G3 Mystic Journey Stakes won by Geegees Mistruth
Previously the G3 Bow Mistress Stakes, the G3 Mystic Journey was renamed in 2024. The second running under the new name went the way of 3-year-old filly Geegees Mistruth (Wordsmith) who bolted in by 4l for trainer Stuart Gundy. Resuming after finishing unplaced in the G1 MRC Thousand Guineas in the spring, Geegees Mistruth won from Dazzling Lucy (Star Witness) and In Her Stride (Stratum Star).
She took her record to five wins from 10 starts and it was her first win at three after being a dual Listed winner at two. One of eight stakes winners for Wordsmith, she is out of Miss Mana (Jetball) whose 2-year-old filly Geegees Missile (Wordsmith) was placed in the Listed Elwick Stakes recently. This is the family of Away Game (Snitzel).
Likeakalix wins Listed Tasmanian Derby
Arguably the best 3-year-old on the Apple Isle, gelding Likeakalix (Calyx {GB}) went into the Listed Tasmanian Derby as favourite and duly saluted by 0.46l for jockey David Pires and trainer Leanne Gaffney. He now has three wins in succession, including a last start win in the Listed Launceston Guineas, and has won four of his seven starts with earnings over $200,000.
Sold to his trainer for $30,000 by Armidale Stud at the Magic Millions Tasmania Yearling Sale, he is one of five stakes winners for Calyx (GB) who came here for one season, and is a son of Kingman (GB).
The fifth and last foal of Like A Song (Ire) (Royal Applause {GB}), who is a half-sister to G3 Sandown Atalanta Stakes winner Ladys First (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}).
Private Life on song for second Group 1
G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Private Life (Written Tycoon) will resume in Saturday’s G1 CF Orr Stakes. “Both his trials have been fantastic. We haven't asked a lot from him in the trials, but both have been immaculate,” said Charlie Duckworth, trainer Chris Waller's racing manager and assistant trainer.
“He has excelled in his work. He obviously goes well around Caulfield. He's got the light weight of 55.5kg and he's got (jockey) Damian Lane on, who won the Guineas on him, so there's plenty of positives.
Private Life | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Obviously it's a big step up going against weight-for-age horses, but he did race against the top weight-for-age sprinters at the end of his campaign last time, so we're not too scared of them. Mr Brightside is a marvel as a horse and he's not going to be easy to beat. It certainly looks his (Mr Brightside's) race to win, but when you've got a horse who is still developing and still progressing like him you can go in with a little bit of confidence that at least he can mix it with them and hopefully he can beat them.”
Babylon Berlin chases maiden Group 1
Ben and Ryan Foote-trained Babylon Berlin (All Too Hard) runs in Saturday’s G1 BCD Sprint after running fourth last start in the G1 Railway Handicap. “She has come on a lot in the coat since that run and she’s thriving. She’s good to go again, we’re happy and she’s been working very well,” Ben Foote told Loveracing.nz.
“Hopefully, the track will be good and they run along. I don’t see why she won’t get the 1400m again, she ran a cracker of a race when second to Imperatriz.” She ran second to Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) in this race in 2023.
Fifth juvenile winner for Capitalist this season
Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald trained 2-year-old colt Steel King (Capitalist) became the fifth juvenile winner for his sire this season with a 1.17l win at Canberra on Friday. In second was Barbarossa (Too Darn Hot {GB}) with Party Boss (Farnan) third.
Ninth in The Debut on the Gold Coast, this was Steel King’s second career start. He was a $250,000 purchase by Annabel Neasham Racing and William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA) at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from Willow Park Stud’s draft, and is the first foal of Snitzel mare Sybella, a winning half-sister to Listed winners Tawteen (Stratum) and Well Sprung (Star Witness).
Around the Nation: Friday’s highlights
Friday was busy with seven meetings with night meetings at Canterbury and The Valley. At Walcha, jockey Luke Rolls rode a treble on Speck (Bon Hoffa), Electric Evie (Starspangledbanner), and Parana River (Russian Revolution).
