Friday, 20th June 2025
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Success lives here

  • NEW California Racing Celebrates Peak Metrics

    Friday, 20th June 2025
    Santa Anita Park wrapped up its 2024-25 Winter-Spring season on June 15 with a wave of optimism, marked by growth across every key metric, from wagering handle and field sizes to attendance and equine safety. The season, running from late December through mid-June, showcased a rejuvenated California racing landscape, buoyed by structural changes and strategic consolidation into a single circuit. According to a bloodhorse.com report, the 90th anniversary season began with Santa Anita’s third-highest ever opening day handle on December 26, 2024, and maintained strong momentum through both the Santa Anita Classic Meet and the Hollywood Meet, culminating in a total all-sources handle of $745,947,859. Just the handle on Santa Anita races alone rose 10% year-on-year, thanks in part to a 5% rise in field size – driven by horses relocating from Northern California – and a 31% jump in handle on the Turf Pick 3. The Pick Six also saw a resurgence, posting 17 carryovers, more than doubling last season’s figure. The largest Santa Anita Derby Day crowd in seven years and a bustling opening day turnout helped on-track attendance rise by 4%, with 541,592 fans attending across the meet. Safety remained front and centre, with Santa Anita continuing to lead North America for equine welfare among high-volume tracks. The just-concluded season recorded a 99.98% safety rate, building on last year’s benchmark. More than 6,800 starters competed on dirt and turf across the extended meet, while over 375,000 morning training sessions were logged on the main and all-weather tracks. With the addition of 70 extra races and more than 2,000 horses occupying the stable area – a 10% increase – Santa Anita’s veterinary team conducted over 5,000 pre-work exams. “It is impossible to overestimate the importance this played…in providing a model for the rest of the country,” said 1/ST Racing chief veterinary officer Dionne Benson. Santa Anita’s senior VP and general manager Nate Newby called it “a success by every measure” and praised the community’s resilience following recent challenges, including the Eaton fire. “We are thankful for the continued support of the owners, trainers, jockeys… and for our staff for putting on a great show.” TOC president Bill Nader echoed that optimism, noting “increases in every key category” and saying the single-circuit model had reversed declines in overnight purses and restored industry confidence. Horses based at Santa Anita – such as Journalism, Raging Torrent, and Kopion – also scored feature wins around the country, reinforcing the track’s growing prominence. Live racing resumes September 26 with a five-week Autumn meet featuring seven Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” events.

    Santa Anita

    Racing at Santa Anita has overcome significant challenges

  • Arrowfield Celebrates Gstaad Coventry Romp

    Friday, 20th June 2025
    Royal Ascot's premier 2YO race, the Coventry Stakes, delivered a dominant display from Gstaad, a colt already drawing comparisons with his high-profile half-brother Vandeek, who will shuttle to Arrowfield Stud starting in 2025. The Aidan O'Brien-trained youngster, sent out favourite in a 20-horse field, stalked the nearside group before sprinting clear 300 metres from home to win by an emphatic three lengths. "He's not slow but looking at him today, he'll get seven furlongs," said O'Brien, celebrating his 11th Coventry triumph. "We always thought he was lovely and he's making into a very nice horse." For Kelly Thomas of Maywood Stud, who bred both Gstaad and Vandeek, the result was a surreal case of lightning striking twice. "When it happens once you think 'Oh amazing, it's happened once' but for it to happen again, for him to repeat history and win a Group 2 second time out, it's just amazing. Especially to do it how he did it." Gstaad mirrors Vandeek's early rise, having won on debut before immediately handling the step into Group 2 company. A 450,000 gns foal purchase by M.V. Magnier at Tattersalls in December 2023, Gstaad is by Starspangledbanner, the Gr1-winning sprinter and great-grandson of Danehill whose own Royal Ascot highlight was the 2010 Golden Jubilee Stakes. Magnier saw early signs of promise. "He is a lovely horse, and in fairness to Kelly and everyone they have done a great job with him. He is a half-brother to a very good horse…He has quality, is a good mover and he looks like he will be a fast, early horse, and hopefully he will be." Gstaad has already delivered on that potential, and connections will no doubt follow a similar Group 1 path mapped out for Vandeek, who secured elite honours at his fourth start. Gstaad also adds strength to a proven pedigree cross. He's the 25th stakeswinner bred on a 4x3 Danehill pattern, joining the likes of Group 1 winners Pier (NZ 2000 Guineas) and Rhea Moon (American Oaks). That's good news for Arrowfield, which recently welcomed Vandeek to stud – his pedigree makes him a prime fit for Australia's depth of Danehill-line mares. Their dam, Mosa Mine (by Exceed And Excel from a half-sister to the dam of Anabaa), boasts a flawless six-from-six record in producing winners and is now in foal to Wootton Bassett.

