Just days before the 2025 NZB Ready to Run Sale commences at Karaka, another graduate-aligned performer has added fresh lustre to the sale's formidable record of producing elite winners. The timing could hardly have been better, with Force Of Nature scoring a breakthrough stakes success in Saturday's $100,000 Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m) at Pukekohe. The Savabeel gelding now boasts six wins and three placings from 11 starts for $182,010 in earnings – a strong return for a horse who was offered at the 2022 Ready to Run Sale but did not meet his $150,000 reserve. Bred and raced by Tony Rider, Force Of Nature carries the black, gold and red colours of his breeder's Cambridge Stud and is prepared by Andrew Forsman. After a minor setback earlier in the season, he returned from a short freshen-up in peak order to produce the most polished performance of his career to date. "I thought he might be a little vulnerable late because it has been quite a while since he had a run, so credit to the team at home for having him right," Forsman said. "It was a very game effort and he is a talented horse, so hopefully he can come through this well and we can press on." Apprentice rider Triston Moodley made full use of an inside draw, settling the gelding behind the leader I'munstoppable before seizing an opening as the front-runner rolled off the rail turning for home. Force Of Nature accelerated sharply through the gap and fought off the fast-finishing mare Jaarffi in a driving finish. The 1200 metres were covered in a slick 1:09.30, confirming the gelding's readiness for higher targets. "We haven't plotted out a path beyond today because this was the race we wanted to have him spot-on for," Forsman added. "He's now a stakes winner, which is important for Tony because he's breeding from the family. It's a massive result and a good feather in his cap." This year's edition will again take place at Karaka Sales Centre on Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 November, where the next wave of potential stars will go under the hammer.
New stakes winner (inside) Force of Nature (pic: Kenton Wright Race Images)
Elite Jockeys to Clash at Happy Valley on 10 Dec
Tuesday, 11th November 2025
Prestige, rivalry and global star power will converge at Happy Valley on 10 December for the 2025 LONGINES International Jockeys' Championship, with one of the most formidable fields in the event's history confirmed. The line-up features five past winners – Ryan Moore, Zac Purton, Mickael Barzalona, Joao Moreira and Christophe Lemaire – alongside several of the sport's most decorated names, including James McDonald and William Buick. Moore's participation will depend on medical clearance as the two-time champion continues to recover from a leg injury. New Zealand's McDonald, the 2022 and 2024 LONGINES World's Best Jockey, currently leads the 2025 standings, while Buick, his closest pursuer, sits fourth. They are joined by female trailblazers Hollie Doyle and Rachel King, as well as former Hong Kong-based rider Umberto Rispoli, now representing the United States. The championship's four races carry HK$7.5 million in total stakes, with an additional HK$1 million in bonus money distributed among the three best-performed riders – HK$600,000 to the winner, HK$250,000 for second, and HK$150,000 for third. With Purton locked in as reigning Hong Kong champion jockey, the remaining two berths will be awarded to the next highest-ranked local rider and to Hong Kong's leading homegrown jockey at the time of selection. Hong Kong Jockey Club executive director of racing Andrew Harding said this year's field was "one of the strongest ever assembled." Between them, McDonald, Barzalona, Moore and Buick occupy the top four positions in the LONGINES World's Best Jockey rankings and have amassed a raft of elite victories this season. McDonald's campaign has included a fourth consecutive Cox Plate aboard Via Sistina, completing an unprecedented clean sweep of Hong Kong's Triple Crown with Voyage Bubble. Barzalona's year was defined by his Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe triumph aboard Daryz and further Group 1 success with Calandagan, Sahlan and Gezora, while Buick's partnership with Godolphin produced classic victories in both the 1000 and 2000 Guineas and a Breeders' Cup Mile triumph on Notable Speech. Moore, despite injury, claimed seven wins at Royal Ascot and secured a treble of Oaks titles across England and Ireland aboard Minnie Hauk. Rounding out the field, eight-time Hong Kong champion Purton will pursue a record fourth LONGINES IJC crown, while Moreira and Lemaire return in strong form following major victories across Japan and South America. Doyle and King continue to redefine benchmarks for female riders, with Doyle surpassing 1,000 career wins in Britain earlier this year and King becoming the first woman to win a Group 1 in Japan. Rispoli adds further international lustre, having captured the Preakness Stakes with Journalism in May. Trainers will again compete for their own HK$500,000 incentive pool, with points awarded across four races. Each jockey will receive four rides allocated via the HKJC's competitive odds-based draw system, designed to ensure fairness and parity across the 12-rider field.
