A dramatic Adelaide Cup produced the biggest victory of Jett Stanley’s career, although the young rider did not immediately know he had won after American Wolf (Tivaci) lunged for the line in a gripping photo finish at Morphettville. Moments after the post, Stanley was dislodged by the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained stayer and was jogging back toward the mounting yard when the crucial news arrived, reports racing.com. Paramedics checking on the 21YO rider were the ones who delivered the verdict following the photo, confirming that American Wolf had prevailed by the narrowest of margins over Highland Bling in a stirring finish between the two stayers. “The ambos asked whether I was okay? I said to them tell me the result of the photo and I’ll tell you. One of the ambos said American Wolf and you’ve won. The limp cleared up quickly,” Stanley said with a laugh. “I actually said are you joking and then the crowd started yelling. It’s something I won’t forget.” Reunited with his mount after the horse had been caught by the clerk of the course, Stanley was legged back aboard before returning to scale to celebrate what he described as the most important win of his career. Only 12 days earlier he had partnered Asva to victory in the Launceston Cup, but the Group 2 success in Adelaide quickly eclipsed that achievement. “He’s a proper stayer. Hopefully we can see him on the first Tuesday in November,” Stanley said. The victory capped a remarkable fortnight for the young jockey, who estimated he had travelled roughly 18,000 kilometres across the country while chasing rides. His recent schedule had taken him from Darwin to Launceston, while the previous weekend alone included meetings at Murray Bridge on Saturday and Stony Creek on Sunday before returning to Adelaide for the Cup. The pace will not slow either, with Stanley heading to Sydney immediately after the meeting to partner Jenni The Fox for owner Tony Ottobre and trainer Ciaron Maher in the Coolmore Classic. “I’ve done a Group 3, now a Group 2 today and hopefully I tick off a Group 1 on Saturday,” he said. The Cup itself was filled with drama long before the tight finish. Berkeley Square missed the start by several lengths after standing flat-footed in the barriers, while Komaichi injected speed into the contest by opening a sizeable mid-race lead before the field reeled him in. Turning for home, Highland Bling surged to the front under Lachie Neindorf before American Wolf emerged to challenge, the pair staging a prolonged duel that carried them to the post locked together. Young said the victory represented a carefully planned target for the horse, who had shown steady improvement throughout the preparation. “This was always going to be his grand final, but we were scared he wasn’t going to get in. Sixth start in today, Jett rode him a treat and he’s coming along in leaps and bounds. He’s becoming such a good jockey,” she said.
NEWBootlegger Refuses to Lie Down in Guineas
Tuesday, 10th March 2026
A determined finishing effort down the Morphettville straight saw Bootlegger capture Monday’s Listed Morphettville Guineas on Adelaide Cup Day, delivering a first stakes success for the Robert Hill-Smith-owned Too Darn Hot gelding and a rewarding result for the training partnership of Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray. After an early contest for the lead, the gelding eventually settled just behind the front-runner Uptown Monk before jockey Emily Finnegan angled him back to the inside approaching the 300m. As reveald by racenet.com.au, once presented with clear running, Bootlegger responded strongly under pressure, grinding his way past the tiring leader and forging clear to defeat Victorian visitor Cannae and Dirty Old Town, while longshot Oui Oui Ma Cherie produced a bold performance to finish fourth over the mile. MacGillivray said the victory was particularly pleasing for connections, who had long believed the horse possessed the ability to measure up in stakes company. “I know that Robert Hill-Smith will be at home screaming at a screen – he'll be very excited,” MacGillivray said. He reserved special praise for Finnegan, who has become a trusted rider for the stable since stepping in when apprentice Tala Hutchinson suffered an injury nearly a year ago. “Emily rode her brilliantly … he found for her and that's exactly what we expected to see. She's done a good job and has been there when our apprentice Tala Hutchinson injured herself about 12 months ago. Emily stepped up, she's been at Murray Bridge every morning to ride the horses. She's basically done nothing wrong, things happen in racing as we know, she's vindicated today and she's ridden brilliantly – let's celebrate today.” Finnegan said she was grateful for the continued support from the stable, particularly with many leading riders travelling to Adelaide for the feature meeting. “I'm just rapt to have the opportunity to ride some really nice horses for Dan and Oopy, they've got some real talent in the stable,” she said. “I thought there might have been a question mark with the big jockeys coming over today but they were very loyal (to me) … and I couldn't be any more grateful.” The Morphettville crowd was treated to further highlights across the early races, including a striking display from the Yulong-owned Mathematician, who stamped himself as a promising young talent when dominating a 1050m event for trainer Will Clarken under Jamie Melham. Melham continued her successful afternoon by guiding the Ciaron Maher-trained mare Celerity (Exceed and Excel) to victory in the Listed Manihi Classic before completing a riding treble later in the day aboard Phillip Stokes’ Arran Bay (All Too Hard) in the Listed CS Hayes Memorial Cup. The accomplished rider also filled the placings in two other feature races, finishing third in the Adelaide Cup aboard Hurry Curry and second in the LR Morphettville Guineas on Cannae.
