A total of 66 remain in Cup contention

Okita Soushi (Galileo), who finished third in last year's Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m), will not contest the race this year as he, with the likes of star mare Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express), were not paid up for at the $10 million race's first declaration stage on Tuesday. The Melbourne Cup hopefuls were reduced from 119 original nominations to 66, but there were no further surprises in the omissions, which also include still ill 2024 Melbourne Cup winner Knight's Choice (Extreme Choice), but it was revealed later in the afternoon that he has been ruled out of his defence of his crown. Of the 66 remaining in the race, 11 are trained overseas and all are either already in quarantine at Werribee or in quarantine in England or Ireland awaiting transport to Melbourne on or about October 14. Okita Soushi was on track early in the spring to contest the Melbourne Cup on November 4 but has only had one run and a trial so far this preparation and holds no nomination to race this weekend. Multiple Group 1 winner Treasurethe Moment, has withdrawn on the back of an interrupted campaign, although the Melbourne Cup was not among her main goals for the spring. Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) champion Via Sistina, who is the reigning Horse of the Year, was paid-up for but is also considered unlikely to run. The second declaration stage for the Melbourne Cup is on October 14.

Knight’s Choice out of Cup

Knight’s Choice (Extreme Choice) will miss a chance at back-to-back Melbourne Cups, with the 2024 champion absent from Tuesday afternoon’s first declarations. The Queensland-trained gelding has not raced since his first-up mid-field effort in the So You Think Stakes (1500m) at The Valley more than three weeks ago and will be sidelined following a strangles outbreak at his temporary Mt Macedon training base. Co-trainer Sheila Laxon said while the Cup is off the agenda this spring, other targets are now being considered, including January’s Magic Millions carnival and next March’s Auckland Cup (Gr 1, 3200m). "He’s been invited to the Auckland Cup and he’s a Magic Millions horse so there are a lot of good options ahead for him, although we would have dearly loved to have given the Melbourne Cup another go,’’ Laxon said. "But he’s not an old horse – he’s still just six – so maybe he can be back in 12 months for the Melbourne Cup.’’ Knight’s Choice recorded a high temperature about ten days ago and, after initially improving, has fallen ill again. It is not yet confirmed whether he has strangles.

Autumn Glow draws outside in Epsom

Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) will make her first appearance at Group 1 level when she puts her unbeaten record on the line in the Saturday’s Epsom Handicap (Gr 1, 1600m) at Randwick, but her task has been made tougher after drawing barrier 14 of 14. Kerrin McEvoy retains the ride at 54.5 kilograms, with trainer Chris Waller confirming he made a “coaches call” to book James McDonald for reigning Australian Horse of the Year Via Sistina (Fastnet Rock) in the Turnbull Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) at Flemington on the same day. Stable representative Charlie Duckworth is confident the mare will cope with the wide draw. “It always makes it harder, but she’s a good horse,” Duckworth said. “She’s terrific. She obviously had that exhibition gallop on Saturday at the races and bounced through that. She was just literally doing too well. She’s bouncing out of her skin. She’s ready to explode, it’s her first crack at a Group 1, but she deserves it.” Autumn Glow is set to start a commanding favourite, having opened at $1.80 despite her wide gate.

Birdman set for Metropolitan

Meanwhile, Chris Waller will saddle five runners in Saturday’s The Metropolitan (Gr 1, 2400m) at Randwick, with Birdman (Free Eagle) heading the market despite coming up with barrier 17 of 18, which will reduce to 16 if the emergencies do not gain a start. The four-year-old impressed last time out when taking the Kingston Town Stakes (Gr 3, 2000m), and will again be partnered by Kerrin McEvoy, who rides at 51.5 kilograms. “Running at the set weights race meant he was exempt from having a penalty, terrific job to get that win and still get in with a nice light weight,” assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth said. “2400 metres will be a massive positive, just an awkward draw, Kerrin is going to need to be good.”

