The week that was – Tom Walter’s ones to follow

Tom Walter - Monday September 25

A three-year-old and two mares feature in this week’s edition of horses to follow from around the tracks in New South Wales.

Advertisement

OUR BELISA
Has only one win from a dozen starts but you must take into consideration that she raced in strong company during her two and three-year-old season. Resumed as a four-year-old mare in a 1200m Fillies and Mares Class One at Kembla and ran on soundly into third. That race was dominated by the two front-runners as they dashed home in 33.81 seconds while Our Belisa was the only one to make up any sort of ground over the concluding stages. Form would suggest this John Thompson-trained mare won’t hit her straps until she gets up to a mile but think she can win second-up in a genuinely run 1400m contest next time out.
Career record (12:1-2-2).
Possible race to look for – F&M Class 1 Handicap (1400m) at Hawkesbury October 8.

KAONIC
A slashing debut at Wednesday’s Warwick Farm meeting by this son of Savabeel – in what looked a stronger than average midweek maiden. Made his run from back in the field first-up over 1400m and was charging to the finish line, only to be hampered late by the winner. Officially finished third but think he would have finished a clear second had he not been inconvenienced. Should improve significantly from the outing and looks to have plenty of talent.
Career record (1:0-0-1).
Possible race to look for – 3YO Maiden Plate (1550m) at Canterbury October 4.

O’REILLY CYRUS
Another one to emerge from the Warwick Farm midweek card. Stepping out in the 1200m Benchmark 73 Handicap, O’Reilly Cyrus found herself strung up behind runners in a slowly run race before the first two shot clear to fight it out in the quickest last 600m of the day. She stuck to her guns to finish third, albeit some 2-1/2 lengths from the winner. Get the impression this big mare would be better suited leading or on the pace over a bit further. Formerly based in Queensland, the four-year-old has had a handful of starts for Warwick Farm trainer Joe Pride, who is in the middle of a significant upturn, with 10 winners in the last 25 days. Identifying trends like these have the potential to yield big profits.
Career record (13:2-1-3).

COMMENTS - Did you spot one to follow? Share it with the Racenet audience through the comments section below.

Advertisment
More Reading...
One to Watch – Newcastle
A $600,000 Proisir filly that is a half-sister to a Group I winner opened her account at Newcastle on Monday.
Eight Supplementaries Added to Premier Catalogue
A total of eight supplementary entries have been confirmed for the Premier Yearling Sale, taking the final catalogue number to 814 lots.
Unraced First Season Sires at the Trials
This report is always well read for those looking for insight into what these young stallions have in the pipeline as winners don’t come from nowhere, they come through the trials.
2026 G1 Blue Diamond Field and Barrier Draw
The $2million Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) is the first Group I race for juveniles in Australia this season and in a race with many chances the barrier draw is all important and if you had trouble splitting the Price Kent trained colts Guest House and Big Sky before the draw… nothing has changed.
Promising New Winner for Blue Hen
Some mares have a freakish knack for producing fast horses and one of those is Meerlust, who has given us triple Group I winner Duais, plus Group winners Baccarat Baby and Philia with her considerable record improved on Tuesday with a promising new winner at Kembla.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday February 17
Here is the full list of 28 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Zoustar Filly Primed For Another Win
Miss Twinkle shined when winning her maiden at Riccarton last month and trainer Andrew Carston is hoping for a repeat performance when he returns to his local track on Wednesday with his filly.
Blue Diamond Passport to Stud Career
A colt that wins the Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) is invariably offered a chance at a commercial stud career and champion sires Redoute’s Choice and Extreme Choice have set the bar high in that regard.
ATIEA nominations close Wednesday midnight
The Australian thoroughbred industry has a final opportunity to recognise its staff, with nominations for the 2026 Australian Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards (formerly the Stud and Stable Staff Awards) now closing at midnight this Wednesday.
Ocean Park's Ohope Wins to Lead Wexford Stables Charge
Major targets for two and dress rehearsals for others add up to an intriguing day’s racing for a talent-packed Wexford Stables contingent at Ellerslie on Saturday.