Expectations surrounding jaw-dropping Horse of The Year Flightline’s first crop received a significant boost at Tokyo on Saturday when Demian became the unbeaten champion’s first winner, producing a polished debut performance over 1400 metres on turf to justify years of swirling anticipation surrounding one of the most celebrated young stallions in the world. Trained by Naohiro Sakakuchi and partnered by visiting Australian jockey Damian Lane, the colt arrived carrying both pedigree and price-tag expectations, having been secured for US$1.7 million at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, reports TDN. Although heavily supported before the race, Demian was ultimately sent out the second elect and endured a less-than-perfect beginning, settling towards the rear of a compact field before gradually improving his position approaching the turn. Lane remained patient throughout, allowing the son of Flightline to travel comfortably with cover before presenting him with an opening around 300 metres from home. When asked to accelerate between runners, Demian responded professionally, quickly gathering in long-time leader Desert Spirit and drawing clear inside the final furlong to score by a length and a quarter. His closing sectionals added further merit to the victory, with the colt recording the fastest final three furlongs of the race in 33.6 seconds. The success also represented another notable chapter for a family cultivated by Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds, which purchased his dam Mira Alta for US$200,000 at the 2015 Keeneland November Sale while she was carrying a foal by Awesome Again. That resulting foal became Wicked Awesome, a stakes winner and Grade III placegetter in Maryland, while Mira Alta later produced Promise Keeper, the Todd Pletcher-trained colt who landed the Grade III Peter Pan Stakes in 2021. Her record also includes graded stakes performer War Stopper, while a yearling full-sister to Demian and a Nyquist colt foaled earlier this year continue the family’s progression. The deeper pedigree is equally rich. Demian’s second dam Zenith was a stakes winner and Grade III placegetter who produced six winners, among them Grade I winner Great Hunter, while another branch of the family includes Owendale, a multiple graded stakes winner and third in the Preakness Stakes, as well as Grade I La Troienne Stakes heroine Shred the Gnar. For Flightline, however, the result carried broader significance. Bred by Jane Lyon’s Summer Wind Equine and sold for US$1 million as a yearling, the son of Tapit assembled one of the most extraordinary race records of modern times, winning six starts highlighted by staggeringly dominant victories in the Metropolitan Handicap, Pacific Classic and Breeders’ Cup Classic before being crowned Horse of the Year. His first starter, Greenwell, had already hinted at promise when runner-up at Churchill Downs earlier this month, but Demian’s breakthrough provides the stallion with his first official winner from a debut crop comprising 124 registered two-year-olds. Standing at Lane’s End for US$125,000 in 2026, Flightline now has the result many breeders and investors have been waiting for as his stud career gathers pace.
NEWBrown Celebrates Memorable Sha Tin Treble
Weekend, 15th June 2026
A breakthrough day at Sha Tin reached new heights for Ethan Brown on Saturday as the Australian rider celebrated the first treble of his Hong Kong career, continuing an increasingly impressive start to his three-month stint in the racing jurisdiction, according to scmp.com. Just six days after registering his maiden Sha Tin success, Brown returned to the winner’s circle three times, partnering Country Dancer and Endued for champion trainer John Size before adding another victory aboard the David Hall-trained Prestige Hall. The haul lifted the 11-time Group 1-winning jockey to six winners since arriving in Hong Kong and reinforced his growing confidence as he adapts to the unique demands of racing in the city. “It’s unreal, it hasn’t sunk in yet. I thought I came here with a good book of rides and often, when that’s the case, you tend to go average, but today’s been great,” Brown said. Having waited patiently to break through at Sha Tin, the Victorian horseman admitted the achievement carried extra significance. “It feels great. It took me a while to get the monkey off the back here [at Sha Tin] but to come back the following week and knock a couple over means a lot.” Brown also believes the support he is receiving from leading trainers is beginning to translate into results. “I’m getting very good support and it feels like things are starting to clear up. I’m getting the hang of the racing here and it’s probably proven that the last couple of races, but the main thing is getting on the right horses and getting the right support from the right trainers.” One of the day’s highlights was securing a winner for Size, a milestone Brown had long hoped to achieve. “As soon as I got off [Country Dancer], I said ‘I’ve always wanted to ride a winner for you’ and I couldn’t be happier to do it for him today. It was a good feeling, very honourable,” he said. While Brown’s success provided a major talking point, the meeting was overshadowed by a serious incident involving English jockey Harry Bentley. He was transported to Union Hospital after suffering a fractured forearm in a fall from Smiling Falcon in race six when the son of Darci Brahma sustained a leg injury near the 950-metre mark. Despite immediate attention from Jockey Club veterinarians, Smiling Falcon could not be saved. Elsewhere, the Hong Kong trainers’ premiership remains finely poised, with Caspar Fownes maintaining a four-win advantage heading into Wednesday’s meeting, where his rivals will have another opportunity to narrow the gap.
