Unraced Colt Could rattle Golden Rose
Thursday, 20th August 2026
A colt yet to make his race debut could force a significant rethink of the Gr1 Golden Rose market when Rattle The Stars steps out at Hawkesbury on Thursday, with Canberra trainer Anthony Warren convinced the three-year-old possesses considerably more ability than his current lack of race experience suggests. According to racenet.com.au, the son of Cosmic Force will make his first appearance in the Tommy Berry Champion Jockey 3YO Maiden Handicap, where victory would earn connections $22,000 plus a BOBS bonus but, more importantly, provide the first genuine indication of whether the ambitious spring programme being discussed is realistic. Warren has already nominated Rattle The Stars for the Gr1 Golden Rose over 1400m at Rosehill on September 26, an unusually lofty target for an unraced colt, but his confidence has been shaped by what the youngster has shown away from raceday. Rattle The Stars has been given several educational trials, most recently finishing third in a 3YO heat at Goulburn earlier this month when kept under restraint, a performance that ensured close followers of the trials began taking considerably more notice. Warren has resisted making extravagant public claims but made clear his belief in the colt when discussing his breeding and natural talent. “He's well enough bred, I don't know, it's just one of things I suppose, when you know they're good, they're good,” he said. By Cosmic Force out of the mare Liffy, Rattle The Stars is trained from Warren’s Canberra base and remains completely unexposed heading into Thursday, creating an unusual situation in which a maiden performance could have immediate implications for one of Sydney’s defining three-year-old races. Early Golden Rose markets have naturally placed him among the outsiders, with some bookmakers offering triple-figure odds, but that assessment could change quickly if he reproduces his private and trial form under race pressure. The Golden Rose has traditionally been a race in which emerging colts can dramatically enhance both their racing reputation and future stallion value, with recent winners including Beiwacht, Broadsiding, Militarize and Jacquinot. For Warren, however, Thursday represents the essential first step rather than an occasion to look too far ahead. Rattle The Stars must first justify the stable’s faith in maiden company, but should he do so with the authority his trainer clearly believes possible, the journey from an unassuming Hawkesbury debut to a place among Sydney’s elite spring three-year-olds could suddenly become considerably shorter.
Cosmic Force is the sire of Rattle The Stars (pic: Steve Hart)
O'Brien Launches Massive Caulfield Cup Raid
Thursday, 20th August 2026
Few international trainers understand Melbourne's major staying races better than Joseph O'Brien, and the Irish horseman has signalled another serious Australian campaign by lodging an extraordinary 15 nominations for the $6 million Gr1 Caulfield Cup on October 17, reports thesun.co.uk. O'Brien's sheer numerical strength makes him one of the dominant international forces among the entries, with last year's Melbourne Cup runner-up Goodie Two Shoes and Derby placegetter James J Braddock among a powerful collection being aimed towards Victoria. The strategy contrasts sharply with that adopted by his father Aidan O'Brien, who has nominated only Causeway, winner of the Gr2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, for a race that has so far eluded the Ballydoyle master. Joseph's record in Australia provides obvious reason for taking his team seriously. Rekindling delivered him a remarkable Melbourne Cup at just 24 years of age in 2017 before Twilight Payment supplied a second victory three years later, and Goodie Two Shoes came within three lengths of adding another chapter when runner-up to Half Yours at Flemington last November. His current staying resources extend well beyond that mare. Trustyourinstinct enhanced his credentials by defeating stablemate Al Riffa in the Gr2 Curragh Cup over 2800m in July, after which O'Brien confirmed the Melbourne Cup remained a genuine possibility, while Royal Ascot winner Limestone has also been identified as a horse capable of developing into an Australian candidate. James J Braddock brings obvious Classic quality following his Derby placing and has emerged among the shorter-priced members of O'Brien's Caulfield Cup nominations. Goodie Two Shoes, meanwhile, possesses the deep stamina associated with JP McManus runners and returned to winning form in the Lillie Langtry Stakes at Goodwood after her outstanding Australian campaign last year. O'Brien's approach demonstrates how significantly the Caulfield Cup's international profile continues to grow, particularly after prizemoney was lifted to a record $6 million. Rather than relying on one or two obvious headline horses, the dual Melbourne Cup-winning trainer has given himself numerous avenues through the European autumn, allowing form, fitness and handicap assessments to dictate which horses eventually travel. Fifteen nominations will inevitably contract substantially before October, but the breadth of the initial entry leaves little doubt that O'Brien intends to give himself every opportunity of adding the Caulfield Cup to an already exceptional Australian record.
