Ka Ying Rising returns to Royal Randwick on Saturday carrying the burden reserved for exceptional horses: not simply the expectation of winning the Gr1 TAB Everest again, but of doing so as the world’s highest-rated racehorse against 11 elite Australian sprinters in the $20 million 1200m contest. David Hayes’ Hong Kong champion became the first overseas-trained winner of The Everest in 2025 and has since extended his winning sequence to 21 while lowering Sha Tin’s 1200m course record to a remarkable 1:06.11, performances that have pushed his international rating to 135 and his price for Saturday to around $1.35. racing.com reports that Hayes regards the gelding as operating in rare company and believes his rivals will require both an exceptional day of their own and some vulnerability from Ka Ying Rising to defeat him. That vulnerability, if it exists, may come through the weather, with rain forecast and Zac Purton acknowledging after Ka Ying Rising’s recent Randwick trial that the gelding was not as comfortable on the Soft 7 surface as he is on firm ground. Barrier 11 further ensures Purton must navigate rather than simply dictate. The Australian challenge is headed by Tempted from barrier one, with Ciaron Maher’s mare having returned this preparation in explosive fashion in the Gr2 Concorde Stakes and already owning the crucial form reference of finishing runner-up to Ka Ying Rising in last year’s Everest. Maher also saddles Jimmysstar from barrier eight, the Gr1 Manikato Stakes winner who finished third behind Ka Ying Rising and Tempted 12 months ago and now has Nash Rawiller aboard. Joliestar draws five after an excellent first-up performance and has twice won second-up, while 2022 Everest hero Giga Kick returns for a third attempt and would be significantly aided by genuinely rain-affected ground. Savvy Hallie also possesses strong wet-track credentials, while the deeper field ensures there will be little room for complacency. Yet the essential question remains remarkably simple: can one of Australia’s best sprinters force Ka Ying Rising into territory he has not recently occupied? Everything in his form says no. The Everest exists to discover otherwise.
NEWGr1 Caulfield Cup Preview
Thursday, 15th October 2026
Few editions of the Gr1 Caulfield Cup have carried quite the ceremonial weight of Saturday’s 150th running, yet the $6 million 2400m handicap remains brutally practical once the gates open, with Turnbull Stakes winner Cosmic Crusader attempting to convert Flemington authority into Caulfield Cup history from barrier 17. The Andrea Leek-trained gelding has risen to the top of the market at around $5 after securing ballot exemption through his Gr1 Turnbull Stakes success, although his draw ensures William Pike will have decisions to make before the field reaches the first turn, while defending champion Half Yours has been afforded a considerably kinder passage from gate seven for Mark Zahra. racing.com reports that Ciaron Maher holds an extraordinary five-runner hand among the guaranteed starters, headed by Zahrann from barrier four and Saint George from two, with Royal Supremacy eight, Middle Earth 11 and lightweight Kings Valley 12 giving Australia’s most powerful stable several tactical options. Zahrann was below expectations in the Turnbull, but Maher’s team believes a searching gallop before that race may have taken some edge from both he and Saint George, leaving open the possibility of sharp improvement at the distance that matters. International interest comes through Roger Varian’s Enfjaar, who secured his place by winning the Gr3 Glorious Stakes at Goodwood and has drawn perfectly in barrier one for Ray Dawson, while Harry Charlton’s Wine Dark Sea arrives after taking the Gr3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes over 2671m at Newbury and will be partnered by Damian Lane despite drawing 19. Chris Waller saddles Asterix, Soul Of Spain and dual Oaks winner Ohope Wins, with the latter especially interesting at just 51.5kg after proving herself at 2400m in both New Zealand and Australia. Treasurethe Moment has barrier five, while 2024 Melbourne Cup winner Knight’s Choice confronts the extreme outside gate and Kingswood has drawn 20. The equation therefore brings together established staying class, European form, emerging lightweights and the inevitable tactical compression of Caulfield, where position can become as important as raw stamina. Cosmic Crusader has earned favouritism, but the Caulfield Cup rarely surrenders without demanding another level again.
