Knights Choice to run in Zipping Classic
Co-trainer Sheila Laxon is pleased with Knights Choice (Extreme Choice) despite an unplaced effort in the G1 Melbourne Cup and the team are pressing on to Saturday’s G2 Zipping Classic. “I must admit, he might have needed that run. It has brought him on no end,” Laxon told racing.com.
Knights Choice | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“We’re really happy with him and Robbie Dolan actually flew down from Queensland to ride him on Tuesday and he galloped sensationally on the course proper (at Ballarat). John (Symons, training partner) clocked him and when he came back with the times he ran, I said ’oh, really’.
“We’re all guns blazing and let’s see where he wants to take us.” The stable also has Star Of Macedon (Zoustar) in the G2 Sandown Guineas.
Spring in the step for Prince Of Verona
Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Prince Of Verona (Castelvecchio) will step up in grade for the G3 Spring Stakes at Newcastle on Saturday. “I think he’s a really nice horse in the making, he’s come on a lot each start this preparation,” Rob Archibald told racingnsw.com.au.
“He’s very pushbutton, very straightforward, I think he will get over a bit further in time because he relaxes so well. His hardest test to date will be Saturday but we can’t fault him leading in, and I think he’ll appreciate a nice big track.”
Acrobat debutant for Max Lees
Hawkesbury trainer Fabio Martino will debut 2-year-old filly Acrozina (Acrobat) in Saturday’s Max Lees Classic. “I have a nice opinion of her, obviously. Since we purchased her at the Classic Sale with the owner, she trialled here at Hawkesbury, and I was pretty happy with it,” Martino told racingandsports.com.au.
“She did very well. She behaved professionally before the trial, after the trial, during the trial. I couldn't ask for anything more. I believe at this stage of her career, she'll learn much more out of a race than another trial.”
Acrozina was a $40,000 purchase from Riverstone Lodge’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. She’ll be up against Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Stellar Ami (I Am Invincible) who was a $600,000 yearling purchase.
Snowden pleased with King Of Roseau
Peter Snowden-trained King Of Roseau (Capitalist) steps into Saturday’s The Hunter off a last start mid-field effort in the G2 Russell Balding Stakes. “King Of Roseau has an excellent chance, however, he has drawn barrier 16 - I am hoping with scratchings he can start from barrier 11 or 12,” Snowden told racingnsw.com.au.
King Of Roseau | Image courtesy of Sportpix
"He has had two starts in October and is ready to peak and I was happy with his run in the Russell Balding at Randwick. King Of Roseau made good ground late after being well back and he finished 3.2 lengths from Pericles and Headwall. I don’t want the horse ridden too negative, probably mid-field and given air in the straight. King Of Roseau is okay on a soft 5 or 6 track but not on heavy tracks.”
Karaka Million raid for Dwyer filly
Trainer Henry Dwyer is planning to take 3-year-old filly Mountjoy (Street Boss {USA}) to the R.Listed Karaka Million 3YO in January. “There’s still some water to go under the bridge, but because she won the Elvstroem, she’s quite high up in the order of entry,” Dwyer told racing.com
“The race is obviously restricted to horses from the Karaka sale, and the mile looks like it will suit her. We probably should have gone to the paddock after the Elvstroem – she was a bit over the top at Morphettville, and it was a big ask for a 2-year-old filly to travel at her third start.
“We didn’t see the best of her there, and today’s run has probably proven that. She’s a nice filly, she tries hard, and apart from that Adelaide run she’s been very consistent. I think there’s bigger things in store.” She was sold by Rich Hill Stud to Dwyer for NZ$150,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
Fraud charges for hobby trainer
Trainer Ricardo Meunier has been charged with fraud by Racing Victoria stewards, allegedly selling a 50 per cent share in a racehorse not in his possession or under his care. “At all relevant times, the horse was not in Mr. Meunier's possession or under his care,” RV stewards said in a statement on Thursday.
Bennett returns to the races
Injured jockey Kristy Bennett, who sustained head injuries in a fall in June, attended the races at Ascot last weekend. “When Kristy got out of hospital she wanted to go to the dog park that she used to walk her dog at and she also said she wanted to go to the races,” chairman of the Australian Jockeys' Association, Craig Staples told racenet.com.au.
“Kristy was very particular, she said don't tell anyone, she wanted to make it a surprise. She was adamant that she wanted absolutely no-one to know, she wanted to see the look on the faces of the jockeys' when she walked in. She is in a wheelchair but she is allowed to walk when she is being assisted.
“The first time the jockeys saw her was when she walked into the (jockeys) room and they were so happy to see her. It was even better later in the day when the jockeys' came upstairs to the restaurant we were in and spent some time with her.
