Solid sales action built steadily through the opening session at Inglis’ Riverside before peaking with a filly that had been on everyone’s radar well before she entered the ring. By day’s end, an Extreme Choice x Nais Ko filly bred by Newgate Farm in partnership with Gooree had emerged as the clear highlight, selling for $425,000 to Denise Martin’s Star Thoroughbreds and setting the tone for what vendors hope will be a buoyant sale. Interest in the filly had been intense throughout inspections, driven by the enduring demand for her sire and the physical impression she made all week. Buyers circled early and often, and when bidding opened it quickly became apparent she would be keenly contested. The tempo lifted with each rise until Star Thoroughbreds’ Vin Cox delivered the decisive late bid, securing a filly destined to race in the famous purple silks with white stars. Cox said the depth of competition was a positive reflection of the broader market. “There’s a lot of competition out there and when you line up on one, you find plenty of friends lining up against you and that’s a good sign and was certainly the case with this filly,” he said. “When there’s good action in the sale ring, it means people are bidding with confidence.” He added that the filly’s profile had been hard to ignore. “She’s a glorious filly. I don’t think it was any secret that we liked her, we saw her four times here.” From Cox’s perspective, she ticked every box expected of an Extreme Choice youngster. “She’s a strong, precocious looking type of filly, she’s got a good head on her in that she’s sensible and she looks like one that’s up and ready to roll,” he said. With supply limited, he acknowledged the premium attached to the stallion. “With Extreme Choice it’s just a case of you’ve got to get one. They’re rare commodities… when you see a nice one, you’ve got to dig deep and put the seatbelt on and get in it.” For Newgate’s Jim Carey, the result was both gratifying and affirming. “It’s a fantastic result and she was a lovely filly,” he said. “We’ve always had success here at Classic in the past and she’s a sharp, mature filly and we just thought it would be a good sale for her and it’s turned out that way.” Carey said the global appetite for Extreme Choice progeny remained relentless, describing the level of international enquiry as a testament to the stallion’s impact. He also highlighted temperament as a defining trait. “Like all his progeny, her temperament was unbelievable here all week,” Carey said. “She was super busy, very popular… but she handled it with ease.” With more Extreme Choice youngsters still to come through Melbourne Premier and Easter, Carey said the stallion was poised for another headline year, with Saturday’s result an emphatic early marker.
There was massive interest in Lot 233 (pic: inglis.com.au)
Classic Day 1 Settles Into Broad Competition
Weekend, 9th February 2026
Meanwhile, strong competition across a broad spread of buyers helped set a positive early starting tone at the Inglis Classic, and one colt by Yarraman Park stallion Hellbent, in particular, ensured Riverstone Lodge finished Day 1 with a headline to savour. Consigned by the Hunter Valley operation, the Hellbent-Miramare colt became Sunday’s second-top lot when trainer Gary Portelli teamed with BK Racing’s Ben Vassallo to secure him for $400,000. For Riverstone’s Nick Taylor, the sale result carried an extra layer of satisfaction because the colt’s path to Riverside wasn’t a foregone conclusion. “It’s an amazing result,” Taylor said, admitting there had been temptation to target the Gold Coast before deciding Classic was the right fit. “He’s always been a quality animal and there was a temptation to head to the Gold Coast but we’ve always had really good success at Inglis Classic. After last year I was determined to bring a really nice horse to the sale because geez you guys get a lot of buyers here.” That choice was rewarded as interest built through the inspection week and then intensified once bidding began. Taylor pointed to the depth of participation as a key driver. “To get a result like this is just incredible, it’s massive for us.” Vassallo said the colt’s appeal was tied to the sense he could be up and running early, a trait that often draws the strongest attention in this section of the market. “I think he’ll be up and going early and that’s very attractive to buyers, which made him so popular and that final bid was going to bottom us right out, thankfully the others didn’t bid again,” he said. Confidence was also boosted by a familiar reference point, with BK Racing having previously sourced a high-class performer from the same connections and stallion line at this very sale. That success story was Savvy Hallie, a Group 2 winner for the team, and Vassallo suggested the experience helped frame the decision to stretch to $400,000. “We’ve bought a very good horse off the same farm by the same stallion at this same Classic Sale in Savvy Hallie… which helps a lot when you’re making a decision to spend this much money,” he said. Asked how quickly the colt might be placed, he kept the ambition light but clear. “We can start with the Millennium and then worry about the Slipper after that.” Across the broader sale, Day 1 closed with a gross of $19,041,000 and a clearance rate of 80%, figures Inglis Bloodstock CEO Sebastian Hutch said reflected genuine demand. “We felt we had prepared well for the sale and the good footfall that we had through inspections was backed up by a day where there was good competition for stock at all levels of the market,” Hutch said, while noting conditions remained price-sensitive in the sub-$100,000 bracket even as vendors worked to meet the market.
