History was made in Tokyo as the world's top-rated racehorse, Calandagan, edged out Japanese star Masquerade Ball in a dramatic climax to the 45th Japan Cup. The French-trained gelding became the first overseas winner of the iconic race in two decades, and did so in course-record time of 2:20.3 for the 2400m journey. The 4YO son of Gleneagles, representing trainer Francis-Henri Graffard and the Aga Khan Studs, made it four consecutive Group 1 victories, adding Japan's crown jewel to a streak that already included the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and the Champion Stakes. With Mickael Barzalona in the saddle, Calandagan travelled just behind Masquerade Ball throughout before launching his winning bid in the final 300 metres. The early stages of the race saw 16 of the 17 runners bide their time behind a lone breakaway, the tempo building steadily as they approached the sweeping uphill Tokyo Racecourse stretch. Calandagan was poised to strike, tracking Masquerade Ball closely as jockey Christophe Lemaire asked the local hero to quicken. Barzalona responded in kind, guiding his mount up on the outside, the pair locked together as they surged for home. With 100 metres to go, it was still a two-horse war – momentarily joined by the loose horse Admire Terra, whose jockey Yuga Kawada was dislodged at the start – but it was Calandagan who found more in the closing strides to secure victory in front of more than 77,000 roaring fans. "Once we found our position, he settled very well," Barzalona said. "They were both very brave. He (Masquerade Ball) even put a head in front of me." Asked to pinpoint the decisive factor, Barzalona grinned: "I was on the best horse in the race." He later confirmed he knew he'd won. "Yes." Graffard credited the tactical execution. "The race went according to plan. He travelled the whole way behind the right horse. He is a real champion." This was the first time the Aga Khan Studs had sent a runner to the Japan Cup, a decision made by Princess Zahra Aga Khan, who now leads the operation following her father's death in February. "Our operation has never had a horse in the Japan Cup because we didn't have a horse for the day," she said. "We thought Calandagan was that horse." Asked about future targets, she was non-committal but left the door wide open. "Calandagan is the perfect horse to travel to international races." The Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland in 2026 remains a live possibility.
Dual Japan HOTY Gentildonna Passes Away
Tuesday, 2nd December 2025
One of Japan’s most beloved champions, Gentildonna, has died at the age of 16, leaving behind a legacy of brilliance on the track and in the breeding barn, reports racingpost.com. A two-time Horse of the Year and a rare winner of the Japanese Filly Triple Crown, she will be remembered not only for her historic feats but for the indelible mark she left on the modern era of racing. By Deep Impact out of Cheveley Park Stakes winner Donna Blini, Gentildonna etched her name into the history books in 2012 by claiming the Oka Sho, Yushun Himba and Shuka Sho – becoming only the fourth filly to complete the Triple Crown. She capped her three-year-old season with a dramatic victory in the Japan Cup, prevailing in a heart-stopping finish over Orfevre. A year later, she returned to defend her title and made history as the first horse to win back-to-back editions of the prestigious race. Her accolades included Horse of the Year titles in 2012 and 2014, the latter secured on the strength of wins in the Dubai Sheema Classic and the Arima Kinen. Over 19 starts, she amassed 10 wins, four placings and more than $18.4 million in prizemoney, earning her a place in the Japan Racing Association Hall of Fame in 2016. Bred by Katsumi Yoshida’s world-famous Northern Farm and trained by Sei Ishizaka, she embodied the blend of stamina and speed so prized in Japanese bloodlines. Ishizaka reflected on her passing with quiet sorrow. “This week is the Japan Cup, and she was a horse I would think about whenever the classics or the Arima Kinen came around,” he told Netkeiba. “Those three or four years with Gentildonna were tough for me, but I’m sure the horse had it even tougher. When she retired, all I wished for was that she would live a long life. I feel nothing but sadness and regret.” He recalled her courage and spirit as a three-year-old. “She gave everything, she really ran her heart out. That’s why I hoped she could enjoy a long life afterwards. It hurts whenever any horse I trained passes away, but she was truly one of the special ones.” In retirement, Gentildonna found success as a broodmare too, most notably producing Geraldina, winner of the 2022 Queen Elizabeth II Cup and the Sankei Sho All Comers. She was retired from breeding duties in July. While her racing days are behind her, her name will endure, synonymous with brilliance, grit, and grace.
