MRC chairman John Kanga resigns

Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) chairman John Kanga has announced his immediate resignation from the club.

The MRC released a statement on Friday confirming that Kanga will leave his position, a year after his appointment in October, 2024. Kanga will be replaced by vice chairman Cameron Fisher.

"In recent weeks there has been a series of public attacks directed at me personally. While I completely reject the nature and accuracy of those attacks, I do not want them to distract from the club, its members, or the excitement of the Caulfield Cup Carnival," Kanga said in a statement.

"My decision to step aside is about putting the interests of the club and the broader racing industry ahead of my own. The MRC is bigger than any one individual and I want to ensure the focus remains where it belongs - on racing, our members, staff and delivering a world-class Spring Carnival.

"We successfully secured the future of Sandown Racecourse, ensuring it remains a vital part of Victorian racing; we restored the Caulfield mounting yard to its rightful place at the heart of the course; and we saved more than $250 million by halting an unnecessary proposed grandstand redevelopment and delivering a more practical, member-focused plan for Caulfield's future.

"Under my leadership, the club has also strengthened its financial position - moving decisively to reduce debt and move forward with renewed commercial confidence.

"The club is in a strong position for the future, with outstanding leadership and a talented team across all levels. I wish the committee, our members and our staff every success in the years ahead."

Acting chief executive officer Tanya Fullarton said: "John's decision to step aside reflects his deep respect for the club and its members. We thank him for his service and wish him all the very best for the future.

"The committee's appointment of Cameron Fisher as chairman ensures strong leadership and continuity as we head into the Caulfield Cup Carnival.”

Waller duo chase Guineas honours

Chris Waller will saddle two leading chances in Saturday’s Caulfield Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m), with Wodeton (Wootton Bassett) and Autumn Boy (The Autumn Sun) both vying to extend their stallion credentials in the $3 million feature. Wodeton has been runner-up in both the Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) and Golden Rose (Gr 1, 1400m) but is yet to add an elite-level victory to his record. Wootton Bassett (Iffraaj) died early in the southern breeding season last month, further heightening the colt’s potential value should he claim a Group 1 win. Waller, who part-owns Wodeton, said that while such a result would be significant, it does not alter his approach. “It doesn’t change the way I train him,” Waller said. “Obviously it would be a fantastic result but you can’t change things. We’re under pressure to get winners 52 weeks of the year, so there’s no change just because his stallion died.” Waller is chasing a second-straight Caulfield Guineas for Coolmore after last year’s success with Private Life (Written Tycoon). He said Wodeton’s stamina and versatility made the mile assignment a natural target. “We had to make a decision whether to come back to the Coolmore distance [1200m], or even run in The Everest, or run him here and I just think he deserves a chance at a mile,” he said. Wodeton shares favouritism with stablemate Autumn Boy, a son of Waller’s former Guineas winner The Autumn Sun (Redoute’s Choice). “[He’s] a lovely-moving horse, a great type, great attitude. [They’re] very similar,” Waller said. Autumn Boy finished seventh in the Golden Rose after racing wide in a fast-run contest, but Waller expects improvement at 1600 metres. “The Golden Rose wasn’t run to suit, he looked a bit plain, but I think with the sectional times in a track record-run race, he was good and he’ll definitely appreciate the mile,” he said.

Mile to suit Feroce in Toorak

Dominic Sutton’s stable flagbearer Feroce (Super Seth) will aim to add a second Group 1 victory to his resume when the gelding lines up in the Toorak Handicap (Gr 1, 1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday. Feroce has been a defining horse for Sutton, who has been training for just over 18 months. The gelding provided him with his first winner, his first city winner and his maiden Group 1 success in the Australian Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) at Flemington in March. Sutton said Feroce was ready to peak third-up after two encouraging runs this campaign. The four-year-old resumed with a sixth over 1100 metres at Caulfield on August 30 before finishing third to Sepals (Calyx) in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) on September 20. “First-up was a lot shorter, distance wise, than what he wants, and he ran a very creditable race,” Sutton said. “He ran the second fastest 200 metres of the day and finished off nicely and then stepping up to the Sir Rupert Clarke he was terrific. He gave four kilos to the first horse and second horse and three kilos to the fourth horse. He ran a PB on his ratings and we knew he was going to take benefit out of that run as well into the Toorak, so we’re very happy. I think this is his prime distance, the mile. Stepping up is going to be ideal and being third-up he’s going to be rock hard fit. I can’t complain.” Feroce also holds a nomination for the Golden Eagle (1500m) at Randwick on November 1, which Sutton said remains a major target. “It’s too big a carrot to pass up on,” he said. “They’re only four once and it’s a restricted race for four-year-olds. The question will be going the Sydney way, but I don’t think that will be too much of an issue.”

