Cup winner plans to upset Champions Day favourites
Jockey Ethan Brown, fresh off winning the G1 Melbourne Cup with Point Of Law (GB) (Frankel {GB}), believes he can end his carnival with another high on Champions Day. “It still hasn't really sunk in for me yet. It's been huge and I have been lapping it up. The phone has been non-stop (with well-wishing calls and messages). We had a bit of dinner (with the connections of Point Of Law) on Tuesday, and I was pretty buggered by the end of the day,” Brown told racenet.com.au.
On Saturday, he rides Headwall (Dream Ahead {USA}) in the G1 Champions Sprint, Sepals (Calyx {GB}) in the Champions Mile and outsider Land Legend (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}) in the Champions Stakes.
Headwall | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“He (Headwall) is going great, he is in very good form. Tempted is Tempted, so we know she is the one to beat. But I do think I am on the right horse to challenge her. I wouldn't worry too much about Sepal’s last start, but he has come through it well. There is a bit of rain around which is going to help him. He has given Autumn Glow a run for her money once before, so why not again.
“It's a great race, so hopefully Land Legend can repeat what he did in the Might And Power. You have to dream big, so hopefully one of the three can lob for us.”
Berry backs up with Lazzura
Jockey Tommy Berry thinks Lazzura (Snitzel)’s good run of form can continue in Saturday’s G2 Hot Danish Stakes. The last start G2 Invitation winner has drawn 2. “She’s very well weighted in the race, she’s going to be very hard to beat again you’d think,” Berry told racingnsw.com.au.
“You look at Sheza Alibi and Ka Ying Rising getting beaten in the last month, they can be beaten and she’s very much the same but it’s an ideal set up. You’d be disappointed if she can’t get the job done with how everything looks.”
Better track, better run for Proverb
Trainer Michael Freedman is hoping for a better track on Saturday for 2-year-old colt Proverb (Written Tycoon) who runs in the Listed Golden Gift. “He trialled well before it, he probably struck a heavy 12 that day and couldn’t pick his feet up (in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes),” Freedman told racingnsw.com.au.
Proverb as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“Blake (Shinn) said as soon as he let his head go in the ground he was struggling so he just let him work to the line. It was unfortunate we struck a track like that but he travelled back well.
“It can be a tricky start that 1100m at Rosehill and middle of the field I guess isn’t too bad. It’s good prizemoney and tends to mean if you can finish in that top two prizemoney wise you’re set up for the autumn.”
Magic Millions Digital open for bidding
Shares in G1 WA Railway Stakes-aimed Let's Galahvant (Galah) headline the latest Magic Millions Digital Sale with 48 lots available. Pearce Racing has catalogued two 2.5% unreserved shares in the 8-year-old gelding who has won 13 times and over $1 million. He runs in Saturday’s G2 Lee Steere Stakes at Ascot.
Several lightly raced maidens are being offered for sale such as Konigstein (Tassort) who placed in Doomben recently and Kensington-placed Nuclear Pete (Anders). Unraced 3-year-old gelding Putcee (Dundeel {NZ}) is a full brother to $1.7 million earner Hope In Your Heart, while the same connections are selling unraced 3-year-old filly Redushka (Castelvecchio). Three-time winning broodmare Snitz And The City (Snitzel) had a pedigree upgrade this week when her half-sister Girl With A Pearl (Johannes Vermeer {Ire}) ran third in the G2 Wakeful Stakes.
Widdup takes on the big boys at Hawkesbury
Hawkesbury’s Listed Ladies Day Cup is dominated by the big Sydney stables, but local trainer Brad Widdup will run Hyperbolic (NZ) (Proisir) who comes off a first up seventh placing. “Hyperbolic always goes better second-up than she does first-up. She has taken nice improvement from the Randwick race, and I’ m really happy with her,” Widdup told racingnsw.com.au.
Brad Widdup | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Not enough opportunities for juveniles
Trainer Gary Portelli points to the big field in the Listed Golden Gift as a sign that there aren’t enough races being programmed for spring 2-year-olds. Fourteen horses will face the starter with another four on the ballet. Portelli will debut the filly Vain Ambition (Farnan) in a race he won with Sejardan. “She's a filly that goes really nicely,” Portelli told racenet.com.au.
“But drawing out in 14 makes it hard. But she's got to run because there's just no races for 2-year-olds now the way things are which makes it impossible. I get turnover rules the world but as a trainer trying to get the young ones up and going and exposed, you pull your hair out.
“For horses to be racing and educated at three. you need them learning and strengthening up at two so it's a ripple effect. The movement away from 2-year-old programming is frustrating.”
Trainers Association remind participants of their obligations
Australian Trainers Association (ATA) CEO Stephen Bell has reminded trainers to meet their obligations under the Rules Of Racing but that they are there for support if things go wrong. “Every trainer, upon being granted a licence, accepts a clear and binding obligation to comply with the Rules of Racing and the conditions of their licence,” Bell told racing.com.
“These rules are not optional. They exist to protect the horse, the participant, the punter and the public's confidence in racing.