Racing And Pony Clubs Forge New Pathway
Thursday, 20th August 2026
A new partnership linking thousands of young riders directly with the thoroughbred industry has been unveiled in New South Wales, creating formal pathways into racing while simultaneously strengthening opportunities for retired racehorses. According to racingnsw.com.au, its landmark agreement with Pony Club NSW will connect more than 10,000 members across upwards of 220 clubs with education, employment and practical experiences designed to introduce the next generation to careers within racing. The arrangement builds on a relationship that has existed informally for decades, with many trainers, jockeys, stable staff and other participants having developed their horsemanship through Pony Club before entering the professional industry. Racing NSW Acting Chief Executive Graeme Hinton said the agreement would formalise that connection while also serving the organisation's broader commitment to equine welfare. "So many of our leading participants have come through the Pony Club system which is a testament to the vital foundation of skills they are taught," he said. Under the programme, Pony Club will provide an introductory platform before Racing NSW's Team Thoroughbred Academy becomes the gateway towards employment and recognised industry qualifications. Members will be given opportunities to shadow professionals, access specialised educational material and learn about careers that extend well beyond race riding, while thoroughbred retraining and rehoming will form a substantial part of the programme. That welfare component is particularly significant, with younger riders to receive greater exposure to retired racehorses and the skills required to successfully transition them into equestrian disciplines after racing. Pony Club NSW president Claire Martin said the two organisations shared priorities around education, horse welfare and creating opportunities for young people, with the partnership expected to expand both competition and career possibilities. The agreement will become particularly visible during Equimillion in October, when a Future Equine Leaders seminar will be conducted specifically for Pony Club members. Pony Club NSW will also become an official partner of the 2026 event, which is staged exclusively for retired thoroughbreds and carries more than $1 million in prizemoney across the October long weekend. Dedicated competition opportunities and showcase areas will be provided for Pony Club riders. The partnership was announced at Bart's Farm, one of Racing NSW's dedicated welfare properties where retired racehorses are retrained and prepared for new homes. By combining an established junior equestrian network with racing's employment and aftercare infrastructure, both organisations are seeking to create a pathway that begins with learning to ride and can ultimately extend through an entire professional career.
Natural Fling Faces Bold Moir Test
Thursday, 20th August 2026
A leap from three-year-old company into one of the spring's first major open-age sprints is being seriously considered for Natural Fling after her breathtaking return in Saturday's Gr3 Quezette Stakes at Caulfield. The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained daughter of Home Affairs dismantled her rivals by four lengths over 1100m and could now progress immediately to the Gr1 Moir Stakes over 1000m at Sandown on September 5, where her age and sex would leave her exceptionally well treated under the weight-for-age scale. According to racing.com, Tony McEvoy believes the prospect of Natural Fling carrying just 50kg creates an opportunity difficult to dismiss, even though only three three-year-olds have defeated the older sprinters in the race over the past decade. Extreme Choice succeeded in 2016, She Will Reign followed a year later and Coolangatta repeated the feat in 2022, while last season Hayasugi and Lady Of Camelot filled the minor placings. McEvoy acknowledged established performers such as Jigsaw and Everest winner Giga Kick would provide a formidable examination, but the trainer has seen enough from Natural Fling to contemplate bypassing the more conventional three-year-old pathway. "Not that many (three-year-olds) have been able to pull it off but she's better than many so we will consider it. It's on the table," he said. The filly would enter the Moir at only her fourth start, having made an immediate impression with a debut victory at Caulfield in May before finishing second to The Next Episode in Queensland and returning with Saturday's emphatic Quezette success. Her ability has never surprised the McEvoys, who recognised exceptional natural speed almost from the beginning, although patience was required while she matured sufficiently to cope with the demands of training. Tony recalled watching her first serious gallop as a yearling and immediately believing she possessed Golden Slipper quality, only to discover that physically and mentally she needed substantially more time. That restraint is now being rewarded, and a Moir victory would dramatically reshape the remainder of her spring. McEvoy indicated such a result could lead naturally into the Gr1 Manikato Stakes over 1200m before the Gr1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington, creating an ambitious but logical sequence for a filly whose explosive acceleration has already separated her from her own age group.
