Graff Son Turns on $3m Sunlight Afterburners
Weekend, 12th January 2026
Another major prize has propelled a rising sprint talent firmly into elite company after a dazzling performance under lights at the Gold Coast on Saturday night. The $3 million TAB Magic Millions Sunlight (1100m) proved the perfect stage for Grafterburners (Graff) to announce himself as a genuine Group 1 prospect, delivering a finish that separated him decisively from a high-quality field. Sent out a confident $2.25 favourite, the son of Graff preserved his flawless three-year-old record with an acceleration that turned the contest on its head inside the final 200m. Settled ideally just behind the speed, the colt travelled strongly before briefly appearing pocketed as the field straightened. When a narrow opening presented closer to the rail, the response was instant, Grafterburners lengthening with authority to put the race beyond doubt. James McDonald's composure in the saddle was a defining factor, his willingness to hold nerve early allowing the colt to conserve energy before unleashing his trademark turn of foot. Once balanced, the result was never in question, with Grafterburners quickly asserting superiority over his rivals. Brad Widdup's outsider Nashville Jack emerged with credit in second, finishing a length-and-a-half adrift, while Sylph boxed on gamely for third for Michael Freedman and Zac Lloyd. Behind them, the margin told a clear story of a winner operating on a different plane as he expanded his latst picket fence to four on the trot. McDonald was effusive in his post-race assessment, describing the colt as "outstanding" and praising the preparation that brought him to the race in peak order. He credited trainer Kelly Schweida and his team for presenting a horse that "did everything he was asked," adding that winning during the Magic Millions Carnival on a colt of this quality made the moment even sweeter. The victory capped a memorable evening for Schweida, who also landed the Magic Millions The Wave with popular mare Miss Joelene. He later reflected that securing McDonald for the ride had been a decisive move, acknowledging the impact of having a world-class jockey execute the plan. Raced in the Sunlight slot held by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Grafterburners was bred in Queensland by Canning Downs, further underlining the depth of local production. With bigger targets now firmly in sight, attention will also turn to the sale ring, where the sole yearling by Graff in next week's Magic Millions Gold Coast catalogue will be offered as Lot 862 on Friday.
Grafterburners has Group 1 targets (pic: magicmillions.com.au)
Racing Pedigree Outs for Goggin Granddaughter
Weekend, 12th January 2026
A breakthrough moment arrived under Friday night lights in Launceston when a young trainer's early promise was converted into a first career success. With only her fourth runner to the races, Ashley Meaburn celebrated a milestone as Royal Dispatch ($7.50) dug deep to land a BM60 (1600m), rewarding patience and belief in testing conditions. Still just 24, Meaburn carries a proud family lineage into the training ranks as a third-generation horsewoman. She is the granddaughter of Hall of Fame conditioner Charlie Goggin, while her mother Luella Meaburn has accumulated more than 100 training wins of her own. That background made the result feel both personal and symbolic, particularly given the manner in which the gelding refused to yield late. "It's really exciting. He was tough on the line there; he wanted to get past the other horse, which was good," Meaburn said after the race, noting the challenge posed by the wet track. Apprentice Kirra-Lee Lane played her part with a composed and confident ride, making the most of her 4kg claim for the final time after riding past the allowance earlier in the week at Devonport. Settled ideally behind the speed, Royal Dispatch stalked leader Tassie Power ($5.50) before Lane angled into a narrow split in the home straight, emerging best from a tightly bunched finish that saw just 0.4 lengths cover the first four across the line. "He travelled beautifully. Darma set a really good pace for us and was just waiting for a gap," Lane said. Having notched her own first winning ride only as recently as October, Lane was acutely aware of what the victory would mean for a young trainer finding her feet. "It's so exciting to share that moment with Ashley. I know that she will be thrilled." The meeting also underlined the remarkable form of Erica Byrne Burke, whose 2025/26 season reached another high point with four wins from the eight-race program. She struck a double inside two races, steering the short-priced Aristopolos ($1.26) to success in a 2YO Handicap (1100m) before Redair ($3.40) prevailed narrowly in a maiden (1200m). Aristopolos' win was not without tension, as barrier one created early challenges and left Byrne Burke dictated to for much of the journey. When daylight finally appeared, the St Mark's Basilica colt produced a sharp turn of foot to grab Momentslikethese ($5.50), the quinella clearing out decisively from the remainder of the field.
