Victoria's first Group 1 race of the new season is shaping as one of the strongest editions of the Memsie Stakes in years, with former winner Mr Brightside and defending champion Treasurethe Moment among a high-class group nominated for Saturday's 1400m weight-for-age feature at Caulfield. Racenet reports the pair headline a race containing an unusual concentration of elite performers, with Mr Brightside attempting to recapture the title he won in 2023 and Treasurethe Moment seeking consecutive victories after defeating him in last year's renewal. Mr Brightside returns as a nine-year-old after missing the autumn because of a fetlock issue, but his Caulfield record provides compelling evidence that age alone should not be considered a barrier. The Lindsay Park gelding has finished first or second at each of his past 10 starts at the track, including five victories and four at Gr1 level, while he has also finished in the quinella in seven of 10 first-up runs. Treasurethe Moment arrives with equally imposing credentials. The Matt Laurie-trained mare won last year's Memsie first-up before later finishing third in the Cox Plate, having already established herself as a four-time Gr1 winner through victories including the Crown Oaks, Vinery Stud Stakes and ATC Oaks. The depth extends considerably further. Cosmic Crusader enters after following his Bletchingly Stakes success with victory in the Gr2 PB Lawrence Stakes over the same Caulfield 1400m, while triple Gr1 winner Jimmysstar resumes over a distance that has consistently brought out his best. Chris Waller is expected to be strongly represented through Angel Capital, Autumn Boy, Birdman and Buckaroo, with Beiwacht also among the nominations after being scratched from the Winx Stakes because of a minor temperature. Angel Capital has race fitness on his side after finishing third in the Missile Stakes, while Buckaroo returns to a course where he produced a major first-up run when third at big odds in last year's Memsie before subsequently finishing second in the Cox Plate. Planet Red and Sabaj are expected to represent Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, while Tom Kitten and Melbourne Cup winner Knight's Choice add further depth to a field likely to test the maximum capacity. With the established stars resuming and Cosmic Crusader arriving in peak form, Saturday's Memsie is far more than an opening spring marker; it shapes as an immediate collision between proven Gr1 champions and horses intent on joining them.
Cosmic Crusader brings plenty to the table (pic: RWWA)
NEWAmuseantes Eyes Black-Type Ambitions
Tuesday, 25th August 2026
More than $30,000 in veterinary treatment and a lengthy spell recovering from a potentially career-threatening problem could yet be rewarded with black-type success for Amuseantes, with trainer Robert Heathcote hopeful the well-related mare can continue one of Queensland racing's most productive family traditions. The five-year-old resumes in a 1200m Class 3 Handicap at Doomben on Wednesday, her 14th career start and first appearance since finishing near the rear in a 1600m benchmark event at Eagle Farm in April. Racing Queensland reports Amuseantes spent more than a month recovering at the Gatton veterinary clinic earlier in her life, with Heathcote and her owners ultimately spending in excess of $30,000 on treatment before she vindicated their faith by winning against her own age group at Eagle Farm in June last year. The daughter of Rothesay has endured interruptions at different stages of her career but has already earned more than $185,000 despite competing at relatively modest grades, encouraging Heathcote to believe there is considerably more ability to be unlocked if she remains sound. Her racing pattern presents its own complications, with Amuseantes typically settling well back and requiring both tempo and clear running to produce her best. Heathcote compares that trait with her Gr1-winning half-sister Startantes and believes jockey Taylor Marshall, who has partnered Amuseantes in two recent trials, will need to provide her with the right opportunity from off the speed. Pedigree is one of the principal reasons connections were prepared to persevere. Amuseantes is out of Funtantes, a 10-time winner who earned more than $704,000 and captured the Gr2 Champagne Classic, Listed Nudgee Handicap and Listed Juanmo Stakes before becoming an accomplished broodmare. Funtantes has produced several winners including Startantes and Ziemba, while the wider family traces to granddam Cantantes, who won only twice in 37 starts but subsequently developed into one of Queensland's most influential broodmares of the past two decades. Heathcote has trained much of the family, including Funtantes, Excellantes and Guntantes, and estimates the line has produced more than 40 metropolitan winners. Startantes supplied its defining result when winning the Gr1 Tatt's Tiara in 2022, and while Amuseantes still has considerable ground to cover before matching that achievement, Heathcote believes black-type company is a realistic ambition if she can build on her current preparation. Wednesday's return therefore represents more than another Class 3 assignment: it is the first step in determining whether a mare once fighting simply to reach the racetrack can add another stakes chapter to an exceptional Queensland family.
