Few horses have become more closely associated with The Everest meeting than Overpass, and the evergreen sprinter is again building towards Randwick on October 17 for what will be an extraordinary fifth consecutive appearance on the richest day of Australian racing. The Bjorn Baker-trained 8YO has been deliberately kept fresh since returning from his Royal Ascot campaign, where he finished third in the Gr1 King Charles III Stakes over 1000m before backing up in the Gr1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, and his connections have long identified Everest Day as the point at which they wanted him ready to fire. According to racenet.com.au, Overpass continues to tick over smoothly ahead of the meeting, where the Gr2 Sydney Stakes over 1200m remains the obvious destination unless an unexpected Everest opportunity materialises. It is a race and occasion he knows intimately. Overpass contested The Everest in 2022 and 2023 before winning the Sydney Stakes in 2024, then returned to The Everest last year and produced arguably his strongest performance in the race when fourth behind Ka Ying Rising. That record gives him four consecutive appearances on the card and a fifth this spring would underline both his durability and the remarkable consistency that has characterised his career. The son of Vancouver has won 10 races and more than $12 million, with his major victories including dual editions of the Gr1 Winterbottom Stakes and two renewals of The Quokka in Perth, while his ability to perform at his best fresh has become one of his defining traits. That pattern is central to Baker's preparation this time, with Overpass having been kept away from competitive racing since Royal Ascot and instead brought along through trials and controlled work. He returned to the Randwick trials in September and defeated stablemate Caballus in a 740m heat, with stable representative Luke Hilton telling The Thoroughbred Report that Overpass had travelled home from England without missing a beat and remained in excellent order. The gelding's preference for racing on speed, combined with his proven Randwick record and outstanding first-up statistics, makes him ideally suited to the Sydney Stakes should that be his assignment. For Darby Racing and Baker, however, his longevity is becoming every bit as significant as the individual races. From a $75,000 yearling to an international Gr1 performer and fixture of Everest Day, Overpass continues to turn up, season after season, and compete against the country's fastest horses.
State-trotting Overpass (pic: inglis.com.au)
Arabian Rose Chasing Invitation Berth
Thursday, 8th October 2026
A mare bought for just $7,000 could be racing for $2 million later this month if Arabian Rose can produce the performance trainer James Healy believes she is capable of in Saturday's Gr3 The Nivison over 1200m at Rosehill. The Sunshine Coast trainer has mapped out a Sydney spring campaign for his stable star since her victory in the Glasshouse Handicap in July, and a strong first-up showing against the mares would put the Gr2 The Invitation over 1400m on October 24 firmly within reach. According to racingnsw.com.au, Healy has been quietly planning this campaign for some time, having used a Sydney visit earlier in the year to learn more about how Arabian Rose travelled and handled the interstate environment. She was nearing the end of her preparation when finishing a closing fourth behind Amreekiyah over 1400m at Rosehill in February, but the experience convinced Healy there was enough ability to justify returning for richer targets. Arabian Rose subsequently produced the biggest win of his training career when successful in the Glasshouse on her home track, after which she was given a spell specifically with The Nivison in mind. Healy believes the 5YO has returned stronger physically and says her preparation has unfolded exactly as hoped, including a third in a Doomben trial last month that he regarded as one of the best trial performances she has produced. Tommy Berry takes the ride at Rosehill and already knows the mare from that February appearance, while Healy is content to leave tactics largely in the jockey's hands given Arabian Rose's preference for settling into her own rhythm rather than being forced into an artificial position. The trainer is conscious that recent Rosehill racing has favoured horses settling closer to the pace, but he remains reluctant to compromise a racing style built around the mare conserving energy and producing her strongest work late. Her rise has already been considerable. Purchased through Inglis Digital for $7000, Arabian Rose progressed from maiden company to stakes success and has taken connections far beyond their early expectations. The Invitation now represents another substantial leap, but Healy is prepared to consider it if she runs to expectations in The Nivison and, crucially, recovers well. Arabian Rose generally performs best with three weeks between races, whereas The Invitation comes only two weeks later, meaning the decision will depend as much on her condition after Saturday as the finishing position itself. For a mare whose owners once hoped simply to win a maiden, however, the prospect of competing for $2 million represents another remarkable chapter.
