Monday, 4th May 2026
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  • First Major 2026 Weanling Sale at Riverside

    Tuesday, 5th May 2026
    Quality, diversity and commercial appeal will converge at Inglis’ Riverside complex on Tuesday and Wednesday as Inglis prepares to open its 2026 Australian Weanling Sale, a catalogue that draws from more than 100 stallions and a cross-section of the country’s leading breeders. The sale again serves as the curtain-raiser to the Inglis Breeding Stock Sales Series ahead of the Chairman’s Sale later in the week. A total of 500 lots has been assembled, with representation from 48 vendors that reads as a roll call of the Australian industry. Operations such as Coolmore, Newgate, Widden, Segenhoe, Yarraman, Vinery and Kia Ora headline a list that reflects both scale and quality, with many consignors committing exclusively to Inglis for their weanling drafts in 2026. The stallion power behind the catalogue is equally compelling. Progeny of proven commercial forces including I Am Invincible, Snitzel, Zoustar and Frankel sit alongside those by emerging and established sires such as Home Affairs, Anamoe, Ole Kirk, Wootton Bassett, Harry Angel, Capitalist, Dundeel and Justify. The result is a broad offering designed to appeal across all sectors of the market, from end users to pinhookers. Among the more intriguing elements of the catalogue is the presence of first-crop stock from a wave of recently retired racehorses. Buyers will have their first opportunity to inspect progeny of stallions such as Shinzo, Hawaii Five Oh, Cylinder, Native Trail, Mo’unga and King’s Gambit, adding an extra layer of interest to proceedings. Inglis Bloodstock chief executive Sebastian Hutch pointed to the continued evolution of the sale in both depth and opportunity. “The Inglis Weanling Sales Series has been a fruitful market for buyers at all levels for a number of years, be they hobbyists, traders or end users,” he said, noting the company’s focus on strengthening the catalogue in recent seasons. That approach has been reflected in results on the track, with graduates including Group 1 winners Hayasugi and Kimochi alongside a host of stakes performers. The catalogue also offers a number of standout pedigrees, including a sibling to Splintex and Invictus Salute, a brother to Bellazaine and a Wootton Bassett half-brother to Captured By Love, while several well-related fillies and colts by leading sires further enhance the depth of the offering. With all lots eligible for the Inglis Race Series, including the Inglis Millennium and associated bonus schemes, the sale presents a pathway that extends well beyond the ring. For Inglis, the objective remains clear as it looks to draw domestic and international participation.

    Hawaii Five Oh

    Hawaii Five Oh's first weanlings are on show (pic: supplied)
  • Newnham Clings to Precarious One Win Lead

    Tuesday, 5th May 2026
    A premiership battle of rare depth continues to unfold in Hong Kong, with Sunday’s Sha Tin meeting offering further evidence that the 2025/26 trainers’ title remains wide open. With multiple contenders trading blows week to week, the margin for error is narrowing as the season edges toward its decisive phase. John Size made a timely move with a double that kept him firmly within striking distance of the leading pack. Combining effectively with Andrea Atzeni, he struck with Sky Jewellery in the Class 2 Members Cup Handicap (1600m) before Enthusium added a second success in the Class 3 Conghua Racecourse Handicap (2000m). The victories carried additional value, with Sky Jewellery securing a HK$1 million PPG bonus and Enthusium delivering a HK$1.5 million PP Bonus to connections. Size was quick to highlight the qualities of his stable stalwart. “He’s always shown and promised to do this sort of thing, and he’s never let us down. That’s what good horses do – they overcome adversity. That’s how they identify themselves immediately,” he said. Despite the gains, the 13-time champion remains in pursuit, lifting his tally to 43 wins for the campaign. Ahead of him, Mark Newnham continues to set the pace on 51 victories, narrowly clear of Caspar Fownes and Danny Shum, both on 50, while David Hayes (48) and Francis Lui (45) remain firmly in the mix. With 20 meetings still to come, the championship is shaping as one of the most competitive in recent memory. Newnham maintained his advantage with another success, as Incredible Moment delivered in the Class 4 The Hilltop In The Valley Handicap (1200m) under Richard Kingscote. Atzeni’s influence extended beyond Size’s yard, partnering Baby Sakura to victory for Francis Lui in the Class 3 Shenzhen Centre Handicap (1400m), further underlining his impact on the current season. Lui’s challenge gathered additional impetus later in the meeting when Turquoise Velocity added another win, keeping his premiership hopes alive. Speaking earlier, he identified a broader sense of opportunity across the training ranks. “I think he can be a (Hong Kong) Classic Mile (1600m) horse for next season – it’s an exciting time and it’s a race everyone wants to win,” he said. As the meeting drew to a close, Lui reflected on the state of the title race. “It’s a really tight championship; all of the top six could win it and John Size, too,” he said, capturing the prevailing sentiment across the ranks. With form lines shifting and leading stables continuing to exchange victories, the premiership remains finely balanced, promising a compelling finish in the weeks ahead.
  • Monstrous True Love Suffocates Guineas Foes

