History was not merely matched at Sha Tin on Sunday – it was emphatically rewritten, as champion Ka Ying Rising surged to an 18th consecutive victory in the HK$13 million G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m), lowering the course record in the process and extending his reign as the world’s premier sprinter. According to racingnews.hkjc.com, the five-year-old’s triumph eclipsed Silent Witness’ revered 17-race unbeaten streak compiled between 2002 and 2005, and he did so in breathtaking fashion. Stopping the clock at 1m 19.36s, he carved more than half a second off the previous mark of 1m 19.92s held jointly by Encouraging and Packing Hermod. Three and a half lengths separated him from Helios Express, with Lucky Sweynesse a further one and a quarter lengths away. David Hayes revealed pre-race instructions were explicit. Jockey Zac Purton confirmed he had been told “to break the track record” and duly obliged, riding hands-and-heels to the line. From barrier three, Ka Ying Rising jumped cleanly to sit second behind Copartner Prance, clocking 21.93s between the 1200m and 800m before unleashing a devastating final 800m in 43.96s. His sectional breakdown of 11.26s, 11.07s, 10.52s and 11.11s underscored the sustained brilliance that has become routine. Unbeaten since February 2024, his sequence now features eight Group 1s, including two LONGINES Hong Kong Sprints, two Centenary Sprint Cups, The Everest, a Chairman’s Sprint Prize and successive Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cups. By comparison, Silent Witness amassed seven top-level wins during his streak, a record once thought untouchable. The manner of the latest victory convinced Hayes that careful placement could prolong the dominance. “If we can place him conservatively, we hope to have him for another couple of seasons, that’s really exciting,” he said. “He loves a month between runs, so we’ll probably go for the (G2) Sprint Cup (1200m) next (on 6 April) and then we don’t have to train him too hard and babysit him into the Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m on 26 April). Hopefully we can get another clean sweep of the season again with The Everest in the middle.” There is a sense that the horse is still improving. “He’s more composed than ever, he’s changing legs and you can’t ask for much more than he’s doing. He’s breaking track records and his last three runs, he’d have broken the track record if Zac had let him go,” Hayes said, before reflecting on the improbability of such sustained success. “I’ve trained a lot of horses that have gone 742 days without winning, so to continuously win for 742 days is mind-numbing… He’s just a star.”
NEWConnections Vindicated in Not Selling Gold
Weekend, 23rd February 2026
Derby aspirations have quickly firmed for That’s Gold after a commanding display in the Gr2 Eagle Technology Avondale Guineas (2100m) at Ellerslie, where the progressive three-year-old stamped himself as a genuine staying prospect. The Chris Wood-trained gelding had already banked $350,000 with victory in the Karapiro Classic (1500m) at Te Rapa earlier this month, yet he drifted to $12.70 for Saturday’s assignment. Intent on answering the lingering question around stamina, jockey Samantha Collett wasted no time from a wide gate, urging her mount forward to sit outside Taylor Square. The tempo lifted markedly from the 600m as the leading pair broke clear, but it was That’s Gold who travelled with greater authority. Straightening with a lapful of horse, he surged away to score by 3.75-lengths over Road To Paris, leaving little doubt about his capacity to see out longer trips. “We were obviously looking to see if he is going to run a Derby trip,” Collett said. “I was happy to let the race unfold. I put a little bit of pressure on him to get to the outside of the leader, but at least I know when the Derby comes around if I am in the same position I have got the horse that I can give a little squeeze to and he is going to relax, which is what he did today…” For Wood, the performance carried extra significance. “I am thrilled to bits,” he said. “I have got good clients. I put all my syndicates together myself and it took a while to piece this one together when I bought him, but we finally got it done and the results are shown today. He was very strong to the line. Bred by Yulong Investments, the gelding was secured for $57,500 from their 2024 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale draft by Wood alongside Paul Moroney and Catheryne Bruggeman. Yulong later attempted to buy him back, an approach Wood kept quiet from owners. “I didn’t tell the owners too much about that. I wanted to keep him as I knew what we had under the bonnet.” In the wake of his Ellerslie triumph, That’s Gold has tightened into a second favourite in the TAB futures market for the New Zealand Derby, headed by Ohope Wins.