NEWWar Eternal Bunkers Down in Qld Hattrick
Weekend, 15th June 2026
Persistence, durability and a refusal to surrender have become the defining traits of War Eternal’s Queensland winter campaign, and those qualities were on display once again when the Bjorn Baker-trained gelding completed a remarkable hat-trick of Listed victories in Saturday’s Wayne Wilson Stakes at Eagle Farm. Having already claimed the Bernborough Handicap in May and the Spear Chief Handicap earlier this month, the seven-year-old arrived at the latest challenge carrying the confidence of consecutive black-type successes, yet he still found a way to elevate his reputation further. According to nzb.co.nz, the victory was particularly significant given it came just seven days after his stirring Spear Chief triumph, where he had appeared beaten before fighting back to prevail in a photo finish. History almost repeated itself. Under Rachel King, War Eternal travelled sweetly throughout before striking the front on straightening and looking set to have the race under control. However, favourite Yellow Jersey launched a strong challenge, swept past and briefly looked poised to race away with the prize. Instead, the veteran dug deep once more. Summoning the same resilience he had displayed a week earlier, War Eternal rallied after being headed, clawed his way back alongside his rival and surged again in the final strides to score by a neck. “He’s tough, isn’t he? I think he likes it,” King said. “He gives them a little bit of a false sense of security in that he lets them get past him and he just comes back.” The jockey was confident the quick turnaround would not pose a problem, noting the gelding’s fitness and comfort on the track conditions. “He’s very tough. On the back-up, I knew I was on a fit horse and he was comfortable on the track today.” Bred by Cambridge Stud and purchased by Bjorn Baker Racing and Clarke Bloodstock for $160,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2020, War Eternal has now returned more than ten times his purchase price. His latest success lifted his record to eight wins and eight placings from 40 starts, with earnings surpassing A$1.18 million. Earlier in his career, he showed glimpses of high-class ability when finishing second in the Spring Stakes, third in the Alister Clark Stakes and fourth in the Randwick Guineas, but it was not until the twilight of his seven-year-old season that he finally broke through for his first stakes win. Since then, the floodgates have opened. Representing Baker at Eagle Farm, Jim Clarke was full of admiration for the gelding’s exploits. “This horse has been one of the finds of the carnival,” Clarke said. “Three stakes wins in a row, at a ripe old age. And he’s amazing that, for a horse of his age, he has that much in him to the line. Like the other day, he got headed and fought back. He’s tough, tenacious and he’s got a lot of heart.”
It's three features on the trot for War Eternal (pic: Grant Peters)
NEWBaker Goes All in with Civic Duty Foursome
Weekend, 15th June 2026
While attention is focused on the international stage where Overpass is preparing to fly the flag at Royal Ascot, a strong contingent assembled by Bjorn Baker will attempt to keep the stable’s winning run rolling closer to home when four runners line up in next Saturday’s Listed Civic Stakes at Royal Randwick. Baker is currently in England chasing a breakthrough success at the famous carnival with his star sprinter in the King Charles III Stakes, but the Warwick Farm operation has continued to fire in his absence, highlighted by Thebudgiesmugla’s victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Rosehill over the weekend. Back in Sydney, Midnight Dynamite, Hollywood Hero, Point And Shoot and Amor Victorious are set to spearhead the stable’s challenge in the $200,000 feature, with all four horses also likely to feature prominently through the remainder of the winter carnival, reports racenet.com.au. Assistant trainer Luke Hilton said the Civic Stakes was an important stepping stone towards races such as the Winter Stakes and Winter Challenge, even if it meant stablemates would continue crossing paths. “With all four of these horses you've got the Winter Stakes and the Winter Challenge and just see where they end up,” Hilton said. “Unfortunately they have to probably keep taking each other on but it's a good problem to have.” Midnight Dynamite arguably brings the strongest recent credentials after winning three consecutive races before finishing a determined second to Cool Jakey in a Benchmark 94 event over 1300 metres at Randwick. Hollywood Hero and Point And Shoot also emerged from that contest, the former making encouraging ground from the tail of the field while the latter finished midfield. “Hollywood Hero was really good first-up and may need further again and Midnight Dynamite was really good the other day,” Hilton said. Amor Victorious resumes after a brief freshen-up following a disappointing effort in the Listed Scone Cup, where he failed to beat a runner home. Hilton revealed the gelding had encountered a minor setback but had returned in pleasing order. “Amor Victorious is coming off a short let-up, he had a little bit of a setback so has had a little bit of a break but is in good order,” he said. As for Point And Shoot, Hilton admitted predicting his performance remained something of a challenge. “Point And Shoot, well it just depends which Point And Shoot turns up.” Hilton departed Australia on Sunday to join Baker in the United Kingdom ahead of Royal Ascot, while another potential Civic Stakes contender emerged in the shape of General Salute. Co-trainer Sterling Alexiou confirmed the Bob Charley AO Stakes runner-up would be nominated after an encouraging first-up performance behind Wanaruah over 1100 metres. “He pulled up great and had a nice gallop on Friday morning where he pulled up well,” Alexiou said. “He came through the race terrific so 1400m is probably his right go.” Tim Clark is expected to take the mount, with Josh Parr remaining in England to partner Overpass who is favourite for Wednesday's Gr1 King Charles III at Royal Ascot.
