Milestones and emerging talent were the hallmarks of a landmark evening at Happy Valley, where David Hayes celebrated his 700th Hong Kong winner and moved within striking distance of the trainers’ championship lead. The occasion was made all the more notable by a race-to-race double – his fifth winner in the last two meetings – and the tantalising promise of a future Derby contender unveiled on Wednesday night. Fifteen seasons and two spells have been required to amass such a tally, but for the two-time champion trainer, reflection was brief. Hayes’s focus is already fixed firmly on the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby in March, after another successful night underscored his stable’s remarkable momentum. The latest double began with Dylan Browne McMonagle, who rode out his claim in style with a determined victory aboard Romantic Son in the first section of the Class 3 Southorn Handicap over 1200m – a breakthrough win for the young Irishman during his three-month stint in the city. Praise for McMonagle was swift and emphatic. “It was a very good job from Dylan,” said Hayes, an Australian Racing Hall of Famer. “I think he’s a high-class jockey and Hong Kong is just learning how good he is. I think you’ll find it’s just the start of many winners for him.” Confidence in his young rider was soon matched by another Hayes-trained winner, as Keith Yeung guided China Win to success in the O’Brien Handicap (1800m). Yeung’s mount, competing in Class 3 company for the first time, ran down Tony Cruz’s long-time leader Liveandletlive, with a late surge that signalled Derby ambitions might be well placed. With two wins and a second from his last three outings over 1800m, China Win is now being aimed at a Derby start, with Hayes planning to try him over 2000m next. The winning double was particularly sweet, with both winners carrying the Lindsay Park Racing colours, a nod to family tradition that still resonates for Hayes. “It’s good to have a double in my stable colours. That gave me a big thrill.” Elsewhere on the card, another milestone was notched as David Eustace chalked up his 50th Hong Kong win, courtesy of Ragga Bomb’s emphatic three-length success under Hugh Bowman.
China Win carried the famous Hayes livery to success (pic: hkjc.com)
NEWHayes Goes on the Front Foot for Attention
Thursday, 29th January 2026
Meanwhile, blinkers are set to come into play as the Four-Year-Old Classic Series begins in Hong Kong, with David Hayes convinced that the gear change could unlock another dimension for a grey colt whose best Australian form hinted at real talent. The move, timed for Sunday’s HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile, sees Public Attention (NZ) don the headgear for the first time since his import from Australia – a decision the trainer has deliberately held back for this pivotal Sha Tin test over 1600m. Placed at Group 1 level before export, Public Attention has quickly adapted to Hong Kong conditions, running top-four in all three local appearances so far. Stepping up to a mile and reunited with blinkers, the same setup that brought him a Group 3 victory in last year’s Eskimo Prince Stakes in Sydney, connections are hoping for a sharp edge when the pressure is turned up. The Written Tycoon gelding’s Australian credentials are substantial, and his new connections have designs on Hong Kong’s major prizes, with owner Karen Lo also campaigning Cap Ferrat, the reigning BMW Hong Kong Derby winner, and two-time Group 2 winner Straight Arron. “I think he’s been crying out for blinkers,” Hayes explained. “I think he’s primed to run well in what is a really, really competitive race – probably the best this season. He has very good form in Australia. It’ll be first-time blinkers. We’ve resisted putting them on, but we’ve saved it for this race. He raced in them in Australia.” Hayes knows what it takes to peak a horse for this circuit, having captured the Hong Kong Classic Mile twice before. Recent formlines suggest Public Attention is building to a major performance, with strong finishes behind Private Life in last year’s Caulfield Guineas and a midfield effort in New Zealand’s lucrative slot race at Ellerslie further underscoring his depth. Cheek pieces were the gear of choice when he first arrived in Hayes’s yard, netting a second and a third in initial Hong Kong runs, but Sunday’s engagement brings a new layer of expectation. The trainer also saddles Akashvani for the same feature, with Brenton Avdulla to ride Public Attention and Luke Ferraris aboard Akashvani. Sunday’s Classic Mile has drawn a deep field, including contenders like Sagacious Life, Little Paradise, Invincible Ibis, and Circuit Grand Slam. Reserves include Pope Cody, Daryl Flash, and The Golden Knight, among others, ensuring competition for a spot is fierce and the stage is set for a defining performance.