NEWGr1 King Charles III Preview
Thursday, 15th October 2026
A field of only six hardly diminishes Saturday’s Gr1 King Charles III Stakes at Royal Randwick when three of them are Autumn Glow, Pride Of Jenni and dual defending champion Ceolwulf, setting up a fascinating 1609m weight-for-age contest in which tempo may prove every bit as important as class. Autumn Glow arrives as the headline act having won 13 of her 14 career starts and is chasing a fifth elite-level success for Chris Waller and James McDonald, her latest appearance producing another controlled victory in the Gr2 Seven Sunrise Stakes over 1600m. racingnsw.com.au reports that Waller has deliberately increased her stamina work leading into Saturday because the presence of Pride Of Jenni virtually guarantees a vastly different race shape from Autumn Glow’s most recent outing, when she was able to control proceedings herself. Pride Of Jenni, drawn barrier five with Declan Bates, comes north after securing a third consecutive Gr2 Feehan Stakes victory and remains one of Australian racing’s most uncompromising front-runners, capable of stretching fields into unfamiliar shapes long before the home turn. Her unforgettable six-length Gr1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes demolition at Randwick in 2024 remains proof of what can happen when rivals concede too much territory. Autumn Glow has barrier four and 57kg, while Ceolwulf receives no such concession at 59kg but draws ideally in one for Chad Schofield. Joe Pride’s gelding has won the past two editions of the King Charles III and comes off a second placing in the Gr1 Epsom Handicap, with a strong tempo and any rain-affected ground expected to enhance his late-closing style. Waller is acutely aware of the danger, describing Ceolwulf as the horse likely to be stalking Autumn Glow while she concentrates on Pride Of Jenni. The remaining trio — God’s Window, Just Folk and Militarize — are hardly making up numbers, although all face a substantial ratings task against the principals. What makes the race compelling is that each of the three leading chances wants something different: Pride Of Jenni wants to break the race open, Autumn Glow wants to remain within striking distance without being dragged into a premature chase, and Ceolwulf wants both of them to make the contest sufficiently demanding for his closing strength to matter. Six runners, but no shortage of consequence.
NEWGr1 Thousand Guineas Preview
Thursday, 15th October 2026
Barrier history has also introduced an immediate layer of complexity to Saturday’s Gr1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield, with leading contenders Regal Ambition and the unbeaten Over The Bridge both drawing beyond the positions that have traditionally produced winners of the 1600m fillies’ classic. Regal Ambition, unbeaten this preparation and installed around $3.80 favourite after an emphatic Listed Jim Moloney Stakes victory over 1440m, will begin from barrier 11, while Over The Bridge has drawn the extreme outside in 13 after maintaining her perfect record with a last-stride Gr3 Scarborough Stakes success. racing.com notes that only Amphitrite in 2018 has won the Thousand Guineas from a double-figure barrier during the past decade, with seven of the past 10 winners starting from gate five or closer, a statistical wrinkle that enhances the prospects of those drawn more economically. Ciaron Maher supplies four of the 13 runners, with Saintly Dancer particularly compelling from barrier four after demolishing her rivals by six lengths in the Gr2 Edward Manifold Stakes, while Icelady draws 10, Platinum Pearl 12 and Over The Bridge 13. Maher describes Over The Bridge as untapped and says the filly has progressed from her latest victory, but the mile and outside draw now ask considerably more of her. Chris Waller counters with three runners, headed by Flight Stakes runner-up De Armas from barrier seven after connections paid a late-entry fee, while Sing Your Song has gate two and Katoto eight. Waller believes De Armas should be ready to peak after making the unusual leap from 1200m into the Gr1 Flight Stakes and finishing a strong second, placing her firmly among the principal chances at around $7. Pretty Baby, drawn five, remains another serious contender after chasing home Regal Ambition in the Jim Moloney, while New Zealand Gr1 winner Lara Antipova brings proven elite-level credentials and Craig Williams aboard from barrier nine. The market therefore identifies Regal Ambition, Over The Bridge and Saintly Dancer as the obvious trio, but the combination of a genuine mile, three-year-old fillies and contrasting barrier fortunes gives this Thousand Guineas considerably more depth than the prices alone suggest.
