Taking out last year's Gr1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) off the back of his second up win in the Gr2 Chelmsford Stakes, the C J Waller trained Buckaroo (Fastnet Rock-Roheryn, by Galileo) has taken a slightly different path this year. Having resumed in the Gr1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) where he produced a quality effort for third behind Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express), with last Saturday's Gr1 Makybe Diva Stakes winner Mr Brightside (Bullbars) having finished second, Buckaroo has since been to the jumpouts, given an easy time over 1000m at Flemington behind stablemate Anisette (Awtaad-Tutti Frutti, by Teofilo), who will also race here. With three wins and a third from seven previous second up runs, the Blake Shinn ridden Buckaroo has drawn barrier 8 in the field of 12, which should not pose any issues as he is content to race back in the field. Impressing with a fighting second in the Gr2 Chelmsford Stakes behind Lindermann (Lonhro), the G Waterhouse and A Bott trained Sir Delius (Frankel-Whatami, by Daylami) looks right on track for the spring staying events and a win here would only further solidify his potential. From barrier four and with two previous wins over 1800m, it would not surprise to see Moira (Ghostzapper-Devine Aida, by Unbridled's Song) really start to show her ability. Another of the powerful Waller team sporting the Yulong silks, the 7YO Group 1-winning mare has the services of the in form Damian Lane which surely adds another layer of appeal to her chances.
Pedigree Points to Planet Red in Guineas Prelude
Friday, 19th September 2025
Not since the flashy chestnut Exceed And Excel colt Helmet won the Gr3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude in 2012 has a winner of the race gone on to take out the Gr1 Caulfield Guineas, and while this year's Prelude field may be lacking some potential star power, a leading chance links back to that very race winner. Interestingly, the favourite for this Saturday's race is out of a mare from the third crop of Helmet, the largest crop of live foals he produced in six Australian seasons for Darley. A winner of his first two starts before beaten just under two lengths as the favourite in the Listed McKenzie Stakes by Rosberg (Deep Field), the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr trained Planet Red (Admire Mars-Lucky Helmet, by Helmet) looks capable of improvement and while the 1400m is unknown, both his sire and broodmare sire where Group 1 winners over 1600m, suggesting he should run well. With the McKenzie Stakes being the key lead in race with five of Saturday's eight runners having last contested that race, you can't really go past Planet Red as he was the one to make up ground late. Second in the McKenzie Stakes and having had previous 1400m form with a narrow second at Listed level in April, the Phillip Stokes-trained Stay Cosmic (Cosmic Force-Coral Reef, by Galileo) does look open to improvement and could be one to watch here if the favourite isn't on song.
Stallion Status on the Line in Rupert Clarke
Friday, 19th September 2025
As one of just two potential stallion prospects in the field for Saturday's Gr1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, the C J Waller-trained Angel Capital (Harry Angel-Bahamas, by Teofilo) is the only one not yet with a Group 1 victory on his CV so far. Unbeaten to date over the Caulfield 1400m, winning the Gr2 Autumn Stakes and the Gr3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude, the David Peacock bred and Mill Park, Inglis Premier yearling sale sold colt has five wins from just eight and off the back of a dominant victory at Moonee Valley when resuming, surely connections would be thinking that this race is an ideal chance to secure that much-needed Gr1 prerequisite. Noted ratings analyss Daniel O'Sullivan gave the 4YO a rating of 100.8 for his return run, and suggested at the time that, "He looks ideally placed in the Gr1 Sir Rupert Clarke in two weeks." Surprisingly, a win in the race for Angel Capital would be the first for the Waller stable in the race, becoming their 182nd Gr1 victory. With the only other entire in the race being the Annabel and Rob Archibald trained Port Lockroy (Better Than Ready-Freezethemillions, by Freeze), a win by the 5yo would be his second at the elite level, having already taken out the Gr1 Railway Stakes in Perth last November, but in five subsequent starts he hasn't managed to secure a place, albeit his effort to be beaten one and a quarter lengths in the Gr1 Doncaster Handicap when finishing ninth was something that should see him right in the race, should he line up on Saturday.