Sir Delius ready for Turnbull task

Sir Delius (Frankel) will have his Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) credentials tested when he lines up in Saturday’s Turnbull Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) at Flemington. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained entire is the current favourite for the Flemington showpiece on November 4. Sir Delius is following a similar path to Waterhouse’s 2013 Cup winner Fiorente (Monsun), contesting the Turnbull before the Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) and backing up in the Melbourne Cup. Waterhouse said Sir Delius reminded her of her sole Cup hero. "In his temperament, the size of the horse and his demeanour," Waterhouse said. "He's a very handsome horse and Fiorente was a handsome horse and a very nice horse to train. I have never won a Cox Plate, so it would be a dream come true and he's a horse that could do that as he's got a wonderful turn of foot as we saw at Caulfield." Sir Delius galloped solo on the Flemington course proper on Tuesday, quickening over the final 1200 metres. "I thought he worked very well," Waterhouse said. "He was leisurely in his gallop, but very happy and I liked the way he went right through the line. After his Underwood win he looks bigger and stronger and pulled up in good condition. You like them to be at their winning weight, and he certainly looks good. The people paid a lot of money for the horse and it's nice when they deliver. He's on the right track for the Melbourne Cup which was the whole point of why we bought him."

Everest on the table for War Machine

Group 1 winner War Machine (Harry Angel) will be afforded the chance to audition for a spot in next month’s The Everest (Gr 1, 1200m), but trainers Ben, JD and Will Hayes are yet to finalise where he will run. The five-year-old Harry Angel (Dark Angel) gelding, a last-start winner of the Stradbroke Handicap (Gr 1, 1400m) at Eagle Farm, had a slower start to the spring due to a foot abscess. “He just got a foot abscess at the wrong time, which didn’t let us trial when we planned to trial, so it set us back about a week,” Ben Hayes told Racing.com. “In a funny way, it’s probably been a good thing. The horse has absolutely thrived, he looks a million dollars. He trialled last week and it was an eye-catching trial. He was great through the line and we feel he is right on track.” War Machine is nominated for the Premiere Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) at Randwick and the Gilgai Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) at Flemington, with Hayes leaning towards the latter. “We have two nice options to look at now, either down the straight at Flemington, which he is most likely to head that way, or the race in Sydney,” he said. “This is his audition [for The Everest] I would say,” Hayes added. “Wherever he runs I am sure there will be lots of people watching and seeing how he goes, and if he were to run well, it wouldn’t surprise me [if he was offered a place in The Everest]. He is a very sharp horse that we feel is in great order.”

Golden Path to test Caulfield Cup credentials in Turnbull

Trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr will use Saturday’s Turnbull Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) at Flemington as a trial for Golden Path (Belardo) as they weigh up a Caulfield Cup bid for the in-form gelding. "The horse is going super and arguably in career-best form. He's really come on in the coat since his good run in the Underwood, so we are delighted with him.” Kent Jnr told Racing.com. “There has been much discussion amongst us trainers, Mick and I, and the ownership group. The Caulfield Cup has been spoken about, so we are going to keep the door open with a look at him in the Turnbull Stakes. He's never been to 2400 metres, so it's a punt but it's a $5 million punt and he's going to get in the race. We think that could be his chance to win a big race. We just question whether he's good enough to win a Might And Power [Caulfield Stakes]. He was good against them in the Underwood but those horses are going to improve again, like Sir Delius. We want to see him attack the line and be strong late and if he pulls up well that will give us a lot of confidence."

Bur Dubai out to prove staying credentials

The Price and Kent Jnr stable will also saddle Bur Dubai (Night Of Thunder) in the Bart Cummings (Gr 3, 2500m) at Flemington on Saturday, and connections believe the progressive stayer has the engine to make his mark in stronger company as he steps out again this spring. "We haven't had a horse like him for a while that does not blow after his gallops and when he trials,” Michael Kent Jnr told Racing.com. “Seemingly, he's got a very big tank on him and he's progressing nicely. He's lightly tried in Australia. He was quite unlucky in the Archer. He was bolting for a run beside Mormona. We got severely checked and we could not get out. That horse ran second and I think he would have run top three in the Archer, but he didn't get a crack at them. He's got a very low rating (78) on where we want to get with him, but no surprise to see him run really well in a race like this. He's fourth-up now. The horse is going great and we just want to see him have every possible chance. He's got a big tank so let's use it - get out and get galloping, I quite like the horse. We've got to find out at some point at what level he sits."