Former Top 2YO Spywire Nails $1m MM Feature
Weekend, 12th January 2026
Persistence was finally rewarded under the Gold Coast lights on Saturday night when a familiar Magic Millions contender produced a gritty finish to claim the $1 million TAB Magic Millions The Syndicate (1100m). After several near-misses across previous campaigns, Spywire returned as a more seasoned four-year-old and delivered the victory that had long seemed within reach. Earlier visits to the carnival had promised much without delivering the ultimate prize. A placing in the 2024 Magic Millions 2YO Classic and an unplaced effort in the inaugural The Sunlight left unfinished business, but the latest assignment carried added significance, with a win set to push the gelding's career earnings beyond the million-dollar mark. This time, the script played out differently. Positioned perfectly just behind the speed, the son of Widden Stud's Snitzel ever improving sire-son Trapeze Artist enjoyed a polished ride from Ethan Brown, who allowed the race to unfold before asking for a decisive effort late. Once angled into clear air, Spywire closed sharply inside the final 150m, drawing alongside the leaders before finding enough under pressure to repel determined challenges from King Kapa and Payline. For trainer Ciaron Maher, the result carried particular satisfaction given the depth of the ownership group led by Ozzie Kheir and John O'Neill. Purchased for $520,000 from Widden Stud's draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in partnership with G1 Bloodstock, the gelding had always shown the ability to justify that investment. "They are great owners, he's a lovely horse and that was a beautiful ride from Browny," Maher said, noting that following the favourite "one-out, one-back, it doesn't get much better." Reflecting on recent setbacks, he added, "Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong last start but I thought he was in a pretty good spot coming into this." Maher also praised the Magic Millions carnival atmosphere, calling it "the best… at this time of year." Brown, whose rise over the past 18 months has seen him establish himself among the country's leading riders, credited Maher's support for his confidence. "He has just backed me all the way through," Brown said. "He was tough today. Those horses half got to him but he dug deep late." Attention now turns to the sale ring, where Spywire's half-brother by Anamoe will be offered next week, adding another layer of intrigue to a win that blended patience, planning and resolve.
Spywire (pic: magicmillions.com.au)
Yulong Principal Presence Adds to Gold Coast Intrigue
Weekend, 12th January 2026
Under the spotlight as the Australasian thoroughbred calendar turns decisively toward the yearling sales, one of the industry's most ambitious operations is preparing a sizeable opening statement. Yulong will enter the first major sale of 2026 with a draft of 69 yearlings, underlining both scale and intent as buyers converge on the Gold Coast. Focus has sharpened further with the return to Australia of Yulong founder Yuesheng Zhang, who is spending the week inspecting stock ahead of the Magic Millions Sales. His presence follows a period of intense speculation within racing circles after the billionaire businessman was absent from last spring's Australian carnival, despite his green and white colours dominating headline events, most notably Via Sistina's successful defence of the Cox Plate. Few figures have reshaped Australian breeding and racing investment as profoundly. Zhang is widely regarded as the architect of one of the, if not the largest single commitment the local industry has seen in decades, with estimates placing his global racing investment north of $500 million. That scale has inevitably fuelled scrutiny, particularly as rumours circulated about his whereabouts and personal circumstances late last year. In November, Yulong's Australian general manager and Zhang's son-in-law, Jun Zhang, moved to quell those claims, insisting operations were continuing uninterrupted and rejecting suggestions his father-in-law had encountered issues in China. Further conjecture followed more recently when European runners that had competed under the Yulong Investments banner were transferred into a new ownership brand, Ace Stud, adding another layer of intrigue. Zhang was sighted at the Magic Millions Sales complex on Sunday alongside Yulong chief operating officer Sam Fairgray, though he declined interview requests when approached. Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch welcomed the visit, saying, "It's great to have him back on the Gold Coast. Magic Millions is one of his favourite sales of the year. He is going to be a big, big vendor at the sales and it's great to have the entire Yulong team including Mr Zhang here for the week…"
Sears $20k Bargain Buy as Solid as a Brick
Weekend, 12th January 2026
