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Friday, December 19, 2025

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Lead Story

Industry heavyweights form new alliance to help solve race grading impasse

Trevor Marshallsea

ANZ News

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John Messara (Credit: Arrowfield)

A powerful “supergroup” of thoroughbred industry heavyweights including John Messara, Jonathan Munz, breeding and training bodies and both major auction houses has come together in a new body seeking to institute an independent panel to run Australia’s black type pattern.

The Australian Racing Industry Alliance (ARIA) has been founded to “help find a solution to the impasse” over the country’s race gradings, which on Wednesday led the Asian Racing Federation (ARF) to seize control of the pattern via its Asian Pattern Committee (APC).

Ostensibly highly organised and with detailed governance structures planned, ARIA is seeking to be ordained by the ARF to form an independent Australian Pattern Panel (APP) to decide the country’s stakes race gradings.

What's On

“ARIA is now the effective representative of all the major investors, participants and stakeholders in Australian racing,” a media statement from the group said.

“It includes all the major breeder bodies, including Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA), Thoroughbred Breeders NSW and Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria, both major Australian auction houses in William Inglis and Magic Millions, the Australian Trainers Association, the Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners Association and the respected ex chair of Racing Australia and Racing NSW, John Messara.”

Stating it had the support of Racing Victoria, ARIA said it had proposed that Australia has “an independent pattern committee and a set of conventional pattern guidelines that are in line with those used in all other racing jurisdictions”.

It rejected Racing Australia’s (RA) so-called “black type guidelines”, announced late last year, which failed to gain approval from the ARF. Raised after a push from NSW, that system would have been mostly based on ratings to determine black type status, whereas traditional pattern committees used ratings plus discretionary powers to consider races’ historical and cultural significance.

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“ARIA has proposed that Australia has an independent pattern committee and a set of conventional pattern guidelines that are in line with those used in all other racing jurisdictions and not the ‘ratings based only’ guidelines proposed by Racing NSW, which are not used elsewhere in the world,” the group’s statement said.

“Under the ARIA proposal, which is also supported by Racing Victoria, an independent pattern committee will be selected annually by an independent pattern committee selection panel (the Australian Pattern Panel), operating independently and separately from Racing Australia,” ARIA said.

“The APP would be separately constituted as a not-for-profit entity with 18 permanent voting members and a constitution with proper governance and succession planning for those voting members. It would include nominees of breeders and sales companies, as well as three PRA (Principal Racing Authority) nominees.”

ARIA said its intention was for the APP to be run “under the auspices of Racing Australia, but this has been rejected by Racing NSW” which, along with Victoria, has the power of veto at RA.

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“Therefore,” it continued, “ARIA recently approached the ARF to have that proposed independent pattern panel take over the management of the Australian pattern as the counter party to the APC, until Racing Australia agrees to join the new protocols.”

ARIA had been lobbying the ARF for approval in recent weeks, before the regional authority’s bombshell announcement on Wednesday that its APC would take control of the Australian pattern, until such time as the country had a pattern committee in line with APC ground rules.

“The ARF has now effectively proposed to take over the Australian pattern on a temporary basis, based on ‘exceptional circumstances’,” the statement read.

“This will only be acceptable to the Australian industry, as led by ARIA, if the dysfunction at Racing Australia is bypassed, with a conventional set of pattern guidelines that are not ‘ratings based only’ and with proper input from Australian experts on breeding and the pattern.”

ARIA addressed fears expressed in the announcement of RA’s former “black type guidelines” that the pattern system could be in breach of competition laws under Australia’s state system.

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It said that argument was “considered to be completely without merit if the pattern is managed by a pattern committee that is independent or separate from Racing Australia”.

Munz, the chairman of ARIA and of the Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners Association, said it was imperative a body independent of RA was installed to govern the pattern.

“Racing Australia has been heavily criticised and the current situation is an embarrassment,” he said in the statement.

“It cannot be in charge of putting together a set of experts on breeding and the pattern to advise the APC. You don’t empower the organisation that has been accused of botching a process to fix that process or to execute a remediation plan.

“The members of ARIA have the credibility and expertise to form or select the advisory group to help the APC, whereas it is considered that simply is not the case at Racing Australia.”

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Arrowfield Stud owner and Australian breeding legend Messara echoed the call for a fully independent black type panel.

“I sincerely hope that Racing Australia will eventually agree that the Australian racing industry requires internationally compliant black type rules and an independent Australian pattern committee,” he said in the statement.

“We cannot have the current situation, where races are listed by Racing Australia as having been upgraded or as ‘new’ stakes races, when they do not qualify to appear as such in our sales catalogues.

“Ultimately, the industry needs appropriate pattern guidelines complying with international norms and taking into account that Australia is a federated system with multiple state jurisdictions.

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“In that regard, it is also important to note that a ‘ratings based only’ set of pattern guidelines would be inconsistent with the (APC) Ground Rules.”

Messara noted the ground rules “require a pattern committee to take into account ‘all factors that include more than race ratings or statistical analysis, such as the effect on the shape of the Pattern in the country concerned and the effect on the shape of the entire Asian Racing Federation Pattern, as well as circumstances that may impact the race rating of a specific race’, and that each committee member needs to ‘exercise good judgement to every grading decision’.”

He added: “For the sake of the Australian racing industry and its international reputation, I am hoping that the current circumstances present a catalyst for a peaceful settlement of this whole issue between all parties.”

The formation of ARIA - and Wednesday’s intervention by the ARF - follow the breakdown of black type governance in Australia, which has not had a functioning pattern committee, the ARF says, since 2017-18.

Australia’s last downgrade came in 2012, since which time it has had 79 races upgraded.

The ARF took its action after a meeting in Hong Kong last Friday, having aired its dissatisfaction to RA over Australia’s lack of a functional pattern committee compliant with APC ground rules.

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Included in its concerns was a suite of 17 NSW races given “upgrades” since the start of last season. Those upgrades were rejected by the APC, and so are not reflected in sales catalogues. The list grew to 18 in the spring just gone.

The ARF on Wednesday said its decision for the APC to take control of the Australian pattern was intended as a temporary step until Australia established a functioning black type system in accordance with APC ground rules.

With the ARF expressing a wish for such a system to be put in place “in the near future”, the threat remains that if it is not, Australian could be demoted to Part II of the International Cataloguing Standards Blue Book.

RA, in a statement from chairman Rob Rorrison, accepted the ARF’s decision and vowed to “collaborate with the APC during this time”, and acknowledged that failure to adopt a system that satisfied APC ground rules “could lead to other actions being taken”.

Rorrison on Thursday night said he would prefer not to comment on ARIA until he’d read their statement.

RNSW was contacted for comment on this article.

Industry News

Australian Turf Club-Racing NSW court case adjourned until Friday

Trevor Marshallsea

ANZ News

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Supreme Court of New South Wales (Credit: Supreme Court of NSW)

Racing NSW (RNSW) is “a regulator that’s lost its way” and has misunderstood its role in moving to appoint an administrator to the Australian Turf Club (ATC), a lawyer for the club has argued.

The assertion came from Scott Robertson SC on the first substantive day of a NSW Supreme Court hearing into RNSW’s attempt to have an administrator run the ATC’s affairs.

RNSW announced the move on Monday citing concerns over the club’s finances and the competency of its board.

The ATC is seeking an injunction blocking the move, arguing RNSW does not have the power to order the club into administration.

An interlocutory hearing began on Monday, freezing the process, and got underway in earnest on Thursday before Justice Francois Kunc - just 50 metres from the birthplace of the sport in this racing-mad country, Sydney’s Hyde Park, which hosted Australia’s first race meeting in 1810. Much of the day was taken up by legal argument, including in regard to matters of confidentiality.

Justice Kunc ultimately held proceedings over until Friday, where he is expected to determine whether the matter will go to a full trial most likely in February, or whether the ATC’s application is dismissed and the administrator begins his work.

As both sides proffered arguments on Thursday, Robertson put the ATC’s case that RNSW was acting outside its charter by appointing an administrator.

He told Justice Kunc the step had come amid a breakdown in relations between RNSW and the ATC which seemed to have started as “a disagreement” between Racing NSW and ATC members over the proposed sale of Rosehill racecourse. That proposal was defeated by ATC members in May.

“We say this is a regulator that’s lost its way in that it’s failed to understand the scope of its functions,” Robertson told the court.

“It is principally a regulator, and this regulator has taken it upon itself to act as a supervisor of commercial decisions for our client … which goes beyond its scope.”