NEWFor Graffard the Racing World is His Oyster
Thursday, 29th January 2026
A new era of ambition is unfolding for Francis Graffard, as the renowned French trainer sets his sights on keeping a string of horses in the United States – with the ultimate dream of one day winning the Kentucky Derby. After a landmark 2025 season that brought his first Grade 1 American success with Gezora in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, Graffard is openly plotting a broader American campaign. The allure of US turf racing is clear for Graffard, who sees untapped potential for European horses on the American stage. "I love American racing, and I think there's plenty of opportunity, especially on turf," he said in a candid discussion on the BloodHorse Monday podcast. "I need a bit of time to organise myself, but I always think about having a bunch of horses in a stable over there to compete in the meeting at Saratoga. It should be my goal and my objective, because I have a big yard." While expansion is the long-term aim, Graffard is also motivated by the historic prestige of the Kentucky Derby, a race that has drawn the attention of top European trainers for generations. The momentum behind Graffard's aspirations is unmistakable. His breakthrough Breeders' Cup win capped a record-breaking year in which he notched up 14 Group 1 victories for a new French benchmark, including Daryz's triumph in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and Calandagan's coronation as Longines World's Best Racehorse. He became the only trainer to have two horses among the world's top nine, underscoring a season of rare achievement. Reflecting on the Breeders' Cup, Graffard was quick to praise both the event's stature and the opportunities it presents. "The Breeders' Cup is doing a fantastic job to make it a big, special event," he said. "It comes at the perfect time of year for European trainers and I will target all of them – the Breeders' Cup races – don't worry." But his American plans stretch well beyond championship weekends. Kentucky Downs, with its lucrative prize-money and bonus structure for Kentucky-breds, is a specific target. "I think Kentucky Downs is very interesting. Kentucky-breds have extra bonuses and the turf racing really suits the type of horses we have in Europe." There's a growing curiosity about dirt racing, too, sparked by a conversation with Ryan Moore in Hong Kong, who pointed out that the Japan Cup and Kentucky Derby are among the world's most elusive prizes. "I will be looking for dirt horses as well. Hopefully one day I can win the big one," Graffard enthused. As Graffard's ambitions turn west, his achievements are being recognised on the world stage. Princess Zahra Aga Khan accepted a special honour at the Japan Racing Association's Tokyo ceremony after Calandagan became the first foreign-trained horse acknowledged by the JRA for his Japan Cup victory. Calandagan's place as Longines World's Best Racehorse for 2025 is secure, with a return to the Dubai Sheema Classic and a defence of his Japan Cup title in the pipeline. For Graffard, a Kentucky Derby triumph would complete the circle, a crowning moment in a career already defined by bold international ventures.
NEWNeil Werrett Secures The Debut Runner-Up Share
Thursday, 29th January 2026
Interest in quality bloodstock remains high, as evidenced by a flurry of bidding that erupted during the latest Magic Millions Digital sale. Among the headline results, a 20 per cent share in recent The Debut runner-up Say You Will found a new home after being keenly contested by eight individual bidders. The final hammer fell at $30,000, with the share ultimately secured by Neil Werrett of Werrett Bloodstock a familiar figure in leading ownership ranks across the country. Munce Racing, acting as agent for an international client, managed the sale and was quick to praise the digital platform for its reach and efficiency. Trainer Chris Munce was enthusiastic about the outcome, describing the experience as “fantastic” and noting, “The support from Magic Millions Digital was fantastic and the results really do speak for themselves.” He went on to say, “A great outcome for our owners and our stable.” The appetite for ownership opportunities didn’t stop there. Another offering from Munce Racing, this time a 20 per cent share in Saxon Spirit, was hotly pursued, with 28 bids pushing the final price to $13,000. Such was the level of interest that bidding continued past the scheduled end time, highlighting just how sought-after the shares were among prospective buyers. Top price honours for the sale went to Lord Momo, an unexposed maiden galloper out of Western Australia. The son of Contributor caught the eye with a powerful second-place finish on debut at Bunbury, storming home from tenth at the 400-metre mark. His performance proved compelling enough for Perth trainer Brandon Fiore to go to $50,000 to secure the horse, fending off interest from buyers in both the west and eastern states. Fiore attributed much of his decision to the ease of the Magic Millions Digital process and the proactive communication from the sales team. “The platform is great,” he said. “I love buying tried horses and the platform is so easy to use.” He singled out Charlotte from Magic Millions Digital for praise, saying her pitch made all the difference in pursuing the purchase. Other successful vendors in the sale included leading outfits like Ciaron Maher Racing, Roll the Dice Racing and Mt Hallowell Stud. With entries for the next sale set to open, the digital platform continues to prove its value in connecting buyers and sellers nationwide.
