All signs point to a fiercely contested renewal of the Golden Slipper Stakes, where a deep and diverse field of juveniles will converge on Rosehill Gardens for the $5 million Group 1 feature over 1200m. At the centre of attention is the Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Chayan, a filly whose upward trajectory has seen her emerge as the leading contender to topple her male rivals in the world’s richest race for two-year-olds. Her rise to favouritism has been anything but straightforward. After finishing seventh in the Blue Diamond Stakes in Melbourne, the daughter of I Am Invincible was sent north and produced a transformation that could scarcely have been more emphatic. A dominant victory in the Group 2 Reisling Stakes at Randwick not only secured her maiden success but elevated her into Slipper calculations with authority. That performance over 1200m suggested she is well equipped to handle the intensity of Saturday’s contest, and she now aims to become the first horse since Estijaab in 2018 to complete the Reisling Stakes/Golden Slipper double. Recent history offers further encouragement for her supporters. According to horseracing.com.au, fillies have held a strong grip on the Slipper in the modern era, accounting for nine wins since 2010, and back-to-back victories by Lady Of Camelot and Marhoona have heightened expectations that Chayan can extend that dominance with a third successive triumph for her sex. Installed as the $4.80 favourite despite drawing barrier 12, she will be partnered by Craig Williams, whose presence adds further weight to her claims. The depth of opposition ensures there will be no shortage of challengers. Bjorn Baker’s Warwoven looms as a significant threat, having impressed with a Group 3 Pago Pago Stakes victory and backing up just seven days later from a wide gate. Stablemate Paradoxium also commands respect after consecutive wins, including success in the Group 2 Todman Stakes, a race that has long been a reliable Slipper guide. The colt faces the additional hurdle of barrier 18 but brings undeniable form into the race. Melbourne form is strongly represented, with Guest House stepping out for Price and Kent Jnr following a determined third in the Blue Diamond Stakes, while Streisand arrives with a sequence of victories that includes the Blue Diamond Prelude and the Group 1 itself. Further intrigue is added by Stretan Ruler (see below), whose explosive Silver Slipper performance has seen him firm in betting as he attempts to bridge the gap between lead-up success and ultimate Group 1 glory. With a roll of honour featuring some of the most celebrated names in Australian racing, the Golden Slipper once again promises to deliver a defining moment for the next generation.
Clark of The Course Likely to Partner Pembrey
Thursday, 19th March 2026
Uncertainty around final field movements has added another twist to Golden Slipper week, with jockey arrangements for Pembrey still contingent on scratchings. Trainer Tony Gollan confirmed that Tim Clark is booked to ride the filly, provided the race shape remains unchanged and the first emergency, Agrarian Girl, does not gain a start. Permission from stewards has allowed Clark to be declared on Pembrey despite his prior engagement with the emergency runner, leaving a fluid situation should the field be altered. If Agrarian Girl sneaks into the race, Clark will instead partner the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained filly, forcing a rethink for Pembrey’s camp. In that scenario, Gollan indicated there is no fixed replacement, with Queensland rider Ben Thompson among those in consideration, while other options may depend on which horse comes out and which jockey becomes available. Connections have already shown strong intent, with Kia Ora outlaying $150,000 to secure a late entry for Pembrey, and their preference has been to keep Clark in the saddle. “Tim Clark will ride Pembrey if the first emergency doesn't get a run,” Gollan told racenet.com.au, adding, “We have got permission from stewards. Tim Clark rides a lot for Pembrey's owners Kia Ora and he is obviously a terrific rider.” While acknowledging the uncertainty, Gollan made it clear the priority remains the horse. “If there is a scratching, we will cross that bridge then in terms of a jockey. But at this point in time the situation is Tim Clark is the jockey of our horse, because our horse is in the race. Kia Ora will reassess their options if there is a scratching. All these sort of things are out of my hands, my job is to just try to get the horse ready and have her in good shape.” The late reshuffle follows an earlier setback when Hong Kong-based Zac Purton was forced to relinquish the ride due to travel complications. “It's all because of the war and what's going on in the Middle East at the moment,” Purton said, explaining that flight rerouting had left him unable to return to Hong Kong in time for Derby commitments. Despite Pembrey’s wide draw and uncertainty surrounding her rider, the Prague filly is still in the market at $19.