Santanova Delivers Lane Stable Early Xmas Gift
Tuesday, 2nd December 2025
Ascot witnessed a stirring return to form on Winterbottom Stakes Day, where the Michael Lane-trained mare Santanova unleashed a late surge to overwhelm a tightly packed field in the 1000m opener. The finish was so chaotic that caller Darren McAullay didn't name the winner until the line, with half a dozen horses stretched across the track in a blur of colour and momentum. First-up since a productive winter that yielded wins at Bunbury and Northam, Santanova came into the race quietly for Boyanup-based Lane and a Canal Enterprises syndicate managed by Peter Capararo. With a wide draw and traffic ahead, Willie Pike eased the mare back before cutting the corner sharply. "We went back from the tricky barrier before cutting the corner and I thought we would finish a nice fifth," Pike said after the win. "From where we were, it was a real good effort. The harder I rode her, the more she found." It was a welcome moment for the Lane Train team, who have been building behind the scenes. "We've been busy behind the scenes and it's great to be back," Lane said. "She's a bonnie mare and has improved off a spell. It was a great ride by Willie and 1200m will probably be as far as she wants." The win brought her career earnings to $120,000 including nearly $30,000 in Westspeed Platinum Bonuses. Purchased for $40,000 from Scenic Lodge at the 2023 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Santanova is from the first crop of Santos and out of Wild Ava. The win also marked a return of sorts for Wild Ava to Western Australian turf. Bred by Yarradale Stud, Wild Ava is a half-sister to Ima Single Man, winner of the Gr2 Karrakatta Plate., Perth's most prestgious 2YO feature. She was sold by Washpool Lodge for $90,000 at the Magic Millions 2YO Sale, raced in Queensland and NSW, and later purchased by Aquis Farm for $75,000 before Scenic Lodge brought her back west for just $6,500 at Inglis Digital in 2021 while carrying Santanova. Wild Ava has continued producing since, with offspring by Merchant Navy, Performer, and most recently a Universal Ruler yearling and Lightsaber filly foal now with Ash Maley. Her Oakland Park 2YO son by Snippetson is in training with Pearce Racing. The broader family continues to produce. Half-sisters Ima Single Gal and Ahyoka Frost are both active producers, and their dam Single Spice foaled Belmont 3YO winner Spicy Thang. Her Playing God colt is entered for the 2026 Perth Magic Millions.
Private Eye Bound For $1m The Supernova
Tuesday, 2nd December 2025
With a host of pop-up races and high prizemoney based, non-black type races seeming to appear on our racing calendar each year, one of the next in the series is the $1m The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham on December 13. Having already earned his connections more than $12.7m, the Joe Pride-trained Private Eye (Al Maher-Confidential Queen, by Shamardal) will be out to grab his share of the $1m on offer in The Supernova with the 8YO gelding set to race in the Ladbrokes slot. Normally ridden by Nash Rawiller, Pride indicated that he will have a change of jockey for the race. "Nash is going to stay here (in Sydney) and ride Gringotts. Craig Williams is booked to ride," Pride said on Saturday when speaking to Racing.com. Private Eye has accepted to trial on Tuesday morning over 800m at Kembla Grange, and with six weeks between runs, the trial is a crucial part of the plan. "We've done this with him so many times before," Pride said. "He just has a nice day out at the trials, blows out a little bit of nervous energy and it just tops him off nicely for the run. I couldn't be happier with him. He's just so straightforward to deal with. I feel like I know him like I know my kids." Purchased for just $62,500 by his trainer and syndicator Proven Thoroughbreds from the Magic Millions Adelaide yearling sale, the Goodwood Farm bred gelding has been a marvel year in and year out for connections. Confidential, the dam of Private Eye has now foaled two consecutive fillies, both by Darley's Champion Anamoe and with the current yearling likely to head to the Inglis Easter yearling sale.