Opie Bosson Joins Very Rare Company
Weekend, 9th February 2026
On a day steeped in symbolism at Te Rapa, a long-awaited milestone finally fell when a defining Group One victory was sealed on Legends Day. The moment arrived courtesy of a polished ride aboard Legarto in the Gr1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (1400m), bringing up a century of elite-level wins for Opie Bosson and placing him in rare company among New Zealand jockeys. At 45, Bosson became only the second Kiwi rider to reach 100 Group One successes, and the first to do so while based in New Zealand, joining Sydney-based James McDonald on the honour roll. The achievement carried extra resonance given it came just over six months after Bosson emerged from retirement, with the milestone long a personal target after he had stalled on 99 before stepping away. “It is just huge,” Bosson said. “It has taken a lot of hard work out at Te Akau Stud with David Ellis. A lot of people have been involved, Stephen Autridge has been like my rock the whole way through, and I am pleased to have finally got it.” Pressed to nominate a highlight among so many top-level triumphs, Bosson acknowledged that this one would endure. “There have been many highlights and to get the 100th today is right up there,” he said. “12 months ago I gave up on 99 and when I came back this was the main goal. To finally get it and I feel like I am back to riding close to my best, I am pretty happy.” The sense of closure was matched by relief, the number now ticked off rather than looming. The partnership with Ken and Bev Kelso added another layer to the occasion. Bosson rides regular track work for the Matamata-based trainers and was delighted the landmark came aboard one of their horses. “I don’t have many rides for them,” he said. “I ride a lot of their good horses in their main gallops. It is pretty special to ride my 100th Group One for Ken and Bev, they are lovely people and I owe them heaps.” Kelso was visibly emotional afterwards, particularly with his wife and training partner unable to be on course. “It is very special, it is just a crying shame Bev can’t be here to witness it,” he said. “I know it is Opie’s 100th Group One, but it is our 15th.” The trainer also took satisfaction in seeing Legarto silence critics after a testing period. Despite some doubts following a string of winless runs, the mare firmed into a $3.50 second favourite and delivered when it mattered. “When she loomed up I thought she would be hard to beat,” Kelso said. “Everyone had written her off but she is an Australian Group 1 winner and you can’t take that away from her.” Now an 11-time winner with four elite-level victories and nearly $2.6 million in prizemoney, Legarto is set to head to Ellerslie next month for the Gr1 Bonecrusher Stakes, though for now, connections are content to savour a moment that blended history, redemption and timing in perfect measure.