NEWBelle Cheval Gets Chance to Bounce in Sydney
Tuesday, 10th March 2026
A heartbreaking near miss in the $4 million NZB Kiwi at Ellerslie has not dimmed the excitement around Belle Cheval, with connections now setting their sights on Sydney and a tilt at the Gr1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m), according to loveracing.nz. The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained Savabeel filly produced a powerful late surge on Champions Day but fell just a short head shy of the heavily backed Well Written in the 1500m feature. Despite the narrow defeat, the performance only strengthened belief among her connections that she is ready to test herself at the elite level over further ground. After racing towards the rear turning for home, Belle Cheval stormed home down the outside to challenge the favourite in the closing stages, a run that suggested the step to 2000m could prove ideal. The filly had arrived at the race in strong form, having won her previous two starts over 1200m and 1400m, and her effort against the best of her generation confirmed her standing among the leading three-year-old fillies in the region. Co-owner and breeder David Archer said the narrow defeat had done little to dampen enthusiasm for what lies ahead. “She was so close to what would have been a dream result, but we’re still thrilled with her, so proud of our wonderful filly,” Archer said. “I had a good talk with Mark (Walker) yesterday and he was pleased to tell me she pulled up as if she hadn’t had a race.” With that encouraging report, plans have been quickly mapped out for the filly to travel to Sydney later this month. “That being the case, and subject to everything going to plan in the meantime, she will be flown to Sydney and run in the Vinery, which looks ideal as a fillies’ Group 1 over 2000 metres,” Archer said. Connections have already decided the Vinery will likely mark the end of her current campaign. “That will be it for this season, she won’t be going to the (ATC) Oaks,” Archer explained, adding that a spell on the Mornington Peninsula is then likely before a spring campaign in Victoria. Wet tracks early in the New Zealand spring are a potential concern, making Melbourne a more appealing target. Walker agreed the Ellerslie performance confirmed she was on the right path. “While it would have been fantastic to win on Saturday, you could hardly be disappointed with her, it was a very good effort,” he said. “The way she races she should manage the step up in distance in the Vinery, so she’s gone to the water-treadmill this week and then we’ll build towards Sydney.”