Skyhook Set for Golden Eagle Dress Rehearsal
Thursday, 15th October 2026
An outstanding spring campaign has positioned Skyhook for a potentially defining fortnight, with the progressive four-year-old attempting to extend his winning sequence in Saturday's $1 million Listed Silver Eagle (1300m) at Royal Randwick before tackling the $10 million Gr1 Golden Eagle (1500m), which will be conducted at racing's highest level for the first time this year. Prepared by Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, the talented galloper has already recorded two impressive Gr2 victories this preparation, capturing the Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill before leading throughout in the Gr2 Shannon Stakes (1500m) last month. According to racingnsw.com.au, Alexiou believes the horse has developed substantially in both strength and maturity, with his ability to perform effectively from different positions providing additional tactical flexibility as he approaches his principal spring assignment. Skyhook has already demonstrated considerable quality across three racing seasons, having won the Gr3 Pago Pago Stakes as a juvenile before adding the Gr3 Hawkesbury Crown and Gr3 Gunsynd Classic during his three-year-old campaign. His latest victories have confirmed that the improvement anticipated with physical maturity is translating into more consistent performances, although an elusive Gr1 success remains the principal achievement missing from his record. The Silver Eagle represents a carefully selected stepping stone, allowing Skyhook to familiarise himself with Randwick while providing a fortnight between assignments before the Golden Eagle. Alexiou acknowledged that the drop from 1500m to 1300m presents a challenge, but believes a three-week interval following the Shannon Stakes, combined with the possibility of rain-affected conditions, should allow the gelding to remain competitive. Skyhook has drawn barrier five and was quoted at $2.80, with Beiwacht looming as a significant rival after securing the inside gate. The pair have met on four previous occasions, with Beiwacht finishing ahead on three, although Skyhook's recent development provides encouragement that their established form relationship could be reversed. The Golden Eagle market is headed by Sheza Alibi at $1.80, with Beiwacht and Skyhook among the few runners quoted at single-figure odds. Alexiou is also preparing Gr3 winner Matias for Saturday's Big Dance Wild Card (1600m), with a first or second placing providing access to the $3 million Big Dance at Randwick on November 3. Matias, winner of the Gr3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m) during the autumn, resumed with a fourth placing in the Cameron Handicap and has subsequently impressed the stable with his trial and trackwork performances. Should he fail to qualify, alternative assignments include the $750,000 Craven Plate (1800m) or Rosehill Gold Cup (2000m). The stable also has Snitzel Dancer engaged on Saturday, although Alexiou expressed reservations about the mare's effectiveness on particularly heavy ground. Nevertheless, Skyhook remains the principal focus, with connections hoping that another commanding Silver Eagle performance will provide the ideal foundation for a breakthrough victory in one of Australia's richest races.
