A weight long associated with greatness now frames the task ahead, with Autumn Glow allotted 56.5kg for April's Doncaster Mile – the same impost Winx carried to victory in 2016 as a four-year-old mare. The comparison is unavoidable, reports racenet.com.au At the time of her Doncaster triumph, Winx had already claimed the Queensland Oaks, Epsom Handicap and the first of four Cox Plates. Autumn Glow arrives undefeated through nine starts, her résumé highlighted by wins in the Epsom and the Golden Eagle, along with a commanding first-up display in the Apollo Stakes at weight-for-age. Racing NSW chief handicapper Damien Hay believes the allocation is measured rather than punitive. "Autumn Glow is undefeated whereas Winx had defeats," Hay said. "She (Autumn Glow) won the Epsom comfortably with 54.5(kilos) and then she won the Golden Eagle and we all saw what she did first-up in the Apollo in her first attempt at weight-for-age. She's only risen two kilos off her Epsom win, and we think it's a fair weight for her." Sunline's 58kg in 2002 remains the modern benchmark for mares in the race, with More Joyous successful under 57.5kg in 2012. Whether the mare lines up remains undecided, with Chris Waller yet to confirm her Doncaster program. She is scheduled to contest Saturday's Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) at Randwick, the race formerly known as the Chipping Norton, mirroring the path Winx took before adding the George Ryder Stakes and then the Doncaster to her sequence of victories. TAB currently lists Autumn Glow as "doubtful" for the Doncaster despite installing her a $3.50 favourite. At the head of the weights sits four-time Group 1 winner Ceolwulf with 59kg, though his participation is uncertain. "Ceolwulf is a deserving topweight, he's a proper Group 1 miler," Hay said. Gringotts, next in at 58.5kg, posed a different challenge. "He's won two Big Dances and two The Gongs as well as a George Ryder, but this is an entirely different beast this race to the other mile races he's won. I've put him up three kilos from last year when he finished 11th in the race." Depth defines this year's edition. Pericles has 57kg, All-Star Mile winner Tom Kitten 56.5kg, while last year's heroine Stefi Magnetica and Lady Shenandoah carry 55.5kg. Among the three-year-olds, Autumn Boy and Observer top their division at 52kg, with Ninja on 49.5kg and Well Written allotted 50kg. "It's probably the strongest Doncaster I've had to weight that I can remember," Hay said. "There's quality wherever you look. If it holds up it's shaping as a great race this year."
Alexanders' Untried 2YO Creating Dreamtime
Wednesday, 25th February 2026
A line through last spring's juvenile trials has become a point of intrigue heading into Wednesday's meeting at Pukekohe, where Dreamtime steps out for the first time in the Stella Artois 1100. Prepared by Simon and Katrina Alexander, the daughter of Time Test holds the distinction of being the only horse to have beaten boom filly Lara Antipova in a public hit-out. That Ellerslie 800m trial in October has since taken on added significance. Lara Antipova, trained by Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, has gone on to win all three raceday appearances, including the Gr2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) and Gr2 Matamata Breeders' Stakes (1200m), and is now a dominant $1.50 favourite for the Gr1 Sistema Stakes (1200m). While trial form can flatter to deceive, the Alexanders have drawn confidence from what their filly achieved that day. "She wasn't screwed down tight when she put in that nice trial against Lara Antipova," Katrina Alexander said. "It's pretty good form in that respect." Originally set to have another educational outing at Tauranga on Tuesday, those plans were upended when the two-year-old heats were abandoned, forcing a swift rethink. Rather than wait, the stable has opted to test her under raceday pressure. "Whether she is quite fit enough I am not too sure, but she has drawn nicely (3) so I think we will go ahead and run her," Alexander said. "We need to get going." Dreamtime was nominated for next month's Gr1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) following her trial performance, and Wednesday's debut will provide a clearer indication of whether that Trentham target remains realistic. "We are cutting it fine (with the Manawatu Sires'), but it is a race we thought she would suit at the end of last preparation after she put that trial together," she said. "If we don't make it there, there is also a nice race for her (Listed Star Way Stakes, 1200m). There are still options for her if we don't reach that target. It is nice to have something to work towards." Elsewhere in the stable, attention is also turning toward Champions Day with Aksil still on course for the Gr1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) despite finishing sixth in the Gr2 Avondale Guineas (2100m). Alexander felt circumstances counted against him. "He was up there four hours before his race and he got sick of the environment a little bit… it was just the circumstance of the day with a green horse that we do have to manage right and keep him calm and relaxed prior to racing, and that just didn't quite work out for him on Saturday unfortunately." Connections remain committed to the Derby path, confident there is improvement to come.