The Gr1 Vinery Stud Stakes is next for Belle Cheval (pic: Race Images Kenton Wright)
NEWLerena Pivots to Whole Foods in Quest for Success
Tuesday, 10th March 2026
Relocation to Queensland has brought renewed momentum for Brandon Lerena, with the experienced South African rider steadily rebuilding his profile while pursuing a return to the sport’s highest level. Now based at Ormeau on the northern Gold Coast, the 37-year-old has quietly pieced together a productive campaign on the provincial circuit after previously spending several seasons riding in Sydney. According to racingqueensland.com.au, the move north has proven timely, with Lerena currently sitting second in the Queensland provincial jockeys’ premiership and firmly entrenched inside the top ten in the overall state standings. A multiple Group 1-winning rider in South Africa who has also competed in feature races in Mauritius and Macau, Lerena has long been accustomed to racing at the elite end of the sport. His Australian journey began in New South Wales, where visa restrictions initially limited him to riding for sponsor Bjorn Baker. Those conditions constrained opportunities in metropolitan races, but once the restrictions were lifted he began forming further partnerships, including a productive association with the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou stable. In recent months the results have begun to gather momentum again. The past weekend provided a snapshot of his workload, with rides at Ipswich on Friday, the Gold Coast on Saturday and Caloundra on Sunday. While the provincial success has been encouraging, Lerena admits the ultimate ambition remains a return to regular city rides and major race opportunities. Careful attention to diet and lifestyle has become an important part of that pursuit. Like most jockeys, maintaining riding weight is a constant balancing act, and Lerena believes the changes he has made in recent years have played a role in his form. “Both my wife and I are very keen on being really healthy. I think it shows a lot in my performance at the races,” he said. “If you get to the races and you're not taking off a lot of weight, it makes such a big difference. You're well hydrated, you can make those split-second decisions.” For a period the family adopted a vegan diet before gradually transitioning to a more whole-food approach. “As a family, we've tried a lot of different avenues, we were vegan for a couple of years, it was really good. We learnt a lot in that time, but we've tried to evolve as we've gone on,” Lerena explained. Life away from the track is centred around family, with the Lerenas growing much of their own produce at home. Herbs, basil and young blueberry trees are among the crops in their backyard garden, a practice he believes keeps the household grounded. “I think it's important to know where your food comes from and if it's grown in the backyard, you're not going to get any better than that,” he said. Professionally, the immediate goal is simple: keep riding winners. Lerena currently sits on 59 victories for the season and hopes to reach triple figures. “The main goal is just to get that 100 wins on the season,” he revealed.
American Wolf Wins Gr2 Adelaide Cup
Tuesday, 10th March 2026
Track: Morphettville
Race: Gr2 Sportsbet Adelaide Cup (3200m)
Winner: American Wolf (Tivaci–Zelitist, by Zabeel)
Placings: 2nd: Highland Bling, 3rd: Hurry Curry
Stallion: Tivaci (High Chaparral–Breccia, by Fastnet Rock)
Sales Details: $850,000, 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale
Kitten’s History Tip of the Godolphin Iceberg
Tuesday, 10th March 2026
A return to Flemington brought with it another major milestone on Saturday, as Tom Kitten became the first horse to defend the All-Star Mile and in the process underlined both his own resurgence and the extraordinary success of Godolphin’s new public training model. Back at the scene of his narrow triumph 12 months earlier, the son of Harry Angel again proved strongest in the closing stages, taking the $2 million Group feature over Evaporate and the brave Pride Of Jenni. The performance suggested a horse restored to his best after a spring that never quite came together. Resuming in the Gr3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes at Caulfield in early February, Tom Kitten had already hinted that a return to top form was near, but this was the performance that confirmed it. Settled and produced at the right time, he found enough when it mattered to deliver Anthony and Sam Freedman another major victory and add a fresh chapter to his Flemington record. Sam Freedman said the 5YO had returned this campaign in a markedly different shape, both physically and mentally. “He’s a remarkable horse. He’s been to the top for a long time,” Freedman said. “We’ve been blessed to get him into the stable in the last eight or nine months. We were disappointed with the spring we had with him. We felt he was going well, but we were chasing our tail, but this prep, I don’t know what it is. I rang Dad this morning and said he’s a different horse. He looks amazing, he’s holding more condition, he’s racing heavier than he was in the spring.” That improvement, Freedman suggested, may have come from something as simple as routine. Mornington has suited the gelding, with the Pinecliff environment allowing him to settle into a pattern that has clearly worked. “Sometimes you are a victim when horses change yards,” he said. “They go onto a different feed pretty quickly, a few changes can happen pretty quickly, so now he’s in a nice routine at Pinecliff, gets out into a paddock during the day. For James [Cummings] and his team, that worked with the horse for such a long time, they should all be very proud as well as my team. He’s a remarkable horse and turns up every time.” As significant as Tom Kitten’s repeat triumph was, it also formed part of a broader Godolphin surge that has become one of the stories of the Australian season. Since 1 August 2025, the blue army has amassed at least 25 stakes wins, nine of them at Group 1 level, in its first campaign under a distributed public training structure following the departure of James Cummings. Amounting to over 20% of the Australian 44 Group 1 races run to date, that is highly significant. Among the headline acts have been Observer, winner of the Victoria Derby, Australian Guineas and Moonee Valley Vase; Tentyris, successful in both the Coolmore Stud Stakes and Black Caviar Lightning; Pericles, winner of the Futurity Stakes and Tramway Stakes; and Tom Kitten, whose All-Star Mile now sits alongside his Australian Cup. Tempted, Attica, Beiwacht, Medicinal and Options have also added to the haul, giving trainers such as the Freedmans, Ciaron Maher, Bjorn Baker, Chris Waller and Joe Pride a share in a remarkable run of elite success.