Tha's Gold was very impressive (pic: Kenton Wright Race Images)
NEWAI Tech Could Revolutionise Protest Adjudication
Weekend, 23rd February 2026
Frustration from a Gold Coast feature race’s mooted outcome has ignited a broader debate about how Australian racing adjudicates its most contentious moments, with Sydney horseman Michael Freedman urging officials to bring the sport into line with other professional codes through the use of modern technology. According to a racenet.com.au report, the catalyst was last month’s Magic Millions 3YO Guineas, a $3 million feature that left the industry split. In the 1400m contest, Torque To Be Sure shifted out nearing the 200m and made contact with Freedman’s highly regarded Ninja, interrupting the favourite’s momentum at a crucial stage. A protest was lodged immediately, yet stewards allowed the result to stand, a decision that polarised opinion across the industry. “My fear at the minute is protests like that one may be decided by a jockey who can pretty much cause as much interference as they want, as long as they win the race by a margin that's big enough that the stewards don't feel like they can overturn it,” Freedman told Radio TAB’s Past The Post. “And I don't think that's the right way for a protest to be decided.” His concern is less about one verdict and more about the framework within which such calls are made. While acknowledging the complexity of the task facing officials, Freedman stopped short of criticising individuals. “They've got a job to do and under those circumstances when the horse is clearly a short-priced favourite, a lot of money's been wagered on him and there's a lot of money at stake for everybody involved, so I certainly don't envy the stewards' job,” he said. “And they've got to sort of, to the best of their ability and their opinion, make a judgment call.” Even so, he believes the process must evolve. Drawing comparisons with cricket’s Decision Review System (DRS) and the Video Assistant Referee adopted across global football competitions, Freedman argued that racing risks falling behind. “I think the broader issue with protests in general, not just that one, is that we're at the stage now where I feel there needs to be technology involved, like we see at the cricket with umpires' decisions and like we see in various football codes all around the world,” he said. “There's now technology available to try and assist in these sorts of decisions and try and assist the participants that if they disagree with a decision, they've got another outlet to go to.” In his view, artificial intelligence could measure changes in speed and stride at the moment interference occurs, calculating precisely how much ground is forfeited. Ninja was beaten three-quarters of a length, a margin Freedman contends could be analysed rather than debated. “In my view, with AI and that these days, there should be technology involved that if you disagree with a decision, there should be a pathway to question that and then get technology involved, not just opinions,” he said. Any lingering doubts about Segenhoe Stud graduate Ninja’s talent were dispelled at Rosehill on Saturday when he powered to victory in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes under Tommy Berry, offering a performance that shifted the focus back to racing rather than rulings.
NEWAlabama Lass Boosts Confidence in Trial
Weekend, 23rd February 2026
Unanswered questions have lingered around Alabama Lass in recent months, leaving trainers Ken and Bev Kelso searching for clarity rather than excuses. On Sunday at Taupo, however, the talented mare offered a timely reminder of her ability, leading throughout in a sharp 1100m trial that restored confidence to a camp eager for answers, reports NZ Racing Desk. Her spring campaign in Australia had begun on a high note when she finished runner-up fresh-up in the Gr1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley. That promise quickly gave way to frustration when she trailed the field in the Gr1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) three weeks later. Comprehensive veterinary examinations followed – dynamic scopes, ECG, x-rays – yet nothing untoward could be detected. The puzzle deepened when she returned home and resumed in the Gr.1 Railway (1200m) at Ellerslie, only to finish seventh despite another clean bill of health. “We don’t know what went wrong in the Manikato, she disappointed, and was disappointing again in the Railway,” Ken Kelso said. “After the Manikato we did all the tests, dynamic scopes, an ECG, x-rays, and we couldn’t find anything wrong with her. It’s a mystery really.” Rather than retreat, the Kelsos chose to press on, using Sunday’s trial as a litmus test. Alabama Lass dictated terms against a quality field that included Te Akau Racing’s $4 million NZB Kiwi hopefuls He Who Dares and La Dorada, and she travelled with the fluency of old. “Today was a day to see where we are at and she looked more like her old self,” Kelso said. “If we can’t find anything wrong and her work is good leading up to next week then we will press onto the King’s Plate.” The Gr3 Haunui Farm King’s Plate (1200m) holds fond memories, having claimed the race last season after successive Group 1 placings in the New Zealand 1000 Guineas and Railway, before adding the Listed Moomba Plate at Flemington to round out her three-year-old term. Meanwhile, Champions Day at Ellerslie on March 7 could also mark a significant occasion for stablemate Legarto, who is being aimed at the Gr1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m). The multiple Group 1 winner arrives off a stirring victory in the Herbie Dyke Stakes at Te Rapa, a triumph that delivered Opie Bosson his 100th elite-level success. An exhibition gallop at Ellerslie on Saturday further pleased the stable. “She has come through it well and she had an exhibition gallop yesterday at Ellerslie after the first,” Kelso said. “Opie had a feel of her around Ellerslie, which was the idea of it. He gave us a good report and said she changed legs and balanced up nicely, because she hasn’t been the greatest around Ellerslie, but he said she felt great and worked nice, so it’s all systems go to the Bonecrusher.”
