Vale St Jean

St Jean (Teofilo), the previously unheralded sire of this year’s Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) winner Half Yours, has died after a paddock accident at Brackley Park. The 15-year-old’s death on Tuesday morning comes less than a month after Half Yours ended a 52-year drought for Victorian breeding in the Cup.

Brackley Park principal Grant Dwyer, who had stood St Jean since 2017, confirmed the news in a statement.

“It is with great sadness that I wish to announce the passing of our beloved stallion St Jean, a mere 3 weeks after his gelded son, Half Yours, won the Melbourne Cup,” he said.

“On the morning of 25th of November it was discovered, that for reasons unknown, St Jean had run into a fence post overnight, breaking it off at ground level and shattering his near side front leg around the elbow region… nothing could be done for the horse. The stallion was then humanely euthanised.”

St Jean had covered a mare, Memory Lane, the previous afternoon and was in steady work during what loomed as his most commercially promising season.

“His death was very untimely as breeders were only starting to recognise what an incredible pedigree this stallion had,” Dwyer said. “I lament the fact that more breeders did not take the opportunity to breed to this stallion in the first few seasons at stud at an incredibly low price.”

Trained in Australia by Aaron Purcell, St Jean’s biggest on-track success came when the Irish import claimed the City Of Auckland Cup (Gr 3, 2400m) in 2017. Injury cut short his racing career and he stood modest books in his early seasons, covering just five mares last year.

Interest in the stallion accelerated after his first and only stakes winner Half Yours completed the Caulfield–Melbourne Cup double, resulting in his service fee rising from A$3,300 to A$11,000. He had secured bookings for 35 mares this season, including five by Desert King on the same cross as Half Yours.

Alenquer primed for Zipping tilt

The Lindsay Park team is hopeful a rise in distance will help Group 1 winner Alenquer (Adlerflug) break through for his first Australian victory in the Zipping Classic (Gr 2, 2400m) at Caulfield on Saturday. The French-bred gelding will be having his fifth start for Ben, Will and JD Hayes when he lines up over 2400 metres for the first time in nearly two years after overcoming a tendon injury he suffered in the 2023 Melbourne Cup. Following former trainer Mike Moroney’s passing earlier this year, Alenquer transferred to Lindsay Park, where he has steadily built fitness. He ran a pleasing second over 2040 metres at The Valley third up before finishing seventh behind Via Sistina (Fastnet Rock) in the Champions Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) on the final day of Cup Week. “He’s getting out to a trip for the first time in a long time,” Ben Hayes said. “We ran him in a very hard race last start behind probably the best horse in Australia and I thought he held himself well. The 2400 metres will be, I think, what he’s looking for now. He’s fifth up, he’s got good fitness on his base…I think it’s a race that we hope to see the best of him.” Any rain would assist the gelding, who handled testing conditions in the Champions Stakes. A strong showing could lead to a tilt at the Pakenham Cup (Listed, 2500m). “He’s a happy horse and with his problems, he’ll be one of those horses that we probably keep in work for a year,” Hayes said.

Take two for Zealously in Starlight Stakes

Peter Snowden admits Zealously (Harry Angel) did not initially strike him as a stakes-class sprinter, but the gelding has forced a swift reassessment as he prepares to start favourite in Saturday’s Starlight Stakes (Listed, 1100m) at Rosehill. The son of Harry Angel (Dark Angel) began his career in provincial and midweek company, a placement Snowden said reflected his early assessment rather than any strategic soft launch. “To be honest, I placed him where I thought he was at, but he just keeps improving and improving,” Snowden said. “Last preparation he took a big leap… he ran fourth to Private Harry in the Sunlight and he ran very well. He came back and won again after that and I thought, ‘you’re a stakes horse now.’” The gelding set a Warwick Farm 1000-metre track record first-up before finishing runner-up to Rey Magnerio (Magnus) in the Caulfield Sprint (Gr 2, 1000m) on October 18. He was set for last weekend’s The Warra (1000m) at Kembla Grange but scratched mid-meeting when sustained rain caused a downgrade. Snowden said Zealously has coped well with the unplanned gap between runs. “He’s five weeks between runs and needs to get back to the races,” he said. “Normally I would’ve barrier trialled him in between but now that this has happened, it limits what you can do. But I’m still happy with him… his work was great Tuesday morning.” A strong performance will see Zealously head to the Razor Sharp Handicap (Listed, 1200m) next month, with the Magic Millions Snippets (1200m) also emerging as a potential summer target.