NEWReady2Race Catalogue Raises The Bar
Tuesday, 25th August 2026
The 2026 Inglis Ready2Race Sale will assemble what the auction house describes as the strongest group of two-year-olds ever catalogued for a breeze-up sale in Australasia, with 321 lots set to go under the hammer at Riverside Stables on October 15. Inglis reports 232 of those youngsters were purchased specifically with the sale in mind, while the balance consists of homebreds prepared by respected vendors from Australia and New Zealand. The catalogue contains 111 lots either out of black-type performers or black-type producers and includes siblings to Gr1 winners Private Life, Communist, Tashi and Captivant, along with relations to a deep list of stakes-class performers. Proven stallions represented include I Am Invincible, Zoustar, Frankel, Gun Runner, Siyouni, Toronado, Too Darn Hot, Home Affairs, Ole Kirk, Savabeel, Harry Angel, So You Think, Super Seth, Wootton Bassett, Starspangledbanner, Dundeel, Exceed And Excel, The Autumn Sun, Street Boss and Written Tycoon, while buyers will also have access to the first crops of Anamoe, Artorius, In The Congo and Diatonic. The sale's growing reputation has been reinforced by the performance of recent graduates, headed by this year's Gr1 JJ Atkins winner Tron Bolt, who emerged from the 2025 edition before becoming a top-level juvenile at only his fourth career start. Other notable graduates include Gr1 winner Libertad, millionaires Democracy Manifest, Tavi Time and Strait Acer, dual Gr1 winner Nettoyer, and stakes performers including Cristal Clear, Forgot You, Lightsaber, Allibor and Malkovich. Internationally, the sale has also produced Hong Kong Classic Cup winner Rubylot and successful performers across Hong Kong and Malaysia. Inglis Bloodstock chief executive Sebastian Hutch believes the sale's graduate record has significantly strengthened its appeal and says vendors have deliberately sourced higher-quality horses to meet growing buyer demand. The Inglis Ready2Race Sale currently boasts the highest winners-to-runners ratio of any comparable sale in the Southern Hemisphere, a statistic that has helped underpin its rapid development. Breeze-up sessions will be held at Warwick Farm on September 25, Taupo on September 28 and Wangaratta on September 29, with vision to be uploaded within 48 hours of each session. All horses offered will also be eligible for the lucrative Inglis Race Series, incorporating the $5 million Xtra Bonus Series and $1 million Pink Bonus Series. With the sale staged just two days before the $20 million Gr1 The Everest, Inglis is positioning the 2026 renewal as a major feature of Sydney's spring racing and bloodstock calendar.
Star stallion Too Darn Hot is represented in the Ready2Race Sale
NEWBeamish Out of the Blocks in Record Time
Tuesday, 25th August 2026
A remarkably efficient beginning to life in the training ranks has Liam Beamish operating at a 50 per cent strike rate, with the Wesley Vale horseman hoping two of his stable stars can extend that record when racing returns to Devonport on Wednesday. Working with only three horses, Beamish has already prepared four winners from eight starters and will saddle City Wok and The Real Man in consecutive races on the nine-event card after both missed planned assignments when the August 12 meeting was abandoned following two races. Safety concerns arose after rocks were discovered on the Devonport surface, prompting remedial work before subsequent trackwork and trials were conducted without incident on August 18. Beamish has since spoken with trainers and jockeys and inspected the track himself, leaving him satisfied racing can safely resume. The interruption proved particularly frustrating because he had been confident both horses were ready to win, but Wednesday provides another opportunity with City Wok tackling a Class 1 over 1350m before The Real Man contests a BM64 over 1150m. City Wok had been strongly supported from $4.50 into $2.50 for the corresponding race a fortnight earlier and will start from barrier one with Luke Dempsey aboard. The gelding required considerable patience simply to reach the races initially, although Beamish says he has presented no problems since and came through a gallop shortly after the abandoned meeting in good condition. His trainer also expects the rise to 1350m to prove more suitable than the 1150m journey over which he scored first-up at Devonport on July 26. Stablemate The Real Man brings an imposing local record into his assignment, having won three of four starts at Devonport and finished second on the other occasion. Kirra-Lee Lane's 2kg claim reduces his impost to 59kg from barrier two, although Beamish acknowledges it remains a significant weight. There has nevertheless been no indication the four-year-old has gone backwards since his latest victory, with his enthusiasm at home suggesting he remains in excellent order. The pair provided Beamish with a double at Devonport on July 26, while recent Hobart winner Henley Extreme completes a compact stable that has given its young trainer ample reason to consider expanding. Beamish readily accepts that maintaining a 50 per cent strike rate indefinitely is unrealistic, but the outstanding opening has encouraged him to add several horses so the operation can retain continuity when members of his current trio require spells. Wednesday therefore represents another intriguing chapter in an unusually productive start, with City Wok and The Real Man offering Beamish the chance to turn an already eye-catching set of numbers into something even more substantial.