    Tuesday, 5th May 2026
    There was potential for history to be made on the Rowley Mile on Sunday and, by late afternoon, it had been emphatically claimed as a rare juvenile-to-Classic progression was completed in style, reveals TDN. The feat of adding the 1,000 Guineas to earlier victories in the Queen Mary Stakes and Cheveley Park Stakes placed True Love in select company, her Newmarket triumph marking a defining moment for both filly and stable. Sent off at $6.00 and operating as Ballydoyle’s apparent second string, she travelled with assurance throughout, tracking a strong pace on the stands’ side before asserting when it mattered most. Wayne Lordan timed his challenge to perfection, asking her to quicken inside the final three furlongs and watching her surge past Evolutionist to score by 1.75-lengths. Venetian Lace ensured the form held up among established Group 1 fillies, while the heavily backed Precise, the stable’s first choice, faded into seventh after failing to sustain her effort. The performance was not only decisive but measured against the clock, her winning time of 1:35.14 eclipsing the colts’ equivalent a day earlier, even allowing for slightly faster ground. Sectional data underlined the quality of the display, with a sharp mid-race burst between the three and the two-furlong poles proving the turning point as she seized control. Ballydoyle’s Aidan O’Brien, recording his eighth success in the Classic, was effusive in his praise. “She’s amazing. She’s a monster of a filly really, an absolute queen,” he said, noting the unusual nature of her trajectory. “It’s very unusual for a Queen Mary winner to win a Guineas, but she’s an unusual specimen… She’s a massive, powerful filly with a great mind–I can’t imagine there are many colts as big as her.” Her development has not been linear, but the signs of a more rounded performer emerged earlier this season, when she began to settle more effectively and stretch her speed. That shift was evident again here, with Lordan able to conserve energy before asking for a decisive effort. “You couldn’t be sure she was going to get a mile, but Wayne gave her a beautiful, exceptional ride,” O’Brien said. The result also carried broader significance for her sire, with No Nay Never finally breaking through in the Guineas after a series of near misses with high-profile progeny. For the filly herself, the path now looks clear, with further mile targets firmly in view. “She would have no bother going back in distance, but I would imagine she would stay at a mile now for the fillies’ races,” O’Brien observed, nominating both the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Royal Ascot’s Coronation Stakes as likely next steps.

