With four winner of the Gr2 Blue Diamond Prelude (F) in the last 12 years going on to record success in the Gr1 Blue Diamond Stakes at their next starts, the current betting for the upcoming elite level feature sees Saturday's runners Streisand (Magnus-Zouper Star, by Zoustar) and Jacaranda (Home Affairs-Gracie's Lass, by Redoute's Choice) on the fifth and sixth line of betting. With three unbeaten fillies contesting the race including Gr3 Blue Diamond Preview (F) winner Rubi's Choice (Rubick-Redasun, by Haradasun) and Moana Spirit (Tagalo-Chaminade, byMedaglia D'oro) who join Saturday's favourite Jacaranda, it looks as if the Ben, Will and JD Hayes trained stable holds the leading hand in the race. Not only the trainers of Jacaranda, the stable also trains both Medicinal (Brazen Beau-Tisane, by Hallowed Crown) and Portinari (Home Affairs-Art Collection, by Fastnet Rock) who make their debut on Saturday off two jumpout efforts. Bred and raced by Godolphin, Medicinal has beaten Portinario into second place in both jumpout efforts and drawing gate two on Saturday may suggest she is one to keep an eye on. Looking back at the chances of Jacaranda, the Vinery Stud yearling graduate is not only a half-sister to multiple Gr1 winner Artorius (Flying Artie), but also the Gr3 Ming Dynasty winner Sixites (Flying Artie) who resumed last Saturday with an impressive win. Purchased for $300,000 by Tom Magnier, if Jacaranda can improve on her five and three quarter length debut win, then the daughter of Home Affairs looks very hard to beat.
Transatlantic Likely to Bypass the Autumn
Thursday, 5th February 2026
A strategic pivot ahead of the major autumn features has seen one of Queensland’s elite performers redirected toward a winter target, with patience now the priority rather than haste. According to The Australian, that horse is Transatlantic, whose campaign has been recalibrated by trainer Tony Gollan in favour of a fresh assault on the Stradbroke Handicap later in the year. The Group 1-winning son of Snitzel has not been seen since his agonising near-miss to Vivy Air in November’s $2 million Five Diamonds at Rosehill, where he went down narrowly over 1800m. While the run confirmed his class, the effort also took its toll, prompting a reassessment once he returned to work and the autumn pathway came into focus. “I had him back in (at work) and I just wasn't happy with him there at one stage,” Gollan said. “I thought it was going to be a tight timeline to the autumn in Sydney and I decided to back off with him a little. We'll change tack and we're now going to head towards the Stradbroke with him. He's a good miler and they're the sort of horses that win Stradbrokes. His rating will be such that he'll get in the race this year so we don't have to qualify.” Despite amassing nine Group 1 victories across a stellar career, Queensland’s premier race at Eagle Farm in June has remained an elusive prize. Transatlantic gained a start in last year’s Stradbroke only after the late scratching of Kimochi, but a wide barrier proved costly and he could finish no better than ninth behind War Machine in the 1400m feature. Any lingering frustration was quickly erased during a highly successful Melbourne spring campaign. The six-year-old rebounded emphatically, culminating in a scintillating victory in the $1 million Toorak Handicap at Caulfield in October under Mark Zahra, a performance that reasserted his standing among Australia’s leading milers and reinforced the belief that a Stradbroke remains well within reach. Gollan is also preparing another stable star for a return to Sydney, with Zarastro set to contest the $250,000 Group 3 Liverpool City Cup at Randwick later this month. The powerful gelding resumed in the JRA Plate at Rosehill last Saturday, where he showed trademark grit when leading under pressure before finishing third behind Willaidow and The Instructor.