Yarraman Park Stud graduate Natural Fling (pic: Mark Gatt)
Jockey Club Moves Against Gramm
Thursday, 20th August 2026
One of the United States' most influential racing institutions is preparing to remove Marshall Gramm from its membership after allegations surrounding improper access to confidential veterinary information triggered a major integrity controversy. According to bloodhorse.com, The Jockey Club intends to begin the process of expelling Gramm, who was elected as a member in 2024 and is a prominent racehorse owner, academic and wagering specialist. The action follows charges laid by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority alleging Gramm gained access to confidential health information relating to horses he did not own and subsequently used that information in connection with racing activity. HISA alleges the conduct occurred over approximately six weeks beginning in May and included access to data intended to remain restricted to veterinarians and relevant connections. Gramm, an economics professor at Rhodes College and co-founder of Ten Strike Racing, has disputed the characterisation that he circumvented HISA security systems. In a public response he maintained that he accessed the information through his authorised account using his own credentials and did not bypass security protocols, although he acknowledged that he should have alerted HISA sooner once the vulnerability became apparent. HISA takes a substantially different view, accusing Gramm of deliberately exploiting confidential horse-health information in an effort to gain an advantage in activities that included wagering and claiming horses. The authority has indicated significant sanctions could follow if the allegations are upheld and has referred findings to law-enforcement authorities. Gramm's profile makes the dispute particularly sensitive for American racing. Alongside his academic work examining gambling and betting markets, he has developed a successful ownership operation through Ten Strike Racing and has long been regarded as a sophisticated advocate for horseplayers. The Jockey Club itself previously included him in industry discussions examining racing economics before electing him to membership two years ago. Membership of The Jockey Club is by election and traditionally represents a significant mark of standing within the American thoroughbred industry, making the proposed removal a notable institutional response even before HISA's disciplinary process has run its course. BloodHorse's report indicates the organisation will now take formal steps to address Gramm's membership while the wider case continues. With Gramm promising to contest the allegations, the eventual outcome will depend upon whether HISA establishes that access available through an authenticated account nevertheless constituted an impermissible use of confidential information and whether that information materially influenced his subsequent racing or wagering decisions.
Mullins Expands into Arqana Yearling Market
Thursday, 20th August 2026
A training empire built largely around jumping stars has opened a fascinating new front after Willie Mullins entered the elite European yearling market with a four-horse spending spree at the Arqana August Sale in Deauville. The champion Irish trainer's bloodstock team secured the quartet for a combined €525,000, placing Mullins alongside buyers representing Flat superpowers including Godolphin, Coolmore and Juddmonte at one of Europe's premier yearling auctions. Harold Kirk and Pierre Boulard handled the purchasing, according to racingpost.com, and admitted the venture had developed remarkably quickly, with plans taking shape only days before the sale began. The decision reflects the increasing difficulty of buying proven high-rated Flat performers for later careers under National Hunt rules, prompting the Mullins operation to investigate whether suitable horses can instead be sourced earlier and developed from scratch. Kirk explained that the focus was deliberately different from that of many conventional Flat buyers, with the team searching for horses capable of staying ten to 12 furlongs before potentially graduating to hurdles if their Flat ability ultimately proves insufficient. That philosophy may allow Mullins to exploit a section of the market in which stamina is less fashionable than precocious speed. "Most people here don't go out to buy mile-and-a-half horses, so some might fall through the net a bit," Kirk said. The first acquisition was a €100,000 Galiway colt, a sire already familiar to the yard through performers including Vauban and Gala Marceau. A son of Sea The Moon followed for €110,000 before the team stretched to €165,000 for a German-bred Zarak colt from the family of Derby and Arc winner Lammtarra. The quartet was completed by a €150,000 Ghaiyyath half-brother to Group 3 winner Chilean. Kirk described himself as a largely sire-driven buyer and deliberately returned to stallions whose progeny have already suited the stable, although Sea The Moon represented a relatively new avenue. The yearlings were bought speculatively rather than for predetermined owners, with Mullins hoping existing National Hunt clients may embrace the opportunity to diversify. The stable has already been unusually aggressive in the market this year, spending €2.41 million on 13 horses across leading store sales and the Deauville Summer Sale. While the latest four may eventually become jumpers, there is genuine hope they can first establish useful Flat careers, perhaps even progressing far enough to reach Royal Ascot before any change of discipline becomes necessary.
