Daily News Wrap

Coolmore snaps up $1.15 million mare on Inglis Digital

The broodmare Fashion Faux Pas (USA) (Flatter {USA}) in foal to Snitzel has topped the Inglis Digital January Sale, selling for $1.15 million to Coolmore’s Justin Carey. The Listed Sandpiper S. winner has three live foals, an unnamed 2-year-old filly by King’s Legacy who was bought for $110,000 by Peachester Lodge at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, a yearling colt by Snitzel who made $1.7 million to the bid of Tom Magnier at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and an Extreme Choice filly foal.

“Firstly I want to congratulate James Harron and his partners in Phil Merten, Belinda Bateman, the Doyle family and Love Racing on breeding such a stunning colt that we were so excited to buy a fortnight ago,’’ Carey said of the $1.7 million colt whose full sibling is in utero.

“We’re delighted to have bought this mare off them, a group we’ve had a great relationship with via the likes of King’s Legacy and the very exciting 3-year-old Espionage. We look forward with great excitement to the future with Fashion Faux Pas. We have a high opinion of these fast American mares that seem to have good chemistry with Snitzel and it’s worked with the likes of (Group 1-winning Inglis Easter graduate) Switzerland so hopefully we can enjoy similar success in the future with this mare.

“If we are lucky enough to have the opportunity to stand City Of Troy, who was crowned Cartier Horse Of The Year last night, at Coolmore Australia next year, I’m sure she would be a fabulous mating for him also.”

Fashion Faux Pas is a half-sister to the stakes placed dam of five-time Listed winner Flash Of Mischief (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) and Listed winner War Campaign (USA) (Declaration Of War {USA}). This is the family of sire Congrats (USA).

“Our broodmare partnership is a relatively young venture, with our focus always firmly on quality,’’ James Harron told Inglis.

“We have expanded into the American market, having identified a promising trend in the on-track success of progeny from these mares. Fashion Faux Pas exemplified the vision and standards we strive for. Her Snitzel colt, which sold earlier this year for $1.7m to Coolmore, was undoubtedly one of the standout colts of the year and her Extreme Choice filly foal is also excellent.

“Our strategy will be to continue to turn over these mares, and we are hopeful that Fashion Faux Pas will become a blue hen for Coolmore. They are achieving great success, and their hard work and dedication make it well deserved.

“We have been strong users of the Inglis Digital platform since its inception and while it was new for us to offer such a top-end prospect, this was something we approached with great confidence given the tremendous reach of the platform along with the fact that the buying bench has embraced the concept so warmly.’’

The second top lot was the unraced 3-year-old filly National Code (Written Tycoon), purchased by Craig Keiswetter’s Ridgmont South Africa for $230,000. The catalogue of 519 lots found buyers for 394 horses at a gross of $5,468,349.

City Of Troy and Laurel River share World’s Best Racehorse for 2024

City Of Troy (USA) (Justify {USA}) and Laurel River (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}), owned by two of racing's superpowers, Coolmore and Juddmonte, have been jointly crowned Longines World's Best Racehorse for 2024.

At a ceremony to mark the Longines Racing Awards at the Savoy Hotel in London on Tuesday it was revealed that they had each gained a rating of 128, marking the first time since 2019 that two horses had shared the top spot in the world rankings.

Gallery: Horses crowned as the Longines World's Best Racehorse for 2024

The top-rated filly or mare in the world was Via Sistina (GB) (Fastnet Rock), a Group 1 winner on two continents who enjoyed a stellar 2024 in the colours of Yulong Investments. Now trained by Chris Waller, she posted her career-high rating of 127 at the age of six with an eight-length win in the G1 Ladbrokes Cox Plate.

It was Laurel River's record eight-and-a-half length victory in the G1 Dubai World Cup which earned him co-Horse of the Year status and made him the world's best horse on dirt. Now seven, the Juddmonte homebred is trained by Bhupat Seemar and he has been nominated for the G1 Saudi Cup. Douglas Erskine Crum, CEO of Juddmonte Farms, said, “He was one of the last homebred horses that Prince Khalid decided the mating for, so he is particularly important for us.”

