Profit Motive wins G3 WA Champion Fillies Stakes
Capitalist 3-year-old filly Profit Motive stayed unbeaten for this campaign when victorious in Saturday’s G3 Champion Fillies Stakes at Ascot. Trained by Mitchell Pateman, she was fourth at her only start at two and is three from three this season including a last start win in the Listed Burgess Queen Stakes.
“It’s great when a plan comes together. She was all heart today and was there to be beaten, and she’s punched the breeze. She’s all class,” Pateman said.
“This means the world to Robbie (Logie) and he’s finally got a good one.” She might head east in the autumn. “There’s not much here for her until this time next year.”
Sledmere Stud sold her on Inglis Digital as a yearling for $20,000 to her trainer and she took her earnings over $240,000. She is the second foal of stakes placed Maqsad (Not A Single Doubt) whose first foal is a winner. This is the family of Anamoe and Grand Armee (Hennessy {USA}).
Max Lees Classic to Lucky Vega filly
Ciaron Maher-trained 2-year-old filly Lucky Lakota (Lucky Vega {Ire}) looked a sharp type when successful in the 900 metre Max Lees Classic at Newcastle. Kris Lees-trained Bronze Lion (Tassort) looked to have the race won when Lucky Lakota flew home to win in a photo. The most expensive horse in the race, $600,000 yearling Stellar Ami (I Am Invincible) was third.
“It's not easy for a 2-year-old having its first start to give them two lengths like she did," Maher's stable representative Johann Gerard-Dubord said.
“I didn't think she got there but she was very strong through the line. She is a lovely filly. Australian Bloodstock sent her to us and from the start they said she felt like she was very natural. From day one of arriving in the stable, she was very forward.
“She won't be heading north but they have some nice Inglis races so we will see how she comes through that and we could go to a Nursery or put her away and go to a Millennium. It is a good result and nice to get a win for Australian Bloodstock today.”
Originally sold by Crossley Thoroughbreds at the Inglis Great Southern Sale for $55,000, she was pinhooked by Infinity Thoroughbreds into the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale where Ciaron Maher and Australian Bloodstock paid $100,000 for her. She’s the fifth foal and third winner for unraced Masikota (Street Cry {Ire}).
Crescendoed headed to Magic Millions
Paul Shailer-trained 2-year-old filly Crescendoed (Better Than Ready) will be set for the R.Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic after winning at Doomben. She was placed on debut. “Her first run was really good, she got a really good experience from it,” Shailer said.
“We didn't envisage the way the race played out today, we thought we would be in behind them and stalking them. But she began really quickly so Kyle Wilson-Taylor took the initiative and found the fence, which is the best friend of 2-year-old horses. She gave a good kick and she was very strong to the line.
“She is a very cheap filly and she has a lot of very excited owners.” Her earnings over $62,400 are ahead of the $20,000 Shailer Racing paid for her at the Magic Millions March Yearling Sale. Attunga Stud sold her there, and she was previously a $15,000 weanling buy from Glastonbury Farm’s Magic Millions National Weanling Sale draft. She is the first winner for winning mare Zegota (All Too Hard).
Stakes double for Wootton Bassett
The Listed Doveton Stakes win by 4-year-old entire Pallaton at Sandown gave Wootton Bassett (GB) a Saturday stakes double after his filly Katoto won the G3 Spring Stakes at Newcastle. Pallaton, who won the G3 Zeditave Stakes at three, was coming off an unplaced effort on Champions Day last weekend. “We didn't have to do much with him, just kept him happy. I just had doubts about him running a strong 1,200 metres, and he got left exposed early in the straight last week, running into that strong headwind, and he folded late,” trainer Grahame Begg said.
“But this race was a nice alternative for him to go to because he'll go out and have a break now and come back from the early part of the autumn.” He’ll be aimed at the G1 Oakleigh Plate. He took his record to five wins and earnings over $650,000. He is one of six winners for Listed winner Anevay (Exceed And Excel), who is a half-sister to Group 2 winner and sire Krupt.
Awesome Boy wins G3 RJ Peters Stakes
Bruce Kay-trained Awesome Boy (Awesome Rock) defied his form to win Saturday’s G3 RJ Peters Stakes by 1.8 lengths. Previously Listed placed, he becomes the seventh stakes winner for Awesome Rock.