On Display heads to Empire Rose

Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr will be represented by progressive mare On Display (Fastnet Rock) in the Rose Of Kingston Stakes (Gr 3, 1400m) at Flemington on Saturday, as she heads towards her target of the Empire Rose Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) at the course on Derby day. "Much like Bur Dubai, she's still looking for a run out of the Group 2 mares race [Let's Elope Stakes] so it's the same course and distance this Saturday and will be a similar field I'd say,” Kent Jnr said. “She has to beat Lazzura again but we're really happy with her. Her coat's really come on in the three weeks and she's bouncing out of her skin. I would naturally like to draw out on her as she's got a big finish on her. So, I just want to see her have clear air and wind up. I think we'll see a very nice mare. Can't wait for the mile, but not just yet, we're just taking our time to get to the Empire Rose."

Meydaan the pick of overseas Caulfield Cup contenders

Racing Victoria’s international advisor Paul Bloodworth has backed Meydaan (Frankel) as the leading international contender in this year’s Caulfield Cup. The Simon and Ed Crisford-trained stayer will head to the 2400-metre feature after a third placing in a Group 3 at Kempton, where he finished just behind Hong Kong Vase (Gr 3, 2400m) winner Giavellotto (Mastercraftsman) and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Gr 1, 2400m) hopeful Kalpana (Study Of Man). “His last run was in a Group 3 race, on the all-weather at Kempton,” Bloodworth told The Verdict podcast. “Now, you probably wouldn’t normally think that is a great lead-up for the Caulfield Cup, but in front of him was a horse called Giavellotto, who won the Hong Kong Vase last year and is now going to the Arc. Kalpana, trained by Andrew Balding, was favourite for the Arc before that run and finished second. Meydaan finished just on their tails, running third, and if you look at the run he was really taking ground off them, at the end. It was just a really impressive lead-up, I thought, for the Caulfield Cup. He’s just got a sense of timing, for mine.” Bloodworth noted the Crisfords’ experience with Australian racing, referencing their past trips with Without A Fight (Teofilo) and West Wind Blows (Teofilo). “All I can say is what they’ve said to me, and that is they think he is a better horse than West Wind Blows,” he said. “His form, if you look at it, has been a little patchy, but he has shown good ability on several occasions. They know him better than I would, so I can only go on what they’re saying. If he is as good as West Wind Blows, then he is certainly going to be very competitive in the Caulfield Cup.”

Racing NSW extends show-cause deadline for ATC

The Australian Turf Club has been granted an extension until October 24, 2025 to respond to a governance notice from Racing NSW. The extension allows the club’s management and staff to devote its energy and resources to delivering Sydney racing’s showpiece Spring Carnival, including Everest Day on 18 October. Australian Turf Club chairman Tim Hale welcomed the decision by Racing NSW. “We had asked for this extension until after TAB Everest Day and we are very pleased this has been granted,’’ Hale said. “It allows ATC further time to respond in more detail to Racing NSW’s notice, which we will do with diligence and integrity. Importantly, our teams can focus on delivering a world-class racing carnival and raceday experience for our Members and customers at the peak of spring.’’

Rourke appointed RV deputy chair

Tim Rourke has been unanimously appointed as the board of Racing Victoria's deputy chair.

Rourke, who was appointed to the RV board in June last year and is the chair of the RV Audit & Risk sub-committee and a member of the Racing sub-committee, replaces Sharon McCrohan at the conclusion of her term on the board.

Rourke is the current chief executive officer and executive director of CitiPower, Powercor, United Energy and Victoria Power Networks, while he also currently serves as a director on the board of Energy Networks Australia.

As well as holding various senior positions across the energy sector since 1995, Rourke is also an active thoroughbred owner and breeder enjoying success with Young Werther (Tavistock) among others.

The appointment has been confirmed by the Minister for Racing Anthony Carbines as per the RV constitution.

Accordingly, the Minister has initiated a process through the Victorian Government's Office of Racing to fill two vacancies on the RV Board. Applications for the new directorships are open until October 19.

McCrohan, who has served the past 15 months of her eight-year tenure as deputy chair, is leaving to take up a position as a senior executive with the AFL.

RV chair Tim Eddy said: "I'm pleased to announce the appointment of Tim Rourke to deputy chair of Racing Victoria with the unanimous support of the board. Since joining the board, Tim has demonstrated a tremendous business acumen and a wonderful passion for the sport.

"He wants to see racing thrive in Victoria. In welcoming Tim's appointment, we must also farewell Sharon McCrohan, who has been an incredible servant for the RV board over the past eight years.