NEWSeveral NZB Filly of The Year Permutations
Thursday, 29th January 2026
With the $1 million New Zealand Oaks drawing closer, the contest for the NZB Filly of the Year Series title is set to intensify over the coming weeks, as three pivotal races remain to determine this season’s standout. Saturday’s Gr2 Jennian Homes Lowland Stakes at Trentham, worth $175,000, is the ninth leg of an 11-race series, offering 8 points to the winner, 4 to the runner-up and 2 to third place. At the conclusion of the first eight legs, Well Written and Lollapalooza share the lead with 20 points each. Both are expected to turn their focus to the $4 million NZB Kiwi and are unlikely to add to their current tallies, leaving the door open for a dramatic reshuffle on the leaderboard in the final stages. Attention will soon shift to Te Rapa, where the Gr2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic is scheduled for February 7. This event carries an identical points structure to the Lowland and could further alter the makeup of the leaderboard. The ultimate decider, however, will be the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks, with 12 points on offer to the winner, 7 to second, and 3.5 to third, ensuring the series will remain in play right up until the grand finale. Several contenders sit poised to make their move. Origin Of Love lines up in the Lowland Stakes with 7 points, just one behind the trio of Ohope Wins, Tellum, and Tajana, all sitting on 8. A top-three finish would elevate her into outright third and keep her in the hunt as the pressure mounts. Crimson Sky also returns with points to her name, courtesy of a last-start third in the Desert Gold Stakes. Importantly, a victory in either the Lowland or the Fillies’ Classic—combined with success in the Oaks—could see any filly claim the series title, with a maximum of 20 points still available to those who are yet to win one of the remaining features. The battle for Filly of the Year status promises to be as open as it is fiercely contested. The stage is set for the Lowland Stakes as Race 6 at Trentham on Saturday, with connections keenly aware that a bold performance now could prove decisive in the race for New Zealand’s most coveted filly crown.
Tajana remains in the hunt for line honours (pic: Kenton Wright Race Images)
Breeders' Plate Form Clearly Not Incognito
Thursday, 29th January 2026
With only two runners from October's Gr3 Breeders' Plate having since raced, the third placed Revengeance (Hellbent) went on to win the $1m Gr3 Golden Gift while the fourth placed Paradoxium (Extreme Choice) won the Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic at his next start and was elevated to favourite for the $3m Magic Millions 2YO Classic before a bout of travel sickness saw him withdrawn. Ergo, surely the Breeder's Plate winner Incognito (Stay Inside-Bleu Zebra, by I Am Invincible) will be extremely hard to beat when he resumes in Saturday's Gr3 Canonbury Stakes at Randwick. With two trials under his belt ahead of resuming for his Golden Slipper campaign, the graduate of Eureka Stud's Magic Millions yearling sale draft when purchased for $1m by James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership and Tony Fung Colts, has drawn barrier six in the eight-horse field. Although everything points to Incognito remaining unbeaten, Coolmore and partners will be represented by the Chris Waller-trained colts Defenseman (Wootton Bassett-Upfront, by War Front) and Confederate (Wootton Bassett-Pretty Fast, by Not A Single Doubt). Purchased for $1.4m, Defenseman was third on debut before finishing fifth in the Golden Gift, while the $650,000 purchase Confederate is yet to race but has been given two trials in readiness ahead of his debut.