NEWBellatrix Star Retired After Heart Issue
Tuesday, 25th August 2026
A career that combined exceptional sprinting ability with repeated battles against injury has come to an end for Bellatrix Star, with the Gr1-performed mare retired following a second episode of heart fibrillation. Racingnews.co.nz reports the five-year-old will now be offered as a broodmare prospect through Inglis Digital next month, bringing down the curtain on a 13-start career that produced five victories and earnings of more than $1 million. Purchased by Te Akau Racing principal Sir David Ellis for Fortuna Racing for $80,000 from Phoenix Park's draft at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale, Bellatrix Star made an immediate impression when winning on debut by more than four lengths over 800m at Wanganui. The daughter of Star Witness subsequently finished second in the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes before claiming the Gr2 Eclipse Stakes at Pukekohe on New Year's Day and later finishing fourth behind Velocious in the Karaka Millions 2YO. Her three-year-old season in Australia established her among the better sprinting fillies of her generation. After finishing fifth in the Gr3 Quezette Stakes at her first start across the Tasman, Bellatrix Star won the Gr3 Scarborough Stakes and Gr2 Schillaci Stakes before producing arguably the finest performance of her career when runner-up to Switzerland in the Gr1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington. Her subsequent career became increasingly difficult. In January last year Bellatrix Star reared and fell while returning to her stable, fracturing vertebrae in her neck and initially receiving a prognosis that suggested she might never race again. Trainer Mark Walker and the Te Akau team nevertheless managed to rehabilitate her through an extended programme incorporating paddock rest and dressage. A return in the Listed Doveton Stakes at Caulfield last November then revealed a fetlock chip that required surgery, adding another lengthy rehabilitation period. Connections prepared her for another comeback earlier this year, only for a veterinary examination ahead of a planned Caulfield return in May to detect heart fibrillation. After being cleared to race, she resumed with an encouraging second in last month's Gr3 Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield and was being prepared for the Gr1 Moir Stakes when the fibrillation recurred. Fortuna Racing's John Galvin said the mare's welfare left little room for debate and retirement was considered the only responsible option. Bellatrix Star retires without the Gr1 victory her talent threatened to deliver, but her resilience and elite-level performances ensure she leaves racing with a record far richer than the bare statistics suggest.
NEWDefiantly Secures Melbourne Cup Ticket
Tuesday, 25th August 2026
Europe's international pathway to the Gr1 Melbourne Cup has produced two more significant staying performances, with Defiantly earning an automatic place at Flemington through victory in the Gr2 Prix Kergorlay at Deauville and Ebor Handicap winner Daiquiri Bay also securing qualification at York. The Victoria Racing Club says the results capped the international leg of the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour, although Daiquiri Bay is considered unlikely to travel despite earning his golden ticket for trainer Alan King and jockey Rossa Ryan. Runner-up Hopewell Rock nevertheless emerged from the Ebor as a genuine Melbourne Cup possibility for Wathnan Racing and trainer George Boughey, with Australia's premier staying contest firmly under consideration. The more compelling development came 24 hours later in France when Defiantly dominated the Gr2 Prix Kergorlay under Dylan Browne McMonagle. Trained by two-time Melbourne Cup winner Joseph O'Brien and raced by Australian Bloodstock, the improving stayer now has the opportunity to follow a celebrated route to Flemington. Australian Bloodstock won the 2014 Melbourne Cup with Protectionist after the German entire had also captured the Kergorlay, while Americain completed the same double in 2010 and Dunaden contested the French staying feature before winning the Cup in 2011. O'Brien believes Defiantly's most important asset is his stamina, noting the gelding handled a rise in class while simultaneously dropping in distance and describing the Melbourne Cup as a legitimate possibility. Browne McMonagle was equally positive, emphasising the horse's ability to stay strongly, cope with quick ground and remain relaxed under pressure — attributes particularly valuable amid the unique atmosphere of Cup Day at Flemington. This year marks the first occasion on which the Prix Kergorlay carries automatic Melbourne Cup qualification, extending an international programme that also includes the Belmont Gold Cup in the United States, won this season by Tawny Port. VRC chief racing officer Leigh Jordon said the Ebor and Kergorlay remain internationally recognised tests of elite stayers and believes the qualification pathway continues to strengthen the Melbourne Cup's global standing. The $10 million Gr1 Melbourne Cup over 3200m will be staged at Flemington on the first Tuesday in November, and while Daiquiri Bay may not take up his invitation, Defiantly now shapes as a serious international contender with both the credentials and connections to make the journey.
