Wednesday, 18th June 2025
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  • Boom So You Think 2YO Sold to Hong Kong

    Thursday, 19th June 2025
    After dazzling in the Listed Champagne Stakes at Ellerslie last month, promising 2YO Do You Just has been sold and is headed to Hong Kong to continue his career, according to racingnews.co.nz. The son of So You Think delivered a dominant 6.5-length win in the 1600m feature, a breakthrough performance that confirmed what connections had suspected for some time – that the youngster had elite ability. Co-trainer Lance O'Sullivan, who held a share in the gelding along with Waikato Stud, his daughter Caitlin O'Sullivan Doyle and her husband Tom Doyle, said the manner of the victory was more confirmation than revelation. "The only surprise about his stakes win was that he hadn't produced that kind of performance before then," O'Sullivan said. "We certainly thought he was up to it. As we went, we found out a bit about him, and the reason why he hadn't been was because he'd never raced right-handed before that. He trialled particularly well right-handed, and the first start he had right-handed, he did that." Originally purchased for $250,000 from Carlaw Park's draft at New Zealand Bloodstock's National Yearling Sales, the plan had been to keep Do You Just racing as a colt. But once gelded, a change in direction became inevitable. "He was purchased as a colt, but once he had to be gelded, he was no real value to Waikato Stud, as they would generally race fillies or colts," O'Sullivan explained. "I also raced 20 percent of the horse myself." While there's always a touch of sadness in letting go of a talent like Do You Just, O'Sullivan said the sale was a rational and successful outcome for all parties. "When we sell a horse out of the stable, the one thing we hope is that they turn out really well, so the owners will come back in the future. It is the way racing is; some people choose to keep them, but this horse was purchased for $250,000 at the sales, and he paid his way and sold for a profit. Hopefully, we can repeat the same sort of exercise in the future and the horse can remain a colt, but he just wasn't going to make a racehorse as a colt. We hope he can go up to Hong Kong and turn into a top horse for his new connections." Standing at Coolmore Stud again in 2025, So You Think (High Chaparral) is enjoying another halcyon period where he has been producing winners on a veritable production line basis.

    Do You Just

    Do You Just's career will continue in Hong Kong (pic: Kenton Wright Race Images)

  • Dream Royal Ascot Debut for Mark Zahra

    Thursday, 19th June 2025
    Australian jockey Mark Zahra lit up Royal Ascot with a dream debut, guiding Docklands (Massaat) to a sensational Group 1 victory in the Queen Anne Stakes (1600m), reports racing.com. Despite a $15 starting price and losing his whip in the final stages, Zahra timed his run to perfection, diving late to nose out favourite Rosallion ($3.50) in a thrilling finish to the opening race of the carnival. The win marked a first Group 1 triumph for British trainer Harry Eustace, brother of Ciaron Maher’s former training partner David, and added a sixth top-level win to Zahra’s already prolific season. Owned by OTI Racing, Docklands is no stranger to Australian interests and now shapes as a serious Cox Plate contender, with connections planning a return to Melbourne in spring after the gelding finished fifth behind Via Sistina in last year’s edition. “It’s unbelievable to win on my first Royal Ascot ride, for friends of mine,” Zahra said. “This just started as a stop-off on the way to a trip to Ibiza, so to turn into a massive win like this is very special. My family back home are watching and they will be absolutely thrilled.” The moment was not lost on Zahra, who added with a grin, “Hearing all the Aussies over the fence – even though the horse is English – you’d have thought he was Aussie by all the screams.” Zahra settled Docklands off a modest pace before weaving through traffic in the straight. “It was a pedestrian speed the whole way, if I’m honest, and I just wanted to make sure I was there when the sprint came on for a horse like him that takes a while to build up,” he explained. “So, I got right up the back of them and just needed a bit of room, Ryan (Moore) dropped off inside me which allowed me to burst through.” Despite being headed in the closing stages, Docklands dug deep. “When he quickened he went well and we just had to fight off the other horse. He never headed me and Docklands just kept fighting. He’s a very tough horse and loves this track. He fought well.” In a post-race quip to ITV Racing, Zahra joked about the whip rule: “I was so scared about the whip rules I thought it would just be easier to throw it away at the 200.” Fellow Australian connections also had reason to be buoyed, with Carl Spackler making a solid debut for Ciaron Maher and owner Yulong. He loomed ominously at the 200-metre mark before being swamped late and, like Docklands, is being aimed at October’s Cox Plate.

