Saloon Bar becomes new stakes winner for Sessions
Five-year-old gelding Saloon Bar (Sessions), trained by Dan Morton, secured his first stakes victory in Saturday's Listed Farnley S. at Belmont. This win follows a previous placing in the Listed Belmont Newmarket. Saloon Bar improved his record to five wins from 26 starts with a 1l triumph over 3-year-old colt Jackpot Bingo (Bellevue Hill) and 3-year-old gelding Mean Machine (Maschino).
Saloon Bar salutes in the Listed Farnley S. at Belmont | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
A homebred for Oakland Park Stud, he now has earnings over $670,000 and is the fourth stakes winner for Oakland Park’s stallion Sessions, who is a Group 2-winning son of Lonhro.
First Southern Hemisphere stakes success for sire Cotai Glory
Smart Cotai Glory (GB) gelding Redstone Well (Ire) scored an emphatic first black-type victory in the Listed CTC Cup on Saturday for trainers Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald. Passed in as a yearling, the chestnut gelding was sparingly raced in Ireland before being imported last year by Highclere Racing, winning a BM88 in his first Australian preparation and placing in the Listed Canberra Cup.
“He is a pretty exciting horse and we're just taking him slowly, going through his grades,” Neasham told Racing & Sports. “We can maybe look towards The Metropolitan or something like that.”
Redstone Well marks the 14th stakes winner for his sire, and the first in the Southern Hemisphere for the Tally Ho Stud-based stallion. A five-time winner, he is out of an unraced sister to Group 3 winner Papagena Star (Ire) (Amadeus Wolf {GB}), who is the dam of Listed winner Powerful Aggie (Fr) (Protectionist (Ger).
Champion Lim’s Kosciuszko wins Singapore’s Queen Elizabeth II Cup
Trainer Dan Meagher’s wonderful old galloper Lim’s Kosciuszko (Kermadec {NZ}) won Saturday’s G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup in Singapore to take his record to 22 wins form 29 starts with earnings over S$3.5 million (AU$4 million). Eleven of his wins have been at black-type level, and he will be heading to Australia at the end of the Singapore term.
Quintet of 3-year-olds win at Hawkesbury
The first five races at Hawkesbury on Saturday were won by 3-year-olds, all who look to have bright futures.
The first over 1800 metres was won by the Brad Widdup-trained gelding Noises (Microphone) who took his record to two wins from four starts and is one of seven winners for his sire. Ridden by Andrew Adkins, he won by 1.97l from 3-year-old gelding Blazing Sword (Too Darn Hot {GB}) and 4-year-old mare Up And Comer (Press Statement). Noises was purchased by BK Racing for $375,000 from B2B Thoroughbreds at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and is the first foal of Beetobee (Jpn) (Symboli Kris S {USA}) who was a winner at Moonee Valley and is a half-sister to G3 Flower Cup winner Ho O Exelles (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}).
Rubick quinellaed the second, a 1000-metre sprint, with the Blake Ryan-trained colt Up The Front winning by 0.7l for jockey Sam Clipperton from 3-year-old gelding Ningaloo Reef with 4-year-old mare Heofon (Written By) in third. Up The Front was having his first start at three, having run fourth at his only start at two. Purchased by his trainer for $45,000 from Attunga Stud at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale. Up The Front is out of Press Club (Snippetson) who is a winning half-sister to Listed winner Sunrise Silence (Squill {USA}).
In the third race over 1000 metres, the Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald-trained 3-year-old filly Couples Retreat (NZ) (Super Seth) became the ninth winner for her sire. Coming of a second place on debut, Couples Retreat was ridden by Alysha Collett to win by 0.66l from 3-year-old gelding Balmoral (Royal Meeting {Ire}) and 3-year-old gelding Duke Of Camden (Trapeze Artist).
The fourth also went to a 3-year-old, this time the 1400-metre maiden was won by the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained gelding Gone Bananas (Hellbent) by 0.1l for jockey Jeff Penza over San Gabriel (NZ) (Savabeel) and The Three Hundred (I Am Invincible).
Not content to win four races, the 3-year-old domination continued in the fifth with the James Cummings-trained filly Pinito (Trapeze Artist) winning over 1400 metres. A rare yearling purchase by Godolphin who bought her from Widden Stud for $260,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Pinito had placed in all her four starts leading into Saturday’s win and became the 10th winner from Trapeze Artist’s second crop.
Traffic Warden gallops at Randwick
Several exciting spring contenders had a track gallop between races at Randwick on Saturday, including 3-year-old colt Traffic Warden (Street Boss {USA}), as well as Sunshine in Paris (Invader) and Lady Laguna (Overshare).