“The ATA will always support its members through proper process, but we will never condone conduct that breaches the rules. Those who choose to breach the rules, who gain or seek to gain an unfair advantage, or whose actions bring our industry into disrepute, must face appropriate retribution through the established stewards and tribunal processes.
“The vast majority of trainers do the right thing, every day, under significant pressure. They deserve a level playing field. Strict enforcement is not about punishment alone - it is about protecting the hardworking, compliant majority of our constituents.”
No Royal Ascot for Autumn Glow
Co-owner John Messara has put an end to speculation that Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) might travel to Royal Ascot next year. “When I met up with Chris, I said, I'm having second thoughts about Royal Ascot,” Messara told racingandsports.com.au.
“There are risks involved, it's a 42-hour trip, and there are a million and one issues to deal with. Look, I think she could win a race like that (at Royal Ascot) but if something goes wrong en-route we burn the whole year virtually.
Autumn Glow | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“So, I thought it was too high risk and why would I put her at risk given how good she's been to us, and what more she can do in Australia in the next 12 months. I think Chris, in the end felt a sense of relief.
“She's safe doing what she's doing, she's doing it well, she's doing it brilliantly and she's exciting everybody. I think we just keep going here and if we were to have a go at the Everest that would be a different little mountain we would have to climb. It would also be a nice challenge but at least it's at home where she knows the system works and she's safe.”
Tiny Tex shows some of dam’s ability
Neville Parnham-trained 3-year-old gelding Tex N Cee (Splintex) made it two wins in succession on Thursday at Belmont. He’s the first foal of Group 1 winner Kay Cee (Playing God). “He’s done a good job, a 3-year-old up to 59 kilos, raising from a maiden. To put them away like he did, I thought he’s a very progressive horse,” Parnham told racingwa.com.au.
Asked if he was like his dam, Parnham said, “Not really. He’d fit inside her. He’s not overly big, where she was quite a big, rangey mare. This is her first foal, so hopefully going forward she’ll produce a few more and maybe a good one like him.” He may head to the G2 WA Guineas.
“He’s learning his craft and whether it’s a prep too soon for him, we’ll have a think about it after this and have a talk with Greg (Edwards) and we’ll work out where we go.”
Double for Schmidt at Kempsey
On Friday at Kempsey, trainer Cassandra Schmidt celebrated a double with Sweet Marlene (Panzer Division) and exciting 3-year-old filly Home Siren (Home Affairs) who bolted home by 5.25 lengths over 1000 metres. Home Siren now has three wins from four starts, and was eighth in the Listed Woodlands Stakes at her other start.
Sold by Morningside for $55,000 at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, she was pinhooked through Eureka Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where Darren Blair paid $150,000 for her. She is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Siren Assault (Rich Enuff).
New Aussie winner for Sword Of State
Second season sire Sword Of State added winner number 11 when Paul Shailer-trained 3-year-old gelding Denver Bronco (NZ) won at Gatton at his second start. He is the first foal of Valzacella (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) who is a winning half-sister to G3 Wellington Cup winner Mister Wolfgang (NZ) (Puccini {NZ}).
Bacio won’t come for the G1 Lightning
Plans to send GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner Bacio (USA) (Maclean's Music {USA}) to Australia for the February 13 G1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes at Flemington Racecourse have been scuttled, reports trainer Wesley Ward. Ward seemed optimistic about making the trip down under after the win in the Breeders' Cup but said that after he and the ownership group had time to consider the obstacles involved, the decision was made to stay home.
“I have a very, very good feeling that he would win the race just because he's on the top of his game,” Ward said. “But the negative to that is that after going all that way and having to come home, it would probably impact his spring and early summer schedule.
"I like to give my good sprinters a little downtime in the winter and then build them back up and get them ready for Keeneland or the big races they have for sprinters Derby Week at Churchill. Going to Australia would have prevented us from doing that. We'd have to center on a late summer campaign to get him back going. So, we're not going to go. He's only three. Maybe we can go next year.”
Osborne gets big book of rides for Hong Kong debut
Jockey Saffie Osborne makes her Hong Kong debut on Sunday at Sha Tin with 10 rides including Silvery Breeze (Dundeel {NZ}) in the G3 Sa Sa Ladies Cup. “I think every jockey dreams of coming here,” Osborne told scmp.com.
“It’s such top-class racing and the atmosphere always looks amazing, so it’s somewhere that I’ve always dreamed of coming and I’ve been very lucky to ride winners all around the world, and hopefully I can ride a few winners in Hong Kong.
“But it’s a real honour to be invited to be here and I’m just really excited. It’s been an amazing year having ridden my first Group 1 winner and it being in a classic, it’s been special.
“I’ve tried to get as much advice from as many people as possible and I think you also just learn quickly on the job and having 10 rides on Sunday, hopefully I’m going to pick it all up very quickly and everyone’s been very helpful. It’s also really nice to pick up a ride in the feature race and it obviously stands me in good stead, being so light I can do bottom weight and that’s something that’s helped me a lot in the UK and hopefully it can help me here.”