"Sharon's guidance on government relations and communications has been invaluable, as has her insights on our Integrity and Equine Welfare sub-committee. Sharon played an instrumental role in helping ensure the continuation of Victorian racing throughout the COVID pandemic, for which the industry is forever grateful."

Rourke said: "I am honoured to be appointed deputy chair of Racing Victoria and I look forward to working closely with Tim Eddy and the board in my new role. I love thoroughbred racing and I want to see it succeed in Victoria for future generations to enjoy.

"From the thrill of ownership, the personal reward of breeding to the excitement of race day, there is so much to love.

"As a board we have many items on our agenda and we will be tackling them with great passion and a desire to grow and ensure the commercial viability of the sport for all the people racing directly and indirectly employs, our stakeholders, clubs and the punting public."

Magic Millions Breeze-ups get underway

The build up to the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale has intensified with a swag of impressive breeze up performances over the past week. While around 70 lots are still left to breeze at the Gold Coast next Tuesday recent breeze-up sessions have unearthed a plethora of future racetrack stars. Recent performances at the Gold Coast Turf Club and Seymour Racing Club have seen many of the nation's leading horse educators put a wonderful line up of (mostly) two-year-olds through their paces. This year's Horses in Training Sale has a handful of promising and untried three-year-olds catalogued and horses on the Gold Coast had to choice to breeze on the synthetic (polytrack) or inside grass. The final breeze up session will be conducted at the Gold Coast next Tuesday (October 7) with the sale two days later (October 9) from 12pm (QLD time). "This sale has a proud record of producing high class racehorses right around the world," Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch said. "The 2025 catalogue is fantastic and the line up of horses is world class. We have a great line up of sires represented and I've been really impressed with the physicals we have catalogued. We look forward to the final breeze session next week and then offering the outstanding prospects at auction. Anyone thinking about attending the sale should reach out to a member of the Magic Millions team - we are sure it will be the best value buying sale of its type in Australasia in 2025.” To view the online catalogue and all breeze up data and materials to date click here.

Matamata Cup first-up for Blue Sky At Night

Blue Sky At Night (Shamexpress), winner of last season’s Waikato Cup (Gr 3, 2400m) and Avondale Cup (Gr 3, 2400m), will resume in Saturday’s Team Wealleans Matamata Cup (Listed, 1600m) at Matamata. Shelley Hale is pleased with her preparation. “She had a great season last year, so it is good to have her back and ready to go again,” Hale said. The eight-year-old Shamexpress mare posted a comfortable 1300-metre trial win at Cambridge on Tuesday, giving Hale confidence ahead of her first-up run over a mile. “It was a lovely trial,” Hale said. “She was just out there for a pipe-opener and she seemed to do it very comfortably and happily. She is working up really nicely. She got out in the birdcage today, pricked the ears and still looks like she loves being out there, so that is the main thing.” Blue Sky At Night holds a nomination for the Livamol Classic (Gr 1, 2040m) at Ellerslie next month, with Hale to decide her path based on Saturday’s run. “She is a natural stayer, so we will just leave her in there at the moment,” Hale said. “She is going to run on Saturday in the Matamata Cup and we will just see how she measures up there and how she comes through it. In past years, the Livamol has sometimes dropped off a little but I don’t think it is going to this year. There will be plenty of other options, she can switch back and get ready for the Counties (Gr 3, 2100m) and Waikato Cups.” Hale has no concerns about the mile first-up. “She had about six weeks off and she is pretty easy to get fit, so I don’t think the mile first-up will prove any challenges,” she said. “Being fresh she will have a bit of ping in her legs.”

HK: Beauty Waves aims for repeat in National Day Cup at Sha Tin

Group 3 racing in Hong Kong continues on Wednesday at Sha Tin when eight runners – headlined by last year’s winner Beauty Waves (Starspangledbanner) – face off in the National Day Cup Handicap (Gr 3, 1000m) as part of the ten-race public-holiday programme on National Day in Hong Kong. Trained by Tony Cruz and to be ridden by championship leader Zac Purton from gate two, Beauty Waves faces Invincible Sage (Thronum), Raging Blizzard (Per Incanto), Wunderbar (Rich Enuff), Fast Network (Wrote), Magic Control (Sioux Nation), Bottomuptogether (Shamus Award) and Baby Crystal (Per Incanto) in the straight course clash, only three days after My Wish’s (Flying Artie) coming of age success in Sunday’s Celebration Cup Handicap (Gr 3. 1400m) at Sha Tin. Cruz said: “Beauty Waves is ready for this race. He won it last year. I believe he has a great chance again to repeat that, he’s all set and I have got Zac to ride him. Everything is in place.”

