Yulong colts ready for Coolmore Stud Stakes
Yulong will have two exciting colts, Growing Empire (Zoustar) and First Settler (Written Tycoon), run in Saturday’s G1 Coolmore Stud S. a known stallion making race. “He (Growing Empire) wasn't as mature as First Settler,” Yulong's Sam Fairgray told the Herald Sun.
“He was an Easter yearling, but he just had the right physical makeup that we thought there might be something there (with him). But you don't know until they get on the track. It is interesting with the trainers … they do tend to find out very early (if the signs are good).
Sam Fairgray | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I remember David Eustace calling me about Growing Empire. He said, ‘We think he is going to be very, very good'. It was the July before he actually turned two. He was in training at (Maher's) Ballarat (stables). They said, ‘We are going to send him to Sydney because we think he is going to be a very, very good colt.”
Parr keen for El Castello ride
Jockey Josh Parr understands the privilege of getting to ride in the G1 Victoria Derby when he rides El Castello (Castelvecchio) on Saturday. “I'm respectful of my position and how privileged I am to be able to go there and perform in a race like the Derby and be on a chance to win it,” Parr told racing.com.
“The most impressive part of this preparation has been his Gloaming win and his Spring Champion win and the fact that he's been able to put a field away so impressively. I think that's been just the making of him, physically and mentally.
“Henlein had its chance to beat us on Saturday. He had the perfect run behind us and put up a really good challenge and wasn't able to get past us. So it was just a really good, tough performance by him and an exciting time for me.”
Atishu ready for redemption
Group 1-winning mare Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) will be seeking redemption in Saturday’s G1 Empire Rose S. at Flemington after finishing runner-up in the race last year to Pride of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai). “She finished second in this race last year and ran really well that day and made up a lot of ground in the straight after Pride of Jenni split the field,” Go Racing General Manager Matt Allnutt told Loveracing.nz.
“Her last run for third was very good and we think she has been building nicely. She has got the right type of form going into the race tomorrow. The draw (9) is a bit awkward, but James McDonald is in the saddle and he has won a Group 1 on her before at this time of year.
“She came through her last race really well and she galloped on Tuesday morning at Flemington and her work was super. She looks to be peaking nicely for Saturday’s race and Chris (Waller) is more than happy.”
Toeroek chasing first Group 1 in Empire Rose
John Letts medallist Jake Toeroek will ride See You In Heaven (Divine Prophet) in the Empire Rose S on Saturday as he chases his first Group 1 win. “To win a Group 1 for the Jolly family would be very special,” Toeroek told racingsa.com.au.
Jake Toeroek | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“To be honest I think this is the best we’ve had her, she hasn’t had any issues with her feet this time around. She felt really good this Thursday morning and goes over in great order. She’s not in great at the weights against some of these top mares in a genuine Group 1 race, but you’ve got to be in it to win it.”
Bowman sitting on 99 Group 1 wins
Jockey Hugh Bowman might be the second jockey this spring, after James McDonald, to pass the elusive century of Group 1 wins as he heads into Saturday on 99. “I've won three Derbies, I've won the Coolmore, I haven't won the Empire Rose, but I think I've won every other race on the card,” Bowman told racing.com.
He rides Kimochi (Brave Smash {Jpn}) in the G1 Empire Rose, Keeneland (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) in the G1 Victoria Derby and Bodyguard (I Am Invincible) in the G1 Coolmore Stud S.
Onesmoothoperator to be reinspected after issue found
Racing Victoria vets completed their inspections on the Melbourne Cup runners on Friday. Onesmoothoperator (USA) (Dialed In {USA}) was found to have a cut to his right-hind heel bulb and could not be passed suitable to race. He will be reinspected on Saturday.
Onesmoothoperator (USA) | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Willie Mullins trained Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) and Absurde (Fr) (Fastnet Rock) both passed, as did Bendigo Cup winner Sea King (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Japanese raider Warp Speed (Jpn) (Drefong {USA}) and Chris Waller trained Kinesiology (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}). Athabascan (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}), The Map (Alpine Eagle), Trust In You (NZ) (Sweynesse) and Waltham (GB) (Roaring Lion {USA}) were all cleared, and Interpretation (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was also cleared after being asked for a reinspection the day prior.
