The annual Swettenham Stud open day on Sunday attracted a large crowd despite the chilly weather with six top class sires presented in peak condition for the breeding season ahead.

The first session of the 2018 Arqana Deauville Yearling Sale in France on Saturday produced strong results with fillies by legendary sire Galileo and Triple Crown hero American Pharoah setting the pace.

Cornerstone Stud’s Sir Prancealot (IRE) has a wonderful standard-bearer in Europe this season with the David Elsworth-trained Sir Dancealot who proved much the best in Saturday’s Group II Hungerford Stakes at Newbury.

It was a good day at the office on Saturday for leading sire So You Think with a winning double at Caulfield and a slashing return for his Rosehill Guineas winner D’Argento  in the Group I ATC Winx Stakes to finish third behind the champion mare after whom the race was named.

Former top three-year-old filly La Bella Diosa ended an eighteen-month absence from the winner’s enclosure when she produced a devastating burst of speed to claim victory over 1100m at Caulfield on Saturday.

The recently-formed partnership between the Gold Coast Turf Club and Beaudesert Racing Clubs has paid instant dividends, with Aquis joining as major naming rights partners of the Beaudesert Club.

Godolphin’s hope of capturing that elusive Melbourne Cup came a step closer when Hamada kept his 2018 season at a perfect four for four with a dominant display in the Group III Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury.

Shortly after Street Cry’s masterpiece, Winx created history at Randwick, the late Darley stallion was in the thick of things again when the remarkably consistent Osborne Bulls captured the Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.

On any other day, Le Romain would be a headline act, but by the time this most genuine of horses battled his way to a fifth stakes success under 61 kgs in Saturday’s Group III Show County Quality at Randwick, the crowd was still buzzing from the win of Winx in the Group 1 Winx Stakes.

On the first serious day of spring carnival action for the new season, Widden Stud sires were in red hot form with Group winners for Sebring (Master Ash), Zoustar (Sunlight), Nicconi (Tony Nicconi) and the late Stratum, who sired classy mare Egyptian Symbol to win the Group III ATC Toy Show Quality at Randwick on Saturday.

Blue-blooded Snitzel entire Showtime stamped his stallion credentials when defeating a star-studded line-up in Saturday’s Group II PB Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield.

On a track that was playing to frontrunners close to the fence, Winx gave her legion of supporters some concern when she was well back and in the centre of the track coming over the Randwick rise in Saturday’s Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) but as she has done now for a record 26th consecutive time, she put the race to bed in the space of 50 metres.

One of the very best two year-old fillies of last season having won the Magic Millions 2YO Classic and placed in the Golden Slipper, Sunlight was back in top form at Caulfield on Saturday when scoring a thrilling victory in the Group III MRC Quezette Stakes Stakes.

After closing out his juvenile year with a win and two seconds from three starts, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Master Ash made a winning stakes debut in Saturday’s Group III Up And Coming Stakes (1300m) at Randwick.

Nature Strip might not be the only star sprinter for Widden Stud’s Nicconi this spring with progressive colt Tony Nicconi confirming his potential with a tenacious win in the Group III MRC Vain stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.

A nail-biting finish to the Group II Lisa Chittick Foxbridge Plate (1200m) saw former top juvenile Melody Belle provide her trainer Jamie Richards with the perfect birthday present at Te Rapa.

The first leg of the Darley Princess Series, the Group II ATC Silver Shadow Stakes at Randwick on Saturday went the way of classy I Am Invincible filly Fiesta carrying the familiar purple and white Star Thoroughbreds colours.

Arrowfield stud shuttler Olympic Glory (IRE) had an impressive debut winner overnight at Newbury in the UK with a stylish victory for promising colt Athmad.

Trainer Mick Price is eagerly awaiting Saturday’s Group II PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) with a trio of gallopers set for spring riches — Grunt, Mighty Boss and Holy Snow — resuming.

With the two year-olds still a few weeks away from their first trials, we’ll focus on the three year-olds for the moment and there were plenty of them around Australia in the past week so here are the placegetters with their breeding and sale details.

Siblings to Group 1 winners, progeny of Group 1-winning mares and 2YOs by some of Australia’s leading stallions headline a bumper Inglis Ready2Race catalogue.

As Brenton Avdulla flies back to Japan after claiming his first George Moore Award for winning the Sydney Jockeys’ Premiership, it will give him some time to reflect on a filly that played a major part in his rise to the top.

