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Patonga tops Inglis Digital December (Early) Online Sale at $255,000
Untapped three-year-old Patonga (Written Tycoon) topped the Inglis Digital December (Early) Online Sale on Wednesday, with Hong Kong-based buyers securing the colt for $255,000.
Offered by Coolmore, the Chris Waller-trained son of Written Tycoon (Iglesia) was purchased by the Jolly Time Syndicate and will continue his career in Hong Kong. Patonga has shown promise in three outings, producing a win and a second placing.
“Patonga is yet another talented young horse with considerable upside that we have offered through Inglis Digital,’’ Coolmore racing manager John Kennedy said.
“We wish his new owners the very best of luck with him and hope he can emulate the likes of Imperial Force, Caballus and Zarastro as former success stories for Coolmore’s Inglis Digital offerings.’’
A spokesperson for the Jolly Time Syndicate said: “This is for the syndicate permit in Hong Kong and we look forward to seeing how he settles into Hong Kong, although we haven’t decided on a trainer yet.
“I’m really happy with the Inglis Digital platform, there’s frequently Hong Kong-qualified horses to choose from so that makes each catalogue a ‘can’t miss’ for us.’’
The second-top lot of the sale was four-year-old mare Celestial Bling (Capitalist), offered by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. She was knocked down to Nocab Racing and Kestrel Thoroughbreds for $220,000 and will head to Newgate Farm to be covered next breeding season.
“At this stage we’re looking at Extreme Choice or Farnan for her first cover…we believe she has the makings of a beautiful broodmare,” Nocab’s Steve Bacon said.
Bott added: “She is a high-quality breeding prospect and the Bacon family have bought themselves an outstanding young broodmare.”
The sales of Patonga, Celestial Bling and Grinzinger Champ (Wootton Bassett) ($115,000) brought the number of $100,000-plus transactions on Inglis Digital this year to 125. The December (Early) Sale grossed $2,884,600.
Entries for the December (Late) Sale, running December 12–17, are now open until midnight on December 10. To enter, click here.
Pure Excess primed for Northerly Stakes challenge
Three-year-old filly Pure Excess (Exceedance) is set to be a major contender in Saturday’s Northerly Stakes (Gr 1, 1800m) in Perth, with Steven Parnham confident she can uphold the strong record of her age group in the weight-for-age feature. Parnham partnered Pure Excess to her first win in last month’s Champion Fillies Stakes (Gr 3, 1600m) and is backing her to go close in the $1.5 million event. “I’ve won four Northerlys, three of them on three-year-olds, and I’ve also run a second, a third and a fifth on three-year-olds, so I know the journey and what it takes and I think this filly has it,” he said. Parnham will ride at 50 kilograms, managing his weight carefully to be at peak fitness. “The key is keeping my hydration levels right up. Adrenalin does take you a long way and you find your body can do amazing things, but I’d like to get there in the best shape I can,” he said.
Morton fields trio for Ascot feature
Dan Morton will saddle three runners in Saturday’s Northerly Stakes as he chases a first major win in one of his home state’s elite races. Morton’s team includes unbeaten gelding King Of Light (Earthlight), three-year-old filly Pure Excess, and In Good Order (American Pharoah). King Of Light, to be ridden by William Pike, will tackle open company for the first time, seeking a sixth straight win. “He’s a mint horse to train, so laid back and gets the job done,” Morton told Racing WA. “He really raises the bar come race day. He’s an exciting horse and he’s got to raise the bar again on Saturday, but he’s doing everything right and is a deserved favourite, but he’s going to have to take another big step.” King Of Light secured his fifth consecutive victory in the WA Guineas (Gr 2, 1600m) at Ascot on November 22. “So far, so good and there’s only a few more nervous sleeps until Saturday, but he doesn’t give us too many headaches,” Morton said. “He’s a happy horse.” Of Pure Excess, he said “She’s a lighter filly and the three-week gap between runs is ideal for her. We’ve been able to keep her ticking over and she’s been able to have a few maintenance gallops and with 50 kilos, she can show up.” In Good Order lines up off a ninth in the Railway Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) on November 22 and is being prepared for the Perth Cup (Gr 2, 2400m) on January 1. “He’s a happy horse and in good order as he’s starting to get towards peak fitness,” Morton added.