Arqana has opened a new opportunity for Mullins (pic: Syndicates.Racing)
Gluyas Looking to Fry Bigger Fish
Thursday, 20th August 2026
A stylish first-up performance at Morphettville Parks has encouraged Andrew Gluyas to begin looking beyond South Australia with Bassett Babe, who overcame a wide run before drawing clear late in a performance that suggested better races may be within reach. According to Racing SA, the four-year-old mare was forced to cover additional ground after beginning from an awkward gate in the small field, but rather than weakening under the extra work she found another gear inside the final 50m and put her rivals away with authority. Gluyas admitted he had expected the effort to take a greater toll late, making the strength of her finish particularly pleasing. “She covered a bit of ground; I thought she might have peaked on her run, but she showed a bit over the concluding stages,” he said. “Hopefully she can build on that.” While no immediate programme has been locked in, Gluyas indicated the broader aim was to find suitable mares’ races and potentially test Bassett Babe interstate if her form continues to develop. The Parks meeting also proved highly productive for Richard and Chantelle Jolly, who collected three of the opening four races. Progressive stayer Harsh justified strong market support in the opener before Super Wonder rebounded from a disappointing provincial return with a commanding all-the-way victory. Harry Grace partnered both winners before Jake Toeroek marked his return from an injury-enforced absence with victory aboard Intellectual, who rediscovered winning form for the stable. Harsh, formerly prepared by Ciaron Maher, has now won three of her past five South Australian starts and appears to have earned herself a freshen-up ahead of a longer-term staying campaign. Jolly said the mare had made substantial progress since arriving with a modest rating and confirmed the Gr2 Adelaide Cup would be considered next year. “She came over with a low rating; she’s really excelled,” he said. Apprentice Brooke King also celebrated a personal milestone when Nicish, trained by Phillip and Tommy Stokes, provided her 100th career winner, before she completed a double aboard Mansiere. That success carried added significance for Jeff and Karren Maund, delivering their first winner as a training partnership. Yet one of the meeting day’s most memorable stories unfolded some 320 kilometres away at Quorn, where apprentice Stephy Wright enjoyed an extraordinary introduction to race riding. Wright won her first race aboard the David Page-trained Brullen before combining with the trainer again later in the programme to capture the Quorn Cup aboard Titan Rising, completing a remarkable debut afternoon.