Frankel Half to Stand at Paardeberg Stud
Thursday, 19th March 2026
Only a handful of pedigrees in the modern thoroughbred world carry the weight of expectation quite like that of Kikkuli, whose lineage alone ensures considerable interest as he begins the next chapter of his career at stud. Should the son of Kingman follow even part of the path carved by his illustrious relatives, the old racing proverb that “blood will out” may once again prove prophetic, reports bloodhorse.com. Bred by Juddmonte, the five-year-old holds a particularly notable distinction as the final foal out of Kind. That makes him a half brother to the legendary Frankel, the unbeaten champion who later became a dual British and Irish champion sire, as well as to multiple Group 1 winner Noble Mission. With such a foundation behind him, expectations have naturally followed Kikkuli into his new role in South Africa. Although his race record did not reach the heights of his famous sibling, Kikkuli demonstrated genuine ability during his time on the track. A winner at Newmarket at his second start when returning for his three-year-old season, his early performances quickly suggested black-type potential. At his third appearance he finished second in the Listed Heron Stakes, before producing an even stronger effort at Royal Ascot when beaten only a neck by Haatem in the Gr3 Jersey Stakes (see below). That rival subsequently confirmed his quality, having earlier finished a head second to Rosallion in the Gr1 Irish Two Thousand Guineas after securing Group 2 success as a juvenile. Kikkuli continued to compete at a high level across the remainder of his career, adding several creditable performances including a narrow fourth in the Gr2 Hungerford Stakes at Newbury, where he was beaten just half a length. Even without a top-level victory, the strength of his pedigree ensured he remained an attractive stallion prospect. His arrival at Paardeberg Stud in South Africa’s Western Cape came about through an unusual chain of events, as explained by farm manager Sally Bruss. “He was offered to us because we took Expert Eye, and I think Juddmonte saw on social media that Expert Eye was living a good life,” she said. “They offered Kikkuli to us, but we weren't in the position to buy another stallion. My daughter is the South African racing manager for Bjorn Nielsen, and I said to her, ‘Hasn't Bjorn spoken now and again about bringing a nice horse to South Africa?’ She said, ‘Yes, he actually has tried quite a few times, and the deals haven't come off. Why don't you ask him?’” Nielsen subsequently inspected the horse, drawing on the views of jockey Oisin Murphy, who had partnered Kikkuli on several occasions. Murphy believed the horse possessed considerable ability even if his results did not fully reflect it. The deal was eventually completed with Nielsen purchasing the entire horse before plans were made to syndicate him locally. According to Bruss, Kikkuli has already adapted well to his new surroundings and has attracted encouraging interest from breeders.
O’Sullivan Reveals Profitable Staying Niche
Thursday, 19th March 2026
Fresh analysis of the country's staying ranks has highlighted a profitable angle for punters, with Daniel O’Sullivan pointing to the consistent success of first-up runners from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable over longer distances. His assessment, published by racing.com, focused on horses contesting races at 1800m and beyond, centres on a pattern that has quietly delivered exceptional returns. That trend was reinforced again by Vauban, who made a successful return in the Sky High Stakes for the second consecutive year. His performance this time was rated at 101, marginally down on the 102 he produced in the same race last year, although the tempo of the latest edition was more moderate than the genuinely run contest he encountered twelve months earlier. Regardless, the result further underlined the stable’s ability to have their stayers primed to perform at a high level when resuming. Since 1 August 2022, runners from the Waterhouse and Bott yard that have started in the top four of the market first-up over 1800m or further have produced 14 wins from 34 attempts, a strike rate of 41 percent. More notably, that profile has yielded a profit on turnover of 116 percent, marking it as one of the more compelling statistical edges in the current Australian racing landscape. Vauban’s return also suggests there is more to come this preparation. His peak local rating remains the 103 he achieved when winning the Metropolitan over 2400m last spring, and his latest effort indicates he is well on track to reach, if not surpass, that level again as he builds through the campaign. Further down the staying ranks, Soul Of Spain has emerged as another horse trending in the right direction. Under Chris Waller, the gelding has returned in improved form this preparation, going close to his previous peak when posting a 97.4 rating over a mile at Randwick. He took another step forward when finishing behind Vauban over 2000m, recording a new figure of 98.9 despite settling some five lengths off a moderate tempo. The strength of that run was reflected in his sectional performance, producing the best closing figures of the meeting over both the final 800m and 600m. Given he did not reach his top form until stepping beyond 2000m in his previous campaign, there is every indication he will continue to improve as distances increase, placing him firmly in contention for major staying targets later in the autumn. Birdman, meanwhile, has also continued his upward trajectory, building on his Gr 2 Blamey Stakes success with an even more authoritative performance in the Peter Young Stakes. His rating climbed to a new peak of 99.8, aided by a more forward position in running than usual under Ben Melham. Travelling strongly into the race and quickening decisively when asked, he asserted his dominance before the 200m and was strong through the line, suggesting further improvement may still be to come.