A century of Group 1s for Opie Bosson (pic: Kenton Wright Race Images)
Fingers Hunter Breeding Plans Delayed for Now
Weekend, 9th February 2026
All thoughts of retirement were shelved at Royal Randwick on Saturday as a long-awaited return to winning form reopened the door on a far more ambitious autumn path. Ending an 11-month drought in the TAB Highway (1200m), Fingers Hunter showed she still has plenty to offer on the track, prompting connections to immediately reassess plans that had recently leaned toward the breeding barn. That reassessment now includes a tilt at the Country Championships for the Brett and Georgie Cavanough-trained mare, whose talent has never been in question despite a frustrating run of luck. Cavanough made it clear the incentive was simply too strong to ignore, explaining that while retirement had been discussed, "the way she's gone today she's got to go to the Country Championships. The carrots are too big." A potential lead-up at Muswellbrook is already under consideration, with Cavanough floating the idea, "Can we get J(ason) Collett to come and ride her at Muswellbrook? We'll have to see what we can do to get him there won't we." Strong support in betting suggested confidence from the stable was well placed, and Cavanough said the mare had hinted she was ready to strike despite an unflattering lead-in. He pointed to her first-up run as a genuine return, before a tough assignment on a wet Rosehill track went against her. "Jay (Ford) rode her on a wet track at Rosehill the other day and she was on the worst part of the track and it was just ugly," he said, adding that a carefully managed lead-up into Saturday had her thriving. That preparation included arriving at Randwick the day before and a morning swim that had her feeling sharp and relaxed. "We brought her down here yesterday and she had a swim this morning and was bucking away and felt really good," Cavanough said. "She deserved that today." The win also delivered back-to-back Highway victories for the in-form Cavanough camp, following Navy Steel's success at Rosehill Gardens a week earlier. Jason Collett's ride played a key role in snapping the drought, with patience and a rails-hugging run proving decisive late. "I just had to be patient," Collett said. "I could see them starting to peel away from the inside and full credit to her, she had the weight but her acceleration was sharp and she did the job." He also credited pre-race instructions to be closer from the start, making effective use of the draw. Fingers Hunter ($9) dug deep to score by three-quarters of a length over She Within ($31), who ran a bold race in second, while unbeaten Albury galloper Autumn Break ($2.45) flashed home late for third once clear running appeared, rounding out a finish that underlined the merit of the winner's long-awaited return.
Fireball Ignites Incendiary Golden Slipper Ambitions
Weekend, 9th February 2026
The charge toward the autumn's biggest juvenile prize gathered sharply at Randwick on Saturday as an unbeaten Easter Yearling colt announced himself a genuine Golden Slipper contender with a commanding Inglis Millennium victory. The $2 million feature provided a decisive platform for Fireball, who surged into equal third favouritism for the Group 1 after delivering a performance that combined composure, acceleration and resolve under pressure. Having only his second career start, the Snitzel colt settled comfortably around midfield under James McDonald, with patience the key as the field fanned turning for home. Clear running presented midway down the straight and the response was immediate, the colt lengthening with authority before digging deep to repel late challenges. Premier Sale graduate Ghana's Akan closed strongly for Ciaron Maher, while Classic Sale graduate Alibaba filled third, but neither could reel in the winner once he balanced up. The victory added further lustre to a yearling purchase that had already carried lofty expectations. Secured for $460,000 from Yarraman Park at last year's Easter Sale, the colt was bought by the James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership in conjunction with Tony Fung Colts. Bred by Michael O'Keeffe, he has now won both starts and taken his earnings to $1,290,000, a return underpinned by the Inglis Race Series incentives that continue to shape early-season targets for elite juveniles. Harron described the moment as "incredible", acknowledging both the scale of the occasion and the broader significance of the Millennium. He said it was "such a great day, a big event and to take the Millennium out for the first time is very special", adding that the Inglis Race Series provided a meaningful reward for owners prepared to invest heavily and patiently. He noted that the race had proven itself as a reliable guide, well placed at the business end of the season and fitting perfectly into this colt's program. Memories of the colt at the sales remain vivid for Harron, who recalled a youngster that ticked every box physically and mentally. He said the team was "pinching ourselves" to secure a Snitzel colt of that quality at the price, stressing that the objective was not simply to chase expensive stock but to find horses that matched a defined profile. That assessment has since been reinforced on the track, with the colt firming to $13 for the Golden Slipper at Rosehill on March 21. Trainer Chris Waller was equally encouraged by what the run suggested for the future, noting that the colt arrived at the Millennium without being forced and still had significant improvement ahead as he strengthened.
