Marhoona set for Lightning Stakes task

The Michael Freedman-trained Marhoona (Snitzel) will bid to land a second Group 1 when she tackles Saturday's Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (Gr 1, 1000m) at Flemington. The three-year-old filly scored her first in last year's Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) and, unlike many to have taken out that juvenile feature since 2012, has since won another stakes race, namely the Heritage Stakes (Listed, 1000m) on her first start as a three-year-old back in September. A third placing in the Roman Consul Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) followed on October 11 and Marhoona has yet to hit the track since, with two barrier trials at Randwick for a win and a fourth placing ticking the filly over heading into this weekend's contest. “She’s been very lightly-raced and well looked after and so she certainly hasn’t been over-taxed and I think she’s come back in really good order this time around,” Freedman told Racing.com. “She’s been down there since late last week. Obviously, she hasn’t been up the straight before but I’ve been really happy with how she’s been going so we figured it was worth giving her a crack. We were battling a little with a foot last spring. She won first-up and then was a little off her game second-up so we decided to pull the pin and give her the time to let the foot grow out properly and then give her a nice steady build-up to the autumn. With these fillies, there are not easy to place. She’s already a Group 1 winner so she’s liable for penalties in most of the races so three-year-olds have a reasonable record in the Lightning and if she runs well, she might stay down for the Newmarket under handicap conditions.”

Waller nominates heavyweights for Expressway clash

Chris Waller could have three of his biggest stable stars line up in Saturday's Expressway Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) at Randwick. Joliestar (Zoustar), Angel Capital (Harry Angel) and Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel) were among ten entries for the Group 2, but Waller is still weighing up which of the trio will take their place. "We have got three ace cards for the Expressway, including Angel Capital and Joliestar, so I don't want to run all three," Waller said. "I want to try to hold one back. I don't know which one, possibly Lady Shenandoah. She could run in the mares' race, the Triscay [Stakes], or run the following week in the Millie Fox." Lady Shenandoah could run in the Triscay Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) alongside Lazzura (Snitzel), and the pair took part in exhibition gallops at Randwick last Saturday with stablemates Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun), Aeliana (Castelvecchio), Lindermann (Lonhro) and Trinity College (Dubawi). "The day out, the hot weather, the trip home, they've been away from the freed bin for six hours. It's all part of tightening them up," Waller said. "It just saves the hard workouts and it saves getting behind. It's easier to be well ahead. You just can't play catch up with horses, so being well prepared and exhibition gallops show everything has gone to plan and there have been no setbacks. If I don't give them an exhibition gallop, it's either a rushed prep or I just didn't have time to do it how I wanted to do it. It gives them a chance to have a bit of a sweat, break the skin. Then next week they'll come back and they'll be picture perfect."

McDonald still dreaming big with Rosberg

Clinton McDonald is still of the belief that Rosberg (Deep Field) can make his mark at the highest level, and is eyeing up a return with the colt. The son of Deep Field (Northern Meteor) created a huge impression on debut in September when taking out The Valley's McKenzie Stakes (Listed, 1200m) by a half-length, but then disappointed when a tailed off last of nine in the Danehill Stakes (Gr 2, 1100m) on his only start since. McDonald is eyeing up a return in either the Zeditave Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m) against his own age group, or stepping up to the Oakleigh Plate (Gr 1, 1100m). "He runs on the 21st [of February] here at Caulfield, there's either the Zeditave or the Oakleigh Plate," McDonald said. "It's probably most likely we can't get into the Oakleigh Plate, so it'll be the Zeditave." Rosberg finished third in a Cranbourne jumpout on Monday, and McDonald feels he has returned a more mature horse this preparation. "He's not such a kid, he's a bit more mature now in the way that he behaves," McDonald said. "We can't fault him and he's done everything right. He's an impressive colt to look at, he's got a big motor and we know what's there, it's just a matter of getting him 100 per cent on raceday."

Xtra Rush continues good form

The Richard Laming-trained Xtra Rush (Xtravagant) extended his unbeaten record to four on Monday when taking out a Benchmark 66 (1800m) at Caulfield Heath. The lightly-raced five-year-old gelding had landed three on the bounce in his first preparation and made a winning return here with a narrow 0.1 lengths success over Single Choice (Anders) with a further 2.2 lengths back to So Suave (Zed) in third. “A lot of his wins have been pretty gutsy, he’s just got a real will to win, and he showed that again today,” Laming told Racing.com. “He’s going to get further as well, he’s already won over 2000 metres. We’ll just go through his grades, get him out to 2400 metres, and see what we get.” Having been a five-year-old before making his debut, Laming admitted Xtra Rush had problems early but that patience was now rewarding his owners. “He was very small, we just had to wait for him to grow, and every time I put pressure on him, he went to water,” Laming said. “We just had to wait, and luckily the owners were patient enough to put up with my patience, and now he’s rewarding them.”