Ninja Share Values Everest Hope at $5.5 Million
Thursday, 8th October 2026
The market has placed a $5.5 million valuation on Everest contender Ninja after a one per cent share in the Michael Freedman-trained gelding sold for $55,000 through the Inglis Digital October Early Sale, providing a striking example of how racing's biggest events are increasingly shaping demand for micro-ownership. The timing could scarcely have been better for vendor Gary Diamond, with Ninja defeating defending Everest champion Ka Ying Rising in a Randwick barrier trial only a day before bidding concluded, adding another layer of excitement around a horse already secured to represent the John Camilleri and Fairway Thoroughbreds slot in the $20 million sprint on October 17. According to inglis.com.au, purchaser David Blumberg had been following Ninja well before the trial and had already placed a bid, but the sight of the 4YO defeating Ka Ying Rising while travelling strongly convinced him he would need to raise his ceiling if he wanted to secure the share. The Glenugie-based owner has been involved in racehorse ownership for around 15 years but specifically wanted a runner in The Everest, making the online offering an unusually direct route into the world's richest turf race. Ninja has already established a strong racing profile from only 10 starts, winning five races including the Gr2 Missile Stakes, Gr2 Hobartville Stakes and Gr3 Vo Rogue Plate, while his Missile Stakes performance under weight-for-age conditions stamped him as a genuine top-level sprinter. The son of Farnan is also likely to have another lucrative target waiting beyond The Everest, with the $10 million Golden Eagle among the possibilities, meaning Blumberg's one per cent could potentially give him an ownership interest in consecutive races worth a combined $30 million. Diamond was delighted with the $55,000 result and acknowledged that while it represented substantial money for such a small percentage of a gelding, the combination of Ninja's ability, his Everest berth and the accessibility of a one per cent holding created powerful demand. Ninja was not the highest-priced transaction of the sale, with Coolmore offering Defensemen, who was purchased by We Bloodstock for $200,000 and could ultimately continue his career in Hong Kong. Bogey Free realised $190,000, while a five per cent share in Gr2-winning filly Cherry Bomshell sold for $60,000. Overall, the October Early Sale grossed $2,178,050, but Ninja supplied its most eye-catching ownership story: a few clicks online turning a small investor into an owner of an Everest runner little more than a week before raceday.
Cosmic Crusader Locked In For Caulfield Cup
Thursday, 8th October 2026
WA's east coast raider Cosmic Crusader will be given the opportunity to prove himself over 2400m at the highest level after owner-breeder Bob Peters confirmed the brilliant Turnbull Stakes winner will take his place in the 150th running of the Gr1 Caulfield Cup on October 17. The Andrea Leek-trained 6YO produced one of the performances of the spring when defeating Light Infantry Man and Aeliana in the Gr1 Turnbull Stakes over 2000m at a rain-soaked Flemington, prompting Peters to weigh the Caulfield Cup against the possibility of heading directly towards the Gr1 Cox Plate. The decision has now been made, with Cosmic Crusader set to carry 56kg and regular rider William Pike retaining the mount as the gelding stretches beyond 2000m for the first time. According to racingnews.co.nz, Peters believes the son of Maurice has provided enough evidence through both his racing style and pedigree to suggest the additional 400m will be within his range. Maurice himself was a multiple Gr1 winner at 2000m, while Cosmic Crusader's dam Cosmic Storm won the Listed Belmont Oaks at the same distance, and Peters was particularly encouraged by the way his horse continued through the line after the Turnbull. Cosmic Crusader has now won 11 of his 22 starts and more than $2.5 million, with his emergence this spring transforming him into one of the season's major middle-distance players. The Caulfield Cup nevertheless represents a very different examination, combining the longer journey with handicap conditions and one of the deepest staying fields of the carnival. How he performs will also determine whether connections entertain an even more demanding follow-up only seven days later. Peters has left open the possibility of Cosmic Crusader contesting the Gr1 Cox Plate over 2040m at Flemington, but any decision will be delayed until after Caulfield and will depend heavily on how the gelding recovers. History illustrates the scale of that challenge. Northerly became only the fourth horse to complete the Caulfield Cup-Cox Plate double when he achieved the feat in 2002, and Peters readily acknowledges that only exceptional horses have managed it. For now, however, the focus is entirely on Caulfield and a distance question that Cosmic Crusader has yet to answer under race conditions. His Turnbull victory suggested his improvement is not finished, and victory in the Caulfield Cup would elevate him from rapidly emerging Group 1 performer to one of the defining horses of the spring.