Benagil to kick off campaign at Caulfield

Glen Thompson will look to his Group 1-winning mare Benagil (Manhattan Rain) to provide a bright spot when she resumes in the Weekend Hussler Stakes (Listed, 1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday. Thompson took full charge of his team earlier this year after the death of training partner Mike Moroney, guiding Bankers Choice (Mongolian Khan) to victory in the Mornington Cup (Listed, 2400m) in April, earning a Caulfield Cup (Gr 1, 2400m) ballot exemption, before celebrating his first Group 1 success in his own right with Benagil in the Australasian Oaks (Gr 1, 2000m) at Morphettville. Now Thompson is hopeful the mare can kickstart her spring preparation positively. “I’m really looking forward to Saturday. She’s come back in good order,” Thompson said. “She had a decent break up in Queensland after a long preparation last time. She didn’t spell as well as I would have hoped, as she’s got a few niggles, but she’s been perfect since she’s been back [at Flemington]. I’ve tried to keep her sharp enough for the 1400 metres, but my only query is whether she is forward enough first-up. I thought Craig [Williams] may have looked after her a little bit too much in her second jump-out. I thought he may have given her a bit more of a hit-out, so that’s the reason we took her to Caulfield on Tuesday morning. She had a good hit-out, a good blow afterwards, and hopefully that trims her up and she’ll be right on Saturday.”

Archibalds Hill Stakes pair set for overseas travel

An international raid is on the table for talented gelding Fawkner Park (Zoffany) with connections eyeing a possible tilt at the Hong Kong Cup (Gr 1, 2000m) in December. The dual Group 1 placegetter made a disappointing reappearance when tenth in the Shannon Stakes (Gr 2, 1500m) and is set to be ridden more conservatively in a bid to get back on track in Saturday's Hill Stakes (Gr 2, 1900m) at Rosehill. "The view is to try to get him to Hong Kong," Archibald said. "We will see how he is over his next couple of starts. He has been a great horse, it just didn't go to plan first-up. We probably rode him a bit closer than was ideal. But second-up we should see some nice improvement back to set weights." Fawkner Park will be joined by stablemate Bois D'Argent (Toronado), who will be having his first start since finishing fourth in the Q22 (Gr 2, 2200m) at Eagle Farm in June. "His trials have been excellent and I'm looking forward to seeing him kick off," Rob Archibald said. "He will take improvement from the run but it's a good starting point. He will probably head to Perth later in the year."

Schillaci Stakes to determine Arabian Summer’s path

Last-start Moir Stakes (Gr 1, 1000m) third Arabian Summer (Too Darn Hot) will be on trial for a return to Group 1 company this weekend as the four-year-old mare takes in the Schillaci Stakes (Gr 2, 1100m) at Caulfield. Trained by Tony and Calvin McEvoy, the daughter of Too Darn Hot (Dubawi) has kept Group 1 company on her last three starts since landing the Peter Le Grand Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m) at Caulfield on February 8. "She was a little underdone going into the Moir," Calvin McEvoy said. "It just came up a little bit quick, and her coat wasn't through, but she looks amazing now. She's had a trial in-between, a good strong gallop and she's ready to go. We've always wanted to get her to this race. It will help us decide where we go to afterwards, but there won't be any excuses this weekend. There are some lovely races that we could place her in that are at Group 3, Group 2 level, but if she was to be very impressive and win then we could consider the Champions Sprint which is at 1200 [metres]. I don't think the 1200 would be a problem now, but we'll have to see after Saturday."