  • Challenging Asfoora Pipe-Owner at Newmarket

    Tuesday, 5th May 2026
    Meanwhile, a testing return for multiple Group 1-winning Flying Artie mare Asfoora on Newmarket's Rowley Mile in England has left connections confident there is improvement to come, with a long-term European campaign firmly in focus for the accomplished Australian sprinter. Saturday’s Group 3 Palace House Stakes was always expected to serve as a launching point rather than a definitive statement, according to racing.com, and that assessment held true despite a finishing position well down the field. Asfoora, sent out a $4.50 second favourite, travelled comfortably through the early stages as a searching tempo was set by Night Raider. Positioned within striking distance under Oisin Murphy, she appeared poised to make her move, but the effort told late as the race developed into a relentless test over the straight 1000m, ultimately finishing 11th, eight lengths from the winner. Trainer Henry Dwyer had anticipated a searching first-up effort and his pre-race view proved accurate. “I’d be thinking she’ll be putting in some pretty short little steps at the end of that hill,” he said beforehand, and afterwards he was measured in his assessment. “A nice pipe-opener for Asfoora today at her seasonal reappearance. She clearly felt the pinch late but wasn’t given a gut buster and will be much better for it come Haydock Park in three weeks.” Murphy shared a similar outlook, emphasising the merit in the run given the conditions and tempo. “She broke lovely as usual and she [went] super, but she hit a brick wall at the furlong pole,” he said. “It was a real end-to-end gallop and she will come on a tonne from it and I look forward to Haydock.” Attention now shifts to the Group 2 Temple Stakes at Haydock on May 23, where a sharper performance is anticipated. Equipment changes remain under consideration. “The conversation is whether to have blinkers on her next time or not. She’s honest enough to win without them, but she’s just a bit sharper when they’re on,” Murphy added. The seven-year-old has remained in Europe following a highly successful campaign last season, which included Group 1 victories in the Nunthorpe Stakes and France’s Prix de l’Abbaye. Now based temporarily at Newmarket in the care of Lemos De Souza, she is being prepared with a clear objective in mind. That target lies further ahead at Royal Ascot, where a third attempt at the Gr1 King Charles III Stakes awaits. Having already captured the race in 2024, a return to peak condition in the coming weeks will be crucial if she is to mount another serious challenge on the biggest stage.
  • First MM National Mare Supps Revealed

    Tuesday, 5th May 2026
    Fresh depth has been injected into an already formidable catalogue, with the first supplementary entries for the 2026 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale adding both racetrack performance and commercial appeal. With five stakes-winning fillies and mares confirmed in the initial release, the sale continues to shape as one of the most compelling editions in recent memory. Among the headline additions is Bellazaine (see below), a precocious juvenile who will be offered straight off the track following her Listed success in the Lonhro Plate at Randwick. Prepared by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, the daughter of Zousain stamped herself as a filly of genuine class when defeating subsequent elite performers, including Beiwacht. Her physical presence and early maturity were hallmarks from the outset. “Bellazaine has always been a very physically mature filly with an outstanding constitution,” Bott said. “She showed precocity early in her training, which carried her through to perform strongly against the best of her generation.” Her toughness in that Randwick victory left a lasting impression. “Her win in the Lonhro Plate was particularly impressive – she had the toughness to sit on speed and fight all the way to the line to hold off Beiwacht, and we all know the quality of that horse,” Bott added, before reinforcing her long-term appeal. “She has all the attributes you’d want to see in a filly heading to the breeding barn – strength, soundness and natural athleticism – and I’ve no doubt she’ll pass those traits on to her progeny.” Also joining the catalogue is Russian Alliance, a multiple juvenile winner highlighted by her Group 3 triumph in the Ken Russell Memorial Classic. The daughter of Russian Revolution will be offered through Kenmore Lodge, with her pedigree further strengthened by close ties to stakes performers, ensuring she appeals to both commercial and racing breeders. The broodmare section gains further weight through the inclusion of established performers, headlined by Quantum Mechanic. A Group 2 winner of the Sunline Stakes and a proven competitor at the highest level, the Deep Field mare boasts a deep international pedigree and a race record built on consistency. “She was a hard tough competitor, loved a mile, a genuine race mare who consistently showed ability throughout her career,” said Mill Park Stud’s Chris Watson. Her ongoing value has been underlined by strong interest in her progeny, including her first yearling, while she carries a September cover to Ole Kirk. Widden Stud will present Merriest, a Listed winner and already a proven producer, adding further depth to the offering. The daughter of Denman, whose progeny include Group 2 performer The Merryman, heads to market in foal to Super Seth, ensuring immediate appeal to breeders seeking both performance and pedigree. Completing the early supplementary group is Hot Little Thing, a dual stakes winner in the United States whose international profile and current breeding status add further diversity to the sale. With quality spread across both racing fillies and proven broodmares, the supplementary entries have strengthened a catalogue that already featured more than 100 black-type performers, reinforcing the sale’s status as a key fixture on the global bloodstock calendar.