  • Deep Field Filly Looks Special for Country Trainer

    Thursday, 19th June 2025
    Bendigo trainer Toby Lake will set 3YO Filly Fieldelo (Deep Field-Pomelo, by Lope De Vega) for Listed AR Creswick Stakes in early July if she comes through her first city test on Saturday at Flemington, reported racenet.com.au. "Saturday just determines her next step, whether we go to the Creswick Final in two weeks or whether we wait for something else thereafter," Lake said. "We're going to learn a lot about her on Saturday but she's going to line up in really good order. We don't know where her ceiling is." A winner on debut in November, Fieldelo kept her unbeaten record when winning at Bendigo last start. "It worked out there was a soft option at Bendigo for her so we went there. She's a young horse and as we saw at her first start, she did a lot wrong but was still able to win. We just thought, if we took her to the softest option and she did it again, she might get away with it, but she blew them away." Lake has only had his training licence for two years. "She came to me a bit over 12 months ago and she was half broken in. The breakers had a bit of difficulty with her and through a friend and good client, Mark Schiavello, she arrived at my stables basically with the plan to just get her back on track. She needed to have some education and get her career on the right path. I could see very early on that she was a very sharp filly and she was a point-and-shoot type. I only had to show her something once and she'd pick it up so we let her come around. She was a little bit hot and cantankerous when she first started but she's starting to really enjoy her racing as she showed at Bendigo. We just nurtured her along and gave the best start to life we could and she's ready for the next step." Fieldelo was a $100,000 purchase from Sullivan Bloodstock's Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale draft.

  • Parnham Hoping to Thwart Pike's Title Bid

    Thursday, 19th June 2025
    Chris Parnham has defied the odds to make an early return to racing, just two months after a horror fall left his season hanging in the balance. The Perth-based jockey was sidelined in April when Midnight Minstrel came down late in a Pinjarra race, resulting in a fractured C7 vertebrae and fears his stellar 2024–25 campaign was prematurely over. But after weeks of rehab and a steady return to trackwork, Parnham is back in action at Bunbury on Wednesday with four rides booked and a renewed focus on the local premiership. Before the fall, Parnham had been leading the charge nationally with 123 winners, well on track for another standout season. While a second national title has slipped from reach – Blake Shinn, William Pike and Lucy Fiore have all moved ahead in the standings – he remains on top in Perth with 92 city winners, narrowly ahead of Pike's 90.5. "I'm excited to back, for sure," Parnham told The Races WA. "I rode track work last week and gradually stepped it up every day. I'm obviously a bit sore when you first come back, that's pretty normal. But the neck is really good and I feel good. I feel like I'm ready and there is no issue with my neck." The return of the 90-time black-type race winner adds intrigue to the closing stages of the Perth jockeys' premiership. Parnham admits it's motivating to be in the mix but insists health came first. "A little bit, a little bit," he said when asked if chasing the title was driving his comeback. "The neck was the number one priority, but it will be nice to come back and win if I can. If I can't, I can't, but I'll give myself every chance. It will be nice, but he's a hard man to beat. There's still a fair way to go." Although he missed trials, Parnham is confident that a full week of trackwork was enough to blow out the cobwebs. "As set of trials would have been good but a week of track work is good enough." He returns to race riding with a full book of four rides: Flash Dancer in race two, Yankee Ace in the third, Nickelplay in race seven and Manhattan Strip in the last. With only a handful of weeks left in the season, Parnham's comeback could yet deliver a memorable finish.