Lubrication to tackle George Moore Stakes
Lubrication (I Am Invincible) will aim for his first black type success when he lines up in Saturday’s George Moore Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) at Doomben, following an outstanding first-up performance. The gelding claimed the biggest win of his career in May, taking out the $1 million The Archer (1300m) at Rockhampton and defeating subsequent Group 1 winner Transatlantic (Snitzel). While that race remains a longer-term target, Matt Dunn is focused on the George Moore Stakes. “He really stepped up last prep and I think he’s come back a bit better,” the trainer said. “He has never run as well as that first-up in his life. He’d had five first-up goes and run third once. He had to go all the way back from a crumby gate and he finished his race off really well. He just missed the bob. He’s going great, and I think he’ll be very competitive on Saturday.” Lubrication has an excellent record over Doomben’s 1200–metre course, with two wins and three placings from eight starts. Dunn believes the gelding could make a mark over the summer, possibly returning to defend his title in The Archer. “Things need to fall into place in terms of the timing of his prep but certainly, he’s got a slot and if it fits in well we’ll be going there again for sure,” he said.
Rosehill meeting shifted to Sunday amid extreme heat forecast
The meeting scheduled to take place at Rosehill on Saturday has been transferred to Sunday, with Racing NSW acting on forecasts of extreme heat in Sydney’s west. Racing NSW officials have monitored conditions throughout the week, and with predictions still showing temperatures climbing beyond 40 degrees on Saturday, chief steward Tom Moxon confirmed the decision to postpone. “We have reviewed that forecast again this morning and unfortunately, there hasn’t been much of a variation to those forecasts,” Moxon told Sydney’s Sky Sports Radio. “The decision has been made this morning to transfer the meeting to Sunday, still at Rosehill Gardens where the forecast is for more favourable conditions with temperatures around the mid to high 20s.” Acceptances for the ten-race program will proceed as scheduled, with race times to be arranged around the existing Hawkesbury meeting. “We’re mindful we already have a Hawkesbury meeting scheduled for Sunday also, so we will have to organise times for Rosehill around that Hawkesbury meeting,” Moxon said. While high temperatures are also expected in Sydney on Friday, the Randwick Kensington twilight meeting is unlikely to be affected. A country program at Mudgee is also set to proceed, with conditions to be closely monitored.
Pfieffer wary ahead of Whinchat’s return
David Pfieffer is keeping expectations measured ahead of Whinchat’s (Russian Revolution) return at Rosehill, hoping the best version of the enigmatic sprinter appears when he resumes on Sunday. The six-year-old hasn’t raced since finishing unplaced in July’s Winter Stakes (Listed, 1400m), closing out a preparation that swung from a narrow Listed placing at Scone and a solid fifth behind Headley Grange (Exosphere) at Randwick. A known barrier rogue, Pfieffer admits predictability isn’t part of the package with the gelding. “Ask me after the race and we’ll find out,” he said of Whinchat’s chances. “We have done so much work on him and it hasn’t made a difference. But he is working great. His trials have been super. Speed is usually the key for him. If he can get to the front on his own, he’s going to always be a danger.” Meanwhile, Pfieffer unveiled a promising youngster at Warwick Farm on Wednesday, with Zoustar (Northern Meteor) gelding Ice Kool leading throughout for a strong debut win over 1000 metres. The stable will now consider a Queensland target. “He’s shown us he’s got ability. He’s going to go through his grades quickly and there’s a three-year-old race at the Gold Coast that might catch our attention,” Pfieffer said. “The Sunlight is what I’m eyeing off. He’s just needed time to mature and the time we have given him has worked out in our favour.” The $3 million Magic Millions Sunlight (1100m) will be run at the Gold Coast on January 10.