  • Fury as Archer Race Day Misses its Target

    Tuesday, 5th May 2026
    Disbelief and frustration swept through Central Queensland on Sunday after one of the region’s flagship race days was abandoned at the eleventh hour, with industry participants now demanding answers as Racing Queensland moves to investigate the circumstances behind the postponement of the $1 million The Archer at Callaghan Park. According to racenet.com.au, what was meant to be a showcase meeting quickly unravelled when stewards deemed sections of the home straight unsafe, identifying multiple patches of inconsistent ground linked to a sprinkler malfunction. It marked the second such failure within three weeks, raising broader concerns about the reliability of the venue’s irrigation system and its capacity to cope under pressure. The fallout has been immediate and sharp, particularly for the Central Queensland Amateur Racing Club, which stages The Archer under licence despite the track being operated by the Rockhampton Jockey Club. CQARC boss Bill Reid did not hold back. “Another water problem for this club up here, it’s ridiculous,” he said, warning the financial impact could be severe. “This will seriously nearly break us, there’ll be so much refunding.” Support has rallied behind Racing Minister Tim Mander’s commitment to a full review, with stakeholders seeking clarity on how two separate incidents could occur in such a short window. RJC chief executive David Aldred was quick to distinguish the latest failure from the earlier issue, which stemmed from a cracked valve. “We’re investigating it now but there looks to be a leak in the ring main of the irrigation,” he said, noting the system’s age and the challenges in pinpointing the exact fault. Aldred confirmed urgent efforts were underway to rectify the issue, including bringing in a specialist despite the [Queensland Monday] public holiday. “We’ve got a specialist coming out here in the morning… to try and get to the bottom of it to ensure we get this race meeting going on Tuesday,” he said, adding that the club was doing “everything within our power” to salvage the event. For trainers and connections, the disruption has created a logistical strain that extends well beyond inconvenience. Horses transported over long distances remain in limbo, while staff accommodation and associated costs continue to mount. Tony Gollan, who has runners engaged in The Archer, described the situation as “a logistical nightmare,” though he expressed sympathy for the hosting club. “I feel for the club because they’re trying to put on a good event… but it’s obviously disappointing when these sort of things happen.” Stewards ultimately made the call moments before the opening race, citing safety concerns that could not be mitigated. Chief steward Josh Adams pointed to a particularly problematic section near the 80-metre mark. “The track as a whole is in good order… but those three patches… there’s no way for our riders or horses to avoid it,” he said. With costs to be shared among stakeholders and a rescheduled meeting set for Tuesday, attention now turns to restoring confidence in a venue that has been forced into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
  • Smart Wootton Bassett Colt Excites

    Tuesday, 5th May 2026
    A polished display from a pair of emerging juveniles provided a defining moment at Te Rapa on Saturday, where the Roger James and Robert Wellwood stable dominated the finish of the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (1400m). In a race that had been earmarked as a stepping stone for future targets, the quinella delivered by Excite and Incandescent hinted at a deeper vein of talent within the Cambridge operation. Arriving off a sound effort at the highest level when fourth in the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes, Excite had been installed as favourite despite still searching for a maiden victory, reports loveracing.nz. The Wootton Bassett colt justified that support with a performance that combined composure and acceleration, suggesting the raw ability seen earlier in his campaign is beginning to be matched by race-day execution. Positioned ideally throughout by George Rooke, he settled just off the speed behind Walkin In Memphis and Bourbon Time, travelling strongly into the straight with clear intent. When a gap presented inside the final 300 metres, the response was immediate. Pushing through to challenge, he quickly asserted superiority and drew clear late, holding a comfortable margin on the line. Incandescent, his stablemate, produced an equally encouraging effort from wider out, closing with purpose to secure second and complete a result that underlined the stable’s strength in depth. Both Walkin In Memphis and Bourbon Time fought on bravely after setting the tempo, but the closing sectionals of the leading pair proved decisive. James indicated the win could be a launching pad for a broader campaign, with immediate plans centred on a return to stakes company at Ellerslie. “I think he (Excite) is a pretty fair horse in the making as we rode him a little conservatively at his last start because he is still a horse in the making,” he said. “We found out we could trust him and George rode him an absolute treat today and he duly delivered.” The trainer was equally pleased with the runner-up, noting the stable may have multiple options as the season unfolds. “The other horse (Incandescent) was good too as he made ground late to grab second, so we have a couple of smart horses looking towards the spring.” Further targets remain flexible, though the immediate focus is on continued progression. “There is a nice race for Excite in a couple of weeks at Ellerslie… If he could string two wins together, we might even look at something offshore,” James said, adding that the colt profiles as “a Guineas horse in the making.” Bred and raced by Colin and Helen Litt who raced champion mare Orchestral, Excite is out of stakes-winning and Group-performed Savabeel mare Elate.

