Tempted primed to land first Group 1 in Surround Stakes

Godolphin filly Tempted (Street Boss) will attempt to break through for a maiden top-level victory when she lines up as a short-priced favourite in Saturday’s Surround Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) at Randwick. The filly heads into the $750,000 feature three weeks after an emphatic win in the Eskimo Prince Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m), having shown similar brilliance last spring when taking out the Run To The Rose (Gr 2, 1200m) before finishing third behind colts Beiwacht (Bivouac) and Wodeton (Wootton Bassett) in the Golden Rose Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m). Maher believes the spacing between runs and her conditioning this campaign will prove crucial stepping up to 1400 metres. "We were two weeks into the [Golden Rose] last prep, up from the 1200 to 1400 metres," Maher said. "She ran near her peak first-up this time, so it's hard to run back to your peak two weeks after a peak run fresh-up. That's why we wanted the extra week. At the 1400 metres, especially in the fillies' race, she should be fine." Tempted has been installed a dominant $1.50 favourite and Maher feels she is edging closer to an elite-level breakthrough. A five-time winner in ten starts, the daughter of Street Boss (Street Cry) was runner-up to Ka Ying Rising (Shamexpress) in The Everest (Gr 1, 1200m) and third in last year’s Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m). "She’s an emerging horse that just seems to get better," Maher said. "I don't think anyone's too concerned [about her not having won a Group 1 yet], but it would be nice if it happens this prep."

Moody weighing Guineas path for pair

Peter Moody says a shortage of suitable mile races for three-year-olds has left him with little choice but to consider running Victorious Spirit (Ghaiyyath) and Bingi (Snitzel) in Saturday’s Australian Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) at Flemington as he plots a staying path for the pair. The Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained duo hold nominations for both the Group 1 feature and a Benchmark 66 contest over the same distance at Cranbourne on Friday night, where they would be asked to carry hefty weights against older opposition. Despite acknowledging the challenge of taking on elite company, Moody believes the Flemington feature may be the more logical option. "I probably don't need to be butting heads with those horses but it's the race that will take me to where I want them to be," Moody said. "I'm nearly forced to run because there's no three-year-old race at a mile on a Wednesday, or anything like that. Really there's only the Guineas, and if you want to go to 2000 metres next, it doesn't help. Victorious Spirit went well first-up and there may be worse than him there, but it would be nice to find something easier, and it would be cheaper than running in a Group 1. Hopefully he can finish in the top five. He's the right horse for a Derby, but I don’t know if he's mature enough. We've got three Derbies still left, so there's a chance he could run in one of them. The Australian Derby is the only one I haven't won, so it's an itch I want to scratch."

Ben Melham secures All-Star Mile ride aboard Treasurethe Moment

Ben Melham is poised for another autumn Group 1 opportunity after being confirmed as the replacement rider for Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express) in the All-Star Mile (Gr 1, 1600m) at Flemington on March 7. Trainer Matt Laurie locked in the booking on Tuesday, with Melham set to partner the Yulong-owned mare for the first time while regular rider Damian Lane serves a suspension. Treasurethe Moment resumed in last Saturday’s Futurity Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) at Caulfield, where she controlled the race from the front before being claimed late to finish third. Lane incurred a 17-meeting suspension for interference aboard Eternal Warrior (Extreme Warrior) in the Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) but has deferred the ban until Sunday, allowing him to fulfil commitments this weekend, including riding Sixties (Flying Artie) for Chris Waller in Saturday’s Australian Guineas. He is scheduled to return to the saddle on March 18.