Coetzee Steps Out of the Training Shadows
Thursday, 19th March 2026
A new chapter begins at Ipswich on Friday, where years of behind-the-scenes experience will give way to the pressures and possibilities of training under one’s own name. Jarred Coetzee, long recognised as a familiar raceday voice for a leading Brisbane stable, now steps forward in a different role as he saddles his first runner, Gas Brigade. The 39-year-old has taken a measured path to this moment. Known throughout South East Queensland as Robert Heathcote’s trusted lieutenant and regular spokesman after victories, racingqueensland.com.au reports that Coetzee spent years immersed in the rhythms of a top-flight operation. Horses such as Rothfire, Abounding, Startantes and Ekaterina passed through his hands, providing exposure to elite-level preparation. Now, after deciding to strike out independently, he begins modestly, with a maiden galloper and a small foothold at Lawrie Mayfield-Smith’s Eagle Farm facility. Support from within the industry has helped ease the transition. “Lawrie [Mayfield-Smith]has been kind enough to give me some stables and he's been a good role model in a sense these last couple of months,” Coetzee said. “He has helped me just to get going, he's been kind enough to give me a couple of good stables at his place.” His initial focus centres on Gas Brigade, a horse he sourced online for Malaysian clients and one he believes has yet to fulfil his potential. “He's always shown signs of ability; he just hasn't really put it away yet. So, he's been quite the frustrating horse. He does everything right and he is sound. He's got ability, he just doesn't know how to put it away.” Racing runs deep in his background. Nephew of champion jockey Felix Coetzee and son of trainer Kevin Coetzee, his grounding in horsemanship began early, with his father providing the most enduring influence. A career that has spanned continents has further shaped his outlook, including stints riding work for Chris Waller, time in Hong Kong, a period training in China for the China Horse Club, and experience in Victoria with Henry Dwyer. Those travels, he believes, have provided the foundation for this next step. “I've been around the world and worked with some really good trainers and really well-known trainers,” he said, adding that learning extends beyond the obvious successes. While confident in his ability with horses, Coetzee acknowledges the broader demands of running a stable. “I've never had a problem with the horse side of things; it’s a lot more behind the scenes and running the business is what I need to learn,” he said. “But, as far as the horses go, I'm keen enough and really excited to keep going. But, it's a funny game - you never stop learning.”