Marhoona wins at Canterbury
The first race at Friday’s Canterbury meeting was won by Michael Freedman trained 2-year-old filly Marhoona (Snitzel) who is owned by Emirates Park who also bred her. On debut, she won by 0.27l from Dream Side (Trapeze Artist) and Autumn Blonde (The Autumn Sun).
A half-sister to three stakes winners, Marhoona is out of unraced Salma (Encosta De Lago) whose three stakes winners are Group 2 winner and Group 1 placed Hilal (Fastnet Rock), and Listed winners Salateen (I Am Invincible) and Trojan Harbour (Harbour Watch {Ire}). Salma is a daughter of Group 3 winner Salameh (Secret Savings {USA}), a half-sister to Al Maher.
Poor draw for Open Secret
Trainer John Thompson is hoping jockey Zac Lloyd can help unbeaten filly Open Secret (King’s Legacy) overcome a wide draw in Saturday's R-Listed Inglis Millennium at Royal Randwick.
“I will leave it up to Zac. She will be in the first half of the field. Where he gets to, I guess will depend on few things and how she jumps,” Thompson told racenet.com.au.
“I think she has definitely come on with fitness and all those sort of things. It seems to have switched on a little bit as well and the 1100 metres will suit her without a doubt.”
Stockdale’s debut Group 1 run
Jockey Thomas Stockdale has secured his first Group 1 ride in Saturday's G1 CF Orr Stakes at Caulfield on Ciaron Maher trained Semana (Winning Rupert) who is part-owned by former Australian cricketer David Warner. Stockdale has 400 wins since he first rode in 2017.
“That's because I've had about 10 good injuries that have put me out of the saddle for, I think over two years if you combined them all up,” Stockdale told racenet.com.au about how long it’s taken him to put his record together.
Semana | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“I've been in the game for quite a while but the injuries have unfortunately taken away a significant bit of time in the saddle. Touch wood, I've been injury free for a while now since I got banged up in the gates on Stakes day, the last day of the (Flemington) carnival, which put me out for about a month.”
Guineas target for Statuario
Co-trainer Emma-Lee Browne’s 3-year-old gelding Statuario (D’Argento) will resume in Saturday’s G2 Autumn Stakes as he heads towards the G1 Australian Guineas. “We are very happy with him and he's pleased us with his jumpouts and work,” Browne told racing.com.
Statuario | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“How high we set our sights for this campaign, we will know after Saturday. The Australian Guineas makes sense to target if he runs well.”
Cavanough left with one Lonhro runner
Trainer Brett Cavanough has scratched 2-year-old filly Alabama Magic (Alabama Express) from Saturday's Listed Lonhro Plate at Randwick, leaving him with outside chance colt Brat Summer (Capitalist).
“The blood and everything is in order but she (Alabama Magic) has just got a little cough. Going into it at that level you want to be spot on. She is nominated for the Slipper, is she good enough? I don't know but we will try and have her bang on next time around in one of those fillies races leading in,” Cavanough told racenet.com.au.
“(Brat Summer) was bit tardy away in his trial but the stars are aligned for him because he's drawn 15 with Jason Collett rides so that's a recipe for him to get in behind them and get home. I like him, he is a nice colt.”
Switzerland aimed at Lightning
G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes winning 3-year-old colt Switzerland (Snitzel) had a jumpout at Flemington on Friday for trainer Chris Waller. “He's a high profile colt so just placing him right is important and continuing to build his value,” Waller told racenet.com.au.
“All possibilities at this stage but we'll get through the Lightning and then work out a plan. His rating in the Coolmore has given us the confidence to take on the older horses. He's still a young lad with a bright future ahead … it's a tough ask first-up but it's the start of a good preparation.”
Penman adds to NZB Kiwi calculations
Stephen Marsh trained 3-year-old gelding Penman (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) made it two wins in a row on Friday and with six NZB Kiwi slots still open, he’s a chance for the big race. “I have just taken my phone off silent just in case a (NZB Kiwi) slot holder would like to ring. It was very impressive,” Marsh told Loveracing.nz.
Stablemate Tardelli (I Am Invincible) ran second 0.75l behind with NZB Kiwi runner Domain Ace (NZ) (Swiss Ace) 7.5l back in third.