$3 Million Colt Heads Blue Diamond Noms
Tuesday, 25th August 2026
Australasia's most expensive yearling of 2026 is among a formidable collection of emerging talent nominated for next year's Gr1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield. The Extreme Choice colt Ecuador, purchased by Coolmore for $3 million at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, is one of 1,348 youngsters entered for the $2 million juvenile feature on February 20. Now in the care of champion trainer Chris Waller, Ecuador is the third foal from Gr2 winner Pretty Brazen, a daughter of Brazen Beau whose extended family includes stakes performers Sertorius, Dollar For Dollar, Pretty Amazing and Clifton Red. Racing.com reports more than $103 million worth of bloodstock appears among the nominations, including 93 of the 100 highest-priced yearlings sold across Australasia this year and every member of the top 47. Extreme Choice is also represented by a $1.8 million filly purchased by Shane McGrath Bloodstock and Clinton McDonald Racing at Easter. Out of Gr1 winner Speak Fondly and a half-sister to Listed winner Compelling Truth, the unnamed youngster has already made a strong impression on McDonald. The Cranbourne trainer knows precisely what is required to win a Blue Diamond, having prepared Streisand to capture this year's edition following Hayasugi's success in 2024. McDonald has entered 24 juveniles as he pursues a third victory in four years and believes uncomplicated youngsters who naturally cope with their preparation are particularly well suited to the race. His approach revolves around education rather than placing excessive demands on inexperienced horses, allowing their natural ability to emerge while keeping them physically and mentally fresh. Waller, yet to win a Blue Diamond despite his extraordinary record in Australian racing, dominates numerically with 133 nominations, while Ciaron Maher has entered 111 as he also searches for his first victory in the Caulfield juvenile showpiece. Among the stallions, Home Affairs has an imposing 72 representatives after producing this year's Gr1 Golden Slipper winner Guest House, while former champion racehorse Anamoe has 60 nominations from his first crop. Melbourne Racing Club chief executive Tanya Fullarton described the depth of the entries as exceptional, pointing particularly to the presence of almost all the year's highest-priced youngsters. The Blue Diamond has traditionally provided one of Australian racing's earliest measures of a generation, with precocious youngsters required to develop rapidly enough to compete at Gr1 level in February. With enormous financial firepower and most of the nation's leading stables represented, the 2027 edition already contains many of the youngsters expected to shape the next juvenile season. Ecuador carries the largest sale-ring price tag, but the months ahead will determine which of the 1,348 nominations ultimately possess the speed, constitution and maturity required to reach Caulfield.