2026 Everest Field Nears Its Completion
Thursday, 8th October 2026
The $20 million Gr1 The Everest is rapidly taking shape, with only two or potentially three slots remaining after a hectic 24 hours of announcements confirmed several major runners for Randwick on October 17. Chris Waller and his partners have committed Joliestar to the race for a third consecutive year, while Coolmore has turned to former winner Giga Kick after its likely representative Guest House was ruled out for the spring with a hamstring injury. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Jimmysstar is also expected to return after managing owner Ozzie Kheir indicated the Ciaron Maher-trained galloper, third in last year's race, would again take his place, with Nash Rawiller booked to ride and a slot agreement expected to be finalised shortly. Jimmysstar represented the TAB slot last year and is widely anticipated to renew that association, although confirmation had yet to arrive by late Wednesday. If that deal is completed, James Harron and Yulong would be the only remaining slot-holders yet to formally name their runners, with Angel Capital considered the likely selection for Yulong after racing for Coolmore last year. The field already includes Ninja for Fairway Thoroughbred, Headwall for Neil Werrett and partners, Tempted for Godolphin, Blue Door for Newgate-GPI Racing, Savvy Hallie for Mulberry Racing and Spicy Martini for Inglis, all preparing to tackle defending champion and dominant favourite Ka Ying Rising, who runs in the Hong Kong Jockey Club slot leased from the Australian Turf Club. Giga Kick's selection is among the more intriguing developments after the Clayton Douglas-trained 7YO finished eighth, four lengths from the winner, in the Gr1 Manikato Stakes at his latest appearance. However, the gelding's Everest credentials are beyond dispute, having won the race in 2022 before finishing second to Bella Nipotina in 2024, and Dylan Gibbons has secured the ride after his recent Gr1 Flight Stakes success aboard Global Goal. Gibbons said the opportunity was a significant pick-up and noted that Giga Kick's proven Everest record, the prospect of rain and the expected addition of blinkers all offered encouragement. Joliestar also arrives with strong Everest experience, having finished seventh in 2024 and fifth last year, while her latest close second in The Shorts over 1100m suggested she had returned from her British campaign in excellent order after finishing third in the Gr1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. With the final pieces now falling into place, the 12-horse field is close to complete and Ka Ying Rising's defence is increasingly surrounded by proven Everest performers and emerging sprint talent.
Joliestar will represent Chris Waller again (pic: Mark Gatt)
Sayyida Leaves Enduring Trelawney Legacy
Thursday, 8th October 2026
One of the most influential mares in modern New Zealand breeding has died at the age of 26, with Trelawney Stud farewelling Broodmare of the Year Sayyida after a life whose impact extended far beyond her brief racing career. Purchased as a yearling and trained by Roger James for Brent and Cherry Taylor, Sayyida won twice and was regarded as a genuine Gr1 New Zealand Derby prospect during her 3YO season before suffering a career-ending injury in the Gr2 Avondale Guineas, reports NZ Racing News. Considerable care was required simply to nurse her back to health, but that effort was repaid many times over when she entered the Trelawney broodmare band and developed into the foundation of an exceptional family. According to Racing News, Sayyida produced relatively few foals, but quality rather than quantity became the defining feature of her stud record, headed by five-time Gr1 winner Ocean Park. The son of Thorn Park won at the highest level on both sides of the Tasman, including the Cox Plate, before building his own successful stallion career, with his progeny including last season’s Champion Stayer Ohope Wins. Sayyida also produced Ruqqaya, subsequently the dam of dual Gr1 winner Grunt, now establishing his own credentials at stud, while Gr2 winner Zayydani and stakes performer Addison further enhanced their dam’s record. Her influence has continued strongly through another daughter, Lady Sayyida, who produced Gr2 winners Excelida and Shanwah, the latter also a Gr1 performer. Sayyida’s achievements earned official recognition when she was named New Zealand Broodmare of the Year in 2013, largely through the exploits of Ocean Park, but the passage of time has only strengthened the significance of her contribution. Brent Taylor described her as the first filly he and Cherry purchased specifically to race and later breed from, recalling both the obvious ability she displayed before injury curtailed her career and the distinctive personality that accompanied her through more than two decades at Trelawney. The Taylors also paid tribute to the farm staff, veterinarians and farrier who managed a mare whose long-term care was not always straightforward. Sayyida has now been buried at Trelawney, with a plaque marking her resting place, but her genetic influence continues through multiple generations of elite performers and breeding stock. From a comparatively unassuming mare whose racing potential was never fully realised emerged Ocean Park, Grunt and an expanding dynasty that ensures Sayyida’s place in the history of one of New Zealand’s most celebrated thoroughbred nurseries.
