Day: 14 September 2026

Triple Group One winner Jimmysstar pleased trainer Ciaron Maher with a sharp Cranbourne jumpout on Monday as he prepares to drop back in distance for the Gr.1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield. The New Zealand-bred sprinter was ridden by Ethan Brown in the 800m hit-out and impressed in accounting for a heat that included highly-regarded stablemate The Next Episode. It was Jimmysstar’s first serious piece of work since finishing ninth in the Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 29, where he was beaten five lengths by Beiwacht. Maher…

Zac Lloyd has been booked to ride star mare Well Written (Written Tycoon) when she makes her Australian debut in the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on October 3. The Golden Slipper-winning jockey will take over from Matthew Cartwright aboard the Stephen Marsh-trained four-year-old, with connections opting for a leading Sydney-based rider for the A$1.5 million feature. Cartwright has enjoyed a perfect association with Well Written, riding her to seven victories from as many starts, including the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m). Racing…

New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale graduate Planet Red (Admire Mars) will take another step towards his A$10 million Gr.1 Golden Eagle (1500m) target when he contests Saturday’s Gr.1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield. The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained four-year-old is among 24 nominations for the A$1 million feature, having resumed with a seventh placing in the Gr.1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at the same venue on August 29. Planet Red is being prepared for the Golden Eagle at Randwick on October 31, with Saturday’s assignment set…

It was a sentimental weekend for the Moroney family as they gathered at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne on Saturday to witness the inaugural running of the Listed Michael Moroney (1400m), named in honour of the trainer who passed away last year. While a proud Kiwi, the Melbourne track had been Moroney’s home base for more than a quarter of a century, and his daughter, Aliesha Moroney-Ormsby, said it was only fitting that a race bearing his name was run at the track. “Chicquita Lodge has been a big part of…

Zac Purton’s quest for a 10th Hong Kong jockeys’ championship – and a sixth title in succession continues to gather early momentum after the Australian snared a double at Sha Tin on Sunday (13 September). Purton continued metronomic progress towards a 10th jockeys’ crown with a third double from the first three meetings of the 2026/27 season. Successful on New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run graduate Ruby Thrive (Anders) in the Class 4 Hing Wah Handicap (1000m), Purton closed the card with a typically unflustered ride on the Danny Shum-trained…

Top-flight hopes are held for a trio of New Zealand-bred representatives who posted stakes victories across the Tasman at the weekend. Shockletz (NZ) (Shocking) and Satono Glow (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) were successful at Flemington, while Persian Wonder (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) scored at Rosehill to press their claims for higher honours. Last season’s champion New Zealand juvenile Lara Antipova (Russian Revolution) also rebounded from an unplaced resuming effort to land the Listed Michael Moroney (1400m) for Cranbourne-based trainer Mark Walker. “She is a Group One winner at home, and I know…

Cambridge Stud homebred Livalittle (NZ) (The Autumn Sun) continued his rapid progression through the Queensland staying ranks with an impressive last-to-first victory at Doomben on Saturday. The Tony Gollan-trained five-year-old settled at the rear before producing a powerful finish under apprentice Bella Youngberry to claim the BM85 Handicap (2020m), extending an outstanding run that has now produced six victories from his last eight starts. The victory has earned Livalittle a shot at the Toowoomba Cup (2000m) on September 26, while Gollan believes there could be considerably better races ahead for…