Caulfield Heath double for Brown

Hong Kong-bound jockey Ethan Brown continued his good run of form with a second Caulfield double inside three days, riding Yes Yoshi (Yes Yes Yes) to a dominant win in the third race of the day before a last-stride success aboard She's An Artist (Trapeze Artist) two races later. Yes Yoshi was sent off the $1.65 favourite in the Stow Storage Solutions Handicap (1200m) and proved 1.3 lengths too strong for Savitri (So You Think). The Charlotte Littlefield-trained three-year-old was making it two wins from as many starts after a debut win at Sale in track record time for the 1100 metres. "He's a big baby at the minute, but for him to win like that and show that sort of ability as immature as he is is quite exciting going forward," Brown said. Meanwhile, She's A Hustler was also sent off an odds-on favourite at $1.50 for the Benchmark 78 (1100m) but was made to work hard to beat Excess (Snitzel) by 0.1 lengths after having been hampered at the start. "It's hard being back and wide around this track and I know she's only won by the barest or margins, but there was a lot more merit [to the win] than it looked," he said. "She's on the way up. She's a very nice horse going forward and [there's] no better way to kick off your prep."

Legarto set for swansong before Magic Millions sale

After returning to her best form with a fourth Group 1 win in Saturday’s Herbie Dyke Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) at Te Rapa, Legarto (Proisir) is likely to have just one more start before she comes in the hammer at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale later this year.

The six-year-old daughter of Proisir (Choisir) had gone winless for almost a year when she repeated her 2024 Herbie Dyke Stakes win with a dogged victory over Victorian raider Kingswood (Roaring Lion), handing her jockey Opie Bosson with his 100th elite win and trainers Ken and Bev Kelso with their 15th.

That took her record from 23 starts to 11 wins and stakes of almost $2.6 million, with earlier highlights being the New Zealand 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) and Australian Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) as a three-year-old. She was also placed second, third or fourth in another six Group 1 races, three of those in races immediately leading up to Saturday’s win.

Ken Kelso reported that Legarto came through her weekend exertions in excellent order, setting her up for the Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) at Ellerslie on Champions Day.

“We put her out in the paddock after getting home from the races, but it took a while to catch her when I went out to put her cover on later on,” Kelso said.

“That tells me she’s taken no harm from the race, so the Bonecrusher is the obvious next target for her.

“Beyond that we’ll have to talk things through. She’s rising seven and we’ve already decided this is her final preparation, but if she was to go well at Ellerslie we could perhaps look at a race like the Australian Cup.”

Philip Brown, speaking on behalf of the 12-strong ownership group that includes the Kelsos, confirmed that Legarto will go to auction at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast in May.

“We’ve already arranged for her to go to Brian Nutt at Attunga Stud to be prepared for the sale,” Brown said.

“Being a partnership, public auction is the proper way to realise her true worth. As a multiple Group 1 winner including one in Australia, she’s obviously a valuable mare, so it’s going to be an interesting exercise.

“That was probably the most emotional win of all on Saturday – to see her bounce back after some had begun to doubt her, Opie getting his 100 and another big win for Ken and Bev – it was special.”

Oaks plan for Autumn Glory

Late bloomer Autumn Glory (Ocean Park) has shown the benefit of careful handling with her emergence as a serious Classic contender. Bred and raced by the Smithies family under their Monovale Holdings banner, the Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained daughter of Ocean Park (Thorn Park) rounded off powerfully at Te Rapa on Saturday to claim the Waikato Guineas (Gr 2, 2000m). Autumn Glory started at $51 and her upset victory has resulted in her being promoted to a $4 second favourite for the New Zealand Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m). The filly has now won two of her three starts following a debut success at Ruakaka a month ago, and in between times was unplaced on a heavy track in the Oaks Prelude (Listed, 1800m) at New Plymouth. “We were very, very patient with her and sometimes you can get a bit stressed when you see all the spring three-year-olds coming out and performing, but if you give every horse the time needed, they can certainly do the job,” Max Smithies said. Autumn Glory is the last foal of Venus’s Dream (Viscount), who was purchased by Monovale out of Sledmere Stud’s draft for $15,000 at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. The late Viscount (Quest For Fame) mare was a half-sister to the two-time Group 3 winner and dual Telegraph (Gr 1, 1200m) placegetter Spring Heat (More Than Ready). “She was an older girl and is unfortunately no longer with us, but she did a great job,” Smithies said. “Chris Waller bought a couple of her Ocean Parks and Loveplanet [three wins] was quite a handy horse in Sydney.”