Now with five wins and earnings over $350,000, Awesome Boy is the third foal and third winner for Double Jester (Not A Single Doubt). She won three races and Awesome Boy is the first stakes winner for the family in six generations.
Listed Placid Ark Stakes won by Jedi Dream
Stefan Vahala-trained 3-year-old filly Jedi Dream (Cosmic Force) became the seventh stakes winner for Cosmic Force when victorious in the Listed Placid Ark Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.
A winner on debut at two, she was fourth in both the G2 Karrakatta Plate and G3 WA Sires’ Produce Stakes. This time in, she ran into today’s Group 2 winner Profit Motive (Capitalist) last start in the Listed Burgess Queen Stakes. The win takes her record to two wins from seven starts and earnings over $360,000.
Vahala Racing paid $130,000 for her from Kirk Bridge Farm’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft in 2025. She is the first winner for Reeh (Sebring) who is from the family of G1 Diamond Stakes winner Summer Passage (Snitzel).
Double for Kersley on Perth card
Jockey Fred Kersley rode an early stakes double on the Perth card when D’Argento 4-year-old mare Ladies Pro resumed for the season in the Listed Jungle Mist Classic for trainers Grant and Alana Williams and added the race to her resume which includes two Listed races at three. Now the winner of six of her 10 starts and earnings over $340,000, she was a $45,000 purchase by Williams Racing and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) from Bowness Stud’s Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale draft. Ladies Pro is the first foal of Il Professionale (Pierro).
Kersley backed it up next start when victorious on Oscar’s Fortune (Rich Enuff) in the G3 Colonel Reeves Stakes. Oscar’s Fortune also won the 2024 G3 Roma Cup. He took his record to seven wins and earnings over $1.7 million. Loloma Farm bought him via Inglis Digital as a yearling in 2021 for $5500. His Capitalist yearling half-sister is Lot 426 at the 2027 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Listed Beauford Handicap won by Bestower
Kris Lees might have just missed winning the race named for his father earlier on the card in a photo, but he came home with a decent paycheque when Bestower (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) won the Listed Beauford Handicap at Newcastle. The 6-year-old mare becomes the 14th stakes winner for her sire who died in 2024. Contributer (Ire) also sired G3 Summoned Stakes winner Concord Connie at Sandown.
With a record of four wins and earning over $520,000, Bestower was sold by Mapperly Stud to Beamish Bloodstock for NZ$50,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale. She’s the third foal and third winner for Thorn Park mare Nomisma (NZ) who won four races and is a full sister to Group 2 winner Sacred Park (NZ).
Three in a row for King Of Minto
Victory in Saturday’s Listed Keith Noud Stakes at Doomben made it three wins in succession for Toby Edmonds-trained King Of Minto (Power {GB}). The 5-year-old gelding has now won six of his 11 starts and becomes the 28th stakes winner for Power (GB).
He is the second foal and second winner for Ki Ki (GB) (Kheleyf {USA}). Her yearling by Prince Fawaz is Lot 1058 at the 2027 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Double for Cryptic Message
On Saturday, the broodmare Cryptic Message (Can) (Cryptograph {USA}) produced a double at Dunkeld. Cameron Thompson-trained 5-year-old mare Abbey’s Crossword (Swear) took her career tally to two, while her half-sister and stablemate Classy Sassy (Dirty Work) won her maiden.
Triple Listed winner Cryptic Message produced stakes winner Por Que No (USA) (Wicked Strong {USA}) before arriving in Australia and now had six winners from seven to race. She has 3-year-old filly Revolutionary Code (Russian Revolution) and a yearling filly by Artorius to come.
New Wild Ruler winner
At Canterbury on Friday night, second season sire Wild Ruler added winner number 32 when Peter Snowden-trained Threesome broke his maiden at start number four. The 3-year-old gelding debuted in the Golden Gift as a juvenile. Newgate Farm sold him at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for $50,000 to Pure Bred Thoroughbreds. Threesome is the third foal and third winner for six-time Listed winner Triple Chelsea (USA) (Hat Trick {Jpn}).