Horror gate sets Arctic Glamour a Festival task

Gerald Ryan remains confident Arctic Glamour (Frosted) can validate her Hot Danish Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) victory despite a difficult draw for Saturday’s Festival Stakes (Gr 3, 1500m) at Rosehill. The five-year-old shocked punters when scoring at $41 fresh, but Ryan said the market simply misread her Queensland form. “I told anyone who asked me she’d win. She was over the odds,” Ryan said. “Her two runs in Queensland, she just would not stretch out at Eagle Farm, which a lot of horses don’t. Kerrin [McEvoy] came back in both times and said her run isn’t as bad as what it looks.” A Group 2-placed mare who owns a win over subsequent multiple Group 1 winner Joliestar (Zoustar), Arctic Glamour has long shaped as better than her record of three wins from 21 starts suggests. Rain-affected tracks and unfavourable patterns have contributed to her modest strike-rate, although she has earned over $730,000. Her Hot Danish Stakes success was her first in two years, and Ryan reports she has trained on strongly. “She worked really well the Tuesday morning before she won, and I did the same work with her this Tuesday, and she worked equally as well,” he said. Arctic Glamour settled on the speed first-up, but Ryan will defer tactical decisions until assessing the Festival Stakes map, with barrier 19 complicating the assignment. Regardless, she is expected to press on to next month’s Ingham Handicap (Gr 2, 1600m).

Tigroni out to roar into Magic Millions calculations

John O’Shea has been forced to change plans with promising filly Tigroni (Tiger Of Malay), who is set to debut in Saturday’s Schweppes Handicap (1100m) at Rosehill after Racing NSW cancelled the juvenile race he had targeted at Wyong midweek. The Wyong 2YO race, scheduled as an important stepping stone to the Magic Millions meeting on December 10, was abandoned due to insufficient acceptances – a decision that left O’Shea perplexed. “We had her in on Wednesday and that was our preferred option,” O’Shea said. “Racing NSW cancelled the race because it had six acceptors, but what they’re forgetting is that it’s a lead-up to the Magic Millions [2YO Classic] at Wyong in two weeks’ time. We were dual nominated because we didn’t trust Racing NSW to hold the race, so you have to have a back-up plan. We wanted to go around on Wednesday.” The shift to Rosehill complicates Tigroni’s path to the Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1100m), with the turnaround now too tight for her to contest the $200,000 feature. Despite the setback, O’Shea remains upbeat about the filly’s ability to work her way into Magic Millions calculations ahead of the Gold Coast raceday in January.

Tuff Tu Mus to face biggest test in Recognition Stakes

David Vandyke concedes the time has come to raise the bar with Tuff Tu Mus (All Too Hard) as the in-form gelding chases an eighth consecutive victory in Saturday’s $160,000 Recognition Stakes (Listed, 1350m) at Doomben. The lightly raced son of All Too Hard (Casino Prince) steps into stakes company for the first time, but Vandyke is satisfied with his condition and pleased to see him draw barrier seven at a venue where he is unbeaten in five appearances. “It’s a huge step up from what he’s run in previously, but he’s got a wonderful record with seven-straight metro wins and he certainly deserves a crack at this type of race,” Vandyke said. “He’s drawn OK and he’s never been beaten at Doomben. The signs are good for a decent performance, but we’re under no illusions that this is a very tough assignment for him.” Tuff Tu Mus ended an unbeaten four-start second preparation with a Benchmark 90 win over 1815 metres at Eagle Farm on August 2, adding to the three straight victories that closed out his debut campaign. His only defeats came at his first two starts when finishing runner-up on both occasions. The gelding has trialled three times ahead of his return, finishing fourth twice before winning a 1000-metre heat at the Sunshine Coast on November 11. “His last trial was pretty good, he goes well raceday which is the important thing,” Vandyke said. A forward showing on Saturday could set up a Magic Millions tilt for the $140,000 National Yearling Sale graduate. Tiffani Brooker takes the ride.

