New Zealand-bred filly Saintly Dancer (NZ) (St Mark’s Basilica) completed a notable spring double with victory in the A$1.5 million Gr.1 Stow Storage Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

The daughter of St Mark’s Basilica became the sixth filly in the last 30 years to win both the Gr.2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) and the Guineas, joining Inaflury (1998), Special Harmony (2003), Alinghi (2004), Gallica (2008) and Amphitrite (2018).

A maiden winner at Sandown in August, Saintly Dancer stepped onto the black-type stage with a sixth in the Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes (1300m) and second in the Gr.2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m). She burst to prominence with a six-length runaway in the Edward Manifold on a heavy track on September 19, and her high-class performance on Saturday to claim classic success proved two things – that her Edward Manifold heroics were no fluke, and that she can also excel on good ground.

Saintly Dancer was ridden by Blake Shinn and dominated the Guineas from the front. She kicked two lengths clear at the top of the straight and never looked like being caught, going on to score by a length and a quarter from Icelady (Maurice).

“She was able to lead and control the race,” Shinn said. “She got into a great position. There was a little bit of pressure, but I think the draw ultimately won us the race, because I was able to hold the fence, get a nice little breather down the side, but I didn’t back off too much. She told me how fast she wanted to go, and around the turn I was supremely confident. She kept that gallop up. All the stars aligned today, so I’m absolutely thrilled.”

Saintly Dancer was bred by the Hawkins family’s Llanhennock Trust and offered under their Wentwood Grange banner at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where First Light Racing and Ciaron Maher Bloodstock bought her for A$100,000.

From a six-race career, Saintly Dancer has now recorded three wins and two placings and has earned A$1.18 million.

Both the winner and the runner-up Icelady are trained by Ciaron Maher.

“I favoured Icelady pre-race, but you don’t mind being wrong under these circumstances,” assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said. “To get a Group One quinella is very special for Ciaron and the whole team.

“That was very, very impressive. Saintly Dancer is a serious filly. There’s been a question mark whether or not she goes further, and looking at her physically you’re probably a fraction apprehensive, but she just keeps proving us wrong. She’s now a Group One winner, and that’s what it’s all about.

“For a filly bought for A$100,000 to become a Group One winner is a dream. It’s what it’s all about and gives everyone the chance to get into a racehorse. The journey that she has taken us on, and First Light, has been amazing so far. She’s been lightly raced, she will strengthen up further and will get better. It was nothing sort of devastating.”

Saintly Dancer is out of the winning So You Think mare Thinkyoucandance, who is the dam of two winners from three foals to race. A filly by Sword Of State out of Thinkyoucandance was offered by Wentwood Grange during Book 1 of Karaka 2026 earlier this year and was bought by Mike Breslin for $50,000.

New Zealand can claim a connection to three of the first five placegetters in Saturday’s Thousand Guineas. The fourth-placed De Armas (NZ) (Ardrossan) – runner-up in the Gr.1 Flight Stakes (1600m) in Sydney in her previous start – is a New Zealand-bred daughter of Ardrossan and won at stakes level for Otaki trainer Johno Benner before her sale to OTI Racing. The fifth placegetter was the Mark Walker-trained Lara Antipova (Russian Revolution), who was New Zealand’s champion two-year-old last season.

In the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) the previous weekend, Cambridge Stud stallion Sword Of State sired the winner Warwoven (Sword Of State) from his first crop while the New Zealand-bred Blind Raise (NZ) (Ace High) finished second. - NZ Racing Desk

Asturia puts her name into contention for Riccarton fillies feature

Te Akau Racing looks to have another strong hand in the upcoming Group One features for the three-year-olds at Riccarton next month with Asturia (NZ) (Almanzor) laying down a stern challenge to all Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) candidates with a stunning victory at Ellerslie.

The Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-prepared daughter of Cambridge Stud stallion Almanzor had impressed with her debut victory over 1400m at Ellerslie in September before tackling the boys in the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) later that month, finishing a superb second to talented gelding Old Fashioned (NZ) (Proisir).