Alabama Lass put in a winning trial (pic: Peter Rubery Race Images)
NEW$201 Wind Sends Shiver Down Punters’ Spines
Weekend, 23rd February 2026
A race named for fireworks delivered one of the biggest in recent memory at Ascot on Saturday, when the Listed Detonator Stakes (1800m) produced a result that few saw coming, reports – appropriately – punters.com.au. At $201, Fear The Wind snapped a 973-day drought and sent shockwaves through bookmakers and punters alike. Only weeks earlier the eight-year-old had finished more than 10 lengths adrift when last in the Ascot Mile on January 31, a run that did little to inspire confidence. From barrier 13 on Saturday, Luke Campbell allowed him to settle midfield with cover as Battle Commander ensured a genuine tempo in the early stages. When the speed slackened down the back, the race tightened and positions became crucial. Approaching the home turn, Campbell angled Fear The Wind wide to search for better going, a decisive move that proved pivotal. Straightening for the run home, he still had a wall of horses to reel in, but the response was emphatic. For want of a better phrase, the gelding exploded through the final 200m, wearing down the leaders and surging clear to land a stunning victory for trainers Daniel and Ben Pearce. The win was as unlikely as it was emphatic, and the Ascot crowd responded accordingly. Race caller Darren McAullay captured the disbelief as the field hit the line. “Fear The Wind has got home at any old odds,” he said. “It’s one of the biggest boilovers I’ve seen. It’s a 200-1 chance that’s got home in the Detonator Stakes. It’s blown them out!” The breakthrough ended a long wait, his previous success coming in the Rogan Josh Stakes (2200m) on June 24, 2023, when he started a $2.35 favourite under William Pike. That victory capped a sequence of five straight wins and hinted at the quality within the son of Fiorente, the 2013 Melbourne Cup hero. Time and form had seemingly passed him by, but on this occasion class resurfaced in spectacular fashion. The race Exacta paid up to $3,480, the Trifecta $30,999.10 and the Quadrella. In Queensland, some lucky soul was blown away when a $83,608 dividend was declared.
Practise Makes Perfect for Streetwise Streisand
Weekend, 23rd February 2026
A second Blue Diamond triumph in three seasons has reinforced the potency of the Clinton McDonald and Shane McGrath alliance, with Streisand surging to victory in the Gr1 juvenile feature at Caulfield. Overlooked in betting despite her Prelude win and prior Stakes placings, the Magnus filly defied double-figure odds and announced herself as the season’s leading 2YO filly. Asked to race three-wide for much of the 1200m, she travelled boldly and refused to yield under pressure, proving both seasoned and resolute. Her performance completed a G1 quinella for Inglis graduates, with Classic Yearling Sale colt Closer To Free chasing her home. In the process, Streisand became the 115th individual G1 winner for Inglis graduates since 2018 and one of 49 in that span purchased for $100,000 or less. She is also the 31st G1-winning 2YO in Australia sourced from Inglis sales in the past 20 years, a figure more than 20 per cent higher than the nearest rival. McDonald and McGrath had secured the filly for $100,000 from Northmore Thoroughbreds at last year’s Premier Yearling Sale. Northmore and Waterford Livestock had earlier pinhooked her for $22,000 as a weanling from the Yarran Thoroughbreds draft at the Great Southern Sale. McGrath recalled the first inspection at Oaklands. “We saw her down at the Premier Sale and from the moment we saw her we just loved her,’’ he said. “She was such a big, strong, powerful filly and honestly, she was a Magnus that looked like a Zoustar and we said ‘we’ve got to buy her’ so we bought her for a client, we’ve got a heap of owners in her, my son and daughter are in her, it’s like they’ve won a grand final and this is the grand final of Melbourne racing.” He added: “We work hard, we look at every horse at every sale, we’ve got a really select criteria for what we look for and Clinton’s systems at Cranbourne, it’s a real family environment, horses love being trained there and he’s a horseman at heart.’’ Celebrations in the mounting yard reflected the breadth of ownership behind the filly. “It doesn’t get much better than that. It’s great for racing, it’s a big bunch of owners, it’s what racing needs, there’s kids, there’s mums and dads, it’s fantastic. It was like being in a mosh pit at a concert after the race,’’ McDonald said. He added: “What a filly. She did it the tough way and I thought she was really strong all the way to the line. I just thought she was the most seasoned horse in the race, it was her fifth start…the way she walked around the mounting yard was like she’d done it her whole life and she raced that way. It’s just terrific.” The Blue Diamond result is a significant boost to the fortunes of lot 458 at the upcoming Premier Sale, with the Newhaven Park-offered Star Witness colt (ex Zouper Star) a half-brother to Streisand.
