Sires With Winners - Monday February 3

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.

New Zealand-bred mare Grid Girl boasts a perfect two-from-two record so far as a five-year-old, having added Saturday’s A$150,000 Rosemont Stud Fillies & Mares Pendant (1400m) at Cranbourne to her first-up victory at Kyneton on November 5.

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).

Widden Stud’s reigning champion sire Zoustar featured overnight with a new stakes-winner when progressive four year-old mare Sky Safari landed the Listed Fleur de Lys Stakes (1m) at Lingfield.

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.

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.

A capacity Railway field will line up for the first G1 of the Pinnacles Carnival of 2025 and as usual it's a cracker, with 16 runners (4 emergencies) engaged for Ascot's famous feature mile!

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.

At the annual Cartier European Horse Of The Year Awards ceremony at London's Dorchester Hotel, globetrotting Victorian bred mare Asfoora was awarded the honour of becoming Champion Sprinter for 2025, while Aussie bred sire Starspangledbanner produced both the Champion 2YO Colt and Filly of the year.