A Group 1 win would boost Angel Capital's value (pic: Mark Gatt)
Liefting's Selflessnes Deserving of Glory
Friday, 19th September 2025
There's a certain poetic irony to Rudy Liefting's story: having passed up the chance to train a future Group 1 star, he now finds himself with another filly turning heads, reports NZ Racing Desk. A few years ago, Liefting – operating under his Kakapo Lodge banner – secured Grail Seeker from Jamieson Park's 2022 NZB Book 1 draft for $130,000, stretching his clients Sir Trevor Clarke and Chris Jones well beyond their original budget. "I couldn't get near anything on the budget I had," he recalled. "I told Chris it was hopeless, our budget wasn't even landing a first bid. But I'd looked at all the Iffraaj fillies and one stood out. I showed Chris and he fell in love." Despite the emotional attachment, Liefting urged his clients to place the filly with a larger stable. Wexford took over her care, and under Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott, she's gone on to win the Gr1 Tarzino Trophy, Gr1 Telegraph, and Gr2 Wellington Guineas. That decision may have stung, but Liefting never lost his knack for spotting potential. A year later he picked up a $4,000 weanling from Little Avondale's NZB draft, a Time Test filly now named Unrestrained. "I said to Chris, 'Let's go bargain hunting at the weanling sales.' Her pedigree stacked up: her granddam Royal Tiara won the Auckland Cup, and she was a nice type within our budget." But Unrestrained wasn't straightforward. "She's been a handful on the ground, really difficult, and twice scratched at the trials for refusing to load. She's nice to ride but not easy at home," he explained. After two trial placings, she debuted at Ruakaka this month, finishing runner-up to Transcend over 1200m. "I was really happy with the run," Liefting said. "She'd missed a trial and was still pretty fresh. I think there's at least one or two lengths improvement to come." That theory will be tested this Saturday at Ellerslie, where Unrestrained steps out in the Gr3 Sunline Vase over 1400m. Drawn barrier five and partnered by Joe Doyle, she'll attempt to add black type at just her second start. "It's a good opportunity to get some black type if we can sneak into a place," Liefting said. "We'll get a bit of a measure of her and see if she's up to it or not."
Furious Form Clear Tea Rose Stakes Pointer
Friday, 19th September 2025
With seven of the Gr2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) runners having last contested the Gr2 Furious Stakes (1200m), it's impossible to look past that form as we head into Saturday's race $300,000 fillies' contest. Having just her second start in the Furious Stakes, the Michael Freedman trained Apocalyptic (Extreme Choice-Shadow, by Medaglia D'oro) justified the boom placed on her to charge through the field late to take out the race narrowly from Tupakara (Trapeze Artist-Catchulata, by Charge Forward), with the pair looking the logical main chances this Saturday. Purchased for $400,000 from the draft of Coolmore Stud at the Magic Millions yearling sale, Apocalyptic comes from the family of dual Group 1-winning sprinter Virage de Fortune (Anabaa), and although she steps up to 1400m for the first time, the way that she rocketed home late last start suggest the trip should not pose an issue. During her 2YO season, Tupakara had two starts over 1400m, placing on both occasions before stepping up to 1600m at Gr1 level where she finished third, with Saturday's runner Within The Law (Lucky Vega-Contract Signed, by Dundeel) slightly ahead of her in second, suggesting she could also be a chance here. With those three fillies clearly the leading trio going into the 1400m race, another worth keeping an eye on is the Gary Portelli trained Queen Of Clubs (Maurice-Libre a Vous, by Redoute's Choice) who didn't contest the Furious Stakes but finished third in the Gr2 Silver Shadow Stakes off the back of a win over 1400m the start prior.
Harry Heads Everest Contenders in Shorts
Friday, 19th September 2025
Of the seven confirmed slots for this year's The Everest (1200m), three of the selected horses will all be resuming in Saturday's $1 million Gr2 Yarraman Park Shorts (1100m). Heading the betting for Saturday is current Everest second favourite, the unbeaten Private Harry (Harry Angel-Happy Pilgrim, by Congrats), with connections of the 4YO always bullish about his potential and we're likely to see his unbeaten record continue come Saturday. With breeding juggernaut Yulong purchasing a 50% share in the colt after his win in the Gr1 Galaxy Handicap, it looks likely that he will join their stallion roster in the years to come, and it could be an interesting stallion predicament with fellow Yulong-owned Harry Angel 4YO Angel Capital looking a leading chance to secure his first Gr1 this Saturday when he lines up in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes. Having finished fourth behind Private Harry the only time they meet, Hawkes Racing's Briasa (Smart Missile-Mary's Grace, by Twining) is a winner of seven of his 10 starts including the Gr1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m), add while the 1100m may be a little short of his best come Saturday, the grey is sure to be chasing hard in what will be his first run this time in as he heads towards The Everest for slot holders Max Whitby, Col Madden, Steve McCann and Neil Werret. Set to race in the slot headed by her trainer C J Waller, multiple Gr1 winner Joliestar (Zoustar-Jolie Bay, by Fastnet Rock) resumes here after being scratched from the recent running of the Gr2 Shearco Stakes where she appeared the leading chance. Outside of these three Everest contenders, the Michael Freedman trained MarhoOna (Snitzel-Salma, by Encosta de Lago) is surely a must watch, having not raced since her victory in the Gr1 Golden Slipper at 2.