Streisand was the most experienced runner in the field (pic: Mark Gatt)
Bel Esprit Passes Away at Widden Victoria
Weekend, 23rd February 2026
An era has quietly drawn to a close in Victorian breeding with the passing of Bel Esprit, who has died at 26 at Widden Stud’s Victorian base. The veteran stallion succumbed to the effects of old age, ending a life that bridged racetrack brilliance and a profound legacy in the breeding barn. Prepared by John Symons, Bel Esprit announced himself as the standout Victorian juvenile of the autumn of 2002. He swept through his Blue Diamond Stakes lead-ups unbeaten and went to the Group 1 feature as a hot favourite. Given a positive, front-running ride by Wayne Treloar, he dashed clear turning for home and withstood the late surge of Brief Embrace to seal his place among the state’s elite two-year-olds. “With the Blue Diamond to be run this Saturday, it brings back those memories of Bel Esprit and what a fantastic two year-old he was,” said Widden Victoria’s Adam Henry, reflecting on a colt whose precocity defined a season. By the influential Coolmore shuttle sire Royal Academy, he trained on to claim the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 before retiring to stud in Victoria in 2003. For the bulk of his stud career he stood at Kerrie, at the property formerly known as Eliza Park and later Sun Stud, becoming a mainstay of the Victorian landscape. Across 19 seasons at stud, including three in Queensland, he covered more than 2400 mares and forged a reputation for imparting toughness, speed and reliability. His stock consistently displayed the qualities he embodied on the track. His enduring fame, of course, rests with unbeaten champion Black Caviar, one of 28 stakes-winners sired by Bel Esprit and widely regarded as the finest sprinter of her generation. Collectively, his progeny amassed more than $90 million in prizemoney, and his influence has extended through his daughters, with 24 stakes-winners out of his mares, including leading young Vinery Stud stallion Ole Kirk, who is a very close relation to Black Caviar. Retired from active stud duties at the beginning of 2022, Bel Esprit spent his final years in contented retirement at the farm he had called home for more than two decades. “Bel Esprit has left a real legacy that will extend well beyond his passing and it has been a privilege to have him in our care,” Henry said. For Victorian breeders and racing fans alike, his name will remain synonymous with early brilliance and a bloodline that continues to shape the modern Australian thoroughbred.
Bel Esprit's world famous daughter Black Caviar (pic: Steve Hart)
Super Seth Secured by Coolmore Australia
Weekend, 23rd February 2026
A major shift in the Australasian stallion ranks will see Super Seth cross the Tasman, with Coolmore securing the young sire from Waikato Stud and installing him at its Hunter Valley headquarters. The Caulfield Guineas-winning son of Arrowfield stallion Dundeel (High Chaparral) departs New Zealand after six seasons at Waikato, where he has rapidly built a reputation as one of the most dynamic emerging stallions in the region. From just his first two crops he has produced four Group 1 winners, an achievement that has elevated his profile on both sides of the Tasman. His debut crop delivered Gr1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) winner Linebacker, G.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) winner Feroce and Gr1 Queensland Derby (2400m) victor Maison Louis. The second crop has already stamped its authority through La Dorada, winner of the Karaka Millions 2YO and the Gr1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce (1400m), underlining both speed and stamina within his early runners. Coolmore’s Tom Magnier said the stallion had long appealed to the global operation. “Super Seth has been on our radar for a while now and he strikes us as a stallion that can make a significant impact on the Australian breeding industry.” He described the colt’s upward curve as rare. “For a young horse, the trajectory that he is on is something that is very rarely seen. To produce three Group One winners in Australia from his first crop and follow it up with a Champion Two-Year-Old in his second, is an amazing achievement. Justin Carey and I came over to see him and his young stock at Waikato this week and we are very impressed by what we saw. He is going to be ideal for so many Australian mares, both physically and on pedigree.” Magnier also acknowledged the groundwork laid in New Zealand. “It is a serious coup for us to be given the opportunity to buy Super Seth from Mark, Pippa and the Chittick family. Waikato Stud and the New Zealand industry have done all the hard work to get him to the position that he is in now and we look forward to getting him back to Australia and sending our very best mares to him. When it comes to making elite stallions, the Chittick family have got it right time and time again by producing multiple Champion Sires and we have a firm belief that Super Seth is the next one.” He added that existing New Zealand shareholders would remain involved, with Waikato continuing its support, and confirmed Coolmore plans to present Super Seth yearlings at Karaka from 2029 onwards. For Waikato Stud principal Mark Chittick, the sale represents both pride and validation. “This is a massive achievement for the New Zealand industry, our fellow breeders and Super Seth’s shareholders who went all-in to help Waikato develop this world-class stallion,” he said, adding that producing a successful sire through the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic made the milestone even more significant. A 2026 service fee will be announced in due course.