One thing breeders agreed on last spring was that Aquis Farm’s Divine Prophet was the best looking first season stallion to stand in the Hunter Valley.

The first foals of Waikato Stud’s Tivaci (High Chaparral (IRE) aren’t letting anyone down.

Bloodstock Auction’s second Annual Online Stallion Cover Charity Auction has smashed its fundraising goal, raising more than $100,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities Greater Western Sydney.

Bought as a replacement for a top-class Hong Kong galloper, this winning debutant has had his Asian debut delayed and will instead “go through the grades” in Australia.

She was the third highest priced Fastnet Rock filly last year and Downloads finally got the maiden win out of the way at Sale on Thursday.

With sons of Lonhro doing the job at stud - Pierro, Demnan, Demerit and Benfica all siring stakes winners whilst O'Lonhro has proven a consistent winner producer - Jeff Dosser is very happy to be giving his own Lonhro stallion Torch Relay a chance to do his bit.

There are 28 Group One races coming up this spring and this weekend last year nine future spring Group One winners of 14 races appeared but only three of them started favourite and only two won, so it’ll pay to be attentive on Saturday.

Gary Portelli’s 2017 Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign has been retired.

Courageous and sound, dual Group One winner Stratum Star went to stud the best son of his sire Stratum and his first foals are now arriving at Widden Stud.

Stockwell Thoroughbreds is saddened to announce the passing this morning of its long standing and highly successful stallion BRIEF TRUCE.

A week after her mother left the country, the most anticipated horse to race in Australia on Wednesday, stunningly bred Frankel filly Miss Fabulass didn’t disappoint.

The Caulfield Spring Weight-for-age Championship series, sponsored for the eighth time by New Zealand Bloodstock, gets underway this Saturday with the A$200,000 Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m).

Aquis Farm is delighted to announce that as part of the Aquis Farm Race Day on August 21st at Muswellbrook Race Club, Aquis will take on the TAB in aid of drought relief!.

August 1 marks the start of a new season and it’s a clean slate for our young sires and one stallion has done the unexpected and now heads the Australian Second Season Sires List by winners.

The most expensive yearling filly ever sired by champion racehorse So You Think, three year-old Debate opened her career with a stylish victory at Gosford on Tuesday carrying the colours of renowned Sydney owner Alan Bell.

This talented daughter of Foxwedge was frustratingly close to a stakes win last season at two, but with this commanding victory at Geelong on Tuesday has shown she is ready to be right in the thick of spring carnival racing.

One of racing’s great characters, Ken ‘Tubby’ Turner, has passed away aged 81.

Murray Baker couldn’t be happier with the performances of Zacada and Jon Snow at Monday’s Te Teko trials, but has put a public hit-out for stable star Bonneval on hold until next week.

Amongst the common business structures, there is little doubt that trusts cause the most confusion and angst to existing and new business clients.

Godolphin’s multiple Group I winning Sepoy mare Alizee is out for the spring after suffering a bleeding attack on Tuesday morning at Osborne Park.

Golden Slipper winner Estijaab will miss the spring carnival after being sent back to the spelling paddock.

The first crop winners keep coming for Coolmore shuttler No Nay Never (USA), the Group I winning son of Scat Daddy siring his 18th winner overnight with a victory at Ayr for Beechwood Ella.

The catalogue for Book 1 of the 2018 Tattersalls October YearlingSale, which takes place Tuesday 9th October - Thursday 11th October, is now online.

On Sunday the 12th August, Woodside Park Stud welcomed over 150 guests to the annual Stallion Parade held at their Tylden property.

Group One winner Sword Of Osman got the thumbs up from trainer Jamie Richards after a pleasing fresh-up trial at Te Teko on Monday.

Lightly raced I Am Invincible mare Invincible Star has officially thrown her hat in the ring for an Everest slot after another scintillating trial win at Randwick on Monday morning.

Having been sold on gavelhouse Australia just a fortnight earlier, Quick Defense has repaid his new connections his $50,000 purchase price in one fell swoop.

Savabeel six-year-old Preditor (NZ) produced an electrifying finishing burst to come out on top in an all-Karaka finish to Sunday’s S$200,000 Listed Jumbo Jet Trophy (1400m) at Kranji, registering his first black-type win.

