Tuesday morning at Mornington offered a low-key backdrop as the stable’s headline act, Giga Kick, remained at home for routine work, while another rising prospect made his way to Caulfield for a pre-race look ahead of Saturday’s Group 2 Autumn Stakes. The focus fell on Top Reward, a progressive type who burst from maiden ranks at Mornington before chasing home quality opposition at only his second outing in the Group 2 Sandown Guineas. Trainer Clayton Douglas is quietly enthusiastic about what lies ahead. “He’s a lovely colt,” Douglas remarked. “He’s got a good brain about him and he’s got nice ability.” The spring proved a crucial foundation, providing two educational runs and producing a more polished horse for this campaign. “It was good to get a couple of runs into him in the spring and he’s come back a more furnished colt.” Top Reward, a son of Shamus Award, shapes as an autumn Derby prospect if he can hit the ground running over 1400m on Saturday. “We’ll take every run as it comes but there’s plenty of options for a horse like him, especially kicking off over 1400(m),” Douglas said. A busy schedule awaits should all go to plan: “There’s a lot of options over the next eight to 12 weeks that are going to be perfect for him so as long as he steps up to mark, we’ll keep putting it to him.” Ambition is reflected in the programming, with a step to 1800m already pencilled in for the second run of the preparation. “After Saturday, we’ll probably step him up and the 1800 second-up should be good for him,” Douglas confirmed. “He’s a lovely clean-winded horse and I’m looking forward to seeing how he goes first-up.” Last campaign saw Top Reward racing on speed, and Douglas expects the pattern to continue, especially fresh over the 1400m. “He’s got nice speed, good gate speed, so I wouldn’t like to see him running too far away but there might be something that might be a little bit sharper than him on Saturday,” he said. Meanwhile, Giga Kick continues to please the stable, building towards the Lightning Stakes with another solid gallop. “He’s ticking all the boxes,” Douglas added, “and we’re looking forward to Saturday week.”
Giga Kick is building towards the Black Caviar Lightning (pic: Steve Hart)
Another Sweet Result for Progressive WA Filly
Wednesday, 4th February 2026
Strong finishes have become a hallmark for progressive filly Playin'it Sweet who once again stamped her class at Bunbury, capturing the Listed WA Breeders' Classic (1200m) and reaffirming her status at black-type level. The latest win mirrored a familiar rivalry, as the Adam Durrant-trained daughter of Playing God once again got the better of Talkanco, a repeat of their November meeting in the Burgess Queen Stakes at Ascot. This campaign has seen the filly's record climb to six wins from 11 starts, her tally including $630,000 in prizemoney and Westspeed Bonuses worth $267,000. Sunday's victory owed much to the tactical nous of Lucy Fiore, who returned to the saddle for the first time since steering her in the Burgess Queen. Settling just off the speed, the filly showed trademark tenacity in a tight finish. "She has thickened out and feels much stronger now," Fiore said post-race. "She's awesome, tough and versatile. If you work with her she goes good and, ridden negatively, she should get a mile." A Homebred by Rod and Tania Cosgrove, who farm wheat at Walkaway with their daughters Jasmine and Georgia, the winner provided further cause for celebration for connections who have long supported the Durrant stable. Assistant trainer Jason Miller highlighted her toughness, remarking, "She's rock-hard fit with a tremendous will to win and she kept sticking her head out today." Pedigree has played its part in her development. She is the third winner produced by pensioned mare Sweet Ora, following on from Fire The Guard and Sweet Eyes, with the Playing God–Oratorio cross now boasting an 83% strike-rate in Western Australia. Sweet Ora's influence has also reached metropolitan circuits, winning multiple races at Belmont and Ascot, while her half-sister La Famelia made her mark in Victoria before producing Reisling Stakes winner French Fern. For a filly whose best may still lie ahead, the family story is already an impressive one. Should Playin'it Sweet continue on her current trajectory, connections are entitled to be dreaming of higher stakes race honours across the balance of 2026.