Super Seth will call Australia home (pic: Waikato Stud)
Record Gross and Average Close MM Perth
Weekend, 23rd February 2026
Record figures and fierce competition defined the close of the 2026 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, where a Gingerbread Man colt brought the curtain down on Book Two in style. The youngster, offered through Yarradale Stud, rose to the top of the board at $190,000 after a spirited duel before Peter and Luke Fernie secured the final bid at the Swan Valley Sales Complex. Momentum built steadily across the final session, pushing the two-day aggregate beyond $21.4 million and delivering record gross and average returns. A clearance rate of 86 per cent underlined the appetite among buyers, particularly within the local market, which proved a decisive force throughout the catalogue. The session colt is a full brother to seven-time winner and Stakes performer Red Fifty Three, whose earnings exceed $400,000, and his pedigree clearly resonated with investors. Close behind at $180,000 were colts by Zousain and Playing God. The Zousain colt, Lot 198 from Mungrup Pty Ltd, was knocked down to Yenrise Pty Ltd, while the Playing God colt, Lot 237 from Darling View Thoroughbreds, found a new home with Morton Racing. Among the fillies, a Lightsaber youngster out of Reliable Dame commanded $170,000, presented by Mungrup Pty Ltd and purchased by Millfields Park alongside Vern Brockman. Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch described the finale in glowing terms. “It was an outstanding day,” he said. “It was a record sale for Book Two.” He noted the “very healthy average of $47,000 and a clearance rate that was exceptional around 85 per cent,” and emphasised the strength at the top end, adding: “To be able to sell 16 horses for $100,000 or more was an outstanding effort. There was a great appetite for the quality horses here today.” Bowditch also highlighted the breadth of buying support. “The depth of the market right through the sale - in particular the local market, which picked up some 122 horses today.” Reflecting on the broader picture, he added: “All in all it's been a great two days. I have to congratulate the breeders here in the West. They've allowed us to sell great product on their behalf.” With gross receipts “well in excess of $21 million,” he said the team was thrilled to deliver a record result and keen to see the state’s breeding industry “remain vibrant and successful.” Attention now shifts south-east to Quercus Park, outside Launceston, for Monday’s Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale. Bowditch pointed to the Apple Isle’s history of producing elite performers at home and abroad, noting that exceptional value and depth again appear hallmarks of the upcoming catalogue.
Zoustar Filly Dazzles on Day One at Swan Valley
Weekend, 23rd February 2026
Top honours on opening day of the Perth Yearling Sale were claimed by a Zoustar filly, sold in the Swan Valley on Thursday with a page that immediately caught attention. Offered by Ridgeport Holdings as Lot 25, the filly made $525,000, the second-highest figure ever recorded at the sale. Leading Melbourne bloodstock agent Sheamus Mills secured her and said the type was exactly what he had come to find. “She’s a medium sized, athletic filly - just the style I like, particularly by the stallion,” Mills said. “She stands over plenty of ground.” Mills said temperament mattered just as much as physique, explaining why he kept returning for another look. “I really loved her demeanour. I saw her the morning I got to the complex and then checked her again as my last inspection before I left, when they were virtually packing up.” After what felt like endless appearances through the complex, she still carried herself like a professional. “She’d had a heap of parades, probably done 100 laps of the complex and she was asleep in the box. But when she came out she took off and paraded so well and that sealed the deal.” The filly is a half sister to Group Two-placed juvenile Chayan, who will take her chance in Saturday’s Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield, and Mills said that recent form only sharpened his interest. “The pedigree certainly helps as well. She’s by a gun stallion and the two-year-old from the mare was very good on debut.” While he was cautious about what might unfold this weekend, the wider point was clear. “I’m not sure she (Chayan) can win the Blue Diamond, but she was a good second and it’s an endorsement that the mare can get a good one,” Mills added. The day’s next-biggest ticket was paid for a Playing God sister to Bustler (ex Cosmah Domination), knocked down for $475,000 to Pearce Racing in conjunction with Geisel Park Stud and Boomer Bloodstock. Co-trainer Dan Pearce said the motivation was simple: “We tried to buy the full sister a couple of years ago, we really loved her but missed out. We made a real effort to make sure we went home with the one we wanted today.” He said lessons had been learned the hard way. “Over the years we have missed horses and we’ve watched other trainers go around and win big races with them. The last two years we’ve really tried to buy the ones we want and lock onto them.” Away from the individual headline acts, the broader results impressed. Mungrup Pty Ltd finished Book One as leading vendor by average (three or more sold), while Playing God topped the sire averages (three or more sold). Records fell, the Hong Kong Jockey Club made its first-ever purchase at the sale with a Playing God colt for $260,000, and Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said the tone was evident. “There was a really good vibe across the day,” he said.
