Caulfield makes pitch for 2026 Cox Plate
Moonee Valley’s renovations mean the 2026 G1 Cox Plate must run elsewhere and the Melbourne Racing Club added their pitch to the pile on Tuesday. “If Moonee Valley is out of action, then the Cox Plate needs to be held during that time at the venue that is in the best interests of the industry and that event,” MRC Chair John Kanga told racenet.com.au.
“Logically, it will be held at either Flemington or Caulfield and that will be worked out in sensible discussions between RVL, Moonee Valley, VRC and MRC. If they want us to put on the Cox Plate at Caulfield, then we will do so, but I just want what is best for Moonee Valley and the industry.”
Carroll moves from Victoria to Tassie
Victoria's Racing Integrity Commissioner Sean Carroll has announced his resignation to become Tasmania's first Racing Integrity Commissioner. Previously the head of Integrity and Security at Cricket Australia, Carroll has been in his role at Victoria since March 2021.
“Mr Carroll will have extensive powers to set integrity and animal welfare standards and comprehensive investigatory functions across all three codes of racing in Tasmania – harness, thoroughbred, and greyhound,” Tasmanian Racing Minister Jane Howlett told racenet.com.au.
Sean Carroll | Image courtesy of Racing Integrity Victoria
Newlook heads to Australia after topping Arqana
Arqana's Autumn Sale attracted plenty of international interest on Monday with Australia's Best Bloodstock and American owner Mike Repole among the buyers of some of the day's more expensive horses in training. Heading down under is the day's leading light, the Listed Prix Vulcain winner Newlook (Fr) (New Bay {GB}), who was sold for €480,000 (AU$779,000) from Carlos and Yann Lerner's stable to Jarred Magnabosco of Best Bloodstock and will be trained by the Busuttin/Young stable in Australia.
“I wasn't the only one bidding, he's attracted the attention of several Australian trainers,” said Magnabosco of Lot 443. “He's been very impressive in recent wins, he hasn't raced much and can still improve a lot. In my opinion, he has the profile to succeed in Australia and be a contender for the Caufield Cup next year.”
From a smaller session to the comparable day last year, 19 fewer horses were sold and the turnover dropped by 33 per cent to €4,660,000 (AU$7.6 million). The clearance rate was only marginally down at 81 per cent for 150 horses sold from the 186 offered at an average price of €31,067 (AU$50,000) (-24 per cent). The median was €12,500 (AU$20,300), down from €18,000 (AU$29,200).
Democracy Manifest faces vet inspection
Stewards reported that Chris Waller trained Democracy Manifest (Flying Artie) is showing some lameness prior to Saturday’s G1 Railway S. He will be reinspected by vets on Friday.
Bates to add WA to collection
Jockey Declan Bates has ridden in every Australian state or territory except WA, but that will change on Saturday when he rides Ciaron Maher trained Socks Nation (Sioux Nation {USA}) in the G1 Railway S. “I hadn't thought about that, but it will be good to tick off WA,” Bates told racing.com.
“I'm really looking forward to getting over there. It's a nice ride to pick up. She seems to be going into it in good form. Johnny Allen was originally booked to ride and he got suspended so the ride became available. I jumped at the opportunity to head over.” G1 Queensland Oaks winner Socks Nation ran third in the G1 Empire Rose S. at her most recent start.
Suparazi run will be somewhere, but where?
Trainer Ben Brisbourne is yet to decide where to run Suparazi (Super One) on Saturday. He ran third in The Big Dance at his most recent start. “We've got him in everywhere,” Brisbourne told racenet.com.au.
“I haven't spoken to all the owners yet, but my preference is for The Gong. If we accept for The Gong and he draws the car park, then we've got him in at Canberra and the Kilmore Cup on Sunday.
Ben Brisbourne | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“He hasn't won a race (this spring) but he's put plenty of prizemoney in the kitty, so he's done a great job. We really did target the Big Dance as the grand final for him and in all his lead-up runs, he did exactly what we wanted him to do. He didn't have any gut-busters and performed very well so we were happy to pick up that prizemoney and not go up too much in the handicaps. On grand final day, he didn't let us down. He put in a great performance.”
Rothfire comeback a possibility
Trainer Rob Heathcote’s Rothfire (Rothesay) trialled on Tuesday in a surprise comeback from injury. “To be honest, it was just so nice to get him back here considering I was probably not expecting him to after his injury prior to this year's Winter Carnival in Brisbane,” Heathcote told racing.com. Rothfire injured a sesamoid after finishing fourth in the G1 Golden Rose at three, and had a year off, then managed a further 20 starts over several seasons before reinjuring the same leg over winter.
“He's been off the scene for five or six months, but he came back today and he went super. He's an amazing horse and here we are, on the doorstep of our Summer Carnival. We have got the George Moore on the 30th of November up here. Obviously, I will know more but after this morning, he's pulled up well. We got him straight home and straight into his ice therapies and anti-inflammatories and bandages and everything we do to try to keep him sound and healthy, but it's all pretty encouraging at this stage.”