Sutton Hints That Feroce Can Emulate History
Wednesday, 4th February 2026
Autumn ambitions will come into sharper focus at Caulfield this Saturday, where a proven Group 1 winner is set to launch his campaign with trainer Dom Sutton hoping to see signs that last year's peak form can be rediscovered. The now four-year-old, Feroce, whose crowning moment came in the Australian Guineas twelve months ago, lines up first-up in the Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1400m). According to racing.com, it's a run likely to determine whether the path ahead for the son of Super Seth remains at the elite level or follows a measured approach through the grades. Sutton revealed that a recent Flemington trial provided a key lead-up, with the stable watching closely for any after-effects. "He trialled on Friday (at Flemington) so we want to make sure he's come through that trial," Sutton said. "We haven't made any set plans whether we go back to Group 1 level or stay in Group 2 or Group 3 level." Confidence in his return is buoyed by a spring campaign that began with a personal best when third in the Gr1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, before tactics unravelled in the Toorak and a heavy track in Sydney thwarted ambitions in the Golden Eagle. "After that, we went to Sydney (for the Golden Eagle) and it rained the morning of and the ground was horrific and he never went a yard in it," Sutton recalled. Still, the quality of those efforts has left connections optimistic. "He's come back really well, and he did show us plenty in the spring so we're hopeful," Sutton offered, outlining that a strong showing at Caulfield would prompt a tilt at the Group 1 Futurity Stakes two weeks later. "But he's shown that he is up to that level and if he runs well on Saturday then he'd probably go to the Futurity Stakes two weeks later." That confidence is underpinned by the historical record of Australian Guineas winners, the majority of whom over the past 10 years have gone on to add further Group 1 successes. While some, like Lunar Fox, found the Group 1 mountain harder to scale again, others have made a habit of it – recent champions Southport Tycoon, Legarto, Hitotsu, Alligator Blood, and Hey Doc all subsequently notched further top-level victories, highlighting the race's strength as a form guide. With the autumn stretching ahead, Sutton and his team know the coming weeks will reveal whether their stable star can join those ranks and deliver another chapter in a remarkable recent history for Guineas alumni.
Feroce has a lot to live up to (pic: Mark Gatt)
Strawberry Can Rock the Hobart Cup Again
Wednesday, 4th February 2026
Defending champions and interstate raiders shape the narrative for this year's $250,000 Group 3 Ladbrokes Hobart Cup (2400m), where a mix of local and visiting talent have put their names forward for Sunday's feature. Among the 16 first nominations is last year's winner, Strawberry Rock (Rock of Gibraltar), a galloper who returned to the track for a searching workout at Hobart on Monday morning. Stablemate Ziryab, who remained in Tasmania following a disappointing run as favourite in the $100,000 Summer Cup, joined the session, both horses representing the Ciaron Maher stable. The team's third nomination, Night Endeavour, appears a doubtful traveller after trailing the field in a recent Caulfield outing. Interest this year also centres on Bold Soul, the 2024 Tasmanian Derby victor, and Pakenham Cup winner Taramansour, each rated 97 and likely to shoulder top weight should they take their place in the field. Both camps have already signalled strong intent to cross Bass Strait for a shot at the Cup, bringing proven class and interstate intrigue to the mix. Adding further depth is the confirmed engagement of leading jockey Craig Williams, a three-time Hobart Cup winner, who will be hoping to add another chapter to his record aboard Nick Ryan's Suntora. That partnership has already struck gold at Hobart, having teamed up for victory in last year's Strutt Stakes on Cup Day. Of the 16 horses nominated, more than half are trained on Tasmanian soil, with local hopes headed by last year's Launceston Cup hero Distrustful Award and this season's Devonport Cup winner Asva. The final field will take shape after the barrier draw, set for Wednesday morning at Ladbrokes Park, Elwick. Meanwhile, ahead of the Hobart Cup, Derby Day on Friday promises its own interstate flavour, with nominations out for the eight-race program in Hobart. The $150,000 Listed Tasmanian Derby (2200m) again looks set to head interstate, with just two of the ten nominees in local hands. After Leanne Gaffney's breakthrough with Likeakalix last year – the first Tasmanian-trained Derby winner since 2016 – recent history suggests the visitors may again hold sway. Also on the Friday card are the $85,000 Magic Millions 2YO Classic and the $75,000 Magic Millions 3YO/4YO Classic, both now moved from their traditional Launceston home. Aristopolos and Mazzini are expected to dominate betting in their respective divisions, with $5,000 Magic Millions sale vouchers on offer to winning trainers ahead of the upcoming Tasmanian Yearling Sale.