  • Froggy Gives Thespian Waters Flemington Tick

    Friday, 20th June 2025
    A promising Flemington raid has been sparked by a phone call and a gut instinct, according to racenet.com.au. When trainer/jockey Sigrid Carr found herself short on options for in-form boom gelding Thespian Waters, she turned to trusted ally Craig ‘Froggy’ Newitt to see if a Victorian venture was viable. The son of Headwater had performed consistently in Tasmania but his rating of 89 left him with limited opportunities at home, prompting Carr to ask Newitt whether the Flemington straight track would suit the 4YO. “It was three weeks ago that I rang Craig and asked for his advice on whether he thought it would be a suitable type of race and whether he would suit the straight (track),” Carr said. “Straight away he was very positive about his chances and gave me a lot of confidence.” Newitt will take the ride in Saturday’s $150,000 Funky Farm Sprint (1100m), where Thespian Waters will carry the 54kg minimum. The gelding has won six of 16 starts and been placed in another seven. Carr said the horse had travelled over on Monday night and quickly settled in after arriving via the overnight ferry into Geelong. “He travelled over on Monday night and he's already settled in nicely so all the early signs are good,” she said. “He got straight off the boat at the depot and was straight into his feed and his water and we stayed there an hour and a half before driving up the road to Flemington and he did the same there.” With three wins from four attempts at 1100m, Thespian Waters brings strong credentials to the straight-course challenge, but Carr acknowledges it’s not without risk. “We’re mindful that he’s in Melbourne for the first time and he’s never seen Flemington before and all those type of things but he’s very adaptable,” she said. “He is a backmarker that won’t know any different down the straight. I know the straight is tricky and it’s one of those courses that they either handle or they don’t but I am pretty confident that he will handle it because he is so adaptable.” A successful Flemington performance would be a welcome boost for Carr herself, who is working her way back to full fitness after a serious fall last year. The dual-licence holder suffered neck fractures and a broken collarbone in barrier trials, requiring two surgeries. “I’ve only just, in the last 10 weeks, been back riding trackwork so it’s been a very slow process getting right,” she said. “I’m not saying that I won’t ride again… but at the same time, I do understand that I’ve got the training there as a back-up and I really enjoy doing that. I’d rather end on my terms rather than forced terms.”

  • Class Drop to Suit Miss Jolene in Ipswich Cup

    Friday, 20th June 2025
    A year ago, the Kelly Schweida-trained Miss Jolene (Russian Revolution-Cellargirl, by More Than Ready) finished third in both the Gr2 The Roses (2000m) and the Gr1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) – see below – clearly highlighting herself a filly with staying potential. This season she took on one of the stars of the Brisbane winter carnival when finishing fourth in the Gr2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) behind Antino (Redwood) before eighth behind the same horse in the Gr1 Doomben Cup (2000m). Not appreciating the drop back to 1600m last time out when finishing a credible ninth in the $500,000 Magic Millions National Classic, the 4YO should enjoy the step back up in trip on Saturday where she looks a realistic chance in the Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m). Unfortunately, allocated top weight of 60kg for Saturday's $250,000 feature, the Cejay Graham ridden mare has drawn barrier 7 in the 14-horse field. Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Robbie Dolan has been booked to partner the Annabel and Rob Archibald trained Diablo Bolt (Hellbent-Think Out Loud, by So You Think). Having not won since his success over 2200m four starts back at Doomben, the Tyreel Stud yearling sale graduate looks ready to peak third up over a suitable trip. A winner of this race last year and out of form ever since, the Tony and Maddysen Sears-trained Red Wave (Red Dazzler-Sandy Shore, by Sandpit) does have two wins and a third from four starts at the track, and that record alone should see the 6YO gelding capable of improving from his recent efforts.