Sale topper Equador (pic: inglis.com.au)
Just Party Joins Big Dance Contenders
Tuesday, 25th August 2026
A long-awaited second career victory has arrived at precisely the right time for Just Party, with the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained gelding earning qualification for the $3 million Big Dance after landing Sunday's $200,000 Goulburn Cup. Sent out at $13, the five-year-old produced a determined performance over 1400m under Jay Ford, taking full advantage of a strongly run race before edging favourite Cross Tasman and Declichy Boulevard in a tight finish. Racing NSW reports the tempo was genuine throughout, with the winning time of 1:20.87 falling just 0.02 seconds outside Al Mah Haha's track record of 1:20.85. Ford had Just Party positioned inside the top eight approaching the 600m before electing to save ground and drive through along the rail in Goulburn's long home straight. The move proved decisive as the son of Justify responded strongly under pressure, holding off the late challenges of Cross Tasman, trained by John O'Shea and Tom Charlton, and Chris Waller's Declichy Boulevard. The victory carried extra significance for connections after a frustrating run of minor placings, with Just Party having collected nine seconds or thirds since his only previous win. That maiden success came in March 2024, making Sunday's breakthrough just his second victory from 21 starts, although his consistency has helped lift his earnings beyond $630,000. The gelding was purchased for $110,000 from Coolmore Stud's Inglis Easter Yearling Sale draft and has always possessed pedigree capable of suggesting above-average ability. By Justify, he is out of Gr1 winner The Party Stand and is a half-brother to Gr3-placed Petition. His latest success has now handed Ryan and Alexiou an automatic pathway towards the Big Dance at Randwick on November 3, although the stable is not yet certain the 1600m distance represents his optimum assignment. Alexiou indicated he remains cautious about Just Party's effectiveness at a mile and would prefer to see him win again before committing fully to the lucrative spring target. The result also continued an outstanding recent record for the stable in the Goulburn Cup, providing Ryan and Alexiou with their third victory in the race across the past six editions. For a horse whose talent has frequently exceeded his winning strike-rate, Sunday represented overdue reward. Just Party has now gained entry to one of New South Wales racing's richest country-based features, and another strong performance may be all that is required before his connections decide whether the party continues all the way to Randwick.
King Of Light Sets Sights on Sydney
Tuesday, 25th August 2026
A lucrative eastern states campaign is firmly on the agenda for exciting West Australian four-year-old King Of Light after he successfully negotiated his first test against open-class opposition at Belmont. The Dan Morton-trained gelding resumed from a lengthy break with a decisive victory in Saturday's Listed Idyllic Prince Stakes over 1300m, strengthening plans to send him to Sydney for the $10 million Golden Eagle at Randwick in October. Despite having not raced this calendar year, King Of Light was sent out a commanding $1.55 favourite and immediately showed unexpected gate speed for William Pike. Rather than surrender the advantage, Pike eased him into an ideal one-out, one-back position as Snowdome and Final Siren controlled the early running. The West Australian reports King Of Light travelled strongly behind the leaders before Pike moved him three-wide approaching the 500m. Snowdome established an advantage entering the straight, but the favourite quickly gathered him in once asked to accelerate. King Of Light took control inside the final 200m and was eased through the concluding stages to defeat Snowdome by a length and a half, with Ginger Baker filling third. Morton admitted beforehand that the gelding's lack of recent racing and the way the Belmont track was playing created some concern, but was delighted with how professionally his stable star handled the assignment. The performance extended King Of Light's exceptional record to six victories from seven starts, his only defeat coming when he tackled older horses in last December's Gr1 Northerly Stakes. That appearance followed five consecutive victories culminating in an emphatic Gr2 WA Guineas success over 1600m, which established him as one of Western Australia's most exciting young horses. Morton believes natural physical development during his extended break has improved King Of Light considerably and indicated the gelding is unlikely to race again in Perth before travelling interstate. The Golden Eagle over 1500m on October 31 is regarded as the principal objective, although Morton and racing manager BJ Ryan will first assess how the gelding recovers before finalising his programme. Another encouraging aspect of the Idyllic Prince performance was King Of Light's improved tractability. A crossover noseband was applied after he had shown a tendency to lay in during a recent trial, and Pike reported he raced substantially straighter under pressure. Pike also acknowledged the opposition did not represent Australia's established weight-for-age elite, but was impressed by the ease with which King Of Light adapted to a more prominent racing position than usual. That versatility could become particularly valuable if Morton proceeds with the Sydney campaign. The Golden Eagle remains a considerably greater examination, but King Of Light has now supplied connections with the performance they needed before contemplating the trip. His first open-class test has been passed emphatically; the next challenge will determine how far his considerable talent can carry him beyond Western Australia.