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There is a fundamental misunderstanding on the part of this regulator as to the power and scope of its function

Scott Robertson SC

Arguing the appointment of an administrator by RNSW had been made for an “improper purpose”, Robertson later added: “The purpose for which this power is purportedly exercised is foreign and beyond the powers conferred on this particular regulator.

“There is a fundamental misunderstanding on the part of this regulator as to the power and scope of its functions.

“The regulator is seeking to take [control] away from duly elected controllers.”

Oliver Jones SC, for RNSW, countered that the Thoroughbred Racing Act mandated the regulator “must act in the public interest and the interest of the horse racing industry as a whole in New South Wales”.

He said Racing NSW was a regulator unlike others “in the sense that its statutory functions include not just a requirement to enforce the law or regulate what people are doing, but in fact to further the commercial aspects of the horse racing industry” for its “betterment and welfare”.

Jones said RNSW was also worried about its own financial exposure as guarantor on a $30 million loan the ATC is scheduled to repay the Commonwealth Bank by next October 10, claiming refinancing negotiations had not been satisfactorily advanced.

He also said the matter of administration “goes to how Racing NSW’s money is deployed”, noting the ATC drew 77 per cent of its revenue from RNSW.

Robertson countered that this was “misleading in several respects”, since the ATC’s funding from RNSW was a matter of contractual entitlements.

“It’s not right to say that’s the regulator’s money being showered on the club,” Robertson said.

“It’s money earned at my client’s events and my client’s racecourses.”

Jones contended that under the Australian Rules of Racing, “when Racing NSW stewards enter the track, they are in control of the racing”.

Robertson conceded stewards were in charge of regulatory matters at racetracks, but said they were akin to umpires at a professional cricket match.

“The umpires decide when the covers come on and off,” he said, “but it’s still an event at the venue.

“It’s not right to say this money is a matter of largesse from the regulator. It is money received pursuant to contractual entitlements.”

Robertson noted Jones had made a “complaint” that there were only four directors left on the ATC board after the resignations of Ben Bayot and Natalie Hewson - the day before RNSW hit the club with a notice to show cause why it should not be put into administration.

“It’s his client [RNSW] that says a new director shouldn’t be put in place,” Robertson said. “This regulator has prevented my client from appointing further directors.”

In an update to members of Tuesday, ATC chairman Tim Hale wrote: “The Board sought Racing NSW’s approval to appoint an interim Member elected director to fill a current vacancy, ensuring strong Member representation during this period. That approval has not been granted.”

Much of Thursday’s hearing comprised arguments over whether the case could be held over until mid-February, with Justice Kunc also offering dates in late January.

Asked by Justice Kunc if there was any urgency to have the case decided before February, Jones - who occupied most of Thursday’s time for opening arguments - said the club had “financial obligations occurring … that may push it into insolvency.”

Jones said the matter was urgent enough to require resolution this week, with an administrator starting work, because of the club’s losses. He said that “over six weeks, we’re talking about an extra one million dollars that’s going to be lost by the club”.

He said the ATC’s annual capital expenditure budget of $5 million was “grossly inadequate”, and meant the club would be exposed to safety risks due to sub-par maintenance work at its four racecourses, the longer the wait continued for an administrator to begin work on the club’s finances.

Jones said another reason the move should be allowed was that the nominated administrator - Morgan Kelly, of Ernst and Young - had vast experience in hospitality, the area where the ATC derived the remaining 23 per cent of its revenue.

The matter will continue on Friday morning.

Morning Briefing

Australia

Sears team aiming for more Grand Prix success

Nightline (Credit: Grant Peters)

Father-and-daughter trainers Tony and Maddy Sears will be hoping talented filly Nightline (Redwood) can provide them with back-to-back wins in the Grand Prix Stakes (Gr 3, 1800m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. The training combination won last year’s Grand Prix Stakes with Beau Dazzler (Ardrossan), who went on to win the Eagle Way (2100m) and returned to place in the Queensland Guineas (Gr 2, 1600m) before an unplaced tilt at the Queensland Derby (Gr 1, 2400m). Like Beau Dazzler, Nightline was sourced from the Karaka Sales. The New Zealand-bred daughter of Redwood (High Chaparral) enters Saturday’s contest off the back of a hard-fought victory over favourite John Dory (Ace High) over 1600 metres at Doomben last start. “She did everything that we thought she would,” Maddy Sears said. “We were a bit wary of the favourite with the form that he brought up from New South Wales, but she has always shown a lot and she's very talented. We thought stepping out to the mile would be very beneficial, and so it proved.” Sears compared Nightline favourably to Beau Dazzler. “They are very different horses, but I do believe she's very talented,” she said. “Without knocking the other horse, I think she's a lot better horse than Beau Dazzler at this point in their career. She's just a lot more tractable. She's very professional, and I do believe she's improved since that last outing based on her work leading into Saturday.”

Accredited to tackle Lough Neagh Stakes

The Joe Pride-trained Accredited (All Too Hard) will clash with Queensland star Rothfire (Rothesay) at Eagle Farm on Saturday as the six-year-old son of All Too Hard (Casino Prince) bids to land a maiden stakes victory in the Lough Neagh Stakes (Listed, 1300m). The first and only time Sydney gelding Accredited travelled interstate to race he ran a below-par ninth in a Benchmark 100 (1400m) at Sandown-Hillside, but with more racing under his belt, including placed efforts in a pair of Listed races and The Hunter (1300m), Pride is hoping Accredited is more equipped for this weekend's challenge. "It was at Sandown. It's a difficult course for Sydney horses to go to first time the Melbourne way, and I'm hoping that was the problem," Pride said. "He came back from there and raced well, so I'm thinking it was more something that happened on the day. The Festival [Stakes run, fourth] showed me everything I needed to know about the horse, and he will be restricted to 1400 [metres] and below for the rest of his life. He didn't run the 1500 [metres] out strongly enough, so I'm going to bring him back in trip and the 1300 [metres] should be ideal for him. He takes on Rothfire, but he looks well placed to do that and I'm really happy with the horse."

Unit Five to make debut at Caulfield

Having landed a jump-out at Cranbourne on Monday, the Ciaron Maher-trained Unit Five (Supido) will make his racetrack debut on Saturday in the Magic Millions Vic 2YO Classic (1100m) at Caulfield Heath. "He's unbeaten in his jump-outs and he's physically the type that can head to the races off a short turnaround," Maher's assistant Jack Turnbull said. "It's never ideal and you would like to go 12 days in a perfect world, but there's no written rule. The race has come up fairly light, and we look one of the better ones from the trials, along with Guest House, going into it." Unit Five was ridden by Ethan Brown to score in a jump-out last month, but was ridden by Thomas Stockdale on Monday and the latter will retain the ride this weekend. "We instructed Tom to get a feel and not get to the bottom of him with the view of running him on Saturday," Turnbull said. "He's bounced through the run. He's a spritely, outgoing type of horse, and he's been like that since the jump-out." With the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) at Gold Coast on January 17 still four weeks away, Turnbull said there was the potential for Unit Five to be Queensland bound. "The other option for him is there is a $150,000 race over 1000 metres at Cranbourne as a back-up," Turnbull said. "He could potentially head north, but everything would have to fall into place. So, he could run Saturday, or the following Saturday, and then if you run top two you are pretty much qualified and then you can look north."

Invincible Son to carry colours of The Hammers

Debutant Invincible Son (Farnan) will sport some familiar silks to fans of English Premier League team West Ham United when he lines up in Saturday's Magic Millions Vic 2YO Classic at Caulfield. Trained by Robbie Griffiths, the Farnan (Not A Single Doubt) colt is part-owned by West Ham fan Tony Hale and his team and Hale was told by racing manager Corey Smith that the juvenile could sport the colours The Hammers. "We bought 20 per cent in him, me and a few mates and Corey called us and said, 'Do you want to run him in your colours'? Hale told Racing.com. "I said, 'We don't have any'! But all the boys suggested we run in the West Ham colours, so we designed them up with the Hammers and we got them through. It was very good of Corey to get in touch and help us get it going. My father was born in England, so we've played football all our lives. I've followed West Ham for probably 35 or 40 years. Dad's Everton, which most of the boys are, but one of his best mates was West Ham and I ended up going with them and sticking with them. I'm watching them at 2 in the morning. The ones at 4 in the morning are getting a bit hard, but otherwise I'm there." As for the expectations of Invincible Son, who ran second in an 850-metre trial at Caulfield Heath on December 11, Hale said: "I'm more nervous about this one than any other I've been a part of - I want him to wear the colours proudly. But it's great to have him going to the races and hopefully the West Ham boys can see it over there too - they need something to kick them into gear!"