Overpass is overdue for another victory (pic: Mark Gatt)
NEWShe’s Got Pizzazz Firms for Gr1 Tatts Tiara
Weekend, 15th June 2026
A carefully plotted Queensland campaign remains firmly on course after She’s Got Pizzazz displayed her trademark determination to capture the Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes at Eagle Farm on Saturday, securing a fourth stakes success and strengthening her claims for a tilt at the Group 1 Tatts Tiara later this month. Settled beautifully by Mark Zahra in a trailing position with cover, the Moody and Coleman-trained Zoustar mare gradually worked her way into contention before digging deep in the closing stages to fend off the persistent challenge of Gerringong. The victory continued an impressive northern preparation that has now yielded two wins from three starts, with her only defeat a narrow one, and trainer Peter Moody believes there is further improvement to come. Having endured a difficult period following the dramatic Flemington fall last spring that left jockey Blake Shinn with a broken leg, the mare appears to have fully rediscovered her confidence. Moody said the long-term objective has always been the Tatts Tiara and Saturday’s performance suggested she is peaking at the right time. “I’d probably like to see her on slightly better ground. She got there but never looked convincing,” he said. While she has shown an affinity for rain-affected tracks throughout her career, Moody felt the testing conditions at Eagle Farm stretched that preference to its limit. “She loves her toe in but today was at the limit. You could see the wheels spinning at the 300 and it took her a while to flatten out.” Even so, he was pleased with the way the race unfolded, believing the 1300-metre assignment and weight conditions played to her strengths. “I thought she was very well placed in this race compared to the other day…1300 (metres), and I thought 1400 will suit her even more in a couple of weeks.” Looking ahead, Moody made it clear where the mare is headed. “All roads lead to the Tiara. That’s been the plan all prep. She had a fall in the Melbourne spring, and it took a couple of runs to build her confidence back. But those last three runs and here today, I think there’s still a bit more to come… slightly better ground and we will chase a group one in a couple of weeks.” Zahra echoed those sentiments after the race, admitting the surface was not ideal from the saddle but praising the mare’s fighting qualities. “Lobbed in a great spot and at the half-mile, all she’s got to do was to finish like she can and she wins,” he said. “It took a little bit to get through it. She lost her stride a couple of times, but she has a great will to win and she knuckled down late.”
Tron Bolt Gives Waller Another JJ Atkins
Weekend, 15th June 2026
A seven-figure reputation was not required for Tron Bolt to announce himself as a serious colt, but the Inglis Ready2Race sale-topper more than justified his price tag at Eagle Farm when he swept through the testing ground to win the Gr.1 JJ Atkins at only his fourth start. The Chris Waller-trained son of Toronado had already won twice before stepping into Saturday's juvenile feature and was strongly fancied to make the rise in class, starting a $1.80 favourite with Ladbrokes before producing the sharp turn of foot that had become his calling card. His decisive victory made him the 123rd individual Group 1-winning Inglis graduate since 2018 and the third Inglis-sold two-year-old to win at the elite level this season, joining Champagne Stakes winner Fireball and Blue Diamond Stakes heroine Streisand. Hermitage Thoroughbreds secured Tron Bolt for $900,000 at last year's Inglis Ready2Race Sale, where he was offered by Cade Hunter and Liam Ruddy of Hunters Lodge, whose own investment had begun at $250,000 at the Easter Yearling Sale when breeder Gilgai Farm presented him. Ruddy recalled the purchase with humour, saying Hunter had warned him not to go beyond $200,000 and "wanted to kill me" when told the colt had cost $250,000, but the decision was quickly vindicated when Tron Bolt made $900,000 at Riverside and has been further endorsed by becoming a Group 1-winning juvenile so early in his career. Ruddy said it was satisfying to sell "a fast one", noting that while the colt was very tall at the Ready2Race Sale, he vetted cleanly and drew strong interest from several buyers. He also used the result to underline the strength of the Inglis Ready2Race Sale, describing it as a sale that delivers Group 1 winners and flagging that Hunters Lodge will return to Riverside in October with a draft of 16 or 17 juveniles, including an Exceed And Excel colt, a Starspangledbanner colt and a Zoustar filly he considers standouts. For Gilgai's Kelly Skillecorn, the win was "unbelievable", though not a shock, given Tron Bolt had been considered the best of the five Toronado foals the farm sold that year and was therefore sent to Easter. The result added another elite graduate to Gilgai's Inglis honour roll, a list already featuring Black Caviar, All Too Hard, Lucky Bubbles, Ole Kirk, Jameka and Masked Crusader. Waller, meanwhile, praised Hermitage for the faith they have placed in his stable and said he was fortunate to train a colt bought for serious money. "He's a lovely type, a type who suggests to me is a miler, not an out-and-out sprinter yet he's still good enough to win sprint races as well," Waller said. The Golden Rose is expected to be used as a spring launching point, with the Coolmore Stud Stakes and Caulfield Guineas both in play.