Tulloch Lodge three-year-olds to step out at Rosehill

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott will saddle a promising group of three-year-olds at Rosehill on Saturday, with four lightly raced gallopers stepping into feature company. Shangri La Boy (Pierro) - a half-brother to Golden Slipper placegetter and Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) winner Storm Boy (Justify) - will contest the Gloaming Stakes (Gr 3, 1800m) alongside stablemate Champagne Hero (Maurice), while Farnicle (Farnan) and Duke Of Arrakis (Written Tycoon) line up in the Tapp-Craig (1400m). “They’re all getting to this level quick enough that they’ve got a lot more progression to go and they haven’t been fully exposed,” co-trainer Adrian Bott said. “Hopefully we can learn a bit more about them on Saturday.” Both Gloaming runners come into the race off last-start victories, and Bott believes the step up in distance will bring further improvement. “Both are stepping up in grade and importantly stepping up in trip, which is what they both need. That’s where they can potentially find some level of improvement. I wouldn’t say we were rushed getting them here but it’s a quick turnaround from their last respective races, although they are both nice staying types.” In the Tapp-Craig, Bott expects Farnicle to take improvement from his strong first-up run when finishing just over a length behind Golden Slipper winner Marhoona in the Heritage Stakes (Listed, 1100m). “He’s a horse who has shown he is going to need a bit more ground than Anode in time so I think he will be even better suited next start,” Bott said. “But he ran really well in the Heritage. The 1100 [metres] was always going to be short of his best but I was impressed with the way he sprinted against those sharper types.”

Clotworthys look forward to million-dollar opportunities

Saturday looms as a special day in the careers of Shaun and Emma Clotworthy, who are the part-owners and former trainers of two horses that will chase million-dollar prizes in Australia. The couple’s New Zealand Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) hero Willydoit (Tarzino) will line up in the $1.5 million Alan Brown Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill, while Hezashocka (Shocking) takes on just three opponents in the Might And Power Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) at Caulfield. Now trained by Ciaron Maher, Willydoit caught everyone’s eye with a flying finish into eighth when he resumed in the Tramway Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) at Randwick on September 6. That performance pointed to him being a live chance in last Saturday’s Epsom Handicap (Gr 1, 1600m), but he was a late scratching just hours out from the race because of a minor eye issue. “That was a bit of bad luck,” Shaun Clotworthy said. “I’m not sure if it was a slight bug, or if he gave it a bang in the float on the way to the track or what it was. It wasn’t anything major and it had cleared up completely by the next day, but it was enough for the stewards to scratch him. The horse has had a good week since then. He was entered for the Alan Brown as well as the Toorak in Melbourne, where the mile might have suited him a little bit better than the 1400 metres. But he drew poorly for both races and they’ve decided to stay in Sydney.” Meanwhile, Hezashocka will kick off his new campaign with a first-up run against Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express), Buckaroo (Fastnet Rock) and Globe (Charm Spirit) in the Might And Power Stakes. “It’s exciting to have a Group 1 runner, and with only a four-horse field, we’ll be picking up a cheque,” Clotworthy said. “Mick Price was just looking to kick the horse off somewhere, so he’s going to benefit from this run. He hasn’t raced since July. But Jamie Melham has always got on well with him, and strange things can happen in these small fields.”

Baker’s in-form mare to take on The Nivison

The Bjorn Baker-trained Monte Supreme (I Am Invincible) will bid to continue her recent run of good form when she steps up in grade in Saturday's The Nivison (Gr 3, 1200m) at Rosehill. The five-year-old daughter of I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) has won all three of her starts this campaign, a Benchmark 72 (1000m) at Randwick-Kensington, Benchmark 78 (1100m) at Randwick and another Benchmark 78 (1100m) at Rosehill on her latest outing - prompting this weekend's step up in class. “She has a really good turn of foot, that’s her advantage and it’s always a help when you’re a get back run on horse because gates aren’t as big a factor either,’’ Baker’s racing manager Luke Hilton told Racing NSW. “I think they will roll along enough but she has shown she can pick them up off steady tempos. She’s going fantastic. She’s a magnificent looking mare, big and strong and very catching to the eye. She was an expensive yearling so she’s sort of living up to that now. The key to her is she’s had her runs spaced, she’s kept short and sharp. It’s the first time she goes on the two week back up this time so that will be another test and challenge for her but we had to give her the opportunity. Jason [Collett] has been over the moon with her, it’s all pointed to giving her a crack at it and this fell perfectly for her.”