    Excite

    Excite led home a stable quinella (pic: Kenton Wright)
  • Beatty Atones for Karrakatta Plate Defeat

    Tuesday, 5th May 2026
    A return to more familiar circumstances at Ascot saw one of Western Australia’s most promising juveniles reassert his standing, closing out his campaign with authority in the Gr3 WA Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m). The performance not only underlined his quality but also provided redemption after a luckless passage in the state’s premier two-year-old contest, reports tbwa.net.au. Beatty, a son of Gingerbread Man, had already shown ample talent across the preparation, including a debut victory and an unbeaten hat-trick culminating in the LR Perth Stakes. His run in the Gr2 Karrakatta Plate, however, left more questions than answers after a costly mishap at the start. Stewards noted he “bounded on jumping losing two lengths”, forcing him to concede significant ground before charging home late to be narrowly beaten. That effort hinted at untapped reserves, and Saturday’s display confirmed it. Jumping cleanly and settling into a more comfortable rhythm, he travelled with purpose before asserting his superiority in the straight, turning the tables on Too Darn Hot Karrakatta conqueror Afireofgidgeecoals. The manner of the victory suggested both physical and mental progression. Co-trainer Jake Casey acknowledged the importance of the result. “Things didn’t go to plan in the Karrakatta so it’s good to see a redeeming win over 1400m today,” he said. “Willie peeled off heels and let him down like a WA Guineas chance in the spring. He’s muscled up and filled-out into a real physical.” Rider Willie Pike was equally encouraged by the colt’s professionalism, noting a marked contrast to his previous outing. “He was completely different today,” Pike said. “He gave me some grief in the gates before they jumped in the Karrakatta. He had a bee in his bonnet that day and it was like a wrestling match.” The result also carries broader significance for owner-breeder Wally Daly, whose colours have been a dominant force among the state’s juveniles this season. Beatty’s success adds further weight to that record, with the colt now firmly in the conversation as a leading 3YO prospect heading into the spring.
  • Geneva Trainer's Aussie Ambitions Undiminished

    Tuesday, 5th May 2026
    An ambitious cross-Tasman venture may not have delivered the result connections were chasing, but it has left a lasting impression and opened the door to future campaigns on Australian soil, reports racingnews.co.nz. For trainer Kylie Hoskin, the experience of tackling a Group 1 assignment away from home has proven as valuable as the race itself, despite conditions conspiring against her stable star. Geneva's tilt at the Gr1 South Australian Derby at Morphettville was undone by heavy rain that transformed the surface into a testing track that bore little resemblance to its official rating. "It absolutely poured down all day," Hoskin said. "It said it was a Soft7 but it looked worse than that to me, the jockeys were coming in and taking off their goggles and it looked like they had been in a steeplechase race, they were covered in mud." From the outset, circumstances worked against the Time Test colt. A tactical shift mid-race disrupted his rhythm, and his known tendency to over-race was exacerbated under pressure. "When Rory handed up the lead… they put the brakes on, he just over raced badly, so that didn't help," Hoskin said, adding that the decision may have been better handled differently in hindsight. While the finishing position was well below expectations, the broader takeaways were far more positive. The trip provided exposure to different training environments and strengthened valuable connections within the Australian industry. "The whole experience was great… we have certainly learned a lot while we were there even though the result wasn't quite what we wanted," she said. "It was my first time doing it and logistically it was a bit of a bumpy ride, but I feel pretty confident now… everyone over there were really helpful… I certainly wouldn't have any qualms about doing it again." Back on more familiar ground, Geneva's overall three-year-old campaign still reads well, highlighted by his Gr3 Manawatu Classic victory and a placing in the Gr1 New Zealand Derby. His development remains a work in progress, with racing manners the key area for refinement. "He has got it all there, but the over racing has always been a little bit of a problem with him when he gets in behind them," Hoskin said, pointing to his preference for a genuine tempo that allows him to settle into a rhythm. For now, recovery and regrouping are the priorities. The colt is enjoying a short break in South Australia before returning to New Zealand via Melbourne, where a spell will set him up for a spring campaign that connections hope will see him fulfil his potential.