Anti-clockwise is no issue for Private Eye (pic: Mark Gatt)
Gr1 Oakleigh Plate Possible for Boston Rocks
Tuesday, 2nd December 2025
Breaking through two starts back for his first black type victory, winning the Listed Village Stakes (1100m), Matt Dale's Hellbent gelding went within a whisker of adding a second last Saturday, going down narrowly in the Listed Doveton Stakes (1100m) when beaten by the fast-finishing Aviatress (Smart Missile). With his two starts over Caulfield's 1100m resulting in two outstanding efforts, Dale has made the decision to aim the gelding towards the Gr1 Oakleigh Plate on February 21 at the same track and trip. "I was rapt with his performance," Dale told racing.com after his last start second. "He had to take the field up, he didn't get any bunnies to chase, so his performance to take the field up, have to go to the centre of the track and do it all himself and go down such a narrow margin but trying just goes to show the sort of form he's in. We might give him a little let-up now and we'll most likely set him to be in the Oakleigh Plate either first-up or second-up." Racing in the silks of Kurrinda Bloodstock, Boston Rocks was purchased for $100,000 from the Segenhoe Stud draft at the Inglis HTBA yearling sale and with more than $600,000 in earnings to date, connections would surely be over the moon with the efforts of the 5YO.
Snitzel Making Every Post a Winner
Tuesday, 2nd December 2025
Time and mortality have proven no match for Snitzel’s influence, with the late Arrowfield titan continuing to shape the Australian racing landscape months after his death. In the latest example of his posthumous legacy, 5YO gelding Yorkshire stormed to victory in Saturday’s $250,000 Festival Stakes (1500m, Gr3) at Rosehill, bringing Snitzel’s career tally to 163 stakes winners – and 10 at Group or Listed level since June alone. The comeback win was particularly poignant. Yorkshire had been diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmia just two weeks earlier after being eased down in The Hunter at Newcastle. But under the careful watch of trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton, and aided by a tactically faultless ride from Zac Lloyd, the gelding returned to his best. Jumping from the inside gate, he dictated from the outset and outlasted Arctic Glamour and Melody Again in a front-running masterclass. “It was very important to jump like we did,” said Lloyd. “Especially when you’re on a horse that likes to gallop from barrier one. Executing is so important, and he did that today. Watching the replay, he stretched them right out, but it didn’t feel like that underneath me, he just felt like he was in a rhythm, and when he does that he’s a very good horse.” Bred by S F Bloodstock and purchased for $575,000 by PR Funds from Newgate Farm at Inglis Easter, Yorkshire (ex Chanteline by Majesticperfection) has now won 7 of his 10 starts and returned most of his purchase price. Connections will now aim higher again, with the $2 million The Ingham (Gr2, 1600m) at Randwick on December 13 next in line. Snitzel’s fingerprints were found elsewhere on the weekend, with two promising Sydney winners further extending his reach. At Canterbury on Friday night, 3YO filly Caffe Florian (ex Madame Andree by War Emblem) posted an impressive two-length win at just her second start for trainer Richard Litt and owners Ottavio and Wendy Galletta. Bred and sold by Arrowfield, the commercially-pedigreed filly is a three-quarter sister to Widden Stud’s young stallion Anders, and Ostraka, and will be followed by a full-sister catalogued as Lot 504 at Magic Millions 2026. Then on Saturday, Chris Waller-trained 2YO debutant Fireball (ex Advance Party by Charge Forward) showed grit to win for the James Harron Colts Partnership. Advance Party has a Dundeel filly entered for Inglis Classic 2026 and foaled a Maurice filly this spring. Snitzel has 37 yearlings catalogued for Magic Millions, including 11 from Arrowfield – proof positive that even in absence, his legacy gallops on. Following the weekend, reigning Black Type Stallion Premiership champion Snitzel has nosed his way into a one-point lead over Fastnet Rock.