Makarov Continues Famous Family Line
Tuesday, 25th August 2026
Patience proved one of the defining qualities behind Etah James' distinguished staying career, and the same approach may now be uncovering another talented member of the family. Four-year-old Makarov made an impressive winning debut over 1400m at Hastings on Saturday, providing his connections with early encouragement that the first foal of the Gr1 Sydney Cup winner has inherited considerably more than his dam's staying pedigree. The son of Russian Camelot has been deliberately given time by trainer Bill Thurlow, appearing in his first trial at Woodville last December before contesting two more 1000m heats. Racingnews.co.nz reports breeder and part-owner Mark Lupton had become increasingly confident following Makarov's latest trial, particularly after the gelding produced competitive figures against the more experienced Djibouti. That confidence was justified at Hastings, where Makarov overcame his inexperience to win convincingly at his first raceday appearance. The performance carried particular significance for Lupton and his wife Cath, who bred Makarov with Terry Reid and Gary Howes – the same partnership responsible for Etah James. Her career became one of persistence rewarded. Etah James won the Gr1 Sydney Cup over 3200m, Gr3 Lord Reims Stakes and Listed Pakenham Cup, while also earning placings in the Gr2 Avondale Cup and Listed Bagot Handicap and contesting the 2020 Melbourne Cup. Repeated soundness problems threatened her career, with the mare twice returning to New Zealand with retirement contemplated before successful rehabilitation enabled her to return to Australia and ultimately achieve Gr1 glory. Makarov appears to have inherited the family's need for patience but perhaps possesses greater natural speed. "He is by a Derby winner out of our two-mile Sydney Cup winner, he was always going to take a bit of time," Lupton told racingnews.co.nz. Connections believe the gelding remains physically immature and could require another 12 months before fully developing into his frame. That makes the determination not to rush him particularly significant. A Waverley appearance toward the end of September had been considered before Saturday's victory, although connections will discuss the programme when Thurlow returns from South Africa. The preferred approach remains to accumulate experience rather than immediately pursue stronger company. Etah James, meanwhile, continues to contribute to the family as a broodmare. She is presently at Coolmore Stud in Australia and is due to foal to St Mark's Basilica after producing younger stock by Saxon Warrior and Churchill. Makarov has a considerable distance to travel before comparisons with his accomplished dam become meaningful, but Saturday provided an enticing beginning: a staying-bred horse winning over 1400m while still learning his craft.
Aventure Ends Diamond Necklace's Streak
Tuesday, 25th August 2026
One of European racing's most imposing unbeaten records has fallen at Deauville, but it required a mare of proven international quality to bring Diamond Necklace's winning sequence to an end. Aventure produced a commanding performance in Sunday's Gr1 Prix Jean et Louis Romanet, defeating the previously unbeaten Diamond Necklace by two lengths over 2000m and recording another major triumph for trainer Christophe Ferland. Diamond Necklace arrived with six victories from as many starts and was overwhelmingly expected to extend that sequence following her latest success against older mares in the Gr1 Nassau Stakes. Sent out the 2-5 favourite locally, the brilliant three-year-old was unable to produce the acceleration that had characterised her previous appearances as Aventure took command. Racing Post reports Aidan O'Brien was reluctant to read too much into the defeat, describing Diamond Necklace's performance as satisfactory while readily acknowledging the superiority of the winner on the day. "She ran well, but the winner was better than her today," O'Brien said. The result ended Diamond Necklace's perfect record but did little to diminish the depth of her season. The daughter of St Mark's Basilica had already accumulated four Gr1 victories and holds entries in a remarkable 11 top-level races between a mile and 2400m during the remainder of the European campaign. Aventure, meanwhile, re-established herself among Europe's premier mares. The daughter of Sea The Stars had finished second to Bluestocking in the 2024 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and won last season's Gr1 Prix Vermeille before disappointing in the Arc.Dropping her back to 2000m proved inspired. Trainer Christophe Ferland believes maturity has given the five-year-old greater speed and says she will now remain at the distance for the Gr1 Prix de l'Opera on Arc day before a possible Breeders' Cup campaign. "She's in the Arc but will run in the Opera over this trip before heading to the Breeders' Cup if all goes well," Ferland said.. Timeforshowcasing added considerable merit to the form by finishing only a head behind Diamond Necklace in third at 48-1, her second consecutive Gr1 placing. Diamond Necklace's defeat will inevitably prompt reassessment of her autumn programme, although O'Brien indicated no immediate decision would be made until she returned home and her recovery was assessed. For Aventure, there is considerably less uncertainty. One of France's finest older mares has rediscovered her winning touch at precisely the right time, with the Prix de l'Opera now offering another opportunity to enhance an already distinguished career.