Brownes Looking to Repeat Showdown History
Tuesday, 10th March 2026
A key track gallop at Caulfield on Tuesday morning will determine whether Pakenham trainers Emma-Lee and David Browne take their chances in Saturday's $1 million Showdown with promising youngster Lomu. The stable already has fond memories of the lucrative Inglis Premier race after claiming last year's edition with McGaw, who later confirmed his quality by winning the Gr2 Danehill Stakes in the spring. That success has naturally drawn comparisons with the stable's latest hopeful, although Lomu would head into the race without having started in a race if connections elect to proceed. According to racenet.com.au, named after the late All Blacks rugby legend Jonah Lomu, the colt remains among the 21 entries for the Caulfield feature and will need to satisfy his trainers in a course gallop before a final decision is made. Victory on Saturday would represent a remarkable return on investment. Purchased for just $10,000 at last year's Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, the son of I Am Immortal cost even less than the $14,000 the Brownes paid for McGaw before that horse's Showdown triumph. The shared sire line also adds an interesting layer to the story, with both colts by the same stallion. Emma-Lee Browne said the gallop would provide the final piece of evidence before deciding whether the stable proceeds with the ambitious plan. "We're going to take him to Caulfield on Tuesday for a gallop to see how he handles it and make a decision after that," she said. "We just wanted to give him a gallop on Tuesday to make sure he copes with going to Caulfield and things like that before we make a firm decision." Early all-in betting has Lomu quoted at $26 for the race, though that market could shift significantly once acceptances are finalised, particularly with several leading contenders also holding nominations in Sydney. His preparation has included two jumpouts at Pakenham. The first ended quietly after he was slow from the gates, but the colt showed marked improvement at his most recent hit-out when finishing second and travelling far more comfortably throughout. "He's still very green. He's quite raw," Browne revealed. "In his first jumpout, he got left flat-footed in the gates and in his second jumpout, he got that bit under control but got a bit wayward out in front by himself. I thought his last jumpout was very good." Compared with McGaw, Browne noted the colt has a slightly different physical profile, describing him as a bigger and more solid type. If he handles Tuesday's gallop well, connections will then weigh up whether the as-yet unraced youngster is ready to take on one of Victoria's richest races for juveniles.