Victor Ludorum adds new winner
Former shuttle sire Victor Ludorum (GB) added his third Australian winner when David O’Prey-trained 3-year-old filly Victrix Swan won at Gundagai on Saturday. She is the first foal of Cygnet (Hinchinbrook) who has an unraced 2-year-old filly Sassy Vega (Lucky Vega {Ire}).
G2 Tauranga Stakes won by Khanshe
Consistent mare Khanshe (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) won Saturday’s G2 Tauranga Stakes for trainer Fraser Auret. She was an uncharacteristic second-last when resuming for this campaign in the G3 Spring Stakes at Hawkesbury but returned to her usual form to take her record to seven wins from 21 starts. It was her fourth black type victory.
The half-sister to Listed winner Circus Dancer (NZ) (Circus Maximus {Ire}) is out of unraced Folies Bergere (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}).
G3 New Zealand Cup won by Just Charlie
Kevin Myers-trained Just Charlie (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) won the G3 New Zealand Cup over two miles, and was coming off a last start Listed Metropolitan Trophy win, a race he won last year as well. “When they can win a big race like this it is such a thrill, but he deserved it,” stable representative Luke Myers said.
“We are just over the moon for Lily Sutherland, as the work she has been doing is just amazing and especially on this horse, as she rides him in every gallop and has such a good combination now. We told her to let them go if something wanted to take her on, as last year he would get over-racing, but now he just drops the bit and when he got out today his staying ability kicked in.
“The owners are great people and will be talking about this for years. We are just over the moon for them.” Just Charlie was bred by his owners Mike and Roz Southey. He has now won eight races with earnings over NZ$585,000. A half-brother to stakes placed Zanotti (NZ) (Strategic Image), his dam is unraced Goody Two Shoes (NZ) (Danasinga).
Listed Stewards Stakes won by Archaic Smile
Jockey Masa Hashizume and trainer Hollie Elliot, who combined to win last week’s G1 NZ 1000 Guineas with Angels Halo (NZ) (Proisir), added Saturday’s Listed Stewards Stakes with Archaic Smile (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}). “She is a mare with so much ability and although we’ve have tried to stretch her out to a mile, we are now going to keep her to the sprint trips as she seems to love it," Elliott told Loveracing.nz.
"Mr Otani (owner) is a great guy, and he was thinking of putting her to stud this year, but I said give her a really good spell as she has never had one. It was really hard to get the weight off her as she did so well, but I’m glad we waited as she needs the good tracks.”
Winner of the Listed Wellesley Stakes at two and the Listed Flying Handicap last start, this was her third black type victory and her sixth career win. She took her earnings over NZ$500,000. Mr Otani purchased her for NZ$55,000 from Woburn Farm’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale draft. She is the second foal of On The Ball (NZ) (So You Think {NZ}).
Royal Champion bolts home in Bahrain Trophy
The first Group 1 edition of the Bahrain International Trophy held elements of a fairytale, as Royal Champion (Shamardal) became the second dual winner of the race after Spirit Dancer (Frankel) in Bahrain on Friday. Clifford Lee was aboard for the 2000 metre affair.
Royal Champion burst up the stands' side rail and onto even terms with eventual fourth-place finisher Lambourn, before rocketing away to win well and withstand the closing runs of Zaydann (Dubawi) by 1.25 lengths, with Baroud (Frankel) third by 1.5 lengths.
Karl Burke said, “It's all credit to the horse. I spoke to Liam O'Rourke from Darley, who looks after Sheik Mohammed Obaid's interests, and we said we'd have to give it a go if we were happy with the horse, but it's only been the last three or four weeks that's we've been happy happy with him to be honest. We didn't even have the chance to take him away for a gallop.
“Last year when we came here we gave him a real easy time – he was off the back of a good run in the Irish Champion Stakes and all we had to do was keep him fresh and well. This week I came out early and I saw him do a little bit of work on Tuesday morning because we needed to get a blow into him.”
The winner is a half-brother to G2 Jockey Club Stakes hero Outbox (Frankel), and his granddam Zomaradah (Deploy) is the dam of the breed-shaping sire Dubawi.