With leading rider Michael McNab aboard, Asturia was just one of a number of chances in the Gr.2 Windsor Park Stud Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie but by the time the 1400m contest was concluded she stood head and shoulders above the rest and off to Christchurch as the $4 Fixed Odds co-favourite alongside Hawea (Hellbent) who she saw off comfortably on Saturday.

McNab produced a stellar effort in the saddle as he positioned Asturia towards the rear on the rail but travelling easily within herself.

Things began to get serious approaching the home bend as McNab moved Asturia to the outside before unleashing her in the centre of the track at the 300m.

Asturia quickly charged after Liguria (NZ) (Snitzel) who had hit the front at that point and charged past her to win by a comfortable one length margin, with Fiamma (NZ) (Pinatubo) and Miss Magnetica (NZ) (Contributer) both arriving powerfully in the closing stages to take third and fourth respectively.

Co-trainer Bergerson was all smiles after the race and looking forward to the filly tackling Group One company at Riccarton next month.

“That was so good to see and a pretty impressive 1000 Guineas trial I would think,” Bergerson said.

“She’s a really exciting filly and I can’t thank the team enough at home. Michael (McNab) and Opie (Bosson) have done a lot of work with her, and she keeps going from strength to strength.

“I really liked how she raced today. She settled, got on the back of the right horse, tracked into it well and great to see her quicken like that.

“We were quietly confident as she went a super race at Hastings without a lot of luck so we all thought if she could stay out of trouble the 1400m on a decent track was what she would excel at.

“It was a very patient ride from Michael and to put away a field like that, you couldn’t be more impressed.”

Bergerson indicated that the filly had now earned her ticket to Riccarton as long as she pulled up well from the effort.

“We aren’t a team who makes decisions on raceday, so we will take her home and let her tell us she has come through the run in good order,” he said.

“The New Zealand 1000 Guineas on the 7^th of November is first up, but a lot can happen between then and now.

“If we can get there in one piece and in similar form, then the Riccarton track and the 1600m will suit her right down to the ground, so we will have our fingers crossed.”

Nominated for both the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November, Asturia was purchased by Sir David Ellis from the Landsdowne Park draft during the Book 1 Sale at Karaka in 2025 for $135,000.

She is raced by the Te Akau Legacy Of Love Racing Partnership and has won two of her three starts for just over $176,000 in prizemoney. - Kevin Robertson

War Machine back to brilliant best in Harry White Stakes

A year after taking on Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) in the Gr.1 The Everest (1200m), the connections of War Machine (NZ) (Harry Angel) were happy to be a big fish in a smaller pond on Saturday.

The Group One-winning gelding returned to winning form with a determined performance to take out the A$240,000 Gr.3 Harry White Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

The New Zealand-bred War Machine earned his way into last year’s Everest with seven wins from his first 14 starts, including the Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m), Gr.2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) and Gr.3 BRC Sprint (1350m). He went on to finish 10^th in The Everest, three and a half lengths behind Ka Ying Rising.

Through the 12 months since that race, War Machine had another six starts for a 12^th in the Russell Balding Stakes (1300m), third in the Gr.2 Australia Stakes (1200m), 11^th in the Gr.1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m), third in the Gr.3 The Heath (1100m) and 14^th in the Gr.1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1200m).

War Machine bounced back to his brilliant best on Saturday in the hands of jockey Mark Zahra.

After taking up a handy position tucked in behind a line of four horses contesting the pace through the early stages of the race, Zahra drove War Machine through an opening one off the rail and burst to the lead at the top of the straight.

The challengers tried their hardest to reel him in through the final 300m, led by A$13 million earner Private Eye (Al Maher), but War Machine dug in and refused to relinquish his advantage. He held on to beat Private Eye by a head.

“He began well and had the run of the race,” Zahra said. “He just had to hang on for grim death late when the good old horse came at him.”

War Machine is trained by the Lindsay Park team of Ben, Will and JD Hayes.

