A strong finish to Book 2 trading has sealed another highly successful edition of the Premier Yearling Sale at Oaklands, with the 2026 renewal reinforcing the depth and resilience of the Victorian marketplace. Across three days in Melbourne, the overall gross reached $68,594,000, an increase of more than $8.52 million on the same stage last year, representing growth of 14 per cent. Beneath that headline figure, the middle market told its own compelling story. A total of 283 lots realised $100,000 or more, up 22 per cent year-on-year, while $200,000-plus and $300,000-plus transactions also climbed by 15 per cent and 17 per cent respectively. Book 1 indicators followed suit, with the average rising to $144,569, the median to $120,000 and the clearance rate to 81 per cent, all year-on-year improvements. Gilgai Farm finished as leading vendor after selling all 13 yearlings offered for $3,740,000, while Bell River Thoroughbreds recorded the highest average among those selling three or more lots, turning four yearlings into $301,250 apiece on average, also clearing the deck. On the buying side, Ciaron Maher Racing headed the Book 1 table with 13 purchases across various partnerships, narrowly ahead of Lindsay Park with 12 and Clinton McDonald and Shane McGrath with 11. Inglis Bloodstock chief executive Sebastian Hutch described the result as a reflection of building momentum. “There is incredible momentum behind this sale now, with an excellent set of results, particularly in the context of the market, following last year’s market-defying sale,” Hutch said. While improved financial benchmarks were pleasing, he noted the size and engagement of the buying bench stood out just as much. “We’re hugely grateful as always to the breeders and vendors who have supported the sale and I’m very proud of the effort the team at Inglis put into the sale. We are motivated to have as many people as possible go home from each and every one of our sales as happy as possible and it feels like there are plenty of happy sellers and buyers heading home from this sale. The diversity at the top of the market was great – the top 12 lots were all by different stallions, off service fees from as little as $16,500 so it goes to show there really is something for everybody at Inglis Premier. To have Premier as the Southern Hemisphere’s best performing yearling sale to this point of the season for the second consecutive year is a great thrill.’’ Day 3 top honours were shared at $220,000 by the Extreme Warrior colt from Who’s Zooming Who, offered by Rosemont Stud and secured by Lloyd Kennewell with Group One Bloodstock and SP Bloodstock, and the Zousain colt out of Cavalry Rose, presented by Blue Gum Farm for Hillside Downs and purchased by Taiwanese-based Elysian. Kennewell was emphatic in his assessment. “We go on physicals, we want fast 2YOs and he looks all of that. The market’s so strong in all aspects…it’s amazing how the industry just keeps backing up, sale after sale, year after year, but it shows we’re in really good hands.’’
Extreme Choice-Who's Zooming Who was a co top lot on Day 3 (pic: inglis.com.au)
Gandy Juveniles Loom Ahead of Launceston
Wednesday, 4th March 2026
The summer carnival may be in the rear-view mirror, but Tasmanian night racing rolls on at Launceston on Wednesday, and a familiar Brighton-based operator looks poised to arrive with a genuine winning chance. Stuart Gandy is sending a small team north, and the one creating the most interest is 2YO filly Momentslikethese, who finally gets her chance to break through without having to chase the unbeaten Aristopolos. Placed at all four starts, she has repeatedly found one too good, and that one has always been Aristopolos. Her last three runs have produced consecutive seconds, including at Listed level in the Elwick Stakes and Gold Sovereign Stakes, where she again chased home the same rival. Consistency has been her calling card, but so has frustration, and Wednesday shapes as the first time she can turn promise into a win. By Tiger Of Malay out of Mintha, she draws the inside alley and meets only a handful of opponents, conditions that should allow her to settle forward and make full use of gate one. With the rail out between seven and nine metres, the pattern is expected to reward those on speed, which only sharpens her appeal as the likely favourite to land her first victory, reports tasracing.com.au. Success would also tick over an important personal milestone for her trainer. Gandy sits on 346 career winners and a win here would nudge him closer to 350, a neat marker for a stable that has quietly built momentum across the past decade and a half. His first winner came back in 2010 with Just A Geegee, and the Geegee colours have remained a constant feature of his story. The banner performer, Geegees Mistruth, delivered a memorable Mystic Journey/Vamos double at Group 3 level last season before being transferred to Melbourne to continue her career. In recent seasons, Gandy has developed a reputation as a patient educator of young horses, and early-season two-year-old races have become a reliable hunting ground for his team. “I guess with the young horses, it’s keeping them happy and making everything enjoyable. You don’t want to make it a chore for them, the main thing for young ones is education, they go to school every day, but you have to mix it up with a bit of enjoyment,” Gandy told Racing.com. “We train on course, but when we can, we take them to the beach.” The stable’s profile received another lift last week at the Tasmanian Magic Millions Sale, when MyRacehorse Australia paid $120,000 for a Capitalist filly out of Speedonova and placed her with Gandy, marking the syndicator’s first Tasmanian purchase. Elsewhere on Wednesday’s card, debutant Kion’s Kingdom also appeals after drawing gate one in the 1220m maiden following a Longford trial win.