Philosopher bidding to bounce back

Enver Jusufovic is hoping that Philosopher (Zoustar) can bounce back from a disappointing last-start display when he lines up at Caulfield on Saturday. The now six-year-old gelding could only manage 11th in a Benchmark 100 (1100m) at Ballarat on December 6, but Jusufovic is hoping for a bigger performance this weekend in Benchmark 90 grade, where he takes on just six rivals. "There was a couple of downgrades, and he has shown in the past when it's shifty, or loose underfoot, that he is not a confident horse," Jusufovic said of Philosopher's last-start effort. "He's got a big action, and he just finds it uncomfortable. I've been happy with his work, and he's come back a bit more relaxed this time in. But I think everything has to go pretty much right on the day for him. If there's good tempo and he can be a few lengths off them, rather than being right up on the speed, that will give him the opportunity to finish off. There have been excuses in a lot of his starts recently, but you would just like to see him produce it on race day again. My preference nowadays with him is a big track like Sandown and Flemington, rather than the tighter Caulfield circuit, in particular the Heath track, but I'm still expecting him to run well."

Sutton’s South Of India to drop in distance

South Of India (Credit: Racing Photos)

Having landed a Benchmark 100 over 1100 metres at Ballarat last time out, Dom Sutton was not planning on dropping South Of India (Churchill) back 100 metres in trip, but with nothing more suitable on the calendar, the five-year-old gelding will be lining up at Caulfield Heath on Saturday. South Of India will take on Philosopher and the front-running Beast Mode (Better Than Ready) and Sutton admits the latter could be hard to catch. "I think he's a horse that's better at 1100 metres, but there just wasn't anything suitable for him on the calendar, so we're dropping back to 1000 metres," the trainer told SEN's Giddy Up. "He's probably shown that he's not quite as good at that distance as he is at 1100 metres, but he is a very fast horse and he seems to be in a really good space at the moment. Beast Mode will be hard to catch there with the blinkers on, especially around the Caulfield Heath … the Grahame Begg horse [Samangu] looks very progressive as well. He's well, it is going to be a stiffer task than Ballarat the other day, but he's in a good frame of mind at the moment. He won't be far away, but I don't think we'll have the speed to match Beast Mode early, so I'd say we'll be letting him go. Ryan's [Houston] had a feel of him now, he is a horse that you've got to just keep flowing and happy, so we won't be changing up too much, but Beast Mode will probably have a bit more early speed."

Enotis kicks off for Dunn

After being forced to the sidelines with an injury when stabled with Team Hawkes, Enotis (Stratum Star) will kick off life for his new trainer Belinda Dunn when the six-year-old gelding lines up in a Benchmark 78 (1500m) at Caulfield Heath on Saturday. The four-time winner has not raced since August last year, and was picked up for $4,500 at an online sale in May. "He had a tendon injury, and we like fixing horses that have had an injury, and we have done well with them," Dunn said. "We do all the rehab work. Lots of slow work, a bit of time off, and he's gone through all the checks and he's right to come back to the races. My husband, Paul Dunn, is an old trotting guy, and he's very good with tendons. The best part of this horse, he did the Sydney leg [offside foreleg], so there won't be as much pressure being put on that leg going the Melbourne way." Enotis has taken in four jump-outs to have him ready for his return, starting in late October and going through to his most recent on Tuesday over 1000 metres. "After his first jump-out he dropped 12 kilos," Dunn said. "He had a bit of weight on him when he came in, but he came in great order. He's happy to be back but I think he's a run short and will get a lot of benefit from it. I think he'll run a nice race, but having such a long time off, you've always got to say his race fitness is not there yet."

Kintyre chases successive wins

Having registered a first victory since landing the 2024 Queensland Guineas (Gr 2, 1600m) when a last-start winner of a 1400-metre event at Canberra, the Gary Portelli-trained Kintyre (Hallowed Crown) will bid to make it back-to-back wins when he lines up at Randwick on Saturday. The dual Group scorer, who is a half-brother to 2022 Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Fireburn (Rebel Dane), will tackle a Benchmark 100 (1400m). "We experimented with a tongue tie last start because he wasn't finishing his races off. Hopefully that's the key," Portelli said. "It [his tongue] was starting to slip back a bit, and the tongue tie keeps his throat a little bit more open. We will find out on the weekend. We say a win is a great tonic, but he does need a bit of sting out of the ground so we're hoping to see these storms that are forecast for Saturday hit and bring him into the race." Portelli also has Jaegers (Bivouac) as a dual acceptor for Canterbury on Friday night as well as Randwick and Portelli is leaning towards running the Godolphin filly under lights. "I will talk to the Godolphin team, but I'll give her a short let-up and potentially look towards the autumn with her being a three-year-old filly. Maybe even Brisbane," he said. "We will try to get her some black type."

Just Party aiming to break drought

Just Party's (Justify) co-trainer Sterling Alexiou feels that the four-year-old has a good chance of breaking a winning drought dating back to March last year when he lines up at Randwick on Saturday. The gelding will line up against Kintyre and 13 other rivals and heads into the race off a last-start runner-up finish in a Benchmark 94 (1400m) at Rosehill, where he was defeated by just 0.1 lengths. “He’s been really good for the owners but he’s let punters down a few times,’’ Alexiou, who trains in partnership with Gerald Ryan, said. “It’s easy to look at his form and say he’s a non-winner, he’s won one from 15, but he’s also won the connections almost half a million and given them some big thrills. It looks a nice race and we’d be disappointed if he’s not right there in the finish, if not winning. He was good at Newcastle [when fifth], wide no cover and just knocked up the last 100 metres. Unfortunately from the bad barrier again the other day [at Rosehill] he was stranded three wide no cover and the horse with the better run in the race got us. He’s got a more favourable draw but he needs to take advantage of it. He’s a horse that can let himself down at the jump at times but if he can take advantage and possibly be midfield or first half with the light weight, given the sectionals he’s been running, I’d imagine he’ll be hard to beat.”

Potential Sydney Autumn Carnival cameo for She's A Hustler

She's A Hustler (Credit: Racing Photos)

Last-start Zipping Classic (Gr 2, 2400m) winner She's A Hustler (Ace High) could well make an appearance during the Sydney Autumn Carnival next year, with Grahame Begg considering bringing her back at Randwick. The improving five-year-old mare could line up in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) for fillies and mares at Randwick on April 11, before then heading to Queensland for feature middle-distance targets ahead of the Melbourne Spring Carnival. "We're working out a plan for her. In Brisbane she will run in the Hollindale Stakes, the Doomben Cup and the Q22," Begg told Racing.com. "We've got to work out whether to run her beforehand in Sydney first-up in the Group 1 race for fillies and mares."

Tulloch Lodge and Archibalds send out trial winners

There were a trio of juvenile trials held at Randwick on Thursday, with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott sending out a pair of winners. Lady Moscato (Home Affairs) was making her first appearance at the trials and ran out a 1.4 length winner over Priory Park (Wild Ruler) in an 850-metre heat. A $1.05 million Magic Millions purchase from Coolmore for her trainers and Kestrel Thoroughbreds, Lady Moscato runs for a partnership that includes John Stewart and she carries his Resolute Racing colours. She is the third foal out of the Group 2-winning and multiple Group 1-placed Champagne Cuddles (Not A Single Doubt), herself a daughter of Group 1 winner Sky Cuddle (Snippets). Waterhouse and Bott also sent out Written By (Written Tycoon) filly By Choice to score by 4.4 lengths in another 850-metre trial, beating Outspan (Bivouac) to make it two wins from as many trials. Attunga Stud will offer a yearling half-sister to By Choice by So You Think (High Chaparral) at Magic Millions as Lot 72. Meanwhile, the other heat went the way of the Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Half Pipe (Extreme Warrior), who defeated Satin Summer (Written Tycoon) by 1.4 lengths over 850 metres. A half-brother to four winners being out of the Group 3-winning mare Thurlow (Sebring), Half Pipe was a $25,000 Magic Millions Book 2 purchase and has a yearling half-sister by Zousain (Zoustar) headed to Inglis Premier as Lot 403 for Stonehouse Thoroughbreds.