“There was so much doom and gloom to start with after Kristy's fall but the doctors are now pumped, they think it (her continuing recovery) is a miracle. Recently she remembered the trip over to Queensland and things are coming back a lot quicker now. Her body is responding fantastically because she couldn't move her arm or close her hand at all to start with – her left leg appeared paralysed – but now she is walking and opening and closing her hand.
“She can have a full conversation with you now. To see how much she is improving every day, I honestly think she will be able to look after herself at some stage.”
Juvenile winner for Anders
Tom Button-trained 2-year-old filly Andless Love (Anders) won on debut on Thursday at Cairns. First season sire Stronger had his first placegetter with Mr Strong running second, while So Sunny (Sebring Sun) was third.
Murrulla Stud sold Andless Love to Button for $12,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She is the fifth foal and first winner for Loveatfirstsight (Love Conquers All) who is a winning half-sister to Listed winner Astounding (Encosta De Lago).
At the same meeting, Better Than Ready had a double with Youmeanddupre and Sand ‘N’ Power.
Treble for Badel at Happy Valley
Jockey Alexis Badel rode a treble on Wednesday night at Happy Valley on Lovely Miles (Toronado {Ire}), Cheerful Wongchoy (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) and Pope Cody (Showtime). “It’s good. I think I’ve had some good rides – some good draws, some bad draws – but we were able to work it out,” Badel told scmp.com.
No Nay Never leads Coolmore Ireland roster for 2027
Group 1 winners Gstaad and Puerto Rico are the new names on the Coolmore roster for 2027 and have been introduced at fees of €25,000 (AU$41,000) and €12,500 (AU$20,300) respectively.
They join a powerful team of stallions headed by No Nay Never, whose standout year on the track has been highlighted by Classic success for his daughter True Love, one of four Group 1 winners for the son of Scat Daddy this season along with Breeders' Cup heroine Libertango, Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Amusingly and King Charles III Stakes winner Mission Central. No Nay Never's fee for 2027 has risen to €120,000 (AU$195,000), up from €100,000 (AU$162,000) last year.
Sioux Nation is another name to have excelled both on the track and in the sale ring, and he too has had a fee hike to stand at €75,000 (AU$122,000), up from his previous high of €37,500 (AU$60,800). His outstanding performer this year has been the four-time Group/Grade 1 winner Sun Goddess.
Starspangledbanner, who is joined on the roster by his Irish 2,000 Guineas-winning son Gstaad, also sired this year's Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Precise as well as the G1 Prix Morny winner Senorita Bonita and G1 Belmont Oaks victrix Kensington Lane. Having previously stood at a high of €60,000 (AU$97,300), his fee has risen to €75,000 (AU$122,000).
Keeneland November tops US$240 million
Keeneland rounded out its nine-day run of the 2026 November Breeding Stock Sale in Lexington Wednesday, surpassing the US$240 million (AU$351 million) mark, the second-highest through-the-ring gross for the auction since 2007.
Including post sales, the nine-day auction drew US$253,091,700 (AU$370 million) in gross receipts for 2,025 sold at an average of US$124,984 (AU$183,000). The median closed out at US$50,000 (AU$73,000).
“Thankfully it has maintained strongly through to the end,” said Cormac Breathnach, Sr. Director of Sales Operations. “The sale itself has been extremely good. (At the conclusion of Tuesday's session) we had [already] passed our growth from last year. That was very gratifying. This is the best since November Breeding Stock Sale since 2007. That shows the continued health in the marketplace and interest in mares and weanlings. Overall, the numbers across the board are very similar to 2025, year over year.”
Last year's November sale generated US$237,456,400 (AU$347 million) for 1,891 horses sold. The 2024 November sale generated US$187,557,400 (AU$275 million) for 2,050 head sold (through the ring).
The 2007 November Breeding Stock Sale, which was held over 15 sessions, grossed US$340,877,220 (AU$499 million). That year's sale included horses of racing age, which was subsequently carved out into its own stand-alone sale in 2022.
Lope De Vega on restricted book at Ballylinch Stud
Ballylinch Stud has released the 2027 fees for its five stallions, with Lope De Vega again heading the roster at €200,000 (AU$325,000) and leading first-season sire Bayside Boy receiving a significant increase to €30,000 (AU$48,700) up from €12,500 (AU$20,200).
“Lope de Vega again confirmed himself as one of the world's leading stallions in 2026,” said Ballylinch managing director John O'Connor. “Over the past two seasons he has sired more European stakes horses than any other stallion worldwide, including six winners at Group 1 level. A new generation of talented two-year-olds emerged, including three Group 1 horses, headed by Fillies' Mile winner Musical Times.
“As in 2025 and 2026, he will again cover a strictly limited book of mares in 2027.”