Let’sfacethemusic Set For Weetwood
Tuesday, 25th August 2026
An increasingly productive Queensland campaign has placed Let’sfacethemusic firmly on course for the Listed Weetwood Handicap, with Corey and Kylie Geran planning to give their talented sprinter a freshen-up before tackling Toowoomba’s signature sprint. According to racenet.com.au, the five-year-old continued his rise with victory over 1110m at Doomben on Saturday, defeating Fukubana and Zoubaby in the Class 6 Plate under Gary Geran. Sent out favourite, Let’sfacethemusic justified strong market confidence and recorded his fourth career victory from 21 starts, taking his earnings beyond $260,000. The son of I Am Invincible has now won three times at distances between 1100m and 1200m, while his recent campaign has underlined how effectively he races when able to establish a prominent position. His latest success followed a victory over the same Doomben 1110m course in July and confirmed connections’ belief that the former Victorian galloper is developing into a genuine stakes-class sprinting prospect. Rather than chase another metropolitan race immediately, the Gerans intend keeping Let’sfacethemusic fresh for the Weetwood. “He’s onwards to the Weetwood,” Corey Geran said after Saturday’s victory, adding that a five-week break between runs had been part of the stable’s intended programme. That approach reflects the patience shown since Let’sfacethemusic joined the Toowoomba operation. Earlier in the year, Geran identified the gelding as one of the stable’s leading carnival prospects, and his performances since have justified that confidence. Racing Queensland reported in April that connections already considered him potentially capable of progressing through Brisbane’s better sprint races.
Senorita Bonita Blows Morny Rivals Away
Tuesday, 25th August 2026
A devastating turn of foot has carried Senorita Bonita to her first Group 1 success, with the high-priced juvenile producing a performance of genuine quality in Sunday’s Prix Morny at Deauville. The Simon and Ed Crisford-trained filly swept past her rivals inside the final furlong to win the €350,000 feature by four lengths, stamping herself as one of Europe’s leading two-year-old fillies and setting up an eagerly anticipated clash in next month’s Gr1 Cheveley Park Stakes. Purchased for 900,000 guineas at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale in April, Senorita Bonita was sent out the 13-5 favourite following the withdrawal of Great Barrier Reef. She was allowed to settle well away from the early speed by Oisin Murphy as Carry The Flag established a strong tempo in front. Still several lengths from the leader approaching the final 400m, the daughter of Starspangledbanner was brought to the outside before producing an exceptional change of gear. Senorita Bonita quickly reeled in the tiring leader and surged clear, with Carry The Flag holding second by a short-neck from the previously unbeaten Kosuma. Thoroughbred Daily News reports the victory improved Senorita Bonita’s record to three wins and a second from four starts, with her only defeat coming when runner-up in the Gr2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot. Simon Crisford said the Gr1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket at the end of September was now the obvious destination. “They set some very good fractions up front, she's shown a great turn of foot and she finished off super well,” he told Thoroughbred Daily News. Murphy was equally enthusiastic, comparing the filly favourably with two outstanding juveniles he has ridden in Porta Fortuna and Alcohol Free. Senorita Bonita’s pedigree adds further substance to her growing reputation. She became the 12th individual Gr1 winner for Starspangledbanner and is out of the unraced Ruler Of The World mare Belicious, from a family containing numerous European stakes performers. Her next assignment promises considerably more than another examination of her own credentials. The Cheveley Park is expected to bring together Senorita Bonita, Sun Goddess and Libertango in what could become one of the defining juvenile races of the European autumn. For now, however, the impression left at Deauville was unmistakable. A filly who had already advertised considerable ability turned a strong Gr1 field into a procession and did so with the finishing speed of a youngster potentially capable of much more.
