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Nestor embraces life in dual role

Kody Nestor is enjoying life as both jockey and trainer after taking out a dual licence earlier this year, with the 36-year-old set to ride his own mare Lady Lilibet (Saxon Warrior) at Gunnedah on Monday. Nestor, who returned to the saddle in 2021 after retiring to train due to weight issues, has already prepared two winners from limited runners since resuming training alongside his riding career. “I only have a handful of horses in work at the moment, it’s only a hobby, but I’ll transition back to full-time training toward the end of the year,” Nestor told Racing NSW. Lady Lilibet will back up after breaking her maiden at Dubbo last week, having joined Nestor’s stable from John Ramsey. “He was finding her a little hard to place over in the Hunter,” Nestor said. “She can stay a bit and we knocked over a maiden the other day.” Nestor trained 107 winners during his first stint as a trainer before returning to race riding and said preparing and riding his own horses provided a unique level of satisfaction. “It’s a different feeling when you ride one that you train. You put a lot of time into it and to have that experience of riding and training it gives you more satisfaction,” he said.

 

Napoleonic targets Missile Stakes return

Group 1 placegetter Napoleonic (Wootton Bassett) is being prepared to resume in the Missile Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) at Randwick on August 8, with the progressive sprinter set to trial over 900 metres at Randwick on Monday. The Tom Charlton and John O’Shea-trained colt will share a heat with Autumn Glow, Autumn Boy and several other spring contenders. Napoleonic finished third in the Doomben 10,000 (Gr 1, 1200m) before disappointing over 1300 metres in the Kingsford-Smith Cup (Gr 1). “We’ll give some thought to keeping him to the sprints,” Charlton said. Stablemate Sam Hawkens will also trial on Monday ahead of a possible return in the Premier’s Cup Prelude (1800m) on the Missile Stakes undercard.

 

Waller stars set for Randwick trials

Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) and Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) headline Chris Waller’s team for Monday’s barrier trials at Randwick. The star mares will be joined by Group 1-winning stablemates Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park), Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel) and Autumn Boy (The Autumn Sun). Autumn Glow is being prepared to resume in the Winx Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) at Randwick on August 22, while Aeliana could begin her Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2000m) campaign in the Memsie Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) at Caulfield on August 29. “They are both great,” Waller said. “They both had a gallop on Saturday morning and James McDonald has been coming in to ride them.” Ohope Wins could be aimed at the Turnbull Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) at Flemington on October 3.

Ceolwulf set for trial return

Ceolwulf (Tavistock) will begin his spring preparation in a 740-metre Warwick Farm trial on Tuesday. Joe Pride’s dual King Charles III Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) winner has not raced since pulling up with hoof issues after February’s Verry Elleegant Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m). Pride plans to give the five-year-old three trials ahead of a return in the Winx Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) at Randwick on August 22. A third King Charles victory is the primary target, while the Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) at Flemington is also under consideration.

 

Attica begins spring build-up

Spring Champion Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) winner Attica (Lonhro) will begin his spring preparation in a Warwick Farm trial on Tuesday. The Godolphin-owned gelding will have two trials before resuming in the Spring Preview (1400m), with trainer Joe Pride considering either the Epsom Handicap (Gr 1, 1600m) or Metropolitan (Gr 1, 2400m). “He’ll tell us where we are going, but I couldn’t be happier with how he’s returned,” Pride said.

 

Littlefield eyes Empire Rose with Concord Connie

Unbeaten in her past three starts, Concord Connie (Contributer) is being aimed at the Empire Rose Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) at Flemington, with trainer Charlotte Littlefield favouring a Victorian Group 1 target over a trip to Sydney for the Golden Eagle (Gr 1, 1500m). The rising four-year-old has returned to work after a short break and is expected to resume in a Benchmark race in September as Littlefield looks to build her rating ahead of the Melbourne spring. “We need to raise those points and providing she has come back well from there we will plot a path to something like the Empire Rose,” Littlefield said. “She obviously goes well at Flemington. “There is the lure of big prize money up in Sydney, but for me it’s more important to win a Group 1 at headquarters down here in Victoria and for the owners too.” Concord Connie has raced just four times, winning three consecutively, including her past two starts at Flemington. Littlefield is still chasing her maiden Group 1 success, with her best result at the elite level coming when She’s Bulletproof (Shooting To Win) finished runner-up in the 2025 Oakleigh Plate (Gr 1, 1100m).

Widdup claims Hawkesbury Title

Local trainer Brad Widdup has successfully defended his trainers title at the Hawkesbury Race Club with a double at the final meeting. Widdup, who notched 15 wins last season to become the first local trainer in three decades to beat all comers, was tied with Chris Waller at 14 wins a piece entering Sunday’s meeting. Widdup sealed victory with two year old Viva Macaco (Bivouac) in the first race and Longinus (Pride Of Dubai) in the third race taking his local wins to 16 and overall winners tally to 63. Unfortunately for Widdup, Viva Macaco is to depart the stable with agent George Moore confirmed he is now destined for Hong Kong. A $375,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Twin Hills draft, Viva Macaco is the highest priced Bivouac colt sold to date.

Vale Brian Markovic

Respected racecaller and broadcaster Brian Markovic has died aged 70 following a long illness. Markovic called harness and thoroughbred racing for more than two decades with Melbourne radio station 3UZ, later known as Sport 927 and RSN. Best known as the voice of harness racing at The Valley during the 1980s and 1990s, he also called extensively across Victoria’s thoroughbred circuit, including numerous Cranbourne and Mornington Cups.