Beware The Invincible Surge That’s Underway
Tuesday, 10th March 2026
It’s not for nothing that Yarraman Park’s I Am Invincible sits at the very pointy end of the Australian Black Type Premiership across what will be six completed seasons in July. Over the weekend, the son of Invincible Spirit added to his potential additional title claims in 2025-26 – and he did it in a big way when Caballus defied all protagonists with a front-running display in the Gr1 Newmarket Handicap. Notably, that was no one-act affair, with I Am Invincible also the sire of 2YO Gr2 Reisling Stakes winner, Chayan, as well as Group 3-placed Scintillation and LR runner-up Inkaruna. Whilst there is still a reasonable buffer between reigning Champion Black Type Premiership sire Snitzel and I Am Invincible, there are several factors that suggest Vinnie is a big hope to reclaim a throne he has sat astride before, his most recent being in the 2023-24 season where he won by panels. Premiership history suggests that in order to earn the major stakes race prize, a stallion invariably needs a plethora of high class 3YOs. To date, for this season, the category leader is Darley’s Street Boss but Vinnie is right in his slipstream. It obviously doesn’t hurt to have precocious 2YOs flying the flag. The aggregation of juvenile stakes race performances by Chayan, Scintillation, I Am Aria and Invicto to date now sees the Yarraman stalwart holding a one point margin over Coolmore’s exciting young stallion Home Affairs. If nothing else, it suggests there will be some excellent 3YOs for I Am Invincible next seaso, too. Meanwhile, Yarraman Park is also in the fortunate position to be standing Hellbent, with the Group 1-winning son of I Am Invincible in seventh position, overall. Already the sire of twelve on the board Group 1 performances, including elite winners Benedetta and Magic Time, he almost added a third when Savvy Hallie was desperately unlucky not to win the recent Gr1 Surround Stakes – just touched off by Tempted (see below). There are 41 yearlings by I Am Invincible in the Easter catalogue, plus three by Hellbent. That trio is part of an 18-strong Yarraman Park draft.
Atzeni Experiences a Day to Remember
Tuesday, 10th March 2026
A memorable afternoon at Sha Tin ended with Andrea Atzeni celebrating a four-timer before racing off to meet an even bigger life moment, with the Hong Kong-based rider leaving the track to welcome the birth of his first child. The Sardinian jockey produced a superb day in the saddle, landing four winners across the card, highlighted by the determined victory of Endued in the Class Three Kowloon Tong Club Trophy (1600m). Although four-win hauls were nothing new during his European career, the performance marked the first time he had achieved the feat since relocating to Hong Kong, making the achievement particularly special as news filtered through late in the meeting that his fiancé Emma had gone into labour. Momentum began building early in the programme when Atzeni strung together three consecutive victories, ultimately completing the quartet when Endued claimed his second win of the season and first in Class Three company. “It was brilliant. I’m picking nice rides and the support is coming. You know what it’s like here – you can never look back; you have to keep looking forward,” Atzeni said. Drawn widest in barrier 14, he opted to remove luck from the equation by sending Endued forward to sit outside the leader Violet Star before assuming control in the straight and narrowly holding the late challenge of Smart Avenue to score by a head. “He was threatening to do that. He’s had no luck with draws and we took a chance today and went forward and, luckily, it worked out,” Atzeni added. The winning run began earlier aboard Tony Cruz’s outsider He Was Me in the Class Five Somerset Handicap (1400m), where the pair produced a gritty performance to edge out General Smart and The Concentration in a tight three-way finish after running down the leader Smart Engineer. Atzeni followed up in the very next race when Juicy Dragon impressed in the opening division of the Class Four Rutland Handicap (1200m) on the all-weather track, the son of Territories surging from midfield to defeat Ace Power comfortably. Trainer Manfred Man Ka-leung believed the surface played a crucial role. “The last two runs, he was a bit unfortunate. In my mind, he’s much better on the dirt than the grass and in this race he carried no weight which has helped. I think he can still improve but I don’t know how much, we will have to see,” Man said. Atzeni’s earlier success also included partnering Good Chap to victory in the second division of the Rutland Handicap for trainer David Hall, a win that justified the jockey’s decision to remain aboard the Deep Field gelding after declining another ride. Settled in midfield before sweeping wide in the straight, Good Chap surged clear to win by a length and a quarter and make it back-to-back successes on the all-weather surface. “I think he’s just one of those horses that’s really found his mark with the blinkers and also the all-weather track,” Hall said. The four-timer continued a strong run of form for Atzeni this season and saw him edge closer to Hugh Bowman in the jockeys’ championship standings, sitting on 35 wins to Bowman’s 39 after the Australian rider also saluted aboard Yee Cheong Glory later in the meeting.
