There’s a limited window for fans to lock in their place at one of the biggest events on Australia’s sporting and social calendar, with the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) launching a special three-week offer on Melbourne Cup Carnival tickets, starting on Wednesday, 2 April. Until Wednesday 23 April, a wide range of ticketing options and experiences are on sale at some of the lowest prices in years, starting with the general admission Flemington Pass. Entry is free for children under 12 when accompanied by an adult, and all tickets include access to the Live Stage, where top musical acts will perform during the Carnival. The discounted tickets follow a bumper 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival, which saw record attendance and growing enthusiasm for the event. “The Melbourne Cup Carnival is one of the world’s biggest sporting and cultural events, bringing together the best in racing, live entertainment, fashion and hospitality, and there is an option for everyone,” said VRC CEO Kylie Rogers. She added that the VRC is committed to keeping the Carnival accessible: “We are very pleased to be providing limited-time prices for Flemington Pass tickets until 23 April, to deliver even greater value for money.” Anticipation is already building for a bigger 2025, with these early bird deals offering fans a way to plan ahead without breaking the bank. For those seeking an upgraded experience, a selection of premium hospitality packages is also now available. These include access to exclusive areas like The Parade Lounge, The Rose Room, Skyline Lounge and Dining, The Terrace, and the Makybe Diva Marquee – ideal for groups wanting to elevate their race day. Mates Rates packages are once again on offer, giving punters a chance to secure prime front-lawn spots right on the winning post for Crown Oaks Day and TAB Champions Stakes Day. Reserved seating in the Lawn Stand for Victoria Derby Day and Lexus Melbourne Cup Day is on sale, as well as tickets for The Club Lawn and Hill Stand, all of which provide prime views of Flemington’s iconic home straight.
The 2024 Melbourne Cup saw a local runner prevail (pic: Mark Gatt)
NEWLuck’s a Fortune for Lekvarte in Emancipation
Wednesday, 2nd April 2025
Lekvarte defied her track record and the heavy8 going at Rosehill to clinch a determined Group 2 win in Tuesday’s Emancipation Stakes (1500m), proving age and ground conditions were no barrier to her class, reports loveracing.nz. The 6YO daughter of Reliable Man who is trained by Joe Pride, had never placed in five previous runs on heavy ground but surged clear late to narrowly hold off favourite Lazzura (Snitzel), who flashed home after being held up in traffic all the way down the straight where she was a good thing beaten. Nonetheless, Pride was full of admiration for his seasoned galloper, who already had three Group 3 wins to her name. “Gee she sprinted quickly on that ground and if you look at her form she has been a horse who has struggled on wet ground,” he said. “That was a really good run and a Group 2 – she’s in the Chairman’s Sale in six week’s time. She’ll have one more run in the Queen Of The Turf (Gr1, 1600m) but she’s done her job in so many ways already so to get another good win out of her, it’ll be a sad day when she finishes. She’s a lovely mare. Excellent win and nice to see a mare at her age still racing on so well.” Jockey Josh Parr, who timed his ride to perfection, said he felt fully backed by Pride going in. “I couldn’t believe the power that she gave me when she travelled up behind them then got clear air and let go. It is a fun job at times, I’ll tell you!” Parr exclaimed. By Westbury Stud stallion Reliable Man and out of the Encosta de Lago mare Plumm – runner-up in the Gr3 Adrian Knox – Lekvarte was sold by Westbury Stud at Karaka in 2020 for $210,000 to BK Racing & Breeding and Andrew Williams Bloodstock. Her career prizemoney now stands at $1,140,330.