Group 1 trial for Flying Orchid in Gloaming

Randwick-based trainer John Sargent is hoping that his lightly raced three-year-old Flying Orchid (Flying Artie) can mark himself down as a Group 1 candidate when she lines up in Saturday's Gloaming Stakes (Gr 3, 1800m) at Rosehill. Sargent feels the seven-day back-up from Flying Orchid's third placing in the Dulcify Stakes (Listed, 1600m) last weekend will be no problem and is hoping to land a spot in the Spring Champion Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) in a fortnight's time. “It’s a field of lower class horses and it’s who steps up on the day,’’ Sargent told Racing NSW. “He’d want to win this to go to the Spring Champion because that will go up another level. But it will let us know where we are in the pecking order. It was a lot better than the run before, that was more like it, he should improve with it. He has a good draw and we can ride him accordingly. Gai's will go, they’ll jump and run, and he should be able to get behind them and get relaxed. Rosehill is different to Randwick you’ve got to be there. At three they can often do it against their own age group and run further. This will tell us and if he doesn’t run it out he could come back to the mile.”

Hickmott eyes another hometown cup with Maracourt

Michael Hickmott will look to defend his hometown title in Saturday’s Murray Bridge Gold Cup (Listed, 1600m), though the trainer concedes he’s not as confident as last year when he prepared the trifecta in the feature. Hickmott saddles defending champion Maracourt (Hampton Court) and new stable addition Promises Kept (Cluster) in the nine-horse field and believes his 2024 winner gives him the best chance of success again. “He’s unfortunately had a bit of an awkward preparation – he won well back in June with a big weight, he was the run of the race in the Mildura Cup, the Leon Macdonald Stakes was always going to be unsuitable and unfortunately everything went wrong the other day at Balaklava,” Hickmott said. “Craig Newitt coming back to ride the horse probably indicates that he went every bit as good as what he did last year at Balaklava. I’ll leave it completely up to Craig from the barrier [12, into nine after two withdrawals] but he’s going there in good order.” Hickmott’s other runner, Promises Kept, a Derby placegetter purchased for $60,000 through Inglis Digital, resumes in the race but is expected to improve as his campaign unfolds. “You would think Saturday is going to be a tricky task for him first-up,” Hickmott said. “His focus is probably a couple of races later in the spring, there’s the John Letts Cup, a nice Listed race over 1800 metres at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day. Where he gets to in the preparation, I’m going to leave it open ended, a Ballarat Cup might be suitable and, pie in the sky stuff, if he continues to progress forward and go well I might duck across and take him to Perth through the Pinnacles.”

Zahra booked on Apocalyptic for Thousand Guineas

Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m)-winning rider Mark Zahra has been booked for the ride aboard Apocalyptic (Extreme Choice) in next Saturday's Thousand Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) at Caulfield. The three-year-old daughter of Extreme Choice (Not A Single Doubt) has landed the Furious Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m), Tea Rose Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) and Flight Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) in three starts this preparation and, with Tommy Berry opting to stay in Sydney to ride, Zahra was chosen by owners MyRacehorse to take the Thousand Guineas ride. “We have had success with imports, tried horses … but it hits different when you have a yearling from the Magic Million come out [and do what she has done]. She was unlucky not to win as a two-year-old [and be undefeated],” MyRacehorse’s managing director Ben Willis told Racing.com. “It’s important for our brand to appeal to our next gen of fans, to have flag bearers. It goes a long way to bring people into race and into the sport. She’s been able to stand on her own four feet in the three-year-old grade. We hope the journey is only just getting started.”

El Vaquero to further his Guineas credentials

Promising colt El Vaquero (Ferrando) will be out to further his Group 1 claims when he steps out again in age group company at Ashburton. The Michael and Matthew Pitman-trained son of Ferrando (Fast ‘N’ Famous) takes aim at Saturday’s Barneswood Farm Stakes (Gr 3, 1400m) off the back of a last-start fifth at Riccarton. El Vaquero was seven weeks between runs there and the stable were far from disappointed with his performance. “In a perfect world, he would have started off over 1200 metres but there were no races to suit so he ran over 1400 metres and ended up in front,” Michael Pitman said. “It was just the way it worked out, and we certainly didn’t want to be there, he over-raced and just blew out.” El Vaquero had won his previous two starts and will be partnered for the first time by Sam Weatherley, who enjoys a strong association with the father and son team. “The plan was always to come to this race second-up and we’re very happy with the horse,” Pitman said.