Miss Scandal Debuts in Widden Stakes
Thursday, 29th January 2026
Chris Waller's Miss Scandal (Home Affairs-Kylie's Fame, by More Than Ready), who is currently sitting on the equal fourth line of betting for the Gr1 Golden Slipper on March 21, makes her debut in Saturday's Gr3 Widden Stakes (1100m) with James McDonald in the saddle. Purchased for $320,000 from the draft of Westbury Stud at the New Zealand Bloodstock yearling sale by her trainer and Mulcaster Bloodstock, the juvenile filly is out of a daughter of the Gr2-winning, Gr1-placed Set For Fame (Reset). From barrier 6 in the field of 10, McDonald should be able to secure a good run in transit and if the wraps are true, she should be right in the finish. A narrow second on debut in the Kirkham Plate, the Peter Snowden trained Pearl Of Dubai (Wootton Bassett-Al Anood, by Danehill) is sure to have been improved by the run and with the Chris Waller trained Defenseman (Wootton Bassett) having finished third in that same race, you will get a guide on the form as he contests the race prior, the Gr3 Canonbury Stakes. With a few in the field coming through the 2YO race on January 17 won by Godolphin's Bivouac colt Outspan, the third placegetter Miss Chanel (Tagaloa-Talented, by Snitzel) looks to be a leading contender here for the Waterhouse and Bott yard.
Home Affairs Colt Ready to Strike at Ellerslie
Thursday, 29th January 2026
Ellerslie prepares to host a fresh round of juvenile contenders this Saturday as attention turns from last week's Karaka Millions to the Gr3 Colin Jillings Classic over 1200m. The latest running sees a field stacked with emerging talent, headlined by gelding Harvey Wallbanger who has already made his presence felt at the course, collecting a debut victory in October before finishing runner-up in the Gr2 Eclipse Stakes on New Year's Day. That effort was split by a solid second in the Counties Challenge at Pukekohe, making for an impressive sequence of stakes placings. Relief was the overriding emotion for Tony Pike when barrier draws came out midweek, having watched his charge endure wide gates and tricky runs from the tail in both recent Ellerslie and Pukekohe starts. "Thankfully he's got a draw that will allow him to be ridden where we want," Pike said, reflecting on luckless recent efforts by the son of Home Affairs. "His last two runs have been a hard watch coming wide from the back like he did and getting beaten by horses that had cosy runs. He had a week off after the Eclipse and he's come back well, so with a bit of luck from gate two we should see him put in the race. Rory (Hutchings) came over to gallop him on Tuesday morning and he worked well, so he's ready." A strong performance this weekend will likely confirm plans for a return to Ellerslie on Champions Day, with the Gr1 Sistema Stakes firmly on the radar. Pike has also nominated his two-year-old for the Gr1 Manawatu Sires' Produce at Trentham in late March, giving options if the autumn campaign continues as hoped. There will be little time for rest, with the Cambridge trainer set for a busy couple of days at both Ellerslie and Te Rapa, plus a solitary Wellington Cup runner. "Harvey Wallbanger looks like our best at Ellerslie, but the two in the Rating 75 1600 [mile] are good chances too," he said. "Awatere was impressive winning a Rating 65 last time and I'm confident he can make the step up, and Delz Abeel should enjoy the step up in distance after racing well in sprints. We've got a group of in-form maidens running at Te Rapa and any one of them can put up their hand. Frozen Fortune is a good sort of Proisir filly retained by her breeders and has shown enough to say she can be an early winner." At Trentham, Pike's focus will be on course specialist Slipper Island, aiming to bounce back in the Mode Technology Sprint following a luckless Gr1 Telegraph run. "His chances were more or less settled at the start and then he got stopped again trying to find a way through them at the top of the straight," Pike observed. "We've put a line through that, so with the drop in class and hopefully a clean run he can get a decent crack at them this time."
Harvey Wallbanger has his hoof on the till for Saturday (pic: Kenton Wright Race Images)
Boutet Thrilled With Maher Assocation
Thursday, 29th January 2026
French jockey Damien Boutet has been in Australia since 2021 and recently did all the trackwork on Ciaron Maher-trained Unit Five (Supido-En Aval, by Toorak Toff) ahead of his RL Magic Millions 2YO Classic victory, reports racingqueensland.com.au. On Friday night, he rode the Declan Maher-prepared Ancient Scent (Deep Field-Haybah, by More Than Ready) to victory under lights at the Gold Coast. "Declan was looking for a rider in the morning, he got in contact with me as we have some mutual friends and I just started to ride for him in November," Boutet said. "We are at the start, building the stable and we have had some great results with Declan, I think he has about 20 in work now. We are looking after a few horses for Ciaron, as well. So, everything went good. It is better for me in Queensland; I am really happy to be back on the Gold Coast." Boutet spent six months in Western Australia prior to landing on the Gold Coast without winning. "She is a filly that is not easy to ride," Boutet said of Ancient Scent who is a 5YO mare with a win from four starts. "She has come from a long way back because she broke her pelvis like a year ago. Like every morning, she just improved and improved, she's getting better. I got the winner on there on Friday, which went pretty well. I'm really happy at the moment. On the Gold Coast, I think it's pretty good to race on a night meeting and I really enjoyed it. I have put in a lot of work for the last few months and just to get the win on Friday, I was really happy. And, even for Declan, as well, it was my first ride for Declan. So, everyone was happy." On riding Unit Five, and second placed Tornado Valley (Too Darn Hot-Oklahoma Girl, by Fastnet Rock) in trackwork, Boutet said, "I was really happy to ride these kinds of horses in the morning. It's going pretty good actually. We had been doing all the prep every morning, all the gallops. We galloped them on the course proper on the Monday morning before the Magic Millions and I had a really good feeling on him, Unit Five, and he went good."