Group 1 Aussie Hat Trick for Dubai Honour
Wednesday, 2nd April 2025
Dubai Honour (pride of Dubai) once again proved unbeatable on Australian turf, extending his perfect local record to three Group 1 wins from three starts with a thrilling late charge to win the Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill on Tuesday, reports racing.com. The 7YO gelding, trained by UK-based William Haggas, surged home under Tom Marquand to overhaul Caulfield Cup winner Duke De Sessa (Lope de Vega), while the back-in-form Irish import Vauban (Galiway), sent out favourite, finished a close third. It marked Haggas’s sixth elite-level success in Australia, a haul that continues to underline his potent strike rate when targeting key races down under. Haggas, watching from afar, didn’t hesitate to call stable representative Isabella Paul shortly after the race. “He’s delighted,” Paul said. “Absolutely delighted. He’s such a star for the stable and it is so good to see at seven-years-old he’s still winning.” Paul described Dubai Honour as “the most perfect horse to travel” and “the easiest horse in the world,” saying, “He never misses a beat. We never have to worry about him.” Marquand, celebrating his 27th birthday, was equally full of praise after the win, revealing that he felt confident well before the final turn. “He felt like the winner and as a jockey there’s horses that give you certain feelings and at the top of the straight, I went out rather than going back in.” He added: “I think he’d [have] won either way, to be honest. Issy (Paul) does a great job every year and William and Mohamed Obaida, to be brave enough to bring them back time and time again, I’ve got the easy job, I think.” Dubai Honour returned $3.20 and defeated Duke De Sessa ($5.50) by three-quarters of a length, with Vauban ($3.10) just half a length further back. Runner-up rider Harry Coffey was thrilled with Duke De Sessa’s effort: “Terrific result. Super proud of him. He is flying. He’s in the zone. He just got beaten by a really good horse. He was a sitting duck up the straight. Got up our inside. He tried to go with him and battle it. Winner [was] too good.”
Connections Treasure Another Gr1 Moment
Wednesday, 2nd April 2025
There was no stopping Treasurethe Moment at Rosehill on Tuesday as the Matt Laurie-trained filly cruised to a commanding victory in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m), stretching her unbeaten autumn campaign to three from three. According to horsebetting.com.au, the daughter of stallion Alabama Express has barely turned a hair since storming home in the Gr1 Crown VRC Oaks last spring and now looms as a clear frontrunner for the ATC Oaks at Randwick, where she’ll attempt to seal a rare and prestigious double. The short-priced favourite ($1.40) made light work of the heavy going, slipping into the one-one under Damian Lane before peeling off heels at the top of the straight and putting the race to bed at the 300m. Benagil, also from Victoria, tracked her into it gamely but was outgunned, while a gritty Powers Of Opal and Verona Rose were left chasing the minor prizes Things couldn’t have gone more smoothly for Lane, who praised the filly’s attitude in the tough conditions. “She’s very uncomplicated,” he said. “She didn’t love the heavy ground but because she’s so honest she just kept on keeping on.” His comments echoed Laurie’s post-race reflections, which pointed to the filly’s growing maturity and adaptability: “She’s a dream horse… She’ll learn a lot [from] today. I think she got a little bit lost. She didn’t have that trail. They spread out enough and she was sitting out on a limb with nothing really there to follow… “ Laurie, who has been in Sydney for nearly two weeks with the filly, noted that she’d dropped a bit of weight during the trip north but had settled in beautifully by race day. Now a two-time Group 1 winner and the $1.60 favourite for the ATC Oaks on April 12, Treasurethe Moment has well and truly stamped herself as the benchmark staying filly of her generation. “She is proven at that distance (Oaks 2400m) and she’s going to lap it up,” Laurie said. “Ten days into the Oaks will be perfect.”