Forbes departs Racing Victoria

Dr Grace Forbes has resigned as Racing Victoria’s (RV) head veterinarian, with the move coming just a matter of days after she settled a bullying case out of court against her long-term employer. RV staff were informed via email on Thursday that Forbes had tendered her resignation after 16 years working for the authority. A statement issued late on Thursday by RV read: “We can confirm that Dr Forbes has resigned from her role as GM – Veterinary Services. It is our intention to commence the process of employing a new head vet early in the new year. Equine welfare remains of the highest priority to RV and our veterinary team plays an important role in that.”

Vale Bill Ryan

Tasmanian Hall of Fame trainer died at his Longford home on Tuesday following a lengthy battle with illness. Ryan won most of the big races in Tasmania and was the trainer of Still A Star (Toronado), who ran in the 2021 edition of the All-Star Mile (1600m). Still A Star defeated Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) and fellow Tasmanian racer Mystic Journey (Needs Further) when winning the Rose Of Kingston Stakes (Gr 2, 1410m) at Flemington on Turnbull Stakes Day that same year.

New Zealand

In-form pairing on track after rocky start

Craig Grylls will chase another win on Lara Antipova (Russian Revolution) when the pair team up again in Saturday’s Wakefield Challenge Stakes (Gr 2, 1100m) at Trentham following the youngster’s runaway debut victory at Te Aroha in the high-flying jockey’s hands.
The Te Akau-prepared Lara Antipova repaid a debt she owed Grylls after a previous incident which resulted in the champion rider requiring time out. “Early on, she could get a bit cantankerous and she broke his finger, and he had to have a little stint on the sideline,” said Sam Bergerson, who trains the filly with Mark Walker. “We had jump-outs here at home and she bucked him off and his finger got caught in the rein, it was pretty nasty.” Raced by John Galvin’s Fortuna, Lara Antipova sat outside the leader at Te Aroha and cruised clear in the run home to have eight lengths on her nearest rival at the post. “It’s a step up for her on Saturday and she has to travel, but she’s come through her first run really well and her work has been good,” Bergerson said. “She’s ticking the boxes so far and it’s a really good opportunity for her to get black type so early in her career.”

Te Akau pair look to hold strong chances

Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson will have strong chances with Origin Of Love (Snitzel) in the Eulogy Stakes (Gr 3, 1600m) and What You Wish For (Embellish) in the Manawatu Cup (Gr 3, 2300m) at Trentham on Saturday. To be ridden by Vinnie Colgan, Origin Of Love won the War Decree Stakes (Gr 3, 1600m) before a game fifth in the New Zealand 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m). “She’s just kept getting better and better, early on she was pretty highly strung and did a lot wrong,” Bergerson said. “The South Island has done her the world of good, and I thought she ran really well in a strong 1,000 Guineas.” Bruno Queiroz will partner What You Wish For who was a last-start sixth in the Counties Cup (Gr 3, 2100m). “He’s run in some really good races, but he’s the sort of horse who needs things to go his way and hasn’t had the rub of the green lately,” Bergerson said. “He drew wide at Counties and we elected to go back and they went no gallop and he was really good getting to the line. He’s come through his last run very well and we think Trentham will suit him nicely.”

Trav seeking Cups redemption

Group 2-winning stayer Trav’s (Almanzor) Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) preparation may not have gone to plan, but the gelding’s trainer Raymond Connors has swiftly turned his attention to another Cup target. Following his heroics in the Auckland Cup (Gr 2, 3200m) earlier this year, Connors set his sights on Australasia’s most coveted prize but just came up short in making the final field for last month’s Melbourne Cup following three unplaced runs in Victoria over the spring. While disappointed in Trav’s performances, Connors said he still enjoyed the experience. “It would have been great if he’d gone better, but it was a good experience and it was good to see how it all operates over there,” he said. Connors has returned to New Zealand where he has immediately set about targeting Trav towards next month’s Wellington Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) at Trentham, a race he finished fourth in last year.
Trav will commence his journey towards the two-mile feature in Saturday’s Manawatu Cup at Trentham, where Connors hopes to get a good line on his charge. “He’s been ticking over,” the trainer said. “We’ll try and get him to the Wellington Cup and this will be a stepping-stone and we will just see how he performs. Trav is the $7.50 fourth favourite for Saturday’s race, in a market headed by Atmospheric (El Roca) at $4.50.

War Princess to answer mile query

A tilt at next month’s $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO (RL, 1600m) hangs in the balance for War Princess (U S Navy Flag). The talented filly has yet to be tested over a mile in her seven starts, but has shown plenty of ability over sprint distances, winning four races between 1000 metres and 1200 metres, while she was also runner-up in last month’s O’Learys Fillies Stakes (Listed, 1340m). Peter Didham, who trains War Princess in partnership with his son Trent, was pleased with the way she found the line last start after over-racing early. “She was a bit unlucky with circumstances,” he said. “We probably could have stayed a bit handier, we’re trying to get her to settle, and the horse came up on the inside of her, and we didn’t get a clear run on the corner until late, but then she stormed home really well. I thought it was a great effort and probably one that got away on us really.” With just over a month until the Karaka Millions twilight meeting at Ellerslie, Didham is facing mounting pressure to try and get his $77,500 Karaka yearling purchase to the highly-anticipated event. The distance remains his only query, and that will be answered on Saturday when she contests the Eulogy Stakes. “The owners are very keen to go to the Karaka Millions, but she will need to run a nice race over 1600 metres,” he said. “I’m confident that she can get a mile, it’s just whether it’s this prep or next. She’s a lovely filly, she is nice and strong and doing everything right. There’s no reason why not, it’s just the fact that she has always jumped and run and it’s a matter of her teaching herself to relax a little bit.”

Telegraph locked in for First Five

A tilt at the Telegraph (Gr 1, 1200m) at Trentham in a fortnight has been locked in for First Five (Almanzor). The five-year-old was impressive when taking out last Saturday’s J Swap Sprint (Gr 3, 1400m) at Te Rapa, and after some contemplation, his trainer David Greene believes the gelding deserves a crack at top-level company. “It was a pretty decent field on Saturday, so it was good to see him step-up on the big occasion,” he said. “He’s done really well. He cleaned up all of his feed on Saturday night and it hasn’t knocked him around too much. We will go to the Telegraph now. He has bounced through the race really well, it’s a jump up going to weight-for-age, but we just feel the 1200 metres at Trentham down the chute, and the way it’s a fast, high-pressure race, it often plays out more to a 1400-metre race, so I thought we might as well give it a go.”

International

17 for Victor Ludorum

Off To Dubai (2 g ex Light It Up by Elusive City) provided Darley shuttler Victor Ludorum (Shamardal) with a 17th individual winner when he landed a handicap over seven furlongs at Deauville on Wednesday. Trained by Mathieu Brasme, the gelding beat stablemate Near Fly (Golden Horde) by two and a half lengths, with Tomoe Gozen (Golden Horn) a further three-quarters of a length away in third. A €23,000 buy for connections at last year’s Arqana October Yearling Sale, Off To Dubai is out of Light It Up (Elusive City), making him a half-brother to five winners. Victor Ludorum is standing at Kelvinside for a fee of $11,000 (inc GST).

UK: Dubai Honour only second at Shader reverses form

Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) winner Dubai Honour (Pride Of Dubai) could only finish second when Shader (Shamardal) reversed the form of their recent meeting to take out the Wild Flower Stakes (Listed, 1m 4f) at Kempton on Wednesday. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, Shader was winning at Listed level for the second time as he scored by a length and a half. There was a gap of a further three and a half lengths back to the third home, Ancient Wisdom (Dubawi).

Maiden Of The Week

Jet (AUS)

3 g Zoustar - Villami by Foxwedge

Jet pictured as a yearling (Credit: Magic Millions)

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Jet (Zoustar) broke his maiden at the fourth time of asking on Wednesday when landing a 1300-metre event at Warwick Farm. 

Having finished second, fourth and fifth on his first three starts, the three-year-old Zoustar (Northern Meteor) gelding got it right at the fourth attempt as he defeated Snitzel Miss (Snitzel) by 0.1 lengths. There was a further 2.1 lengths back to the third-placed Garrix (Frankel).

"He was there to be beaten and I thought he might have been at the furlong," Bott said. 

"He really dug deep and kept finding and that's always an encouraging sign. He is open to a lot of improvement off today and I think he'll continue to get a little bit further, 1400 metres and potentially 1600 metres. 

“Lovely time of year for him over the summer to take advantage of the conditions and to go through his grades." 