Einstein Smart Enough for 2,000 Guineas First Up
Thursday, 19th March 2026
Early impressions within Ballydoyle suggested something out of the ordinary was emerging, and that belief has only strengthened as plans are confirmed for Albert Einstein to head straight to Newmarket as the stable's leading contender for the Betfred 2,000 Guineas. Even in a season where Aidan O'Brien assembled a formidable team of two-year-olds, racingpost.com opines the Wootton Bassett colt quickly separated himself from his peers. His performances were limited to just two appearances, but they were enough to establish him as the standout juvenile in the yard, winning a maiden at Naas before defeating future Group 1 winner Power Blue in the Marble Hill Stakes at the Curragh. A setback curtailed the remainder of his juvenile campaign, leaving unanswered questions about his development beyond six furlongs. What was clear, however, was his raw speed, a trait that will now be tested as he stretches to a mile in the opening Classic of the British season on May 2. Market confidence has followed the colt's progression, with his price tightening sharply after O'Brien reaffirmed his status as the stable's principal Guineas hope. "Of the Guineas horses, the number one horse at the moment is Albert Einstein," the trainer said. O'Brien's assessment of the colt's early work bordered on extraordinary, recalling the impression he made from the outset of his juvenile preparation. "When we started working him in the spring of his two-year-old career, we thought all the juveniles were no good and he was the only one we had. He was that much above everything else." Physically imposing and endowed with exceptional natural pace, Albert Einstein has displayed a level of brilliance that has left a lasting mark on those closest to him. "He's very big, very powerful, wide and strong. He was so far ahead of everything, it just wasn't funny. He won at Naas very easily, and then at the Curragh. He travelled strongly and is unbelievably quick." The central question now is whether that speed can be harnessed over a mile, something O'Brien admits remains unproven despite encouraging indicators from multiple sources. "We won't know whether he's going to get the mile until we do it. The stride people, the heart people, the pedigree people, everyone says that he'll get a mile, but we'll have to see it first." Managing that natural pace will be key, particularly in the early stages of the Guineas. Albert Einstein is expected to be joined at Newmarket by either Gstaad or Puerto Rico, adding further depth to Ballydoyle's Classic challenge.
Time Right for Omega Boy to Take Next Step
Thursday, 19th March 2026
With his confidence high and his rating on the rise, Omega Boy is set to take the next significant step of his campaign when he tackles the Gr2 Awapuni Gold Cup (2100m), a race trainers Peter and Trent Didham hope will reveal whether the in-form gelding can develop into a genuine middle-distance performer. His latest success at Tauranga suggested that possibility is well worth exploring, reports loveracing.nz. Coming off a Rating 75 win over 1400m at Hawera only a fortnight earlier, Omega Boy was asked to rise sharply in grade for the Ultimate Mazda Japan Trophy (1600m), and the five-year-old answered the challenge in style. Ridden by Cambridge apprentice Sam McNab, he charged through the middle of the track to reel in Sterling Express and hold off accomplished rivals Khafre and Qali Al Farrasha. That performance has encouraged connections to continue pressing on while the horse is thriving. “We’ve thought for a while that he would make a good middle-distance horse, so while he’s at the top of his form is the ideal time to test him,” Didham said. The stable’s handling of Omega Boy this campaign has been deliberate. After his respectable sixth in the Thorndon Mile at Trentham in January, there was some temptation to head south for the White Robe Lodge Weight-For-Age at Wingatui. Instead, the Didhams chose a more realistic option at Hawera, preferring to keep the gelding in a race that suited his rating and would allow him to build momentum. “The Wingatui race was tempting but at rating of 79 he wouldn’t have been very well placed under weight-for-age conditions and we decided on the benchmark race up at Hawera,” Didham said. “We were looking for a soft kill and that’s exactly how it turned out. As well as giving him a confidence boost, winning that race got him out of that danger zone where horses in the high 70s, low 80s can find themselves.” The Hawera win lifted his rating to 83, and after his Tauranga breakthrough he has now surged to 95, underlining the rapid progress he has made in a short space of time. While McNab earned praise for his handling of the gelding last start, Didham has elected to call on the experience of Opie Bosson for the Trentham test. “Sam rode him well, no complaints at all, he’s a very promising young jockey. But while we’ve got the chance to put Opie on, why wouldn’t we?” he said. The trainer believes Bosson’s feedback could prove important in shaping the horse’s future. “What the horse does will determine our plans for next season and with Opie on him, he’ll be able to give us a full appraisal of how he manages the extra distance.”