Three runners for Tagaloa in Wednesday’s juvenile race
Co-trainer Natalie Young would love to train Tagaloa’s first winner with Meisho at Caulfield on Wednesday, since she trained Tagaloa to win the G1 Blue Diamond. “We sent her to South Australia and came across a good horse, obviously, but there was a good gap back to third,” Young told racing.com.
“We just thought it would be nice - obviously we trained Tagaloa - to try to get the first win with a Tagaloa progeny. She's worked up really nicely on Saturday and she's drawn nicely for Wednesday.” Tagaloa also has Moody/Coleman trained Itazura and Rob Blacker trained Kanmura in the field.
Tagaloa | standing at Yulong
Moody’s long term Caulfield Cup plan for Alma Rise
Promising staying 4-year-old mare Alma Rise (Almanzor {Fr}) will be set for the 2025 G1 Caulfield Cup after she runs at the track on Wednesday. “We will continue to work our way through the grades with her, but we can dream that she will be back there in 10 months for a bigger 2400-metre race,” Moody told racing.com.
“That will be it for her this campaign. That will be her fourth run in and we'll start to look towards the autumn. She's a nice, progressive mare and she can work her way through to the better grade of races.” She has won her last two in succession and was second in the Listed St Leger last season.
Te Akau’s Wild Night heads to Cranbourne Cup
Te Akau Racing’s kiwi Group 2 winner Wild Night (NZ) (Vanbrugh) has arrived in Australia ready for Saturday’s Cranbourne Cup. “He arrived last Wednesday … they often arrive sort of a week-and-a-half before their run, it gives them time to settle in,” Ben Gleeson, who is Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson's assistant trainer, told racing.com.
“He's got pretty good form, he's run behind horses like Prowess. He's always been a horse in mind, even this time last year when we first opened, he was a horse that we mentioned may come over here. He's just had a few setbacks along the way, it's taken him time to mature and get over those speed humps.
“Sam and Mark and the team at home have got him in fine fettle now, he's sound and obviously he's won his last two. Mark's really strong on the opinion he's going to keep developing into a really nice horse, whether that be a mile or further.” He won the G2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial S. as a 3-year-old, the same season he ran second to Prowess (NZ) (Proisir) in the R-Listed Karaka 3YO Classic.
Around The Nation: Tuesday’s highlights
With Ballina abandoned, there were only three meetings across Australia on Tuesday. Nathan Doyle trained 3-year-old filly Churchill’s Choice (Churchill {Ire}) won on debut at Scone, while later on the card Patrick Cleave trained 3-year-old gelding Nights Inferno (Shooting To Win) made it two in succession.
At Bairnsdale, Jackson Pallot trained 3-year-old gelding Becauseyou’re Mine (Frosted {USA}) won on debut. At Rockhampton, trained Clinton Taylor and jockey Justin Stanley combined to win the first two on the card with 5-year-old gelding Kathy’s Beau (Turffontein) and Magic Game (Rubick). Kathy’s Beau has won four of his five starts since transferring to Taylor this season, with his other start being a third in the Yeppoon Cup. Prior to that he had two wins from 14 starts.
McDonald booked for Winterbottom ride
James McDonald will head west to ride Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald trained Lady Laguna (Overshare) in a fortnight for the G1 Winterbottom S. “We are very grateful to have James on,” part-owner Terry Henderson told racingwa.com.au.
“He rode a winner for us over the carnival and he rides regularly for Annabel and Rob. If Lady Laguna has an achilles heel it’s that she’s better going right-handed. We don’t think it’s as big an issue as it was when she was a younger horse. If there’s anyone that can get her going left-handed, it’ll be James.”
Magic Millions Racing Women Awards nominations close
The nominations for the 2025 Magic Millions Racing Women supported by TAB Achievement Awards close on Wednesday November 20.
The Magic Millions Racing Women supported by TAB Achievement Awards recognise the outstanding national success and achievements by women in the Australian thoroughbred industry, in the following five state-based national categories: Queensland, NSW/ACT, Victoria, Tasmania/South Australia, and Western Australia/Northern Territory.
The winner of each Award category will receive a $10,000 Racing Women scholarship from TAB.
Freeman injury update
Racing NSW stewards reported that jockey Robyn Freeman “underwent surgery to stabilise her tibia fracture. The surgery went very well and she will be discharged Tuesday on crutches. She will have a lengthy rehab from between 3 to 6 months.” She was kicked by a horse at Gundagai on Friday.
Licensed trainer David Blundell disqualified
Trainer David Blundell has been given an eight-month suspension after an investigation by Racing NSW stewards. In October, stewards attended his premise at Gundagai Racecourse and found it failed to meet the ‘Minimum Standards & Guidelines of Equine Welfare’ and five horses were discovered to be in poor health. The report was released on Tuesday on their website.
