Things to know today
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Warwoven took the Group 2 Run To The Rose over 1200 metres at Rosehill on Saturday for Bjorn Baker and Rachel King, holding St Gotthard by a neck with Under Focus third. It was a fourth win from seven starts for the Sword Of State colt and a second at stakes level after the Group 3 Pago Pago, taking him to A$548,850. A $380,000 Magic Millions buy from Kia Ora, he is the first foal of the Makfi mare Needle And Thread and the headline performer from his sire’s first crop. “He leaves you a bit speechless, his acceleration today was unbelievable,” King said, and when she was asked whether 1400 metres would suit, “No problem!” The Group 1 Golden Rose is next (Breednet, The Straight) |
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Shockletz won the Group 3 Lexus Archer Stakes over 2500 metres at Flemington by two and a quarter lengths from Think Giant, with her stablemate Jennivamoose third, running 2:35.18 on a Good 4 for Ciaron Maher and Harry Coffey. The race carries a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup, which her sire Shocking won in 2009, and Maher put the improvement down to first time blinkers. “It was mainly last start. I thought she was having a bit of a lend,” he said. “Back at Flemington, blinkers on, she’ll run two miles and they can dare to dream.” Bred and raced by Eales Racing, the five year old mare is out of the Red Ransom mare Zelt and has seven wins from 18 starts (Breednet, LOVERACING.NZ) |
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Justin Case took the Listed Timberspan Sir Colin Meads Trophy over 1200 metres at Hastings by a head, the Banquo three year old running 1:13.88 on a Heavy 8 for Kris Shailer and Sam Collett. “It was really good to see him settle outside the leader,” Shailer said, while staying non committal on the New Zealand 2000 Guineas. Bred by Waikato Stud out of the Group 2 winning Savabeel mare Do Ra Mi, he has three wins from five starts and just under $199,000. On the same card War Princess led throughout to win the Dennis Pyke Memorial over 1200 metres for Peter and Trent Didham and the apprentice Toni Davies, a sixth win from 12 starts (Breednet, LOVERACING.NZ) |
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Wentwood Grange has made a strong start to the spring with fillies from its 2025 Karaka draft. Sweetest Thing, by Hello Youmzain out of the Sea The Stars mare Ocean Drive, won Saturday’s Listed NZB Canterbury Belle Stakes over 1200 metres at Riccarton, and Hawea took the Listed Chittick Family Fillies Classic over 1100 metres at Taupo before winning a 1050 metre trial at Te Rapa on Sunday. Dean Hawkins said the Cambridge farm bought Ocean Drive at the 2022 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale for A$45,000. “She was a lovely big, strong filly and we sold her at Karaka to Chris Rutten and Roydon Bergerson, who are fantastic judges,” he said of Sweetest Thing, who made $80,000 there (LOVERACING.NZ) |
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Gram made it six in a row at Doomben on Saturday, the Exceed And Excel gelding taking a benchmark 78 over 1110 metres by 2.6 lengths from Mean Approach in 1:03.84 on a Good 4 for Tony Gollan and the apprentice Bella Youngberry. A former Godolphin horse, he was sold for $75,000 at the 2025 Inglis Digital November Late Sale to High Calibre Racing and Gollan Racing and has now earned more than $210,000. He is a half brother to the Group 3 winner Zulfiqar (Breednet) |
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Mister Whiskers won on debut at Sale on Sunday, the St Mark’s Basilica gelding taking a 1415 metre maiden by two lengths from El Camero in 1:26.44 on a Good 4 for Charlotte Littlefield and Jett Stanley. He cost $170,000 from the Coolmore draft at Magic Millions Gold Coast, bought for Hayfields Racing and Intel Bloodstock, and is out of the Fastnet Rock mare Casuarina Forest. He is the second Australian winner of the new season for his sire, who stands at Coolmore Australia for $38,500 (Breednet) |
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New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing released its 2027/29 Statement of Intent and Business Plan on Friday, built around Project Stamina, Regional Racing Centres and revenue diversification. It targets 16,200 registered owners in 2026/27, up from 15,106 in 2024/25, wagering income rising from $475 million to $500 million, and positive public perception lifting from 29 to 37 per cent. NZTR projects income of $150.28 million against expenses of $149.68 million for a $600,000 surplus, after a forecast $1.93 million deficit in 2025/26 that included about $3.6 million of unbudgeted track infrastructure costs. Chief executive Matt Ballesty said the industry is “built on the knowledge, commitment and contribution of its people” (The Straight) |
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Sky Thoroughbred Central has added two weekly programmes and four vodcasts ahead of the Everest Carnival, with selected content simulcast on News24 and Fox Sports News. Everest Carnival HQ begins at 7.30pm on Tuesday 22 September hosted by Greg Radley, and First Up: Everest Carnival airs at 10am on Saturdays hosted by Julie Snook. The four vodcasts are Out the Gate, Finding Winners, It’s Gold and Crossing the Line. The wider arrangement keeps 52 New South Wales Saturday metropolitan meetings free to air on Seven (The Straight) |
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Satono Glow won the Group 3 Cap d’Antibes Stakes over 1100 metres at Flemington on Saturday, the Satono Aladdin filly beating Over Excited by half a length with her stablemate Scintillation third, running 1:02.86 on a Good 4 for John O’Shea and Tom Charlton, with Jamie Melham riding. She cost $260,000 from the Windsor Park Stud draft at Karaka, bought by O’Shea Charlton Racing and James Bester Bloodstock, and is out of the Pins mare Electrode, who is due to foal to Circus Maximus. The Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes is now under consideration (Breednet, LOVERACING.NZ) |
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Persian Wonder took the Group 3 myPlates Ming Dynasty Quality over 1400 metres at Rosehill on Saturday, the Hello Youmzain gelding beating Stormy Marco by 0.6 of a length with Tenenbaum third, running 1:22.89 on a Good 4 for David Payne and Ashley Morgan. Bred and sold by Cambridge Stud, he cost A$160,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and is out of the Pivotal mare Steer By The Stars, who is in foal to Chaldean. The Group 3 Gloaming Stakes is next, with the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes to follow. “He’s just a big, dumb bugger. He’s very laidback and nothing worries him,” Payne said (Breednet, LOVERACING.NZ) |
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Lara Antipova won the first running of the Listed Michael Moroney over 1400 metres at Flemington on Saturday, the Russian Revolution filly beating Aragog by 0.8 of a length with Somethings Burnin’ third, running 1:22.83 on a Good 4 for Mark Walker and Mark Zahra. The race is named for the trainer Michael Moroney, who died last year and alongside whom Walker trained at Matamata. Last season’s champion New Zealand juvenile, she is raced by John Galvin’s Fortuna Racing and cost $100,000 from the Vinery Stud draft at Magic Millions Gold Coast. Moroney’s daughter Aliesha Moroney-Ormsby said of his wish for a race in his name, “To see his final wish actually come to reality is pretty amazing for the family” (Breednet, LOVERACING.NZ) |
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