JMac Makes Seasonal Group 1 Record His Own
Weekend, 15th June 2026
A record that had stood untouched for 45 years finally fell at Eagle Farm on Saturday when James McDonald etched his name into Australian racing history with a commanding victory aboard Tron Bolt in the Group 1 JJ Atkins, securing his 17th elite-level success of the 2025-26 season and eclipsing Malcolm Johnston’s long-standing benchmark set in 1980. According to punters.com.au, the champion jockey arrived at Queensland’s premier juvenile contest with a choice to make between two Chris Waller-trained runners and elected to partner the Hermitage Thoroughbreds-owned Tron Bolt, a $900,000 purchase who justified his status as the $1.80 favourite with a performance that underlined both his class and future potential. While stablemate Stormy Marco lost valuable ground after being squeezed shortly after the start and finished an eye-catching third, Tron Bolt travelled strongly before asserting his superiority over the testing 1600 metres to deliver Waller his fourth success in the race. McDonald, who previously won the JJ Atkins aboard Broadsiding two years ago, was understandably reflective after surpassing one of the sport’s most enduring records. “I’ve been trying for a while and this is the year we could do it,” he said. “I feel very humbled and privileged to be in this position.” The New Zealand-born rider was quick to acknowledge the quality of the horses that have contributed to the achievement, adding: “When you ride horses like that, who give you great rides, and I thought he was exceptional so it’s nice to stand alone.” Comparisons between Broadsiding and Tron Bolt were inevitable, but McDonald believes the pair possess very different temperaments. “Broadsiding was a bit spunkier. He knew he was the real deal but this one, he’s a bit sleepy but he comes alive when you really want him to,” he said. “You can put him to sleep, he does what he needs to do and then he’ll wake up. They’re a little bit chalk and cheese but he’ll reach great heights, this horse.” For the record, below, in chronological order are all 17 Group 1 winners ridden to date by McDonald this season (their average starting price was $2.47 and the majority were by Arrowfield Stud stallions):
4 Oct Gr1 Flight Stakes: Apocalyptic (Extreme Choice) SP $2.25
4 Oct Gr1 Epsom Handicap: Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) SP $1.90
11 Oct Gr1 Caulfield Guineas: Autumn Boy (The Autumn Sun) SP $3.20
25 Oct Gr1 W.S. Cox Plate: Via Sistina (Fastnet Rock) SP $5.00
1 Nov Gr1 Victoria Derby: Sir Delius (Dundeel) SP $3.40
8 Nov Gr1 Champions Stakes: Via Sistina (Fastnet Rock) SP $1.65
15 Nov Gr1 Thousand Guineas: Ole Dancer (Ole Kirk) SP $4.20
28 Feb Gr1 Verry Elleegant Stakes: Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) SP $1.35
14 Mar Gr1 Coolmore Classic: Lazzura (Snitzel) SP $3.80
21 Mar Gr1 Ranvet Stakes: Aeliana (Castelvecchio) SP $1.80
21 Mar Gr1 Rosehill Guineas: Autumn Boy (The Autumn Sun) SP $2.45
21 Mar Gr1 George Ryder Stakes: Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) SP $1.24
28 Mar Gr1 Tancred Stakes: Aeliana (Castelvecchio) SP $1.65
23 May Gr1 Doomben Cup: Birdman (Free Eagle) SP $2.25
30 May Gr1 Queensland Derby: Providence (Savabeel) SP $1.95
13 Jun Gr1 J.J. Atkins Stakes: Tron Bolt (Toronado) SP $1.80
Royal Reigns Supreme in Q22 Go to Whoa
Weekend, 15th June 2026
An unexpected tactical shift helped shape the outcome of the $1.2 million Q22 at Eagle Farm on Saturday, where Royal Supremacy seized control from the outset and never relinquished it, delivering trainer Ciaron Maher a memorable victory after the late scratching of stablemate Pride Of Jenni. According to racenet.com.au, the superstar mare was withdrawn on Saturday morning due to the heavy track, removing the race's most recognisable frontrunner and leaving rivals to reassess their plans. What followed was a performance that bore more than a passing resemblance to Pride Of Jenni's trademark style, with Royal Supremacy rolling to the lead and turning the Group 2 contest into a test of stamina and resolve. Maher admitted the withdrawal had initially disappointed the camp, but the mood quickly changed as his Group 1-winning stayer surged clear in the concluding event on a feature-packed Stradbroke Handicap program. "You've never seen a flatter jockey when