“He’s been a super horse for us,” Ben Hayes said. “He’s been a bit frustrating since winning a few straight. Things haven’t quite gone his way with wide barriers and unsuitable tracks. We had scratched him four times before we found the right race. He had a good run today, a great ride from Mark. It was good to get a class drop into a race like that.

“I was very happy with how he relaxed in behind the speed. He probably had to force a run early, and he hit the lead early, but I loved the way he stuck on and hit the line. I feel we’ve got him back on track and we can target some nice races.

“I would like to see how he pulls up before deciding anything, because we do have the option of coming back in trip or going up in trip. He’s got a lot of options. He’s a good 1400m horse, and he’s good down the straight as well. We’ll have a good talk to the ownership group, and we’ll make that decision over a nice drink and enjoy the win.”

Bred by MDJ Bloodstock Ltd, War Machine was offered for sale at both the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales and the Ready To Run Sale via the Wallace family’s Ardsley Stud, but failed to reach his $100,000 reserve on both occasions.

By Harry Angel out of the winning Hussonet mare Caserta, the gelding subsequently went into training with Jim Wallace and won his only trial at Foxton by six lengths before his private purchase.

War Machine has now had 21 starts for eight wins, six placings and A$3.56 million in stakes. - NZ Racing Desk

Class prevails in Ellerslie feature

Class sprinter Platinum Attack (Santos) showed he is right on target for some of the big summer sprints with a comprehensive victory in the Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m) at Ellerslie.

The race was held over from the cancelled meeting at Rotorua last Sunday and that suited the Lisa Latta-prepared runner who always goes his best races on good footing which he got at Ellerslie on the Soft 5 rated surface.

With top pilot Opie Bosson on board, the rangy six-year-old gelding settled nicely towards the rear of the field but under a nice grip by Bosson.

Moving into contention around the home bend, Platinum Attack quickly ranged up the leaders at the 250m and put the result beyond doubt as he bounded clear from runner-up Reward Smile (Havana Grey) and the luckless Jaarffi (NZ) (Iffraaj) to win by an increasing two length margin.

With Latta in Sydney with her star four-year-old Platinum Pantheon (Hanseatic), co-owner John Street was enjoying congratulations in the winner’s enclosure after the race.

“He is a very good horse who just hasn’t had all the luck with the tracks he has struck and some of the way the races have panned out for him,” Street said.

“We had Opie on board today and he rode him superbly.

“He was the class horse of the field and Opie rode him just like that and he showed what he is capable of when things go his way.”

Street indicated the local Group One sprints coming up would be the target for Platinum Attack although that still had to be discussed with Latta.

“We don’t make any decisions without Lisa being heavily involved as she knows where the horse is at and what he needs to keep him at peak,” he said.

“Races like the Telegraph (Gr.1, 1200m) and the Railway (Gr.1, 1200m) are natural targets while he may also go south for one of the big sprints during New Zealand Cup Week.

“No matter what happens, after 40 years in the game any win is a good one and worth a celebration and that is what we will be doing tonight.”

Bred by Aquis Farm, G1G Racing & Breeding and Fly Horse, Platinum Attack is proving a profitable investment for owners Neville McAlister and Street’s Lincoln Farms Bloodstock who purchased him for $37,000 at the 2021 Gold Coast Weanling Sale, having now won nine of his 25 starts and over $533,000 in prizemoney. - Kevin Robertson

Cross Tasman overcomes wide run for tough Randwick win

Progressive New Zealand-bred gelding Cross Tasman overcame a taxing run to record the fifth and most impressive win of his career in the A$160,000 HKJC World Pool Handicap (1400m) on Everest Day at Randwick. Sent out as a $2.15 favourite for Saturday’s Benchmark 88 handicap

NZ Racing NewsNZ Racing Desk

Rareza back with a vengeance at Otaki

Underrated mare Rareza (NZ) (Exosphere) showed just how potent she can be when she gets a run to suit as she stormed home from near last to take out the open 1200m contest at Otaki, the Vets on Riverbank Handicap (1200m). The Cody Cole-prepared daughter of Exosphere finished runner-

NZ Racing NewsKevin Robertson