Jet (AUS)

View Full Profile

3yo: (15 Sep 2022)

Trainer: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott

Owner: James Harron Bloodstock Colts, Mrs B Bateman, Love Racing, Bundarra Breeding and Racing Pty Ltd, G1G Colts & Breeding Pty Ltd, F Doyle, M De Stoop, P Mehrten, Torryburn Stud, The Northerly & Fairway Thoroughbreds

Breeder:: Fairway Thoroughbreds

Sale: 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale V: Segenhoe Stud (As agent for Fairway Thoroughbreds P: James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership, $1,000,000

Won: Brave Smash @ Yarraman Park Maiden Plate, 1300m, December 17, Warwick Farm

Winning rider Tim Clark said: “He [Jet] rode a hot speed that night at Canterbury when the first couple of leaders won, so he drew out and went forward and there was a lot of speed and he peaked late, so up to 1300 metres was always going to suit him. He was able to dictate in his own way and gave a good kick.”

Purchased by James Harron Bloodstock for $1 million at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the Segenhoe Stud draft, Jet is the first foal out of the stakes-winning Foxwedge (Fastnet Rock) mare Villami, herself a daughter of Group 3 winner Galapagos Girl (Dehere) and from the family of Group 1 winners Laisserfaire (Danehill), Personal (Fastnet Rock) and Lone Rock (Fastnet Rock).

Segenhoe sold a Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) colt from Villami at Magic Millions this year for $850,000 and she has a yearling filly by Anamoe (Street Boss).

Hong Kong News

Late double delivers Happy Valley breakthrough for John Size

Paul Ryding

Amazing Kid (Credit: HKJC)

John Size secured his first Happy Valley wins of the season with a double on Wednesday night, delivering a timely boost to his prospects of defending his trainers’ championship title.

The Hall of Fame trainer moved to ten wins for the season courtesy of a late double, with Andrea Atzeni scoring aboard Amazing Kid (Exceed And Excel), who won the third section of the Class 4 Albatross Handicap (1200m), and consistent performer A Americ Te Specso (Per Incanto), who took out the card-closing Class 3 Sea Eagle Handicap (1650m) under James McDonald.

Four-year-old Amazing Kid surged along the rail in the final 200 metres, delivering a narrow win over Meowth (Showtime) and Run Run Smart (Dandy Man) by a head and a neck, respectively.

The 13-time champion Size was thrilled to finally get a tune out of the gelding.

“That’s the sort of run you hope to get,” Size said. “We drew the one [gate] and had a light weight. He’s been a bit of a slow learner, but he seemed to hit the line with determination tonight.

“Andrea was pretty vigorous on him and made him run the final bit. Everything worked out really well for him. I think tonight was his night,” he added.

A Americ Te Specso has been a reliable ally to Size throughout their four years together and, as is his wont, the gelding finished charging through the line under the newly crowned World’s Best Jockey, McDonald, to complete the double for Size.

Size wasn’t the only trainer to celebrate a double; Me Tsui moved on to nine wins for the season, taking him halfway to last season’s tally.

Macanese Master (Universal Ruler) outlasted Island Breezes (Lean Mean Machine) and Oriental Surprise (Mikki Isle) in the Class 5 Robin Handicap (1000m) to grab his first win in Hong Kong from the foot of the weights under apprentice Angus Chung, whose 2lb claim came in handy in a close finish.

Visiting rider Maxime Guyon followed up his superb effort in the Hong Kong Vase (r 1, 2400m) with Sosie (Sea The Stars) last weekend to claim a second win of his stint on Tsui’s Candlelight Dinner (Russian Revolution) in the Class 3 Nightjar Handicap (1000m). That second winner for Tsui saw owners Mr & Mrs Cheng Chak Yin pick up a HK$1.5 million (approx. AU$291,725) PP Bonus.

Hugh Bowman and McDonald shared jockey honours with two wins apiece.

Star Brose (Starspangledbanner) claimed a maiden win in the opener, the Class 5 Heron Handicap (2200m), under a superb steer from Bowman for David Hayes. The victory took the trainer to 21 wins for the season.

“I have to say, it was a ten out of ten Hugh Bowman ride. He followed Zac [Purton] and got him right on the line,” Hayes said.

Bowman brought up the double with victory on California Moxie (Mehmas) in the Class 4 Lark Handicap (1650m) for Tony Cruz.

The Chris So-trained Perfectday (Gingerbread Man) swooped in the second section of the Class 4 Albatross Handicap (1200m) to continue his winning form from last term, and seal the double for McDonald.

The win was a pleasant surprise for So, who registered his tenth win of the campaign with the effort.

“I wasn’t confident because of the draw and first time at Happy Valley, but the horse was very impressive,” So said.

Richard Kingscote snared his third winner of the season on 40-1 shot Flash Star (Charm Spirit), whose fractious showing ahead of the race made the win all the more impressive. The four-year-old put pre-race nerves behind him to dash up the inside rail and claim a surprise win in the feature Class 4 The Hong Kong Golf Club Centenary Cup Handicap (1200m).

“It’s fair to say [the win was unexpected]. A couple of times, he’s run OK, and I’ve thought, one day, if it all goes right, he could do OK,” Kingscote said. “But he’s not the easiest. We’ve put a lot of work into him, and today we had a smooth trip.”

Kingscote’s other two wins this term have been delivered on a 20-1 chance - Loch Tay (Bated Breath) - and a 97-1 hopeful - Blue Illusion (Blue Point) - but he was sanguine about the competition for rides in Hong Kong.

“I’m getting a bit of support. It’s very competitive and I don’t expect to be coming here and landing on odds-on shots. But it’s nice to get a few winners,” he added.

Young Bravo (All Too Hard) delivered one of the most popular wins of the evening in the Class 4 Swiftlet Handicap (1800m) under James Orman for David Hall and ownership group The HKJC Racing Club Limited, who roared the four-year-old home at 30-1. The gelding broke his maiden at the fourth time of asking.

Results

Thursday, December 18, 2025

Tab Meetings

Bunbury WA Good(4)
Show

Bunbury WA Good(4)

R1: Own The Dream 2026 Mdn, $25,000, 1100m

  1. Alebrije (AUS) (b/br F 3 Bivouac (AUS) - Spiritual Pursuit (AUS)
    T: D & B Pearce J: Natika Riordan
  2. Belaura Star (AUS) (b G 3 Magnus (AUS) - Belaura (AUS))
  3. White Hot (AUS) (b/br F 3 Too Darn Hot (GB) - Shinta Mani (AUS))

Margins: 1.3 lens, 0.9 lens. Time: 1:05.31 (last 600m 34.69)

R2: Cuprum Distillery South West Stormy Mdn, $25,000, 1000m

  1. Elvira Star (AUS) (br M 4 Maschino (AUS) - She's Fa'lion (AUS)
    T: Robert & Kate Witten J: S Mc Gruddy
  2. Morf (AUS) (b G 3 Rommel (AUS) - From Fromm (AUS))
  3. Luna Ascending (AUS) (b/br M 4 Snippetson (AUS) - First Black (AUS))

Margins: 0.3 lens, 1.1 lens. Time: 0:58.71 (last 600m 34.79)

R3: Bunbury Volkswagen Mdn, $25,000, 2000m

  1. Iraychoux (AUS) (b G 4 Jimmy Choux (NZ) - Rae's Rae (NZ)
    T: Brock Lewthwaite J: C Nicoll
  2. Electric Bec (NZ) (br M 5 Shocking (AUS) - Posh Bec (NZ))
  3. She's Resolute (AUS) (b M 5 War Chant (USA) - Calico Blue (AUS))

Margins: 1 lens, 0.2 lens. Time: 2:08.03 (last 600m 37.16)

R4: Aligned Concreting Southwest Mdn, $25,000, 1400m

  1. Rising Fame (AUS) (ch M 4 Super One (AUS) - Glenross (AUS)
    T: N D Parnham J: S Parnham
  2. Flavoursome (AUS) (ch M 4 Toronado (IRE) - Butterboom (AUS))
  3. Extreme Ruler (AUS) (b G 5 Universal Ruler (AUS) - Extreme Dreams (AUS))

Margins: 0.9 lens, 0.5 lens. Time: 1:24.84 (last 600m 36.44)

R5: Swan Draught Hcp (C1), $30,000, 1100m

  1. Ripper Rupert (AUS) (br G 3 Winning Rupert (AUS) - Lady Magenta (AUS)
    T: Luke Fernie J: Chris Parnham
  2. Firey Panz (AUS) (b M 6 Panzer Division (AUS) - Burningwood (USA))
  3. So Immaculate (AUS) (b M 4 So You Think (NZ) - Pristine Girl (AUS))