I scratched Pride Of Jenni than Mark Zahra because he thought he'd have to try and hold on to this horse for so long," Maher said. Fully aware of Royal Supremacy's tendency to race fiercely, Maher encouraged Zahra to make use of the gelding's natural rhythm. "I said to Mark, 'Bowl along and they might find it hard work catching you'." The advice proved inspired. With no established speed influence remaining in the field, Zahra elected to take the initiative and allow the son of Shamus Award to stride freely. "I was flat when Ciaron scratched her (Pride Of Jenni) because I thought that was our best chance of settling," Zahra explained. "I said, 'I don't think I can hold him, let's just let him go'." Allowed to dictate terms, Royal Supremacy built pressure on his rivals before extending his advantage from the 700 metres. "When I asked him (to go) at about the 700m, I thought, 'If something can catch me from here, it'll be a miracle'," Zahra said. The prediction proved accurate as Royal Supremacy powered away to score by 1¾ lengths from Pounding, with Chris Waller's Militarize finishing third. Half Yours, whose trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy had long targeted the Q22 as the culmination of his campaign, could manage only fourth. Zahra later joked that steering the winner was easier than stopping him. "I couldn't stop. People were coming up to me to say congratulations and I was like, 'Piss off, I'm just trying to pull my horse up'." He added that while the gelding can be difficult to manage, his determination deserved reward. Away from the winner's stall, stewards suspended Ben Melham for 12 days and Craig Williams for eight over separate careless riding incidents, while Jamie Melham was questioned regarding her handling of Half Yours and whether an earlier move could have improved the gelding's finishing position.
Kennewell's Lion Roars in Sandown Plunge
Weekend, 15th June 2026
Relief washed through a stable that had invested heavily in both patience and conviction when Mbube – his name means Lion in isiZulu – justified a wave of market support with an impressive debut victory at Sandown on Saturday, prompting trainer Lloyd Kennewell to suggest the talented juvenile could develop into a Coolmore Stud Stakes contender later this spring. Backed from around $11 earlier in the week to start at $3.50, the son of Rubick carried the weight of expectation with authority, reports racing.com, but the path to race-day success had been anything but straightforward. Kennewell first identified the colt's potential while watching him as a yearling and was sufficiently taken by what he saw to purchase him for $22,500 after he had originally been sold as a weanling for just $1,500. Yet the story did not end there. So impressed were the colt's owners that they elected to send him through a Sydney breeze-up sale, forcing Kennewell into the unusual position of having to buy back a horse he had already secured once before. This time the price escalated dramatically, eventually reaching $300,000, but the trainer never wavered in his assessment. "He's a highly talented galloper and probably as good as I've got in the yard I'd reckon," Kennewell said after the win. "I've been waiting and waiting – I've been waiting for probably 12 months for this horse. You'll laugh, but watching him cantering around as a yearling, you sort of knew what you had." The trainer explained that after the colt changed ownership through the breeze-up process, he had little choice but to dig deep to regain control of a horse he believed was destined for bigger things. "All of a sudden, I had to put a lot of money in to buy him back. But I knew how good he was." With significant money arriving in the days leading up to the race, the victory also provided welcome vindication for connections. "It's been a relief as obviously the last few days after the plunge everyone has been wanting to back it, so it's good to put them to the sword and get the money and we can all relax now." Kennewell also reserved special praise for jockey Mark Zahra, who had quietly overseen much of the colt's preparation. "Big shout out to Mark Zahra as he's done all the work on him," he said, revealing Zahra had even worn ski masks and balaclavas at trackwork in a bid to avoid drawing attention to the youngster's considerable ability.