Freedman eyes Everest path with Tentyris

Sam Freedman says emerging sprint star Tentyris (Street Boss) still has plenty of ground to make up on Hong Kong champion Ka Ying Rising but hasn’t ruled out a potential clash later this year, possibly in The Everest. Freedman was left in awe after watching Ka Ying Rising’s record-breaking Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (Gr 1, 1400m) victory at Sha Tin on Sunday, but remains hopeful his three-year-old can continue progressing through the ranks. “He was outstanding; from a racing fan’s perspective, he’s just a marvel to watch,” Freedman told Racing.com of Ka Ying Rising. “We’ve got to keep improving to entertain the thought of taking him on, but I think it’s good for racing; you do want to aim for the stars. At the moment, he would well and truly have our measure I would say on where they sit, but we’re hopeful. He’s a three year old, our horse, making good steps forward, if he continues on an upward trajectory and we were to meet in a race like The Everest towards the end of the year. That would be exciting, I think, for all fans but we’re not getting ahead of ourselves, we’ve got a fair way to go but hopefully he keeps going in the right direction.” Tentyris will be nominated for both the Newmarket Handicap (Gr 1, 1200m) at Flemington and the Challenge Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) at Randwick on March 7, with Mark Zahra set to reunite with the colt after missing his last start through injury.

Tropicus set for William Reid after Oakleigh Plate triumph

Tentyris’ stablemate Tropicus (Too Darn Hot) is likely to remain in Melbourne for his next assignment after claiming last Saturday’s Oakleigh Plate (Gr 1, 1100m) at Caulfield, with the William Reid Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) on March 21 shaping as his next target. Freedman said the tough sprinter had come through the run in excellent order and was ready to step up to weight-for-age company. “He’s pulled up super, he’s a big, tough horse,” Freedman told Racing.com. “The plan with him will most likely be the William Reid but we’ll have a chat with Kia Ora over the next 24 to 48 hours. I think he’s really good on that fresh side, he’s very good at Caulfield and watching the race over, through the line, he wasn’t stopping, so I don’t think the 1200 metres would be a bother for him, but obviously it would be a much stronger race with a horse like Jimmysstar lining up in it. He’s got to go to that weight for age level, but he deserves a shot at a race like that now.”

Guest House Golden Slipper-bound

Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) third Guest House (Home Affairs) is set to head straight towards the Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) on March 21, with trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr opting to give the colt time to recover following his tough performance at Caulfield. The colt closed well to take third behind Streisand (Magnus) and Closer To Free (Street Boss) in the Group 1 after racing keenly throughout and encountering traffic early in the straight. Price revealed the colt felt the effects of the run in the immediate aftermath but has since improved. “He was a bit jaded [on Monday], a bit pooped and he’s got a bit to learn, obviously,” Price told Racing.com. “We’ve got four weeks until the Slipper. He was much brighter and better this morning. We might have a fiddle with the gear on him, but I would say four weeks is good for him, we’ll get a plan and hopefully get him into the Slipper.” Connections do not plan to give Guest House another race day outing before the Golden Slipper, although a lead-up trial remains a possibility as the team fine-tunes preparations. The colt is currently rated a $18 chance in Slipper markets.

Autumn Glow allocated 56.5kg for Doncaster

Unbeaten mare Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) has been allotted 56.5 kilograms for April’s $4 million Doncaster Mile (Gr 1, 1600m) at Randwick. The Chris Waller-trained daughter of The Autumn Sun (Redoute’s Choice) will attempt to extend her winning sequence to ten in the April 4 handicap and has been given the same weight Winx (Street Cry) carried to victory in 2015, which remains the weight-carrying benchmark for a four-year-old mare. Only Ceolwulf (Tavistock) (59kg), Gringotts (Per Incanto) (58.5kg), Sir Delius (Frankel) (58kg), Antino (Redwood) (57.5kg), Buckaroo (Fastnet Rock) (57kg) and Pericles (Street Boss) (57kg) have been allocated more weight. Since 2000, just three other four-year-old mares have contested the race with 56.5kg or more and none finished in the top ten. Autumn Glow is bidding to become the tenth horse and second mare to complete the Epsom–Doncaster double in the same season, and her impost is 2 kilograms more than she carried to victory in the Epsom Handicap (Gr 1, 1600m). The only mare to achieve the double is Winx. A total of 139 entries were received for the Doncaster, with 31 runners allotted the 49kg minimum, including Group 1 winners Apocalyptic (Extreme Choice), Ole Dancer (Ole Dancer), Vinrock (I Am Invincible) and Nepotism (Brutal).