Giga Kick May Take Sydney’s WFA Option
Wednesday, 4th March 2026
A decision looms for one of Australia’s premier sprinters as connections weigh up whether to chase Group 1 glory at Flemington or take a more measured path north to Sydney. Giga Kick is among the 24 entries for Saturday’s $2 million Newmarket Handicap, yet trainer Clayton Douglas has indicated a tilt at Randwick’s Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) is the more likely scenario. The handicap conditions of the Newmarket would see the gelding carry 59kg off his 116 rating, a stiff task in a race that traditionally demands both speed and resilience. By contrast, the Challenge Stakes is run at weight-for-age, albeit for a quarter of the prizemoney. Weather may ultimately determine the route. “It’s all going to be dependent on weather but more than likely, he’ll head to the Challenge Stakes in Sydney,” Douglas said. Giga Kick resumed in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on February 14, finishing fifth behind Tentyris after racing closer to the speed than usual. Douglas felt the run was solid, even if the result did not flatter. “He seems to have come through the Lightning well and everything is in good order,” he said. “He’s worked well since so it’s all systems go.” The trainer acknowledged the change in tactics may have blunted the gelding’s trademark finish. “He was far from disgraced and he travelled a bit free in the run. He was a lot closer than where we thought he would be. First-up last time in, he was out the back and finished off. This time, he rode the speed and he only got beaten a couple of lengths. I certainly didn’t think he ran badly at all.” Douglas noted that riding him conservatively has often yielded his best performances, allowing him to unleash late. “It’s always disappointing on the day when he’s right in the market but there’s a few factors there that can be considered. He’s a horse that likes to be ridden conservatively and finish off.” The broader aim remains next month’s $3 million TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick during The Championships, a race in which he finished second to I Wish I Win in 2023. The Challenge Stakes would serve as a stepping stone, with a trial planned between runs to ensure he is primed for third-up. “There’s still a little bit of water to go under the bridge yet, but we’re happy with where he’s at,” Douglas said. “He’ll have a trial then head to the TJ third-up, which should have him screwed down."
Costa and Family Bunkered Down in Dubai
Wednesday, 4th March 2026
A career move to Dubai to train thoroughbreds has taken a turn, with missiles and attack drones streaking overhead and an Australian horseman trying to keep his family steady amid crisis. Based at Jebel Ali as private trainer to Sheikh Ahmed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Michael Costa has been a witness as Iran launches missiles towards the United Arab Emirates.m Contacted from Dubai, Costa said he was limited in what he could say for security and safety reasons, but he described a week of little sleep and constant alertness. “It has all been a bit blurry, we didn't get much sleep the first night at all,” he revealed to racenet.com.au. “There [were] hundreds of missiles and drones and the major issue was the debris falling all around. It was very loud, obviously nothing like anything we have experienced before.” Inside their villa, the priority has been keeping the noise and the anxiety away from his four young children. Costa and his wife Mel have had everyone in one room, staying put as events unfold. “We have had all the family together in the villa and we have been all sleeping in the one room, we are just staying put. I certainly didn't have this on the cards for 2026.” He admitted the fear is real. “I have got my family here, so it's a natural instinct for me to feel a bit scared and for me to feel protective,” he said. He also paid tribute to the technology keeping the city safe. “The defence system that the UAE has is unbelievable, you are looking up in the sky and the way that these drones and missiles are being intercepted is incredible.” To dull what the kids might hear, white noise became part of the plan. “The first night we had the white noise music pumping inside the room, so it blocked out the noise outside,” Costa said. “The kids did about a month's work of screen time that night.” He added: “It's a very unique situation, but the kids don't really know what is going on.” Costa said: “We are just thankful that the Government has got this amazing defence system and it is doing its job. We are living on the news platforms to get all the latest information.” Racing has not been immune. While Saturday’s Meydan meeting went ahead, Sunday’s Jebel Ali card was cancelled and racing has since been suspended in the UAE. Living on-course at the Jebel Ali Stables, Costa is trying to keep the operation moving despite the track being shut. “The Jebel Ali track has been closed, but we have been running the horses on treadmills and swimming them,” he said. “We are playing it by ear and waiting for advice on what to do, we are taking it day-by-day.” With disruption spreading across the region, the March 28 Dubai World Cup meeting could yet come under a cloud, while Dubai airport and Jebel Ali seaport have been closed after suffering damage in retaliatory attacks.