Kingswood On Caulfield Cup Trail
Tuesday, 25th August 2026
Group 1 winner Kingswood is being prepared for another attempt at the Caulfield Cup, with trainer Gavin Bedggood plotting a spring campaign designed to have the talented import reaching his peak over longer distances. The son of Roaring Lion returned to public view with an encouraging Pakenham Synthetic jumpout earlier this month, working strongly through the line behind Sheza Alibi as he builds towards his first start of the preparation. Kingswood is nominated for both the Gr1 Caulfield Cup and Gr1 Cox Plate, although the former increasingly shapes as the principal target for a horse whose Australian and New Zealand performances have demonstrated his effectiveness from 1800m through to 2000m and beyond. His breakthrough at the highest level came in the Gr1 Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie last December, when he defeated Jaarffi and Legarto over 2000m. He subsequently finished a close second to Legarto in February’s Gr1 Herbie Dyke Stakes at Te Rapa. Those performances transformed Kingswood from a talented handicapper into a genuine weight-for-age prospect. The Heatherlie Stakes at Caulfield has been flagged as a likely spring starting point, giving Bedggood the opportunity to gradually increase the horse’s distances ahead of the major October assignments. Recent jumpout analyst Warren Huntly’s colleague David Ingram was particularly taken by Kingswood’s Pakenham hit-out, telling Racing.com the entire continues to appeal as a horse capable of improving as he matures. “I think he’s a really good racehorse,” Ingram said. “I love the way he sticks his neck out and tries.” Bedggood has long held Kingswood in exceptional regard. Even before his Group 1 breakthrough, the trainer described him as potentially the best horse in his stable and suggested there remained considerable untapped ability in the European import. Kingswood’s pedigree offers every encouragement for a Caulfield Cup preparation. By champion European three-year-old Roaring Lion from the Sea The Stars mare All At Sea, stamina is strongly represented on both sides. He also gained valuable Caulfield Cup experience last spring, finishing fourth in the 2025 renewal after continuing to develop through the campaign. The task this year is therefore less about discovering whether Kingswood belongs in elite company than determining how high his ceiling might ultimately be. With elitesuccess already secured and another strong New Zealand campaign behind him, Bedggood now has the luxury of preparing a proven top-level performer specifically for Melbourne’s spring majors. The opening chapters will be about conditioning; the real examination comes when Kingswood reaches the distances for which he appears increasingly suited.
Mr Brightside Ready for Memsie Return
Tuesday, 25th August 2026
After months of rehabilitation and preparation, Lindsay Park believes Mr Brightside is ready to remind Australian racing that age has done little to diminish his appetite for competition. The multiple Gr1 winner is scheduled to return in Saturday’s Gr1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield, his first race appearance of 2026 following a fetlock issue that kept him sidelined throughout the autumn. Now nine, Mr Brightside completed his final serious public workout in a special gallop between races at Sandown on Saturday, again working alongside stablemate Café Millenium. His effort was hardly spectacular to the casual observer, with Café Millenium finishing ahead of him, but co-trainer Ben Hayes says that is entirely consistent with a horse notorious for keeping his best work for raceday. According to NZ Racing Desk, Mr Brightside has failed to beat Café Millenium in their work throughout the preparation, something that has caused little concern within Lindsay Park. “He’s always been a big, lazy horse so we’re never really that confident going into races because he leaves it all for race day,” Hayes said. The stable believes Saturday’s gallop provided precisely the conditioning exercise required before the gelding tackles 1400m at weight-for-age level. Hayes said Mr Brightside was close to his racing weight after putting on considerable condition during his extended break and believes the veteran may actually be more forward for his first-up assignment than at comparable stages of previous preparations. Importantly, the Bullbars gelding is also pleasing Lindsay Park physically. “He’s got a better coat than this time last year and it’s probably the soundest he’s been for a while,” Hayes said. That assessment will encourage supporters of one of Australian racing’s most durable performers. Mr Brightside’s longevity has been remarkable, his rise from a relatively inexpensive New Zealand purchase developing into a career featuring elite victories and repeated performances against the country’s best weight-for-age horses. The Memsie represents a demanding return, particularly after such a lengthy absence, but 1400m at Caulfield is hardly unfamiliar territory for a horse whose tactical versatility has been one of his greatest assets. Stablemate Evaporate, meanwhile, is being directed towards the So You Think Stakes, with the Gr1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes or Gr1 Toorak Handicap among subsequent possibilities. Saturday will ultimately provide the evidence Lindsay Park has been waiting for. Trackwork has never been where Mr Brightside makes his strongest statements; the gelding has spent much of his career saving those for when the barriers open.
Evergreen performer Mr Brightside (pic: Mark Gatt)