Classy Fireball has added to Snitzel's strong season (pic: inglis.com.au)
Inglis 2YOs Run Riot Ahead of 2026's Classic Sale
Weekend, 9th February 2026
A stunning sweep across two states underlined the strength of the Inglis juvenile pipeline on Saturday, with graduates claiming every major juvenile feature on offer, including both Blue Diamond Preludes at Caulfield and the Lonhro Plate at Randwick. The clean run across three marquee 2YO races served as a timely reminder of the depth coming through the sales ring, with contrasting paths to success converging on the same outcome. The Caulfield action began with a debutant delivering the most unlikely of Group victories. Closer To Free announced himself as a serious Blue Diamond contender when taking out the G3 Prelude for colts and geldings, providing trainer Danny O'Brien with an instant return on a decision made barely more than a week earlier. Settling comfortably before responding under pressure, the Street Boss colt showed both natural pace and resilience to fend off more seasoned rivals. That victory capped a whirlwind story that began nine days earlier at the barrier trials, where O'Brien spotted the colt in the mounting yard with then-trainer and breaker Adrian Corboy. Purchased for $60,000 at the Classic Yearling Sale from breeder Milburn Creek, the colt changed hands within minutes of winning that trial, heading straight into Ultra Thoroughbreds colours. O'Brien later said the decision was made on instinct and trust, describing the colt as "a beautiful horse" with "a proper pedigree" and praising his relaxed nature and ability to respond when challenged. Corboy, for his part, was characteristically pragmatic about the transaction, saying the intention was always to trade the horse and backing the judgement call that followed. He noted that there were few trainers willing to place that level of faith in a breaker's recommendation and go straight into a Group race, adding that the colt had always shown enough to suggest he could measure up at the highest level. The win saw Closer To Free firm into $7 third favouritism for the G1 Blue Diamond, to be run at Caulfield on February 21. Forty minutes later, the fillies' Prelude delivered another strong endorsement of durability and experience when Streisand outstayed her rivals in the G2 division for trainer Clinton McDonald. Already twice stakes placed, the Magnus filly used her race-hard fitness to advantage, grinding her way to a decisive win that elevated her into genuine Blue Diamond contention. McDonald said "she's done all the hard yards", pointing to narrow defeats earlier in the season and highlighting her mental toughness compared to less exposed rivals. Adding further lustre to the day, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott continued their affinity with the Lonhro Plate as Agrarian Girl claimed the Randwick feature, following Bellazaine's victory in the race 12 months earlier. Like the Caulfield winners, the Tassort filly was an Inglis graduate, rounding out a day that reinforced the influence of the sales ring on elite juvenile racing and set the stage for a compelling fortnight leading into Australia's premier 2YO contest.
Oak Hill Steps Up to Group Level with Aplomb
Weekend, 9th February 2026
New Zealand-bred gelding Oak Hill lifted his ever-improving career to another new level with his first black-type victory in the $300,000 Gr2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday. According to NZ Racing Desk, the five-year-old son of Per Incanto has now had 19 starts for eight wins, four placings and $717,140 in stakes. The Rubiton was the fifth start at stakes level for Oak Hill, who had resumed with a last-start second in the Listed W.J. Adams Stakes (1000m), and earlier in the season was only three lengths from the winner when eleventh in the Gr1 Moir Stakes (1000m) in September. He was previously unplaced in two other Listed events. Oak Hill had a few factors in his favour leading into Saturday, including a potent second-up record that had seen him record two wins and a second from four previous starts in that state. Ridden by Damian Lane, Oak Hill sat in fourth until the home turn and then quickened smartly at the top of the straight. He finished over the top of the front-running Don't Hope Do and got up in the final few strides to score by a long head. It was a winning reunion for Oak Hill and Lane, who rode him to four victories between May 2024 and his relocation last autumn from the stable of the late Mike Moroney into the care of Ben, Will and JD Hayes. "I love this horse, I've won four races on him," Lane said. "It's good to be back on him. "He's been a difficult horse to manage in the past. If you go too forward, he'll do it the wrong way around and get his head up and over-race. "A lot of those early days with Mike, it was about teaching him to settle and run, settle and run. He's really starting to put it together mentally. "He's always had the talent and you can put him a touch closer and he's got the turn of foot still." The Rubiton was Oak Hill's third win for the Hayes brothers at Lindsay Park. "That was a terrific effort by Oak Hill," JD Hayes said. "I thought he put the writing on the wall last start when he returned. We've taken all the gear off his head and he's just starting to really learn his craft. "He's a late learner and a horse that we inherited from the late, great Mike Moroney, and he is getting better each preparation. "I think we could look at the Oakleigh Plate (Gr1, 1100m, February 21) now. Why not?" Oak Hill was bred by the Mahoenui Partnership and is by Little Avondale Stud's Per Incanto out of the High Chaparral mare Isstoora. That makes Oak Hill a half-brother to Desert Lightning, who has won seven races, including the Gr1 TAB Classic (1600m), Gr2 Avondale Guineas (2100m), Gr3 Sandown Stakes (1500m) and the $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m). Oak Hill was offered in Little Avondale's Book 1 draft at Karaka 2022, where Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Ballymore Stables bought him for $180,000.