Wallbank’s horse of a lifetime up for Sweynesse challenge

Bruce Wallbank has been on a wonderful ride since returning to the training ranks last term, with his only horse Midnight Edition (Wrote) rising through the ranks to become one of the favourites in Sunday’s Sweynesse Stakes (Gr 3, 1400m). The 79-year-old bred the son of Wrote (High Chaparral) and after having success previously as a trainer, breeder and owner, he decided to prepare the gelding himself out of Pukekohe Park. Always rating him as a serious talent, Midnight Edition proved that on the big stage at Ellerslie on Boxing Day last year, dead-heating the Auckland Guineas (Gr 2, 1400m) before losing the win in the inquiry room. He continued to rise through the grades into his four-year-old term, dominating open-class opposition first-up at Te Rapa before returning to the course a fortnight later to go down by a narrow margin to Whiskey ‘N Roses (Belardo). Wallbank is rapt with how his gelding has returned as an older horse and believes he can make his presence felt in a big way at Arawa Park on Sunday. “He’s a very good horse, I think he can win a couple of good races this year,” he said. “He ran a good race [second-up], he blew quite a bit and possibly needed another gallop, so that was a grey-haired trainer’s fault I suppose. Masa [Hashizume, jockey] said he didn’t see the other horse coming either, so it was probably a combination of those, but he’s going very well and we think he can go very well in the Sweynesse. He can run on a hard track, a wet track, it doesn’t worry him, and we’ll have Matt Cameron on.”

Alexanders eye potential Derby path with debut winner

Simon and Katrina Alexander came close to winning the New Zealand Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) a few years ago with their stable star La Crique (Vadamos) in 2022, and now it looks like they may have another Derby prospect on their hands. Three-year-old gelding Aksil (Ace High) had already attracted the attention of eagle-eyed scouts in his four trials prior to making his debut in the Master Builders Taupo (1300m) at Taupo on Friday, and he lived up to his early promise when comfortably winning by 1.3 lengths in the hands of jockey Masa Hashizume. “He’s impressive and did it nicely, albeit still quite green,” Katrina Alexander said. “We are really thrilled to see him do that and live up to our expectation of him, hopefully he will go on with it.” Alexander said they are taking a patient approach with the son of Ace High (High Chaparral), and they are hoping his connections will reap those rewards at the business end of his Classic season. “He was quite a nuggety, little two-year-old and then he has really grown and developed structurally quite a lot,” she said. “We have had to be relatively patient and just get a line on what we think he is going to be. I think distance will be his go, so we are trying to nurture him along in that direction. He’ll have a couple of runs for experience now and we might give him a breather and concentrate on the other end of the season.”

Weekend off to a winning start for Wexford

Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott got a busy weekend off to a promising start with two wins at Taupo on Friday. The Wexford Stables team won the first race on the card, the Placemakers Rotorua Maiden (1800m), with lightly raced four-year-old Gippsy God (Tarzino), and two hours later they saddled first-starter General Menari (Menari) for a smart victory in the McLeod Hiabs 3YO (1100m). For good measure, the Matamata trainers also collected placings with High Society (Ace High) and Woman In Charge (Farnan). “It was a really pleasing day,” Scott said. “Both of those winners had been working particularly well leading into the meeting, and they produced raceday performances to match. Young and inexperienced horses can sometimes get a bit lost around Taupo, but we took a good number there back in August to have a gallop and a look around the course. I think that’s stood us in good stead.” The Wexford team will attempt to carry Friday’s momentum into Sunday at Rotorua, where they will be represented by Grail Seeker (Iffraaj) in the Sweynesse Stakes, Smart Love (Savabeel) in the Campbell Infrastructure (1400m), Sicillian (Magna Grecia) in the Arawa Park Hotel Rotorua (1400m) and first-starter Yamato Satona (Satono Aladdin) in the Green Light Insurance Brokers (1400m). “All of the team is really pleased with Grail Seeker,” Scott said. “She’s in good form at home. The weather looks like it might play its part and the track won’t be too wet, so we’re expecting to see her quicken well.”

