Saturday, 12th July 2025
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  • Black Type Group 1 HOTY a Lock

    Friday, 11th July 2025
    Given her exploits, which included matching Winx's record for the number of Group 1 races won in a single racing season, it's difficult to quible that Via Sistina (Fastnet Rock) isn't a worthy Black Type Premiership Horse of the Year for 2024-25. She is also the Black Type Group Group 1 Premiership winner. Aside from her losing run in the Gr2 Apollo Stakes when she returned for the autumn, Via Sistina claimed every other race she entered – all Group 1s. The seven, in seasonal order, comprised the Winx Stakes, Turnbull Stakes, Cox Plate, Verry Elleegant Stakes, Ranvet Stakes and Queen Elizabeth, leaving her with 91 points for the season. Despite that sensational run of elite form, it's easy to forget just how much of a fight Mr Brightside put up, with the son of Bullbars earning 83 points from Group 1 races, a figure that might have been greater had he not ventured to Hong Kong and missed The Championships. Whilst Via Sistina was undefeated at Group 1 for the season, Mr Brightside did something statistically interesting from his own seven Group 1 performances; he produced a sequence of seconds and firsts that never deviated, earning him an elite points haul that reads, 11,13,11,13,11,13,11. In third place, chased by an enormous pack, was fan favourite Fangirl (Sebring) with 55 Group 1 points headed by her Queen of The Turf Stakes triumph. Distinct from the overall Black Type Horse of The Year title, it's both illuminating and sobering to cast one's eye across the cohort of horses in Australia that finished on the board in at least one Group 1 race. All told there are 150 of them. Looking down the column, and taking in the gravity of their achievements, it's a brilliant snapshot of an amazing group of racehorses whose exploits are sometimes taken for granted, or, at the lower end of points earned, under-appreciated. Scrolling down the list which is in order of points earned purely from Group 1 finishes, click on any of the 150 names, and when their page opens, type Gr1 in the search bar for a composite glance at how their elite seasons unfolded. For a wholistic view of all of Australia's Group 1 races for 2024-25, click on the 2024-25 Results tab (top left on the menu bar) and, again, type Gr1 in the search bar to filter out all other races, leaving the 76 Group 1s to traverse.

    Via Sistina

    Via Sistina deserves her two major Black Type titles (pic: Mark Gatt)

  • Small Field Of Seven in Aquanita Stakes

    Friday, 11th July 2025
    A winner over 1600m at his last start, the well-related Arcadia Park (Ocean Park-Arcadia Dream, by Domesday) heads into Saturday's $125,000 Listed Aquanita Stakes (2109m) in the right form to return victorious in the 3YO staying contest in WA. With his dam being a winner of the Gr2 Western Australia Derby (2400m) as well as a pair of Listed races over 1800m and 2200m, Arcadia Park comes from an immediate family that suggest the trip of Saturday's race will pose no issue, with the likelihood that he gets further as he matures. Bred and raced by Western Australia's leading owner Peters Investments Pty Ltd, the gelding comes into the race as the only winner. Our Paladin Al (A Lot-Flirtatious, by Purrealist) and Bondi Boy (Bondi-Bellay, by Al Samer) who had finished fourth and fifth respectively behind him last start are also lining up on Saturday. An interesting runner, and one who could improve at this trip is last start winner Metalic Marlin (D'Argento-Tennessee Pasha, by Husson). While it took until start 12 to break his maiden, having notably, won on the synthetic track at Bunbury, it was the manner in which he won that would suggest an eye be kept on him here.