Rookie Hong Kong Trainer Adds Group 3 Win
Tuesday, 11th November 2025
A memorable weekend for South African sport was capped off when Brett Crawford added another chapter to his Hong Kong "fairy tale," with Encountered storming home to win the Gr3 Sa Sa Ladies' Purse (1,800m) at Sha Tin on Sunday – just hours after the Springboks' heroic 14-man Test victory in Paris. The Churchill gelding had endured a barren 18-start run since winning the same race in 2023 under David Hall, with only fleeting signs of resurgence last season. Transferred to Crawford's yard earlier this year, he produced two promising Class Two efforts to open the campaign, encouraging punters to take the $7.95 on offer. What followed was anything but routine. Ridden patiently by Karis Teetan, Encountered was buried deep approaching the turn, crying out for an opening. The gap finally arrived at the 300-metre mark, and the Mauritian seized the moment, driving his mount through traffic to collar Happy Together in the dying strides and win by a short head. For South Africa's Crawford, it marked a Group win at his first attempt in Hong Kong – a remarkable feat for a trainer who has made an instant impact since relocating. "I could see him making up the ground and I knew he had a good chance, but there was a horse who got just ahead of us and I wasn't sure if we were going to get him in time," he said. "It really came down to the wire… it was a great race. I've got to give credit to Karis; he rode a really good race and put a lot of hard work into the preparation. The guys at home have worked really hard on this horse and I can't thank them enough. It's a fairy tale start for me. To win a Group 3 in Hong Kong within your first season is really amazing." Crawford said the gelding would now be monitored before any decision on his next start, adding, "He's a horse who takes his racing quite hard. We'll enjoy the moment and reassess everything tomorrow." It was a third victory in the race for Teetan, who captured last year's edition aboard Ensued and was also successful in 2016 on Horse Of Fortune for Tony Millard. His long association with Crawford dates back to their South African days, where the pair combined for multiple Group 1 wins. Crawford now has a commendable five wins and six placings from 31 starters. Australia's Mark Newnham heads the table with 20 winners and a five-win buffer.
It's like the good old days for Brett Crawford and Karis Teetan (pic: hkjc.com)
Stonybreck Expected to Bounce Back at Riccarton
Tuesday, 11th November 2025
A troublesome last start has done little to dampen confidence in Te Akau's Riccarton team as they mount another powerful Cup Week assault. The stable's attention turns to Wednesday's $250,000 Gr3 TAB Mile (1600m), where Stonybreck heads a trio of contenders for Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson. A six-time synthetic winner, the gelding has successfully translated that form to grass this spring, highlighted by a dominant five-length win at Christchurch in September. His most recent start ended abruptly when he knuckled badly at the jump and dislodged Opie Bosson, but connections are confident that mishap has left no mark. South Island-based assistant Hunter Durrant reports the gelding thriving. "He's come through it really well, he hasn't shown any sign of it affecting him and he's probably had more life in him since. His work has been the best I've ever seen it. He's bouncing around like a two-year-old, so I'm expecting a bold run," he said. Durrant expects solid showings from stablemates Perfect Scenario and Cognito, but admits Stonybreck remains his pick. Perfect Scenario, third in last year's edition under topweight, faces another 60 kg assignment though enjoys a fairer spread across the handicap. "He's been pretty unlucky this prep," Durrant noted. "It's hard to make up ground when you've got 60 plus, but he's an old marvel and his work this morning was terrific." Cognito, a dual winner this campaign, comes back from a strong second in the Listed Spring Classic (2000 m). "He probably just peaked on the run there, so dropping back to a mile is key," Durrant said. "He's fresh, drops in weight again, and I'm expecting another bold run." The team's juvenile ranks also look potent. Zaharias will attempt to extend Te Akau's grip on the Elmwood Tavern Two-Year-Old Premier (1000 m), a race the stable has owned for three consecutive years. The Super Seth filly finished second on debut at Trentham and has impressed since arriving in the South Island. "She's like an older horse, very professional," Durrant said. "I rode her myself on Saturday with the blinkers on and they've really sharpened her up. She's come down in great order and has a bright future." One True King also returns, targeting the Majestic Horse Floats Premier (1600 m) rather than the 2000 Guineas. "The mile's his go," Durrant said. "He's a big type with a big stride and keeps improving with racing." Elsewhere, the team will be represented in Saturday's New Zealand Cup by Court Of Appeal and I'm A Dirty Rascal, both thriving after contrasting lead-ups. "Court Of Appeal was just caught wide but bounced out of it with a buck and squeal," Durrant said. "I'm A Dirty Rascal was super winning the Road To The Jericho and has trained on really well." He also confirmed that Captured By Love, triumphant in Saturday's Canterbury Breeders' Stakes, will return home for a break. "It was a full-circle moment for her after last year's Group One," he said. "She was dominant again and loves this track. She'll fly home this afternoon for a freshen-up."
