Cup over 2800 metres will include last start winner Autumnheat (Too Darn Hot {GB}) for trainer Matt Cumani.

“He is a horse I've always liked,” Cumani told racingandsports.com.au.

“I ran him in the Victoria Derby when he was a 3-year-old, but unfortunately he had a known wind problem then, and we had to operate on that. He had run so well in the Vase before that so we had to give it a go. He was never going to stay with that issue, but now with that operation done, he can keep getting better and better.”

Brisbourne’s pair of cheapies to take on Maribyrnong Plate

Tuesday’s G3 Maribyrnong Plate includes some blue bloods, and then there’s Ben Brisbourne-trained pair of Lumineux (Strasbourg) and Rain Bender (Villermont). Neither went through a public auction.

“These were just a couple that have been in the system, ticked every box that we put in front of them and there's been no reason to put them out,” Brisbourne told racingandsports.com.au.

“There are not many 2-year-old races around, so they find their way into the Maribyrnong Plate. They're both nice horses that will win races, and we look forward to starting them off here at Headquarters.”

Well-bred Frankel wins on debut

Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained 3-year-old gelding Franked Up (Frankel {GB}) won on debut on Monday at Ballarat by five lengths over a mile. The joint sale topper of the 2025 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale was purchased by Resolute Racing / McEvoy Mitchell Racing / Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) for $1 million.

He is the second foal and first winner for Heavenly Curlin (USA) (Curlin {USA}), who won the G3 Woodbine Maple Leaf Stakes. This is the Redoute’s Choice family with Heavenly Curlin being out of Manhattan Rain’s full sister, Taste Of Heaven (Encosta De Lago).

Frankel (GB) also had a winner at the meeting as a damsire with Chandler (I Am Invincible), who is out of Miss Fabulass (Frankel {GB}), a Group 2-winning daughter of Champion Filly Samantha Miss (Redoute’s Choice).

Big week for New Zealand’s Go Racing

New Zealand-based syndicator Go Racing will have Soul Of Spain (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}) running in Tuesday’s G1 Melbourne Cup as well as Omni Man (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Manzor Blue (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) on the undercard at Flemington. On Saturday, Stephen Marsh-trained So Fear (NZ) (Ardrossan) contests the G1 NZ 1000 Guineas, and there’s a meet and greet on Thursday that will bring international flavour to New Zealand.

“I am bringing Joseph O’Brien over (to New Zealand), and we are having a little event with him on Thursday night with owners and a few other people,” Go Racing’s Albert Bosma told Loveracing.nz

“He has never been to New Zealand and getting him here, even for 48 hours, is such a great opportunity. He flies in on Thursday, we will have a bit of a meet and greet and do a little interview session, and owners will get the opportunity to rub shoulders with him. It is a real coup to get him over, he is going to end up one of the world’s all-time great trainers, so it is great to be able to bring him over for people to meet him and have a chat.”

Well-named buy for Ritchie at Tattersalls

Trainer Shaun Ritchie bought stakes-placed New Zealand (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) at the recent Tattersalls Horses-In-Training Sale for 90,000 gns (AU$181,000).

“It’s ironic really, and he’s qualified for next year’s Melbourne Cup, which is great, and he’s got a 101 rating which is good to,” Ritchie, who trains in partnership with Colm Murray, told Loveracing.nz.

“I figured if Kiwi can win the Cup, then surely New Zealand can do the same. He’ll land back home for a little over NZ$300,000, and there will be horses at the Ready to Run Sale that will be going for a lot more than that.

“They are also quite easy to sell down as well, a Frankel colt who is qualified for the Melbourne Cup. The demand is high for English stayers with the money they can race for in Australia, so we hope to get him to Melbourne next spring.”

Big Mojo to stand at Yeomanstown Stud

European Champion 3-Year-Old Sprinter Big Mojo has been retired to stand at Yeomanstown Stud in 2027, the stud announced on Sunday. The G1 Haydock Sprint Cup-winning son of Mohaather will stand alongside former champion sire Dark Angel, G1 July Cup hero Mill Stream and Group 1 sire Sands Of Mali. A fee will be announced in due course.

Sent into training with Mick Appleby, he won the G3 Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood in track-record time and was a close second in the G2 Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster. In his juvenile finale, Big Mojo was a good fourth in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

At three, he added the G3 Commonwealth Cup Trial at Ascot and went on to be second in the July Cup before his track-record tour-de-force in the Haydock Sprint Cup. Remaining in training at four, the dark bay was successful in the G3 Phoenix Sprint Cup Stakes at The Curragh and reported home third when defending his title in the Haydock Sprint Cup. He retires with a mark of 17-4-3-1 and US$882,734 (AU$1.25 million) in earnings.

Yeomanstown's David O'Callaghan said, “Big Mojo offers a great opportunity for breeders to use a champion sprinter who showed a lot of early speed when winning the Molecomb in track-record time at two, before excelling as a three-year-old to become Europe's best 3-year-old sprinter, following wins in the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup [again in record time] and the G3 Commonwealth Cup trial, while running second in the July Cup for good measure too. A beautiful horse, with oodles of ability. Sign me up.”