The final pieces have fallen into place for Saturday’s $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie, with Slot Holder Kerri Spence Bloodstock and Clotworthy Racing confirming To Bravery Born as their representative and completing the field for Champions Day. According to racingnews.co.nz, the selection adds another layer of intrigue to a race already rich in storylines, while also lifting Te Akau Racing’s representation to four runners in the Southern Hemisphere’s richest three-year-old contest. To Bravery Born joins stablemates with their own strong claims, including He Who Dares, who will compete in Te Akau’s slot, and La Dorada, the popular filly dubbed “The People’s Horse”. In-form Belle Cheval, set to carry the colours of slot holder The King’s Men, rounds out a powerful Te Akau presence that is likely to shape how the race is run. Bred by Greg Tomlinson under his Nearco Stud banner, To Bravery Born is by Snitzel and out of Milunka, a mare with deep black-type ties. Milunka is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Kahma Lass, Group 1 performer Kuro, and emerging filly Drops Of God, giving the colt a pedigree that hints at quality and progression as distances rise. He was offered through Curraghmore’s 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 National Yearling Sale draft, where Te Akau principal David Ellis (CNZM) secured him for $200,000. On the track for trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, he made an immediate impact by winning his first two starts as a two-year-old. That early promise was followed by a fourth in the TAB Karaka Millions 2YO and a third in the Gr3 Fairview Matamata Slipper, performances that stamped him as a colt capable of mixing it with the best of his age. His three-year-old season began in style with a 3.25-length win at Taupo, and he backed it up at Te Rapa on Waikato Cup Day, scoring over 1200m in a race that included his Group 1-winning stablemate and fellow Kiwi contender La Dorada. Results since then have been mixed but suggest a colt looking for a touch more ground. He finished eighth in the Gr2 Cambridge Stud Almanzor Trophy on TAB Karaka Millions night and seventh in last month’s Gr3 Eagle Technology Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m), a key lead-up that has thrown multiple Kiwi runners. For Clotworthy Racing, securing him came after a frustrating search that included a near miss with Australian raider Asakura. “It is a bit of a relief to get a nice horse like that,” Shaun Clotworthy said. “We were really targeting Asakura, and we thought we had secured him, but they went with Ozzie Kheir. That put us on the back foot a touch, but luckily this horse has become available, and I thought his run in the Uncle Remus was good.” Clotworthy added: “The stable thought he was more of a 1200 to 1400m horse but he is looking like he wants to stretch out to 1500m now… He has come at the right time for us and the right time for them, so we have managed to broker a deal.” Ellerslie holds special meaning for Shaun and Emma Clotworthy after training Willydoit to win last year’s Group 1 New Zealand Derby, and the stable expects to savour another big day on racing’s grand stage.