No Livamol bid for La Crique

Trainers Simon and Katrina Alexander have set their sights towards summer targets with their star mare La Crique following yet another runner-up result in last month’s Howden Insurance Mile (Gr 1, 1600m) at Te Rapa. La Crique has two Group 1 victories to her name but has earned the perennial bridesmaid tag after finishing runner-up at elite-level on eight occasions, including her last six starts, and her trainers are hoping a freshen-up can help give her that extra edge to claim another Group 1 scalp. “We have decided to take a sit and put her away,” Katrina Alexander said. “She is just having ten days out at the moment, we won’t press onto the next leg [Livamol Classic]. We opted not to go to Australia, she just takes a bit when she pulls up, other than Ellerslie, she comes off Ellerslie in super form. We know we probably haven’t got her quite as good as what we want. We know we have got room for improvement, and we just want to get that extra ten per cent and see if we can nail it [Group 1 win] for her. We are happy to be patient. At her age [seven], we sort of target two races and then take a breather with her. Currently she is having a wee break away from the stable and we will bring her back and focus on something a little later in the year.”

JPN: American Pharoah to shuttle to The Shizunai Stallion Station

Coolmore Stud have announced that American Pharoah (Pioneerof The Nile), the 2015 Triple Crown winner and Horse Of The Year, will shuttle to The Shizunai Stallion Station in Japan for the 2026 breeding season in a partnership with the Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association (JBBA).

The eight-time Grade 1-winning son of Pioneerof The Nile (Empire Maker) will return to his base at Coolmore America’s Ashford Stud in July 2026, where he stood the 2025 northern hemisphere breeding season at a fee of US$45,000 (approx. AU$68,650).

American Pharoah has already made a significant impact in Japan, siring 58 winners from just 88 runners at an impressive strike-rate of 65 per cent. Among them are nine black-type scorers, most notably Cafe Pharoah, a dual winner of the February Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m).

Overall, the stallion has had 968 starters for 618 winners at a strike-rate of 63.8 per cent, with 61 of those being winners at stakes level at a rate of 6.3 per cent.

His top performers include the late dual Derby winner and Rosehill Guineas (Gr 1, 2000m) scorer Riff Rocket, the aforementioned Cafe Pharoah, Beholder Mile (Gr 1, 8f) winner As Time Goes By and French Group 1 winner Above The Curve.

“We have worked very closely shuttling stallions with the JBBA in the past and are delighted that their members will now have access to his bloodline,” Ashford Stud manager Dermot Ryan said.

“There has been interest from Japan for the past number of years in purchasing the horse, and we’ve come up with a compromise that suits both parties. Pharoah will be accompanied to Japan by his groom from Ashford.”

HK: Fownes seeks revenge as Dancing Code faces Tomodachi Kokoroe rematch

Caspar Fownes needs a strong showing from one of the leading lights of his stable in Sunday’s feature race at Sha Tin, as he looks to stop Mark Newnham pulling away in the trainers’ championship race. The 58-year-old handler fields two runners in the Class 2 Shing Mun Handicap (1200m): Dancing Code (Panzer Division), owned by Cantopop icon Aaron Kwok, and Sky Trust (So You Think), a last-start winner. Fownes-indentured apprentice Ellis Wong was in the saddle for each of the runners’ last victories, but the four-time champion trainer has opted to make use of his five-pound claim on Dancing Code. “Nice horse, lovely owner, and the horse has been racing very consistently,” said Fownes, whose seven winners for the season leave him three behind the in-form Newnham. “We’ve got Ellis on top to take five pounds off. The horse runs well for him, and I’ve kept him very fresh for this race. There’s no reason why he shouldn’t run a good competitive race.” Fownes is right to eke out every advantage he can; Dancing Code once again goes up against Tomodachi Kokoroe (Written Tycoon), who has bettered him three times in their five meetings to date. Never in that sequence was the seven-year-old son of Written Tycoon more impressive than when he trounced the field in a Class 2 record 1200-metre time of 1m 07.76s on turf at Sha Tin two weeks ago, a showing that earned him a ten-pound penalty from the handicapper. “The last start, Mr Hayes’ horse beat us very convincingly. Obviously, there’s a little bit of difference in the handicap this time. So hopefully we can get closer to him and beat him,” Fownes said.