  • Melbourne Cup Purse Soars to $10 million

    Friday, 11th July 2025
    The Lexus Melbourne Cup is set to elevate its global standing even further in 2025, with the iconic 3200m contest offering a record $10 million in prizemoney. This major boost acknowledges not just the prestige of the event, but the immense effort involved in qualifying. According to the VRC, for the first time, all runners from 13th to 24th will receive $100,000, recognising the achievement of simply lining up in the great race. Two more ballot-exempt races – the Gr3 Geelong Cup (2400m) and Gr2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) – have also been added to the qualifying pathway, offering guaranteed starts to their winners. The 2025–2026 season at Flemington will see a wider uplift in prizemoney across the board. Total prizemoney for the four-day Melbourne Cup Carnival will rise to $32.5 million, up from $30.6 million, following an increase in minimum stakes to $200,000 for all Group and Listed races. Beyond Cup Week, Flemington’s Autumn Carnival will benefit from a trio of $2 million Group 1 races – the Yulong Newmarket Handicap (1200m), The All-Star Mile (1600m), and the TAB Australian Cup (2000m) – all now elevated to that top-tier prizemoney mark. Victoria Racing Club CEO Kylie Rogers described the changes as a major commitment to the sport and a clear signal of support for both local and international participation. “The Lexus Melbourne Cup is unrivalled for its history, status and reach and the VRC is proud to be able to now reward every local and international participant in the great race,” she said. “It reflects the significant effort required to prepare and qualify for the Lexus Melbourne Cup and goes hand-in-hand with a decision to add additional qualifying opportunities through the Geelong Cup and Moonee Valley Gold Cup.” Rogers also emphasised the broader significance of Cup Week. “It adds more value to the economy and the racing eco-system than any other racing carnival in the country, contributing around 10 per cent of the annual wagering turnover across the state,” she said. “We thank Racing Victoria for its support to lift minimum prizemoney across the week, which will continue to attract the best horses, jockeys and trainers from Australia and across the world. In line with the club’s significant improvement in its financial position this year together with a forecast to increase again in season 2025–2026, the VRC has made a considered decision to increase its returns to participants.” Rogers added, “Planning for the 2025 Melbourne Cup Carnival is in full swing, and this is just one of a number of exciting announcements that build momentum towards the world’s greatest racing event.”


    Melbourne Cup

    2024's Melbourne Cup produced a local winner (pic: Mark Gatt)

  • In Form Red the Fancy for Belmont Oaks

    Friday, 11th July 2025
    With only two of the final 14 acceptance for Saturday's Listed $125,000 Belmont Oaks (2019m) coming off a last start win, the Adam Durrant-trained Fancy Red (Sessions-Showme Thediamonds, by Show a Heart) goes into the staying contest in better form than any other runner in the field. Outside of the top three just once in her eight career starts including winning consecutive races leading into Saturday's assignment, the Oakland Park Stud-bred and raced filly has never raced past 1600m to date and that was three starts back when third. The simple question is - can she handle the significant jump up in trip from her last start win over 1400m to the 2019m of Saturday's race, especially when her sire Sessions was a sprinting son of Champion Sire Lonhro. As one of just two in the field to have won at 1600m – the furthest any of the runners have won at – the improving Annie Warbucks (Long Leaf-Ace'it Annie, by Teofilo) is interestingly the only other runner in the field outside Fancy Red to come into the race in winning form. Trained by Jordan Rolefe, the filly has been on a preparation where she has stepped up in trip at each of her starts and could prove the danger to Fancy Red if the latter struggles to run the trip out.

  • Yulong's Signature Scent Looks the Goods

    Friday, 11th July 2025
    The opening race of Saturday's Caulfield meeting, the Sportsbet Get On Now Handicap (1100m) for the juveniles sees a complex mix of raced and unraced runners, with three last start winners all looking to continue their unbeaten runs. While not coming in as a last start winner, the Ben, Will & JD Hayes-trained Gin Spirit (Spirit of Boom-Premeditated, by Commands) is the 'veteran' of the field with four starts under her belt, having won on her debut before recording Listed success at her third start. Given two trials leading into Saturday, the Bell River Thoroughbreds-sold Magic Millions graduate will have the services of apprentice Logan Bates looking to get some weight relief from her 59.5kg impost. Ciaron Maher will saddle up two runners in the race with race favourite Signature Scent (Written Tycoon-Soriano, by Savabeel) having an interesting story. Sold by Yulong at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale to Baystone Farm for $200,000, Baystone Farm then re-offered her at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale where Yulong were impressed enough to outlay $1m to secure her once again. A winner on debut, the Craig Williams-ridden filly has been readied for her return to the track with a handy Cranbourne jump out win with her race day jockey on board.