Good Track Holds the Key to Fangirl's Chances
Friday, 19th September 2025
Chasing a share of the lucrative $1m in prizemoney offered for Saturday's 7 Stakes, the C J Waller trained Fangirl (Sebring-Little Surfer Girl, by Encosta de Lago) will be out to go back-to-back in the race, having won last year's race as a short priced pick. With wet tracks plaguing her career, Fangirl was forced to kick of her campaign in Melbourne where she finished a solid fourth in the Gr1 Memsie Stakes behind Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express). On paper, this year's race is a lot stronger than last year's where she won by just half a length, the question remains – is she vulnerable this year? From barrier 8, Fangirl's stablemate Lindermann (Lonhro-Self Esteem, by Stratum) looks the one to go forward where he can take up his usual front running position which may help those that will settle back in the field, but with race fitness on his side he may be left alone and could sneak away and look a real chance in the home straight – a tactic employed last start when winning the Gr2 Chelmsford Stakes. It is worth noting the regular jockey Nash Rawiller, also the usual rider of Private Eye (Al Maher-Confidential Queen, by Shamardal), will be on Lindemann comes Saturday – could this be a pointer to his chances? A recent Wyong barrier trial could also have a solid pointer to chances here on Saturday with Gringotts (Per Incanto-Miss Bluebell, by Savabeel) defeating Royal Patronage (Wootton Bassett-Shaloushka, by Dalakhani) in the 1200m trial. With both recording Group 1 victories last campaign, it's worth considering that the G Waterhouse and A Bott-trained Royal Patronage produced a solid first up win last campaign in the Gr1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) and could do similar here.
Fangirl can do it again in the 7 Stakes (pic: Steve Hart)
Inglis Strengthens China Ties with CHOA
Friday, 19th September 2025
A significant new partnership between Inglis and China’s largest ownership group is set to deepen ties with the mainland’s thriving bloodstock sector. The China Horse Owners Alliance (CHOA), representing close to 90% of China-based horse owners, has been formally appointed as Inglis’ new China Representative. The alliance, established a decade ago, will work to expand the presence of Chinese buyers across all Inglis sale platforms, including Inglis Digital. According to CHOA General Secretary Mr Huang Qingcai, it was “an honour” to take on the role and a strong endorsement of the group’s standing within international racing. “Inglis is a highly trusted and revered company that has been around for more than 150 years, so to be formally associated with them is a big compliment to the CHOA,” Mr Huang said. With a membership that continues to grow, the alliance believes it is well placed to help boost Chinese buyer engagement at future Inglis sales. Inglis Bloodstock CEO Sebastian Hutch described the new relationship as a significant milestone and one that aligns with the company’s broader international strategy. “We believe that the Chinese market has great growth potential, so to have the opportunity to formalise an association with the CHOA is a significant moment for our company,” he said. Hutch praised the leadership of Mr Zhang and Mr Huang and noted the alliance’s impressive achievements to date. “We look forward to working with them to grow participation in horse racing in China.” Recent visits to China by Inglis International Business Development Manager Nicky Wong and Victorian Bloodstock Manager James Price, including a trip to the Yulong Sale and race day at Youyu, provided further encouragement. Both were struck by the energy and enthusiasm of local owners and the growing appetite to engage with the Australian market. Wong said the association with CHOA was a natural next step. “Inglis has long had a fantastic relationship with Mr Zhang and Mr Huang, so it was easy to work with them to come to this mutually beneficial arrangement.” He added that growing Chinese engagement would be a key plank of the company’s evolving international sales network. The new partnership comes ahead of the 2025 Inglis Ready2Race Sale, to be held at Riverside Stables on October 16 – just two days before the $20 million Gr1 Everest at Royal Randwick.