Under the lights on the Gold Coast on Saturday night, another defining moment was added to one of racing's modern fairytales, with a familiar warrior once again rising to the occasion on the sport's richest stage. Carrying expectation as heavily as the weight on his back, Yellow Brick delivered a trademark performance to claim the $1.5 million Racing Queensland Magic Millions QTIS Open over 1300m. The victory added further gloss to a remarkable return on investment story, with the $20,000 yearling now boasting earnings in excess of $3.5 million through prizemoney and bonuses. Asked to shoulder 61kg, the six-year-old showed the same resilience that has underpinned his career, aided by a measured and clinical ride from James McDonald. From barrier seven, McDonald allowed the son of The Mission to find his rhythm early, easing into a one-out, one-back position before gradually building momentum. Presented into clear running with time to wind up, the gelding's closing sectionals told the story, his strongest work coming late as he surged clear in the final furlong. The margin was decisive, with Yellow Brick drawing away to score by a length and a quarter over stablemates Bossed Up and John Rambo, giving trainer Tony Gollan the minor placings. It was another performance that reinforced the horse's consistency at the elite level, adding to a record that now includes nine wins and a placing at Group 1 level. For co-trainer Maddy Sears, the result carried deep personal significance. The accomplished young horsewoman has taken a leading role in overseeing the gelding's preparation from the Gold Coast base and spoke candidly in the aftermath. "This horse is my everything," Sears said. "I've had a pretty rough few months, I broke my leg really badly and normally I ride all his work so it's been really tricky for me lately. I just love this horse." She added that the trust placed in her has made the journey all the more meaningful. "Dad literally leaves me to my own devices with this horse's training, I do everything so for him to do that is really special," Sears said. "He'll back up next week in what will probably be a better race for him over a bit further and down in the weights." The partnership behind the gelding, which includes bloodstock agent Paul Moroney, sourced him from the Waylon J Stud draft at the 2021 Gold Coast National Yearling Sale, a decision that continues to pay extraordinary dividends.
Yellow Brick now boasts over $3.5 million in earnings (pic: magicmillions.com.au)
Seven Lindsay Park Horses Die in Longwood Fire
Weekend, 12th January 2026
Severe heatwave conditions across much of eastern Australia escalated into something far more dangerous in Victoria late last week, reports racing.com, as bushfires tore through several regions and placed intense pressure on local communities. Among the most exposed was the Longwood thoroughbred district, which, while narrowly avoiding wholesale devastation, still suffered heartbreaking losses that underlined the fragility of the situation. Confirmation on Sunday that seven horses from Lindsay Park had died in the Longwood bushfire prompted Racing Victoria to formally extend its sympathies to the stable and its connections. Jamie Stier, Racing Victoria's Executive General Manager of Integrity Services, described the loss as deeply distressing while noting that, to the organisation's knowledge, there had been no human casualties linked to equine facilities. "It's saddening to hear that seven horses have lost their lives," Stier said. "They're the only loss of life that we've been made aware of… there's been no injuries sustained that we've been made aware of, that's pleasing." In the face of advancing fire fronts, decisive action helped prevent further tragedy. A total of 128 horses spelling at Lindsay Park's Euroa property were evacuated ahead of the blaze and transported to the Inglis sales complex at Oaklands Junction. They were joined by other displaced horses from the region, with numbers swelling to 222 animals, predominantly from the Longwood area, now temporarily housed at Inglis' Melbourne facility. Stier said it was reassuring to observe the condition of horses arriving from fire-affected communities and provided an update on the wider emergency landscape. "Overnight, the fire situation has stabilised," he said, while cautioning against complacency. "There are still areas of concern… particularly around the Longwood area. Overnight, there were concerns around Colac, that seems to have stabilised." Although temperatures have eased since the peak of last week's heatwave, the broader threat has not passed. Stier stressed that fires remain active and urged continued vigilance across the equine sector. "Overall, the situation hasn't worsened overnight but still we emphasize to people that they should remain vigilant," he said, advising strict adherence to emergency service directives and warning against premature returns to properties. Support remains available for those affected, including guidance and resources provided through Racing Victoria's equine emergency support page. Despite the ongoing conditions, racing in the state is currently expected to proceed as scheduled, with Tuesday's meeting at Yarra Valley and Thursday's fixture at Seymour continuing as planned.