Olive chases fourth straight Queanbeyan Cup

Nick Olive will attempt to extend his remarkable Queanbeyan Cup (1600m) record on Friday when Epaullo Creed (Epaulette) lines up in the feature, giving the Canberra trainer a live chance at a fourth consecutive win in the race. Epaullo Creed comes into the Cup in outstanding form, having added last Saturday’s Adaminaby Cup (1400m) to his earlier Cootamundra Cup (1600m) success. Apprentice Ryan Bradley again takes the ride, a partnership that has already delivered several career highlights for the young jockey and his family, who share in the gelding’s ownership. “He’s drawn the car park [14] but he’s racing so well,” Olive told Racing NSW. “He’ll get out in front and do his own thing from there.” Olive’s recent record in the race is formidable, having won with Just Go Bang (Sizzling) in 2024 and Invincible Dash (I Am Invincible) in both 2022 and 2023. He also claimed the Queanbeyan Cup in 2011 with Voice Commander (Commands) before that gelding captured the Wagga Gold Cup (Listed, 2000m) 13 days later. Local stable representation will come from Joe Cleary, a three-time Cup winner who saddles second favourite Vermicella (Pierro). Craig Newitt takes the ride from gate two, with Cleary adding: “She hasn’t missed a top-three finish at Queanbeyan and she’s ready to go.”

Beldari to debut in emotional moment for Griffiths

Robbie Griffiths will be 10,000 metres in the air when Beldari (Bel Esprit), the final horse bred by the late Deane Lester and his mother Sandra Borschmann, makes her debut at Traralgon on Sunday. While the mare holds deep sentimental value for the Cranbourne trainer, a pre-existing commitment to Rey Magnerio in the Winterbottom Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) means Griffiths will miss her first raceday appearance. “It’ll be great getting her to the races but the only disappointment for me is that I’ll be in Perth and won’t be able to finish that journey by taking her to the races,” Griffiths told Racing.com. “I’ll be in mid-air so hopefully my phone will be pinging its head off when I land. If it doesn’t, there’s no point in even looking.” Patrick Moloney will ride the four-year-old in Sunday’s third race, with Beldari heading to the races off four trials at Cranbourne, never finishing worse than second. Following Lester’s passing in 2023, a group of his friends and colleagues, led by the late Warren Huntly, formed an ownership group to race his final homebred. “Warren was pretty instrumental in putting it together to recognise the last horse Deane and Sandra bred,” Griffiths said. “Ben Asgari and Kate Watts and a lot of people he worked with or knew along the way wanted to jump aboard. There’s a whole package that contains his mum, friends and workmates. She’s taken a little while to mature…she’s worked well and taken that to the trials.” Beldari will jump from barrier three.

ATC show cause meeting

The Australian Turf Club (ATC) board met with the Racing NSW counterpart on Thursday to consider RNSW’s Show Cause notice which was raised last September. The ATC directors Tim Hale, Caroline Searcy, David McGrath and Annette English were joined by acting ATC chief executive Steve McMahon to discuss how the concerns raised by the governing body would be resolved. “The Australian Turf Club board met today with the Racing NSW board to discuss the show cause notice issued to the club. The meeting was constructive, with both boards agreeing on ongoing engagement in the interests of NSW racing,” an ATC spokesperson said after the meeting.