Homecoming For NSW Expat Galloper Zarastro
Thursday, 29th January 2026
Tony Gollan-trained Zarastro (I Am Invincible-Adrift, by Zabeel) hasn't run in Sydney since 2022 when trained by Chris Waller, but he'll be there on Saturday after missing the Magic Millions carnival in his current home state of Queensland, reports racingnsw.com.au. "We tried to get him ready for Magic Millions and just had a minor setback with him," Gollan said. "It put me on the back foot as far as the carnival. I trialled him before the Magic Millions day a couple of weeks ago and wasn't happy with him. I gave him another jump out at Deagon and he was really good so this was the logical option. He goes down in the right distance range, the right grade for him and he's always been competitive around this grade." He was second in the Gr1 Kingsford-Smith Cup over winter, then spent the spring in Melbourne but struggled that way around. "I probably went the wrong way with him, he had a funny winter in Brisbane and I couldn't get the race and the weather to suit him," he said. "He ran really good in the Kingsford Smith so I thought we'd float the idea of heading to Melbourne with a couple of options early in the spring. It just didn't work out, he wasn't the same, he wasn't as good on that leg." Zarastro won his trial by 2.5 lengths to set him for Saturday's effort. "I'm really happy with him, he's in good shape and I wouldn't bring him down if I wasn't happy with him," he said. "The 1200m is his key trip, he's been vulnerable fresh up over the 1000s. His record at six furlongs to 1350m is probably the best record I've had with him. His 1000s and 1100s and his run at 1400m is when he's been tested." Zarastro has won nine of his 30 starts and over $1.5 million. Originally a million dollar yearling, he was purchased by Tony Gollan in 2022 for $32,500 at an Inglis Digital Sale.
Zarastro was a million dollar yearling (pic: magicmillions.com.au)
Guyon Ready for Classic Mile Challenge
Thursday, 29th January 2026
Jockey Maxime Guyon will ride Top Dragon (Pierata-Mica Lil, by Testa Rossa) for trainer Chris So in Sunday's Listed Classic Mile at Sha Tin, according to hkjc.com. The race is the first leg of Hong Kong's 4YO Series which ends with the Listed Hong Kong Derby. Guyon won the Derby on Ambitious Dragon (Pins-Golden Gamble, by Oregon) in 2011. "It's a long time ago. It was my first time in Hong Kong. It was amazing to have the chance to win the Hong Kong Derby. I was young then; I was very lucky to ride Ambitious Dragon. He had a strong turn of foot. He was easy to ride, but he was just a really good horse," Guyon said. Top Dragon was third in a trial recently behind fellow Classic Mile runner Patch Of Cosmo (Super Seth-Thee, by Savabeel). "He's in good form. I trialled him over 1200 metres on the dirt, and he's an easy horse. He ran well last start, but he was a little bit unlucky. I'm really happy with him. We just gave him an easy gallop, just to make sure he was moving well." Top Dragon has done all his racing in Hong Kong and has won three of his 11 starts. Guyon's current contract in Hong Kong ends on March 1, and this stint, his biggest victory was aboard Sosie (Sea The Stars-Sosia, by Shamardal) in the Gr1 Hong Kong Vase. It was his third win in the race, having also won in 2023 on Junko (Intello-Lady Zuzu, by Dynaformer) and in 2014 on Flintshire (Dansili-Dance Routine, by Sadler's Wells).