  • Large 2YO Field Assembled for Gosford Maiden

    Thursday, 19th June 2025
    With a host of juvenile races being scheduled at the moment with connections trying to ensure a "winner at 2" appears on their pedigree page, Thursday's Sneddon Bros 2YO Maiden Plate (1100m) saw an initial 20 acceptances (including six emergencies). With some runners who had also accepted for Wednesday looking like they will run on Thursday instead, the race appears wide open with 15 contestants yet to face the starter on race day. Bjorn Baker will saddle up two runners on debut, with both having had two trials each, and interestingly they competed against each other in their first trial, won by Big Papa (Astern-Papilio, by Redoute's Choice). Drawn barrier 12 with Joshua Parr in the saddle, Baker's Pencarrow Thoroughbreds Ltd-bred Big Papa took out his first trial by a length a half, with stablemate Pyrolysis (Zoustar-Princess Wildfire, by Sepoy) performing well in third. Big Papa then went on to finish second in his next trial, while the Widden Stud consigned, Magic Millions weanling graduate Pyrolysis went on to impress in her next trial, winning by just under a length and a half for race day jockey Dylan Gibbons. With four trials to her record, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bot trained Tomato Toastie (Too Darn Hot-Al Naifa, by Redoute's Choice) had accepted, but was scratched for Wednesday's race, and although she is first emergency here, the Michael Freedman-trained Shredded (Anders) has been withdrawn, so the filly has secured a run. Out of a stakes-placed half-sister to Gr1 winner and Champion 2YO & 3YO Filly English (Encosta de Lago), the Ridgmont Farm and partners-raced juvenile has drawn gate five with Regan Bayliss in the saddle.

    English

    English (pictured) is closely related to Tomato Toestie (pic: Steve Hart)

  • Jolly Stable Losing Some but Winning More

    Thursday, 19th June 2025
    Prominent Adelaide trainer Richard Jolly is bullish about the prospects of Losesomewinmore stepping up in class at Flemington on Saturday, confident the progressive gelding can maintain his unbeaten record over the 1100-metre straight course at headquarters. A two-time winner from three Flemington starts, the five-year-old lines up in an open handicap carrying just 54kg and is expected to be well suited by both the weight drop and the race set-up. Losesomewinmore has enjoyed a solid Melbourne campaign, saluting second-up on ANZAC Day in Benchmark 78 grade before a narrow defeat over 1000m at Sandown last start. “At Sandown he just drew the outside gate, which probably cost him winning,” Jolly said. “The horse that beat him had the better run and got up on the fence while he was out wide making a run, so just the barrier probably cost him otherwise he would have been two-for-two.” Zac Spain, who won aboard Star Sirius for the stable at Flemington in May, takes the ride. Jolly said the horse has thrived stabled at Flemington, where the team has had a presence since March, complementing their Adelaide base. “I've got no question that he's up to it, especially when you get a horse like him, he's been carrying bigger weights in those Benchmark races and he's dropping down to 54kg,” Jolly added. “That kind of alleviates the rise in class, I think.” Stablemate Great Maximus is also bound for Flemington, targeting a 1420-metre Benchmark 84 handicap after back-to-back wins in South Australia. “He's won his last couple and he's been to Melbourne before and been pretty competitive,” Jolly said. “We’ve just been waiting for the chance to bring him over again. We just need to get his rating up a bit to get a run in these kinds of races.” With a current rating of 82, Great Maximus is now positioned to sneak into stronger events. “He ran in a higher Benchmark race at Murray Bridge with no weight and won. He then went to a lower race with a big weight and won again, in some awful conditions that day,” Jolly said. “He’s just progressing well, he’s an honest horse and I think he’s well and truly in his right place heading over.” Jolly confirmed the gelding would likely travel across from Adelaide later in the week, allowing them to assess the barrier draw before finalising plans.