To Bravery Born adds intrigue to The Kiwi (pic: Race Images Peter Rubery)
Hong Kong Derby Optics Have Become Blurred
Wednesday, 4th March 2026
Clarity is in short supply ahead of the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) after Sunday’s Classic Cup (1800m) reshaped the narrative around the HK$26 million feature, reports scmp.com. What once appeared a two-horse discussion has widened considerably, with a shock result and mixed fortunes for the leading fancies leaving the form puzzle far from settled. Stormy Grove, still a Hong Kong maiden just two starts ago and not even among the original Derby entries, has surged into serious contention following a pair of dazzling victories. The Australian import’s $22.25 triumph in the Classic Cup turned heads and upended the market, especially as it came at the expense of more established hopes Little Paradise and Numbers. Little Paradise, who had electrified the city with his Classic Mile win, endured a nightmare beginning. Jockey Vincent Ho later told stewards the $2.5 favourite had been fractious in the gates and blew the start badly. Although Ho called to the starter to delay proceedings, it was too late. The Jimmy Ting-trained galloper struggled to make an immediate impact before charging home over the final 200m to finish eighth, beaten three and a half lengths, in a run that hinted at better things with a smoother getaway. Numbers, regarded as the pick of Frankie Lor’s pair after consecutive victories, also had to work for his position. From barrier 11 he pressed forward to lead, rolling through solid sectionals that ultimately took their toll late in the race. He was collared by a sweeping Stormy Grove, with Invincible Ibis and Patch Of Cosmo also finishing over the top of him, yet his fourth placing carried merit given the effort expended early. Stewards questioned Derek Leung's tactics from the 800m mark, probing whether the tempo could have been steadied. The jockey responded that Numbers was “in a comfortable rhythm and as a result he elected to allow it to continue to stride forward without restraining his mount”. Importantly for Derby backers, Numbers continued strongly beyond the line, and the step up to 2000m appears well within his scope, having been runner-up in the Group One Queensland Derby over 2400m in Australia when racing as King Of Thunder. Elsewhere, Invincible Ibis rebounded from a Classic Mile sixth to reinsert himself into calculations, while Patch Of Cosmo, Dazzling Fit and Pope Cody all produced solid efforts that suggest they cannot be overlooked. In contrast, Sagacious Life’s standing suffered a significant blow after finishing a distant last, failing to settle and encountering interference at the 200m, a result that may prompt Zac Purton to seek alternative Derby prospects. With just weeks until March 22, the once-clear Derby picture has blurred, opening the door to new challengers and leaving punters with far more questions than answers.
Epsom Staves Off Housing Development Plan
Wednesday, 4th March 2026
Plans to construct 110 homes on land near Epsom racecourse in England have been refused by local councillors, delivering a setback to proposals linked to Jockey Club member and Cheltenham chairman Martin St Quinton. The decision followed strong opposition from racing bodies, residents and conservation campaigners concerned about the implications for both the equine population and the surrounding environment, reports racingpost.com. The proposed development at Langley Vale Road sits close to the start of the Derby course and a bridleway regularly used by Epsom trainers to access the gallops. The Jockey Club, which owns the racecourse and training grounds, formally objected to the scheme last year, warning it would “have a significant adverse impact upon the operations of the horseracing industry within the vicinity”. Central to the objections were fears that additional traffic would heighten risks to horses and riders navigating the area. Councillors at Epsom & Ewell borough council’s planning committee cited increased vehicle movements, potential wildlife disruption and the proximity to established training routes as decisive factors in rejecting the application. Public resistance proved substantial. The council received 364 written objections, alongside an online petition attracting more than 2,000 signatures. Councillor Bernice Froud said, “Once we pour concrete over it, we will destroy this site of nature conservation importance forever”, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Fellow councillor Steven McCormick highlighted the potential danger posed by added traffic, stating: “By placing 110 homes and hundreds of daily car movements at the mouth of the Warren, a known site for unseated riders, we are creating a collision corridor.” Developer Fairfax Aspire argued that revised designs could incorporate measures to mitigate harm to the adjacent green belt and surrounding landscape. However, those assurances failed to convince the committee. St Quinton, who will step down as chair of Cheltenham in May after seven years in the role, acknowledged the outcome while signalling that the matter may not be closed. “We are disappointed that the members chose to refuse the application despite the officer's recommendation for approval, but we will take advice and consider next steps,” he said. The Jockey Club declined to expand on its earlier submissions, maintaining its previously stated position. For now, the decision preserves the status quo around one of British racing’s most storied venues, though the prospect of further appeals or revised proposals means the debate over development near Epsom is unlikely to fade quickly.