UK: Precise new 1,000 Guineas fav after utterly dominant Fillies’ Mile win

The Aidan O’Brien-trained Precise (2 f Starspangledbanner - Way To My Heart by Galileo) proved a cut above her nine rivals in Friday’s Fillies’ Mile (Gr 1, 1m) at Newmarket. Ridden by Christophe Soumillon, the daughter of Starspangledbanner (Choisir) made a big mid-race move and, having travelled sweetly, strode clear inside the final furlong to beat Venetian Lace (Masar) by three and a quarter lengths. There was a further length back to Evolutionist (Night Of Thunder) in third. Precise was shortened into a best-priced 5-1 favourite for next year's English 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) following her Fillies’ Mile success- a win that made it back-to-back Group 1 victories. “I think she’s a Classic filly. Christophe was super confident on her, she cantered at all stages in the race," O'Brien said. “I’d say there’s a lot more to come from her both physically and mentally. She’s just very exciting.They’ll both [Precise and Diamond Necklace] be trained for the Guineas, whether it'll be France, Britain or Ireland the lads will decide then seeing how they are. I don’t think we will see either of them again this year. When you get a special one you have to look after them.”

157 for Lope De Vega

Ballylinch Stud stallion Lope De Vega (Shamardal) sired his 157th individual stakes winner on Friday when Beckford’s Folly (2 g ex Fonthill Abbey by Dubawi) narrowly prevailed in the Cornwallis Stakes (Gr 3, 5f) at Newmarket. Ridden by William Buick for trainer Charlie Appleby, the Godolphin homebred disputed the lead inside the final furlong and just prevailed over Brussels (Wootton Bassett) by a nose. There was a further three-quarters of a length back to Aspect Island (Showcasing) in third. Closely related to winner Francis Drake (Belardo), Beckford's Folly is the second foal out of the Group 3-winning Dubawi (Dubai Millennium) mare Fonthill Abbey. Lope De Vega stood the 2025 northern hemisphere breeding season at a fee of €175,000 (approx. AU$309,570).

Five for Advertise

The Owen Burrows-trained Calendar Girl (2 f ex Plucky Lass by Medaglia D’Oro) took her record to three wins from four starts on Friday when running out a determined winner of the Oh So Sharp Stakes (Gr 3, 7f) at Newmarket, providing her sire Advertise (Showcasing) with a fifth individual stakes winner. Ridden by Callum Rodriguez, the juvenile filly was made to work to land the Group 3 contest but defeated Mubasimah (Frankel) by a neck with a further two lengths back to Senorita Vega (Lucky Vega) in third. Bred by Hascombe and Valiant Stud Ltd, Calendar Girl was purchased for 45,000gns by Lillington Bloodstock at Book 2 of the 2024 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale and is raced by Kennet Valley Syndicates II. A half-sister to the stakes-placed winner Gutsy Girl (Blue Point) and winner Dangerman (Cracksman), she is the third foal out of the unraced Medaglia D’Oro (El Prado) mare Plucky Lass. Advertise stood the 2025 northern hemisphere breeding season at Knockmullen House Stud for a fee of €5,000 (approx. AU$8,860).

UK: French raider Beauvatier lands Challenge Stakes

French raider Beauvatier (4 c Lope De Vega - Enchanting Skies by Sea The Stars) ran out a ready winner of Friday’s Challenge Stakes (Gr 2, 7f) at Newmarket. The Yann Barberot-trained four-year-old came from the rear of the field and scored by two and a quarter lengths over Poet Master (Lope De Vega) under Alexis Pouchin, with a further two and three-quarter lengths back to Cosmic Year (Kingman) in third.

78 for Night Of Thunder

Azaniya (3 f ex Azanara by Hurricane Run) became the 78th individual stakes winner for Darley’s former shuttler Night Of Thunder (Dubawi) when scoring a comfortable success in Friday’s Prix Charles Laffitte (Listed, 2000m) at Compiegne. Ridden by Maxime Guyon for trainer Owen Burrows, the UK raider relished the soft underfoot conditions to pull a length and three-quarters clear of Place Fontenoy (War Command). There was a further length and a quarter back to the third-placed Light The Ghost (Waldgeist). Azaniya is a half-sister to Group 3 scorer Azano (Oasis Dream) and winners Aztec Empire (Sea The Stars), Abshrek (Oasis Dream) and Anizzah (Oasis Dream) being out of the Hurricane Run (Montjeu) mare Azanara, herself a half-sister to Group 1 winner Astarabad (Alleged). Night Of Thunder, who shuttled to Darley Australia for one season in 2016, stood the 2025 northern hemisphere breeding season at Kildangan Stud for a fee of €150,000 (approx. AU$268,900).