Danon Decile wins G1 Tenno Sho

Thanks to an inspired steering job by pilot Keita Tosaki, Danon Decile won his third Group 1 race in Sunday's Tenno Sho (Autumn) at Tokyo.

The Danox Inc. runner was brought out into the centre of the course for the stretch drive in the 2000-metre affair, and he avoided the traffic woes of a multitude of rivals to win free and clear by 2.5 lengths over the 39-1 shot Nebra Disk (Duramente), who emerged from the scrum to be three-quarters of a length in front of Japanese champion and multiple Group 1 heroine Regaleira (Suave Richard) in third.

“He was running at a good rhythm and had much left in the final homestretch,” said jockey Keita Tosaki of the 2024 Japanese Champion 3-Year-Old Colt. “I thought I may have hit the front too early. [In his previous starts] he had finished third consecutively, but going into the race today, I believed that his record did not reflect his ability.

“We drew the outside gate, so after discussing with the trainer several times, we went into the race with a strong belief in the horse and to let him run with a good rhythm. I also want to thank all the fans who kept believing in the horse.”

By Shadai Stallion Station's Epiphaneia, Danon Decile is one of his sire's seven Group 1 winners and 29 stakes winners.

Second in both the G1 Alcibiades Stakes and the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at two, Top Decile, in foal to American Pharoah, brought US$950,000 (AU$1.35 million) when selling during the 2017 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale to Shadai Farm. Danon Decile is one of eight foals for his dam, whose latest is a weanling colt by Contrail. The winner is kin to G1 Breeders' Futurity third Q B Rocket (Gun Runner).

Breeders’ Cup winner Hughes set for Spendthrift Farm

Breeders' Cup Juvenile champion Hughes (Into Mischief) will stand at Spendthrift Farm upon his retirement from racing, according to an advertisement placed in Monday's edition of the TDN. The news was confirmed by Front Row Club's Tom Ryan, one of the colt's owners.

Hughes, all but certain to be named the Eclipse Award Champion 2-Year-Old Colt, ran his record to five-for-five in the Juvenile. He has registered wins in three Grade 1s, including the American Pharoah and the Del Mar Futurity.

“Creating legacies through racehorses and stallions has always been our goal, for the horse, his breeder, his sire, and his pedigree,” said Ryan. “Knowing Hughes will retire to Spendthrift Farm at the end of his racing career is incredibly exciting. Eric (Gustavson), Ned (Toffey), and the team at Spendthrift are the definition of excellence. What they've built with Into Mischief, the greatest and the most successful stallion of my lifetime, speaks for itself. Hughes carries a name with real meaning to Spendthrift and to our family, so this feels like he's going home.”

Ryan made it clear that Hughes has a lot of racing ahead of him. “For now, our focus is the racetrack. We couldn't be more proud of Hughes, and we can't wait to see what he does as he grows into his frame at three.”

Breeding rights to stallions added to Fasig-Tipton

A lifetime breeding right to Darley stallions Sovereignty, Knightsbridge, and Nyquist will be offered during the Fasig-Tipton November Sale Monday in Lexington. The lifetime breeding right to Saturday's G1 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Sovereignty, who will begin his stud career at a fee of US$150,000 (AU$214,000) next year, will be offered as hip 165.

The lifetime breeding right to G1 Pacific Classic winner and Breeders' Cup Classic third-place finisher Knightsbridge, who will stand for US$75,000 (AU$107,000) next year, will be offered as Hip 180.

Nyquist will stand for US$225,000 (AU$321,000) in 2027. The lifetime breeding right in the G1 Kentucky Derby winner, who is sire of multiple Grade 1 winner Nysos, as well as Friday's G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Emphatic, will be offered as Hip 195.

Second-placed The Puma to return next year

Breeders' Cup Classic runner-up The Puma (Essential Quality) will return for a 4-year-old campaign in 2027 after his sterling effort Saturday evening.

While it wasn't a victory, the connections had nothing but praise for the effort their colt put up to finish the best of the 3-year-olds in the contest, and ahead of defending champion Forever Young (Jpn).

“The goal is to win,” said trainer Gustavo Delgado Sr. outside his Rice Road barn Sunday morning. “He is the baby, 3 years old. Yesterday was a very strong race with Sovereignty and Forever Young. It was not an easy race. We are happy with him.”

Delgado said The Puma would head back to Gulfstream Park Wednesday and that, while no immediate plan had been mapped for next season, the ultimate goal would be a return to the Breeders' Cup for another shot at the Classic.

“We don't think too far ahead,” said assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado Jr. “But the Classic next year sounds pretty good. The Puma, unraced at two, had two wins, three seconds and a third this year. His biggest win was the [G1] Pennsylvania Derby.”