Margins: 1.1 lens, 0.1 lens. Time: 1:04.93 (last 600m 35.30)

R6: TABtouch Better Your Bet Hcp (C5), $30,000, 1675m

  1. Omerta Grace (AUS) (b G 5 Shooting to Win (AUS) - Saxy Grace (AUS)
    T: J F Miller J: W Pike
  2. Sandfire Rose (AUS) (b M 5 Sessions (AUS) - Starry Starry Rose (AUS))
  3. God's Grin (AUS) (b M 4 Playing God (AUS) - Soldier's Smile (AUS))

Margins: 0.2 lens, 0.7 lens. Time: 1:44.22 (last 600m 36.28)

R7: Nixon Electrical Hcp (C3), $30,000, 1400m

  1. Belta of a Song (AUS) (b/br M 7 Your Song (AUS) - Democrat (AUS)
    T: B P Fitzgerald J: W Pike
  2. Showlas (AUS) (b M 4 Showtime (AUS) - Lilas (NZ))
  3. Secrecy (AUS) (b G 6 So Secret (AUS) - Fine Memories (AUS))

Margins: 1.5 lens, 0.1 lens. Time: 1:24.40 (last 600m 35.96)

Gosford NSW Good(4)
Show

Gosford NSW Good(4)

R1: Baydole Mdn Hcp, $42,000, 1000m

  1. Dietrich (AUS) (b F 3 Pariah (AUS) - Magic Zeta (AUS)
    T: Ms K Gavenlock J: Mollie Fitzgerald
  2. Kiss Goodnight (AUS) (ch F 3 Written Tycoon (AUS) - Evening Slippers (AUS))
  3. Raskol (AUS) (ch F 3 Russian Revolution (AUS) - Schism (AUS))

Margins: 1.5 lens, 0.2 lens. Time: 0:56.87 (last 600m 34.47)

R2: TNT Plumbing & Drainage Provincial Mdn Hcp, $45,000, 1600m

  1. Velia (AUS) (b M 4 Magna Grecia (IRE) - St Swithuns (AUS)
    T: Mitchell Beer & George Carpenter J: G Buckley
  2. Entrapment (AUS) (b F 3 Star Witness (AUS) - Empress Zhao (NZ))
  3. Flying Grey (AUS) (gr M 4 D'argento (AUS) - Kellyville Flyer (AUS))

Margins: 0.4 lens, 1.4 lens. Time: 1:36.81 (last 600m 35.78)

R3: Airpak Sheetmetal (Bm64), $42,000, 1600m

  1. Dark Vador (AUS) (b G 6 Invader (AUS) - Miss Cosmetic (AUS)
    T: Matthew Smith J: Ashley Morgan
  2. Buckenara (AUS) (b G 4 Dundeel (NZ) - Whispering Brook (AUS))
  3. De Louviere (IRE) (br G 4 Sea The Moon (GER) - Equivocal (GB))

Margins: 0.5 lens, 0.2 lens. Time: 1:36.81 (last 600m 35.11)

R4: JT Project Group Super Mdn Plate, $60,000, 1200m

  1. Attractiveness (NZ) (b F 3 Hello Youmzain (FR) - Hot in High Heels (AUS)
    T: Richard & Will Freedman J: J R Collett
  2. Acharnee (AUS) (b F 3 All Too Hard (AUS) - Laurant (NZ))
  3. Let's Go Barbie (AUS) (b M 4 Yes Yes Yes (AUS) - Gayatri (AUS))

Margins: 1.3 lens, 0.5 lens. Time: 1:10.06 (last 600m 35.25)

R5: Bishop Collins Chartered Accountants Midway Hcp (C1), $45,000, 1200m

  1. Spice Baby (AUS) (br F 3 Tassort (AUS) - Ice Baby (AUS)
    T: Joseph Ible J: Zac Lloyd
  2. Leantothemoon (AUS) (b/br M 5 Lean Mean Machine (AUS) - Gibraltar Moon (AUS))
  3. Captivating Tycoon (AUS) (ch C 3 Capitalist (AUS) - Sally's Realm (AUS))

Margins: 0.1 lens, 0.5 lens. Time: 1:9.840 (last 600m 34.52)

R6: Penmans Lawyers (Bm64), $42,000, 1100m

  1. be Quiet (NZ) (br M 5 Vadamos (FR) - High Tranquility (GB)
    T: Ms K Waugh J: A B Collett
  2. Iron Fury (AUS) (br G 4 Russian Revolution (AUS) - Stellar Intruder (AUS))
  3. Oceans One (AUS) (br G 7 Super One (AUS) - Oceanide (AUS))

Margins: 1.7 lens, 1.4 lens. Time: 1:02.47 (last 600m 34.64)

Queanbeyan NSW Good(4)
Show

Queanbeyan NSW Good(4)

R1: Hotel Queanbeyan Mdn Hcp, $27,000, 1200m

  1. Bourbon Queen (AUS) (b/br F 3 Street Boss (USA) - Smooth Landing (AUS)
    T: T J Wilson J: Ms R Freeman
  2. Focus Point (AUS) (b M 4 Justify (USA) - Optical (NZ))
  3. Sheer Terra (AUS) (b M 6 Territories (IRE) - Street Spirit (AUS))

Margins: 0.1 lens, 6.4 lens. Time: 1:08.75 (last 600m 34.19)

R2: Allbids Country Boosted Mdn Plate, $30,000, 1000m

  1. Penrose (AUS) (ch M 4 Written By (AUS) - Love A Rose (AUS)
    T: A L McRae J: Nick Heywood
  2. Deeply (AUS) (b F 3 Cool Aza Beel (NZ) - Mutual (AUS))
  3. Badgers Bridge (AUS) (br M 4 Denman (AUS) - Bounding Badger (AUS))

Margins: 2.4 lens, 0.3 lens. Time: 0:56.25 (last 600m 33.86)

R3: Construction Control (Bm58), $27,000, 2000m

  1. Ever Was (AUS) (b G 6 Choistar (AUS) - Near Silenus (AUS)
    T: J A Steinmetz J: Ms R Freeman
  2. Sebastian's Flyer (AUS) (b G 6 Spieth (NZ) - Porte Triage (AUS))
  3. Devgru (AUS) (b G 6 Merchant Navy (AUS) - Zeal (NZ))

R4: It's TAB Time Mdn Plate, $27,000, 1460m

  1. Pearler (AUS) (gr M 4 D'argento (AUS) - Redan Lane (AUS)
    T: G R Nickson J: Ms R Freeman
  2. Aquilino (AUS) (b G 3 Cliff's Edge (AUS) - Maghro (AUS))
  3. Mr Usher (AUS) (gr G 4 Star Turn (AUS) - Kitty's Own (AUS))

Margins: 0.8 lens, 0.7 lens. Time: 1:26.20 (last 600m 35.24)

R5: Dale & Hitchcock Country Boosted (Bm50), $30,000, 1000m

  1. Wegotabetterhoffa (AUS) (b M 5 Bon Hoffa (AUS) - Black Sea Lady (AUS)
    T: Anthony Warren J: Billy Owen
  2. Vainstream (AUS) (b G 11 Bel Esprit (AUS) - Yasey San (AUS))
  3. Single Beat (AUS) (ch M 5 Super One (AUS) - Sweet Chimes (AUS))

Margins: 0.4 lens, 2.6 lens. Time: 0:55.71 (last 600m 33.72)

R6: Sheridan Garage Doors (Bm58), $27,000, 1460m

  1. Luna Angel (AUS) (b M 6 Starspangledbanner (AUS) - Lunulae (AUS)
    T: Geoffrey Crothers J: Teaghan Martin
  2. Battle Abbey (AUS) (b G 6 Hallowed Crown (AUS) - Madonnica (AUS))
  3. Amanoah (AUS) (b M 4 American Pharoah (USA) - Amanee (AUS))

R7: TAB Venue Boost (Bm58), $27,000, 1200m

  1. Anthracia (AUS) (ch M 5 Jimmy Creed (USA) - Ameliorate (AUS)
    T: P J Facoory J: Molly Bourke
  2. Liamena Avenue (AUS) (b G 4 Headwater (AUS) - Liamena (AUS))
  3. Kirkuk (AUS) (b G 5 Smart Missile (Aus) - Banner Blonde (AUS))