    Signature Scent

    Signature Scent sold for $1 million as a 2YO (pic: inglis.com.au)

  • Ridgmont Saddles Up Two in Randwick Juvenile

    Friday, 11th July 2025
    Saturday's Schweppes Handicap (1400m) at Randwick could prove a worthy form reference for the future with Ridgmont represented by two exciting prior winners. A winner on debut over 1250m at Canterbury, the well-named Pillow Fight (Zoustar Dam: Slumber Party, by Snitzel) then headed to Queensland where she finished a gallant fifth, beaten just over four lengths by the exciting, unbeaten Autumn Boy (The Autumn Sun). If she has taken no harm from that effort, the Bjron Baker trained filly looks hard to beat here. Purchased for $375,000 from the Magic Millions draft of Newgate Farm by her trainer, Cunningham Thoroughbreds and bloodstock agent James Clarke, the filly comes from the extended family of Gr1 winners Oohood and Snippets as well as the Gr1 producing sire Not A Single Doubt. Also raced by Ridgmont and partners, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Tomato Toastie (Too Darn Hot-Al Naifa, by Redoute's Choice) comes into the race off a two length win at Warwick Farm last start on the Heavy 10 rated track. While it remains to be seen if it was the wet track that aided her win, it's highly unlikely that Saturday's track will be rated anywhere near that with sunshine for the days leading into the race. Secured from the Segenhoe Stud draft at the same sale as Pillow Fight, the pair of week-bred fillies are both expected to run well based on the support already received in the betting.

  • In Flight Chasing Stakes Race Hat Trick

    Friday, 11th July 2025
    Appreciating the softer tracks during the winter season, the Joe Pride trained In Flight (Flying Artie-Waveline, by Stravinsky) will be chasing her third consecutive stakes victory in the third different state after prior wins in the Listed Bight Shadow at Doomben and the Listed Bob Charley Stakes at Randwick last start. Given a lovely trial at Kembla Grange recently to see her tick along nicely, the Goodwood Farm yearling sale graduate is one of a handful of runners trained by Pride for Proven Thoroughbreds that were bred by Kerrie Tibbey's Hunter Valley based farm, joining $12m earner Private Eye (Al Maher) and his multiple winning half-brother King's Secret (Shalaa). Arguably the hardest of the stakes fields she has raced in so far, In Flight will clearly not get it all her own way, but it's great to see the form through her Bright Shadow win franked with runner up Kin (Impending-Kinshachi, by Commands) going on to win the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic two starts later, who will also line up here on Saturday. Kin's stablemate Kallos (Medaglia D'oro-Calliope, by Exceed And Excel) comes into Saturday's race off a spell, and with two trials under his belt, the Gr2 Danehill Stakes winner will surely be one of the leading fancies in the sprint.

  • Inside Draw Favours Lockyer at Doomben

    Friday, 11th July 2025
    Last start winners Lockyer (I Am Invincible-Danish Spy, by Dane Shadow) and First Empire (Deep Field-Angel Of Heaven, by Redoute's Choice) head in Saturday's HQ Property QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap (1350m) at Doomben as leading chances, with barriers likely to play a role in the final outcome. While the current betting has Kelly Schweida's First Empire as the narrow favourite, the gelding has drawn barrier 12 of 13 and may find it slightly tricky. A grandson of Group 1 winner Lights Of Heaven (Zabeel), First Empire's pedigree suggests he is capable of stepping up further in trip as he matures. Drawn the inside barrier on Saturday, which must surely be a positive, the Tony Golla- trained Lockyer looked good winning over the track and distance last start, with the full-brother to Gr2 winner Strasbourg (I Am Invincible) looking to continue his winning ways as his ownership group is all about potential stallion appeal from their runners. Purchased for $800,000 from the draft of Yarraman Park Stud at the Magic Millions yearling sale, the farm sold the full sister at this year's sale to David Ellis' Te Akau Racing for $375,000. While the betting suggests the winner will come out of the previously mentioned pair, another that should be watched is Chris Waller's Saveur (Ole Kirk-Tang, by Redoute's Choice) who finished second last time out behind First Empire, and the start prior to that finished fourth behind Lockyer – presenting a solid and relevant formline