Eight Colts to Battle Out Blue Diamond Prelude
Thursday, 5th February 2026
With three last start winners including the current favourite for the Gr1 Blue Diamond Stakes, coupled with two colts making their debuts off jumpout wins, Saturday's $350,000 Gr3 Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) (1100m) looks an interesting contest. Impressing on debut when winning by three-quarters of a length back in December, Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr's Guest House (Home Affairs-Flamboyant Lass, by Stratum) has since had a nice jumpout, and with his trainers indicating he has more ability that his unbeaten stablemate Big Sky (Bivouac), a winner of last Saturday's G3 Chairman's Stakes, it's no surprise that Guest House is the favourite for Saturday's juvenile contest. Narrow Listed Maribyrnong Trial winner Eurocanto (Per Incanto-Shespending, by Savabeel) has not started since that win, nor has Listed Merson Cooper Stakes winner Eternal Warrior (Extreme Warrior-Devout Hero, by No Nay Never). With the betting suggesting neither of the two stakes winners look capable of troubling Guest House, an interesting runner is the debut performer Closer to Free (Street Boss-Lady Naturaliste, by Choisir). Winning his past two jumpouts, including defeating Eternal Warrior and the Merson Cooper Stakes runner-up Stretan Ruler (Wild Ruler-Sretan, by Bernardini), the Milburn Creek yearling sale graduate has seen a change of ownership and trainer since his most recent jumpout win on January 29.
Derby Winner Can Continue His Winning Ways
Thursday, 5th February 2026
Successful in the Gr2 Vase (2040m) before victory in the Gr1 VRC Derby (2500m), the Ciaron Maher-trained Observer (Ghaiyyath-Smooth, by Lonhro) resumes on Saturday in the Gr2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield. Since joining the Maher yard, the 3YO has had four starts, winning his two stakes races, as well as posting an unlucky third in the Gr1 Caulfield Guineas behind Autumn Boy (The Autumn Sun), suggesting the Godolphin-bred and raced colt is very smart. A free-wheeling, front-running stayer, Observer's sire, Dubawi sire-son Ghaiyatth has made a very promising start in both hemispheres. Finishing ahead of Observer when second in the Caulfield Guineas, the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Planet Red (Admire Mars-Lucky Helmet, by Helmet) is an extremely consistent gelding, never finishing further back than fourth in his five starts to date. Unbeaten first up, including a win over Observer, it's interesting to see that connections are starting him fresh over 1400m when all wins are over 1200m. Greg Eurell's Cyber Link (Bivouac-Sasso Corbaro, by All Too Hard) was scratched from a winnable race on Wednesday, where he was allocated 60kgs, and instead looks likely to start here. The son of Darley's Bivouac was bred by China Horse Club and sold as a yearling through Bowness Stud's 2024 Magic Millions Adelaide yearling sale draft where he was knocked down to Mattmartin Global Pty Ltd for $87,500.
Weight Advantage Points to Pallaton
Thursday, 5th February 2026
With Michael Freedman sending his stakes-placed Pallaton (Wootton Bassett-Anevay, by Exceed And Excel) to Victoria on Saturday for the Gr2 Rubiton Stakes, the weight advantage the 3YO colt gets on his more fancied rivals Hedge (Capitalist-Acing Shamrock, by Fastnet Rock) and Oak Hill (Per Incanto-Isstoora, by High Chaparral) will surely aid in a forward showing. Second in the Listed Brian Crowley behind Skyglider (Flying Artie) two starts back before winning down the Flemington straight, the colt resumes on Saturday and with a win and third from two previous first up runs, if things fall into place, he looks capable of breaking his Black Type maiden. Utterly dominant when racing away to win the Gr2 Australia Stakes last start by two lengths over Gr1 winners Veight (Grunt) and War Machine (Harry Angel), the Gavin Bedggood trained Hedge has been allocated 59kg, while the promising Oak Hill, who is yet not win at black type level will carry 57kg. Unbale to win in three previous starts at Caulfield, the Harry Coffey ridden Hedge has drawn barrier one which should give the gelding every chance to secure his first victory at the track. A narrow second last time out when favourite in the Listed W.J. Adams Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield, the Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained gelding does have two wins and a second from four second up efforts and come Saturday should be ready to produce the goods.