Ka Ying Rising wins trial in Hong Kong
Returning to the trials for the first time since dropping a narrow decision in defence of his title in the G1 The Everest at Randwick last month, Ka Ying Rising (Shamexpress) tuned up for next Sunday's G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Sprint at Sha Tin Racecourse Nov. 13, taking out a 1200 metre dirt jump-out in impressive fashion.
“He was really good,” trainer David Hayes told the HKJC press team. “It was a very fast-run trial, and I love seeing him relaxing in third. He looks like he's come back–like last year–in terrific form.”
Constitution River retired to Coolmore for 2027
Dual Group 1 winner Constitution River (Wootton Bassett) has been retired and will stand for €25,000 (AU$40,000) at Coolmore Stud next year. The G1 Prix du Jockey Club and G1 Eclipse Stakes hero was retired after a routine end-of-season veterinary evaluation.
Said trainer Aidan O'Brien, “It's incredibly disappointing. At the end of every year, we do a routine veterinary MOT on all the horses, and unfortunately, they found a lesion on his left front tendon. There was no guarantee he would be ready for his major targets next year and we never want to push them or take any chances, so the right thing to do is retire him now.
“To be honest, he was the horse we were most looking forward to staying in training next year. Both ourselves and Ryan (Moore) thought he was one of the most brilliant 3-year-olds we've had here, but that's life unfortunately, and he has done more than enough to earn his place in the stallion yard.”
The first foal out of Chuppy (Le Havre), herself a full-sister to multiple Group 1 winner Wonderful Tonight, Constitution River is also from the family of champion sire Camelot. Chuppy will sell during the Arqana Vente d'Elevage sale next month.
Two new stallions added to Tallyho Stud
Zavateri and Shareholder are new to the Tally-Ho Stud roster in 2027 and bring the total stallions at the operation up to 10, the stud announced on Friday. The former will stand for €17,500 (AU$28,400) and the latter is priced at €7,500 (AU$12,200).
A Group 1-winning 2-year-old by Without Parole, Zavateri won the G2 July Stakes, G2 Vintage Stakes and G1 National Stakes in 2025. He defeated subsequent Classic hero Gstaad in the National. At three, he added the G2 Celebration Mile and hails from the family of leading French sire Zarak.
G2 Norfolk Stakes hero Shareholder, a €460,000 (AU$750,000) Arqana May breeze-up buy, is by Not This Time, who is in the running for his first American Leading Sire title this year. His extended family features the 2026 G1 Derby hero Christmas Day (Camelot).
Group 1 sire Mehmas remains at €70,000 (AU$114,000). Responsible for 46 individual 2-year-old winners this season, the grey sired G3 Tyros Stakes winner Florida Bay. In demand at the yearling sales, his colts sold for up to 500,000gns (AU$1.02 million) and fillies up to 400,000gns (AU$819,000).
Starman, the leading second-crop sire in Britain and Ireland by prizemoney, number of stakes winners and number of winners, also remains at his 2026 fee–€40,000 (AU$65,000). He was also the Champion First-Crop Sire in 2025. His progeny are headed by G1 Commonwealth Cup heroine Venetian Sun and he has been represented by five stakes winners this year. His progeny sold for up to 650,000gns (AU$1.3million) in 2026.
Hawk Mountain retired to Culworth Grounds Farm
Group 1-winning juvenile Hawk Mountain will become the first son of Wootton Bassett to stand at stud in Britain following his retirement to Culworth Grounds Farm, where he will stand for a fee of £10,000 (AU$19,500) in 2027.
“We are absolutely delighted to welcome Hawk Mountain to Culworth Grounds,” said Sophie Buckley, the owner of the Northamptonshire farm. “It's very exciting to be standing the first son of Wootton Bassett at stud here in the UK.
“He is a horse of tremendous quality, with a superb pedigree and a race record that we believe gives breeders plenty to get excited about. That combination of precocity, class and performance is exactly what we were looking for in a stallion prospect.”
Diego Velazquez fee cut for 2027
The National Stud has announced the 2027 fees for its five-strong roster of stallions, with the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois winner Diego Velazquez dropping down to £12,500 (AU$24,300), having covered 126 mares when standing his first season at a fee of £17,500 (AU$34,000) in 2026.
Stradivarius remains unchanged at a fee of £10,000 (AU$19,500) and is so far responsible for two individual winners in Europe from his first crop of juveniles.