  • Field Of Gold Majestic in St James's Palace Stakes

    Thursday, 19th June 2025
    Billed as the rclash of Guineas winners, the Gr1 St James's Palace Stakes on day one of Royal Ascot was turned into a procession by Field Of Gold (Kingman-Princess de Lune, by Shamardal), who won by three-and-a-half lengths, reports racingpost.com. "He's had a trial, two Guineas and now this. That's a lot of races and we're not even halfway through the season yet," co-trainer John Gosden. "Maybe we'll freshen him up and go to the Sussex. I think if he hadn't run in Ireland I would have probably been keen to go to the Eclipse, but I don't want to push him. When they win like that they make it look easy, but they are taking a lot out of themselves and I wouldn't want to be going to an Eclipse in a couple of weeks." Second in the Gr1 Two Thousand Guineas to Ruling Court (Justify-Inchargeofme, by High Chaparral), who was third in the St James's Palace Stakes, Field Of Gold won the Irish version leading into this victory. "It was a great performance," Gosden said. "Oisin [Murphy, on Windlord] did a nice job doing an even pace. Colin had a lot of horse and, for a second, I thought, 'Whoops, this is Ascot – it climbs all the way to the finish line, and we've gone a bit soon'. I didn't watch him, I looked back – you always have to look back for the dangers, and fortunately, none was coming. He always impressed as a two-year-old, but he was a big boy and outgrew himself. We ran him in France, it was a mistake. I should have run him in the Dewhurst and I regret that. This year he has been exemplary in everything he has done. He's been a pleasure to train, because he's a pretty laid-back character. That's useful."

  • Star Tasmanian Cohort Bringing Denise Joy

    Thursday, 19th June 2025
    In Tasmania, Star Thoroughbreds’ standout purple and white colours remain a familiar sight in the winner’s circles, and Tuesday morning’s Devonport trials added further polish to what’s already been a standout 2024/25 season. According to tasracining.com.au, the Sydney-based operation notched three of the morning’s nine trial winners with Earendel, Mazzini, and Azonto, all poised to represent the stable again at Devonport on 29 June. Denise Martin, principal of Star Thoroughbreds, is aiming to be trackside. “If I can make it work following the Tatts Tiara meeting (in Brisbane) on Saturday, I’ll be down there as we’ll have those three along with possibly Simply Deep and some other runners of Barry’s (Campbell),” she said. With more than 20 Tasmanian winners this season, Star Thoroughbreds continues to strengthen its commitment to the state. Among their headline acts is Durazzo, who has strung together a seven-win campaign that includes the Carpet Charge and Listed Hellova Street Stakes. His performances have him in strong contention for Ladbrokes Horse of the Year, while attention now shifts to the impending debut of his full brother, Mazzini. The son of Needs Further and Arenzano has been flawless in three trial appearances, most recently recording an emphatic victory over debut winner Onlyforaminute on Tuesday. Martin revealed it wasn’t easy securing Mazzini at the 2024 Tasmanian Magic Millions Yearling Sale. “I received a call from the team who were at the sales that year, who said you must buy this horse,” she said. “I initially suggested we would go to $80,000, but there were two other very astute buyers at the sale who wanted the horse as well. When we went to $145,000, I thought ‘you better be good’ but we’ve been so impressed with what we’ve seen so far.” Martin was once again active at this year’s Tasmanian Magic Millions, maintaining her long-standing support of the local industry. “It’s very early days, but things are seemingly going well with the two we purchased this year. They’re both named, the colt is called Ramiro and the filly is Alkira,” she said of the $80,000 and $70,000 yearlings. A proud Tasmanian now based in Sydney, Martin has always ensured her stable is well represented on home turf. “We usually have between six and 10 horses racing in Tassie, and it’s important because I know the state can produce quality horses.” Star Thoroughbreds’ Tasmanian winners this season include Durazzo (7), Carneros (3), Earendel (3), Sanniya (2 – Magic Millions Classic and Gold Sovereign), Azonto (2) and Simply Deep (2). “We’re having a wonderful run in Tassie at the moment, but I’m realistic enough to know it can turn at any time, that’s just how the Ferris Wheel runs.”


