JPN: Champion filly Star Anise returns to land Oka Sho Japan’s leading two-year-old filly Star Anise (3 f Drefong – Epice Arome, by Daiwa Major) added a Classic to her résumé on seasonal debut with a decisive victory in Sunday’s Oka Sho (Gr 1, 1600m) at Hanshin. The Northern Farm homebred had already become the second top-level winner for her sire Drefong (Gio Ponti) when landing the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (Gr 1, 1600m) late last year. Ridden by Kohei Matsuyama on Sunday, the Tomoka... Read More

83 for Night Of Thunder Britain and Ireland’s reigning Champion Sire Night Of Thunder (Dubawi) registered his 83rd individual stakes winner on Sunday when the Karl Burke-trained Evolutionist (3 f ex Model Guest, by Showcasing) ran out an impressive winner of the Prix de la Grotte (Gr 3, 1600m) at Longchamp. The filly showed her Classic credentials, producing a taking turn of foot to draw clear and score by two and a half lengths over Narissa (Siyouni) with Pierchic (Palace Pier) a short nec... Read More

Unbeaten Southend steps up to Group 1 test Southend (Palace Pier) will put his perfect record on the line when he rises to the Champagne Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) at Randwick on Saturday. Trained by Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, the colt has made a strong impression in two starts, following a debut win at Newcastle with victory in the Baillieu Handicap (Gr 3, 1400m) at Rosehill last month. That performance also saw him become the first Australian stakes winner for his sire Palace Pier (Kingman... Read More

Bona Sforza set for Australian tilt after Riccarton success Bona Sforza (Written By) could be bound for Australia following her victory in the New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Stakes (Listed, 1600m) at Riccarton on Saturday. Trained by Samantha Finnegan, the daughter of Written By (Written Tycoon) recorded her second stakes win, 12 months on from claiming the Welcome Stakes (Listed, 1000m) at the same meeting. Finnegan has enjoyed notable success with the filly at Riccarton, including a placing... Read More