Beauty Waves
4:05 pm, Sha Tin

View Racecard

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Jockey

Zac Purton

Trainer

A S Cruz

Nine for Victor Ludorum

The Henri-Alex Pantall-trained Victor Vitae (2 c ex Dezba by Kingman) got off the mark and in doing so became the ninth individual stakes winner for Darley shuttler Victor Ludorum (Shamardal). The two-year-old colt defeated Honey Pearl (Lucky Team) by three lengths with another quarter of a length back to Possenhofen (Armor) in third. Bred by Elevage Du Luot, the colt was purchased by Janda Bloodstock for €13,000 at last year’s Osarus September Yearling Sale. Victor Vitae is out of dual winner Dezba (Kingman) and hails from the same family as dual Group 1 winner Vadeni (Churchill). Victor Ludorum is standing at Kelvinside for a fee of $11,000 (inc GST).

103 for Kingman

Juddmonte Farms resident Kingman (Invincible Spirit) scored his second stakes winner in as many days and 103rd overall when the Dermot Weld-trained Purview (3 c ex Variable by Sea The Stars) landed the Navigation Stakes (Listed, 1m 2.5f) at Cork. Ridden by Colin Keane, the colt defeated Cadogan (Farhh) by a length and a quarter with Iowa City (Territories) finishing a further two lengths away in third. Bred and raced by Juddmonte, Purview is out of Listed winner Variable (Sea The Stars), herself a daughter of Group 1 scorer Proportional (Beat Hollow), making her a half-sister to Group 3 winner First Instinct (Bated Breath).

IRE: Coolmore strike for sister to Blackbeard and Charles Darwin at €1,900,000

Coolmore have enjoyed plenty of success with Blackbeard and Charles Darwin, and can now look forward to the pair’s year-younger sister after bidding €1,900,000 (approx. AU$3,369,000) for the daughter of No Nay Never (Scat Daddy) shortly before lunchtime on day two of the Goffs Orby Sale. “She’s a lovely filly,” said MV Magnier after signing for the Glenvale Stud-consigned filly. “Blackbeard was a very good racehorse and his yearlings are selling very well, they look very promising. He’s having a good sale here and apparently he has a few good ones coming up in the next couple of weeks. And of course Aidan thinks a lot of Charles Darwin, he thinks he’s a very good horse. I’m not saying that he’s Albert Einstein, Albert looks like he’s pretty special, and Charles looks like he could be a very good horse too. To be fair to the mare, she always has a good-looker. Blackbeard is a very nice, correct horse who was very fast. Charles looks like he could be the proper job, so let’s hope this filly can do something similar. She’s a very valuable filly. There’s a lot going on on the page too; the mare is in foal to Wootton Bassett.”

IRE: Major players clash over €675,000 half-brother to Bay City Roller

A trio of high-rolling buyers clashed over the Blue Point (Shamardal) half-brother to Bay City Roller (New Bay) during the early stages of the Goffs Orby Sale on Monday lunchtime, with the hammer eventually falling at €675,000 (approx. AU$1,196,700). The Amo Racing team, with principal Kia Joorabchian at the centre of the huddle, were still in there pitching at the business end, as was Blandford Bloodstock’s Richard Brown, a key cog in the Wathnan Racing machine. The rival camps were standing on the top tier of the auditorium, while John Stewart of Resolute Racing sat in the seats below. Despite appearing the most nonchalant of the three, it was Stewart, a first-time visitor to Goffs, who played the winning hand. “It’s a really good pedigree,” said Stewart. “He’s a well-bred horse and we’re really high on Blue Point; he rates really good on our system so this was one of the top colts we had on our list today. I’m excited to get him, and I felt like we got a good price on him as well. I’m pretty happy with that. It’s a proven family and the dam is only going to improve. He’ll probably end up with Francis Graffard, he trains most of our horses over here in Europe.”