    Durazzo

    Durazzo is a chance for Horse of the Year (pic: Robyn Whishaw)

  • Williams Imparts Wisdom to Qld Apprentices

    Thursday, 19th June 2025
    Craig Williams understands the value of mentorship because he’s lived it firsthand. Now a multiple Group 1-winning jockey with a Melbourne Cup on his resume, Williams has never forgotten the people who helped shape his early years in the saddle. So when the opportunity arose to speak with Racing Queensland’s apprentice jockeys during a special mentoring session at Deagon, he didn’t hesitate, reports racingqueensland.com.au. The 48-year-old drew from a wealth of international and domestic experience during the session, sharing insights on discipline, sacrifice, and the evolving demands of the profession. “I’m only in the position I am because people helped me along the way – guys like Darren Gauci, Damien Oliver, Cash Asmussen, Frankie Dettori, Michael Kinane and Christophe Soumillon,” Williams said. “It’s fundamental that we, the riders, give back, and they are our future.” Williams, who has spent extended time in Queensland for this year’s Racing Carnival, took part thanks to his connection with former champion jockey Michael Cahill, now a mentor and educator within the Apprentice Jockey Program. “It’s great to get a good turnout, and for me to give back to our industry,” he said. “It’s great to see that the future is bright for Australian racing, looking at the apprentices that we have on offer.” Williams began his career under the guidance of his father, Group 1-winning trainer Allan Williams, and landed his first metro winner in 1993 at Caulfield. Since then, he’s notched up 82 Group 1 victories, including the 2019 Melbourne Cup, as well as triumphs in the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and The Everest. He’s also tasted success in elite company overseas, riding in the UK, France, Japan, Singapore, the UAE and Hong Kong. Queensland has been the scene of several memorable moments too, including his Stradbroke wins aboard Sniper’s Bullet (2007) and Tofane (2021). Reflecting on the changing landscape for young riders, Williams said today’s apprentices have access to resources and tools he could only have dreamed of in his early days. “They’re definitely set up to have a lot more access to things that weren’t there in the past,” he said. “But the demand on apprentices now is a lot different… they’re up to speed with things that matter on a daily basis.” Still actively competing at the highest level, Williams is currently in pursuit of a tenth Melbourne jockeys’ premiership. He believes the future is in good hands with mentors like Cahill and Robbie Fradd guiding the next wave of stars through Queensland’s ranks.

  • Altieri and Gemma’s Son back for Beaufine

    Thursday, 19th June 2025
    More than a year has passed since Embroja-Lee Altieri saddled up her first winner, but the memory of that breakthrough triumph at Albany lingers as vividly as ever. It wasn’t just the race – it was the setting, the horse, the circumstances, related racingwa.com.au. The inaugural running of the Bluff Knoll slot race delivered a fairytale start to the young trainer’s career when Gemma’s Son upstaged favourite Oscar’s Fortune, sparking emotions Altieri still hopes to replicate. “There won’t be anything like the Bluff Knoll,” she told Racing WA. “Just being the first one and the way he won. The whole weekend was just a blur.” The son of Snippetson had already won eight races, including a Perth Magic Millions double, under former trainer David Harrison. But in a show of generosity, Harrison handed the reins to Altieri, who had long worked behind the scenes under his mentorship. Gemma’s Son has not replicated the same heights since joining her stable, but the now 7YO gelding showed he still has fire in the belly with a sharp recent trial—his final tick ahead of a return in next month’s Listed Beaufine Stakes (1000m). “He’s had foot problems and the plan all along was to bring him back for the softer tracks,” Altieri observed. “He still loves his work and is really happy.” With two quiet trials under his belt, Altieri believes her stable star is ready to make an impact first-up on July 5. His most recent trial, under Lucy Fiore, was especially encouraging. Without being asked to fully extend, Gemma’s Son cruised through the line with ease, suggesting he’s well in himself and showing no signs of tapering off. “He went super,” Altieri said. “I might be a bit biased but I’m confident he will go close first-up. His gallops at home have been very good.” For Altieri, that first win at Albany was more than a result on paper; it marked the moment she stepped into the spotlight. “For him to be my first winner was a fairytale,” she said. “I love all my horses, but he’s very special to me.” A $20,000 yearling who’s returned more than $1.3 million to connections, Gemma’s Son was runner-up to Nerodio in the 2021 Beaufine and now returns to the same race with his trainer hoping lightning can strike again.