Vinery Flexes Its Muscles Ahead of Easter
Tuesday, 10th March 2026
Success across two countries capped a standout stakes weekend for Vinery Stud graduates, highlighted by the unbeaten filly Lara Antipova maintaining her flawless record with victory in the Gr1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie. Prepared by the Te Akau team of Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, Lara Antipova (Russian Revolution continued her rapid rise through the juvenile ranks with a commanding performance against New Zealand’s best two-year-olds. The filly settled comfortably before asserting her superiority late in the contest, extending her record to four wins from as many starts. Purchased from Vinery Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft for $100,000, she has quickly developed into one of the most exciting young fillies in the region and is now expected to return across the Tasman to tackle Australian targets. Another Vinery graduate saluted at Group level in Australia when Sass Appeal captured the Gr2 Kewney Stakes (1600m) at Flemington. The three-year-old filly, a daughter of So You Think delivered a strong performance down the famous straight to claim her second Group success after winning the Desirable Stakes over 1400m at the same venue last month.. Her victory further underlined the strength of Vinery’s yearling drafts and the farm’s ability to produce high-class athletes capable of competing at the highest level. The momentum continued into Sunday with Vinery resident stallions making their presence felt in feature races. All Too Hard was represented by the impressive Music Time, who captured the Gr2 Black Opal Stakes (1200m) at Canberra. The colt, by redoubtable sire All Too Hard, produced a decisive performance to stamp himself as one of the leading two-year-olds in the capital region and built on his sire’s influential record, one that was added to on Monday at Morphettvile when Arran Bay won the LR C S Hayes Memorial Cup. In the process of earning a hat trick, Music Time boosted his earnings to $180,000. That would have ensured a berth in the Gr1 Golden Slipper, however connections have decided to give him a spell. Fellow Vinery stallion Ole Kirk is one of the most in-demand sires in Australia, also featured on the Canberra programme through Aerodrome, who landed the Listed Canberra Guineas (1400m). The progressive three-year-old showed determination in the closing stages to secure the black-type victory. Vinery has 10 yearlings catalogued for Inglis Easter, among them five by Ole Kirk.
Ole Kirk has 13 yearlings catalogued for Easter (pic: Vinery Stud)
Vibrant Addition to Growing National Catalogue
Tuesday, 10th March 2026
Following another bumper weekend of stakes success for Magic Millions graduates, a Group 1-winning filly is set to head straight from the track to the Gold Coast, with Vibrant Sun confirmed for May’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale as a headline entry in Baystone Farm’s draft. Prepared by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, the daughter of The Autumn Sun raced only 10 times but banked more than $700,000, highlighted by her Australasian Oaks triumph at Morphettville and a Group 3 Alexandra Stakes win at Moonee Valley. She was purchased from Canning Downs Stud at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale by Sheamus Mills Bloodstock, and later catalogued for the 2024 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, where she was passed in when bidding fell short of a $350,000 reserve. Mills said the improvement was clear once she was asked to get over ground. “She got through her maiden grade very quickly and as we stretched her out in distance it was pretty evident that she was getting better and better,” he said. That rise continued through a dominant maiden win, a Thousand Guineas appearance at start four, and the Alexandra, when she ran down Grinzinger Belle over a mile at Moonee Valley. The pathway to the Oaks was far from ideal, however. Vibrant Sun missed a planned 1800m lead-up with a fetlock issue, trialled at Cranbourne over 1200m, and effectively jumped from a mile straight to 2000m on the biggest day. With Mark Zahra given freedom to ride his own race, she rolled to the front and kept finding. “Mark (Zahra) was given an open book in the Oaks and he elected to go to the front with her,” Mills said, adding she “stayed on really well regardless”. Injury ultimately curtailed the career, but Mills believes the mare brings both performance and presence to the sale ring. “She’s a beautifully balanced, mid sized mare,” he said. “She got to 2000 metres, but she is built like a miler.” He said the stable attempted a patient rehab and a return, and that she was going better than ever before chipping the fetlock again, prompting connections to retire her. Vibrant Sun is out of the Group 3-winning Written Tycoon mare Vibrant Rouge and will be offered through Baystone Farm, with Dean Harvey calling it “pretty special” to present a Group 1 winner of her quality at the National. Harvey said the National Sale “works so well” because it attracts a deep and diverse buying bench, and he expects another classy group of stakes-performed and well-related fillies and mares to sit alongside Vibrant Sun in the Baystone draft. One of those is Wangi Wangi, a young three-quarter sister to Calliope, the dam of Group 1 Surround Stakes winner Tempted, as well as the stakes-performed 2YO Express Yo’self. With entries for the 2026 National Sale now open, other previously announced highlights for the racefillies and mares section include last-start Group 1 winner Legarto and Magic Millions Classic winner O’ Ole.