Ocean Park is a son of Sayyida (pic: Waikato Stud)
Night Of Thunder Colt Smashes European Record
Thursday, 8th October 2026
A spectacular bidding duel between Godolphin and Coolmore produced a new European record for a yearling colt at Tattersalls Book 1 when a son of Night Of Thunder was knocked down to Godolphin for 4,600,000gns, eclipsing the previous mark and becoming the most expensive yearling sold anywhere in the world this year. Offered by Norelands Stud, the colt was bred by the Tsui family’s Sunderland Holding Inc out of the Lope De Vega mare My Astra, a Listed winner and runner-up in the Gr1 Pretty Polly Stakes, and he quickly became the focal point of an extraordinary opening session. According to Racing Post, Coolmore’s MV Magnier and Godolphin’s buying team, headed by Sheikh Mohammed and Anthony Stroud, traded increasingly aggressive bids as the price surged through seven figures, with the increments eventually jumping by hundreds of thousands of guineas before Stroud landed the decisive 4,600,000gns blow. The colt’s pedigree provided ample justification for the intensity, with My Astra herself out of Gr3 winner My Titania and therefore a half-sister to Gr2 winners My Prospero and My Oberon, while Night Of Thunder’s rise into the upper echelon of European stallions has made his elite progeny increasingly prized. Norelands farm manager Matt Gilsenan described the result as beyond even the farm’s most optimistic expectations, while stressing the colt had always been regarded as a standout individual from his earliest days. The price surpassed the previous European public-auction record for a colt of 4,300,000gns, set by the Wootton Bassett colt Poker at the same sale in 2024. Godolphin’s determination to dominate the top end of the market was underlined throughout the session, with five of the six seven-figure yearlings falling to Sheikh Mohammed’s operation and 11 purchases secured for a combined 15,730,000gns. Earlier in the day, Godolphin had also paid 3,800,000gns for a Wootton Bassett colt offered by Croom House Stud, with Coolmore again filling the role of underbidder, while a Frankel colt fetched 1,800,000gns. Stroud said the Night Of Thunder colt combined pedigree, physique and stallion potential, acknowledging the final price had reached the upper end of Godolphin’s valuation. The broader market also reflected the strength of the opening session, with turnover climbing 16 per cent year-on-year to 46,778,000gns, the average rising 26 per cent to 406,765gns and the median increasing 14 per cent to 240,000gns, reinforcing Book 1’s status as one of the most intense battlegrounds in international bloodstock.
Asva Back On Course For Geelong
Thursday, 8th October 2026
Tasmanian Cups star Asva has put a disappointing mainland performance behind him and remains in contention for another interstate assignment after producing an encouraging trial victory at Longford, with trainer Glenn Stevenson keeping the $500,000 Geelong Cup firmly on the table. The Devonport and Launceston Cup winner returned home to Stevenson’s Wesley Vale operation after finishing last at Mornington on September 26, but the familiar Tasmanian surroundings appear to have helped the gelding rediscover his customary spark. According to Tasracing, jockey Daniel Ganderton was instructed to have Asva relax behind runners before bringing him into clear air and making him work through the concluding stages, and Stevenson was delighted with both the manner of the performance and how strongly the horse recovered afterwards. Asva was subsequently scheduled to undergo a precautionary scope, with a satisfactory result opening the way for further conditioning work on the beach and potentially a grass gallop at Mowbray before travelling directly to Victoria for the Geelong Cup. Stevenson conceded that pursuing the race may appear ambitious following the Mornington failure, but his confidence stems from his knowledge of a horse whose career has been transformed since arriving in Tasmania. Asva began his racing career in New South Wales and won a Newcastle maiden for Peter and Paul Snowden before joining Stevenson, where the beach-based environment at Wesley Vale has helped him develop into one of the state’s leading stayers. He announced that progression emphatically during the summer, winning the Brighton Cup before sweeping home from the rear to capture the Devonport Cup, providing Stevenson with a remarkable third successive victory in that feature. Tasracing The Longford trials also provided encouraging signs for two Tasmanian sprinters, with former Newmarket Handicap winner Geegees Gemstone narrowly beaten by Flying Concello. Stuart Gandy indicated Geegees Gemstone, now seven and approaching $300,000 in earnings from eight wins in 24 starts, is likely to resume in the $50,000 Goodwood Handicap over 1100m at Hobart on Melbourne Cup Day before returning to Launceston for the $150,000 Newmarket Handicap over 1200m on November 20. Flying Concello is also being aimed towards Tasmania’s better sprint races after winning four of five local starts for trainer Jessie Bazan, adding further interest to a Longford session whose headline act nevertheless remained Asva and his revived Geelong Cup ambitions.