Bedggood pair well-drawn in open Ballarat Cup
Gavin Bedggood will take a strong hand into Saturday’s Ballarat Cup (Listed, 2000m), with stablemates Casino Seventeen (Casino Prince) and Kingswood (Roaring Lion) both coming up with favourable draws. Fresh from his Eclipse Stakes (Gr 3, 1800m) victory last weekend, Casino Seventeen will back up from barrier two with Harry Coffey to ride. Kingswood, scratched from the Eclipse in favour of this assignment, has drawn gate six and reunites with John Allen. They face 13 rivals, including last year’s winner Berkeley Square (Territories), who has work to do from barrier 14. Saint George (Roaring Lion) (15) and Shaiyhar (Camelot) (13) also drew wide. Poison Chalice (Savabeel) (4), fourth in this race 12 months ago, and Detonator Jack (Jakkalberry) (9) are both set to back up after disappointing behind Casino Seventeen in the Eclipse. Statuario (D’Argento) (7) and South Australian visitor Air Assault (Justify) (1) were among the more fortunate at the draw for what shapes as a typically open edition of the Ballarat Cup.
Lane returns to Victoria after Japan success
Damian Lane will return to Victorian racing on Saturday at Ballarat after another fruitful stint in Japan. Lane spent most of November riding in Japan, skipping Victoria Derby Day to compete in Tokyo and riding abroad for the past three weekends. His Japanese campaign was again highly successful, concluding his time there in 2025 with a total of 38 winners, making him the year’s most successful visiting foreign jockey ahead of Joao Moreira and Rachel King. The Western Australia-born rider last appeared locally at Flemington’s Champions Day meeting on November 8, where he guided Whisky On The Hill (Ribchester) to victory in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr 3, 2600m). He is booked for five rides at Ballarat on Saturday, headlined by Poison Chalice in the Ballarat Cup. Lane currently sits fifth in the Melbourne jockeys’ premiership with 17 wins, trailing runaway leader Mark Zahra by 19. His return home will be brief as he is set to head back to Asia next weekend to partner Japanese hope Lord Del Rey (Lord Kanaloa) in the Hong Kong Cup (Gr 1, 2000m) at Sha Tin on December 14.
Black Storm set for Werribee Cup test
Tim Fitzsimmons is poised to give emerging stayer Black Storm (Caravaggio) his toughest Australian assignment yet in Sunday’s $150,000 Werribee Cup (1600m). The Singapore import, who has missed the top two just once in seven Australian starts, resumed with an impressive win in the Tatura Cup (1450m) on November 22, firming late to score strongly at $3.90 under Teo Nugent. The six-year-old’s performance convinced Fitzsimmons to raise the bar again over the Werribee mile. “We’ve entered him for the Werribee Cup on Sunday, he gallops on Wednesday and if he works well, we’ll be going there,” Fitzsimmons told Racing.com. “If I think he needs another week, we’ll run him on Pakenham Cup Day, there’s a Benchmark 84 for him over a mile there. But at this stage, as long as he works well, we’ll be going to the Werribee Cup.” Black Storm’s victory followed a sharp Ararat trial, and Fitzsimmons said the Tatura result came as no surprise. He attributes the gelding’s only unplaced run in Australia – a seventh at Flemington before his latest spell – to trainer error after being forced to work forward from a wide draw. Black Storm was still only 3.5 lengths off the winner Too Darn Discreet (Too Darn Hot), encouraging Fitzsimmons to target a broader country cups campaign this preparation.
Onesmoothoperator back in work ahead of autumn targets
Tim Fitzsimmons is looking ahead with UK import Onesmoothoperator (Dialed In), who is back in work with Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane staying features on the table for an autumn campaign. The 2024 Geelong Cup (Gr 3, 2400m) and Moonee Valley Gold Cup (Gr 2, 2500m) winner was officially transferred to Fitzsimmons after his midfield finish in the Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m), following a decision by long-time trainer and close friend Brian Ellison. A Perth Cup (Gr 2, 2400m) tilt was briefly considered, but the gelding instead went for a spell. “He’s had a month-long spell and he spelled really well, so he’s ready to come back,” Fitzsimmons told Racing.com. “We toyed with the idea of going to Perth, but it was probably just a little bit too soon, he needed a break after the Cup. He’ll come back into work and we’ll aim him at something in the autumn, exact plans we don’t have yet, but there’s plenty of options for him. We’ve got good races for him in Victoria and then we can look at the Adelaide Cup, Sydney Carnival and maybe even the Brisbane Carnival. I don’t think he’s going to be your standard European horse that takes another prep to get acclimatised: he’s already proven down here with the two wins. He settled in well, he likes the climate here and he’s done really well in the paddock.”