The Elite Numbers Tally for Inglis Digital
Tuesday, 10th March 2026
A remarkable day for the Inglis Digital platform unfolded on Saturday as two of its graduates captured Group One races on opposite sides of the country, delivering what the company described as its most successful results day to date. At Flemington, the Bjorn Baker-trained Caballus (I Am Invincible) produced a brilliant front-running display to claim the Newmarket Handicap, while at Randwick the rapidly emerging filly Sheza Alibi (Saxon Warrior) defeated the colts and geldings with authority in the Randwick Guineas. For Darby Racing principal Scott Darby, the Newmarket triumph represented the vindication of a bold decision made two years earlier. Darby and his team stretched their budget to $315,000 to secure Caballus through the October (Early) Inglis Digital Sale in 2023, a purchase that at the time ranked among the syndicator’s largest online investments. That gamble has since been richly rewarded. Now a five-year-old, Caballus has raced 15 times for six victories and more than $2.1 million in prizemoney, with the Flemington success rubbee stamping his Group 1 credentials. Prior to appearing on Inglis Digital he had been purchased for $1 million by Coolmore from Bhima at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale on behalf of breeder Reg Ryan. Saturday’s Newmarket result also produced a striking statistic for the online marketplace, with Caballus leading home a First Four comprised entirely of Inglis Digital graduates, finishing ahead of Gallant Son, Angel Capital and Sepals. Reflecting on the purchase, Darby recalled the moment the decision was made to pursue the horse strongly. “It was a lot of money for us at the time but he’d come through a race where we had a runner that we had a big opinion of so we were happy to go hard on him and when he came up for sale we pounced,” he said. The victory carried extra significance for breeder Reg Ryan, who bought Caballus’s dam Calming Influence for $290,000 at the 2020 Inglis Chairman’s Sale while she was carrying the colt in utero. Watching from his property in Wodonga, Ryan admitted the achievement fulfilled a long-held ambition. “I always wanted a Group 1 winner and now I’ve got one,” he said. Meanwhile in Sydney, Sheza Alibi confirmed her reputation as one of the most exciting three-year-olds in training with an emphatic Randwick Guineas victory. Purchased by Queenslander Fred Noffke as a weanling for just $10,000 on Inglis Digital in June 2023, the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained filly has now earned more than $1.27 million. Coleman, on course to witness the performance, was thrilled by the manner of the win. “She’s just something special, this filly,” she said. “She’s put the writing on the wall previously but this has been her hardest test to date and to put a quality field away like that, wowee, I’m shaking.” With nine career starts producing five wins and multiple placings, Sheza Alibi is expected to head for a spell before a likely spring campaign aimed at the $10 million Golden Eagle. The dual elite victories took the tally of Inglis graduates to 117 Group 1 winners since 2018.