Racing Post Rates Ka Ying Rising Ultra Elite
Wednesday, 25th February 2026
A Sha Tin track record has reverberated far beyond Hong Kong, with northern hemisphere analysts hailing the performance as one of the finest modern sprint displays. In its latest assessment, the Racing Post awarded Ka Ying Rising a career-best 137 for his 1400m demolition, a figure that elevates him above some of the sport's most revered names. That mark edges past the 136 achieved by Australia's unbeaten champion Black Caviar and the brilliant American speedster Dayjur, placing the Hong Kong star at the top of the current global pecking order. It also leaves him 10 points clear of the next-best sprint performance recorded in 2025, the 1400m figure posted by dual Cox Plate heroine Via Sistina in the Winx Stakes. After 18 consecutive victories, the ratings service was unequivocal in its praise. "He is without doubt the best sprinter we have seen in recent years, and by Racing Post Ratings, the best horse in the world," the report stated. "Not only that, with a career-best performance figure of 137 awarded to him when breaking the Sha Tin track record over 7f (1400m) on Sunday, he has put himself clear as the best horse over that trip since Racing Post records began in 1988." Historically, the number carries weight. It nudges him one point beyond Black Caviar's peak and matches the lofty territory occupied by Dayjur at the height of his powers 35 years ago. The Racing Post tempered its comparisons with perspective: "As is the case across all sports, it is impossible to compare one generation directly to another. There might be improved facilities, professionalism and knowledge, just to name a few factors. However, the performances are still rated, and we can attempt to say which horse would win if they were to meet in a virtual world." Dayjur's 1990 campaign remains part of that conversation, headlined by victories in the Gr1 Nunthorpe Stakes, Gr1 Sprint Cup and G1r Prix de l'Abbaye, alongside wins in what are now elite contests such as the King's Stand. His narrow defeat in that year's Breeders' Cup Sprint, after famously jumping a shadow near the post, still ranks among racing's hard-luck tales. In Britain more recently, Battash and Blue Point captured imaginations, yet their peak ratings of 129 and 127 fall short of the threshold now set. The Racing Post concluded that Black Caviar, Dayjur and Ka Ying Rising are "supreme equine talents," adding that "if they had met each other, it would have been one hell of a race." For now, the advice is simple: savour the spectacle. Even emerging talents such as Tentyris, rated 123 for his Lightning Stakes triumph, have ground to make up before threatening the benchmark newly established at Sha Tin.