HKJC Donates AUD $14 million to Fire Victims
Tuesday, 2nd December 2025
Following a sombre day of racing in Hong Kong over the weekend, the Hong Kong Jockey Club has donated HK$70.2 million (AUD$13.8 million) to the victims of the tragic high-rise Tai Po fire, reports scmp.com. A minute’s silence was observed before Sunday’s closed-door meeting, which was restricted to owners, stewards, voting members and their invited guests, and there was none of the colour and buzz of a normal Sha Tin meeting. “I want to express my deep condolences to all of those who have been affected by this tragic fire,” said Jockey Club chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges. “I hope that we conducted today’s race meeting with the utmost respect. We will look at what arrangements we will make for next week because we are of the view that even on Wednesday, even though the period of mourning is three days, I don’t believe that we should go Wednesday to a full Happy Wednesday. “It’s not the right time. We have to be very mindful of the feelings of people. We are of the view that we will admit the public but the activities will definitely not be in normal mode.” The HK$70.2 million donation was the gross income from Sunday’s meeting and the Jockey Club has now donated HK$170.2 million to relief efforts while also providing practical support to families in need. Meanwhile, on the racing front, Pierre Ng Pang-chi is hopeful there is plenty more to come from Majestic Valour after the four-year-old produced a promising debut success in the Class Four 1200m Turf Handicap at Sha Tin on Sunday. After travelling sweetly on the back of a strong pace that came as a result of outsider Joy Capital keeping hot favourite Ever Luck honest up front, Majestic Valour wore Ever Luck down in the straight and pulled away to salute by a length and three-quarters. “He trialled well in New Zealand, that’s why we got him, and we gave him four trials here and he did it easily,” said Ng. Sent off $1.5 after an impressive debut win of his own after running out sharply on the turn last month, Ever Luck won’t lose too many admirers after sticking on solidly enough in a race run more than half a second inside standard through the first 800m. By tasting success at a third straight Sha Tin meeting, Ng moved to eight winners for the campaign and he is hoping to carry his momentum into the Longines Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) on December 14. Galaxy Patch is one of the leading fancies for the Group 1 Hong Kong Mile after winning the Group 2 Jockey Club Mile, while Ka Ying Generation enters the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) in good form following his third behind Romantic Warrior in the Group Two Jockey Club Cup (2000m).
Back-To-Back Jericho Cups for Tough Farag
Tuesday, 2nd December 2025
History beckoned at Warrnambool, and a tough-as-nails stayer answered the call. For the second consecutive year, Aaron Purcell’s iron-willed campaigner Farag claimed the marathon 4415m Jericho Cup, with jockey Will Gordon again in the saddle to notch his third win in the unique feature. Heavily backed late from $3.50 into $2.70, according to racing.com, the New Zealand-bred Sacred Falls gelding carried the topweight of 70kg but enjoyed a smooth run on the speed with cover, navigating a significant change in conditions after stewards opted to keep the race on the course proper due to safety concerns with the usual steeple loop crossing Tozers Road. That decision meant no change of direction during the race, but Farag adapted without fuss, maintaining his spot just off the leaders before making his move on the home corner. As the challengers loomed – with Ferago flashing late at $8.50 to nab second and Guido grinding away into third – Farag dug deep to repel all threats. Unlike last year’s 20-length runaway, this was a scrap to the line, but the result was the same. The victory pushed his career earnings beyond $600,000 and reaffirmed his reputation as one of Australia’s most resilient stayers. For Gordon, the unconventional conditions posed a brief mental hurdle, but his admiration for Farag never wavered. “It was a bit of a worry to be honest, I would have much rather been around the paddocks,” he said of the surface switch. “All the credit’s got to go to Aaron and the team, they just primed him again perfectly. Every year, you hop on him before the race, and he just seems to be at that different level. Earlier on the card, track concerns came to a head after the Jericho Cup Consolation (3400m), won by Sabre Athena ($14) for local trainer Mark Greig and relocated New Zealand rider Portia Matthews. A heavy fall for jockey David Mulcahy, whose mount Matthew Mark ($10) slipped at the Tozers Road turn, saw stewards shift the Cup to safer ground. Mulcahy was taken to hospital with a suspected concussion, though the horse escaped injury.