Case of the Hunters and the Hunted at Newcastle
Tuesday, 11th November 2025
A high-quality field and an even higher calibre of trainers are shaping Saturday's standalone Newcastle meeting into one of the strongest provincial cards of the spring. The $1 million The Hunter (1300m) headlines the program and looks set to lure some of the state's most in-form gallopers, with Joe Pride and Ciaron Maher both plotting major assaults. Pride, who won the 2022 edition with Coal Crusher, will unleash a formidable four-pronged team as he attempts to reclaim the trophy. Alongside Coal Crusher, his line-up includes Benchmark 100 quinella pair Estadio Mestalla and Accredited, as well as Golden Mile, who also heads north of Sydney for the feature. Coal Crusher, a winner of nine races and third in last year's Hunter, has opened at $4.50 in early markets, while his stablemates sit close behind at $6 after filling the quinella on Big Dance Day at Randwick. "It's an ideal race for all of them," Pride said, hinting that Newcastle's spacious track and strong tempo should play into his quartet's strengths. Maher, meanwhile, continues a remarkable run through the Sydney spring and will debut his European import Darnation, a multiple Group 2 winner, in the Hunter after originally nominating her for the Five Diamonds card. The decision to bypass the Hot Danish Stakes in favour of a fresh challenge at Newcastle was made after her recent strong work. "She will go to The Hunter," confirmed assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord. "She'll be better suited with an extra gallop. Going to 1400m from that gate, we just thought an extra week would suit her better. Her European form is good and she's still getting there, so it might take a couple of runs before we see the best of her, but she's a nice mare." Maher's team has already banked feature wins this spring with Vivy Air and Gringotts, giving Darnation a well-timed platform for her Australian debut. Adding further depth to Saturday's program, Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich have opted to start Kosciuszko heroine Clear Thinking in The Hunter following a minor hoof issue that ruled her out of the Hot Danish. John O'Shea and Tom Charlton's promising galloper Yorkshire also resumes at Newcastle, en route to The Ingham at Randwick next month after stringing together three consecutive metro wins before a February spell. With The Beauford (2300m) and the Spring Stakes (1600m) bolstering the card, Newcastle's stand-alone meeting again promises the quality and atmosphere of a Group 1 day.
Rising Trainer Gets Opportunity He's Dreamed Of
Tuesday, 11th November 2025
From next month, expat kiwi trainer Jack Bruce will assume control of fifteen boxes formerly managed by Annabel and Rob Archibald at Brisbane's premier track while retaining his existing thirty-two boxes at Deagon. As revealed by racenet.com.au, the expansion marks a major career step for the thirty-five-year-old New Zealander, who has built a reputation for meticulous planning and quiet efficiency since branching out on his own. For an ambitious trainer who once had to prove himself outside Brisbane's inner sanctum, the call to move in feels like poetic justice. Three years after being told to "do his time elsewhere," Sunshine Coast horseman Jack Bruce is set to relocate part of his operation to Eagle Farm, calling it "the opportunity of a lifetime." He revealed, "I'll be moving my Sunshine Coast base into Eagle Farm, so I'll be consolidating my operation in Brisbane," he said. "As far as I'm concerned, it's about moving the stable in a positive direction, sharpening the pencil, and going on to the next stage of the stable's evolution." Bruce first applied for Eagle Farm boxes in early 2022 but was knocked back by the Brisbane Racing Club, which advised him to gain further experience elsewhere. The rejection, he now concedes, may have been a blessing in disguise. After three and a half years establishing himself from satellite bases and consistently producing winners across Queensland, his return to the metropolitan fold comes with the endorsement of BRC leadership and peers alike. "It's a massive step in the right direction," he said. "To be granted boxes at Eagle Farm is a big feather in our cap – it's the culmination of years of work to build the stable up. We're not far off 200 winners as a stable, so it's great to be recognised as one capable of competing in the metro area." The next goal, he added, is to target yearling purchases and attract higher-quality tried horses to accelerate the stable's growth. Among the mentors who have shaped his approach are Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher, with whom Bruce worked before going solo. Yet it is Queensland's own benchmark, Tony Gollan, whom he most hopes to emulate. "Tony's the gold standard in Brisbane," Bruce said. "He's shown there's no divide between what he can achieve and what the Sydney or Melbourne trainers can. It's great for Brisbane racing, it proves horses can be developed here and still compete in Australia's best races. Hopefully, this will be a small step for me in that direction."