Lindsay Park have a crack at Karaka Millions 2YO

Lindsay Park have sent 2-year-old colt Hello Romeo (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}) to New Zealand for Saturday’s R-Listed Karaka Millions 2YO. It’s really exciting and he (Hello Romeo) has raced well in Victoria and has travelled very well,” Ben Hayes told Loveracing.nz.

“He’s handled all his work really well, he’s quite straight forward and flew over without a problem so we couldn’t be happier with him. We’re all looking forward to it, it’s a good opportunity for our stable and Will and JD will be over for the race day, and I’ll be getting over after the Saturday races here for the sale.”

Foote pleased with Karaka Millions draw

Ben and Ryan Foote were thrilled to grab barrier three with Vega For Luck (NZ) (Lucky Vega {Ire}) for Saturday’s R-Listed Karaka Millions 2YO. “It makes you feel like you’ve got a lot more of a chance, when his name was called out early I was pretty happy,” Ben Foote told Loveracing.nz.

“He’s a really good doing 2-year-old, he’s had a lot of runs and gallops around Ellerslie, so we think we’re in with a chance. He’s probably not the best horse in the race, but if he puts himself in it from a good barrier, he can be in it for sure. You’d have to (push forward), it would just be too hard for him to get too far back.” A winner on debut, Vega For Luck was fifth in the G2 Eclipse S. last start.

Go Racing ready for Fun at Karaka

Go Racing’s 3-year-old filly Fun Never Sets (NZ) (Proisir) will run in Saturday’s R-Listed Karaka Millions 3YO. “She is a filly that doesn’t over-race and she does things pretty right. We have got a good, experienced rider on in Warren Kennedy, and have the shortest way home. Barrier 1 seemed the logical one when they came up and we are rapt to get it,” general manager Matt Allnutt told Loveracing.nz.

“Last start she was only 0.2 of a length behind Yaldi, who is third favourite for the race, and if she runs up to what she did last start she can be right there I think. The owners are getting a good ride out of her. She has picked up a maiden win and she has shown us quite a bit. I know Kylie has a good opinion of her and she is a genuine, honest filly and will give the owners something to cheer on Saturday anyway.”

Black type the focus for Clear Thinking

Co-trainer Paul Messara will aim Clear Thinking (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) at stakes class if she resumes well on Saturday at Randwick. “With her being a filly black type is the key for us, she has an international flavoured pedigree and having black type underpins that value,” Messara told racingnsw.com.au.

“I’ve always marked her more as a sprinter than a 1400 metre and beyond horse. She has the attributes of a sprinting animal so I’ve earmarked a couple of races for her. If she was to come out and win nicely I’d probably have a swing at the Tristarc, and she’d probably have to win nicely to warrant getting into it. If she won a race like that she’s out of the Country Championships.” She is unbeaten in three starts.

Not enough entries see Listed Carrington S. dropped

Racing NSW confirmed on Wednesday that there were insufficient starters for the Listed Carrington S. planned for Randwick on Saturday with just six acceptors for the race, and the race won’t be run. Run on New Year’s Day until 2015, the shift has seen the race clash with other options.

Last year’s winner was Zou Tiger (Zoustar) who has had just the one start since then.

Kiwi sprinters top World’s Best Racehorse lists

Last year Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse) was ranked the world’s best sprinter with a rating of 125, and in 2024 Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) and I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel) share top honours with Widden shuttler Cogburn (USA), with ratings of 121, in the latest LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings.

“The emergence of Ka Ying Rising under David Hayes and Zac Purton for the Ka Ying Syndicate has been a wonderful success,” Hong Kong Jockey Club chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said.

“Starting out as an unraced import, Ka Ying Rising has surged through Hong Kong’s always competitive sprint ranks to stand as our premier sprinter with his incredible performances, including the setting of a new Sha Tin course record for 1200m, to now be acknowledged as one of the world’s premier sprinters.”

