The Brothers War - New Winner

After a series of highly creditable performances against some of the best of his age group, Kiwi Skyhawk broke through for his first feature-race success in Saturday’s Gr.3 Higgins Concrete Manawatu Classic (2100m) at Trentham.

Playing the long game by trainer Phillip Stokes could reap the ultimate result after rising imported staying star Deakin secured his spot in the Melbourne Cup by winning the Listed Lexus Roy Higgins (2500m) at Flemington.

Last year’s Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) winner Waitak has showcased his versatility and class this autumn with a dominant double over 1600m and 2100m.

Progressive Smart Missile mare Aviatress is building an impressive strike rate with six wins from 12 starts and her latest victory came at Morphettville on Saturday when she scored a dominant win in the Listed SAJC Matrice Stakes (1200m).

Arrowfield Stud have been having a hot run during the autumn and while unbeaten Castelvecchio filly Verona Rose will have to wait until Tuesday to try her luck in the Group I ATC Vinery Stud Stakes, her sire made amends with a new stakes-winner in Adelaide where Comanche Miss captured the Listed SAJC Clare Lindop stakes (1600m) at Morphettville.

Sparingly raced for an eight year-old gelding, Nicconi sprinter Joyful Fortune has never lacked for talent, but an interrupted career due to injury means we don’t see him very often, but the Lindsay Park team had him ready to rock and roll at Flemington on Saturday and he duly won the Listed VRC ATA Bob Hoysted Stakes (1000m).

It was a race full of intrigue, of tactics and speed maps, and elite quality, and at the finish it was Light Infantry Man that rose to the occasion to put a new peak on his career in the Group I Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington.

It's been a dazzling start to 2025 for Waikato Stud's Super Seth siring two Group I winners in Australia in Feroce and Linebacker and now a Group I winning juvenile in New Zealand in La Dorada. 

Yulong based Alabama Express was expected to have G1 success on Saturday with his glamour filly Treasurethe Moment in the Vinery Stud Stakes at Rosehill, but with that meeting postponed due to the weather it was left to Alabama Lass to fly the flag.

Unheralded four-year-old Doctor Askar has proved himself one of the finds of the summer as he completed his fifth win from just six starts since breaking maidens in December when taking out the Listed Bramco Granite & Marble Flying Handicap (1400m) at Trentham on Saturday.