Inglis Digital USA February Sale Well Timed
Wednesday, 4th February 2026
With the North American breeding season just a week or so from getting underaway, the launch of the Inglis Digital USA February Sale is a timely opportunity for owners and breeders to secure valuable additions as the new season approaches. Released on February 2, the latest catalog boasts 45 lots, with a mixture of racing prospects, broodmares, and even a stallion season, designed to appeal to a wide range of buyers across the country. According to bloodhorse.com, bidding is now live, and will remain so until February 6, with each lot closing in succession from 2 p.m. ET, every three minutes, ensuring an energetic online auction. Geographical reach has rarely been broader. The sale's offerings span eight states – Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia – allowing prospective buyers to inspect horses closer to home or target bloodstock in major breeding hubs. Whether seeking to reinforce an established broodmare band or break into the game with promising young stock, the variety on offer provides a genuine spread of options. Much of the pre-sale attention centres on three notable broodmare prospects from Last Laugh Stables, stabled for inspection at Clearbrook Farm near Paris, Kentucky. Leading the trio is Jeanie's Faith, a half-sister to the unbeaten three-year-old So Happy, whose eye-catching victory in the San Vicente Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita in January has him earmarked for the Kentucky Derby trail. Jeanie's Faith's maternal line is notable, descending from Blame and connecting to Grade 1 winner Silver Wagon, with roots in the respected Leverett Miller program. Also flying the flag for Last Laugh is Six O Three, a half-sister to Five G, the filly who swept last season's Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) and Cash Run Stakes. Her pedigree features the Quality Road mare Triumphant and traces back to Courtlandt Farms' successful family, which includes elite winners Golden Treat and Bet Twice. Completing the consignment is Ginas Serenade, a stakes-winning daughter of Maclean's Music, herself offered as both a racing or breeding prospect and linked to black-type stars Honey Ryder and Dominus. The catalog is further enriched by mares in foal to several desirable sires. Foals by Kentucky Derby winner Goldencents, California's standout Grazen, New York up-and-comer King for a Day, and the exciting young stallion Pappacap represent significant appeal for breeders seeking value in utero. Reflecting on the company's progress, Inglis Digital USA CEO Kyle Wilson remarked, "We're thrilled to begin our second full year in operation. I encourage all of our customers to take a look at this catalog, as there are some exciting opportunities on offer." Interested parties can register and request a bidding limit on the Inglis Digital USA website, where the full catalog is available to view and bid.
Price-Kent Jnr 2YOs in Blue Diamond Odds Tussle
Wednesday, 4th February 2026
The build-up to the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude at Caulfield has taken on fresh intrigue, with one promising youngster poised to match strides with his stablemate in what’s shaping as a pivotal lead-up to the $2 million Blue Diamond Stakes. According to punters.com.au, Saturday’s feature will see Guest House return to the spotlight, eager to reassert his claims after the rise of barnmate Big Sky in recent weeks. Momentum has swung decisively since the Chairman’s Stakes, where Big Sky made it two-from-two under the care of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr, a display that quickly thrust him alongside Guest House as equal favourite in early Blue Diamond betting. Bookmakers wasted little time adjusting the market after Big Sky’s authoritative win (see below), installing both colts at $4.50. Yet as punters digested the implications, Guest House’s quote soon tightened to $4 for the February 21 grand final at Caulfield, reflecting continued confidence in his prospects. Price, monitoring his runners closely, oversaw a key piece of work from Guest House at Cranbourne on Saturday morning, just hours before Big Sky’s latest triumph. “I think that horse has improved heaps in two weeks,” he commented, clearly encouraged by the colt’s progress. “He worked super on Saturday morning and he’s raring to go.” A further tune-up is scheduled for Tuesday, when Jamie Melham will partner Guest House in a gallop designed to bring the son of Home Affairs to his peak