Ello, Ello, What's Going on 'Ere Then?
Tuesday, 11th November 2025
Tuesday Odd-Spot: Few towns wear their heritage as proudly as Newmarket, where horses have shaped the rhythm of daily life for centuries. Yet even here, in the spiritual home of British racing, the sound of neighing has stirred unexpected disquiet. A resident on the outskirts of town has lodged a formal noise complaint with the local council, claiming the calls of nearby horses had become intolerable. Mandy Young, who keeps 15 horses about ten miles from the famous racecourse, was astonished to receive a letter advising her of the complaint, which cited "constant neighing." She described the accusation as absurd. "The area is super horsey," she said. "It's the main home of horse racing … Newmarket is one of the few places where they have actual roads and crossings dedicated to the horses. There are probably more horses than there are people in Newmarket." Five of her seven neighbouring properties also keep horses, and she estimates there are about 25 in a half-mile radius. Young traced the timing of the complaint to a late-summer period when she was weaning foals. According to World Horse Welfare, weaning can temporarily heighten vocalisation as mares and foals adjust to separation. "They did call a bit but it definitely wasn't constant," she said. "It was just a bit more than it would usually be, and it is over now. They'll call backwards and forwards to each other for a few minutes and then they stop." She speculated that her use of a new field may have unsettled neighbours unfamiliar with the brief chorus that accompanies weaning. "Cattle are noisier," she added, recalling a friend's remark: "They should be here – I've got cattle next door." West Suffolk Council confirmed it had written to Young after receiving a complaint, explaining it was required by law to notify her "at an early stage." The council emphasised that the letter was procedural rather than punitive: "We haven't substantiated the complaint … If you do not consider you are making any unreasonable noise you need take no further action." An investigation, they said, would only proceed if further evidence were supplied. For Young, the episode remains baffling. "Moving to Newmarket and then complaining about horse noise," she said, "is like moving next to a railway track and then complaining about the train." Indeed.
Newmarket has been a racing town since 1653 (pic: visiteastofengland.com)
Alvarinho Holds Off Durazzo in Hobart's Goodwood
Tuesday, 11th November 2025
Tasmanian racing's summer lead-up produced another strong performance from one of its most consistent mares when Alvarinho claimed the $50,000 Tony Carrick Goodwood Handicap (1100m) at Hobart on Saturday. The victory came twelve months after she finished runner-up in the same race, a fitting turnaround for the six-year-old who continues to thrive under the care of trainer Imogen Miller and her in-form team. With Erica Byrne Burke in the saddle, the daughter of Wordsmith settled midfield behind a solid tempo set by Etosha before surging through a narrow gap near the inside rail. Durazzo, the $1.65 favourite, charged late from the rear but could not reel her in, finishing a length adrift, with Tsunami Sam third. The win marked Alvarinho's seventh from 25 starts and confirmed her place among Tasmania's key sprinting talents heading into the Ladbrokes Summer Racing Festival. Stable representative Brendon McCoull said pre-race confidence was high. "I said to Erica before the race that she seems to be particularly well this prep, so it was good to see her do it on the track. She probably deserves another good win, and this is a nice race to win for sure. We'll cross our fingers and hope she can pick off one of the big ones during the carnival." Alvarinho's résumé already includes black-type placings in the 2024 Newmarket, Vamos Stakes, and Mystic Journey, and she is again expected to target the Newmarket later this season. Durazzo lost few admirers in defeat, flashing home strongly after losing momentum in the straight and shaping as the horse to beat when the pair meet again. With her sharpness now fully tuned, Alvarinho looks capable of continuing her purple patch of form across the busy summer sprint calendar. Earlier in the day, five-year-old mare Wannabe Ziggy became the first horse to benefit from changes to the Tasbred bonus structure, scoring in a 1200m maiden for trainer Siggy Carr. The recent rule adjustment now extends eligibility to all Tasmanian maidens regardless of age, ending the restriction that excluded horses aged five and older. "She's been really unlucky throughout her career, and she deserved that today," Carr said. "It's great for the owners – we've got the Tasbred with her, and it's so good for them to finally get a reward."