Former superstar Australian race filly Mosheen featured in Japan on the weekend when her talented three year-old Deep Impact filly Primo Scene won her second Black Type event, taking out the Group III Sekiya Kinen at Niigata.

John and  Kris Messara, Paul and Alice Messara and the entire Arrowfield team join many thoroughbred industry people around the world to mourn the death of our great friend Nick Columb, in Girona, Spain on 10 August after suffering a stroke ten days earlier.

Racing is unpredictable by nature which is why the most expensive thoroughbred ever sold at auction in Victoria was beaten when making his debut on Sunday at Cranbourne by a horse whose dam cost $500.

A start in the $13m The Everest is a growing possibility for Nicconi's rising star sprinter Nature Strip after confirmation one of the three remaining slot holders has made contact with connections.

Reigning Champion Australia First Season Sire Zoustar gave us a ‘One to Watch’ on Sunday with a hot favourite saluting at Cranbourne.

Ardmore trainer Nick Bishara completed a weekend to remember when Verry Elleegant broke her maiden status in emphatic fashion at Ruakaka.

Two victories on his home track on Saturday had Pukekohe trainer Nigel Tiley pleased with his day’s work, but it was the sight of promising four-year-old Demonetization completing a three-quarter pace gallop earlier that morning that put the biggest smile on his face.

Mount Brown International at Euroa in the heart of Victorian thoroughbred country is proud to open the gates today and welcome visitors to inspect new stallion Diamond Tathagata.

On his European form, Jaameh (IRE) looked an unlikely contender to add another chapter to the encyclopedia of stakes-winners descending from Meon Valley Stud’s blue-hen Reprocolor, however, he has now won two of his three starts in Australia and David Hayes is beginning to get excited.

The Cranbourne meeting on Sunday features the debut of the most expensive yearling ever sold in Victoria.

Switching to Darley Victoria this spring for the first time, Sepoy was in the frame overnight in the UK where his quality daughter Unforgetable Filly scored a resounding eight length win in the Listed Dick Hern Stakes at Haydock.

A gallant second to a red hot sprinter Vega Magic at his last start in the Group III MRC Bletchingly Stakes, evergreen I Am Invincible gelding Voodoo Lad claimed another feature race win on Saturday when taking out the Group III VRC Aurie’s Star Stakes at Flemington.

Sandbar may sport a toff’s pedigree but he has a streetfighter’s attitude, which came in handy in the closing stages in Saturday’s Listed The Rosebud (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens.

Racing NSW has today announced that it has allocated $1 million towards assisting NSW Thoroughbred Racing Participants who are suffering financial hardship due to the drought.

Trainer Tony McEvoy is hopeful that last season’s smart juvenile Crockett is back on track following his barnstorming win in a benchmark 70 over 1400 metres for three-year-olds at Flemington on Saturday.

One of the most interesting first starters anywhere in the world this weekend will run at Cork in Ireland and she’s a half-sister by Galileo to Australia’s reigning Champion First Season Sire Zoustar.

Having sired two Derby winners and an Oaks winner last season from his first crop of three year-olds, Pierro is a real ‘watch sire’ as we move towards spring so any debut winner by him that wins like this one did at Geelong on Friday is worth further investigation.

This nicely bred daughter of champion sire Redoute’s Choice made a one act affair of the 1000 metre maiden at Geelong on Friday.

The ultimate gear change appears to have worked the oracle for gavelhouse graduate Zanahary  having posted his second win in a row on Wednesday.

The 2018/2019 racing season is in progress with the first early sire tables showing High Chaparral (IRE), Written Tycoon and Smart Missile leading the way with earnings in the first nine days of the season topping $200,000.

Organised by the French charity Au-Dela Des Pistes with the support of France Galop, the third edition of the Retraining of Racehorses Day takes place on Saturday, August 25 at Deauville-La Touques Racecourse.

Spieth, the fastest son of the late Champion Sire Thorn Park is preparing to enter his first season at stud at Aquis Farm in the Hunter Valley.

As a brother-in-blood to recently retired star colt Menari, it must have been a tough decision to geld this son of Snitzel.

It would be rare nowadays to purchase an I Am Invincible colt for $36,000 but even if you paid ten times that amount you would be hoping to get one as good as Voodoo Lad.

A dominant winner of the Group I VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes, Flying Artie was the Champion 3YO Sprinter of 2016/2017 and has been a super popular addition at Newgate Farm with his first foals arriving this spring.