Damian Lane now has four wins aboard Oak Hill (pic: Bruno Cannatelli)
First Five Now a Dual Group 1 Winner
Weekend, 9th February 2026
A dominant home-track display at Te Rapa on Saturday confirmed a stable in rare form, with another Gr1 added to an already memorable season when First Five powered away with the BCD Group Sprint (1400m). The performance, reports racingnews.co.nz, not only cemented the gelding’s standing among the elite but also doubled the top-level tally for trainer David Greene in the space of a month. That breakthrough had come when the Almanzor five-year-old captured the Gr1 Telegraph at Trentham, and confidence was high that his unbeaten record at 1400m could be preserved. Even so, the market remained cautious. First Five was allowed to start at $7.40, with visiting Australians Arkansaw Kid and Here To Shock installed as favourites and controlling proceedings from the front through the early and middle stages. Positioned perfectly in the slipstream by Wiremu Pinn, First Five was given every chance to relax as the tempo increased. While the two pacemakers began to stretch the field, Pinn resisted the urge to go early, waiting until straightening before asking his mount to lengthen. The response was immediate and emphatic, the gelding surging alongside the leaders and then putting them away within a matter of strides. Clear air soon followed, and although Sterling Express closed late, the result was never in doubt. First Five crossed the line with a commanding 1.75-length margin, a win that carried the authority of a horse still improving. “I was shocked to see the TAB had opened him up at $13,” Pinn said. “He is just an absolute machine and I thought he played with them today.” He added that the genuine pace had suited perfectly, allowing his mount to settle before unleashing a decisive turn of foot. For Greene, the moment was one of pride and disbelief in equal measure, particularly in front of a strong home crowd. “There is a huge crowd for him here today and what a win, he just dominated them,” he said. “He brained a really good field and that’s how good he is, he is a really top-class horse.” The trainer also highlighted the horse’s recent work, noting that a sharp Tuesday gallop had hinted another peak performance was imminent. Attention now turns to a potential step up in trip, with the Gr1 Sport Nation Otaki Maori WFA Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie pencilled in as the next target. Greene acknowledged the limited options remaining this preparation but is already thinking longer term, including a possible Australian campaign next spring if conditions align. Bred by part-owner Gerald Shand, First Five is out of the six-time winning mare Payette, and the family enjoyed a memorable day with his full-brother Rambling On narrowly denied earlier on the card. Now a dual Group 1 winner, First Five has claimed eight victories from 20 starts and lifted his career earnings beyond $810,000.