Pollard Strikes Out on His Own in Brisbane
Weekend, 12th January 2026
A new training chapter is about to begin in Brisbane, with a familiar figure from the Queensland ranks preparing to step out on his own after securing boxes at Eagle Farm. The move will see Todd Pollard officially join the training ranks next month, bringing to an end a significant apprenticeship period spent at the coalface of a major stable. The transition follows his departure from Archibald Racing, where he has worked for five years and led the Queensland operation for more than three-and-a-half seasons. During that time, Pollard played a central role in maintaining consistent results across the stable's northern base, building a reputation as a steady and detail-oriented horseman trusted with high-level responsibility. Exposure to elite performers formed a key part of that grounding, with Pollard closely involved in the campaigns of Group One winners Mo'unga, Zaaki, Bois d'Argent and Sunshine In Paris, along with a range of other stakes-class horses. "I am very excited to announce that I am setting up my own training business, Todd Pollard Racing," he said. "This has been a long-term ambition of mine, and I have worked hard to reach this point." That pathway has been shaped by broad experience gained both locally and abroad. Pollard credits time spent with leading trainers as instrumental to his development, including his years with the Archibald stable and Stephen Marsh. Before that, he was part of the Godolphin Flying Start program from 2016 to 2018, an opportunity that delivered international placements with Roger Varian in the United Kingdom, Phil D'Amato in the United States and Bjorn Baker in Sydney. Racing has long been part of Pollard's life, having been born and raised in Matamata, where family involvement sparked his early interest. His aunt Liz Pollard bred and raced several horses, most notably Gr3 Taranaki Breeders Stakes winner Rosetti Bay. "My early interest was from my dad's auntie, raising horses, and having a couple of handy ones that piqued my interest," Pollard said. "But I really enjoyed getting along to the races when I was young and just enjoyed the spectacle of it all." Attention now turns to the practicalities of launching a new stable, with Pollard assembling his team and planning purchases ahead of a February start. He will attend major yearling and online sales, including a return to New Zealand for Karaka, as he begins building a foundation for the next phase of his career.