O’Sullivan’s Evaluation of Filly is Well Written
Thursday, 29th January 2026
Even seasoned observers were left in no doubt by the electric finish produced over the final 300 metres at Ellerslie last Saturday, as Written Tycoon filly Well Written catapulted herself from promising prospect to headline act. The impact of that Karaka Millions 3YO triumph has rippled well beyond New Zealand, prompting both raves and reservations among analysts debating whether the performance marks her as a legitimate member of the elite Australian 3YO filly ranks. The Ratings Bureau’s Daniel O’Sullivan, writing for racing.com, left little ambiguity, suggesting she’s not only the real deal but a big deal. Performance ratings paint a persuasive picture. The filly clocked a 103.3 WFA Performance Rating, an elite number in itself, but it was the manner in which she posted it that impressed most. Rapid acceleration off a solid tempo is a signature reserved for only the truly special. That ability, layered over an unblemished record of five wins from as many starts and peak ratings now stretching from 99.5 to 100.5 and up to Saturday’s 103.3, signals a horse still trending upward. Context is revealing. Since the start of the 2017/18 season, only one New Zealand 3YO has produced a higher mark: Imperatriz, who ran 103.5 when winning the Gr1 NZ Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes over a mile, having already delivered a 102 at 1400m. She remains the natural point of comparison for the new star on the block. A glance across the Tasman to where potential Australian opposition awaits, only cements that standing. In Australia, the highest-rated 3YO filly this season, Tempted, posted marks of 104 and 103.6 but both efforts were over sprint trips at 1200m. Shift the focus to 3YO races between 1400m and 1600m, and the benchmark dips. Sheza Alibi tops the list with a 100.5 in the Sandown Guineas, while among the colts, Beiwacht’s 108 in the Golden Rose stands alone, with only a handful matching the 100 mark. For a filly yet to taste defeat and already stacking up against some of the best recent benchmarks, the hype swirling around her is supported by substance. The numbers – and the manner – both say she belongs in any conversation about the elite.
Oui Oui Oui Gets Provincial Midway Final Nod
Thursday, 29th January 2026
High hopes are building around the early favourite for the $1m Provincial-Midway Championships Final, with trainer Jason Attard quietly confident he’s guiding a “pretty special” talent through another progressive campaign, reports racingnsw.com.au. Unbeaten in three starts this prep and boasting five wins from nine outings, Oui Oui Oui sits at the top of the TAB market at $6 following the release of the initial Provincial-Midway Championships Final odds. Only last year’s winner Matcha Latte, at $8, is also under double figures in the opening market. The Hawkesbury-based daughter of The Everest winner Yes Yes Yes has been thriving under Attard’s care. “I’m hoping to trial her at Warwick Farm next Tuesday over 1200m,” he explained, mapping a careful path towards the opening heat of the series at Hawkesbury on February 19. “Oui Oui Oui will have only the one trial prior to the opening heat of the series over 1400m at Hawkesbury,” Attard said, outlining a program designed to keep her at peak without overtaxing her. A short break followed her back-to-back wins at Randwick in December, but the filly hasn’t missed a beat. “She had a nice gallop on the B grass at Hawkesbury on Tuesday morning,” Attard noted. “She isn’t a big gross mare, and retains her fitness pretty well. By going to the first heat at Hawkesbury, it gives us options later in the series should she not qualify the first time.” The format guarantees both Provincial and Midway runners an opportunity, with the first two placegetters in each heat assured a start in the $1m Final at Randwick on April 11. Attention also turns to stablemate Cryptonic, who is slated to run at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday in the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap, with Tommy Berry to ride. Cryptonic opened his campaign with a win at Kembla Grange before finishing sixth at Rosehill, but Attard remains positive. “I wasn’t disappointed with his run; he was beaten only three lengths.” With four career wins, Cryptonic remains eligible for the series, and could yet join Oui Oui Oui as another live contender for Attard’s team as the Provincial-Midway Championships build momentum.