Doctor Askar on the road to recovery

Doctor Askar (Derryn) is having a few days of rest in the paddock following a float incident on Saturday that resulted in his late scratching from the Herbie Dyke Stakes at Te Rapa. The gelding looked a strong contender in the $700,000 feature following his last start heroics in the Thorndon Mile (Gr 2, 1600m), and trainer Joanne Moss was excited to head north to give her charge his first tilt at elite-level. However, it wasn’t to be, with Doctor Askar becoming fractious in the float enroute to Hamilton and following a veterinary inspection on course he was withdrawn from the contest. “There were all those road works and we came around a corner, and he has scrambled. When he got off [the float] he was sore and that is why I got him vetted,” Moss said. “We got him home and I will give him a couple of days and see how it all goes. I will let him chill out because he has had ten hours on the truck. At the moment he is wandering around the paddock, is eating and he is happy as. He is just a little bit stiff and a little bit sore.” Moss felt it was the opportune time to step Doctor Askar up over ground and in Group 1 company, and while disappointed to be denied that chance over the weekend, she is choosing to take a positive outlook, believing there are plenty of opportunities ahead for the five-year-old. “It was just the right time to do it but never mind, you have just got to take the good with the bad,” she said. “You have got to look on the bright side, we have still got a horse. He is still learning, I don’t think he still really knows what he is doing. He just gives me that impression, he is still playing around a bit too much.”

UK: Too Darn Hot offerings headline Tattersalls' southern hemisphere session

Tattersalls Online has announced a dedicated southern hemisphere session within its Online February Sale, which will be held on February 17 and 18 in collaboration with Inglis Digital.

The session, which is now available to view on the Tattersalls Online website, marks the third collaboration between Tattersalls Online and Inglis Digital and aims to continue to strengthen the connection between the northern and southern hemisphere markets.

The upcoming southern hemisphere session will feature a select draft from The Castlebridge Consignment, headlined by a rare opportunity to acquire southern hemisphere-bred progeny by Darley shuttler Too Darn Hot (Dubawi).

The sire of four individual Group 1 winners, including champion two-year-old and multiple Group 1 winner Broadsiding, the success of Too Darn Hot's progeny has been particularly pronounced in the southern hemisphere, where his first crop, now four-year-olds, included ten individual stakes winners at a clip of 13 per cent stakes winners to runners. His current two-year-old crop in the southern hemisphere has produced two stakes winning juveniles from just seven runners to date.

Among the highlights of the session is a three-in-one package featuring the young mare Moraless (Churchill), offered together with her southern hemisphere-bred weanling colt by Too Darn Hot and in foal on a southern hemisphere cover to last season’s champion first-season sire, Starman (Dutch Art). Moraless is a half-sister to Moonee Valley Gold Cup (Gr 2, 2500m) winner Hunting Horn (Camelot) and Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed juvenile David Livingston (Galileo). She is out of Mora Bai (Indian Ridge), a half-sister to champion sire High Chaparral (Sadler’s Wells).

Also to be offered in the session is a September-born weanling filly by Too Darn Hot out of the proven black type-producing mare Belle Isle (Pastoral Pursuits), dam of Group 3-winning two-year-old Abel Handy (Arcano).

Having stood the 2024 southern hemisphere season at Darley’s Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket, only 32 foals by Too Darn Hot are currently recorded on the Australian Stud Book from the 2025 foaling season.

“This southern hemisphere session offers a genuinely unique opportunity," Tattersalls Online sales manager Katherine Sheridan said. "Too Darn Hot’s 2024 southern hemisphere foals are exceptionally limited in number and when combined with pedigrees of this quality, the appeal is clear. We are delighted to once again collaborate with Inglis Digital and to present a session that we expect will attract strong international interest.”

Inglis bloodstock CEO Sebastian Hutch added: “The collaborations with Tattersalls Online are a product of conversations that we have been having with the team at Tattersalls for a number of years and in the instances that we have executed them, they have generated good engagement and a number of excellent results.

“Katherine raised the possibility of this opportunity last month and we were very keen for Inglis Digital to be involved as we feel we can add significant value to the process. Access to Too Darn Hot was particularly limited in his fifth season because he was domiciled in England, and as such, the is a real scarcity value to these foals, particularly when analysis of who holds the balance of the crop shows that it is very unlikely that many of his offspring will be available at public auction in Australia either as weanlings in 2026 or as yearlings in 2027.”

The draft will be available for inspection prior to the sale and appointments can be made by contacting Bill Dwan or Paddy Diamond of The Castlebridge Consignment, whose details are available on the Tattersalls Online website. Full catalogue details can be viewed online at www.tattersallsonline.com.