Hong Kong Gearing Up for Iconic 4YO Series
Weekend, 12th January 2026
With around three weeks remaining before the Four-Year-Old Classic Series begins, anticipation is building around what shapes as one of the most compelling cohorts of emerging talent seen in Hong Kong for some time. According to HKJC chief executive, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, each season brings promise, but the depth, diversity and international flavour of this generation have combined to elevate expectations as the spotlight turns toward the city's signature sequence for rising stars. Unlike racing nations underpinned by domestic breeding programs, Hong Kong's elite competition depends entirely on the global marketplace. Owners, guided by bloodstock agents and trainers, scour the world in pursuit of quality, often competing directly with buyers from other major jurisdictions. The result is a racing population that reflects the truly international nature of the sport, with Hong Kong standing as one of its most cosmopolitan hubs. That breadth is reflected in the current population of 1,353 horses representing twelve countries by foaling origin. Australia leads the way with 805 horses, followed by New Zealand with 318, Ireland with 124 and Great Britain with 55. France, Brazil, South Africa and the United States also contribute, alongside smaller numbers from Argentina, Chile, Germany and Japan, underlining the global pathways that feed into the Hong Kong system. At the upper end of the four-year-old spectrum, the international mix remains a defining feature. Contenders for the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile, the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup and the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby trace their origins to at least six different jurisdictions, including Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa and the United Kingdom. It is a spread that reinforces the Derby's standing as a genuinely global contest. Names such as Sagacious Life, Numbers, Little Paradise, Invincible Ibis, Public Attention, Regal Gem, Winfield, Beauty Bolt, Infinite Resolve, Top Dragon and All Out For Six highlight the scope of the sourcing effort, each imported with Classic ambitions in mind. Their presence ensures the BMW Hong Kong Derby remains a rare meeting point for northern and southern hemisphere form lines, converging at Sha Tin in pursuit of a once-in-a-lifetime prize. How this generation progresses in the coming weeks will determine who earns a place among the greats that have shaped Derby history, from Romantic Warrior and Designs On Rome to Golden Sixty, Voyage Bubble, Vengeance Of Rain, Ambitious Dragon, Viva Pataca and Akeed Mofeed. Alongside icons such as Silent Witness, Ka Ying Rising and Beauty Generation, these horses have helped define Hong Kong racing's global identity, a distinction that will again be tested as the Classic Series unfolds.
CrAck HKJC 4YO Voyage Bubble (pick:hkjc.com)
Sessions' Sizzling Start to 2026 Continues
Weekend, 12th January 2026
Momentum since the start of the New Year has continued for WA-based stallion Sessions, with another of his daughters adding to an impressive early-season tally in Western Australia. The latest success came at Bunbury on Wednesday when Queen Of Hawks closed strongly from the rear to claim the Cuprum Distillery Handicap over 1000m, extending a remarkable opening run for the Oakland Park stallion. Prepared by Pearce Racing, the four-year-old mare delivered the fourth victory for her sire in the first week of 2026, reinforcing his sharp start to the year. That sequence began on New Year's Day when Amaroo Star struck at Ascot and continued with Outlaw Music and Fitzpatrick Plate winner Supernatural scoring at Albany on Sunday, underscoring the breadth of Sessions' current form. Consistency has long been a hallmark of Queen Of Hawks, who made two productive trips to Geraldton as a three-year-old and is now chasing a hat-trick this campaign following a Narrogin victory on December 20. "That was a great ride by Chris (Parnham) bearing in mind she rolled them along at Narrogin," co-trainer Dan Pearce said. "He let her breathe and go through the gears. She built momentum and ran through the line strongly