The Zoustar-Lubiton filly sold for $525,000 (pic: magicmillions.com.au)
Multiple Headline Acts for Inglis Digital
Weekend, 23rd February 2026
Fresh opportunity and proven performance headline what is shaping as one of the most compelling Inglis Digital catalogues assembled, with a breeding right in first season sensation Anamoe anchoring a sale rich in quality across every category. The February (Late) Sale is now open for bidding and features 523 lots, a diverse mix that underscores the platform’s growing influence in the bloodstock marketplace. Buyers have 254 racehorses to consider, including 130 race fillies, alongside 117 broodmares, 108 racehorse shares, 37 yearlings, two weanlings, two breeding rights, two unraced horses and a single 2YO. It is a broad church of opportunity, catering to investors chasing immediate racetrack returns as well as those plotting longer-term breeding strategies. Central to the excitement is Anamoe, whose early momentum at stud has mirrored the brilliance of his racing career. A nine-time Group 1 winner, he made a striking impression at Magic Millions on the Gold Coast, where his first yearlings averaged $469,032 in Book 1, the highest figure ever achieved by a first season sire at that sale. He also entered rare territory by producing a seven-figure yearling from his debut crop, further fuelling demand for access to his blood. “This is one of the most appealing offerings that we have ever brought to market on Inglis Digital,” Inglis Digital Business Manager Nick Melmeth said. “Anamoe is a young stallion that has the bloodstock market in Australia in raptures and given how few breeding rights were issued at the time of his retirement, this is a fantastic opportunity to secure access to a stallion that has all the attributes to be champion sire.” Those interested in the breeding right are encouraged to contact Inglis Bloodstock CEO Sebastian Hutch directly. Among the headline racehorses are North England, Blitzburg and Manolo Bling, each bringing black-type credentials to the online arena. North England, a 3YO colt by Farnan, claimed both the $1m Golden Gift and the Gr3 Kindergarten Stakes at two and most recently took his place in the $3m Sunlight Plate on the Gold Coast. Blitzburg captured the Gr3 Canonbury Stakes as a 2YO, while Manolo Bling is a four-time winner, Stakes placed, and hails from the family of Group1 winners Sweet Idea and Showtime. The shares market is equally enticing, highlighted by a 5 per cent interest in Adelaide River, a Group 1 performer with Royal Ascot ambitions for Joseph O’Brien, and Changingoftheguard, a Group 2 winner aimed at the Gr1 Sydney Cup. Broodmare buyers can target Sense of Honour, in foal to Home Affairs, while Arrowfield Stud offers a 12-strong draft featuring Stakes producers and mares connected to elite performers.
Strong interest is expected in North England (pic: inglis.com.au)
Yulong Group 1 Kiwi Influence Hard to Ignore
Weekend, 23rd February 2026
A growing Australian influence on the New Zealand side of the Tasman has been impossible to ignore, and Yulong Investments underlined that dominance again at Ellerslie on Saturday by capturing the quinella in the Gr1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m). Their colours have already been a familiar sight at the Auckland venue this season through the exploits of unbeaten Group 1 winner Well Written, the $4 million NZB Kiwi favourite, and the momentum continued when Ohope Wins surged past stablemate Autumn Glory (also carrying the green and white checked silks) to claim the Classic. According to racingnews.co.nz, the staying filly, prepared by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, settled near the tail of the field and still had plenty to do turning for home, but patience proved decisive. Kept wide and balanced by Joe Doyle, she lengthened powerfully down the centre of the track to score by 2.25-lengths, a performance that drew glowing praise from her trainer. “She is proper horse, that is the best way to describe her after watching that performance,” O’Sullivan said. “It was a no panic ride by Joe, I think I was panicking a bit more watching from the grandstand. When Joe came from the outside I thought she has got a long way to make up but she did it and did it with some sort of ease.” O’Sullivan opined, “She is just going to go from strength to strength, she is certainly going to be winning more big races in the future. She wouldn’t look out of place in Australia. We have always believed in the filly from day dot and that performance today was pretty special.” While trans-Tasman ambitions are clearly on the radar, the immediate question centres on whether she backs up in the Gr1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) on Champions Day in a fortnight. “She will decide for us,” O’Sullivan said. “We will sit down with connections during the week and have a chat, but we will be doing what we think is best for her.” The option of taking on the colts now looms large, particularly given the manner in which she disposed of her own sex. For Doyle, the victory marked a career highlight. “When you get to ride a horse that good, nothing compares,” he said. “She has been trained to the minute. We were a long way back, but when you are riding one that good they can just overcome all those things – the draw is never an excuse, the ground is never an excuse. She was just too good.” Doyle enthused, “She still feels like she has got so much left, I couldn’t even pull her up. She is absolutely exceptional, I have not ridden a three-year-old like her.” Installed a $3 chance for the Derby before the Oaks, Ohope Wins has since tightened dramatically into odds-on with futures markets, while Well Written continues to dominate NZB Kiwi betting at $1.20, underscoring Yulong’s formidable grip on the elite three-year-old ranks across the proverbial pond that separates the two close neighbouring countries.