Forsman Gearing Up for a Busy Saturday
Thursday, 5th February 2026
An encouraging morning gallop at Te Rapa has set a positive tone for Cambridge trainer Andrew Forsman ahead of a busy Saturday, with four runners poised to contest feature races at Waikato Thoroughbred Racing's headquarters. The early visit allowed Forsman to assess conditions and finalise plans, leaving him quietly confident that his team has arrived at the right point in their preparations. At the forefront of the team is Hinekaha (NZ), who completed a solo hitout on the course proper with raceday rider Craig Grylls aboard as she readied herself for a Group 1 debut in the $700,000 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m). Overnight rain had left the surface in ideal order, providing the perfect platform for a searching but controlled piece of work. "The track was lovely after a bit of rain overnight and it was good to get across there for a nice hitout ahead of the weekend," Forsman said. "Hinekaha worked over 1400m and picked up the tempo from the 800. She got home in around 36.5, which was great work, she did it very well. Craig was very happy with her too, so she looks all set for Saturday." That piece of work followed a strong run of form through the summer. The Savabeel mare completed a hat-trick when scoring in the Gr2 Cal Isuzu Stakes over the same 2000m at Te Rapa in December, then returned on the Karaka Millions card to finish a short-neck second to Tuxedo in the Gr3 Aotearoa Classic (1600m). The step back up in distance on Saturday is expected to play firmly to her strengths. Although the move into Group 1 weight-for-age company brings obvious questions, Forsman believes the mare's physical development has shifted the equation. "She's a completely different proposition to this time last year, she's so much bigger and stronger," he said. "There's still a little way to go, but the way this track plays for her it really suits, and with the field not quite as strong as it looked originally, we've decided to run. Put it this way, I think she's going well enough to do it." Further depth to the stable's hand will be tested across the remainder of the programme, with Single Red, Chilling Out and Rambling On all engaged in black-type or special-conditions races. Forsman said all three have trained on well, noting that Single Red's final target will depend on ballot order, while Chilling Out remains a filly to be handled patiently. Rambling On, a December winner at Te Rapa, arrives off a recent Pukekohe trial and shapes as a genuine chance in the $350,000 Sir Patrick Hogan Karapiro Classic. He added that Saturday's assignments would provide a clearer guide to autumn ambitions for each runner as the campaign begins to take shape from here.
Hinekaha is ready for her Group 1 debut (pic: Megan Liefting)
Murphy Resolute in Not Selling Alpha Sophie
Thursday, 5th February 2026
When the right horse comes along, some owners aren’t tempted by any price tag. According to racing.com, that’s the stance of Queensland property developer and Melbourne Cup-winning owner Tosh Murphy, who insists he “wouldn’t be the slightest bit interested” in selling his brilliant filly, Alpha Sofie, regardless of the offers that might come his way. For Murphy, the thrill of racing a filly with genuine star quality is worth far more than any cheque. Excitement has been building ever since Alpha Sofie burst onto the scene in Queensland, winning two of her first three starts for trainer Jason Edwards in decisive style. Her rapid rise prompted a move south, and it took just one run in Victoria for the daughter of So You Think to underline her potential – blitzing rivals in the Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes at Moonee Valley last September. That emphatic performance was followed by a spell, with Alpha Sofie now aimed at resuming in the Group 3 Peter Le Grand Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday under the care of Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman. Ownership has its privileges, including the chance to flip a horse for profit, but Murphy is adamant that Alpha Sofie is not for sale. He explained that the investment and patience poured into racing is all about enjoying these rare moments. “I put too much money into horses to sell when I get a good horse like this. Hopefully this filly keeps going and she looks like being something special, doesn’t she?” It’s a sentiment informed by decades of experience: “I have had a heap of city winners over the years and everybody thinks my racing colours are the Brisbane Broncos colours, but I actually got them before the Broncos and they are Queensland colours. My two brothers were jockeys, my Dad was a jockey and my grandfather and my uncle were jockeys. I was born too big to be a jockey, but I like racing horses.” Alpha Sofie shares the Moody-Coleman stable with another Queensland-owned filly, Sheza Alibi, a rising star herself and favourite for the Group 1 Australian Guineas. Like Alpha Sofie, she’s off the market at any price, reflecting a proud local tradition and a willingness to let dreams ride a little longer. Murphy, who was part of the Gold Trip ownership in the 2022 Melbourne Cup and also races high-quality stayer Al Riffa, is content to leave Alpha Sofie’s immediate targets in Moody’s hands. “I just leave it up to Peter, he seems to know what he is doing,” Murphy quipped. “Besides that, he would tell me to mind my own business. This filly only had one start in Victoria in the spring because she had already had a fairly big campaign and she was showing a glimpse of tiredness. It was a great thrill to see her win like she did.
