Omaha Beach - New Winner

Perennial black-type bridesmaid Qali Al Farrasha shed that unwanted tag in outstanding fashion when she downed a quality line-up of mares in Saturday’s Gr.2 Dunstan Horsefeeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe.

When Band Of Brothers broke his maiden at Bendigo, we noted the success his owner/breeder, David Moodie, has enjoyed with North American stallions. Right on cue, the son of Omaha Beach (USA) credited his sire with his first Australian stakes-winner in Saturday’s Group III Ive > Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.

A homebred for Peters Investments, progressive gelding Cosmic Crusader became a new stakes-winner for his sire Maurice (Jpn) when taking out the $125,000 Listed WATC Carbine Club of WA Stakes (1400m) at Ascot on Saturday.

The Kembla standalone meeting on Saturday was run in relentless mist and light rain, but the gloomy conditions didn’t dampen the turn of foot possessed by talented Zousain mare Catch the Glory, who powered to the line to win the $300,000 The Warra (1000m).

Highlighted by many as their best bet leading into Saturday’s racing despite drawing one of widest barriers in the $500,000 Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m), the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr trained Manhattan Rain 4yo Sabaj looks to have better things ahead of him after his stylish victory.

Arguably in career best form, the Cindy Alderson trained Jigsaw produced an all-the-way winning performance to capture the $1m Meteorite (1200m) at Cranbourne on Saturday, giving his sire Manhattan Rain both feature race winners at the meeting.

Placing a horse to advantage in the modern world where there seems to be a million dollar race every second week is something an astute trainer can really work well for their owners and no trainer has done it better than Ciaron Maher with high class 6YO Gringotts (NZ), whose half-brother will be offered at Karaka Book 1 in 2026.

Comeback jockey Elen Nicholas took her career to its greatest heights yet with a masterful ride aboard Final Return to take out the Gr.3 MyRacehorse Counties Cup (2100m) at Pukekohe on Saturday.

While many breeders take a standoffish approach to American-performed stallions, David Moodie has no such problem.

Trapeze Artist has had plenty of success this spring with new Group winners Panova and Piggyback and his good form continued at the standalone meeting at Kembla on Saturday with a first up win for talented sprinter Spywire, who has a half-brother headed to Magic Millions 2026.