Nice win by Arcadia Park at Belmont
Peters Investments’ 3-year-old filly Arcadia Park (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) won at her third career start on Saturday at Belmont for trainer Michael Grantham and jockey William Pike. She is out of the Group 2 winner Arcadia Dream (Domesday) who is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Arcadia Queen (Pierro), Group 3 winner Arcadia Prince (Pierro) and Listed winner Arcardia Rose (Kheleyf {USA}).
Treble for Parnham at Belmont
Jockey Brad Parnham rode a treble at Belmont on Saturday aboard Eliteone (Ducimus), No Brainer (So You Think {NZ}), and Toropa (Toronado {Ire}).
Neodium goes back-to-back in Birdsville Cup family affair
The annual pilgrimage from Morphettville to the iconic Birdsville Cup Carnival proved fruitful for industry veteran Phillip Stokes, when Neodium (Terango) justified favouritism to win back-to-back Birdsville Cups. The only other return competitor from the 2023 race remarkably is trained by Stokes’ father, Ron Stokes, and Trumpsta (Starspangledbanner) improved upon last year’s performance to run second by 4.08l. Father and son trainers Matt and William Kropp each trained the next two across the line.
Keeping the celebrations local, Neodium is a homebred for Birdsville Racing president David Brook OAM, who also bred his stakes-winning full brother Terbium out of Serene Lass (Not A Single Doubt). The 142nd edition of the desert racing carnival saw 89 acceptances to 13 races, with a popular fashions on the field competition over both days of racing, traditional yabby racing, and evening entertainment from Fred Brophy's Boxing Troupe.
Bosch back on top for Bradley
Promising stayer Bosch (NZ) (Pentire {GB}) followed up his Ruakaka win a month ago with victory in Saturday’s Tai Tokerau Cup, delighting trainer Michelle Bradley. Under the steering of jockey Kelly Myers, the 6-year-old gelding tracked along patiently before unleashing in the home straight for a 4.3l victory over Fly My Wey (NZ) (Sweynesse).
“He is certainly putting his hand up for a go at one of the Cup races in the next few months, with the G3 Counties Cup a race I would like to win,” Bradley told LoveRacing.nz. “I grew up in the Pukekohe area so I’m a local girl and winning that race would be very special.”
A homebred for connections, including Whangarei Racing Club Chairman Mike Beazley, Bosch takes his record to four wins in 21 starts, with earnings over NZ$133,000.
Mishani’s new trainer gets first city win
Trainer Donna Stanbridge landed her first metropolitan winner at Doomben on Saturday thanks to a tearaway performance from 3-year-old filly Mishani Lily (Kobayashi). “I'm just a mum of three who got the opportunity of a lifetime to train all these amazing horses,” Standbridge told racenet.com.au.
“There was a lot of pressure, so I am thankful she won, there were a lot of nerves as well.” Mishani Lily was a Listed winner at two and now has five wins from nine starts.
2025 Kentucky Derby pathway released
The Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series, the select races that will determine the preference list for the 151st Kentucky Derby, is out, Churchill Downs said in a press release on Friday.
Third annual Women’s Summit panels announced
The Third Annual Horse Racing Women's Summit, set for September 25-27 in Arcadia, California, will include two panel discussions and a host of other events, the conference planners said in a release on Friday afternoon.
FanDuel TV's Christina Blacker will emcee the event which begins at the Le Meridien Hotel with a welcome address hosted by Catherine Iste, Chief Administrative Officer of the Los Angeles Chargers.
“The HRWS programming is designed to ensure every participant experiences both professional and personal growth,” said Jodie Vella-Gregory, Chair of the HRWS Logistics Committee. “With a stellar lineup of speakers, panelists, and moderators, alongside unparalleled networking opportunities, this year's event offers exponential potential for aspirational and inspirational impact.”
Palace Malice covers most mares at Darley Japan for 2024 season
Recent Japanese transplant Palace Malice (USA) covered 262 mares in his first season at Darley Japan, the stud announced.
The 2013 GI Belmont Stakes-winning son of Curlin (USA) has already enjoyed success in the Land of the Rising Sun with his progeny. Jantar Mantar (Jpn) is a winner of the G1 NHK Mile Cup this year and the 2023 G1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes the same term he was crowned Japanese Champion 2-Year-Old Colt. Palace Malice, who stood for ¥3,500,000 (€22,139) in 2024, also has the Japanese Group 3 winner Noble Roger to his credit. Seven of his eight Japanese runners have found the winner's circle.