Dreams of Guineas Glory with Unbeaten Filly
Thursday, 15th October 2026
A remarkable few weeks in the sporting career of AFL star Zach Merrett could become even more memorable on Saturday when unbeaten filly Over The Bridge attempts to provide the Hawthorn recruit with his first elite-level racing success in the $1.5 million Gr1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield. The accomplished midfielder, who recently completed a high-profile move from Essendon to Hawthorn, is among the owners of the promising Ciaron Maher-trained three-year-old, whose two appearances have produced impressive victories at Bendigo and Caulfield. According to racing.com, Merrett has enthusiastically embraced the prospect of competing at the highest level after experiencing considerably less success with previous racehorse ownership interests, making the opportunity to contest one of Australia's most prestigious fillies' Classics particularly rewarding. Purchased for $250,000 at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Over The Bridge entered Merrett's ownership portfolio through his brother-in-law Will Bourne, Maher's Head of Bloodstock, whose involvement provided the footballer with an opportunity to invest in a well-selected youngster. The filly justified that confidence with a successful debut at Bendigo before taking the significant step into Stakes company with victory in the Gr3 Scarborough Stakes at Caulfield, establishing herself as a serious Thousand Guineas contender. Merrett's enthusiasm for racing developed during his childhood in the Victorian town of Cobden, while his education at Melbourne Grammar strengthened his connections with the thoroughbred industry through his association with members of the prominent Hayes racing family. Having watched Australia's major races since childhood, the opportunity to participate as an owner in a Gr1 contest represents the fulfilment of a longstanding ambition. His involvement also highlights the increasingly strong relationship between Australian football and thoroughbred racing, particularly during October when the conclusion of the AFL season coincides with the height of Melbourne's spring carnival. Merrett, who is serving as a Sportsbet Caulfield Cup ambassador, regards the racing carnival as an important social occasion for footballers, bringing together teammates, former colleagues and rivals in a setting that combines elite competition with hospitality and entertainment. His immediate focus, however, is firmly on Over The Bridge, whose unbeaten record and rapid improvement suggest that her first attempt at 1600m could provide another significant career breakthrough. Quoted at $5.50 for the Thousand Guineas, the filly faces a substantial rise in class against established performers, but her natural ability and the expertise of Maher's powerful stable ensure she will command considerable attention. For Merrett, already accustomed to performing before enormous crowds on the football field, the nervous anticipation of watching his own thoroughbred contest a major championship promises an entirely different sporting experience.
Gear Change Key to Lara Antipova's Challenge
Thursday, 15th October 2026
Meanwhile, a tactical adjustment designed to improve Lara Antipova's tractability could prove decisive when the outstanding New Zealand-trained filly attempts to add another elite-level victory to her record in Saturday's $1.5 million Gr1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield. Prepared by Mark Walker for Te Akau Racing, the daughter of Russian Revolution will wear a cross-over noseband for the first time after racing too keenly against male opposition in the Gr2 Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Caulfield on September 27, when she finished fourth behind Diameter. According to racingfans.com.au, assistant trainer Ben Gleeson believes that experience has provided an important lesson for the talented three-year-old, whose tendency to over-race during a slowly run contest compromised her finishing effort after she had previously demonstrated considerably greater effectiveness when allowed to settle comfortably. Her preceding performance in the Listed Michael Moroney Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on September 12 had been particularly impressive, with Lara Antipova defeating the colts and geldings after enjoying an economical passage before accelerating strongly over the concluding stages. That victory restored her standing among the leading fillies of her generation following an unsuccessful Australian seasonal debut, and demonstrated that her outstanding juvenile achievements in New Zealand could translate successfully to considerably stronger competition across the Tasman. Gleeson reported that the new noseband had produced encouraging results during a Tuesday morning gallop at Caulfield, with the filly travelling more comfortably and responding positively to the equipment change. A return to competition against her own sex is another potentially important advantage, although the Thousand Guineas promises a demanding examination against several emerging fillies possessing strong recent form. Lara Antipova enjoyed an exceptional two-year-old campaign in New Zealand, winning all five appearances and establishing herself as the country's champion juvenile filly, with her Australian Stakes success further enhancing the reputation of the Te Akau training operation. Bred by Vinery Stud and offered at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, she was purchased for $100,000 by David Ellis and Fortuna Racing, providing connections with an outstanding return on their investment. The filly is out of the Myboycharlie mare Artistic Lass, and her pedigree combines the speed of Russian Revolution with a family that offers encouragement for her ability to cope with a mile. Champion jockey Craig Williams has been engaged for Saturday's assignment, with Lara Antipova drawing barrier nine and carrying 56kg under the set-weights conditions. Her main opposition includes impressive Edward Manifold Stakes winner Saintly Dancer, unbeaten Gr3 Scarborough Stakes winner Over The Bridge and progressive Lindsay Park filly Regal Ambition.