Lui Potentially Has Another Golden Sixty
Weekend, 23rd February 2026
Excitement is building again in the Sha Tin yard of Francis Lui Kin-wai, where memories of past greatness are beginning to stir, reports scmp.com. Hot Delight preserved his unbeaten record in dazzling style at Thursday’s Lunar New Year meeting, prompting inevitable comparisons with stable icon Golden Sixty. Having impressed on debut over the same 1200m course and distance last month, the Too Darn Hot three-year-old returned for the first section of the Class Three Yue Yee Handicap and delivered with even greater authority. Sent off a commanding $1.25 favourite, he jumped cleanly from stall six under Vincent Ho Chak-yiu and quickly assumed control, dictating terms from the outset. Lui, who prepared Golden Sixty to 10 Group 1 victories, was measured but clearly enthused. “He’s a nice horse. He needs to improve but the way he runs, he looks like he’s better than Golden Sixty at the same stage,” he said. The veteran horseman believes maturity is already evident. “He’s learning – especially after his first run, he’s more relaxed. I think that’s the main thing for a young horse.” As for the immediate future, patience will prevail. “He’ll have one or two more runs [this season]. We won’t push him too hard. I think even up to a mile will be no problem.” Turning for home, Hot Delight travelled ominously well, with Ho barely moving until the 200m. Once asked to extend, the response was immediate and decisive, the colt surging clear to score by two and three-quarter lengths without ever appearing stretched. For Ho, who partnered Golden Sixty in all 31 of his starts, the sense of déjà vu may have been hard to ignore. The 67-year-old trainer completed a double later in the programme when Baby Sakura captured the second section of the Class Four Fat Choi Handicap (1200m). Drawn wide in barrier 11, the Tagaloa gelding received a composed ride from James Orman, who eased forward to sit outside leader Elite Golf before asserting late for a one and three-quarter length victory. “He won well – after the race I can tell you he’s not a bad horse,” Lui said. “I was a little bit worried about the draw, but he jumped out and the jockey handled him very well. The horse relaxed well and saved lots of energy. I think he can improve into Class Three without any problem.” The brace lifted Lui to 29 wins for the season and keeps him firmly in the premiership frame, continuing a run that suggests his stable’s golden touch remains intact.
Lui's former Hong Kong champion Golden Sixty (pic: hkjc.com)
Luck’s Finally a Fortune for Jaarffi
Weekend, 23rd February 2026
Fortune can be a fickle companion in elite racing, and few gallopers in recent seasons have worn that truth more heavily than Jaarffi. Widely regarded as one of the most luckless horses in New Zealand, the Cambridge Stud mare finally enjoyed a clear run at the right time when surging to claim the Sport Nation Otaki Maori WFA Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie, securing a deserved breakthrough at Group One level. For the past two years the six-year-old daughter of Iffraaj, raced by Sir Brendan Lindsay and Lady Jo Lindsay, has mixed it comfortably with the country’s best without quite landing the spoils. Awkward barriers, interference at vital stages and track conditions that dulled her strengths had repeatedly conspired against her. Even on Saturday, another tricky draw – nine of 11 – suggested she might once again be forced to do it the hard way. Instead, that very scenario proved a blessing. Positioned three wide but with cover through the middle stages, she travelled sweetly for Warren Kennedy, who kept her out of traffic and allowed her to find a rhythm. Easing closer from the 800m, she loomed ominously on the bend as race favourite Pier dashed for home, with Sterling Express in hot pursuit. Just when Pier appeared to have matters in hand, Jaarffi lengthened powerfully, her long stride eating into the margin before she lunged late to grab victory in the final bounds. Pier held second, with Provence flashing home to edge Sterling Express for third. Trainer Lance Noble admitted the result was as much relief as celebration. “Obviously I am absolutely thrilled as she did deserve this,” he said. “She is not an easy mare to train and to achieve this after all the work the staff have put in over the last few years, along with Warren, and for Sir Brendan and Lady Jo, it is just brilliant.” Noble noted her three-wide trip may have been decisive. “She got trapped three wide but she has started to relax a lot better out there and probably best she was not stuck on the fence getting into trouble. “We all do the work for these days and you don’t get many opportunities at them, so to get this for the whole team is just brilliant. She has always been a big, gangly and aggressive horse on the training track, so we don’t do a lot of galloping with her, and while she is a six-year-old she is still learning. The plan is to go onto the Bonecrusher Stakes (Gr1, 2000m) in a fortnight (7 March) and all being well we will.” Kennedy echoed the sentiment. “She has been deserving (of a Group One victory) for a while now and we thought she could pick one up in this preparation,” he said. “She has just been so unlucky and she did it tough the whole way today. She has got such a huge action and so much heart as she gave it her all today and fought like a tiger. I wasn’t too concerned when we were wide as she is such a huge striding filly it allowed her to extend when I wanted to. Pier gave me a good tussle but she deserved this.” Now boasting five wins from 24 starts and more than $953,000 in stakes, Jaarffi’s record finally reflects the talent long evident to those closest to her.