Joliestar No Certainty for T.J. Smith Run
Wednesday, 2nd April 2025
Whether star mare Joliestar takes her place in Saturday’s Gr.1 TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick remains uncertain, with a decision to be made later this week, according to NZ Racing Desk. Wet weather in Sydney has connections wary of risking the high-profile daughter of Zoustar on rain-affected ground, with owners Cambridge Stud in no rush to jeopardise her future. “It would be nice to give her one more run before we tip her out for a spell and then come back for the spring,” said Cambridge Stud CEO Henry Plumptre. “We want a horse for next season and we don’t want her to get beaten by running her on a track that she might finish fifth or sixth on, she’s too good for that.” Joliestar’s class is undisputed – she claimed last season’s Gr1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield on firm footing before spelling after unplaced efforts in The Everest and Golden Eagle, both run in testing conditions. Her autumn return has been filled with promise of much more to come at elite level, running third in the Gr2 Expressway Stakes before blitzing rivals in the Gr1 Newmarket Handicap at Flemington (see below) in an inspired training decision by Chris Waller to restrict her to 1200m for now. “She’s very well and had a nice quiet trial last Friday,” Plumptre said. “Chris is obviously hoping the weather improves so it’s all fingers crossed.” The hugely valuable mare has been thriving since returning to his Rosehill base, but the team won’t push their luck. “Historically, we’ve had no luck with this Randwick carnival weather-wise… they’ve just not handled heavy surfaces at all,” Plumptre added. “That’s been no-one’s fault, it’s just the way the weather is in Sydney in the autumn now, it’s so unpredictable.” With barrier draws and forecasts out of their control, they’re content to wait and watch. A graduate of Segenhoe Stud who sold her for $950,000 at the 2022 Inglis Easter Sale, Joliestar currently boasts earnings of $3,625,725.
Sensational Chairman's Catalogue for May
Wednesday, 2nd April 2025
An exceptional showcase of elite fillies and mares is set to headline the 2025 Inglis Chairman’s Sale, with the much-anticipated catalogue now live online. Featuring 87 select lots, this year’s sale promises a line-up that reflects the best of the Australian and international breeding landscape. Among the catalogue are 64 Stakes-performed mares or proven Stakes producers, 76 fillies and mares aged ten or younger, and 18 in foal on their first or second cover. Notably, 26 mares offer outcross potential being free of Danehill blood. The quality is elite, with headline acts such as $20 million earner and four-time Group 1 winner Bella Nipotina, the impeccably bred Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed Too Darn Lizzie, and the record-setting mare I Am Me. Other Group 1 luminaries include Royal Merchant and Coco Sun, while group winners like Tiz Invincible, Grinzinger Belle, Semana, Mumbai Muse, Estriella, Hell Hath No Fury and Sirileo Miss bring further depth. The catalogue also boasts rising stars like Ethereal Star, Herastar, Poifect, Antique Miss, and A Little Deep. Breeders will also find invaluable broodmare prospects, including the dams of recent standouts: Calavarite (dam of Caulfield Guineas winner Golden Mile), Chateau Griffo (dam of Griff), Whatalovelyday (dam of Benedetta), Enbihaar (dam of Too Darn Lizzie) and Californiasurprise (dam of G2-winning 2YO Field Of Play). Buyers can also target exceptional bloodlines with offerings such as a Zoustar half-sister to Gr1 Golden Slipper runner-up Wodeton, a Group-placed I Am Invincible half-sister to Growing Empire, and a sibling to triple Group 1 winner Hitotsu. Many lots are in foal to Australia’s leading sires including Snitzel, Zoustar, I Am Invincible, Justify, Written Tycoon, Too Darn Hot, Anamoe, and Alabama Express, offering instant upside. The sale will take place at Riverside Stables on the evening of Thursday May 8 from 5pm. Inglis Bloodstock CEO Sebastian Hutch said, “What a night May 8 is going to be!” describing the catalogue as “out of this world.” He noted that the sale has produced the dams of champions such as Imperatriz, Home Affairs, and She’s Extreme, and highlighted recent racetrack success from Chairman’s graduates like Kimochi, C’Est Magique, and Montefilia. Supplementary entries remain open until 5pm on Thursday April 24. To explore the catalogue, click here.