for Saturday’s Prelude over 1100m. “We’ll sit him off one on Tuesday and he’ll get a nice gallop,” Price said. “He’ll turn up in the 1100(m race) and be hard to beat.” The road to this point has required careful timing, especially after Guest House launched his career with a convincing victory at Cranbourne’s city-standard meeting in late December. Price acknowledged that the debut venue was not his preferred option, but circumstances dictated its importance for the colt’s Blue Diamond campaign. “I don’t think Cranbourne helped him,” he admitted. “Cranbourne was a race that I had to run him in to get his timing right.” Such planning mirrors past successes, with previous Blue Diamond winners from the stable – Samaready and Extreme Choice – both debuting in mid-December ahead of third-up triumphs in the feature. A winning trial at Cranbourne on January 26 provided additional mental stimulation for Guest House, with Price remarking, “It’s about timing and a tickover trial because too many weeks between runs is not good for that big, strong colt. Guest House is a big, solid horse and I thought, without overdoing it, that it would give him a bit of an adrenalin boost. It should get him ready for the 1100 and that will top him off for the Blue Diamond.” Despite possessing two of the leading locals for the race, Price remains wary of new contenders arriving from interstate. “The Blue Diamond picture will get a lot tougher when the Sydney horses come down, although each week is a different result,” he said, aware that every performance from here on shapes the evolving championship narrative.
History Suggests a Big Future for Little Paradise
Wednesday, 4th February 2026
The search for Hong Kong racing’s next superstar often leads through the Classic Mile, and this year’s edition produced a display that left many wondering if they’d just witnessed the emergence of another headline act. Sunday’s performance was defined not just by a burst of acceleration but by the ability to overcome adversity, with the eventual winner forced to negotiate a wall of trouble before surging clear in one of the fastest editions on record. Trouble threatened to derail the script as the field turned for home. Jimmy Ting’s contender, stepping up to 1600m for the first time, found himself second last at the bend, hemmed in with no clear passage. The narrative shifted abruptly, though, once Vincent Ho angled the Toronado gelding out to open ground. What followed was a withering sprint – a sustained drive that saw the favourite sweep past rivals with authority, putting two lengths on the field in a matter of strides. Few could argue with the emphatic nature of the victory, emphasised scmp.com, especially as the clock confirmed the visual impression: a new race record of 1:33.31, shaving Able Friend’s long-standing mark from 2014. The result inevitably drew comparisons to Golden Sixty’s similarly dominant display in the same contest six years earlier, inviting speculation about what heights might yet be scaled. Yet those close to the camp know the journey has only begun. With six wins from nine starts, the path to Group 1 greatness – let alone Golden Sixty’s rarified achievements – remains long and fraught with challenge, but it was clear on Sunday that a genuine star had announced himself. History suggests that a Classic Mile win is rarely the end of the story. The race has provided a springboard for future champions such as Romantic Warrior, Voyage Bubble, and Gold-Fun. Seven of the past ten winners have gone on to further glory in the four-year-old series, putting the new hero squarely in contention for the upcoming Classic Cup (1800m) and Hong Kong Derby (2000m). “He finished off very well, so he can definitely handle a mile without a problem and I told Jimmy even for 1800m, he will also produce that sort of kick as long as we relax him early,” Ho remarked, adding, “So, I’m looking forward to the Classic Cup and the Derby.” Securing the mount was no foregone conclusion for Ho, who picked up the ride after Zac Purton elected to partner Sagacious Life, only to endure a frustrating fourth. The tactical dynamics may shift in the series’ remaining legs, with pace scenarios and new contenders such as Numbers from the Frankie Lor yard waiting in the wings, but the flexibility shown on Sunday suggests adaptability will not be an issue for the rising star. Looking ahead, connections and fans alike are daring to dream. If recent evidence is any guide, the Classic Series could yet belong to racing’s newest luminary.