Caballus hugged the rail for a go to whoa Gr1 win (pic: Mark Gatt)
All Star Mile Philia Decision the Right Call
Tuesday, 10th March 2026
A decision to bypass the $2 million All-Star Mile and instead target the Group 3 Matron Stakes at Flemington has left Philia’s connections comfortable they chose the right path, despite a luckless run in the $300,000 contest. According to punters.com.au, trapped on the inside for much of the straight, the daughter of All Too Hard struggled to secure clear running before eventually finding daylight late. Under Jamie Mott she closed strongly once clear, finishing fourth and just over a length from the winner Ahha Ahha in a performance that hinted the result might have been different with better fortune. In an unusually frank admission of where she currently sits in the Black Type pecking order, part-owner Peter Harris said there were no second thoughts about avoiding the All-Star Mile and placing the valuable half-sister to Group 1 winner Duais where she was more likely to be competitive. “These Group 3 mares-type races are probably where she sits at the moment,” Harris said. “We obviously thought about having us throw at the stumps in that All-Star Mile and really it was more like if they're going to pay down to eighth and they give you 50 grand for it … she might well have picked up something. But it's better to get a chance to do the best she can in a class that she can be competitive in.” The All-Star Mile itself was taken out by Tom Kitten, while fellow Queensland galloper Antino, trained by Tony Gollan, endured a difficult afternoon and finished eighth of the nine runners. Reflecting on the race his mare sidestepped, Harris remained comfortable with the decision. “No, not at all. The horse that won (Tom Kitten) has now won two of them,” he said. “That was a good field and it might have been weakened a bit by two scratchings (Buckaroo and Treasurethe Moment). Maybe the $2 million (prizemoney) has found its level. It's still a quality race and they're not giving away ridiculous money.” Sunshine Coast trainer David Vandyke was also encouraged by Philia’s effort in the Matron Stakes, describing it as a performance that deserved another chance at the same trip. “She just couldn't get a run between the 350m and the 100m,” Vandyke said. “Once she saw daylight at the 100m she was very strong to the line. It was a good run, she just had no luck.” The mare is now likely to back up in the Group 2 Sunline Stakes (1600m) at Flemington in a fortnight, a race Vandyke believes offers another suitable opportunity. Beyond that, connections are considering a short break before targeting the Queensland Winter Carnival, where races such as the Hollindale Stakes and Doomben Cup could come into play depending on how she progresses through the autumn.
$10k Buy Gives Owner-Trainer a 5000% Return
Tuesday, 10th March 2026
Amid the star power and major stable presence on Champions Day at Ellerslie, one of the standout performances came from much humbler origins, as owner-trainer Ken Harrison celebrated a richly deserved feature success with bargain buy Moxie in Saturday’s $600,000 Gr2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Classic (1400m). Purchased for just $10,000 from Lyndhurst Farm’s draft at Karaka 2023, the daughter of Strasbourg has now returned almost 50 times that outlay. Her latest victory was the fifth of an 11-start career and lifted her earnings to $497,125, underlining the remarkable value she has become for her connections. Moxie had already hinted that another big result was close at hand. After winning four of her first seven starts, she was tested in stronger company over the summer and performed with credit against quality opposition. She finished fourth in the Stella Artois 1500 Championship Final (1500m), sixth in the Gr3 Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) and third in the Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m), form that suggested she was ready to strike again with the right set-up. That opportunity came when she dropped back to 1400m on Saturday to meet a deep field of fillies and mares. Among them were Group 1 winner Quintessa, Group 1-placed Tomodachi and the Australian-trained pair Chica Mojito and Mare Of Mt Buller, ensuring there would be no shortage of class around her. As the field straightened, runners spread across the track in search of their chance, turning the race into a wide-open contest over the closing stages. For a few moments it appeared several could lay claim to victory, but Moxie quickly separated herself when asked for her effort. Producing a sharp finishing burst, she swept past her rivals and asserted with authority to score by a length over Chica Mojito, with Quintessa a head away in third. The performance capped an excellent rise through the grades and gave Harrison a deserved moment in the spotlight against some of the biggest names on the card. On a day dominated by elite races and established stars, Moxie’s victory carried its own appeal, reminding racegoers that big-race success can still come from modest beginnings when patience, placement and ability come together at the right time.
Bargain buy Moxie has made a mockery of her price (pic: Race Images Kenton Wright)