Breeders will fight tooth and nail to secure Bella Nipotina (pic: Steve Hart)
Kia Ora Stud 2025 Inglis Easter Preview
Wednesday, 2nd April 2025
With juvenile graduates My Gladiola and Farnicle from only nine yearlings offered last year, Kia Ora Stud's exemplary record of producing quality racehorses is set to continue with other points on the Black Type racing premiership coming via sale graduates Gr3 Chairman's Stakes winner Inkaruna, Listed Gosford Guineas winner Royal Tribute, Sandown Guineas winner Serasana, etc. Kia Ora Stud's resident first season sire Farnan has begun his stud career with a bang, having three runners in the Gr1 Golden Slipper, led by Gr3 winner King Of Pop. Their 2025 Inglis Easter Yearling sale draft includes three yearlings from his second crop led by Lot 11, a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner She's Extreme who earned over $1.6 million from her Gr1 Champagne Stakes win and Gr1 Victoria Oaks victory. She's out of stakes placed winner Keysbrook. The first foal of Gr1 Coolmore Classic winner Lighthouse is Farnan colt, Lot 28. Lighthouse was also a Listed winner in Victoria and America. Lot 411 is a daughter of Champion 3YO Filly in Canada, Inglorious, who has already produced stakes-placed Miss Canada, and is a half-sister to Listed winner Dixie Strike. Snitzel filly, Lot 396 is a full-sister to Group 1 winner and young sire Wild Ruler, as well as a half-sister to Gr3 winner and Group 1-placed Pavitra, and they are out of dual Group 2 winner Gypsy Robin. Lot 331 is a Pinatubo filly out of dual Group 1 winner Cosmic Endeavour from the family of Fairy King Prawn, while Lot 351 is an I Am Invincible filly from Group 2 winner Ektifaa. Two fillies by Exceed And Excel are the half-sister to Gr2 Sandown Guineas winner Serasana out of Group 2 winner Twilight Royal and Lot 349 out of a winning sister to Group 3 winner Nettuno.
Kia Ora Stud graduate My Gladiola (pic: inglis.com.au)
Lime Country 2025 Inglis Easter Preview
Wednesday, 2nd April 2025
Lime Country Thoroughbreds have built a strong reputation on having well presented yearlings and this is reflected in both their sale results and the racetrack results off their new farm in the Hunter Valley following a period in the Southern Highlands of NSW. With exciting juveniles like Rivellino, who was unbeaten heading into the Gr1 Golden Slipper this year, and last season's Group 2 winner Straight Charge graduating from their Blandford property, Lime Country Thoroughbreds look to have a bright future. In 2025, they will present 11 yearlings at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale with a range of proven and exciting emerging sires, and the potential pick of the draft is the Snitzel colt, Lot 77, who is the second foal of Gr3 winner Ms Catherine, a daughter of Group 3 winner Lucky Diva. Lot 68 is a Farnan half-brother to Group 1 winner Peeping and Listed winner France. Too Darn Hot's colt, Lot 157, will be hot as he's the first foal of a Deep Impact daughter of Group 1 winner Alverta. Sure to be popular is the Wootton Bassett filly, Lot 249, from the Redoute's Choice family and out of a half-sister to the dam of Listed winner Itza Charmdeel. A Fierce Impact half-brother to Group 1-winning 2YO Pignan is Lot 406, a colt from a strong New Zealand family. The first foal of a winning half-sister to Group 1 winner In Her Time is Lot 389, a Stay Inside colt, from the family of Yes Yes Yes. Bivouac colt, Lot 163, is the second foal of Group 1 placed Signora Nera, a full sister to Champion Sprinter and four-time Group 1 winner Lucky Sweynesse. Pinatubo's first crop have sold well and Lot 367 is a colt from young five-race winning mare Extreme Bliss, a half-sister to Group 3 winner Thames Court. A trio of Home Affairs fillies include Lot 95, the second foal of a winning half-sister to Group 1 winner African Rose, Lot 214, out of Group 3 placed winner Telopea from a strong European family, and Lot 125 out of an imported Fastnet Rock mare who is a half-sister to Gr2 German 2,000 Guineas winner Devil's Bay.