Global sprinting force Ka Ying Rising (pic: hkjc.com)
Joao Set to Create Magic Again in Hong Kong
Wednesday, 25th February 2026
A familiar roar is set to echo around Happy Valley once more when Joao Moreira resumes riding in Hong Kong this April, returning for a short but significant stint that could shape the closing chapter of the season. According to scmp.com, the Hong Kong Jockey Club confirmed on Monday that the four-time champion will link with Caspar Fownes as his retained stable jockey from April 7 through to the finale on July 15. The Brazilian's comeback carries both nostalgia and intent. Moreira departed the jurisdiction in late 2022 because of a hip injury and personal considerations, subsequently travelling the globe to ply his trade, featuring at major carnivals in Melbourne and Sydney while also appearing in Hong Kong as a visitor for feature meetings. His reappointment underlines the enduring regard in which he is held, with more than 1,200 local winners already to his name. This is not uncharted territory for the rider. In 2018 he left Hong Kong to chase a full-time licence in Japan, only to return later that year in a stable arrangement with John Size. The new alliance with Fownes arrives at a compelling moment, with the trainer leading the premiership on 36 wins and narrowly ahead of Mark Newnham and David Hayes in a tightly fought contest. Under Hong Kong's retainership model, more than 85 per cent of a stable's owners must support the application and contribute monthly towards the rider's retainer, in exchange for priority access to his services. A previous attempt to secure Moreira earlier in the season was declined due to a full riding roster, but this time approval has been granted. Fownes will have first call on his mountings, though the jockey is free to accept outside rides when not required. "Who wouldn't be happy with a superstar like him coming for the rest of the season?" Fownes said. "I'm so happy – happy with the club, happy with Jo and more than anything, I'm sure the fans and the owners will be looking forward to him coming back. It's going to be exciting, it's going to be fun." He added: "He'll be riding most of the horses in the stable, that's for sure… I'm up for the challenge of fighting for the championship this season and with the addition of Jo, that's going to make it more exciting. I'm looking forward to the last three months of the season."
Connections Weighing Up Gr1 Single Choice
Wednesday, 25th February 2026
Elite ambitions are now firmly in play after Single Choice surged from the tail of the field to capture the $300,000 Gr.2 Stow Storage Autumn Classic (1800m) at Caulfield. According to loveracing.nz, the Ready to Run Sale graduate produced a sustained finishing burst that suggested longer trips and richer targets could soon be within reach. Purchased for $80,000 by Cumani Racing from Riversley Park’s draft at the 2024 sale, the son of Anders has quietly built an admirable record. From eight starts he has compiled three wins and three placings, banking A$294,150 in the process. His spring preparation hinted at above-average ability, with wins at Ballarat and Bendigo, a third in the Gr.3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) and a respectable fifth in the A$500,000 Tapp-Craig (1400m). Second-up in the Autumn Classic after a narrow resuming second at Caulfield on February 2, he took a decisive step forward. Damian Lane settled him near the rear before angling into the middle of the track in the straight, tracking into the race behind solid tempo. Once balanced, Single Choice lengthened impressively, reeling in the leaders and edging clear by a long head. Runner-up Arcora, who filled the same position in the Gr1 Victoria Derby (2500m) in the spring, ensured the form carried weight. Lane was full of praise for the effort and the conditions that shaped it. “Single Choice was really good,” he said. “There was genuine pressure up front, which suited him. I was able to get a good tow into the race and he had to be tough late, and to his credit he was. You probably wouldn’t pick him as a stayer, being by Anders, but there’s obviously some good staying blood on the dam’s side. Well done to Matty – winning a Group Two over 1800 metres second-up, and hopefully he’ll get a touch further yet. Matt obviously does a great job with his team, and it was nice to jump on board today.” Trainer Matt Cumani is now weighing Derby options in three states. “Absolutely thrilled – that was a hell of a run and a beautifully judged ride,” he said. He revealed pre-race discussions about tactics, noting Lane’s confidence that speed would be genuine proved correct. “He's a great horse – he really pushes on all the way to the line, and it’s fantastic to win a race like that.” Cumani added that spacing his runs will be key, describing him as a big, heavy horse who thrives when not backed up quickly. The victory continued a notable trend, with Single Choice becoming the third consecutive Karaka graduate to land the Autumn Classic, following Immediacy and Shanwah in recent seasons.