  • Munce Stable Trio in Gai Waterhouse Classic

    Friday, 20th June 2025
    Riding a wave of success via outstanding 2YO colt Cool Archie (Cool Aza Beel), a winner last start of the Gr1 JJ Atkins (1600m), training duo Chris and Corey Munce will take on the interstate raiders when they saddle up three runners in Saturday's $160,000 Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic (1200m). Fourth two starts back behind In Flight (Flying Artie) in the Listed Bright Shadow Handicap, Navyonthehighway (Merchant Navy-Mywayorthehighway, by Swiss Ace) then sat handy before weakening last in the Listed Helen Coughlan Stakes. The form from the race has somewhat been franked with the runner up Tashi (Sebring) coming out at her next start and once again finishing second, this time in the Gr2 Dane Ripper Stakes behind Floozie (Zoustar). Speaking of the Gollan-trained Floozie, the Munce stable's other two runners Heroic Miss (Heroic Valour-Clara's Cross, by War Pass) and Hermanita (Outreach-Tempting Lady, by Northern Meteor) finished second and fourth respectively behind Floozie two starts back at Doomben, with that winner going on to remain unbeaten for the Gollan stable, winning the Listed Silk Stocking enroute to her Dane Ripper success. Hermanita could be the one to watch as she drops considerably in weight from her most recent runs, and off the back of her last start win at Doomben, she comes out of barrier 1 on Saturday. Only outside of the top three once in nine starts at the distance, the mare has finished in the top three on five occasions from six starts at the track.

  • Well-Bred 'Gelding' Out To Secure Third Win

    Friday, 20th June 2025
    As a $1.4m Inglis Easter yearling who is a full-brother to Gr1 Golden Slipper winner Estijaab (Snitzel), connections would have thought long and hard about gelding the Chris Waller-trained Secure (Snitzel-Response, by Charge Forward), but the decision appeared the right one as the 3YO now chases three consecutive wins (as a gelding), lining up in Saturday's Quayclean Handicap (1300m) at Randwick. Raced in partnership between TFI and Kia Ora Stud, the Arrowfield Stud bred Secure will once again have the services of Nash Rawiller who has ridden him in his past two wins with the pair set to jump from barrier 3 in the field of 14 runners. Currently the race favourite, Hawkes Racing's Brave One (Exceedance-Runway Star, by Northern Meteor) comes into the race off some solid form, finishing second at his past two starts, and while he has not won since July last year when making his racetrack debut, the Vinery Stud graduate has shown good ability throughout his five-start career to date. A winner of two of his last three starts, Secure's stablemate Maori Chief (I Am Invincible-Heatherly, by Lonhro) was forced to barrier trial after his last start failure when fancied and has obviously come through those efforts in fine form. Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, the 3YO gelding has the services of top quality jockey Tim Clark and should look the winner at some stage in the run.