Maher Pair Climbs Major Cup Orders
Thursday, 8th October 2026
Ciaron Maher’s powerful spring arsenal has been strengthened by significant movement in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup orders of entry, with weekend feature winners Mr Monaco and Juja Kibo both receiving weight penalties after enhancing their staying credentials at Flemington and Randwick. Mr Monaco secured his place in the Melbourne Cup when winning the Gr3 Bart Cummings over 2520m at Flemington, earning a 1.5kg penalty that takes his weight to 52.5kg and, importantly, frees him from the ballot for the first Tuesday in November. The result gives Maher another guaranteed Cup runner as the final shape of the field begins to emerge, while stablemate Juja Kibo has also improved his prospects following his victory in the Gr2 Metropolitan over 2400m at Randwick. According to racing.com, Juja Kibo has been handed a 1kg Caulfield Cup penalty and a 2kg Melbourne Cup penalty, leaving him 30th in the order of entry for the Caulfield feature and 34th for Flemington. While neither position guarantees him a start, the penalties provide a meaningful lift at a stage when every movement through the order can prove decisive. Maher’s staying depth was further underlined by Litzdeel, runner-up to Mr Monaco in the Bart Cummings, passing the first elimination clause for the Caulfield Cup and jumping 10 places to 44th in the order. The Dundeel mare had already satisfied the first elimination clause for the Melbourne Cup and currently sits 48th for that race, leaving connections dependent on further attrition and qualifying performances. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained The Euphrates was another beneficiary of the weekend’s racing, passing the Melbourne Cup’s first elimination clause and advancing 29 places to 32nd in the order. The calculations surrounding Cup qualification will continue to shift rapidly through the remaining spring lead-ups, but Mr Monaco is now in the enviable position of having his Melbourne Cup berth secured, allowing Maher to tailor the remainder of his preparation accordingly. Juja Kibo faces a less certain route despite his Metropolitan success, although his latest performance has propelled him firmly into the staying conversation and provided Maher with another genuine pathway towards the major handicaps. With the Caulfield Cup approaching and the Melbourne Cup little more than three weeks away, the weekend’s penalties have sharpened the picture without yet resolving it, particularly for those runners still hovering around the cut-off point.
Ka Ying Rising Mania Builds At Randwick
Thursday, 8th October 2026
The extraordinary fascination surrounding Ka Ying Rising has followed the Hong Kong superstar back to Sydney, with his return to Randwick becoming an event in itself as the world’s highest-rated racehorse prepares to defend his crown in the $20 million Gr1 The Everest on October 17. The David Hayes-trained sprinter arrived in Australia carrying an even greater reputation than 12 months ago, having stretched his winning sequence to 21 and elevated his international rating to 135, while his latest Hong Kong appearance produced another breathtaking performance as he stopped the clock at 1:06.11 over 1200m at Sha Tin. His presence has again transformed what would ordinarily be a routine barrier trial into a major attraction, with punters.com.au reporting the return of the Ka Ying Rising phenomenon to Randwick as Australian racegoers embrace another opportunity to see the defending Everest champion at close quarters. Hayes has made it clear that the primary purpose of the Randwick exercise is not simply performance but familiarity, particularly after Ka Ying Rising became noticeably stirred by the unfamiliar surroundings before the corresponding trial last year. Despite finishing third behind Linebacker and Overpass in that 1000m hit-out, he returned less than two weeks later to dominate The Everest and become the first internationally-trained horse to win the race. This time Hayes believes the son of Shamexpress has travelled and settled substantially better, while his physical development and racecourse performances suggest he returns an even more formidable proposition. Regular rider Zac Purton again takes charge as Ka Ying Rising reacquaints himself with Randwick, with Everest contenders including Joliestar, Angel Capital and Ninja among those providing meaningful opposition in his trial. Hayes has stressed that behaviour, relaxation and familiarity with the Australian race-day environment are every bit as important as the finishing order, particularly with the gelding already possessing an extraordinary body of form. Ka Ying Rising’s sustained excellence has turned his Everest defence into one of the defining international racing stories of the spring, but Australia is not without serious opposition. Godolphin mare Tempted, runner-up to him in last year’s race, has returned better than ever and stamped herself as the principal domestic threat with her dominant Gr2 Premiere Stakes victory. That developing rivalry adds another layer to the anticipation surrounding Ka Ying Rising, whose every move in Sydney is now being watched with an intensity normally reserved for race day itself.
