El Nino (USA)

Five year-old Needs Further gelding Durazzo continued his domination of the summer racing in Tasmania at Hobart on Sunday racking up his third successive stakes win when taking out the $125,000 Listed Kevin Sharkie The Inevitable Stakes (1600m), putting the spotlight on his yearling half-sister heading to 2026 MM Tasmania.

With the Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m) moving five weeks earlier to February this year, summer races over 2000 metres have taken on greater importance in the NZB Filly of the Year Series – starting with the $270,000 Group Two Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.