Lara Antipova could benefit from a gear change (pic: Mark Gatt)
Hayes on Weather Watch Ahead of Everest
Thursday, 15th October 2026
Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising faces an unfamiliar challenge in Saturday's $20 million Gr1 TAB Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick after drawing barrier 11 for his title defence, although trainer David Hayes revealed to scmp.com the possibility of a heavily rain-affected track represents a considerably greater concern than the outside starting position. The world's highest-rated racehorse will attempt to extend his extraordinary winning sequence to 22 consecutive victories when he confronts Australia's leading sprinters, with champion jockey Zac Purton again entrusted with guiding the defending champion through one of the most demanding assignments of his career. According to the South China Morning Post, Hayes remained notably relaxed following Tuesday evening's spectacular barrier draw at Sydney's Luna Park, explaining that the outside position could actually prove advantageous for a horse whose exceptional cruising speed allows him to establish a prominent position without excessive exertion. Ka Ying Rising will be among the last runners loaded into the starting gates, a circumstance that Hayes believes could minimise the possibility of the gelding becoming restless while awaiting the start. The trainer also considers Randwick's extended run from the 1200m starting point an important tactical advantage compared with the relatively short approach to the first turn at Sha Tin, providing Purton with sufficient time to assess the pace before deciding whether to lead or settle immediately behind the early speed. However, heavy rain across Sydney on Tuesday evening introduced a more significant element of uncertainty, particularly following the champion's relatively subdued performance in a Randwick barrier trial the previous week. Hayes acknowledged that while Ka Ying Rising has demonstrated an ability to handle yielding ground in Hong Kong, Australian heavy tracks present a different examination, making the prospect of a Heavy 10 surface especially unwelcome. The trainer remains optimistic that improved weather during the remainder of the week will allow Randwick to recover sufficiently before Saturday's feature, although he concedes that genuinely heavy conditions would make him considerably less confident. Ka Ying Rising nevertheless retains overwhelming market support at approximately $1.40, with Godolphin's brilliant filly Tempted firming to $5 after drawing barrier one. The Ciaron Maher-trained challenger finished second to the Hong Kong champion in last year's Everest and has subsequently won five consecutive races, including an impressive last-start success in the Gr2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick. Respected Sydney trainer Joe Pride, who captured the 2023 Everest with Think About It, believes Ka Ying Rising remains the outstanding sprinter of his generation and considers the racing surface his greatest potential obstacle. With the defending champion's exceptional record, commanding acceleration and proven tactical versatility contrasting with uncertainty surrounding the weather, Saturday's contest promises another fascinating chapter in the international rivalry between Hong Kong and Australia's elite sprinting ranks.
Adept on wet tracks, Tempted has firmed for Saturday (pic: Steve Hart)
Dream Caulfield Cup Ride for Tassie Apprentice
Thursday, 15th October 2026
An extraordinary rise from riding horses bareback around Tasmanian paddocks to securing a coveted mount in one of Australia's most prestigious races will reach another milestone on Saturday when 20-year-old apprentice Jabez Johnstone makes his Gr1 debut aboard Kings Valley in the $6 million Caulfield Cup (2400m). The talented young jockey, who relocated from Hobart to Melbourne only five months ago to join the powerful Ciaron Maher stable, received the unexpected news directly from his trainer and now prepares to compete against established international and Australian stars including Damian Lane, Craig Williams, Mark Zahra and Jamie Spencer. According to racing.com, Johnstone's rapid progression reflects a remarkable combination of determination, confidence and natural ability, with his career advancing considerably since he began riding professionally in Tasmania in November 2024 under the guidance of trainer Sarah Cotton. His first victory arrived aboard Stars In The Night at Launceston on December 4 that year, followed by his maiden Stakes triumph when Daytona Diva captured the Listed Strutt Stakes at Hobart in February 2025. Further success accompanied his move to Victoria, where he recorded his 100th career winner aboard Maher-trained Signature Scent at Caulfield in July before celebrating his first mainland Group success on October 3. That breakthrough came aboard Mr Monaco in the Gr3 Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington, when the progressive stayer relished the rain-affected conditions to score by 1.25 lengths and secure automatic qualification for the Melbourne Cup. Less than a fortnight later, Johnstone has been entrusted with Kings Valley, an Irish-bred son of Territories who will carry just 51kg in the Caulfield Cup. The gelding was allocated barrier 12 but could start from gate 10 should the emergencies fail to gain a berth, while his recent form includes a ninth placing behind Cosmic Crusader in the Gr1 Turnbull Stakes and a seventh, beaten less than two lengths by stablemate Zahrann, in the Gr3 Naturalism Stakes. Although Kings Valley was quoted at $31 following the barrier draw, Johnstone believes the horse is progressing favourably and has taken considerable encouragement from his recent trackwork. The occasion carries additional emotional significance through his close relationship with sister Taylor, herself an accomplished jockey, with the siblings having developed their competitive instincts by racing each other around their childhood paddocks. Taylor will be riding at Morphettville on Saturday but intends to watch her brother's historic opportunity from the jockeys' room, having already arranged to attend Melbourne Cup Day. For Johnstone, the privilege of securing such an important engagement so soon after moving interstate is a remarkable achievement, although his ambition extends considerably beyond simply participating. Having already demonstrated his ability to capitalise on major opportunities, the young apprentice now faces the ultimate examination of his developing skills in the 150th running of the Caulfield Cup.