Waller Plots Paths of Elite Autumn Performers
Thursday, 5th February 2026
Careful planning is the order of the day as Chris Waller Racing charts a Group 1 autumn path for a quartet of high-profile sprinters, according to punters.com.au. Warwick Farm trials offered the latest glimpse, with Angel Capital and Joliestar both returning with encouraging seconds and thirds in a 900m heat behind seasoned rival Coal Crusher. Options remain open for where the pair will commence their campaigns. With the Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Randwick looming, the possibility exists that both could line up, though connections are also considering the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield for Joliestar a week later. “I don’t want them all to clash in the Expressway, I don’t mind them clashing in the Apollo but the sprinters I want to try to keep their confidence up a bit,” Chris Waller explained, preferring to keep his stable’s momentum rolling rather than force internal competition too early in the season. Multiple paths are mapped out for the stable’s array of talent. “I am half tempted to think about the Futurity for Joliestar and Angel Capital will be in the Expressway and Joliestar could still be there as well. You’ve got a couple of other horses like Lazzura and you have the Millie Fox there the following week if we need it,” Waller said. A Newmarket run looks unlikely for Joliestar, with Waller adding, “It’s unlikely Joliestar would go to the Newmarket because we’ve got three colts and they’re very well weighted whereas she would have a lot of weight.” While her precise launch pad remains undecided, the filly is expected to head to the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) for her second-up assignment. Meanwhile, Angel Capital will tackle the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington in company with fellow stablemates Wodeton and Beiwacht, both three-year-olds with strong credentials. Beiwacht, fresh from his Golden Rose triumph, resumes in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m) in what Waller describes as a “critical guide” to a possible Dubai campaign. Wodeton, a colt with considerable promise, is set for a return under James McDonald in the Eskimo Prince Stakes, with the prospect of being tried over longer trips as the campaign unfolds.
Joliestar could head to the Futurity Stakes (pic: Mark Gatt)
Alibaba Needs to Parlay Success for Diamond Bid
Thursday, 5th February 2026
Patience and perseverance have been frequent companions in a training life where the wait for a special juvenile can stretch across seasons. Ken Keys knows that reality better than most, having seen his fair share of tough years since the emergence of Saloon Rule in the late 1980s. While that filly’s early promise briefly put the stable in the Blue Diamond frame, a poor start dashed big-race dreams, and, as Keys tells it, opportunities to sell for transformative money came and went. Keys told racing.com's podcast, “It’s a big slog, if you haven’t got a good one, as everybody in the training game knows,” he reflected this week, casting his mind back over the quiet spells that followed. “It’s been a couple of seasons, now, without the top end… which leaves a big hole. Because you’ve had a taste of it, you want more.” The tale of Saloon Rule is one of near misses – an offer of $600,000 turned down on the eve of her Blue Diamond tilt, only to finish last in the race itself. “Saloon Rule was just a genuine fast horse, but didn’t have the brain to go with it,” Keys admits with a wry smile. That’s why his hopes for Alibaba, this season’s flagbearer, rest as much on temperament as on talent. “This one (Alibaba) has got a great brain. He takes everything in his stride. Last Saturday, when that horse played up beside him, he just stood there and didn’t care. He has the right attitude.” A trip to Sydney now beckons for the $2 million Inglis Millennium at Randwick, and Keys is quietly confident the young colt’s composure will serve him well in the cauldron of big-race pressure. “I think he’ll adapt to it all pretty well,” Keys said. “He seems to do what you ask.” Curiously, Alibaba isn’t nominated for the Blue Diamond or the Slipper, a decision rooted more in financial realities than lack of belief. “People say ‘why isn’t he in the Diamond, or the Slipper?’ – well, we made a decision (when) we paid up for the Inglis race with the theory being if he could go well enough in that, then you could pay for anything else you want.” When decisions on nominations are made as early as June, before the horse is fully sold, practical considerations take precedence. This time, shares remained unplaced, but with no regrets. How the colt pulls up after this weekend will shape the next move. If things go to plan, the Blue Diamond could still come into view – late entry and all. “They’re only two-year-olds once,” Keys says, a truth every trainer understands all too well.