Newcomers Head Waikato Stallion Showcase
Thursday, 20th August 2026
Four high-profile newcomers will provide fresh interest when the Gavelhouse.com Waikato Stallion Parade returns this weekend, with Charyn, Savaglee, Return To Conquer and The Foxes joining a remarkably deep collection of proven and emerging sires across the region. Reports racingnews.co.nz, 35 stallions from nine Waikato farms will be displayed across Saturday and Sunday, giving breeders a concentrated opportunity to inspect much of New Zealand’s commercial stallion roster immediately before the breeding season begins. New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association chief executive Nick Johnson believes the strength of the newcomers complements an established group containing proven Group 1 sires and younger horses whose first progeny are beginning to emerge. Saturday opens at Mapperley Stud, where Champion Three-Year-Old Savaglee will parade alongside Armory. A son of 10-time Champion Sire Savabeel, Savaglee retired after a career highlighted by the Gr1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas and Gr2 Levin Classic, having also won the Gr3 Matamata Slipper as a juvenile. Attention then shifts to Waikato Stud, where unbeaten Gr1 Sistema Stakes winner Return To Conquer joins Ardrossan, Banquo, Noverre and Ocean Park. The son of Snitzel cost A$1.3 million as a Magic Millions yearling and retired unbeaten after four stakes starts, providing breeders with an unusually precocious new option. Rich Hill Stud and Brighthill Farm complete the morning programme before racing at Te Rapa for the Foxbridge Plate. Sunday brings another heavyweight collection. Windsor Park Stud will showcase Auguste Rodin, Circus Maximus, Paddington, Profondo, Shamexpress and Vanbrugh before Novara Park introduces The Foxes, the Churchill entire whose career included the Gr2 Royal Lodge Stakes, Gr2 Dante Stakes and Gr2 Huxley Stakes, along with placings at Group 1 level internationally. The weekend concludes at Cambridge Stud, where new arrival Charyn joins Almanzor, Chaldean, Embellish, Hello Youmzain and Sword Of State. Charyn brings exceptional European credentials after being crowned World Champion Miler and Cartier Champion Older Horse in 2024, a campaign featuring victories in the Gr1 Queen Anne Stakes, Gr1 Prix Jacques le Marois and Gr1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. Johnson said the concentration of farms and stallions illustrates both the quality of Waikato’s breeding industry and the continuing investment underpinning New Zealand’s international success, with the parade allowing breeders to assess that depth in person as another season begins.
Return to Conquer is new to Waikato Stud (pic: Kenton Wright Race Images)
Promising Noverre Prospect Heads to Waller
Thursday, 20th August 2026
A potential-laden young prospect from Christchurch is set to continue his career in Sydney after Spill It was sold to Australian interests following an impressive maiden victory at Riccarton earlier this month. Prepared by Anna Furlong, the son of Noverre broke through at just his second start over 1200m and has now been transferred to champion trainer Chris Waller, with his former trainer confident there is considerably more improvement to come as he strengthens and matures. Furlong believes the colt’s fluent action and natural stride should be particularly well suited to firmer ground and longer distances, qualities that helped make him an attractive proposition for buyers seeking a horse capable of developing through the three-year-old season. “He's obviously going to be better on top of the ground and over a bit more of a trip, he's just got that beautiful, clean, correct stride,” she said. “He's got good stride length and he's certainly going to mature into a lovely three-year-old.” While a spring appearance remains possible, Furlong expects Spill It may ultimately be seen to best advantage later in the season after further physical development. “I'd like to think he could come up in the spring,” she said. “But he was quite rangy and needed a bit of time developing physically. You will probably see the best of him in the autumn.” His departure leaves Furlong with a smaller but active team preparing for Thursday’s Riccarton synthetic meeting, where four-year-old mares Cocomora and Vienna Game will contest the Remembering Richard Johnson Maiden over 1400m. Cocomora has produced a string of consistent performances without yet converting them into a victory, and Furlong is hoping the new preparation finally brings the breakthrough. “She’s come up well this prep, but she needs to put her hand up and do the business this time in,” she said. Vienna Game, meanwhile, is being given another opportunity after a below-par recent performance that her trainer is prepared to disregard, with the compact field expected to provide a cleaner chance to find her rhythm. Three-time winner My Sharona completes Furlong’s representation when she steps into the Rating 75 Benchmark over 1400m, a grade the trainer regards as demanding in Canterbury. The five-year-old has nevertheless been working well, enjoys the synthetic surface and has developed a useful understanding with apprentice Jack Taplin, although another awkward draw remains the principal concern. Spill It’s move to Waller’s Sydney operation therefore provides the headline development for the stable, but Furlong retains an immediate interest at home while watching closely to see whether the rangy colt can convert his early promise into higher-level success across the Tasman.