Interstate Stables Zone in on Perth's Pinnacles
Thursday, 15th October 2026
A formidable collection of Australia's leading trainers and established Stakes performers is preparing to challenge Western Australia's finest thoroughbreds during the 2026 Pinnacles carnival at Ascot, with 566 nominations received across six major features and strong interstate representation promising another highly competitive spring programme. According to racingwa.com.au, the nominations reflect growing national interest in Perth's premier racing carnival, with powerful eastern states operations including Chris Waller, Ciaron Maher, Bjorn Baker, Kris Lees, Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman, Annabel and Rob Archibald, and the Lindsay Park partnership of Ben, Will and JD Hayes represented. Among the headline attractions is the Gr1 Northerly Stakes (1800m), for which nominations include Buckaroo, Cosmic Crusader, Evaporate, God's Window, King Of Light, Pericles, Watch Me Rock, Western Empire and Zambardo, providing the prospect of a compelling confrontation between established interstate performers and Western Australia's leading middle-distance contenders. The Gr1 Railway Stakes (1600m) has also attracted considerable quality, with Buckaroo, Cosmic Crusader, King Of Light, Lazzura, Pericles, Skyhook, Watch Me Rock and Western Empire among the entries, highlighting the strength of the prospective mile division. The carnival's sprinting programme appears equally attractive, particularly the Gr1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m), which has drawn nominations from Jigsaw, Rey Magnerio, Bassett Hound, Headwall, Jokers Grin, Overpass and Talkanco. Several of those horses also feature among the entries for the Gold Rush, where Overpass heads a particularly strong group that includes Afireofgidgeecoals, Bassett Hound, Beatty, Cosmic Crusader, Jigsaw, Lazzura, Pericles, Rey Magnerio, Warnie, Watch Me Rock and Western Empire. The presence of horses nominated for multiple features provides connections with considerable flexibility as trainers assess form, fitness and suitable race distances following their spring campaigns elsewhere in Australia. Younger horses will also enjoy opportunities to establish their credentials, with the Gr2 WA Guineas and Listed Placid Ark Stakes attracting emerging prospects including Beatty, Big Red Zoom, Afireofgidgeecoals and He's A Machino. Local trainer Neville Parnham has assembled the largest contingent of nominations among Western Australian stables, underlining the determination of home-state connections to defend their major prizes against the anticipated interstate challenge. The breadth of nominations across sprinting, middle-distance and age-restricted events reinforces the importance of The Pinnacles as a national racing attraction extending beyond the traditional Melbourne and Sydney spring carnivals. Although nominations remain preliminary and final participation will depend on individual preparations and travel arrangements, the prospect of horses such as Cosmic Crusader, Overpass, Jigsaw and Western Empire competing against high-quality interstate opposition suggests another outstanding series of feature meetings at Ascot, with Western Australian racing well positioned to attract considerable national attention.