Margins: 0.5 lens, 1.3 lens. Time: 1:07.90 (last 600m 34.59)

Rockhampton QLD Soft(5)
Show

Rockhampton QLD Soft(5)

R1: TAB Mdn Plate, $23,000, 1050m

  1. Wasabi Barbie (AUS) (b F 2 Rock Sturdy (AUS) - Whitty Girl (AUS)
    T: Tom Smith J: Tahlia Fenlon
  2. Tautara (AUS) (b G 2 The Odyssey (AUS) - Jettara (AUS))
  3. Big Barry (AUS) (br G 2 Glenfiddich (AUS) - Lucky Romance (AUS))

Margins: 9.8 lens, 5.3 lens. Time: 0:59.61 (last 600m 34.04)

R2: Great Northern Mdn Plate, $23,000, 1600m

  1. Skilful Artist (AUS) (br G 5 Trapeze Artist (AUS) - Berry Delicious (AUS)
    T: Alan Joseph Jones J: C Mc Iver
  2. Yorokobi (NZ) (b G 3 Maurice (JPN) - Greatest Joy (AUS))
  3. Ready Lightly (AUS) (b G 4 Better Than Ready (AUS) - Hepburn (AUS))

Margins: 2.5 lens, 2.9 lens. Time: 1:36.84 (last 600m 35.63)

R3: Moltec Mdn Hcp, $23,000, 1200m

  1. Innovader (AUS) (b F 3 Invader (AUS) - Pelage (AUS)
    T: J E McConachy J: C Mc Iver
  2. Moochi Starlight (AUS) (b/br G 4 All Too Hard (AUS) - Lady Moochi (NZ))
  3. Whenharry Metelsie (AUS) (b M 4 Cliff's Edge (AUS) - Wealthy Elsie (AUS))

Margins: 0.3 lens, 2.6 lens. Time: 1:9.590 (last 600m 34.57)

R4: Hilcher Signs Mdn Hcp, $23,000, 1200m

  1. I'm a Condygirl (AUS) (b/br F 3 Spirit of Boom (AUS) - Imanoremiss (AUS)
    T: Clinton Taylor J: S Cormack
  2. Heroic Talent (AUS) (b G 3 Heroic Valour (AUS) - Nature's Talent (AUS))
  3. Shemakesmenervous (AUS) (br/bl F 3 Power (GB) - Hay Now (AUS))

Margins: 2.1 lens, 0.8 lens. Time: 1:9.049 (last 600m 34.81)

R5: BVH Civil (Bm65), $21,000, 1400m

  1. Tizso Fab (AUS) (b G 6 Astern (AUS) - Tizso Wicked (AUS)
    T: D W Gardiner J: Tahlia Fenlon
  2. Darling Clementine (AUS) (br M 4 Churchill (IRE) - Broome (AUS))
  3. Moktaffy (IRE) (b G 7 Lope de Vega (IRE) - Stars So Bright (IRE))

Margins: 2.5 lens, 1.3 lens. Time: 1:21.42 (last 600m 34.14)

R6: Belroma Park Plate (C1), $21,000, 1050m

  1. Presocratics (AUS) (b G 4 Written By (AUS) - Shoreline (AUS)
    T: G J Clem J: J L Taylor
  2. Determination (AUS) (ch G 5 Churchill (IRE) - Forget the Weather (USA))
  3. Rum Rumble (AUS) (b G 4 Pierata (AUS) - Smokin' Hussay (AUS))

Margins: 2.6 lens, 1.3 lens. Time: 0:58.33 (last 600m 32.56)

R7: Carseldine Air Conditioning (Bm60), $21,000, 1835m

  1. Cash Artist (AUS) (b G 7 Denman (AUS) - Anorder (AUS)
    T: Darryl Johnston J: Jackson Murphy
  2. Pride of Savabella (AUS) (ch G 4 Pride of Dubai (AUS) - Savabella Rose (NZ))
  3. General Wolffe (AUS) (br G 7 Wolf Cry (AUS) - Hypernova (NZ))

Margins: 0.6 lens, 2.3 lens. Time: 1:52.12 (last 600m 36.55)

R8: Magic Millions Country Cup Qualifier Hcp, $35,000, 1200m

  1. Track Tale (AUS) (b/br M 5 Whittington (AUS) - Tracktorque (AUS)
    T: Ricky Vale J: Jai Williams
  2. Letmeletgo (AUS) (br G 8 Pierro (AUS) - Faith Hill (AUS))
  3. Astra Star (AUS) (b G 4 Cosmic Force (AUS) - Al Nova (AUS))

Margins: 1 lens, 0.1 lens. Time: 1:08.90 (last 600m 33.84)

R9: Chess Electrics Plate (C3), $21,000, 1200m

  1. Red Beauty (AUS) (ch M 4 Extreme Choice (AUS) - Red Fuschia (AUS)
    T: Tom Smith J: C Mc Iver
  2. Flying Animo (AUS) (br G 4 Flying Artie (AUS) - Better Ask Me (AUS))
  3. Mississippi Morn (AUS) (b/br H 4 Power (GB) - Wicked Temptation (AUS))

Margins: 0.8 lens, 0.4 lens. Time: 1:9.689 (last 600m 34.73)

R10: Merry Christmas From The RJC (Bm55), $21,000, 1400m

  1. El Fortress (AUS) (b G 4 Tassort (AUS) - De Lago Bloom (AUS)
    T: J E McConachy J: C Mc Iver
  2. Peaking Tom (AUS) (b/br G 5 Hallowed Crown (AUS) - Coleta (AUS))
  3. He's The One (AUS) (b G 5 Sooboog (AUS) - Dubai House (AUS))

Margins: 1.1 lens, 0.1 lens. Time: 1:24.09 (last 600m 34.84)

Seymour VIC Good(4)
Show

Seymour VIC Good(4)

R1: bet365 Bet Boost Mdn Plate, $42,500, 2234m

  1. Ring The Sheriff (AUS) (gr G 5 Puissance De Lune (IRE) - Shades Of Julie (AUS)
    T: Nathan Hobson J: Logan McNeil
  2. Phantom's Chase (AUS) (b G 4 Fiorente (IRE) - Teoflyte (AUS))
  3. Brookers Turbo (AUS) (b/br M 5 Pariah (AUS) - Jamil (AUS))

Margins: 0.5 lens, 7 lens. Time: 2:22.80 (last 600m)

R2: Magic Millions Gold Coast Jan 13-18 (Bm62), $35,000, 2234m

  1. Makhanda (AUS) (br G 4 Turffontein (AUS) - Legion's Belle (AUS)
    T: R G Symons J: E J Walsh
  2. Girls Girls Girls (AUS) (b M 5 Fiorente (IRE) - Fields of Heather (NZ))
  3. Blue Ismay (IRE) (b/br G 3 Expert Eye (GB) - Washington Blue (GB))

Margins: 0.8 lens, 0.1 lens. Time: 2:22.41 (last 600m)

R3: Join Godolphin School Holiday Internship Mdn Plate, $42,500, 1422m

  1. Dihheri (AUS) (b F 3 Royal Meeting (IRE) - Dihhi (AUS)
    T: Lloyd Kennewell J: H Coffey
  2. Baltic Blizzard (AUS) (b F 3 Hanseatic (AUS) - November Gale (AUS))
  3. Beau Strada (AUS) (bl F 3 Brazen Beau (AUS) - Star Via Strada (USA))

Margins: 0.5 lens, 1.3 lens. Time: 1:26.15 (last 600m)

R4: Boss Plumbing & Drainage Mdn Plate, $42,500, 1000m

  1. Smash Blue (AUS) (b/br M 4 Brave Smash (JPN) - Butterfly Blue (AUS)
    T: Luke Oliver J: Bailey Kinninmont
  2. Blue Akoya (AUS) (b F 3 Blue Point (IRE) - Pearl Princess (AUS))
  3. Havana Moon (AUS) (b M 4 Russian Revolution (AUS) - Romantic Moon (AUS))

Margins: 0.4 lens, 2.2 lens. Time: 0:58.77 (last 600m)

R5: Yarran Mdn Plate, $42,500, 1300m

  1. Brickendon (AUS) (b G 3 Russian Camelot (IRE) - Fairytale Ending (AUS)
    T: A & S Freedman J: Jett Stanley
  2. Great Fuego (AUS) (br M 4 Lonhro (AUS) - Cosmic Storm (GB))
  3. Storming Camelot (AUS) (br G 3 Russian Camelot (IRE) - Cyclone Stacey (AUS))