First Five opened at odds of $13 (pic: Kenton Wright Race Images)
Close Big Sky Relative a Big Boost for MM Digital
Weekend, 9th February 2026
Interest in this month's Magic Millions Digital Sale has sharpened with the inclusion of a close relation to one of Australia's headline juveniles. A three-quarter sister to unbeaten colt Big Sky, a major player for the $2 million Group One Blue Diamond Stakes, is among the star attractions for the online auction running from 6 to 11 February. The 41-lot catalogue is headed by Podcast (Lot 41), a twice-winning mare who carries that valuable three-quarter-sister link to Big Sky, the lightly raced youngster from the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable. Big Sky is the clear second favourite for the Blue Diamond after last week's decisive Group 3 Chairman's Stakes victory at Caulfield (see below), making it two wins from as many starts. He shares the spotlight with stablemate and fellow Magic Millions purchase Guest House, with the pair prominent at the top of early markets for Victoria's premier two-year-old contest. Strong vendor support underpins this Digital Sale, with entries from Archibald Racing, Baramul Stud, Bombora Downs, Jack Bruce Racing, Clarken Racing, Matthew Dale Racing, Darby Racing, Leneva Park, Lyndhurst Stud Farm, Morton Racing Stables, Munce Racing, Pearce Racing and the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable. Among the standouts are shares in two juvenile colts offered by Archibald Racing, presenting buyers with the chance to step into well-related youngsters. One opportunity is a five per cent share in First Base (Lot 26), a colt by international heavyweight Frankel and a half-brother to multiple Group One winner Nettoyer. The second is a 10 per cent interest in Zousika (Lot 30), a colt by Zoustar from Group winner and Group One-placed mare Fasika. Rounding out the catalogue is a varied selection of racehorses, race fillies, share parcels, two and three-year-olds, unbroken stock, yearlings and broodmares, with more than half of the entries to be offered unreserved. Bidding is now open and will begin closing from 12pm (QLD time) on Wednesday 11 February, giving prospective buyers a tight window to study the lots online and secure a position in the Magic Millions Digital Sale.
Dad And Dave Doubles Down in Guineas-Derby
Weekend, 9th February 2026
A successful run of form continued across the Ladbrokes Summer Racing Festival and reached its peak on Friday when a staying performance of substance completed a Tasmanian double in the Listed Magic Millions Tasmanian Derby (2200m). Building on his Launceston Guineas success, Dad And Dave confirmed himself the dominant middle-distance three-year-old of the carnival, stretching his unbeaten local record with a tough, decisive victory. The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding was once again ridden with patience by Eoin Walsh, settling just worse than midfield as the tempo unfolded cleanly through the early stages. Sliding into the race approaching the home bend, he was able to build momentum without interruption before asserting late, drawing clear to score by three-quarters of a length. Colizzi charged hard from the back to grab second, with Helioson holding third, as the Victorian raiders filled the trifecta and underlined their depth. Wolf Junior emerged as the best of the locals, finishing a credible sixth. Walsh said the race unfolded exactly as hoped, explaining, "The tempo was perfect, I was pretty confident going into the first bend that we were going to go good if they didn't steady them up, and my bloke was the best stayer there today." The Guineas–Derby double had been mapped well in advance, with the stable electing to keep the gelding based at Seven Mile Beach between runs to maximise continuity. Stable representative Nikki White was quick to acknowledge the broader team effort behind the campaign, saying, "Everyone that's involved with him down here has done an absolutely brilliant job." With Tasmania conquered, attention now turns interstate, where the South Australian Derby looms as the traditional next assignment and a logical stepping stone for a horse thriving on rising distances. Punters experienced sharply contrasting fortunes across the Magic Millions Classics on the program. Aristopolos delivered as expected in the $85,000 Magic Millions 2YO Classic, cruising to an emphatic 8.5-length win at $1.14 to remain unbeaten from four starts, with a Listed Gold Sovereign tilt in Launceston now on the agenda. The script flipped in the 3YO/4YO Classic, however, when heavily backed Mazzini never travelled and finished fourth, as $18 chance Perspiration swept past late. Formerly campaigned in Sydney, Perspiration notched his first Tasmanian win and capped a treble for trainer John Keys inside the opening four races.
First Five Wins Gr1 BCD Group Sprint
Weekend, 9th February 2026
Track: Te Rapa Race: Gr1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) Winner: First Five (Almanzor-Payette, by Volksraad) Placings: 2nd: Sterling Express, 3rd: Tomodachi Stallion: Almanzor (Wootton Bassett-Darkova, by Maria's Mon) Stud Farm: Cambridge Stud, NZ Winner's Race Record: 20 starts: 8 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third Sales Details: N/A
Legarto Wins Gr1 Herbie Dyke Stakes
Weekend, 9th February 2026
Track: Te Rapa
Race: Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m)
Winner: Legarto (Proisir-Geordie Girl, by Towkay)
Placings: 2nd: Kingswood, 3rd: The Odyssey
Stallion: Proisir (Choisir-Prophet Jewel, by Encosta De Lago)
