First Australian Stakes-Winner for Calyx

Tara Madgwick - Friday January 24

Kingman son Calyx (GB) shuttled to Coolmore for just two seasons and got his first Australian stakes-winner at Launceston on Friday night when talented gelding Likeakalix turned the Listed Launceston Guineas (2100m) into a procession.

Sent out a hot favourite, the Leanne Gaffney trained Likeakalix had won two of his previous three starts on synthetic tracks and had nor trouble transferring that good form to the grass when galloping away to win by more than four lengths under David Pires.

Advertisement

Likeakalix was a $30,000 Magic Millions Tasmania purchase from the Armidale Stud draft for his trainer and has never missed a place in six starts with three wins and three placings netting over $113,000 in prizemoney.

Likeakalix was a $30,000 Magic Millions Tasmania purchase from Armidale Stud.

He is the best of two winners from Like a Song (IRE), who was bought by I Katz for $15,000 at the 2021 Inglis Broodmare Sale when in foal to Calyx with Likeakalix the result of the mating. She is an unraced half-sister to Group III winner Ladys First. 

Likeakalix is the fifth stakes-winner worldwide and first in Australia for Calyx, who remains on the Coolmore roster in Ireland for 2025 at a fee of €12,500.

Advertisment

Race Result - Kevin Sharkie Launceston Guineas LR 2100m

Launceston Track: Good(4) Time: 2:10.69
1
Likeakalix
- 3g Calyx (GB) x Like A Song (IRE) (Royal Applause (GB))
Tnr: Ms L Gaffney Rdr: D Pires 58
2
4.3
Go Jeanie
- 3f Frosted (USA) x What A Beauty (AUS) (Octagonal (NZ))
Tnr: Liandra Gray Rdr: T Baker 56.5
3
5.5
Azonto
- 3f Stratosphere (AUS) x Ehor (AUS) (Val Royal (FR))
Tnr: Barry Campbell Rdr: A Darmanin 57
4
7.5
Garcon D'espoir
- 3g Omaha Beach (USA) x Triple Asset (AUS) (Nadeem (AUS))
Tnr: Yassy Nishitani Rdr: N Tomizawa 59
5
9.8
Don't Give Up
- 3g Needs Further (AUS) x Bet You She Rocks (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: S Gandy Rdr: B Muhcu 58
6
10.8
Tuskegee
- 3g Alabama Express (AUS) x High Tea (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: Barry Campbell Rdr: K Sanderson 58
7
10.8
Currencies
- 3f Gold Standard (AUS) x Aurora Miss (AUS) (Astronomer Royal (USA))
Tnr: G J Stevenson Rdr: Codi Jordan 55
8
25.3
Halen
- 3g Stratosphere (AUS) x Oxy Angel (AUS) (West Quest (CAN))
Tnr: G J McCulloch Rdr: M Ulucinar 57
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Tuesday December 16
Here is the full list of 16 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Pedigree Pointers – Karaka 2026
The 2026 NZB National Yearling Sales (January 25-29) offers buyers the cream of the New Zealand crop and in the weeks leading up to the sale we’ll go looking for pedigrees of interest for a myriad of reasons.
One to Watch – Newcastle
A debut winner for Farnan has an interesting background, bred in Queensland and sold as a weanling before becoming a pinhook winner at the Adelaide Magic Millions and now being trained at Newcastle where he won today.
G2 Eight Carat Attracts Star Fillies
Graham Richardson and Rogal Norvall’s star filly Lollapalooza is set to be joined in the Gr.2 Hallmark Stud Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day by her rapidly emerging stablemate Fleeting Star.
Magic Millions 2026 Magazine Now Online
The Magic Millions magazine is now online featuring a terrific mix of stories for the racing fan and horse lover ahead of the racing canival and yearling sale next month in the Gold Coast.
2026 Magic Millions Order of Entry 2YO and 3YO Updated
Racing Queensland have today released order of entry updates for the rich $3million Magic Millions 2YO Classic and 3YO Guineas to be run at the Gold Coast on January 17 with the top two juvenile contenders both by Too Darn Hot (GB).
Cool Archie Return Delayed
The highly anticipated return to the races for exciting colt Cool Archie has been put on ice with co-trainer Chris Munce revealing the colt has an issue.
West is Best - Outstanding Perth Magic Millions Yearling Catalogue Online
The cream of the Western Australian yearling crop has been assembled for the 2026 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale and the quality packed catalogue is now online. 
Inglis Classic Sale-Topper Wins HK International Mile
Hong Kong champion Voyage Bubble (Deep Field) added another elite chapter to his extraordinary season on Sunday, producing a courageous performance to claim a second consecutive G1 Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin, further cementing his status as one of the great racehorses of the modern era.
Calyx Three Year Old Wins Tasmanian Derby
Likeakalix was the first Australian Stakes winner for former Coolmore shuttler Calyx in January and he repeated the dose on Friday when winning the Listed Tasmanian Derby (2200m).