Martin team set to Star on Launceston Cup day

Star Thoroughbreds will have a strong presence at Wednesday’s Launceston Cup meeting despite not contesting the $250,000 Group 3 feature. Denise Martin’s familiar purple and white silks will be carried by leading chances in four races across the card at Mowbray. Headline act Sanniya (Stratosphere) is a short-priced favourite for the Barry Campbell stable in the Vamos Stakes (Gr 3, 1400m). The three-year-old has won six of her seven starts and will be having her first attempt beyond 1200 metres, with Craig Newitt to ride. A seven-time winner from eight starts at the track, Durazzo (Needs Further) lines up in the Hellova Street Stakes (Listed, 1600m), where he will again meet Steparty (Artie Schiller) after finishing narrowly behind him in the Thomas Lyons Stakes (Listed, 1400m) earlier this month. Durazzo drew the outside gate of six. "He seems to enjoy Mowbray even more than Hobart and he loves 1600 metres, so I think the owners are keen for another contest with Steparty to see if he can turn it around," Martin said. Meanwhile, Durrazo’s brother Mazzini contests the $125,000 3YO Classic (1200m) as an odds-on chance. The gelding is looking to rebound after his four-race winning streak ended when fourth as a $1.16 favourite in the Magic Millions 3YO/4YO Classic (1200m) at Hobart earlier this month. Martin said subsequent blood tests revealed slightly low iron levels. “Since that time he’s been really good,” she said. Mazzini has drawn barrier two with Kelvin Sanderson to ride.

Zoustar’s Fairway To Heaven breaks through at Kembla

Fairway To Heaven, a well-related three-year-old filly by champion sire Zoustar (Northern Meteor), delivered a timely pedigree update ahead of the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale with an impressive maiden win at Kembla Grange on Tuesday. Trained by Michael Freedman, Fairway To Heaven was heavily supported in the 1000-metre maiden and justified that confidence with a dominant on-speed display under Tommy Berry, drawing clear in the straight to score by 2.3 lengths at her third start. Bred and retained by John Camilleri’s Fairway Thoroughbreds, Fairway To Heaven is the second winner from stakes-winning Lonhro (Octagonal) mare Taraayef, who was purchased by James Harron Bloodstock on behalf of Fairway Thoroughbreds at the 2021 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale during the Shadwell dispersal for $1.2 million. Her success provides a significant boost for Taraayef’s current yearling colt by Anamoe (Street Boss), who will be offered as Lot 138 in the Segenhoe Stud draft at next month’s Inglis Easter sale. Taraayef produced another Zoustar filly last spring, and was subsequently covered by Extreme Choice (Not A Single Doubt).

Kambula Stud to present quality draft at Inglis Premier

South Australian nursery Kambula Stud will present its entire 2026 yearling crop at this week’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, marking a significant strategic shift for the family-run operation.

Traditionally a supporter of the Magic Millions Adelaide sale, Kambula has opted to take a draft of eight yearlings to Melbourne, with principal David Toole describing it as the strongest consignment the farm has ever assembled for a single auction.

“I’ve been going to sales for 50 years and selling horses for almost as long – this is the best draft of horses I’ve ever taken to a sale,” Toole said.

The draft features progeny of high-profile young and proven sires, and among the headline lots is Lot 557, an Anamoe filly out of I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) mare Chianti. A half-sister to Group 2 placegetter Galo Nero (Wootton Bassett), the filly represents the first crop of the nine-time Group 1 winner, whose yearlings have sold up to $1.1 million this season.