Rivellino went into the Golden Slipper undefeated (pic: inglis.com.au)
Newhaven Park 2025 Inglis Easter Preview
Wednesday, 2nd April 2025
Historic Newhaven Park sold unbeaten 3YO filly Autumn Glow as a weanling, and other recent graduates such as The Playwright, Gold Bullion, Encap, Phenom, French Ruler, and Cool Archie all feature on this season's Black Type Premiership. In 2025, Newhaven Park will offer nine yearlings at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, with Lot 244 a colt by resident sire Cool Aza Beel whose first crop are 2YOs this season and which include stakes-placed Cobra Club and Cool Archie. Lot 244's 2YO full sister placed at Doomben recently and they are out of a winning half-sister to Group 3 winner Testashadow. A valuable filly with huge residual value is Snitzel filly Lot 356, out of dual Group 1 winner English who was raced by Newhaven Park. Proven sire Toronado has Lot 189, a colt from winning Zoustar mare Star Syrah, a half-sister to Group 1 winner A Touch Of Ruby from the family of Pride Of Jenni. Newhaven Park's Too Darn Hot filly, Lot 247, is sure to be popular as she's out of a half-sister to Gr1 winner Lady Prancealot. Farnan has started with a bang and his colt, Lot 327 is out young winning Lonhro mare Circus who is a daughter of American stakes winner Link To My Heart. A half-sister to Gr1 placed Brosnan is Lot 200 a Russian Revolution filly with a page filled with black type. A trio of yearlings by proven sire So You Think includes a filly, Lot 265, from a winning full sister to Group 1 winner Volpe Veloche (Foxwedge) who won 12 races, Listed winner Raposa Rapida, and a half-sister to Listed winner Delago Bolt. A colt, Lot 180, is out of Group 2 winner Spanish Whisper from the family of Lim's Saltoro, and the other So You Think colt, Lot 104, is out of a half-sister to Group 3 winner and proven sire in WA, Maschino.
Lot 356 is out of Group 1 heroine English (pic: Steve Hart)
North Bloodstock 2025 Inglis Easter Preview
Wednesday, 2nd April 2025
New vendors, North Bloodstock, will present their second Inglis Easter Yearling Sale draft in 2025, but are headed by a massively experienced industry partnership. This season's Gr3 Black Opal Stakes winner King Of Pop (Farnan) gave them their first entry onto the Black Type Premiership and he's from their first crop of horses off the famous property purchased off the Moses family. In 2025, North Bloodstock will offer 20 yearlings by a range of internationally proven, locally successful, and emerging stallions. A pair of Zoustar yearlings will grab warranted attention, led by the full-sister, Lot 260, to recent Gr3 Triscay Stakes winner Inhibitions (Zoustar) out of stakes placed Workdrinks (Fastnet Rock). The colt, Lot 64, is the first foal of Miss Canada, a sprinting mare who won twice and placed in the Gr2 Silver Shadow Stakes. Her dam is Champion Canadian 3YO Filly Inglorious (Hennessy). A full-sister to Group 1 winner and Champion 3YO Filly in Australia, Gypsy Goddess (Tarzino), is Lot 419 and her dam is a full sister to Group 1 winner Cheeky Choice. Lot 273 is the second foal of Listed winner Akari (Snitzel); he's an I Am Invincible colt and his dam is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Aerolithe from a huge Japanese family. Home Affairs colt, Lot 119 is out of Gr1 winner Red Tracer. Frankel filly, Lot 9 is out of an unraced full sister to dual Gr1 winner Avenge and two other stakes winners. Wootton Bassett filly, Lot 133 is the third foal of stakes placed Sacred Valley, a full sister to Gr1 winner Age Of Fire (Fastnet Rock). Street Boss filly, Lot 248 had an upgrade on the weekend when Luana Miss won the Listed Supremacy Stakes, and this yearling's stakes winning dam Vienna Miss is a half-sister to the dam of Luana Miss. A quartet of So You Think yearlings includes Lot 229, a half-sister to stakes-placed Letsfacethemusic out of Listed winner and Group 1-placed Torvill; Lot 152 a daughter of Gr3 winner Serene Majesty; and Lot 292 a half-sister to Our Crown Mistress. Other sires represented are All Too Hard, Fastnet Rock, Ole Kirk, Pinatubo, Snitzel, and Toronado.
