TRACKSIDE WORLDWIDE

RACING HEATS UP IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND AS WINTER DRAWS TO A CLOSE From Hong Kong to Dubai and back home to Sydney, Longines World's Best Jockey, James McDonald, continues to rack up major stakes wins. Returning to Australia after making global headlines aboard Romantic Warrior at Meydan two weeks ago, McDonald wasted no time in adding another victory to his resume. On Saturday, February 8, he expertly guided Rivellino to a thrilling win in the $2 million Inglis Millennium at Randwick.

Trailing at the 400m mark, McDonald skillfully weaved Rivellino through traffic, finding space out wide before pressing the gas pedal. The two-year-old surged into contention, kicking clear with 50m to go and holding off the fast-finishing Within Law. The Inglis Millennium, a race exclusively for Inglis Classic Graduates over 1100m, serves as the perfect lead-in to the upcoming sales on Sunday, February 9. Rivellino's victory keeps his undefeated record intact through two starts, raising hopes among his connections that he can make a strong impact in the $5 million TAB Golden Slipper on Saturday, March 22.

The high-stakes action at Randwick continued a tradition of overshadowing Group racing held elsewhere in Australia on the same day. Racing Victoria  attempted to draw punters’ attention away from New South Wales with a strong card at Caulfield, highlighted by the Group One C.F. Orr Stakes. The $750,000 feature race produced an enthralling finish, with Another Wil charging past Mr Brightside to claim victory. Neither horse had raced since November, and both looked strong off their spells. Despite the narrow loss, Mr Brightside's supporters remain confident in his chances for the upcoming All-Star Mile. Meanwhile, Another Wil, a rising five-year-old, appears to be hitting top form at just the right time. The All-Star Mile, set for March 8th at Randwick this year, will see a significant prize money reduction, dropping from $4 million to $2.5 million as Racing Victoria reallocates funds elsewhere this season.

Australia’s growing influence on the global sprinting scene was also felt across the Tasman in New Zealand over the weekend. While Kiwi racing often operates in the shadow of its larger neighbor, Saturday’s action at Te Rapa proved to be a showcase event. Under sunny skies in the Waikato, two Group One races drew strong crowds and international interest. Local star El Vencedor claimed his first Group One victory of the season, defeating La Crique, who has now finished runner-up in three consecutive top-level races. The heavily backed favorite led confidently into the straight and never looked back, cruising to victory in the $700,000 feature.

Before the Australians took center stage in the BCD Group Sprint, Irish jockey Joe Doyle piloted Tuxedo to victory in the Group Two 2000m Waikato Guineas. The sprint itself saw Here To Shock produce a breathtaking turn of speed over the final 200m, surging past the Annabel Neasham-trained Bosustow. Local runner Savaglee finished third, recording her lowest placing of the season and ending a four-race win streak at home. The three-year-old colt will have an opportunity to turn the tables when he travels to Melbourne for the Australian Guineas at Flemington on March 1.

With major races unfolding across Australia and New Zealand, the stage is set for an exciting autumn of racing, where emerging talents and seasoned stars will battle for supremacy on the turf.

written by Joe Bell