Moyglare horses popular at Goffs
Moyglare Stud provided the jewels in the crown of the Goffs February Sale when two well-bred colts by hot stallions Blue Point (Ire) and Study Of Man (Ire) sold for a combined €415,000 (AU$686,000), which accounted for just over 10 per cent of the entire turnover at Kildare Paddocks this week.
It was the Blue Point colt out of Dansili (GB) mare Tina Angelina (Ire) who commanded a sale-topping €250,000 (AU$413,000) when selling to Tally-Ho Stud while Matt Coleman–signing under The Investors–landed the Study Of Man for €165,000 (AU$273,000).
All told, the turnover for the Goffs February Sale climbed 25 per cent to €3,857,500 (AU$6.4 million) while the average was up 40 per cent to €18,026 (AU$30,000). Meanwhile, the median climbed 25 per cent to €10,000 (AU$16,500) and the clearance rate also rose by 2 per cent to 67 per cent.
Juddmonte reveal matings, Enable to Siyouni
Few breeding operations can boast two Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winners among the broodmare band but Juddmonte Farms has both Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}), with the former set for a trip to France to be covered by Siyouni (Fr) this season. Bluestocking, the champion older mare in Europe last year, will stay closer to home to visit Dubawi (Ire), while her dam Emulous (GB) (Dansili {GB}) will return to Camelot.
Immigration fears high in USA racing
Throughout his campaign, President Donald Trump vowed to crack down on illegal immigrants, a promise he has kept during the first few weeks of his new administration. That has created much uncertainly on the backstretches of the nation's racetracks and at the horse farms spread across the country, both of which rely heavily on foreign labour. Should the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) set its sights on racing and start deporting backstretch employees that would mean a major crisis for a sport.
A former Republican Congressman who represented Palm Beach County in Florida, Tom Rooney is currently the President and CEO of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association said, “I wouldn't say there's nothing to be worried about, but certainly the focus right now is on people who are here illegally without any kind of worker permit, like an H2-B or H-2A visas. We certainly can't afford a labour shortage. That is for sure.”
Tom Rooney | Image courtesy of National Thoroughbred Racing Association
“I hope everything is going to be fine,” trainer Dale Romans said. “The industry can't survive without immigrant workers. The biggest problem is the H-2B visas. Those are the only ones that fit us and it's only a 10-month visa. They make it very difficult to get and it's very expensive and there is a lot of paperwork. If there was an easier system to get a better visa it would sure make life a lot easier. If we had that we wouldn't have immigrants who are illegal working here.
"It is costly and the trainer has to pay all the expenses. I don't know how smaller trainers can afford to get the visas. I have had a lot of people, including grooms and hotwalkers, who I don't even know, ask me what I think is going to happen. Are they going to be okay? I really don't know what to tell them. I tell them to just hang in there for now.”
South African trainer Crawford given Hong Kong licence
South African trainer Brett Crawford, who has 38 Group 1 victories in South Africa among almost 1,500 career winners, will join the Hong Kong training ranks for the 2025-26 season. “I’ve been training in South Africa for many years and I have always been interested in moving to Hong Kong,” Crawford told scmp.com.
“I’m very pleased that I have been granted the opportunity to come to Hong Kong. The integrity and professionalism of the Hong Kong Jockey Club is what attracted me to Hong Kong racing. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime and I’m very thankful for the privilege to be granted a licence in Hong Kong.
“It’s probably one of the few places in the world that has talent from all over the world competing against each other, so without a doubt it definitely makes you bring out the best in yourself and I think for me that’s probably the greatest challenge that I am looking forward to.”
O'Sullivan hospitalised after Thurles fall
Racing was abandoned after the second race at Thurles on Thursday after Michael O'Sullivan was airlifted to hospital following a last-fence fall from Wee Charlie (Ire). The Grade 1-winning jockey received medical attention on the track before being transferred to Cork University Hospital.
An update posted on X by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board read, “Michael O'Sullivan was treated by the medical team on track at Thurles Races prior to the air ambulance arriving.
“Due to the ongoing medical situation at the time, the Raceday Stewards made the decision to abandon the remainder of the card. Michael was stabilised prior to being transferred by air ambulance to Cork University Hospital.”