Pinstriped secures Moonee Valley’s Supernova slot
Group 1 winner Pinstriped (Street Boss) will take his place in The Supernova (1400m) after the Moonee Valley Racing Club selected him to fill its slot for the $1 million feature. MVRC earned its position in the race through Jigsaw’s (Manhattan Rain) victory in The Meteorite (1200m) last month, and Enver Jusufovic believes Pinstriped is ready to showcase his true form despite a luckless spring. “It’s been a frustrating preparation without much luck and the public probably haven’t seen the proper Pinstriped this spring,” the trainer told Racing.com. “But he is holding his condition really well and has been working terrific so I’d expect nothing less than a bold showing. I think the Pakenham circumference will really suit him.” Reigning Supernova champion Here To Shock (Shocking) and Meteorite runner-up Arkansaw Kid (Harry Angel) have also been confirmed for Lindsay Park, adding further depth to the 1400-metre contest on December 13. Joe Pride’s star Private Eye (Al Maher) shapes as the early horse to beat. The gelding, who has amassed nearly $13 million in prize-money, will run for Ladbrokes. Taken (Ardrossan), Watchme Win (Harry Angel), Gumdrops (Written Tycoon) and Zou Sensation (Zoustar) are also among the confirmed contenders for the Pakenham showpiece.
St Jean gelding Melek scores strong debut win
Half Yours’s late sire St Jean (Teofilo) was handed his third city winner when Melek produced a strong finish to land the opening maiden over 1600 metres on debut at Caulfield Heath on Wednesday. Prepared by Ciaron Maher, the four-year-old was well-backed late and, under a composed Craig Williams ride, ran down $2.40 favourite Wolfoffitzroystreet (Ghaiyyath) to score by a length. Icaro (Needs Further) finished a further 1.8 lengths away in third. Melek is out of Pure Theatre (Nureyev) mare Regina Coeli, best known for winning two editions of the Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m) at Warrnambool. Melek is raced by Maher in partnership with Halo Racing, which includes Janice McKenna, the former owner of Half Yours. Leigh Allen, representing the Maher stable, said the debut success hinted at promising things ahead. “Janice is in the horse along with Ciaron who has a fair chunk, and well done to the team at Ballarat who have done all the work,” Allen said. “He’s four now, but he’s got a bright future.” Williams said Melek was well-schooled but gave him a few lively moments early. “He was a bit startled and wanted to run away with me, which was a bit awkward,” the winning rider said. “But then he fell into the model of stepping slow, and relaxing. I thought at the 500 metres when he started to reel in the favourite, he had that nice momentum…then he got on the wrong leg turning, which is not unusual in their first start, but then he kept lengthening and he was able to reel them in. It was a good win in the end.”
Botanist breaks through at Warwick Farm
Well-bred Wootton Bassett (Iffraaj) colt Botanist delivered a timely pedigree update for his yearling half-sister when he broke through for his maiden win at Warwick Farm on Wednesday. One of seven Chris Waller-trained runners in the 1400-metre contest, Botanist was a $900,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Resolute Racing and races in John Stewart’s colours in partnership with Coolmore. The three-year-old brought race fitness into his third start and was given a positive front-running ride by Nash Rawiller. He improved on his second at Kembla Grange, holding on strongly to score by 0.8 lengths over Miss Lola (Blue Point), with Pink Persuasion (Written Tycoon) another 2.2 lengths away in third. “Whenever you get sent a high-priced horse, there’s added pressure and now he’s done the job,” stable representative Charlie Duckworth said. “It was a beautiful ride by Nash. He let everyone behind him worry about their positions, while he got on with the task ahead.” The colt is the first winner for Group 3-winning Pierro (Lonhro) mare Tulip, who was Group 1-placed in the 2017 Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m). Tulip is herself a sister to stakes-winner Les Vampires and a half-sister to Group 3 winner Sacred Eye (High Chaparral), and Coolmore will offer her current yearling filly by Justify (Scat Daddy) as Lot 925 at the 2026 Magic Millions Yearling Sale.