Liguria Adds Another Chapter to Zonza Story
Wednesday, 4th February 2026
A memorable Ellerslie afternoon brought a new milestone in the ongoing legacy of one of Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay’s most cherished bloodlines, as a homebred Snitzel filly delivered fresh stakes success in the Gr3 Colin Jillings 2YO Classic (1200m). Saturday’s win added another layer to a family narrative that stretches back nearly two decades and continues to produce headline moments on New Zealand’s biggest stages, according to loveracing.nz. The filly’s connections have always taken a long-term view, carefully nurturing a dynasty that began when a Gold Brose mare, Sonet, visited Cambridge Stud’s iconic stallion Zabeel in 2007. The result was Zonza, a filly who flourished under Roger James, winning five races in the Lindsay colours, including the Gr3 Ladies Day Vase (1600m) at the 2013 Caulfield Cup carnival. Yet it is at stud that Zonza has truly excelled, producing three black-type winners: Queensland Derby hero Pinarello, Matamata Breeders’ Stakes star Vernazza, and Listed Counties Challenge Stakes winner Bavella. Among these, Vernazza added further lustre by chasing home Karaka Million victor Cool Aza Beel in the Gr1 Sistema Stakes after her Matamata triumph, and later produced two fillies before her untimely loss. The first of these, a Snitzel filly, announced her arrival as a stakes performer at just her second start for the Karaka-based team, taking out the Colin Jillings Classic and ensuring the family’s story continues to unfold. The timing could not have been sweeter for the Lindsays, whose Cambridge Stud draft had only days earlier topped the vendor standings at the National Yearling Sale’s centenary edition. “Zonza and J’Adane were the two standouts in Brendan and Jo’s early foray into bloodstock, so both mares will always hold a special place,” explained Cambridge Stud spokesman Scott Calder. The stud retains the new stakes winner and her yearling half-sister by Proisir, while Zonza, now 17, continues to contribute with a Chaldean filly at foot. The wider family, including Bavella and the unraced Zazon, remain integral to the band’s future prospects. Early in his role as the Lindsays’ private trainer, Lance Noble delivered a poignant win with Vernazza in the 2020 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes, and hopes now rest on the emerging filly to follow a similar path. “It’s a credit to Lance and the whole team on the Karaka farm to win another feature race,” Calder observed. “She ran well in her first start on Boxing Day and showed huge improvement the way she hit the line on Saturday.” Few races mean as much to the Matamata-based conditioner as the Breeders’ Stakes, given his history both training on the track and serving on the club committee. “It’s great to think that he now has the chance to write another chapter in what is already a wonderful story.”
Xcessive Force Can Alter Championship Odds
Wednesday, 4th February 2026
Bookmakers may soon be revisiting their markets for the 2026 Country Championships Final as Canberra’s untapped mare Xcessive Force continues to gather momentum, reports racenet.com.au. After her latest appearance in the TAB Highway, the Danielle Seib-trained prospect has firmed to an $11 shot for the $1 million decider on Day One of The Championships at Royal Randwick, April 4. Acquired for $90,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Xcessive Force lines up this weekend seeking a fourth career win from just six outings, and could also deliver Seib a landmark tenth TAB Highway success. Attention will quickly shift to the Sapphire Coast on March 1, where the Country Championships Qualifier looms large and Seib could field as many as four runners—but with Xcessive Force the clear headline act. Seib has made no secret of her regard for the mare. “Xcessive Force has a fair bit of class on her side,” she explained. “She’s always shown plenty of ability but now she is starting to put the race-craft together. That was evident first-up at Goulburn there last Tuesday. She’s come back in good order.” It’s not only her victories that catch the eye. Xcessive Force’s three wins have all been by sizeable margins, yet it may be one narrow defeat that stands out as her best effort so far. As a three-year-old with just one start behind her, she finished a close second to Sun ‘N’ Sand in the Canberra Guineas Preview, a form line that has since gained weight, with Sun ‘N’ Sand later placing in the ATC Oaks behind Treasurethe Moment. Power and presence mark out the daughter of Brutal. “When you look at her, she just looks like a good horse,” Seib observed. “She’s a big, strong mare, she’s just got presence, she’s got power, all the attributes of a nice horse.” Jockey Pierre Boudvillan has partnered Xcessive Force in all but one of her races and will be a key asset as the Championships approach. Meanwhile, the Qualifiers get underway at Coffs Harbour with the NRRA Heat, while Scone’s Clear Thinking sits atop the early betting as the $3.50 favourite.