New Bay will stand at a fee of €75,000 (AU$122,000) for the fifth consecutive year, having been responsible for 13 stakes winners in 2026, headed by the G1 Coronation Cup scorer Bay City Roller, while the fee for Make Believe, described by O'Connor as “proven and affordable”, also remains unchanged at €10,000 (AU$16,200).
Baaeed tops Shadwell roster for 2027
Shadwell's outstanding six-time Group 1 winner Baaeed remains unchanged at a fee of £55,000 (AU$107,000) when he embarks on his fifth season at Beech House Stud in 2027, while the newcomers Almeraq and Sajir, both Group 1-winning sprinters, have been introduced at fees of £17,500 (AU$34,000) and £6,000 (AU$11,700), respectively.
Baaeed's first crop of 2-year-olds has produced seven individual winners in Europe so far this season, including a pair of Group-winning fillies in the G3 Darley Fillies Stakes heroine Curracloe – who also finished third in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf – and G3 Prix des Reservoirs scorer Coaxed.
Study Of Man tops Lanwades 2027 roster
Kirsten Rausing's Lanwades Stud boasts a three-strong roster of stallions for 2027 following the arrival of Noble Mission who was previously announced at £9,000 (AU$17,500). Study Of Man takes top billing at an unchanged fee of £35,000 (AU$68,000).
Kalpana once again flew the flag for Study Of Man in 2026 with a pair of Group 1 victories, notably beating the boys in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, before following up in the Yorkshire Oaks at York. She featured among Study Of Man's eight black-type performers in Europe during the latest season, with the others including the G2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil hero Sons And Lovers and G1 Deutsches Derby runner-up Chiefland.
Sea The Moon, who won the Deutsches Derby back in 2014, will command a fee of £20,000 (AU$39,000) for the second consecutive year, with the dual Group 1-winning miler Rayif and the unbeaten G2 Prix de Malleret heroine Behrayna emerging as his leading lights in 2026.
Coolmore retirees for 2027
The 2027 season will see the retirement of Coolmore stalwarts Holy Roman Emperor and Footstepsinthesand, aged 22 and 24 respectively.
“They have both been magnificent servants to Coolmore and to breeders globally over very long careers,” said Castlehyde Stud manager Paddy Fleming. “They are in great form, but we felt the time was right for them to step back. They will enjoy long and well-deserved retirements here at the farm.”
British-bred traceability study released
Findings from a research project examining the different traceability pathways of British-bred Thoroughbreds, were released by the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA) on Wednesday.
The results provide important new evidence to support the industry's ambition of achieving 100% lifetime traceability for all horses bred to race in Britain. The analysis of the 2018 and 2019 British foal population was carried out by the TBA, funded by the Racing Foundation and supported by the British Horseracing Association (BHA). The data was later independently verified by Dr Rebecca Mouncey.
At least 81% of horses from the registered 2018 foal cohort and 82% from the 2019 cohort had entered training in Britain or overseas by the age of six, with 69% and 71% respectively going on to race. Some horses were recorded as still in training at the time of the data download on August 7 of their respective six-year-old year.
The study also provided evidence about horses' lives beyond racing, with 23% of those born in 2018 and 24% of those born 2019 having transitioned into the leisure sector by six years of age. The studies also revealed that 25% of females born in 2018 and 28% born 2019, had returned to stud as broodmares by six years of age, whilst 28% of those born 2018 and 27% of those foaled in 2019, had been permanently exported by age six.
Victoria Murrell, the TBA's equine health and welfare manager, who has led the research study said, “British racing is one of the most regulated and visible equine populations, but this research has highlighted where important gaps remain in our knowledge of the whereabouts of Thoroughbreds bred to race. It provides a valuable baseline against which we can measure progress and strengthen lifetime traceability.
“The industry's Traceability Working Group has already identified and prioritised practical solutions, with several measures trialled or implemented and remains committed to delivering the traceability action plan with the support of the Horse Welfare Board.
“The research and associated remedial actions aim to safeguard the prospects of all horses bred to race. Additionally, we believe that demonstrating transparency and accountability is fundamental to building and retaining public trust. That means being open about where gaps remain and, importantly, taking action to address them.
“We are pleased this insight is contributing to the next phase of British racing's welfare strategy and strengthening our collective ambition to achieve comprehensive lifetime traceability for all our Thoroughbreds.”
Racing memorabilia auction set for Newmarket
A total of 591 lots of racing history will be auctioned at the National Horse Racing Museum on Wednesday, November 18, for The Inside Track, a major auction spanning more than 300 years of the sport. The auction is a partnership between BUDDS and Weatherbys.
Items of note include Lester Piggott's 1971 Champion Jockey trophy and Danny Maher's three-time Derby-winning saddle to memorabilia from Sir A.P. McCoy, Desert Orchid and this year's Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National. There is also a copy of The Complete Jockey, published in London in 1695.