Charles Darwin retired to Haras de Beaumont
Charles Darwin, winner of the G2 Norfolk Stakes for Aidan O'Brien, will join the roster of stallions at the Chehboub family's Haras de Beaumont near Deauville for 2027.
A son of No Nay Never and a full-brother to the young Coolmore stallion Blackbeard, Charles Darwin was named a TDN Rising Star on his wide-margin win on debut at Navan in April. He won next at Naas in May before posting an impressive performance to win the Norfolk Stakes by two and a quarter lengths.
For his Royal Ascot victory he ran the second-quickest time ever recorded for the Norfolk – the fastest since his own sire won the same race in 2013. At three, Charles Darwin won the Listed Committed Stakes at Navan.
“We are absolutely delighted to welcome Charles Darwin to Haras de Beaumont and are incredibly grateful to the Magnier family and Coolmore team for entrusting us with his stallion career,” said Haras de Beaumont manager Mathieu Alex.
“The fact that Coolmore is retaining ownership in the colt speaks volumes about the belief they have in this horse. The No Nay Never and Scat Daddy sire line is on fire, and to be able to offer a full-brother to a young sire as exciting as Blackbeard is a massive privilege.
“His dam, Muirin, is a proven producer of outstanding models, with all her yearlings sold at auction making seven-figure sums. He is a high-class, fast horse, a magnificent physical specimen, and is exactly what we'd like to offer to French and international breeders here at Beaumont. We cannot wait to showcase him to breeders.”
Breeding right in Baaeed sells privately
A breeding right in Baaeed, offered in the Tattersalls Online October Sale, has subsequently been sold privately to NA Bloodstock for £320,000 (AU$624,000).
The son of Sea The Stars, who stands at Shadwell's Beech House Stud, is a six-time Group 1 winner. He won 10 of 11 starts for trainer William Haggas in the Shadwell blue-and-white silks. Among his victories were the Lockinge Stakes, Queen Anne Stakes, Sussex Stakes, Juddmonte International and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, which earned him the title of Cartier Horse of the Year in 2022.
His first crop includes the Group 3 winners Coaxed and Curracloe, with the latter placed in last week's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
Betfred blames tax for ending Classic sponsorship
Betfred says it had “no choice” but to end its sponsorship of all five British Classics following the latest tax increase announced in the Budget.
Chairman and co-founder Fred Done had intimated prior to the announcement that they would end their deal to back both the 1000 and 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, the Derby and Oaks at Epsom and the St Leger at Doncaster if chancellor John Healey raised machine games duty (MGD).
While Healey did not raise MGD to the 40% some had feared, he did put it up to 25% from 20%, leading Betfred to claim over 1,000 jobs were at risk in their shops alone.
“Following successive tax rises for the betting industry – and in particular the increase to machine games duty at the most recent Budget – it is with great sadness that we have taken the difficult decision not to proceed with a three-year renewal of our sponsorship of the British Classics,” a spokesperson told TDN.
“It is not a decision we wanted to make, but the cumulative cost of government policy has left us with no choice.”
Amy Starkey, who runs Epsom as managing director of the Jockey Club's London Hub, said, “While we are naturally disappointed that Betfred have taken the decision not to renew their sponsorship of the Derby and the Guineas Festival at Newmarket, we understand their reasons for doing so and know this was not an easy decision for them.
“Fred and his team are hugely passionate supporters of racing and have been great partners for our four British Classics, and we look forward to hopefully working with them again at some point in the future.
“We are currently in conversations with a number of interested prospective partners that share our ambitions for the future of both events and look forward to sharing more details in due course.”
Zelzal gets a fee lift for 2027
Zelzal anchors a six-strong roster at Hara de Bouquetot for 2027 and is priced at €12,000 (AU$19,500). He stood for €10,000 (AU$16,200) in 2026.
The son of Sea The Stars leads all French-based sires on the French stallion table by both prizemoney and number of individual winners. He has sired 14 individual black-type performers in 2026, among them Group 1 performer Alam. His strike rate of winners to runners stands at 50%.
New recruit Sahlan will stand for €7,000 (AU$11,400) in his first season. France's champion miler in 2025, the son of Wootton Bassett is the first Group 1 winner bred at Haras de Bouquetot to return home to stand at stud. He was successful in the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp.
Busy USA jockey hits massive milestone
Jockey T. D. Houghton became the ninth jockey in history to amass 40,000 starts on the Thursday program at Mahoning Valley Race Course.
Houghton launched his career on June 24, 1987, at Detroit Race Course, finishing fourth aboard a horse named Strong Appeal. He has since been a stalwart on the Ohio circuit, with stops along the way at Tampa Bay Downs, Mountaineer Park, Pinnacle Raceourse, Great Lakes Downs and Mahoning Valley.
“This means a lot,” said Houghton, who endured an injury which caused him to miss significant time at Great Lakes Downs in 2002. “Gerald Bennett put me on my first horse back after injury,” a horse named Secret Romeo who became a Michigan legend. “I won five stakes on him in five different states.”