    Embroja-Lee Altieri

    Embroja-Lee Altieri after winning the Bluff Knoll (pic: racingwa.com.au)
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2023 BTR Stud Stallions

BTP STUD STALLIONS

Sire
A Lot Established
Acrobat Established
Al Maher Established
Alabama Express Established
All American Established
All Too Hard Established
Alpine Eagle Established
Alpine Edge 2nd Season
Anamoe 3rd Season
Anders Established
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Awesome Rock Established
Barbados Established
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Best Of Bordeaux Established
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Broadsiding Established
Bruckner 3rd Season
Bull Point Established
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Capitalist Established
Captivant 1st crop 2YOs
Castelvecchio Established
City Of Troy Established
Cliff's Edge Established
Cogburn 1st Season
Cool Aza Beel Established
Cylinder 2nd Season
D'argento Established
Danerich Established
Dash For Cash Established
De Gaulle Established
Delaware 1st crop 2YOs
Denman Established
Dirty Work Established
Dissident Established
Don Corleone 2nd Season
Doubtland Established
Dubious Established
Dundeel Established
Ellsberg 3rd Season
Encryption Established
Exceedance Established
Exosphere Established
Extreme Choice Established
Farnan Established
Flying Artie Established
Foxwedge Established
Frankel My Dear Established
Gingerbread Man Established
Gold Standard Established
Graff Established
Grunt Established
Hallowed Crown Established
Harry Angel Established
Hawaii Five Oh 2nd Season
Headwater Established
Hellbent Established
Hitotsu 3rd Season
Home Affairs Established
I Am Immortal Established
I Am Invincible Established
Ilovethiscity Established
Invader Established
Jacquinot 3rd Season
Ka Ying Master 3rd Season
Kermadec Established
King Colorado 2nd Season
King's Legacy Established
Lofty Strike 2nd Season
Lord Of The Sky Established
Love Conquers All Established
Manhattan Rain Established
Maschino Established
Master Of Design Established
Maurice Established
Merchant Navy Established
Mo'unga 2nd Season
Murtajill Established
My Admiration Established
Native Trail 2nd Season
Needs Further Established
Nicconi Established
Nostradamus Established
Officiating 2nd Season
Ole Kirk Established
Pariah Established
Paulele 3rd Season
Pierata Established
Pierro Established
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Playing God Established
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Power Established
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Shinzo Established
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Skilled Established
Smart Missile Established
Snitzel Established
So Secret Established
So You Think Established
Soul Patch Established
Southport Tycoon 1st Season
Spirit Of Boom Established
Squamosa Established
St Mark's Basilica Established
Star Turn Established
Star Witness Established
Street Boss Established
Super One Established
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Swear Established
Sweet Ride 2nd Season
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Time To Reign Established
Too Darn Hot Established
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Traffic Warden Established
Trapeze Artist Established
Turffontein Established
Unite And Conquer Established
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Victor Ludorum 1st crop 2YOs
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Winning Rupert Established
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Wootton Bassett Established
Worthy Cause Established
Written By Established
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Your Song Established
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