Single Choice (outside) has Group 1 targets (pic: Mark Gatt)
Morrison Calls Out Illegal Global Wagering
Wednesday, 25th February 2026
A fresh warning has been sounded about the growing reach of illegal offshore bookmakers, with Racing Victoria’s chief executive Aaron Morrison urging stronger cross-border cooperation to blunt their influenc, reports racenet.com.au. Speaking after the 41st Asian Racing Conference in Saudi Arabia, Morrison said rogue online operators were front and centre in discussions, particularly those pitching to customers without a licence. “It is a genuine threat in our part of the world … you're starting to see evidence of it on social media, all these unlicensed operators popping up,” he said, describing a marketplace where ads and inducements can look deceptively familiar. The concern, he noted, is not just that money is being diverted from the regulated system, but that many punters may not realise who they are dealing with until it is too late. Offers can “look and feel, for all intents and purposes, like what they would get from any licenced operator,” yet the protections that come with licensed wagering in Australia are absent. Once a customer tries to withdraw funds, the lack of consumer safeguards can become painfully clear. From racing’s side, the leakage also strips away income streams and tax revenue that flow back into the sport via licensed corporates such as TAB, Sportsbet and Ladbrokes. Conference delegates also turned their attention to fast-evolving bet types and enforcement challenges. Micro-betting, including in-play “micro props” such as backing a horse to lead to a certain point, is reshaping wagering behaviour and raising new integrity and regulatory questions. Crypto-based operators were another focus, with online cryptocurrency bookmakers and casinos illegal in Australia but still reachable for some users via an encrypted virtual private network (VPN), complicating efforts to police access and advertising. Away from wagering, Morrison welcomed international recognition of Victoria’s stance on horse welfare, noting that the conversation has moved well beyond a narrow compliance lens. “Equine welfare has shifted from being seen as a regulatory issue and compliance requirement, to being part of core strategy,” he said. He pointed to a shared view among jurisdictions that lifetime care is central to community trust and the sport’s long-term sustainability, and argued it demands meaningful, ongoing investment. Technology was the other theme he left keen to pursue, spanning integrity intelligence, veterinary and injury risk management, and performance analysis. With racing awash in information, he believes the opportunity is to surface the right insights to drive engagement and improve outcomes, in the way other sports have translated analytics into faster progress and a better fan experience.
Champion Jumper Leaves Rivals Flat-Footed
Wednesday, 25th February 2026
Few could have predicted that a tentative return would become a statement of intent, but that was precisely the effect as Constitution Hill powered up the Southwell straight to win his long-awaited Flat debut by nine and a half lengths. According to the guardian.com, Oisin Murphy barely moved in the saddle as the 2023 Champion Hurdle hero dismissed his rivals, turning a £40,000 novice event into a one-horse procession. The performance left even his inner circle momentarily stunned and inevitably fuelled fresh debate about his future. Once regarded as the pre-eminent hurdler of his generation, the nine-year-old has endured a bruising sequence of mishaps over obstacles, and the idea of pursuing a Flat campaign full-time now appears far less fanciful than it did a week ago. Trainer Nicky Henderson admitted the display had exceeded his expectations. “I couldn’t have dreamed that one up, I must admit,” he said. “We probably should have sorted this about four years ago, shouldn’t we? It’s nice to be back with positive vibes, we’ve got lots to look forward to and lots of decisions to make. One thought this would tell us roughly what we would do and this does open up a lot of doors, doesn’t it? We have to think long and hard. It would be lovely to say ‘We will do this’, but I don’t think we can at the minute.” For owner Michael Buckley, the turnaround carries particular resonance. Eleven months ago, Constitution Hill was a 1-2 favourite for the Champion Hurdle; a fall at the fifth at Cheltenham marked the beginning of a troubled chapter that included a third tumble in four starts in Newcastle’s Fighting Fifth Hurdlee. That early exit, at the second flight after taking off too early at the first, prompted fears his confidence had ebbed away. Friday’s fluent display suggested otherwise. “It sounds a silly thing to say after what’s happened in the last year,” Buckley said, “but we’ve always known he was special. And I think with all the problems and heartbreaks we’ve had, now everybody knows how special he is. He’s a nine-year-old horse, but he sure is good.” There had been market nerves in the lead-up, his price drifting before late support sent him off 6-4 favourite. A near-record crowd of 3,520, swelled by the Friday Night Live initiative and the “Invades” campaign aimed at younger racegoers, packed Southwell to witness it, a dramatic rise on the 320 who attended the corresponding fixture a year earlier. Henderson acknowledged that boosting the purse had made life uncomfortable in the ballot stage. “Putting on that prize money made the race far too competitive for my liking, with all these fancy Flat horses turning up,” he said. “But what can you say, he was unbelievable."