Western Empire is amongst the leading local hopes (pic: westernracepix.com.au)
MyRacehorse Owners Brave Tassie Winter
Thursday, 15th October 2026
The growing appeal of thoroughbred micro-ownership has received another significant boost in Tasmania, with approximately 50 enthusiastic owners braving challenging weather conditions at Brighton on Tuesday morning to inspect their promising Capitalist filly as MyRacehorse prepares for its first venture into the state's racing industry. According to tasracing.com.au, the daughter of Capitalist and Speedonova was purchased for $120,000 at the 2026 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale and has subsequently joined the Brighton stable of respected juvenile trainer Stuart Gandy, whose expertise with young horses provides an encouraging foundation for the exciting new ownership initiative. Affectionately nicknamed Nova around the stable, the filly has completed approximately eight weeks of education and conditioning, including gallops and a jump-out at Longford, and is progressing towards a possible racecourse debut during the 2026-27 Tasmanian Summer Racing Festival. Gandy has been impressed by her temperament and professionalism throughout the preparation, with the youngster responding positively to the demands of stable life and displaying the qualities required of an early-season two-year-old. The trainer intends to provide her with a six-week spell before returning her to work, allowing further physical development ahead of her anticipated introduction to competitive racing. Tuesday's gathering offered shareholders an opportunity to watch their filly exercise alongside a stablemate on the Brighton training track, meet the people responsible for her preparation and gain a closer appreciation of the daily work involved in developing a young thoroughbred. Regular trackwork rider Chloe Wells, who travels from Devonport several times weekly to assist Gandy, has been equally impressed by Nova's willingness and straightforward nature, reinforcing the positive assessment offered by her trainer. The venture represents an important expansion for MyRacehorse, which has approximately 70 horses across Australia and New Zealand and a customer database approaching 80,000, demonstrating the increasing popularity of ownership models that allow racing enthusiasts to participate without committing to the substantial expense traditionally associated with owning a racehorse outright. Gandy, meanwhile, is preparing a team of approximately 20 juveniles for the forthcoming season, with many having completed their initial education before entering the spelling paddock to strengthen and mature. Interest in Tasmania's emerging two-year-old division is particularly high following the outstanding achievements of unbeaten Aristopolos, whose dominance of last season's juvenile programme included six consecutive victories. The first two-year-old race of the new season is scheduled for Hobart on November 29, although the programme has undergone a significant adjustment, with the Listed Kevin Sharkie Elwick Stakes (1100m) moving from its traditional January position to May 2027. For Nova's enthusiastic ownership group, the immediate attraction lies in watching their filly develop towards her racing debut, while the broader initiative provides another avenue for introducing new participants to Tasmania's thoroughbred industry.
The MyRacehorse Capitalist-Speedonova filly (pic: magicmillions.com.au)
Lope De Vega Colt Sets 2026 Book 2 Benchmark
Thursday, 15th October 2026
A timely pedigree update and an outstanding physical appearance combined to propel a Lope De Vega colt to the top of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 2 market on Tuesday, with Blandford Bloodstock's Richard Brown securing the Yeomanstown Stud offering for 650,000gns after a determined bidding contest with Shadwell's Angus Gold. The colt arrived at Park Paddocks with an already distinguished family record that received a significant boost, reports racingpost.com, when his two-year-old half-brother Sharadd won novice races at Haydock and York by a combined seven-and-a-half lengths, increasing their dam's tally of winners from four to five. The youngster is out of Silk Bow, a Listed Marygate Stakes runner-up purchased for just 50,000gns in 2016, whose progeny have now generated yearling sale receipts exceeding 1,500,000gns. Her previous successful offspring include William Haggas-trained sprint handicapper Binhareer, seven-time winner Trefor and Listed-placed Wings Of A Dove, subsequently purchased by Yeomanstown's David O'Callaghan for 42,000gns and now in foal to Baaeed. O'Callaghan acknowledged that the colt's price exceeded expectations, describing him as an exceptional individual possessing the maturity, strength