Australia

Group 3 winner and Classic-placed Desert Hero (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who races for The King and The Queen, will not travel to Australia and contest the G1 Melbourne Cup in November. Instead, he will be given a break and will return as a 4-year-old. Trained by William Haggas, the son of Desert Breeze (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) won the G3 Gordon S. in August and was third to Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) in the G1 St Leger at Doncaster on Sept. 16. John Warren, racing adviser to the...

Melissa Steele has been appointed as the European senior account manager of the Australian marketing agency Kick Collective. Her appointment is an "integral part of Kick Collective's global expansion strategy", as it establishes bases in Ireland and America in the coming months. Born and raised in the UK but now based in Tipperary, Ireland, Steele graduated from University of Edinburgh before gaining a place on the Godolphin Flying Start programme in 2013. She then worked as a marketing executive for Tattersalls in Newmarket for five years and has contributed in...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features the well-bred Henry Longfellow (Ire) on debut at the Curragh. 13.30 Curragh, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, c/g, 7fT HENRY LONGFELLOW (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}) wins the award as the day's best-bred runner, being the second foal out of the high-class and versatile Ballydoyle sensation Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})...

The latest intake of Godolphin Flying Start trainees for the 2023-2025 term was revealed by GFS on Wednesday. The two-year Thoroughbred Industry Management and Leadership Programme features trainees from Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the UK and the U.S. Their course begins at Kildangan Stud, County Kildare, Ireland, on Monday, Aug. 14, 2023. The scholarship facilitates trainees to learn and experience practical horsemanship, management operations and leadership in the global Thoroughbred industry with phases in Ireland, the UK, the USA, Australia and Dubai. The course is accredited by University College Dublin...

Princess Grace (Karakontie {Jpn}), a five-time graded winner and placed three times in Grade I company for John and Susan Moore and trainer Michael Stidham in this country, overcame some traffic at a critical stage and quickened home impressively to win Saturday's G3 Hawkesbury Crown S. (1300m) by about 1 3/4 lengths. Drawn the fence and sent off the lukewarm $4.40 (17-5) favorite on the back of an outstanding third in the G2 Sapphire S. on her Australian debut at The Championships at Randwick two weeks back, the dark bay...

In a little over a decade, Henry Field has built Newgate into one of the leading stallion operations in Australia and a force to be reckoned with on the international thoroughbred playing field.    Foxwedge got the stallion arm of the operation up and running in 2012 and, since then, the roster has grown exponentially, with Capitalist and Extreme Choice some of the more recent additions to the farm.    In this week's Q&A, Field explained the key principals that helped him build Newgate into what it is today, discussed...

Jockey Tom Marquand, who is riding a stint in Australia, fell off his mount due to interference in the A$2-million Inglis Millennium and sustained a concussion at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Marquand was riding trainer Annabel Neasham's Dorothy Gail (Aus) (Capitalist {Aus}), and was unseated by a mid-race maneuver from the Josh Parr-ridden Hellish (Aus) (Hellbent {Aus}). Parr was suspended 20 meetings for the careless riding  incident. "That was pretty horrible," Neasham, who won the race with Learning To Fly (Aus) (Justify), told SKY Thoroughbred Central. "He [Marquand] is ok,...

Courtesy TDNAus/NZ Coolmore Stud's Triple Crown hero and dual-hemisphere sire Justify (Scat Daddy) is off the mark in Australia and with a smart one. Learning To Fly (Aus) found plenty at her racecourse debut in Saturday's G3 Widden S. at Rosehill (video), having shown plenty of talent at the trials. Bred by Katom and purchased by Kia Ora Stud for A$900,000 from the Coolmore Stud draft at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, the Annabel Neasham-trained filly is her sire's seventh worldwide stakes winner and his first winner of...

Australia will host a race worth $1 million or more every four days in 2023, according to the latest Aushorse Investor's Guide released on Wednesday. The guide also showed that prize money across the country soared 92% over the past decade. The annual Aushorse Investor's Guide pulls together the latest information on the Australian Thoroughbred racing industry. "Australia is enjoying a golden age when it comes to the Thoroughbred industry," Tom Reilly, chief executive of Aushorse, said. "We have a great funding model that gives owners a real chance to...

Once viewed as one of the classiest riding prospects in Ireland, Tom 'Socks' Madden pointed to the harsh realities of competing in his home nation as the driving force behind him taking the plunge and bidding to emulate Declan Bates and Johnny Allen by turning to Australia in an effort to rejuvenate his career in the saddle.  Just over a month after he upped sticks to Australia, Madden rode his first winner for new boss Lindsey Smith aboard Glitter 'N' Gold (Aus) (Choisir {Aus}), after which he credited fellow Irishman...

Ouija Board (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), the brilliant racemare and dam of Derby winner Australia (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), has died at the age of 21. Confirming the dual Classic winner's passing on Tuesday, her breeder Lord Derby said, "In our wildest dreams, we never imagined we could breed a horse that would be a global record-breaker and inspire so many people with so many happy memories. She was simply the best and always had the most wonderful temperament. She loved a hug and a polo mint every time we walked...

The online auction for a 12.5% share in champion mare Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) came to a close on Monday evening (local time), passing in for NZ$350,000. However, a deal was struck later with the share selling to an existing part owner for an undisclosed amount. Extrapolation puts her projected value at NZ$2.8 million. Offered on Gavelhouse Plus, the share was made available by part-owner Tim Barry.