Edmonds Raises a Glass to Spicey Martini
Weekend, 15th June 2026
A bargain Inglis Digital yearling has become the latest unlikely Group 1 story of the Brisbane winter, with Spicy Martini turning an $8,000 outlay into a Stradbroke Handicap triumph and almost A$2.7 million in earnings. Purchased by trainer Toby Edmonds through the 2023 Inglis Digital March Early Sale, the Justify mare has been a model of reliability for the stable and took her record to six wins from 12 starts when she captured Saturday's A$3 million showpiece at Eagle Farm. Her victory carried an extra Inglis flavour, as she led home a clean sweep for graduates of the auction house, with Sepals filling second and Von Hauke third, while she also became the 124th individual Inglis graduate to win a Group 1 since 2018. That milestone came on the same Eagle Farm card as Tron Bolt's JJ Atkins success and continued a golden Brisbane Winter Carnival for Inglis graduates, with Spicy Martini joining fellow Inglis Digital graduate Headley Grange, winner of the Kingsford Smith Cup, along with recent Group 1 winners Fireball Miss in the Queensland Oaks and Providence in the Queensland Derby. For Edmonds, the result was difficult to absorb in the immediate aftermath, the Gold Coast trainer visibly emotional as he reflected on the mare's rise and the work that had gone into keeping her at her peak. "It's very exciting, quite emotional to be honest, just a great effort from everybody involved but mostly from the horse, she's a beautiful horse," Edmonds said. "It's a 12-month build-up and to get it done today is unbelievable." He also singled out the role of his farrier, calling him "a legend" for helping Spicy Martini stay sound enough to deliver on the day that mattered most. Although the mare had not raced beyond 1400m before Saturday and had finished 15th in last year's Stradbroke over the same distance, Edmonds' partner and managing owner Holly Penfold said there had been no doubt within the camp about her capacity to see it out. Penfold said Edmonds had always believed Spicy Martini would run 1400m, and perhaps a mile and beyond, describing her as versatile and noting that she was pulling away late from a strong field. That performance has opened the spring door wide, with Penfold suggesting an Everest slot could attract interest, while Group 1 options from sprints through to races over a mile and further may also come under consideration. "She's a completely different horse this year, she's come on so much and if she can stay sound, she's proven she's up there with the best of them," Penfold said.
Spicy Martini has turned into an amazing bargain (pic: Racing Queensland)
Western Empire's Rich Vein of Form Continues
Weekend, 15th June 2026
Few horses in Western Australian racing have aged with the durability and class of Western Empire, and almost five years after his brilliant 2021 surge to Railway Stakes glory, the remarkable eight-year-old has found another rich vein of black-type form. Saturday's A$200,000 Gr.3 Swan Draught Strickland Stakes over 2000m at Belmont became the latest addition to a career already heavy with silverware, completing a clean sweep of his first three starts this campaign after earlier victories in the Belmont Sprint over 1400m on May 16 and the Hyperion Stakes over 1600m on May 30. The Strickland had been one of the few Perth features missing from his record, with Western Empire runner-up in 2024 and fourth last year, but he put that right in typically professional fashion, taking his tally of Group or Listed wins to 13. Sent out a dominant $1.40 favourite and again partnered by William Pike, the Grant and Alana Williams-trained gelding settled third behind Hoba West and Sentimental Hero, travelling kindly enough but not without a moment of concern when he was briefly pocketed on the fence approaching the home turn. Pike, who knows him as well as anyone, waited for the gap and then drove him through before angling out around Hoba West at the 300m, from where Western Empire lengthened clear and won by a length and a half, pricking his ears late as if still enjoying the business. His record now stands at 38 starts for 14 wins, 10 placings and A$3.79 million in prizemoney, and Pike sees no reason why the veteran cannot remain a force into his nine-year-old season. "I was very happy with where we ended up," Pike said. "I had the horse to beat in front of me and we were covered up well." He admitted the 2000m was a slight question, saying his first priority had been to get Western Empire to relax before worrying about the second half of the race. "He's just a marvel," Pike said. "He keeps fronting up for everyone, and everyone's enjoying the ride that he's got us on. I hope they can get him up one more time for the carnival – he'll still play a part if they do." Pike added that Western Empire is at his best when edgy enough to be sharp but not so keen that he becomes difficult, and believes that is exactly where he is at present. Bred in New Zealand by Peters Investments, Western Empire is by former Haunui Farm shuttle stallion Iffraaj and out of Gr.2 Perth Cup winner Western Jewel.
Anamoe Pair Anchors Record Great Southern
Weekend, 15th June 2026
A record-setting Great Southern Weanling Sale at Oaklands has brought the Inglis 2026 Weanling Sales Series to a powerful close, with the company finishing as Australia’s leading foal-sale operator for a fifth consecutive year. Across the Australian Weanling Sale at Riverside and the Great Southern sale in Melbourne, Inglis traded $34,984,000 in weanlings, a 19% lift on last year’s previous record of $29,471,150 and a clear endorsement of buyer appetite for quality foals. The Great Southern Sale was central to that result, grossing $15,289,500, up $4.2 million on last year, and surpassing the previous sale benchmark of $12,140,600 set in 2024. The average rose 16% to a sale-record $51,829, while the median climbed 14% to another record mark of $25,000. Demand at the top end was especially strong, with 55 weanlings making $100,000 or more at Oaklands, compared with 27 last year, taking the total number of six-figure lots across the Inglis Weanling Sales Series to 124. The headline act was Three Bridges Thoroughbreds’ Anamoe filly out of Femme Fireball, who sold to Yulong for $825,000, equalling the Great Southern individual record and making her the highest-priced weanling sold in Australia this year. Inglis Bloodstock CEO Sebastian Hutch described the past month as “phenomenal” and said to gross almost $35 million across the weanling series was “really incredible”. He said the Oaklands sale had been hugely rewarding for many participants and thanked both buyers and vendors, while making special mention of Catherine Hains, Aaron and Emma Todd, Tanya Edwards and the Burnewang North team, who sold all 17 weanlings they offered. Three Bridges’ Toby Liston said results of that scale were the sort vendors dream of, adding that the filly had shone once brought to Inglis and attracted multiple bidders deep into the $600,000 and $700,000 range. Co-breeder Peter Murray said he was almost speechless after what became “great theatre”, with bids coming from online and around the ring before auctioneer Will Gardner brought the contest to its conclusion. Friday’s second-top lot was another son of Anamoe, the Witches colt offered by Burnewang North, who made $480,000 to Grenville Stud, SP Bloodstock and Suman Hedge. SP Bloodstock’s Stefan Pardi said he loved the colt from the moment he saw him, noting his class, body, head and relaxed attitude, with Inglis Easter already a likely target. The result completed an outstanding two days for Burnewang North, leading vendor by aggregate with $2,387,000 at an average of $140,412. Emma Todd said it had been the busiest sale the farm had experienced, with around 1800 individual parades across the draft and 160 for the Anamoe colt alone, whose temperament throughout the week left the team especially proud.