Caulfield Cup Hero on the Comeback Trail
Tuesday, 11th November 2025
Last year's Caulfield Cup winner who missed his chance to defend his crown in 2025 crown looks ready to resume. After a minor setback sidelined Duke De Sessa through the spring, Ciaron Maher's talented import is back on track for a late-season return following an encouraging barrier trial at Randwick on Friday, reports racing.com. The seven-year-old gelding finished second over 1200 metres, his first public outing since contesting the Sydney Cup in April. Maher's NSW assistant Johann Gerard-Dubord said the trial was precisely what they'd hoped for. "I thought the trial was very good," he said. "He just had a little setback earlier in the spring, so we had to back off him for a bit. He had one jumpout at home at Bong Bong so that's why he trialled over 1200m, but I thought it was very good. He was a bit fresh early, but I thought he was very strong through the line and past the line he took a while to pull up. He looks great, he's feeling well." The gelding's reappearance signals a soft reset toward summer, with Maher's team weighing up a return run in The Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange on November 22 before easing him into an autumn campaign. Duke De Sessa had been among the early nominations for this year's Caulfield Cup but was withdrawn soon after when a leg wound interrupted his preparation. "He cut his back leg, just a wound that took a bit of time to heal, so he had to miss a few weeks of work," Gerard-Dubord explained. "He was on track for the spring, but after that he had to miss most of it. We didn't want to give him a break again and that's why we just got him ready, give him a run or two, then give him a little freshen and push on after that." The aim, he said, was to rebuild fitness without forcing the horse into a full reset. A Group 1 winner on both sides of the equator, Duke De Sessa captured last year's Caulfield Cup before contesting elite weight-for-age company in the Champions Stakes and Tancred Stakes, where he chased home European raider Dubai Honour. Earlier this year he resumed with a sharp win in the JRA Plate and followed up with successive seconds in the Australian Cup Prelude and Tancred, confirming his standing among the nation's most versatile middle-distance gallopers. "He's a good horse," Gerard-Dubord said. "He went from winning a handicap like the Caulfield Cup to competing at weight-for-age, but he's that kind of horse. He's good enough to be very competitive wherever he goes."
Duke de Sessa is being eased back into racing (pic: Mark Gatt)
Keeneland Breeding Stock Sale Defies Gravity
Tuesday, 11th November 2025
Despite the ongoing US Government shutdown, momentum continued to build at Keeneland's November Breeding Stock Sale, which surged past last year's overall gross with three sessions still remaining. According to bloodhorse.com, by the close of trading on Saturday, turnover had reached $221.8 million – a 29 percent increase on the same point last year and already 13 percent higher than the full 2024 sale. The fifth session alone generated $25.3 million from 259 horses sold, up 27 percent on last year's corresponding day. Average price rose sharply to $97,793, 31 percent higher than 2024's figure, while the median climbed 49 percent from $57,000 to $85,000. The RNA rate fell to 17 percent, with only 53 horses failing to meet reserve. Strong demand for quality young mares was evident throughout the day, highlighted by Way Too Sexy fetching the top price of $400,000 from Cary Bloodstock, acting for Coteau Grove Farms. The four-year-old daughter of Flatter was offered in foal to McKinzie by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa and is out of the multiple graded-stakes-placed mare Ready to Confess, a daughter of More Than Ready. "Way Too Sexy was very appropriately named," said Andrew Cary, who advises Coteau Grove Farms near Sunset, Louisiana. "She's a gorgeous mare from a great-running Pin Oak family. Flatter is an emerging broodmare sire, and McKinzie's had a tremendous start at stud, a warrior of a racehorse and a classy covering sire." Cary credited the mare's appeal to both her type and pedigree. "Peter O'Callaghan bought her as a weanling, and Donato Lanni and Bob Baffert purchased her as a yearling – you can't get better judges than that. We had a fantastic yearling sales season, and we're thrilled to add a young, high-quality mare to the band. It's always important to keep upgrading and refreshing." Cary's 2024 campaign has been a standout both on the racetrack and in the sales ring, with Coteau Grove-bred Touchuponastar and Tumbarumba now millionaire graded stakes winners. "The market's been incredibly strong," he said. "We've only bought two mares this week; last year we bought ten. We underbid on the top two yesterday but were delighted to land this beauty today." Strength in the weanling market also carried through to the end of Book 3, with a colt by Vekoma topping the session at $375,000. Bred in Kentucky by Aymen Moftah Inkeep and consigned by Columbiana Farm, the colt is the first foal out of unraced Nyquist mare Camelot's Cup, a half-sister to multiple graded performer State of Honor. As the sale enters its final stretch, Keeneland's buoyant results underscore a market where top-end demand continues to defy global headwinds.