Waller Selected to Train Doctor Askar
Thursday, 19th March 2026
Circumstance as much as ambition has opened the door for Doctor Askar to try his luck in Australia, with Waverley trainer Joanne Moss sending the well-performed gelding across the Tasman to join Chris Waller. A busy stretch on the family dairy farm, combined with a lack of suitable local targets, helped bring the decision into focus for the stable’s lone runner. According to NZ Racing Desk, the 5YO son of Derryn heads to Sydney with a record that already marks him as a horse of substance, having won seven of 22 starts and placed another seven times. His standout achievement came in January when he captured the Gr2 Thorndon Mile, a performance that confirmed his quality and earned him the right to be tested in a deeper environment. Moss said a recent injury to partner Isaac Lupton, along with seasonal timing, made the move a practical one as well as an aspirational one. “Isaac broke his leg recently and that kind of triggered a few things,” she said. “We were getting busier on the farm and there weren't really many races left for him here in New Zealand this season.” There is no grand declaration attached to the transfer, only a willingness to let the horse tell his own story. “He's going over to Chris Waller and we will just see how he goes. If he doesn't measure up, he'll just have to come home and if he goes well, then he might get to stay a little bit longer,” Moss said. Doctor Askar’s final New Zealand run came when sixth behind Legarto in the Gr1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes, a respectable effort made more meritorious by the interrupted lead-up. He had missed the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes after hurting himself in transit. “Generally he is a good traveller, but there were a lot of roadworks on the way to Hamilton for the Herbie Dyke,” Moss said. “He kind of just skewiffed in the truck a bit and hurt himself, so he had to be scratched. That was the run he needed before going to the Bonecrusher.” The horse’s story carries deeper meaning than race record alone. Moss bred Doctor Askar and races him in partnership with her 92-year-old mother, Jill, while his name honours the doctor who saved her son James after his birth 14 years ago. “I always thought I'll name a horse after Dr Askar one day. Then this horse came along and the rest is history,” she said. That personal bond makes the departure feel significant. “It’s a bit like sending a child to boarding school,” Moss said, though she believes his temperament will help him adapt. With Herengawe previously handled well by the Waller operation, she is hopeful Doctor Askar can make the most of his chance.
Doctor Askar (blinkers) is joining Waller's Australian stable (pic: Race Images Peter Rubery)
Astern 3YO Rockets into WA Derby Discussions
Thursday, 19th March 2026
A decisive breakthrough at Ascot has propelled Aberdeen Flyer into serious contention for the WA Derby, with the Willaview Park homebred son of former Darley sire Astern, firming into a $3.70 second favourite following his authoritative performance in the Listed John Roberts Stakes over 1800m. Having shown promise through earlier placings, the son of Astern took the next step when positioned just behind Sentimental Legend before quickening decisively in the straight to land his first win at stakes level. It was a performance that suggested further improvement is still to come as he stretches out in distance. Co-trainer Jake Casey believes the colt's best days lie ahead, even if there remains a degree of rawness to his racing style. "He's exciting and has won his maiden on the big stage," Casey told tbwa.net.au. "He's still raw and the owners have a real good horse on their hands. We will have a crack at the Melvista Stakes now and see how he handles 2200m." Pedigree adds further intrigue to his profile. Aberdeen Flyer is the first foal from Templates, a Canterbury 1900m winner by Teofilo who was sourced for just $3,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale while carrying him. Retained by owners Col Hunter and Claire Williamson, along with a small syndicate that includes family members, the mare has already proven her commercial appeal, with a subsequent colt by Splintex fetching $200,000 at the recent Perth Magic Millions. Jockey Chris Parnham was encouraged by the colt's tractability during the race, noting improvement with the addition of blinkers. "He settled nicely with blinkers and was jogging on the corner," Parnham said. "He still doesn't know how to put them away but is getting better each time he gets to the races which is a positive sign." Parnham enjoyed further success on the program, guiding Masmelo to victory in the Natasha Stakes (2200m), a key lead-up to the WA Oaks. The Maschino filly, trained by his father Neville, has been building steadily through her preparation and now shapes as a genuine contender for the staying feature. "They've been trending the right way this prep and stepping up in distance suited her today," Parnham said. "The WA Oaks probably won't be a big field and if I can cuddle her at some stage she's good enough to win." Masmelo's success also added to the growing influence of her sire Maschino, who now shares the lead on the WA sires' table for black-type winners this season.