Six decades to be honoured on Thursday

The Dennis Brothers’ six decade contribution to Southland racing will be acknowledged when the Southland Racing Club hold the ‘Dennis Brothers Dynasty Day’ on Thursday. Six races on Thursday’s eight-race card will be named after their past Champion racehorses. “They (Dennis Brothers) stepped back from training earlier this season and the Southland Racing Club are acknowledging their contribution to not only racing in Southland, but racing in New Zealand, and are having the ‘Dennis Brothers Dynasty Day’,” Robert Dennis told Loveracing.nz.

“Apart from The Kurd, who is the foundation mare, the others have all been Champions at the New Zealand Racing Awards.” The others being The Jewel (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), The Pixie (NZ) (Mellay {GB}), The Fantasy (NZ) (Gate Keeper {GB}), The Twinkle (NZ) (Gate Keeper {GB}), and The Dimple (NZ) (Noble Bijou {USA}).

Shadow Of Light crowned European Champion 2-year-old

Dual Group 1 winner and leading 2,000 Guineas hope Shadow Of Light (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) has been crowned the European Champion Two-Year-Old of 2024 with a rating of 120. The Middle Park and Dewhurst S. winner joins fellow Charlie Appleby-trained colts Pinatubo (Ire) and Native Trail (GB) on the Champion Two-Year-Old roll of honour.

“I would imagine he'll go straight into a Guineas,” Appleby said at the European Two-Year-Old Classification Press Conference on Tuesday. “I don't really want to test him over the mile beforehand. Firstly, timing-wise and secondly, I'd rather keep our powder dry and the dream alive going into the Guineas.”

Winds increase and horses evacuated in California

Due to the threat of a nearby wildfire Tuesday, the horses stabled at the San Luis Rey Downs training centre in Bonsall, San Diego County, were evacuated and sent elsewhere, largely to Del Mar racetrack. By Tuesday afternoon, the nearby Lilac Fire had burned through 80 acres and was 30% contained, according to Cal Fire.

“We are still at the same level 2 evacuation warning status so we will continue to monitor the situation and the wind,” Santa Anita general manager Nate Newby wrote in a text Tuesday afternoon, adding that he hoped the “wind stays away.” With 275 horses requiring evacuation, Newby estimated the fire was roughly three to four miles away from the training centre, which is owned by The Stronach Group.

$450,000 sale topper for Fasig-Tipton Digital

Stakes-winning Tuscan Sky (USA) (Vino Rosso {USA}), winner of last year's Listed Pegasus S. at Monmouth Park, topped the Fasig-Tipton January Digital Sale on Tuesday when selling for US$450,000 (AU$718,000) to West Bloodstock.

The January Digital Sale, which saw an average of US$28,073 (AU$45,000) and a clearance rate of 79 per cent for its catalogue of horses of racing age, racing/broodmare prospects, broodmares and short yearlings, closed Tuesday evening with 107 horses sold for US$3,003,900 (AU$4.8 million).

Betting deal reached in England

Britbet Racing LLP, a partnership of 55 British racecourses, has today announced an extended commitment from its racecourse partners for the continued delivery of their oncourse pool betting service.

A key element to this commitment from racecourses comes from Britbet renewing a long-term partnership with the UK Tote Group that will deliver liquidity from the majority of its racecourse partners, including all Jockey Club racecourses and the large independent tracks, to the pools hosted by the Tote on racing taking place at these racecourses.

The renewed partnership will continue to provide a united approach to growing pool betting in the UK, with racecourses controlling the delivery of an oncourse service and the Tote providing the recognised brand and the off-course services, combining to create a single pool hosted by the Tote.

Trip to USA on offer

In conjunction with this Saturday's GI Pegasus World Cup, 1/ST Racing is partnering with an international horse racing media rights firm to launch a free-to-play contest that will offer a VIP trip for two to the 2025 GI California Crown at Santa Anita Park in September, including flights, accommodations and raceday hospitality.

The contest, called Crown Jewels Racing is linked to a larger series of international races distributed by HBA Media in England, and the Pegasus contest is the first in a larger series of “league” Crown Jewels games that features a grand prize of a VIP trip for two to the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 2026.

“HBA is a company in the UK that is basically a global distribution for horse racing,” Peter Rotondo, the senior vice president of racing and wagering for 1/ST, told TDN. “They have deals with all the major race meets around the world, and they distribute their content.”