O’Sullivan: Only Travel Stops Star Sprinter
Friday, 19th September 2025
Prominent form analyst Daniel O’Sullivan believes the reigning king of Hong Kong sprints is precisely where he needs to be five weeks out from The Everest, with Ka Ying Rising’s first-up rating reinforcing his status as a class above the locals. Returning a figure of 107 on Sunday, according to O’Sullivan’s racing.com column, the five-year-old held his place near the summit of global sprinting, despite falling just short of his career peak. O’Sullivan noted that Ka Ying Rising has now produced that same 107 rating in four of his past eight starts — a mark that comfortably distances him from Australia’s top-tier sprinters on exposed figures. While 107 sits around 1.5 lengths off his top rating of 110, achieved twice earlier this year in the Centenary Sprint Cup and Chairman’s Sprint Prize at Sha Tin, it still confirms his elite credentials. “While the 107 doesn’t indicate he’s gone to a new level, it confirms he remains in a class of his own among global sprinters,” O’Sullivan said. Given the time remaining before The Everest, O’Sullivan suggested there was every reason to believe the horse wasn’t fully wound up for his return run. “With The Everest still five weeks away, it’s also reasonable to think he wasn’t fully wound up, which makes the prospect of another 110 performance on Everest day a realistic expectation.” The looming challenge, however, remains the trip itself. Ka Ying Rising has yet to race outside Hong Kong, and O’Sullivan noted that international travel can undo even the best, citing Romantic Warrior’s first-up failure in the Turnbull Stakes as a cautionary reference. Any regression of two to three lengths, or poor luck in running, would open the door to local runners hoping for an upset. O’Sullivan’s figures underscore the scale of that challenge. Australia’s best sprinters typically rate between 102.5 and 104, meaning Ka Ying Rising’s peak of 110 puts him 2.5 to 3.5 lengths ahead on paper. “That is the key angle for the local brigade to cling to, because the ratings gap is clear,” he said. “While some might improve to a new peak on the day, it would be a major shock to see any reach 110, and even a rating of 107+ would be a surprise.” As things stand, Ka Ying Rising’s form leaves little margin for error by the opposition. Travel, tempo, and tactics may shift the equation but the gap to bridge is considerable.
Ka Ying Rising appears a ratings certainty for The Everest (pic: hkjc.com)
Charming Trial Ahead of Celebration Cup
Friday, 19th September 2025
Former Australian-based trainer David Eustace has a strong contender for the first stakes race of the Hong Kong season, the Gr3 Celebration Cup on Sunday 28 September after Light Years Charm (Rubick-Dancer's Rose, by Dehere) trialled well, reports scmp.com. "I was happy with his trial. The track was rain-affected, but I thought he got through it well," Eustace said. "Zac (Purton) knows him extremely well, he was happy with him and he actually jumped good today. He got into a more forward position, so that's pleasing that we might have that option at some stage down the track. Actually, I haven't been able to rely on him at all to do that and he's come back a much more relaxed horse as well, mentally. So that should stand him in good stead." Winner of his last three starts in succession, Light Years Charm has five wins, one in Australia, from 11 starts. [The Celebration Cup] is a race we've sort of targeted because we will stretch him out to a mile at some stage because the programme will sort of force us to, but my feeling the whole way through is that seven furlongs seems to be his best distance," Eustace said. "He's ready to go. He'll have a piece of work next week and go into it. And look, it's going to be a very strong race. I think he's obviously looked really progressive last year, but he's going to have to seriously improve again next Sunday and throughout the season because there looks a lot of nice horses in and around that range. I've got huge respect for plenty of them – My Wish in particular, he's proved he's a proper horse. I'm looking forward to it but I'm under no illusions, it's going to be a good race." Group 1 winner Victor The Winner (Toronado-Noetic, by Cape Cross) will join Light Years Charm in the same race. "I thought he'd run well fresh and he was building back to some sort of form, but he was a bit disappointing. I've taken the blinkers off. Without the blinkers and hopefully a slightly slower tempo at 1,400m, he should be able to travel."