“The mare has only had one other foal and he’s won half a million in prize money,” Toole said. “She’s very strong – she’s got a massive girth and hindquarter. To me she looks like a two-year-old. I’m a breeding rights holder in Anamoe and I’m very excited, both by the results he’s had in the ring and by the fact they are going to the best stables in Australia.”

Kambula will also offer two yearlings by Darley’s emerging sire Bivouac (Exceed And Excel). Lot 47 is a colt from the Tavistock (Montjeu) mare Eyes Of Love, a daughter of Group 2 winner Lovetrista and the dam of two winners from two to race, while Lot 483 is a grey filly out of the Lonhro mare Argentado, closely related to emerging Godolphin mare Tonkin (Blue Point).

Toole believes the draft’s standout physical may be Lot 492, a Shamus Award (Snitzel) colt out of Attessa (Belong To Me), herself a daughter of VRC Oaks (Gr 1, 2500m) and Thousand Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Arborea (Imperial Prince) and the dam of Group 3 winner High Seas Beauty (High Chaparral).

“He’s developed into a beautiful colt and I absolutely love him,” Toole said. “He’ll need a bit of time, but on type he’s going to sell himself.”

Other highlights include a Harry Angel colt (Lot 500) from the family of Group 3 winner Sweet Scandal (Sepoy) and a Stay Inside (Snitzel) colt (Lot 386) who is a half-brother to stakes-placed filly Swiftie Harriet.

Toole said the decision to target Premier reflects confidence in both the draft and the Melbourne market. “I think we’ve got horses right across the spectrum,” he said. “You can be rewarded at all levels of this sale.”

Taige Weir launches training career

Taige Weir is set to saddle her first runners in the coming days after being granted a restricted trainer’s licence by Racing Victoria (RV). The 26-year-old daughter of disqualified trainer Darren Weir confirmed to clients that she has secured permission to train from stables at Ballarat. Weir has already had horses compete in jump-outs and trials in recent months and could make her race day debut as early as Friday at Kyneton with Vivid Blooms (Invader) and No Greater Vue (Puissance De Lune) both nominated. Weir brings a strong academic and industry background to the role. She holds a Bachelor of Agribusiness from Marcus Oldham College and has gained experience in prominent racing and breeding operations, including the Chris Waller stable and Yulong. In a message to clients, Weir said she had been working towards the milestone for several years. “I want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has supported me and helped me get to this point,” she said. “After many years working across a range of roles in the industry, I feel ready to take this next step and train in my own right at Ballarat. My aim is to build a professional, hands-on stable and develop horses with attention to detail and patience.” Weir confirmed she will continue operating her pre-training business alongside her new venture and will introduce horses into work gradually under the conditions of her restricted licence.

No New Zealand Derby for Ohope Wins as star filly moved to Waller

Last Saturday’s New Zealand Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Ohope Wins (Ocean Park) will continue her career in Australia, with connections confirming she will transfer to the Sydney stable of champion trainer Chris Waller next week. The filly, trained in New Zealand by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, will therefore bypass next week’s New Zealand Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) for which she was a $1.70 favourite, and instead target the Vinery Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) at Rosehill on March 28, followed by the Australian Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) at Randwick on April 11. A recent acquisition by Yulong Investments, Ohope Wins has been installed a $3 favourite for both Sydney features following her dominant Oaks victory at Ellerslie last Saturday. The decision to skip the Derby leaves stablemate and fellow Yulong-owned Ocean Park (Thorn Park) filly Autumn Glory as the new $3.50 favourite for the Group 1 on March 7.