Margins: 1.3 lens, 0.4 lens. Time: 1:18.53 (last 600m)

R6: WB Hunters (Bm62), $35,000, 1422m

  1. Homeward (AUS) (ch M 4 Toronado (IRE) - Star of Night (AUS)
    T: P McVicar J: Jye McNeil
  2. Brave Charm (AUS) (ch F 3 Harry Angel (IRE) - Immortal Charm (AUS))
  3. Queen of the Surf (AUS) (b F 3 King's Legacy (AUS) - Layne's Star (AUS))

Margins: 0.3 lens, 0.7 lens. Time: 1:26.75 (last 600m)

R7: Tahbilk (Bm66), $35,000, 1000m

  1. Yolo (AUS) (b G 3 I Am Invincible (AUS) - Akari (AUS)
    T: C Maher J: Zoe Waller
  2. Commands Success (AUS) (b G 6 Squamosa (AUS) - Little Elsa (AUS))
  3. Albertville (AUS) ( G 0 Ilovethiscity (AUS) - Heartening (AUS))

Margins: 0.8 lens, 1.5 lens. Time: 0:58.8 (last 600m)

R8: Kelly's Country Homes (Bm62), $35,000, 1200m

  1. Asiatic (AUS) (b F 3 Tagaloa (AUS) - Red Lily (AUS)
    T: T Busuttin & N Young J: Jett Stanley
  2. Frosted In Time (AUS) (b G 4 Frosted (USA) - Ringing Bell (AUS))
  3. Mr Assertive (AUS) (b G 5 Press Statement (AUS) - Very Dogmatic (NZ))

Margins: 0.2 lens, 0.3 lens. Time: 1:10.26 (last 600m)

Leading Sires

Data supplied by Arion pedigrees

Australia

Leading 3YO Sires by

Rank Stallion Ccode Yof - To Stud Breeding Rnrs Wnrs Wins SW(SWins) Earnings Best Performer
1 Street Boss (USA) 2004 - 2009 Street Cry - Blushing Ogygian 33 12 16 4(5) $5,227,685 Tempted - 3,168,000
2 I Am Invincible (AUS) 2004 - 2010 Invincible Spirit - Cannarelle 71 30 34 5(5) $4,102,745 Ohope - 910,025
3 Ghaiyyath (IRE) 2015 - 2021 Dubawi - Nightime 31 12 16 4(5) $2,853,030 Observer - 1,753,500
4 The Autumn Sun (AUS) 2015 - 2019 Redoute's Choice - Azmiyna 23 9 13 2(2) $2,606,100 Autumn Boy - 1,876,250
5 Ole Kirk (AUS) 2017 - 2021 Written Tycoon - Naturale 46 14 16 2(2) $1,979,450 Ole Dancer - 961,375
6 Snitzel (AUS) 2002 - 2006 Redoute's Choice - Snippets' Lass 60 27 30 1(1) $1,828,300 Marhoona - 158,750
7 Wootton Bassett (GB) 2008 - 2012 Iffraaj - Balladonia 55 14 18 2(2) $1,770,595 Wodeton - 249,500
8 Extreme Choice (AUS) 2013 - 2017 Not a Single Doubt - Extremely 20 10 14 2(4) $1,744,010 Apocalyptic - 1,049,000
9 Written Tycoon (AUS) 2002 - 2007 Iglesia - Party Miss 58 23 24 3(3) $1,731,470 Tycoon Star - 230,850
10 Bivouac (AUS) 2016 - 2021 Exceed and Excel - Dazzler 45 14 15 2(2) $1,687,550 Beiwacht - 784,700
11 Zoustar (AUS) 2010 - 2014 Northern Meteor - Zouzou 63 20 22 1(1) $1,668,055 Fermoy - 157,350
12 Lonhro (AUS) 1998 - 2004 Octagonal - Shadea 14 2 4 1(2) $1,489,510 Attica - 1,389,200
13 Capitalist (AUS) 2013 - 2017 Written Tycoon - Kitalpha 66 25 29 2(2) $1,362,370 Hidden Motive - 182,875
14 Tagaloa (AUS) 2017 - 2021 Lord Kanaloa - Vasilissa 49 12 17 2(2) $1,345,420 Salty Pearl - 301,750
15 Too Darn Hot (GB) 2016 - 2020 Dubawi - Dar Re Mi 50 18 21 1(1) $1,333,680 Rivellino - 275,000
16 Maurice (JPN) 2011 - 2017 Screen Hero - Mejiro Frances 52 15 17 0(0) $1,210,537 Miewa - 199,950
17 Blue Point (IRE) 2014 - 2020 Shamardal - Scarlett Rose 44 10 14 1(1) $1,145,080 Point Barrow - 382,920
18 Trapeze Artist (AUS) 2014 - 2019 Snitzel - Treppes 36 12 16 1(2) $1,133,470 Panova - 459,995
19 Pierro (AUS) 2009 - 2013 Lonhro - Miss Right Note 30 5 7 1(1) $1,097,075 Shangri la Boy - 732,750
20 Farnan (AUS) 2017 - 2021 Not a Single Doubt - Tallow 54 13 16 0(0) $1,058,315 Ninja - 145,675

New Zealand

Leading 3YO Sires by

Rank Stallion Ccode Yof - To Stud Breeding Rnrs Wnrs Wins SW(SWins) Earnings Best Performer
1 Written Tycoon (AUS) 2002 - 2007 Iglesia - Party Miss 3 1 3 1(2) $464,400 Well Written - 462,875
2 Belardo (IRE) 2012 - 2017 Lope de Vega - Danaskaya 6 2 2 1(1) $461,080 Romanoff - 419,600
3 El Roca (AUS) 2010 - 2015 Fastnet Rock - Rubimill 11 3 4 2(2) $410,110 Lollapalooza - 236,775
4 Snitzel (AUS) 2002 - 2006 Redoute's Choice - Snippets' Lass 9 5 7 1(1) $395,835 Little Black Dress - 94,125
5 Hello Youmzain (FR) 2016 - 2021 Kodiac - Spasha 24 13 13 1(1) $313,092 Platinum Diamond - 46,600
6 Satono Aladdin (JPN) 2011 - 2018 Deep Impact - Magic Storm 9 4 6 1(1) $262,640 Magic Carpet - 117,275
7 Yes Yes Yes (AUS) 2016 - 2020 Rubick - Sin Sin Sin 3 1 2 1(1) $244,100 Affirmative Action - 239,475
8 Darci Brahma (NZ) 2002 - 2007 Danehill - Grand Echezeaux 11 1 2 1(2) $191,815 Tajana - 159,500
9 Savabeel (AUS) 2001 - 2005 Zabeel - Savannah Success 17 3 4 1(1) $185,375 Belle Cheval - 72,915
10 Tivaci (AUS) 2012 - 2017 High Chaparral - Breccia 20 5 5 0(0) $183,512 Faultless - 39,025
11 U S Navy Flag (USA) 2015 - 2019 War Front - Misty for Me 19 4 5 0(0) $177,320 War Princess - 62,000
12 Circus Maximus (IRE) 2016 - 2021 Galileo - Duntle 14 4 5 1(1) $139,220 Circus Dancer - 56,360
13 Contributer (IRE) 2010 - 2016 High Chaparral - Serisia 12 2 2 0(0) $134,165 Shoma - 76,290
14 Sweynesse (AUS) 2011 - 2016 Lonhro - Swansea 8 2 3 1(1) $126,360 Miss Starlight - 76,625
15 Time Test (GB) 2012 - 2018 Dubawi - Passage of Time 19 3 3 0(0) $123,115 Taylor Square - 20,860
16 Ribchester (IRE) 2013 - 2018 Iffraaj - Mujarah 16 5 5 0(0) $106,105 L'Aigle Noir - 21,160
17 Cool Aza Beel (NZ) 2017 - 2021 Savabeel - Cool 'n' Sassy 2 2 2 1(1) $103,460 Cool Aza Rene - 75,100
18 Ferrando (NZ) 2013 - 2020 Fast 'n' Famous - Rio Nugget 9 3 3 0(0) $97,675 Mission Complete - 41,255
19 Wootton Bassett (GB) 2008 - 2012 Iffraaj - Balladonia 7 4 4 0(0) $96,900 Quondo - 44,985
20 Lucky Vega (IRE) 2018 - 2021 Lope de Vega - Queen of Carthage 1 1 2 1(1) $86,040 That's Gold - 86,040
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