Depth to Inglis Digital November (Early) Online Sale
The dam of and a sister to Group 1 sprinter Oscar’s Fortune, mares in foal on desirable covers and an unreserved dispersal from a respected bloodstock operator are among the highlights of the Inglis Digital November (Early) Online Sale. Oscar Award is offered in foal to Capitalist, carrying a three-quarter sibling to Oscar’s Fortune.
Another feature of the catalogue is a 13-strong unreserved dispersal from Jen Campin Bloodstock. Among the dispersal is the Group 2 winner Gold Bracelet (Pins) in foal to leading sire Savabeel.
In total the November (Early) catalogue of 308 entries consists of 180 racehorses (78 race fillies), 53 racehorse shares, 36 broodmares, 34 yearlings, four unraced stock and one 2-year-old.
McEvoy keen for Golden Eagle ride on Joliestar
Jockey Kerrin McEvoy thinks Joliestar (Zoustar) is the deserved favourite for Saturday’s Golden Eagle. “She’s a quality mare, we’ve seen her at a high level a number of times and she deserves to be near the top of the market,” McEvoy told racingnsw.com.au.
“It was a great run in the Everest which has got to be one of the strongest form lines. She’s a mile Group 1 winner and I’m pretty excited to be on the back of her. I think her run the other day showed she is going to enjoy a bit further, her best work was the last furlong, and 1500m around Rosehill after her good Everest run is perfect.”
Ambition unlocked for car wash owner
G1 Melbourne Cup contender Okita Soushi (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is owned by car wash owner Rohit Saini’s wife Alana, and running in the Cup fulfils a dream for Saini. “I started working as a nightclub bouncer, from there I was once given the job to look after one of the Melbourne Cup runners and my job was to be with the horse 24-7,” Saini told racenet.com.au.
“I was basically employed by Racing Victoria, if the horse was going for a trot or a canter I had to be there. I thought these racehorses have got a really great life, they are getting pampered and so well looked after, and I didn't know how anyone could say that racing was cruel.
Okita Soushi (Ire) | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“I said to myself that, one day if I can, I would love to own a racehorse. Whenever people say something is too hard it makes me more determined – I never washed a car in my life before I started operating car washes. Then people said that I was probably crazy thinking that I could have a Melbourne Cup horse.
“Okita Sushi actually finished off well in last year's Melbourne Cup and I thought there could be improvement in him, seeing as he probably hadn't fully acclimatised last year. We thought if we could get him for the right price, it was a good punt to take. I got all the physicals done for this horse and there was only minor wear and tear, which every racehorse is going to have, and there was nothing major.
“I am a very small-time horse owner – I have only got four horses – so I wanted to try to make sure he could run in the Melbourne Cup. With the calibre of this horse, we had to pick a trainer who would give him his best chance and that's why he is racing for Ciaron Maher.”
Encap to be reinspected before Golden Eagle
Racing NSW stewards reported that Encap (Capitalist) “was found to have some discomfort in its near fore foot for which it is being treated.” Further Dr Carly Garling found that Relentless Voyager (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) “a declared starter in the Rosehill Gold Cup, found the horse to have some discomfort in the medial heel of the near fore foot.”
Both will be subject to a further official veterinary examination on Saturday morning to confirm their suitability to race.
Around The Nation: Friday’s highlights
The Heat of the Rising Star at Wagga Wagga on Friday for apprentice jockeys was an all-female rider affair with all 12 runners ridden by women jockeys. Jessica Brookes won on 5-year-old mare Kaida Blaze (The Brothers War {USA}). The first on the card at Wagga Wagga was won by debutant 3-year-old filly Jato (Starcraft {NZ}).
At Kilmore, 3-year-old filly Express Yo’self (Alabama Express) finally broke through for a win at her eighth start. She showed ability early, running third in the Listed Merson Cooper S. as an early 2-year-old last season before running second to Traffic Warden (Street Cry {Ire}) at her second start. She becomes her sire’s 19th winner. John McArdle trained 3-year-old filly Continental Kiss (Royal Meeting {Ire}) remains unbeaten at three with her second win this season. She ran eighth in the Listed Talindert S. at her only start at two.
Boman avoids ‘unlucky 13’ at Tattersalls
The Australian buyers remained strong on what was an admittedly low-key Thursday affair at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale, with Stuart Boman securing Native King (GB) (Kingman {GB}) to join the stable of Annabel Neasham for owners Go Racing for a joint session-topping 85,000gns (AU$175,000).
