Strictly Business begins Cups preparation
2025 VRC Oaks winner Strictly Business has taken her first steps towards the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups with a 1400m hitout at Burrumbeet on Thursday morning.
The daughter of Grunt, who went within inches of adding the South Australian Derby to her Group 1 record before spelling, worked strongly to the line to finish third under regular rider John Allen on a heavy track.
New Zealand cuts Group 1 prizemoney
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing has confirmed minimum prizemoney levels will be maintained for the 2026/27 season, but its major races will take a hit as the industry deals with a funding shortfall.
More than $3.1 million will be cut from black-type and innovation races, including around $1.3 million from Group 1 events.
The decision protects prizemoney at the lower levels while asking the country's feature races to absorb the majority of the cuts. The Straight has the detail.
Japan Cup the priority for Calandagan
International star Calandagan has the Japan Cup as his principal autumn target as connections map out the remainder of his campaign.
A return on British Champions Day remains possible, but only if conditions are suitable, with connections determined to avoid another testing-ground encounter before heading back to Japan.
Cox Plate back on the table for Sheza Alibi
Trainer Peter Moody has left the door open for Sheza Alibi to take on the Cox Plate at Flemington following her second placing behind Autumn Glow in Saturday's Group 1 Winx Stakes.
The $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) had been considered her logical spring grand final, but Moody says the stable is still learning about the four-year-old and whether she may ultimately be better suited over further.
Is my filly going to be sharp enough, or good enough, to win that race at 1500 metres? Or do we seriously put the Cox Plate back on the agenda, thinking she might tell us she wants 2000 metres?
One thing Moody made clear is that connections have no intention of avoiding Autumn Glow as the spring progresses.
Victorian racing continues to lead the way
Racing Victoria CEO Aaron Morrison has talked up the strength of the state's racing product after another strong season.
"We ended up as the most watched, the most wagered and most attended of any racing product," Morrison told SEN's Giddy Up.
Wild Atlantic to debut in San Domenico
Team Hawkes will throw exciting colt Wild Atlantic straight into the deep end when he makes his race debut in Saturday's Group 3 San Domenico Stakes.
The $320,000 Magic Millions purchase is a son of Exceedance, who won the same race in 2019 before progressing to Group 1 success later that spring.
A strong debut could see Wild Atlantic follow a similar path towards the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m).
"He's done everything right. He's just taken a bit of time, probably a bit like Dad as well," Michael Hawkes said.
Oaks runner-up Profoundly sold for $360,000
Australian Oaks runner-up Profoundly has been sold to Boomer Bloodstock for $360,000 through Inglis Digital following her premature retirement from racing.
The Michael Freedman-trained mare won three of her 11 starts, including the Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes, before finishing runner-up to Ohope Wins in the Australian Oaks.
Profoundly had returned to training ahead of further feature targets before a serious suspensory injury brought her racing career to an end.
Pallaton begins new chapter with Begg
Group 3 winner Pallaton will make his first appearance for new trainer Grahame Begg when he resumes in Saturday's Group 3 The Heath (1100m).
Previously trained by Michael Freedman, Pallaton won the Group 3 Zeditave Stakes at Caulfield earlier in his career and Begg expects there to be improvement to come from his stable debut.
"He's a nice horse," Begg said. "I feel whatever he does Saturday, he'll have improvement to come."
Dan O's five horses to follow this spring
Leading ratings expert Dan O'Sullivan has identified five horses he believes can make their mark during the spring carnival.
| Horse | Major target | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Defiantly | Melbourne Cup | $15+ |
| Central Europe | Caulfield Guineas / Golden Rose | $11+ |
| My Gladiola | Moir Stakes | $8 |
| Attica | Epsom Handicap | $13 |
| King Of The Sea | Caulfield Cup | $15 |
Dan went through every major spring market with us earlier this week — the full interview is here — and his piece for Racing.com can be read here.
Editorial at The Daily Punt, covering Australian racing and sport with an eye for where the value sits.
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