Entries open for 2026 National Online Yearling Sale

Entries are now open for NZB’s 2026 National Online Yearling Sale, which will again be conducted on Gavelhouse Plus. The digital catalogue will be available to view from March 31, with bidding to open on April 10 and close from 6pm (NZT) on April 14. Graduates of the sale are eligible for nomination to the lucrative Karaka Millions Series, offering buyers access to the 2027 $1 million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (RL, 1200m) and the 2028 $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (RL, 1600m), as well as the NZB Mega Maiden Bonus Series. The online sale has already produced notable racetrack results, headlined by unbeaten Group 1 winner and Karaka Millions 3YO heroine Well Written (Written Tycoon). Well Written was purchased for $80,000 by Stephen Marsh Racing and Dylan Johnson Bloodstock from Brighthill Farm’s 2024 draft and has won all five starts to date, earning more than $1.4 million in prize money. Other graduates include Listed winner De Armas (Ardrossan) and Group 2 winner Hitabell (Embellish). NZB said several high-quality yearlings have already been confirmed for the 2026 catalogue, with the sale providing a cost-effective platform for breeders and vendors. Entries close on March 18, with one conformation photograph required per lot by March 24.

Well-trialled Dreamtime set to debut

Promising juvenile Dreamtime (Time Test) will make her race day debut at Pukekohe on Wednesday, with the Simon and Katrina Alexander-trained filly bringing eye-catching trial form behind star two-year-old Lara Antipova (Russian Revolution). Dreamtime remains the only horse to have beaten Lara Antipova in a public hit-out, defeating the filly in an 800-metre Ellerslie trial last October. That formline has since strengthened, with the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained youngster going on to win all three starts, including the Wakefield Challenge Stakes (Gr 2, 1100m) and Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m), and she now heads towards the Sistema Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) as a dominant favourite. The Alexanders have taken confidence from that performance. “She wasn’t screwed down when she put in that nice trial against Lara Antipova,” Katrina Alexander said. “It’s pretty good form in that respect.” Dreamtime had been scheduled to trial at Tauranga on Tuesday before the juvenile heats were abandoned, prompting connections to instead roll the dice at the races. “Whether she’s fit enough I’m not too sure, but she has drawn nicely [three] so I think we’ll go ahead,” Alexander said. The Te Awamutu-based trainers have already nominated the filly for next month’s Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m), with Wednesday’s outing set to shape whether that Trentham target remains on track.

Aksil out to bounce back in Derby

Katrina Alexander is hopeful Aksil (Ace High) can bounce back in next week’s New Zealand Derby despite a testing outing when sixth in the Avondale Guineas (Gr 2, 2100m), believing circumstances on the day contributed to the gelding’s below-par showing. Alexander said the dual winner became unsettled well before the race, which led to him racing closer to the speed than planned. “He was up there four hours before his race and he got sick of the environment, it was quite clear he was above himself,” she said. “He left the barrier and got himself way handier than we intended and he took a bit to settle after that. He pulled up fine, it was just the circumstance of the day with a green horse.” Despite the setback, connections remain keen to press on towards the Derby, with Alexander confident there is still improvement to come. “All connections are keen to continue down the nominated path at this stage,” she said. “We still have faith in the horse, he just needs to be ridden a bit colder, and we will make a couple of gear alterations. At home he is still a lovely, relaxed horse. He could probably cop a bit more work being dished at him, I may be a bit guilty there that he is still a bit above himself. I think we have still got some improvement that we can make out of it and we won’t quite let go of things yet.”

Dee back with quality Champions Day book

Melbourne-based expatriate Mick Dee will return to Ellerslie for Champions Day next week with a strong book of rides across the feature programme. The 29-year-old enjoyed a standout result at last year’s inaugural meeting, winning the New Zealand Derby aboard Willydoit (Tarzino) as well as the Sunline Vase (Gr 3, 2100m) on Island Life (Vadamos). Dee is set to partner Aksil in this year’s Derby, along with Belle Cheval (Savabeel) in the NZB Kiwi (Listed, 1500m), Lara Antipova in the Sistema Stakes, Waitak (Proisir) in the Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m), Grail Seeker (Iffraaj) in the Dubai Classic (Gr 2, 1400m) and Espionage (Zoustar) in the King’s Plate (Gr 3, 1200m). The most favoured of Dee’s rides is unbeaten filly Lara Antipova. “I’m really looking forward to riding Lara Antipova in the big two-year-old race, she looks the best of that age-group,” Dee said. “I always enjoy coming back home to ride and it’s great to have such a solid book on what’s become New Zealand’s biggest race day.”