Sailor Jack poised for Wanganui Cup test

Sailor Jack (Jakkalberry) could earn himself a busy summer schedule if he runs to expectations in Saturday’s Wanganui Cup (Listed, 2040m), with trainers Shaun and Hazel Fannin eyeing bigger assignments should the veteran stayer continue his strong form. The eight-year-old has been in consistent form this spring, placing in both the Feilding Cup (2050m) and Waipukurau Cup (2100m). His Feilding Cup second – where he split subsequent Group winners Agera (Complacent) and Bozo (Satono Aladdin) – has proven a valuable formline. “He’s in good form at the moment,” Shaun Fannin said. “He ran a really good race behind Agera in the Feilding Cup. Agera went on and won a Group 2 after that and Bozo won the New Zealand Cup, so the form has stacked up.” Fannin was similarly encouraged by Sailor Jack’s latest performance under 61 kilograms at Waipukurau. “He stuck on well. He didn’t have a great run in transit and was under a lot of weight,” he said. “He seems to have gone the right way since then, so dropping back to 53 kilos on Saturday, he’s a strong chance again.” A bold showing is likely to push the stable toward northern Group 3 targets at Te Rapa and Ellerslie. “A mile-and-a-half is his ideal distance,” Fannin said. “If he runs well on Saturday, we’ll look at the Waikato Cup and the Queen Elizabeth on New Year’s Day.”

Kingsclere trio poised for stakes assignments

Roger James and Robert Wellwood will saddle runners in all three three-year-old stakes races this weekend, with the Kingsclere Stables partnership confident their team can feature prominently at both Wanganui and Otaki. Road To Paris (Circus Maximus), who impressed with a last-start 1400-metre win at Avondale, heads to Otaki on Sunday for the Wellington Stakes (Gr 3, 1600m). The Cambridge trainers have taken a patient approach with the late-maturing gelding and are eager to see him stretch to a mile for the first time. “He’s a guy with a real future,” James said. “We have taken the slow road a little bit. We don’t really know what his best distance is. At the end of his two-year-old year we thought he was our Derby horse for next year. With three-year-olds that can hopefully run a sharp mile, there are a lot of options open to them.” At Wanganui on Saturday, unbeaten filly Fairy Dream (Proisir) will contest The O’Learys Fillies Stakes (Listed, 1340m). The Proisir (Choisir) filly won on debut on the Cambridge synthetic and trialled quietly this month. “I don’t think the turf will be of any concern as long as it is in good order,” James said. “She is a light-framed filly… there are three or four there with good credentials and she is going to have to live up to what we think of her.” The stable also lines up To The Max (Per Incanto) in the Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial 3YO (Listed, 1500m) at Ellerslie. The gelding was an impressive last-start winner at Arawa Park. “He did sprint quickly when he was asked,” James said. “I think the 1500m will really suit him… the greater distance will really play into his hands.”

Team Tyler set to go the distance

Kelvin Tyler is set for a busy two days at Cromwell, with the Riverton trainer confident his staying team can make an impact across both feature cups. Tyler saddles King Of The Castle (Castledale) and Vamos (Vadamos) in Friday’s Memorial Cup (2030m), with Vamos expected to back up on Sunday in the Happy Hire Cromwell Cup (2030m), where he’ll be joined by stablemate Master Marko (Contributer). The stable will also be represented further north, with Freddie Time (Time Test) taking his place in the Kapiti Valuations Handicap (2100m) at Otaki after catching the eye in recent sprint outings. “He had a nice gallop on Wednesday and the camp up there is happy,” Tyler said. “He’s been screaming out for more ground, so he’ll get his chance.” Of his Cromwell day-one pair, Tyler leans slightly toward King Of The Castle, who drops back in trip after a luckless fifth in the Winton Cup (1400m). “He comes in well at the weights, he’s the class horse of the field and I think he’ll take a bit of beating,” he said. “He got stuck on the fence last time and just couldn’t get out.” But he expects Vamos to pose a genuine threat, given the six-year-old’s strong recent form. “He’s got a bit of weight to lug, but I can’t fault him. He’s flying and there’s not much between the two of them.” Looking to Sunday, Tyler says the tough, big-framed Vamos is the right type to handle the quick back-up, provided conditions remain suitable. “He’s a strong horse and I can’t see why he won’t handle it if there’s a bit of juice in the track.” Master Marko also shapes as a key player after a consistent spring preparation. “He’ll take some beating as well. He’s the perfect horse—every day the same, and he comes in well at the weights.”