Boman has been busy at Tattersalls this week, with Native King the 14th horse he managed to secure, and the Blandford Bloodstock agent described the overall recruitment from the sale as the busiest ever for the agency.
“I had bought 13 horses before this chap, so I thought it was unlucky, and I had better try for another one,” Boman joked. “He is a stunning horse and very well-bred. I am good friends with Rob Speers, and Ibrahim Araci bred this horse and raced him. I had a good chat with Rob yesterday and trainer Hugo Palmer and they recommended the horse, who will benefit from gelding.”
Thursday saw 168 lots sell for 1,945,000gns (AU$3.9 million), with the fourth day comparison median rising 33 per cent to 8000gns (AU$16,500) and the average dropping by 4 per cent to 11,577gns (AU$24,000). Overall, the sale has seen 941 horses sell for 35,336,700gns (AU$72.7 million) at an average of 37,552 gns (AU$77,000) and a median of 18,000 gns (AU$37,100).
Gainesway fees led by Tapit at $185,000
Tapit (USA), North America's all-time leading sire by progeny earnings and the leading active sire by lifetime Grade I winners and graded stakes winners, will again lead the 2025 Gainesway stallion roster at a fee of $185,000, according to a press release from the farm Thursday.
Ace Impact headlines Haras de Beaumont 2025 fees
Prix Jean Prat winner Puchkine (Fr) will stand for a fee of €8500 (AU$14,000) when he embarks on his first season at Haras de Beaumont in 2025, joining a roster headed by the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Ace Impact (Ire), who will remain at a fee of €40,000 (AU$66,000).
The Chehboub family, owners of Haras de Beaumont, purchased a 50 per cent share in Puchkine from his owner-breeder Alain Jathiere in July. “After a successful 2024 season, notably with the arrival of undefeated world champion Ace Impact, we are very pleased to welcome Puchkine in 2025,” said Haras de Beaumont's Mathieu Alex. “A top-class sprinter by leading sire Starspangledbanner, Puchkine was unbeaten at two and won the G1 Prix Jean Prat in impressive style, 0.20s off the race record.”
Yulong’s shuttler Lucky Vega headlines Irish National Stud roster
The four-strong roster at the Irish National Stud was revealed on Thursday, with all returning stallions' fees unchanged from 2024. After the retirement of roster stalwart Invincible Spirit (Ire) on Wednesday, Lucky Vega (Ire) heads the roster at €12,500 (AU$20,600). Lucky Vega shuttles to Yulong in Australia where his first runner, Vega For Luck (NZ), was a winner.
Lucky Vega (Ire) | Standing at Yulong
The Group 1-winning son of Lope De Vega (Ire) has his first runners in 2025, as does Nando Parrado (GB), who is listed at €6,000 (AU$9,900). New kid on the block is smart sprinter Shouldvebeenaring (GB) at €6,000 (AU$9,900).
Gilligan joins Inglis Digital USA
Winner of over 440 races, jockey Jack Gilligan has retired from race riding and has joined Inglis Digital USA as the auction company's new sales and recruitment associate. In his new role, Gilligan will focus on helping Inglis USA recruit horses, with a focus on racing-age offerings, traveling to tracks across the country to build and maintain relationships and help connect sellers with potential buyers. He will be based at the company's Lexington office and will work with senior director of sales and recruitment Kyle Wilson.
“After struggling with a shoulder injury these past few months, I have decided to hang up my boots,” Gilligan said. “I have been very lucky to have had the great career I had in America and England these last 11 years, and I feel very privileged to have ridden for all of the great trainers and owners that have believed in me. I walk away from being a jockey with a lot of happy memories.
“With the end of a chapter, begins a new one. Bloodstock and sales have been another passion of mine, and Inglis Digital USA is at the forefront of online horse sales. I am very excited to be a part of their team and look forward to help grow their brand and presence within the USA.”
Transport company sued for crash
The owners of seven thoroughbreds killed or injured in a March 25, 2024, accident on the Bluegrass Parkway when a trailer driver allegedly fell asleep at the wheel and careened off the road while en route from Fair Grounds to Keeneland are suing the equine transport company and the driver in federal court, seeking “not less than” $3 million in compensatory damages and a separate amount in punitive damages that the plaintiffs want decided at a trial.