Epsom Downs is one of the most famous racecourses in the world
Thompson Aiming for Victory with Impunity
Wednesday, 4th March 2026
A long-awaited return to the winner’s circle could be within reach at Warwick Farm on Wednesday, provided the conditions fall his way. Impunity, now a year removed from his last victory, lines up in the TAB Handicap (2110m) for what will be his fourth run this preparation, and trainer John Thompson told racingnsw.com.au, the signs are there that a breakthrough is close. Last start offered more frustration than form. In a similar race two weeks ago, there was quiet confidence in the camp that the five-year-old would be in the finish, only for interference at a crucial stage to derail his momentum and leave him sixth behind Stylebender. Thompson felt the effort was better than it reads on paper by the son of Dundeel. “He was going to run well the other day,’’ Thompson said. “We were expecting a big improvement, he was getting to his right distance. He’s a real 2400m horse but it’s far enough for him to get into it. “Just when he was starting to wind up the horse in front of him came back in his face and stopped him in his tracks. It was a non-event. He’s not a horse with a turn of foot, he’s got to wind up.” That grinding style makes positioning critical, and barrier draws have not been kind. Thompson noted the gelding has repeatedly been posted wide, leaving him further back than ideal. “He keeps drawing outside barriers which doesn’t help, with a good draw he could be two lengths closer in the run,” he said. Surface conditions are another variable. While a soft track holds no real fears, heavy going has proven problematic, with two defeats on rain-affected ground marking his record. “He seems to be going well, he’s no good on wet tracks that’s for sure, and he’s ready to win given the right circumstances,’’ Thompson said. “He has to start doing something now he’s at his right distance and he’s fit and well.” Chad Schofield, fresh from a Group 1 success last weekend, takes the reins and brings familiarity, having partnered the gelding in his last win in February 2025. Elsewhere in the stable, Starphistocated is being aimed higher after an effortless 1500m Midway win at Rosehill. Thompson is leaning toward Saturday’s Group 3 Aspiration Quality (1600m) at Randwick as a stepping stone to her primary goal. “Her aim is the Epona two weeks after this, it’s to get a mile run into her but she’s going very well. She’ll be a threat,’’ he said.
Gluyas Stable Banking on Promising 3YOs
Wednesday, 4th March 2026
Momentum is building within the Andrew Gluyas yard as two progressive three-year-olds shape as key players for the remainder of the carnival. Dirty Old Town and Freedom Flame fought out a compelling finish on the Parks track at Morphettville last weekend, and their paths now diverge toward separate autumn targets. Dirty Old Town has scarcely put a foot wrong in her debut preparation, chalking up a third straight victory when charging home from off the speed to edge out her stablemate. The manner in which she attacked the line has fuelled confidence that there is more to come as distances increase and pressure rises. “She’s been really good this prep,’’ Joe Gluyas said. “We weren’t too sure where her ceiling is, she just attacks the line.” Plans are already in place to press on. “The Morphettville Guineas on the Cup Day, that’s where we’ll head all being well,’’ he added. Freedom Flame, brave in defeat at her second run back from a spell, remains on course for the Group 1 Australasian Oaks later in April. While she could not match the finishing burst of her stablemate, her effort suggested she is building fitness at the right time. “We’ve set her for a few races for later in the Carnival,’’ Gluyas said, signalling patience rather than haste as she progresses. Elsewhere on the card, Acapella Moon delivered a moment to savour for Hannah Bryce, who saddled her first winner as a trainer when the mare swept home to overhaul Autumn Frost under Connor Murtagh. Overcome by the occasion, Bryce admitted, “I haven’t been training for year, I’m overwhelmed.’’ She added simply, “It’s unbelievable.’’ Placo further enhanced his South Australian record with a fourth win from nine local starts since joining Luke O’Connor, dictating terms in front under Teagan Voorham. O’Connor felt a rain-affected surface and a heavier workload between runs proved decisive. “Probably trainer error first-up, he was a bit fresh,’’ he said. “We’ve served the work up to him, he just loves the hard work and was very impressive today.” With bigger ambitions floating, he conceded the CS Hayes Stakes on Cup Day was a possibility, though he cautioned against getting carried away. At Port Lincoln on Friday, Tala Hutchinson seized the biggest success of her riding career aboard Excelman, replacing the injured Sophie Potter and steering the grey to a narrow victory in the Cup. “I feel for Sophie,’’ Hutchinson said. “I got stuck three-wide but had cover, he was tough.’’ The win capped a riding double and shared honours with Sairyn Fawke, underlining a weekend of emerging talent across the state.