and athleticism associated with a precocious juvenile prospect. Silk Bow has traditionally visited Yeomanstown's leading stallion Dark Angel, but the decision to introduce a different bloodline through Ballylinch Stud's outstanding Lope De Vega proved particularly rewarding. The mating also reflected Yeomanstown's broader strategy of diversifying the stallions represented in its sales consignments to appeal to a wider range of international purchasers. Brown was equally enthusiastic about the colt's conformation, proven sire and recent pedigree developments, explaining that his physical attributes and family credentials made him a particularly attractive acquisition. Although unable to disclose ownership or training arrangements, the bloodstock agent expressed confidence that the colt possessed the potential to compete successfully as a two-year-old before developing further at three. His son Harry, who accompanied him during the inspection and bidding process, shared that assessment. The transaction continued a successful Tattersalls October campaign for Yeomanstown, which sold ten yearlings during Book 1 for a combined 3,470,000gns, headed by a Ghaiyyath colt purchased by Godolphin for 1,300,000gns. Nevertheless, O'Callaghan cautioned that exceptional prices at the upper end of the market concealed increasingly difficult trading conditions for vendors without the most desirable individuals. With production costs continuing to rise and competition for elite breeding stock intensifying, he acknowledged that several quality horses had been sold at a loss despite the operation's headline successes. The strong demand for the Lope De Vega colt illustrated the enduring international appetite for outstanding individuals with proven pedigrees, but also highlighted a polarised marketplace in which commercial success increasingly depends on presenting yearlings capable of attracting determined competition from leading buyers.
US Jockey Club Flags Declining Foal Crop
Thursday, 15th October 2026
A further contraction in North America's thoroughbred breeding industry has prompted renewed concern about the sustainability of regional breeding programmes, with The Jockey Club projecting a registered foal crop of just 16,500 in 2027, a decline of 500 from this year's estimate of 17,000, despite continued strong commercial support for the country's most fashionable stallions. According to thoroughbreddailynews.com, the latest Report of Mares Bred figures reveal that 670 stallions covered 23,932 mares during the 2026 breeding season, based on returns received through October 1, compared with 738 stallions covering 24,662 mares at the corresponding stage last year. The 3% decline in mares bred was accompanied by a considerably sharper 9.2% reduction in active stallion numbers, demonstrating the increasing concentration of breeding activity among fewer sires. Leading the individual stallion standings was first-season sire Sierra Leone, whose book of 293 mares placed him ahead of Tiz the Law on 288 and fellow newcomer Citizen Bull on 261. Established stallions Gun Runner (250), Gunite (236), Not This Time (230), Drain the Clock (227), Locked (226) and Vekoma (224) also attracted substantial support, while Girvin (223), Golden Pal (221), Practical Joke (219), Corniche (216), Yaupon (214), Barnes (211), Justify (205) and Goal Oriented (201) completed the group of 17 stallions covering at least 200 mares. Kentucky strengthened its commanding position within the industry, with 187 stallions covering 16,677 mares, representing almost 70% of all reported North American coverings and an increase of 1.9% on last year's corresponding figure. The state's market share climbed from 66.4% to 69.7%, highlighting the continuing attraction of its established breeding infrastructure and commercially desirable stallion roster. Outside Kentucky, however, the picture was considerably less encouraging, with the number of mares covered declining by 12.5% to 7,255. Louisiana experienced a 43.3% reduction, while Ontario fell 23.2%, Florida 14.6% and California 13.9%, reinforcing concerns about the viability of smaller regional programmes. New York provided a notable exception, recording a 14.2% increase to 1,278 mares, while Oklahoma and Virginia also registered substantial percentage gains. The Jockey Club has introduced a Mare Incentive Program designed to encourage the return of eligible mares to breeding, with 180 mares already included in the latest returns. Although a further 2,000 to 3,000 coverings are expected to be reported for 2026, the figures underscore the industry's broader challenge of maintaining a sufficiently diverse breeding population while commercial demand becomes increasingly concentrated around established bloodlines and major Kentucky operations.