The Anamoe-Femme Fireball filly is a sister to two Gr1 winners (pic: inglis.com.au)
Home Where the Heart is at Great Southern
Weekend, 15th June 2026
A commercially attractive Home Affairs colt from Armidale Stud delivered a standout result on the opening day of the Great Southern Weanling Sale at Oaklands on Thursday, topping the session at $330,000 and giving the Tasmanian nursery a result David Whishaw described as potentially life-changing. The colt, out of the Lonhro mare Myhro, was bought by Tamworth trainer Mel O’Gorman, her partner Duncan McRae and close friend James Carolan, with the trio stretching beyond their original valuation to secure a youngster they had identified as a must-have. For Armidale, the sale vindicated the decision to bring a high-quality weanling to a competitive interstate market. Whishaw said the team had arrived confident they had the right horse, with Home Affairs one of the hottest young sires in the country and the colt’s dam already doing her job. The reserve had been set at $150,000 and disclosed to interested buyers, reflecting what Whishaw called a realistic approach from vendors who had come to sell rather than merely test the market. The price was also a major result for breeders Ken and Jen Breese, and Whishaw said outcomes like this were what kept smaller breeders committed to the business. He credited Inglis representatives Will Stott and Britt Hussey for their work inspecting stock in Tasmania and giving vendors the confidence to bring suitable horses to the right sales, as Armidale has regularly done with yearlings at the Premier Sale. Carolan admitted the partnership had gone above budget, but said they were not prepared to leave without the colt. He pointed to the depth in the market for quality stock and said O’Gorman had inspected the catalogue closely before settling on the Home Affairs colt as the one she wanted. Although the group initially considered him a $300,000 weanling, they accepted they had to find more to buy him. No firm decision has yet been made on whether the colt will be raced or traded, with Carolan saying he would return to Tamworth and be allowed to grow before the partnership decides on the next step later in the year. The second-top lot of the day was Burnewang North’s Shinzo colt out of Je Suis Belle, who made $240,000 to SP Bloodstock. It completed a strong opening session for Burnewang North, which sold all four of its Day 1 offerings for six figures. Emma Todd said inspections had been exceptionally busy and that enthusiasm had carried through to the ring, while Stefan Pardi of SP Bloodstock said the Shinzo colt had the movement, bone, hip and presence to suit a major yearling sale, with Easter already in his thoughts. Inglis Victorian Bloodstock Manager James Price said the market was clearly bullish for the right horses, with 17 foals making $100,000 or more on the first day, compared with 27 across the entire sale last year. He acknowledged clearance was below the desired level, but said selectivity had been a theme all year and remained evident at Oaklands, where buyers were active but particular.