    Secure

    Blueblood Secure has benefited from being gelded (pic: inglis.com.au)

  • Warnie Has His Eye On The Prize

    Friday, 20th June 2025
    Roughly this time two years ago, the Ciaron Maher-trained Warnie (Highland Reel-Cumbfree, by Footstepsinthesand) made his racetrack debut at Listed level during the Royal Ascot carnival. Although he finished down the track, Warnie did win his two of three starts further in Europe including one at Listed level, before being imported into Australia. Winning over 1200m at Flemington on his Australian debut, the Bennett Racing syndicated 4YO is yet to win in his subsequent five starts but has not finished further back than fourth. The way he charged to the line last start in the Gr2 Moreton Cup to be beaten a length by Front Page (Magnus) into third, the step up to 1350m in Saturday's Listed Eye Liner Stakes at Ipswich should suit him down to the ground. Although rising 2.5kg in weight, the class of his opposition does drop and from barrier 3, jockey Regan Bayliss should be able to give the gelding a good run throughout. Possibly finding the rise in class too great last start when down the track in the Gr3 BRC Sprint, Tony Gollan's Rockribbed (Night of Thunder-Seattle Lass, by Fraar) went into that Group 3 contest off the back of consecutive wins including success in the Listed ATC Trophy at The Gold Coast. Another who is also rising in weight, if all goes to plan Rockribbed is unbeaten at the track and has three wins at the distance.

  • Observer Looking For Consecutive Wins

    Friday, 20th June 2025
    One of just two winners so far in Australia for his Darley-owned sire, the James Cummings trained Observer (Ghaiyyath-Smooth, by Lonhro) will be out to prove his last start five length victory was no fluke when he contests Saturday's TAB We're On (1420m) at Flemington. In a field of 11 juveniles, interestingly there are four last start winners including the unbeaten Impending War (Impending-War Dame, by Declaration Of War) who has looked solid in his two runs for the Ben, Will and JD Hayes stable. With Observer set to start a short-priced favourite, the colt will be ridden by Craig Williams and has drawn wide in barrier 10. Having also drawn the outside barrier in seven last start, the colt went forward and controlled the race from the jump, and it would be no surprise to see him do the same again here. Observer is a son of the unraced Lonhro mare Smooth, herself a sister to Coolmore's Pierro and to the dam of this year's Inglis Chairman's sale graduate Estriella (I Am Invincible), who was purchased by Coolmore's Tom Magnier for $2.8m. Breaking his maiden at his last start by two and three quarter lengths, the Patrick and Michelle Payne trained Buccleuch (Peltzer-Golden Fastnet, by Fastnet Rock) is one of two winners for his Twin Hills-based sire and if he can improve off his Echuca victory, then he looks capable of playing a role here.

    Estriella

    Estriella is closely related to Observer (pic: Mark Gatt)

  • Pride Tackles Civic Stakes With Three Chances

    Friday, 20th June 2025
    Only outside of the top four once in his 17 career starts, Joe Pride's in form Headley Grange (Exosphere-Hard Go Jo, by Hard Spun) will step up to black type racing for the first time in his career, contesting Saturday's Listed Civic Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill. Successful when resuming recently, defeating fellow Civic Stakes acceptances Green Shadows (Menari-Notjustaprettyface, by Dehere) and Dark Glitter (Spieth-Berning Affair, by Bernardini), Headley Grange drops 3kg off the back of his win and from barrier 4, jockey Jason Collett is sure to get a cosy run in transit. Beaten five lengths behind his stablemate Headley Grange last start, Estadio Mestalla (Galileo Gold-Superior Charm, by Elusive Quality) will have Chad Scholfield aboard from barrier 11, and with a drop in weight, we should also see a forward showing here. Racing in similar ownership to Estadio Mestalla, Pride's Cool Jakey (Pierro-Cool Snitzel, by Snitzel) was a last start fourth over 1600m. Not further back than fourth in his last six starts including two victories (both over 1400m), the 5YO gelding is sure to ensure the Pride stable has an undeniable chance in Saturday's race. Outside of Pride's runners, another stable who holds a leading chance is the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou yard who saddle up the inform Grebeni (Ocean Park-Dubrovnik, by Medaglia D'oro). Third in the Listed Scone Cup when resuming two starts back, the gelding then finished three parts of a length off the winner over 1600m at Randwick and if the drop back in trip suits, then he is sure to play a role in the finish.