Gypsy Goddess' full-sister is Lot 419 (pic: Grant Peters Racing Photography)
Segenhoe Stud 2025 Inglis Easter Preview
Wednesday, 2nd April 2025
Currently third on the all-time Black Type Premiership list, and sitting in second for this season, Segenhoe's graduate list includes last season's Australian Horse Of The Year Pride Of Jenni, who they sold at Inglis Classic, as well as elite performers Joliestar, Eagle Nest, Deel Her In, Bosustow, I Am Me, Wodeton, Airman, etc. In 2025, Segenhoe, helmed by Peter O'Brien and the best-performed non-stallion standing vendor, will present 17 lots at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale led by colts by Champion Sires Snitzel, Frankel, and I Am Invincible. The Frankel colt, Lot 313, is the first foal of Group 3 winner California Zimbol (I Am Invincible), a half-sister to stake- winners Cruden Bay and From Within. The three Snitzel colts are all out of Group-winning mares; Lot 16 is the first foal of Group 3 winner La Mexicana, Lot 63 is from Group 3 winner My Admiration, and Lot 138 is out of Group 2 winner Samovare, a half-sister to Gr1-placed Group 2 winner Tiger Of Malay (Extreme Choice) who now stands at stud. The two I Am Invincible colts also come from strong families with Lot 333 being out of a half-sister to incomparable champion Winx, while Lot 160 is out of a half-sister to Acrobat, Lake Geneva, and Ennis Hill who is the dam of Learning To Fly, i.e. an elite damline. A Frankel filly, Lot 243, is out of triple Group 1 winner Vale Dori, dam of this season's Gr3 UAE Oaks-placed Mizzyaan. The Zoustar filly, Lot 336, has huge residual value being out of Listed winner Custard, making her a half-sister to Group 3 winner Serene Majesty, Group 3 winner Ducasse who placed again in Group company at Rosehill on Tuesday, and Listed winner Curdled, from the family of Stretan Angel. Other highly commercial sires represented in. another fabulous draft for Segenhoe are Farnan, Home Affairs, Pierro, Pinatubo, Stay Inside, Too Darn Hot, and Toronado.
Tiger of Malay is closely related to Lot 138 (pic: Steve Hart)
Dubai Honour Wins Gr1 Tancred Stakes
Wednesday, 2nd April 2025
Track: Rosehill
Race: $1,500,000 Gr1 Tancred Stakes (2400m)
Winner: 7YO gelding Dubai Honour (Pride Of Dubai-Mondelice, by Montjeu)
Placings: 6YO gelding Duke De Sessa & 7YO gelding Vauban
Winning Sire: Pride Of Dubai (Street Cry-Al Anood, by Danehill)
Stud Farm: Coolmore Stud
Trainer: W J Haggas
Jockey: T Marquand
Race record: 9 wins and 9 placings from 29 starts for $8,346,876 in earnings
Sales Info: 110,000 gns purchase at the 2019 Tattersalls October Sale Book 2
Treasurethe Moment Wins Gr1 Vinery Stud Stks
Wednesday, 2nd April 2025
Track: Rosehill
Race: $750,000 Gr1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m)
Winner: 3YO filly Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express-Draconic Treasure, by Street Cry)