    Geneva

    It wasn't a wasted trip for Geneva (pic: Peter Rubery Race Images)

2025 BTR Stud Stallions

BTP STUD STALLIONS

Sire
A Lot Established
Acrobat Established
Al Maher Established
Alabama Express Established
All American Established
All Too Hard Established
Alpine Eagle Established
Alpine Edge 3rd Season
Anamoe 1st crop 2YOs
Anders Established
Artie Schiller Established
Awesome Rock Established
Barbados Established
Barbaric Established
Best Of Bordeaux Established
Better Than Ready Established
Bivouac Established
Brave Smash Established
Brazen Beau Established
Bruckner 1st crop 2YOs
Bull Point Established
Bullbars Established
Cape Of Good Hope 1st crop 2YOs
Capitalist Established
Castelvecchio Established
City Of Troy Established
Cliff's Edge Established
Cogburn 2nd Season
Cool Aza Beel Established
D'argento Established
Danerich Established
Dash For Cash Established
De Gaulle Established
Delaware Established
Denman Established
Dirty Work Established
Dissident Established
Don Corleone 3rd Season
Doubtland Established
Dubious Established
Dundeel Established
Ellsberg 1st crop 2YOs
Encryption Established
Exceedance Established
Exosphere Established
Extreme Choice Established
Flying Artie Established
Foxwedge Established
Frankel My Dear Established
Gingerbread Man Established
Gold Standard Established
Graff Established
Grunt Established
Hallowed Crown Established
Harry Angel Established
Hawaii Five Oh 3rd Season
Headwater Established
Hellbent Established
Hitotsu 1st crop 2YOs
Home Affairs Established
I Am Immortal Established
I Am Invincible Established
Ilovethiscity Established
Invader Established
Jacquinot 1st crop 2YOs
Ka Ying Master 1st crop 2YOs
Kermadec Established
King Colorado 3rd Season
King's Legacy Established
Lofty Strike 3rd Season
Lord Of The Sky Established
Love Conquers All Established
Manhattan Rain Established
Maschino Established
Master Of Design Established
Maurice Established
Merchant Navy Established
Mo'unga 3rd Season
Murtajill Established
My Admiration Established
Needs Further Established
Nicconi Established
Nostradamus Established
Officiating 3rd Season
Ole Kirk Established
Pariah Established
Pierata Established
Pierro Established
Pinatubo Established
Playing God Established
Portland Sky Established
Power Established
Pride Of Dubai Established
Private Life Established
Puissance De Lune Established
Rebel Dane Established
Rich Enuff Established
Rommel Established
Rubick Established
Russian Camelot Established
Russian Revolution Established
Safeguard Established
Sandbar Established
Sessions Established
Shaft Established
Shalaa Established
Shamoline Warrior Established
Shamus Award Established
Shinzo Established
Shooting To Win Established
Sidestep Established
Sizzling Established
Skilled Established
Smart Missile Established
Snitzel Established
So Secret Established
So You Think Established
Soul Patch Established
Southport Tycoon 2nd Season
Spirit Of Boom Established
Squamosa Established
St Mark's Basilica Established
Star Turn Established
Star Witness Established
Street Boss Established
Super One Established
Supido Established
Swear Established
Sweet Ride 3rd Season
Switzerland Established
The Autumn Sun Established
The Brothers War Established
Time To Reign Established
Too Darn Hot Established
Toorak Toff Established
Top Echelon Established
Toronado Established
Trapeze Artist Established
Turffontein Established
Unite And Conquer Established
Universal Ruler Established
Vancouver Established
Vandeek Established
Victor Ludorum Established
Von Costa De Hero Established
Wandjina Established
Winning Rupert Established
Wooded Established
Wootton Bassett Established
Worthy Cause Established
Written By Established
Written Tycoon Established
Xtravagant Established
Your Song Established
Zousain Established
Zoustar Established