Karaka Book 2 KPIs Through the Roof
Thursday, 29th January 2026
After a record-shattering opening session at NZB’s 100th National Yearling Sale, momentum carried straight through to Book 2 on Tuesday, delivering results that left seasoned market-watchers blinking at the numbers. With just 188 yearlings catalogued, the condensed session tallied a remarkable $12,247,000 in total sales, a figure that would have seemed outlandish for Book 2 in years gone by. Benchmarks from previous years tumbled as the session closed on an average price of $65,144 (up 80%), a median of $60,000 (soaring 124%), and a clearance rate of 76%. The shift in format – putting Book 2 horses in front of a broad international buying bench – was described as pivotal by NZB Managing Director Andrew Seabrook. “As we had expected, putting the Book 2 horses in front of the international buyers has been key,” Seabrook explained. He added, “To see a $2.5 million increase in turnover from a catalogue with 146 fewer horses, the results are just extraordinary really.” Australian buyers made their presence felt, with Wylie Dalziel among those to praise the changes. “Credit due to the team here for getting all the Book 2 horses on the grounds early,” Dalziel noted, highlighting a frustration of previous years when logistics had limited inspection opportunities. “Now, Peter Moody and I have had the chance to steal some good ones. We’ve had really good success buying out of Karaka, especially at this kind of price point. We couldn’t be happier.” Competition was fierce for standout lots, with Busuttin Racing ultimately landing the session topper after Lot 601, a filly by Embellish out of Queen of Wizardy, offered by Cambridge Stud, was passed in, then secured for $200,000. Cambridge Stud, recently crowned Leading Vendor for the 34th time at Book 1, added another title by selling 14 Book 2 yearlings for just under $1.2 million. Little Avondale Stud’s select draft saw it take Leading Vendor by average, with five lots sold at an average of $103,000. Shocking, standing at Rich Hill Stud, emerged as leading sire by average, with three yearlings averaging $121,667, topped by Lot 762 (ex Gardenier), who fetched $160,000 from Hong Kong’s Lok Lor. With the curtain closing on Book 2, focus now shifts to the inaugural Karaka Summer Sale, which gets underway Thursday from 11am, preceded by a public BBQ at the Garden Bar the previous evening. All yearlings sold at Karaka 2026 are eligible for the lucrative Karaka Millions Series, which features the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO, $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO and $1m NZB Mega Maiden Series. Entries close Monday, 2 March 2026, for those seeking a place in New Zealand’s richest juvenile and classic races.
Lot 601 was the sale-topper at Karaka Book 2 in 2026 (pic: nzb.co.nz)
Devonport Cup Star on Hobart Cup Path
Thursday, 29th January 2026
Momentum is building towards the Ladbrokes Hobart Cup as Glen Stevenson eyes a breakthrough in one of Tasmania’s premier staying contests, buoyed by a string of strong performances from his Devonport Cup winner. Recent efforts have only heightened expectations, with a gritty second placing in the $100,000 Summer Cup at weight-for-age confirming that Asva is on target for the state’s headline race. Success at Devonport on 7 January marked a new career peak, and the follow-up run behind Bank Maur in the Summer Cup further strengthened Stevenson’s belief that his gelding has more to offer. “We had to give Asva a run before going to the Hobart Cup, and the Summer Cup was the logical choice, and I’m rapt with how he handled the trip (2200m) and the track,” Stevenson explained, noting the importance of timing a horse’s peak for these major assignments. “In these types of races, it is all about getting your horse to peak at the right time, and I am confident we have Asva exactly where he needs to be to win a Hobart Cup.” Luck at the barrier draw is the one variable Stevenson is keenly watching. “We will still have to have a bit of luck at the barrier draw, so ideally I’d love him to draw between gate one and four.” Despite his record of success at Devonport, Stevenson is still chasing an elusive victory in either of the state’s major cups. While the Devonport Cup was always the main aim this prep, the Summer Cup effort has shifted expectations. “I admit the Devonport Cup was Asva’s main mission, but after his Summer Cup effort, I am more confident he is capable of more. He carried 59kg in the Summer Cup and still showed a decent turn of foot when Codi (Jordan) asked for it, and he is going to drop to the minimum of 54kg in the Hobart Cup, and that’s going to be a big advantage.” The handicap conditions are set to play their part, with Bank Maur, rated 94, likely to carry top weight, handing Asva at least a 5kg swing for a narrow defeat over 2200m. While both runners have yet to win beyond their respective comfort zones, Bank Maur brings Group 1 depth as a Moonee Valley winner and proven competitor over varying distances. Stevenson isn’t making plans beyond Monday’s Hobart Cup, preferring to keep all focus on his stable star’s next challenge. “We will wait and see how he comes through the Hobart Cup, but that might be enough for him this prep.”