"He hasn't even moved on A Good Yarn; A Good Yarn is absolutely going to space them, and eased down too, you wont see a more impressive win anywhere.

Day in, day out, how much effort do you make when attempting to save money? Sometimes you’re happy if you can save a few dollars here and there, sometimes it’s tens or hundreds of dollars.

Dream Ahead closed out the 2017-18 season as one of the best third crop sires in the world.

A record breaking 2018 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Selected Yearling Sale concluded on Tuesday with an all-time record gross, the second-highest average and a record-tying median.

While other Group I winning Northern Hemisphere stallions are headed to Australia this spring to cover mares, this one is coming here for racing first and maybe mares next spring.

A full sister to Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes winner Catchy, Fastnet Rock filly Symi was the centre of attention at Canterbury when making her debut on Wednesday and she emerged with a win on the board.

Jamie Richards used a trip to Taupo for a hit-out on Wednesday morning to put top mare Melody Belle on target for her Group Two return to racing at Te Rapa.

The first US bred yearlings by Coolmore’s Triple Crown hero American Pharoah (USA) have been making headlines at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale this week, but for Australian breeders the ride is just beginning with his first Southern Hemisphere bred foals born this spring.

In October 2015, tragedy struck at then Smeaton based Moorookyle Park when Robyn Shakespeare’s much-loved stakes winning sire Hurdy Gurdy Man succumbed to an immediate colic attack.

Caulfield trainer Colin Little will be looking to add to Vassilator’s black-type record later this month when he lines-up his promising three-year-old in the Group III  Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 18.

On Monday and Tuesday this week there were 61 stakes winners that barrier trialled across five venues, including 21 Group One winners, so we thought it was worth putting them all in one spot as they prepare to kick off their spring campaigns.

The first set of Off The Track shows to be sponsored by Victorian breeders have been locked in with 12 Thoroughbred Breeders Victoria (TBV) members signed up.

Fastnet Rock has already had an impressive debut blueblood winner this week in More Sundays and may well have another at Canterbury today if the full sister to Group I winner Catchy has a fraction of her big sister’s ability.

A win at Moonee Valley last Saturday was a ray of sunshine for former Kiwi jockey Matthew Enright and his partner, Tegan Hearps.

The 2018 Fasig Tipton Saratoga Selected Yearling Sale saw the first yearlings by Triple Crown hero American Pharoah offered for sale and they lit up the ring with a filly and colt selling for $1,2 million and $1million to top the opening session of this prestigious sale.

This time last year Exceed and Excel colt Performer was showing untapped ability and made a winning debut in the Listed ATC Breeders Plate earning him Golden Slipper favouritism, but 12 months on and we look back to see that the remainder of his juvenile season did not ultimately unfold as connections may have hoped.

Eureka Stud is home to of one of the most exciting young stallions in the country in Spirit of Boom and they also have high hopes for Choisir’s brilliant son Defcon, whose first foals are being born this spring.

Winx improved, nothing much changed with Chautauqua when they were the headline acts at a star-studded set of heats at Rosehill Gardens on Tuesday morning.

Winner of the Group II SAJC Swettenham Stud Stakes in 2004 before it was upgraded to Group I status, high class Anabaa (USA) sprinting mare French Bid featured with a promising juvenile winner in the UK overnight in Evie Speed.

Exciting young Windsor Park shuttler Charm Spirit (IRE) added a 12th winner to this tally in the UK overnight with a resounding victory at Windsor for Lively Lydia.

Caulfield trainer Mick Price is pleased with the progress of Group One winners Grunt and Mighty Boss after the Karaka purchased duo filled the placings behind stablemate Holy Snow in a 990m trial at Cranbourne on Monday morning.

Over 70 Studs and Stud Masters around the nation have come together and donated a stallion cover by some of the best Thoroughbred Stallion’s in Australia.

The most interesting first starter anywhere in Australia today was three year old More Sundays, a royally bred colt by champion sire Fastnet Rock from John Singleton’s much loved champion mare More Joyous.

The beginning of a new season means it’s time to look back at what happened in the past 12 months for BOBS NSW eligible horses and while Snitzel was the top BOBS sire with 66 wins and BOBS earnings of $612,031 he did not sire a horse in the Top 10 BOBS earners.

Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard are hoping to kick off a potential Cox Plate programme with Scott Base in the Group I Tarzino Trophy (1400m) at Hastings.