  • Star Galloper Being Prepped for Spring

    Friday, 11th July 2025
    Crocetti is back in work and already looking sharp as Danny Walker and Arron Tata eye a summer campaign for their Group 1-winning sprinter, according to NZ Racing Desk. The Zacinto 4YO was one of the standouts of his generation, winning six of seven starts at three, including the Gr1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), and later pushing Bonny Lass into second in the Gr1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m). This season he resumed with a win in the Kerikeri Cup (1100m), followed by a placing in the Gr3 Concorde Stakes (1200m), before sealing the Gr1 Railway (1200m) on Karaka Millions night - earning a slot in the A$5 million The Quokka (1200m), where he failed to fire. “He came back into work on the weekend and he is looking really well,” Walker said. “He had a good spell and he is looking really good, he is quite happy and fresh.” While options are limited for weight-for-age sprinters in New Zealand through spring, Walker said they’re in no rush and will tailor Crocetti’s return based on how he comes up. “There are not a lot of weight-for-age races, and we will miss the early ones, but we will play it by ear and see how he comes up. He looks amazing.” Meanwhile, attention this week turns to Ruakaka, where Walker and Tata will saddle up Amulet in the Northland Business Systems (1200m) and Jurisprudence in the Tanalised Mile (1600m). Jurisprudence, a Justify entire purchased off Inglis Digital last year for A$30,000, has impressed in his short New Zealand campaign placing first-up at Ellerslie in April, winning there in May, and then struggling on a Heavy10 at Te Rapa last month. “He was bought by a client of ours off the Inglis Digital sale and they sent him over here. He is a well-behaved colt, he is a lovely horse, and he has got a fair bit of ability,” Walker said. “We are going for a slightly better track than Te Rapa, he absolutely hated it. Hopefully the track doesn’t get any worse than it is (Soft6) and it should suit him perfectly. He has worked really well and I am more than hopeful with him.” As for Amulet, the talented filly is set to resume, but her outside draw has the stable hesitating. “A wide draw at Ruakaka over 1200m is not ideal, but we will have a think about it,” Walker said. “She is very well and trialled quite nicely. She is quite a promising filly.”


    Crocetti

    There are lots of options for Crocetti (pic: supplied)

  • Record Price for Juddmonte Kingman Filly

    Friday, 11th July 2025
    A Juddmonte-bred filly with elite bloodlines made headlines at the Tattersalls July Sale when Orchid Bouquet was secured for 550,000 guineas by Badgers Bloodstock, setting a new record for the highest-priced lot ever sold at the sale. The three-year-old daughter of Kingman is an own-sister to Gr2 Coventry Stakes winner Calyx and Listed scorer Coppice, and hails from a Juddmonte family famed for producing black-type winners. Her popularity was no surprise to Badgers Bloodstock’s Grant Pritchard-Gordon, Juddmonte’s former racing manager, who said: “I obviously love Juddmonte families. I knew the fifth dam and that is the whole attraction, and my client does too… this filly stays in Europe.” He added: “I did not think we would have to spend so much, but these Juddmonte fillies and mares always have a premium. It is one of the very top Juddmonte families, there is so much happening around it, and it just keeps staying alive.” Orchid Bouquet’s dam, Helleborine, was runner-up in the Gr1 Prix Marcel Boussac and is a full-sister to Gr1 Haydock Sprint Cup heroine African Rose and to Needleleaf, dam of Darley’s Oasis Dream Champion 2YO Native Trail. Juddmonte’s Barry Mahon described the filly as “a beautiful filly with an unbelievable pedigree,” adding that her siblings have already proven their worth and that more promising prospects are coming through. “We brought a strong bunch,” Mahon continued. “We got on very well here last year and had the top two in the sale, so we made a concerted effort to come here with a good bunch of fillies. They have sold very well and we are very happy.” Another standout came via wildcard entry Green Storm, who realised 380,000 guineas when sold to leading Qatari trainer Jassim Ghazali. The three-year-old colt, trained by Charlie Johnston for Ahmad Al Shaikh, had been fifth in the Gr2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot and previously contested the Derby. “He will fit into the programme, travelling to Qatar shortly with a plan to run in the Qatar Derby and then, hopefully, the big races in the region through the spring,” said Ghazali. “He could be a horse to run back in Europe – I have done that before and I am keen to do that again.” Green Storm, by Circus Maximus, is out of multiple Group winner Banimpire, runner-up in the Irish Oaks and related to Melbourne Cup winner Twilight Payment. He’ll be joined by fellow three-year-old Basalt, a 220,000 guineas son of Pinatubo also set for the Qatar Derby. Ghazali ended the session as the leading buyer, spending 831,000 guineas on five lots.
Amarina Farm
Arrowfield Stud
Bell River Thoroughbreds
Berkeley Park Stud
Bhima Thoroughbreds
Blue Gum Farm
Bombora Downs
Bowness Stud
Clear Mountain Fairview
Coolmore Stud
Cressfield
Evergreen Stud
Goodwood Farm
Kia Ora
Kingstar Farm
Lime Country Thoroughbreds
Mill Park Stud
Murrulla Stud
Newgate Farm
Newhaven Park
North
Segenhoe Stud
Silverdale Farm
Sledmere Stud
Torryburn Stud
Tyreel Stud
Vinery Stud
Widden Stud
Willow Park Stud
Yarraman Park Stud