Maloney Makes Hay While the Sun Shines
Tuesday, 2nd December 2025
Opportunities came thick and fast at Doomben on Saturday, and Ryan Maloney made every one of them count. With four winners across the card – including both $160,000 Listed features – the in-form hoop made a strong statement heading into the summer calendar. His big day began with a well-judged ride on short-priced favourite Midnight In Tokyo in the Tattersall’s Classic (1200m). The mare hadn’t saluted in 18 months, but Maloney dictated terms confidently for Annabel and Rob Archibald and let her loose at the top of the straight. “We controlled it and as soon as I released the brakes… I was basically just a passenger,” he said after the 1.75-length win over Lonhro’s Queen. Later in the day, he claimed the Recognition Stakes (1350m) aboard Rockribbed at $7.50, edging stablemate Boomtown Boss in a nose finish after the favourite was inconvenienced late in the run. It marked a strong turnaround from Rockribbed’s ninth placing in the Keith Noud Classic (1200m) first-up. Maloney acknowledged the rub of the green but suggested his mount had earned it. “He began really nicely, just trucked into the straight and I didn’t have any options bar to go back to the inside, but he was too good,” he said. Maloney wasn’t short of humility in summing up the day. “I’ve had a bit of luck going my way with a few of the boys being on the sidelines and I was the lucky one to pick up the, well, not scraps by any means,” he said. His other two victories came aboard Space Tracker ($4), another for the Archibald yard, and Silver Wedding ($1.90) in the opening event for the Ciaron Maher stable. The quadruple took full advantage of Ben Thompson’s absence from the meeting and extended Maloney’s lead in the Brisbane Metropolitan Jockeys' Premiership. With 40 wins now to his name, he moved eight clear of his nearest rival.
Crocetti Looms Large for Summer Sprints
Tuesday, 2nd December 2025
A sparkling gallop between races at Ellerslie on Saturday has completed Crocetti's preparation for another round of major summer sprints. The speedy five-year-old cruised through his 1000m exhibition to the satisfaction of trainers Danny Walker and Arron Tata and regular rider Warren Kennedy. "They timed him to run 58 seconds and change, which I find hard to believe, but the main thing is the way he did it," Walker said. "Warren was very happy with him. "He's all set for the Concorde (Gr3, 1200m) at Pukekohe on Saturday, and the plan then is to head to Trentham for the Telegraph." Crocetti hasn't raced since his luckless venture to Perth in late April for The Quokka (1200m), when he finished last after being galloped on. After a long break he returned with an easy trial win at Te Rapa in late September, however plans to resume in the Gr3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m) at Rotorua on October 12 were scrapped due to a continuation of wet spring weather. "With the likelihood of a wet track we just backed off him, but the beauty of this horse is that with one good gallop he's back up to speed," Walker said. "Under the set weight and penalty conditions he gets into the Concorde with 58 kilos, which is a kilo less than what he would carry at weight-for-age, so he's nicely in." All going to plan, Crocetti will then seek to complete unfinished business in the Gr1 TAB Telegraph (1200m), for which is the equal $6 favourite with Tomadachi. After finishing third in last year's Concorde, Crocetti was set for the Telegraph, scheduled for the first time on the first Saturday in January, however 13mm of overnight rain meant a Soft7 track and he was scratched. Returning north, his attention then turned to the Gr1 Sistema Railway (1200m), which he won in a photo-finish from star three-year-old filly Alabama Lass. "I think the Telegraph is an ideal race for him, a weight-for-age 1200m down the chute, so we're really looking forward to it," Walker said.