The session-topping Home Affairs-Myhro colt (pic: inglis.com.au)
Spicy Martini Wins Gr1 Stradbroke
Weekend, 15th June 2026
Race: Gr1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m)
Winner: Spicy Martini (Justify-Extra Olives, by Redoute's Choice)
Placings: 2nd: Sepals, 3rd: Von Hauke
Stallion: Justify (Scat Daddy-Stage Magic, by Ghostzapper)
Stud Farm: Ashford Stud, KY (formerly shuttle stallion to Coolmore Australia)
Sales Details: $9,000, 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale
Anamoe Pair Anchors Record Great Southern
Weekend, 15th June 2026
A record-setting Great Southern Weanling Sale at Oaklands has brought the Inglis 2026 Weanling Sales Series to a powerful close, with the company finishing as Australia’s leading foal-sale operator for a fifth consecutive year. Across the Australian Weanling Sale at Riverside and the Great Southern sale in Melbourne, Inglis traded $34,984,000 in weanlings, a 19% lift on last year’s previous record of $29,471,150 and a clear endorsement of buyer appetite for quality foals. The Great Southern Sale was central to that result, grossing $15,289,500, up $4.2 million on last year, and surpassing the previous sale benchmark of $12,140,600 set in 2024. The average rose 16% to a sale-record $51,829, while the median climbed 14% to another record mark of $25,000. Demand at the top end was especially strong, with 55 weanlings making $100,000 or more at Oaklands, compared with 27 last year, taking the total number of six-figure lots across the Inglis Weanling Sales Series to 124. The headline act was Three Bridges Thoroughbreds’ Anamoe filly out of Femme Fireball, who sold to Yulong for $825,000, equalling the Great Southern individual record and making her the highest-priced weanling sold in Australia this year. Inglis Bloodstock CEO Sebastian Hutch described the past month as “phenomenal” and said to gross almost $35 million across the weanling series was “really incredible”. He said the Oaklands sale had been hugely rewarding for many participants and thanked both buyers and vendors, while making special mention of Catherine Hains, Aaron and Emma Todd, Tanya Edwards and the Burnewang North team, who sold all 17 weanlings they offered. Three Bridges’ Toby Liston said results of that scale were the sort vendors dream of, adding that the filly had shone once brought to Inglis and attracted multiple bidders deep into the $600,000 and $700,000 range. Co-breeder Peter Murray said he was almost speechless after what became “great theatre”, with bids coming from online and around the ring before auctioneer Will Gardner brought the contest to its conclusion. Friday’s second-top lot was another son of Anamoe, the Witches colt offered by Burnewang North, who made $480,000 to Grenville Stud, SP Bloodstock and Suman Hedge. SP Bloodstock’s Stefan Pardi said he loved the colt from the moment he saw him, noting his class, body, head and relaxed attitude, with Inglis Easter already a likely target. The result completed an outstanding two days for Burnewang North, leading vendor by aggregate with $2,387,000 at an average of $140,412. Emma Todd said it had been the busiest sale the farm had experienced, with around 1800 individual parades across the draft and 160 for the Anamoe colt alone, whose temperament throughout the week left the team especially proud.
The Anamoe-Femme Fireball filly is a sister to two Gr1 winners (pic: inglis.com.au)
Home Where the Heart is at Great Southern
Weekend, 15th June 2026
A commercially attractive Home Affairs colt from Armidale Stud delivered a standout result on the opening day of the Great Southern Weanling Sale at Oaklands on Thursday, topping the session at $330,000 and giving the Tasmanian nursery a result David Whishaw described as potentially life-changing. The colt, out of the Lonhro mare Myhro, was bought by Tamworth trainer Mel O’Gorman, her partner Duncan McRae and close friend James Carolan, with the trio stretching beyond their original valuation to secure a youngster they had identified as a must-have. For Armidale, the sale vindicated the decision to bring a high-quality weanling to a competitive interstate market. Whishaw said the team had arrived confident they had the right horse, with Home Affairs one of the hottest young sires in the country and the colt’s dam already doing her job. The reserve had been set at $150,000 and disclosed to interested buyers, reflecting what Whishaw called a realistic approach from vendors who had come to sell rather than merely test the market. The price was also a major result for breeders Ken and Jen Breese, and Whishaw said outcomes like this were what kept smaller breeders committed to the business. He credited Inglis representatives Will Stott and Britt Hussey for their work inspecting stock in Tasmania and giving vendors the confidence to bring suitable horses to the right sales, as Armidale has regularly done with yearlings at the Premier Sale. Carolan admitted the partnership had gone above budget, but said they were not prepared to leave without the colt. He pointed to the depth in the market for quality stock and said O’Gorman had inspected the catalogue closely before settling on the Home Affairs colt as the one she wanted. Although the group initially considered him a $300,000 weanling, they accepted they had to find more to buy him. No firm decision has yet been made on whether the colt will be raced or traded, with Carolan saying he would return to Tamworth and be allowed to grow before the partnership decides on the next step later in the year. The second-top lot of the day was Burnewang North’s Shinzo colt out of Je Suis Belle, who made $240,000 to SP Bloodstock. It completed a strong opening session for Burnewang North, which sold all four of its Day 1 offerings for six figures. Emma Todd said inspections had been exceptionally busy and that enthusiasm had carried through to the ring, while Stefan Pardi of SP Bloodstock said the Shinzo colt had the movement, bone, hip and presence to suit a major yearling sale, with Easter already in his thoughts. Inglis Victorian Bloodstock Manager James Price said the market was clearly bullish for the right horses, with 17 foals making $100,000 or more on the first day, compared with 27 across the entire sale last year. He acknowledged clearance was below the desired level, but said selectivity had been a theme all year and remained evident at Oaklands, where buyers were active but particular.
The session-topping Home Affairs-Myhro colt (pic: inglis.com.au)