  • Maher Handed Keys To Iconic Lelani Lodge

    Friday, 20th June 2025
    Australia's reigning Champion trainer Ciaron Maher has been allocated the currently vacant Lelani Lodge at Royal Randwick in a board decision over the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable. The Australian Turf Club (ATC) Board has voted to approve 59 boxes at Royal Randwick to Maher, increasing his presence in NSW. With stables currently at Warwick Farm, Maher will now move into Leilani Lodge after it was vacated by Anthony Cummings in March due to Racing NSW revoking his trainer's licence after his business went into liquidation. With Lelani Lodge under the care of the famed Cummings family for five decades, the master Bart Cummings trained many outstanding runners from the High Street stable including the likes of including Saintly, So You Think, Beau Zam, Shaftesbury Avenue, Sky Chase, Campaign King, Dane Ripper and many more. Currently with more than $57m in prizemoney for the season nationally, Maher is sure to create his own legacy with Lelani Lodge set to form an integral part of his overall training plan. ATC Head of Racing and Wagering Nevesh Ramdhani indicated the Club was pleased to welcome Maher to the Royal Randwick stable. "Ciaron Maher's new stable at Royal Randwick adds further depth to the strength of training ranks in Sydney,'' Mr Ramdhani said. Maher is currenrly second on the 2024-25 Australian Black Type Trainer Premiership table.

    Ciaron Maher

    Leilani Lodge offers Ciaron Maher 59 boxes (pic: Ciaron Maher Racing)

  • Age Proving No Barrier for Here To Shock

    Friday, 20th June 2025
    Now only about six weeks from turning eight, Here To Shock, by Rich Hill Stud stallion Shocking, continues to defy conventional expectations about age and performance, claims racing.com. After delivering a standout campaign as a 7YO gelding, the seasoned sprinter is being set for another bold tilt at black-type success, with connections optimistic his best is still to come. “He’s getting better with age,” said owner and syndicate manager Rob Slade. “He’s very lightly raced for a seven-year-old gelding as he has had only 37 starts and most horses his age would be in the 55-to-60-starts bracket.” With 13 career wins and $2.8 million in earnings, Here To Shock will resume in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 17. Slade is confident the Caulfield 1400m suits the gelding perfectly. “That’s a suitable race for him. He loves 1400m at Caulfield, where he has two wins including the Group 3 Victoria Handicap and two seconds.” His most recent season underlined his consistency and class, returning four wins and two seconds from seven starts. Highlighting that form was a maiden Group 1 triumph in the BCD Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa in February, preceded by a dominant win in the inaugural Supernova at Pakenham. Following his New Zealand exploits, the Hayes training trio – Ben, JD and Will – brought the horse back across the Tasman to run a game second in the Gr1 Canterbury Stakes at Randwick, beaten only by Royal Patronage. It was his first placing at the elite level in Australia and a sign that he can compete with the best domestically as well. Slade believes age is no barrier to further success. “We’ve never had a real issue with him. He’s very sound, so we think he’s a horse that still races effectively when he’s eight and nine years old,” he said. With recent Group 1 results boosting confidence, connections are planning a spring campaign focused squarely on top-level targets.

Amarina Farm
Arrowfield Stud
Bell River Thoroughbreds
Berkeley Park Stud
Bhima Thoroughbreds
Blue Gum Farm
Bombora Downs
Bowness Stud
Clear Mountain Fairview
Coolmore Stud
Cressfield
Evergreen Stud
Goodwood Farm
Kia Ora
Kingstar Farm
Lime Country Thoroughbreds
Mill Park Stud
Murrulla Stud
Newgate Farm
Newhaven Park
North
Segenhoe Stud
Silverdale Farm
Sledmere Stud
Torryburn Stud
Tyreel Stud
Vinery Stud
Widden Stud
Willow Park Stud
Yarraman Park Stud