Entries Opened for NZ Online Sale
Wednesday, 25th February 2026
Fresh off a record-breaking centennial Karaka Yearling Sale, New Zealand Bloodstock has opened entries for its 2026 National Online Yearling Sale, with the auction once again to be conducted via Gavelhouse Plus. The digital sale has already proven its worth as a genuine pathway to elite success. Among its headline graduates is champion filly Well Written, whose rise from an $80,000 online purchase to unbeaten Group One winner has become a flagship example of the platform’s reach. The 2026 catalogue will be available to view online from Tuesday 31 March, with bidding to open on Friday 10 April and close from 6pm (NZT) on Tuesday 14 April. A defining advantage of the format is that every lot offered is eligible for nomination to the Karaka Millions Series. Within nine months of their virtual sale-ring appearance, graduates can target the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) in 2027, followed by the $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) in 2028, along with the NZB Mega Maiden Bonus Series. That swift transition from screen to stakes company has underpinned the sale’s growing reputation. Results on the track reinforce the trend. From just 169 runners, online graduates have amassed 159 wins, a strike rate that includes Group One and TAB Karaka Millions 3YO heroine Well Written, Listed Counties Challenge winner De Armas and Group Two Eight Carat Classic winner Hitabell. The sale may be relatively young, but its graduates have wasted little time establishing credibility at the highest level. Well Written’s trajectory in particular has drawn attention. Secured by Stephen Marsh Racing and Dylan Johnson Bloodstock from Brighthill Farm’s 2024 draft, she has won all five starts and earned more than $1.4 million in prizemoney, providing a compelling return on investment and elevating the profile of the online marketplace. Several high-quality yearlings have already been confirmed for the 2026 catalogue, with the format continuing to offer breeders and vendors a streamlined and cost-effective avenue to market. Entries are now open and will close on Wednesday 18 March, setting the stage for another edition that aims to blend accessibility with elite opportunity.
Champion SAf Mare Ebony Flyer Passes Away
Wednesday, 25th February 2026
Sad news emerged from Newmarket this week with the passing of Ebony Flyer, the triple Grade 1-winning South African mare who was euthanized at Rossdales equine hospital following complications after foaling. She had encountered difficulties delivering a Bradsell filly on February 4 and was transferred to the clinic for specialist care, reports bloodhorse.com.The foal is reported to be thriving and has since returned to the farm, where she has been placed on a nurse mare. Bred in the Western Cape by W. J. Engelbrecht Jr., Ebony Flyer was secured privately along with her dam after her three-year-old sister Captain’s Lover caught the eye of Team Valor International’s Barry Irwin as a Cape Fillies Guineas prospect. That instinct proved sound. Captain’s Lover won the Classic, and Ebony Flyer later followed suit, giving their dam Sunshine Lover the rare distinction of producing two winners of the same Guineas. Physically imposing at around 17.1 hands, she combined size with precocious speed. Trained by Justin Snaith, she made a winning debut over 1000 metres at Kenilworth as a two-year-old, defeating the future Grade 1 winner Covenant. The daughter of Jet Master quickly climbed the ranks, taking the Grade 2 Odessa Stud Championship to make it three wins from as many starts, prompting Gaynor Rupert to acquire a one-third share. In her next outing she captured the Grade 1 Cape Fillies Guineas. Breathing issues threatened to curtail her career and required three surgical interventions, yet she returned to the elite level with characteristic resilience. Further Grade 1 triumphs in the SA Fillies Sprint and the Majorca underlined both her class and determination. From 13 starts she recorded eight victories, six at stakes level, and was placed three times. Irwin reflected on her quality in global terms. “We have raced Champion females around the globe including in England and Ireland, but the only other filly we had in her league was Ipi Tombe. Had she been able to breathe, there is no telling how good she would have become or how far she would have raced.” In retirement she proved equally valuable, producing seven winners from nine runners, including Grade 3-placed Cot Campbell and Listed-placed Black Silver in South Africa, along with three winners in England for Andrew Balding. Plans had already been made by Irwin and Rupert to pension her following this foal, bringing to a close the life of a mare whose courage on the track was matched by her influence in the breeding shed.