Baker Eyeing Further Elite Melbourne Success
Weekend, 23rd February 2026
Success down Flemington’s straight has become something of a habit for Bjorn Baker, and the Sydney trainer is now plotting a return to Headquarters with Caballus aimed at the crown jewel, the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) on March 7. Two straight-track trophies have already found their way into the stable this season, Caballus claiming the Gr3 Rising Fast Stakes (1200m) on Derby Day and Disneck adding the G3 Standish Handicap (1200m) in January. That sequence sits alongside earlier Flemington highlights for Baker, including Ozzmosis in the 2023 Coolmore Stud Stakes, Overpass in the 2022 Inglis Sprint and Within The Law in the 2024 Inglis Banner, reinforcing his affinity with the unique course. Caballus is set to head south after his first-up assignment in Sydney, having resumed with a brave second to Joliestar in the Gr2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on February 14. “He was very good on the first day of the carnival down the straight,” Baker said. “Whether he’s quite up to Group 1 level, time will tell, but he’s going as well as he can.” The I Am Invincible gelding is currently an $8 chance for the Newmarket, and his trainer is hopeful the handicapper lends a hand. “I’m looking forward to the Newmarket. I’m hoping to get some weight relief with him. His run in the Expressway was super,” he said. With proven straight-track form already on the board, the coming weeks will determine whether that platform is sufficient against elite opposition. Pericles, meanwhile, has placed himself in Gr1 All-Star Mile calculations after a sparkling return in the G1 Futurity Stakes. Baker confirmed discussions with Godolphin’s Andy Makiv are imminent before locking in plans. “He’s still in the All-Star Mile,” Baker said. “I’ll have a good think about it and speak to Andy Makiv. He might be a bit better with his runs spaced a bit more and he’s bought time if we need it.” Sydney remains an option, with races such as the George Ryder Stakes and Doncaster Mile under consideration for a gelding who has already proven himself at the top level over a mile. Arriving at Baker’s yard at the start of the season as a high-profile recruit with $5 million in earnings under James Cummings, Pericles has thrived when kept fresh. His first-up success in the Futurity followed a similar blueprint to his Tramway Stakes win last spring, a strategy mapped out well in advance. The booking of Craig Williams was secured early after the jockey made his intentions clear weeks out, and that proactive approach paid dividends when one of the sport’s premier riders committed before markets had fully formed.
Caballus (outside) was purchased by Derby Racing (pic: inglis.com.au)
Streisand Wins Gr1 Blue Diamond Stakes
Weekend, 23rd February 2026
Track: Caulfield
Race: Gr1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m)
Winner: Streisand (Magnus-The Nightingale, by Helike)
Placings: 2nd: Closer To Free, 3rd: Guesthouse
Stallion: Magnus (Flying Spur-Scandinavia, by Snippets)
Sales Details: $22,000 purchase 2024 Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale and then a $100,000 yearling at the 2025 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale
Pericles Wins Gr1 Futurity Stakes
Weekend, 23rd February 2026
Track: Caulfield
Race: Gr1 Futurity Stakes (1400m)
Winner: Pericles (Street Boss-Accessories, by Singspiel)
Placings: 2nd: Buckaroo, 3rd: Treasurethe Moment
Stallion: Street Boss (Street Cry-Blushing Ogygian, by Ogygian)