2023 BTR Stud Stallions

BTP STUD STALLIONS

Sire
A Lot Established
Acrobat Established
Al Maher Established
Alabama Express Established
All American Established
All Too Hard Established
Alpine Eagle Established
Alpine Edge 2nd Season
Anamoe 3rd Season
Anders Established
Artie Schiller Established
Awesome Rock Established
Barbados Established
Barbaric 1st crop 2YOs
Best Of Bordeaux Established
Better Than Ready Established
Bivouac Established
Brave Smash Established
Brazen Beau Established
Broadsiding Established
Bruckner 3rd Season
Bull Point Established
Bullbars Established
Cape Of Good Hope 3rd Season
Capitalist Established
Captivant 1st crop 2YOs
Castelvecchio Established
City Of Troy Established
Cliff's Edge Established
Cogburn 1st Season
Cool Aza Beel Established
Cylinder 2nd Season
D'argento Established
Danerich Established
Dash For Cash Established
De Gaulle Established
Delaware 1st crop 2YOs
Denman Established
Dirty Work Established
Dissident Established
Don Corleone 2nd Season
Doubtland Established
Dubious Established
Dundeel Established
Ellsberg 3rd Season
Encryption Established
Exceedance Established
Exosphere Established
Extreme Choice Established
Farnan Established
Flying Artie Established
Foxwedge Established
Frankel My Dear Established
Gingerbread Man Established
Gold Standard Established
Graff Established
Grunt Established
Hallowed Crown Established
Harry Angel Established
Hawaii Five Oh 2nd Season
Headwater Established
Hellbent Established
Hitotsu 3rd Season
Home Affairs Established
I Am Immortal Established
I Am Invincible Established
Ilovethiscity Established
Invader Established
Jacquinot 3rd Season
Ka Ying Master 3rd Season
Kermadec Established
King Colorado 2nd Season
King's Legacy Established
Lofty Strike 2nd Season
Lord Of The Sky Established
Love Conquers All Established
Manhattan Rain Established
Maschino Established
Master Of Design Established
Maurice Established
Merchant Navy Established
Mo'unga 2nd Season
Murtajill Established
My Admiration Established
Native Trail 2nd Season
Needs Further Established
Nicconi Established
Nostradamus Established
Officiating 2nd Season
Ole Kirk Established
Pariah Established
Paulele 3rd Season
Pierata Established
Pierro Established
Pinatubo 1st crop 2YOs
Playing God Established
Portland Sky 1st crop 2YOs
Power Established
Prague Established
Pride Of Dubai Established
Private Life Established
Puissance De Lune Established
Rebel Dane Established
Rich Enuff Established
Rommel Established
Rubick Established
Russian Camelot Established
Russian Revolution Established
Safeguard Established
Sandbar Established
Sessions Established
Shaft Established
Shalaa Established
Shamoline Warrior Established
Shamus Award Established
Shinzo Established
Shooting To Win Established
Sidestep Established
Sizzling Established
Skilled Established
Smart Missile Established
Snitzel Established
So Secret Established
So You Think Established
Soul Patch Established
Southport Tycoon 1st Season
Spirit Of Boom Established
Squamosa Established
St Mark's Basilica Established
Star Turn Established
Star Witness Established
Street Boss Established
Super One Established
Supido Established
Swear Established
Sweet Ride 2nd Season
Switzerland Established
The Autumn Sun Established
The Brothers War Established
Time To Reign Established
Too Darn Hot Established
Toorak Toff Established
Top Echelon Established
Toronado Established
Traffic Warden Established
Trapeze Artist Established
Turffontein Established
Unite And Conquer Established
Universal Ruler Established
Vancouver Established
Vandeek Established
Victor Ludorum 1st crop 2YOs
Von Costa De Hero Established
Wandjina Established
Winning Rupert Established
Wooded 1st crop 2YOs
Wootton Bassett Established
Worthy Cause Established
Written By Established
Written Tycoon Established
Xtravagant Established
Your Song Established
Zousain Established
Zoustar Established