World Pool coming to New Zealand
The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) have announced the arrival of World Pool to two New Zealand thoroughbred meetings in early 2025. In a first for New Zealand, the World Pool will operate on the TAB Karaka Millions meeting at Ellerslie in Auckland on January 25 and Champions Day on March 8, also at Ellerslie.
“World Pool is an exciting opportunity to share the very best of New Zealand racing internationally,” Lachlan Fitt, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Entain Australia and New Zealand told Loveracing.nz.
“The benefits of having the thoroughbred racing world firmly focused on New Zealand for these two meetings cannot be underestimated. As well as the advantages that our TAB customers will see, World Pool meetings are a confirmation that New Zealand racing is making its mark on the global stage.”
Teetan and Poon compete for final IJC slot
Wednesday’s Happy Valley meeting will see jockeys Karis Teetan and Matthew Poon compete to grab the fourth spot in Hong Kong’s International Jockey’s Challenge team on December 4. Tied on 14 wins heading into the final meeting before the IJC line-up is finalised, Teetan and Poon are separated only by seconds with the former holding a decisive 17-10 advantage.
“It looks like things won’t go my way because when the races got abandoned, all those horses got first priority, and I had a full book tomorrow and then all my horses got reserve,” Teetan told scmp.com.
Karis Teetan | Image courtesy of Hong Kong Jockey Club
“So I ended up with three rides, but anyway, I’m hoping those three are chances. Every time I ride one [winner], [Poon] rides one. At the end of the day he’s riding well, too, Matthew. If he does get the one [final spot] in IJC, I think he deserves the chance, but I’m also there to give it a go.”
Look De Vega to Ballylinch, fee set at €20,000
This year's Prix du Jockey Club winner Look de Vega (Fr) will join his sire Lope de Vega (Ire) on the stallion roster at Ballylinch Stud next season, the operation announced on Monday. He has been introduced at a fee of €20,000 (AU$32,500).
“It is with great pleasure that we welcome Lope de Vega's Classic-winning son, Look de Vega, to the Ballylinch roster for 2025,” said Ballylinch's John O'Connor.
“We have been tracking Look de Vega since his hugely impressive seven-length debut win on his only start as a two-year-old. A truly impressive victor of the Prix du Jockey Club, Look de Vega continues the legacy of his sire and grandsire, both of whom won the same race before going on to Champion First Season Sire honours.
“He is owned by a very strong partnership, including successful breeders Al Shaqab, Ecurie des Charmes, and ourselves, who are all committed to supporting him with a top-quality book of mares, ensuring he has every opportunity to succeed. Anyone who sees his walk will immediately recognise him as his father's son. Breeders will be struck by his athleticism, temperament, and overall physique, all qualities that set him on the path to becoming an outstanding sire in his own right.”
More additions to Tattersalls Mare Sale
Four new additions have been announced for Monday and Tuesday of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale. On the opening day, The Paris Shrug (GB) (Manduro {Ger}), whose first foal is the G1 Caulfield Stakes winner Deny Knowledge (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai), will be consigned through Jamie Railton. The 11-year-old mare is a half-sister to the Group 1-winning stayer Big Orange (GB) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}) and is in foal to King Of Change (Ire).
Also on the Monday is Invisible Friend (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a Timeform 95-rated treble winner for Kevin Ryan and Highbank Stud. The Listed-placed filly is out of a half-sister to Irish Oaks winner Covert Love (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}).
Senor Buscador to retire for 2025 season
Senor Buscador (USA) (Mineshaft {USA}), whose career was highlighted by a win in this year's $20 million G1 Saudi Cup, will join the stallion ranks in 2025, but first the owners plan to race him twice more before he heads to stud. He is slated to run in the December 7 G2 Cigar Mile H. at Aqueduct and then the January 25 GI Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream before beginning his stallion career. The story was first reported by Horse Racing Nation.
War Of Will to stand for US$20,000
Dual-surface Grade I winner War of Will (USA) (War Front {USA}), the sire of 14 individual winners from his first crop to the races in 2024, will stand the 2025 breeding season for US$20,000 (AU$31,000) LFSN, officials at Claiborne Farm announced Monday.
Victorious in the GI Preakness Stakes on the dirt and the GI Maker's Mark Mile on the grass, War of Will is the second-leading freshman sire by turf winner and earnings and has been represented to date by three stakes horses She's Got Will, My Emmy and Garden of War.
Breeders' Cup Mile winner to Lane’s End
Victory Racing Partners' More Than Looks (USA) (More Than Ready {USA}), who most recently stormed home from the back of the field to win the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile at Del Mar, has been retired from racing and will enter stud at William S. Farish's Lane's End in 2025. He will command an introductory fee of US$15,000 (AU$23,000), live foal, stands and nurses terms.
“He's an eye-catching horse that showed elite ability from day one,” said trainer Cherie DeVaux. “His explosive turn of foot and competitive nature led to consistency at the highest level, and ultimately resulted in him becoming a Breeders' Cup champion.”