Whirlwind Week for Waikato Stud
Wednesday, 25th February 2026
Landmark moments have come thick and fast at Waikato Stud, leaving principal Mark Chittick reflecting on a remarkable 10-day stretch for the Matamata nursery. The sequence began with confirmation that unbeaten Group 1 winner Return To Conquer will stand at the farm this spring, gathered pace with a first stakes breakthrough for Banquo via Justin Case in the Gr.3 Fairview Matamata Slipper, and reached another crescendo when Super Seth was secured by Coolmore in one of the most significant stallion transactions seen in the Southern Hemisphere. As if that were not enough, the weekend delivered a racetrack flourish when Ocean Park sired the quinella in the Gr1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Ellerslie. Ohope Wins surged to complete a Group-race hat-trick in the country’s premier fillies’ staying test, while Autumn Glory, fresh from her Gr.2 Waikato Guineas triumph, chased her home to underline the depth of their sire’s influence. Both fillies were sold earlier in the summer by their breeders, Gartshore Bloodstock and Monovale Holdings, and now face decisions over a potential tilt at the Gr1 Trackside New Zealand Derby back at Ellerslie. Chittick welcomed the result as overdue recognition for Ocean Park. “It was great so see Ocean Park come up with a result like that,” he said. “He’s always been a good sire with a decent horse racing and that filly (Ohope Wins) looks special, she might even be the best he’s left. We’re so pleased for both fillies’ breeders. Bill and Jim Gartshore have been with us for quite some time, and we’ve also had wonderful support over the years from the Smithies family.” Attention has also turned to the changing of the guard among the stallion ranks. Return To Conquer, the unbeaten winner of four black-type races including the Gr1 Sistema Stakes, will arrive with an introductory fee of $15,000 plus GST. Waikato was already a shareholder in the colt through the Te Akau syndicate and now holds a majority stake, joined by Kia Ora Stud and, in a significant development, Coolmore principal John Magnier. Chittick revealed that discussions around Super Seth prompted interest in securing a share of Return To Conquer, strengthening long-standing ties between the two operations. Super Seth’s departure closes a chapter that began with his 2020 acquisition, reportedly valued at around $15 million. His rapid ascent, with four Group One winners from his first three crops and rising service fees to $75,000 plus GST, culminated in a sale that Chittick described in glowing terms. “When you put in the time and effort that we have for many years now, it’s great to kick a goal of this size. The Super Seth deal is a big one; I don’t think there’s ever been one like this in the Southern Hemisphere.” Amid the transition stands Savabeel, now 25, a constant presence since 2005 and closing in on Zabeel’s 166 black-type winner benchmark. Chittick remains philosophical about the whirlwind fortnight. “From the time Tom Magnier made contact on the Friday 10 days ago and arrived here on the Monday, it’s been full-on. I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck,” he said, adding that with one stallion arriving as another departs, the work of shaping the next chapter has already begun.