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 2nd Season
Anders Established
Artie Schiller Established
Awesome Rock Established
Barbados Established
Barbaric 1st crop 2YOs
Best Of Bordeaux Established
Better Than Ready Established
Bivouac Established
Brave Smash Established
Brazen Beau Established
Bruckner 3rd Season
Bull Point Established
Bullbars Established
Cape Of Good Hope 3rd Season
Capitalist Established
Captivant 1st crop 2YOs
Castelvecchio Established
City Of Troy Established
Cliff's Edge Established
Cogburn 1st Season
Cool Aza Beel Established
D'argento Established
Danerich Established
Dash For Cash Established
De Gaulle Established
Delaware 1st crop 2YOs
Denman Established
Dirty Work Established
Dissident Established
Don Corleone 2nd Season
Doubtland Established
Dubious Established
Dundeel Established
Ellsberg 3rd Season
Encryption Established
Exceedance Established
Exosphere Established
Extreme Choice Established
Farnan 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 2nd Season
Headwater Established
Hellbent Established
Hitotsu 3rd Season
Home Affairs Established
I Am Immortal Established
I Am Invincible Established
Ilovethiscity Established
Invader Established
Jacquinot 3rd Season
Ka Ying Master 3rd Season
Kermadec Established
King Colorado 2nd Season
King's Legacy Established
Lofty Strike 2nd 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 2nd Season
Murtajill Established
My Admiration Established
Needs Further Established
Nicconi Established
Nostradamus Established
Officiating 2nd Season
Ole Kirk Established
Pariah Established
Pierata Established
Pierro Established
Pinatubo 1st crop 2YOs
Playing God Established
Portland Sky 1st crop 2YOs
Power Established
Prague Established
Pride Of Dubai Established
Private Life Established
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Rebel Dane Established
Rich Enuff Established
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Rubick Established
Russian Camelot Established
Russian Revolution Established
Safeguard Established
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Sessions Established
Shaft Established
Shalaa Established
Shamoline Warrior Established
Shamus Award Established
Shinzo Established
Shooting To Win Established
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Skilled Established
Smart Missile Established
Snitzel Established
So Secret Established
So You Think Established
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Southport Tycoon 1st 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 2nd Season
Switzerland Established
The Autumn Sun Established
The Brothers War Established
Time To Reign Established
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Top Echelon Established
Toronado Established
Trapeze Artist Established
Turffontein Established
Unite And Conquer Established
Universal Ruler Established
Vancouver Established
Vandeek Established
Victor Ludorum 1st crop 2YOs
Von Costa De Hero Established
Wandjina Established
Winning Rupert Established
Wooded 1st crop 2YOs
Wootton Bassett Established
Worthy Cause Established
Written By Established
Written Tycoon Established
Xtravagant Established
Your Song Established
Zousain Established
Zoustar Established