which proves she's not a one-trick pony." Her pedigree adds further depth to the story, being out of Imperial Hawk, a New Zealand winner of three races up to 2100m. The mare is also a full-sister to Hawkspur, winner of the Gr1 Queensland Derby, and Devil Hawk, who captured the Gr3 Newcastle Spring Stakes, highlighting the stamina and class embedded in the family. Imperial Hawk was secured for $30,000 by Belmont Bloodstock's Damon Gabbedy on behalf of Oakland Park at the 2018 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale before changing ownership again in 2023. She now has a Ducimus yearling filly for Bullsbrook-based owner John Paikos, continuing to add residual value to an already productive page. Supernatural provided another chapter to the Sessions narrative when the four-year-old filly surged past $450,000 in earnings with her Fitzpatrick Plate success over 1230m at Albany. "We were confident coming down here until the early pattern went against back-markers," Durrant Racing foreman Jordan Rolfe said. "She's an unassuming type but can reel off a wicked sectional." The win also extended a family tradition, with full-brother Supersession winning the same race in 2024 and their dam Talk Of Angels finishing a long-neck second in 2014.Disneck Wins Gr3 Standish Handicap
Weekend, 12th January 2026
- Track: Flemington
- Race: Gr3 Standish Handicap (1200m)
- Winner: Disneck (Trapeze Artist-Lindisfarne, by City Zip)
- Placings: Extratwo and Contemporary
- Stallion: Trapeze Artist (Snitzel-Treppes, by Domesday)
- Stud Farm: Widden Stud
- Race Record: 8 Wins and 4 Placings from 34 Starts
- Sales Details: $200,000 yearling at the Inglis Classic Sale
Acromantula Wins LR Miss Andretti Stakes
Weekend, 12th January 2026
- Track: Ascot
- Race: LR Miss Andretti Stakes (1100m)
- Winner: Acromantula (Written Tycoon-For Your Eyes Only, by Bletchley Park)
- Placings: Cut The Talk and Jaz Session
- Stallion: Written Tycoon (Iglesia-Party Miss, by Kenmare)
- Stud Farm: Yulong
- Race Record: 10 Wins and 11 Placings from 44 Starts
- Sales Details: N/A
Graftburners Wins $3 million MM The Sunlight
Weekend, 12th January 2026
- Track: Gold Coast
- Race: $3 million MM The Sunlight 3YO Plate (1100m)
- Winner: Graftburners (Graff-Coralina, by Dylan Thomas)
- Placings: Nashville Jack and Sylph
- Stallion: Graff (Star Witness-Dinkum Diamond, by Keep The Faith)
- Stud Farm: Kitchwin Hills
- Race Record: 6 Wins and 3 Wins from 12 Starts
- Sales Details: $70,000 yearling at the 2024 Inglis Classic Sale
Yellow Brick Wins $1.5 million RQ MM QTIS Open
Weekend, 12th January 2026
- Track: Gold Coast
- Race: $1.5 million RQ MM QTIS Open (1300m)
- Winner: Yellow Brick (The Mission-Magical Mist, by High Chaparral)
- Placings: Bossed Up and John Rambo
- Stallion: The Mission (Choisir-My Amelia, by Redoute’s Choice)
- Stud Farm: Aquis Farm
- Race Record: 9 Wins and 9 Placings from 27 Starts
- Sales Details: $20,000 yearling at the 2021 Magic Millions National Sale
Spywire Wins $1 million MM The Syndicate
Weekend, 12th January 2026
- Track: Gold Coast
- Race: $1 million MM The Syndicate (1100m)
- Winner: Spywire (Trapeze Artist-Secret Trail, by Denman)
- Placings: King Kapa and Payline
- Stallion: Trapeze Artist (Snitzel-Treppes, by Domesday)
- Stud Farm: Widden Stud
- Race Record: 5 Wins and 6 Placings from 16 Starts
- Sales Details: $520,000 yearling consigned by Widden Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale
Chica Mojito Wins $500k Lakes Mile
Weekend, 12th January 2026
- Track: Wyong
- Race: 500k Lakes Mile (1600m)
- Winner: Chica Mojito (Zacinto-Cantina, by Cecconi)
- Placings: Mare of Mt Buller and Gallant Star
- Stallion: Zacinto (Dansili-Ithaca, by Distant View)
- Stud Farm: Valachi Downs Stud
- Race Record: 2 Wins and 12 Placings from 24 Starts
- Sales Details: N/A
Miss Joelene Wins $500k MM The Wave
Weekend, 12th January 2026
- Track: Gold Coast
- Race: $500k MM The Wave (1800m)
- Winner: Miss Joelene (Russian Revolution-Cellargirl, by More Than Ready)
- Placings: Encoder and Port Lockroy
- Stallion: Russian Revolution (Snitzel-Ballet d’Amour, by Stravinsky)
- Stud Farm: Newgate Farm
- Race Record: 8 Wins and 11 Placings from 34 Starts
- Sales Details: $20,000 yearling at the 2022 Magic Millions National Sale