New Zealand Derby partners with HKJC World Pool

A major global wagering initiative will headline one of New Zealand racing’s most historic contests next month, with the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s (HKJS) World Pool announced as the new naming rights sponsor of the New Zealand Derby. The 2400-metre classic for three-year-olds will be run as the HKJC World Pool New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie on March 7 as part of the second Champions Day meeting. Entain Australia and New Zealand has partnered with the HKJC and New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) to integrate the Derby into HKJC’s global commingled pools, allowing customers from up to 25 racing jurisdictions to bet into a single international pool. World Pool featured at last year’s inaugural Champions Day and returns in 2026, operating across five premier races on the programme. Entain ANZ chief executive Andrew Vouris said the naming rights arrangement recognised the impact of World Pool’s involvement. “It is fitting to have HKJC World Pool as the naming sponsor for the iconic New Zealand Derby,” Vouris said. “Having World Pool in action at Ellerslie takes global engagement with the meeting to another level.” HKJC chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said New Zealand’s inclusion had strengthened the platform’s international reach. “New Zealand’s first year as part of the World Pool has been a tremendous success,” Engelbrecht-Bresges said. “We are delighted to see our collaboration with our New Zealand partners continue to strengthen.”

My Wish tackles Romantic Warrior in Hong Kong Gold Cup

Six runners will contest Sunday’s HK$13 million Hong Kong Gold Cup (Gr 1, 2000m) at Sha Tin, where Romantic Warrior (Acclamation) bids to complete a domestic Triple Crown. Among the challengers is the Mark Newnham-trained My Wish (Flying Artie), who opposes Romantic Warrior and Voyage Bubble (Deep Field) after midfield finishes behind the pair in the Steward’s Cup (Gr 1, 1600m) and Hong Kong Mile (Gr 1, 1600m) respectively. The four-year-old, who won twice this season in the Celebration Cup Handicap (Gr 3, 1400m) and Sha Tin Trophy Handicap (Gr 2, 1600m), will be partnered by Hugh Bowman. The Gold Cup marks his first start at 2000 metres since his narrow defeat in last year’s HK$26 million Hong Kong Derby, when he finished a short-head second to Cap Ferrat (Snitzel). “He’s certainly on the way up,” Bowman said. “There’s some very strong opposition, but I think he’ll make his presence felt.” Bowman partnered My Wish in a turf trial at Sha Tin on February 20, finishing behind Voyage Bubble and Romantic Warrior in 1:38.84.

Numbers keeps climbing as Hong Kong Classic Cup takes spotlight

Imported four-year-old Numbers (Tivaci) will bid to confirm his status as one of Hong Kong’s emerging stars in Sunday’s HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) at Sha Tin. Trained by Frankie Lor, last year’s Queensland Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) runner-up has won two of his three local starts, including a decisive two-length victory in the Centenary Vase Handicap (Gr 3, 1800m) earlier this month. That performance has installed him among the leading contenders for the second leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series. Jockey Derek Leung, who partnered Numbers in a recent gallop, believes the imposing gelding is still on the rise. “He’s slightly improving,” Leung said. “He’s a stayer and he needs a few runs, but I think it’s a good time to go to the Classic Cup.” Leung said the 100-rater’s size can make him unsettled in the barriers, but regular gate practice has helped. Lor, who has prepared six winners this month, expressed satisfaction with his charge’s progress. “He’s much better now and more relaxed. Further distances are no problem for him,” he said. The Classic Cup serves as the penultimate leg of the series before the HK$26 million Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on March 22.