Bosson cleared to return

Opie Bosson has been cleared to resume riding after a concussion stand-down and is on track for a crucial Group 1 assignment at Trentham next weekend. Bosson has been out since November 6 after being unseated while pulling up at Avondale and was diagnosed with concussion, triggering mandatory protocols before he could return. He resumed trackwork on Monday and on Wednesday received full clearance from medical officials. The timing rules him out of this weekend’s meetings but gives him several days to prepare for Trentham, where he will chase an elusive milestone. It will be 12 months since Bosson notched his 99th Group 1 aboard Ladies Man (Zed) in the Mufhasa Classic (Gr 1, 1600m) but the push for a century has been hampered by injury, weight struggles and his temporary retirement last summer. He returned at the start of this season and briefly led the premiership before being overtaken by Matamata rival Craig Grylls, who has surged to 46 wins. Bosson sits equal second with Joe Doyle on 28. “Opie’s just happy to be cleared and get back into it,” agent Michael Coleman said. “He’ll take a couple of rides at Rotorua on Wednesday and that should set him up nicely for Trentham.” His primary mount next Saturday will be Captured By Love (Written Tycoon), who booked her Mufhasa Classic spot after finishing second to Legarto (Proisir) in a Te Aroha trial on Wednesday. “Legarto won well but our mare did everything we wanted,” co-trainer Sam Bergerson said. “It will have cleaned her up nicely. It’s shaping as a strong field, and we’re looking forward to having Opie back. It would be quite something to see him bring up his 100th Group 1.”

HKJC donates HK$170 million following Tai Po tragedy

The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) has confirmed a sweeping series of measures in the wake of the fatal fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, announcing significant financial support for victims and scaling back all racing and betting operations this weekend. In a statement, the Club said it was “deeply saddened by the loss of so many lives” and has committed an initial HK$100 million donation through its Charities Trust to assist affected families. The Club will additionally donate all gross income from Sunday’s Sha Tin meeting – estimated at around HK$70 million – lifting total contributions to approximately HK$170 million. Sunday’s meeting will proceed but under strict closed-door conditions. Only owners, stewards, voting members and their invited guests will be permitted to attend, with all sponsors, live music and public raceday entertainment removed. Jockeys will wear black armbands, and a minute’s silence will be observed before racing. Off-course betting branches will offer essential services only, and all table or seating reservations at racecourses and OCBs will be refunded. Meanwhile, the Mark Six draw scheduled for Saturday has been postponed to Tuesday. All previously purchased tickets will remain valid.

UK: Hillwood Bloodstock wins fierce battle for 260,000gns Havana Grey colt

A colt by Havana Grey (Havana Gold) topped the second session of the Tattersalls December Foal Sale on Wednesday when Hillwood Stud’s Charlie Vigors went to 260,000gns (approx. AU$553,290) to secure the youngster. The Whitsbury Manor Stud-bred colt is out of Avengers Queen (Brazen Beau), a Listed winner at two in Italy and a half-sister to Sandy Lane Stakes (Gr 2, 6f) scorer El Caballo (Havana Gold), who now stands at Culworth Grounds Farm. “We’ll get him home and make a plan from there, but he could well be coming back next year,” said the Hillwood Stud man. “To us, he has the pedigree to match the physical, and Havana Grey needs no introduction. Everything added up so I’m delighted to get him. I was hoping not to [spend that much] and we were at our limit. It’s strong, competitive trade here.” He added: “The stallion has been pretty good to us already, as he has everyone who’s been involved with him. As the better books of mares come through, you’d have to think his profile is only going to keep improving. I hope so anyway!”