In today's Straight Shorts, a stud deal has been secured for unbeaten sprinter Private Harry, a longstanding Victoria Racing Club partner extends Melbourne Cup naming rights sponsorship, Yulong committed to 'investment and growth', Ghibellines' progeny have a day out at Wingatui.
Harry fits for Yulong
Yulong has reportedly purchased a half-share in The Galaxy winner Private Harry, with the sprinting star to represent his new owners in The Everest in the spring.
The purchase of the three-year-old was reported in several media outlets on Friday, with estimates it valued the horse at around $15 million.
The Straight contacted managing owner Sean Driver of Kurrinda Bloodstock, who said he was not yet in a position to confirm the deal, but an official announcement was expected imminently.
Private Harry wins The Galaxy.
Several studs had inspected the unbeaten son of Harry Angel in the past few days, with Yulong set to win the race for him and retain Nathan Doyle as trainer.
He would be the second three-year-old colt by Harry Angel to be purchased by Yulong this year after a deal was done to buy Angel Capital.
Melbourne Cup sponsorship deal extended
Lexus Australia will keep naming rights for the Melbourne Cup until at least 2027 following a new partnership agreement with the Victoria Racing Club.
The new deal will mark a significant milestone in the longstanding association between the luxury car brand and the VRC.
It will take partnership to 25 years after Lexus joined forces with the VRC for the first time 2003.
Lexus strengthened their association with the VRC in 2018 as principal partner, securing naming rights to the Melbourne Cup, Melbourne Cup Day, and the VRC’s annual landmark community event, the Melbourne Cup tour.
The new partnership extension also sees Lexus maintain naming rights to several golden ticket races which will provide the winner direct entry into the $8.5 million Melbourne Cup.
One of the golden ticket races, the Roy Higgins, will be a supporting act on the Australian Cup day undercard at Flemington on Saturday.
Chief Executive of Lexus Australia John Pappas said Lexus was privileged to be just the fourth sponsor in the Melbourne Cup’s 164-year history.
"The Lexus Melbourne Cup is more than a famous horse race, it is a celebration of what it means to be Australian,” he said.
Applications to host a leg of the 2025 Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour are open until April 17.
Towns and cities across Australia and the world are invited to apply.
Tickets and packages to the 2025 Melbourne Cup Carnival will be on sale from next week.
Climbing Star targets second Sangster before sale
Climbing Star will be given a chance to add another Group 1 to her record before she is put up for auction at Magic Millions’ National Broodmare Sale.
Trainer Phillip Stokes confirmed the outstanding daughter of Zoustar will aim to defend her Robert Sangster Stakes title in Adelaide at the end of April before she is sold.
Climbing Star will be part of Widden Stud’s draft for the Gold Coast sale.
She has always been held in high regard by Stokes and after falling in love with her at the sales he was determined to have her in his stable.
"She has a great attitude and is very sound - two traits which have enabled her to race competitively at the elite level throughout her career," Stokes said.
"We are looking forward to her defending her Sangster Stakes crown at the end of April."
By Widden Stud's super sire Zoustar, Climbing Star is a half-sister to Stokes' nine-time winner and $500,000 earner Sansom - himself a multiple Group race winner.
Climbing Star's dam, the winning Fastnet Rock mare Bryony, is a sister to Group 1 winner Heroic Valour and half-sister to Doncaster Mile winner Triple Honour.
"Having been raised and sold by Widden as a yearling it is a thrill to be able to sell her for a second time, now as a Group 1 winner,” Widden’s Antony Thompson said.
Boom New Zealand filly favourite to making winning Aust debut
Two years after buying Alabama Lass in Melbourne as a yearling sale, Matamata trainer Ken Kelso is retracing those steps to find out how the brilliant filly measures up across the Tasman.
Alabama Lass will have her first Australian start in the $500,000 Listed HKJC World Pool Sprint Classic (1100m) at Flemington.
She is an early favourite and will be ridden by Craig Williams.
“This is going to give us a good idea of how she measures up in Australia,” Kelso said.
“We won’t die wondering. If she puts her best foot forward, which she has in all of her New Zealand starts, I think she’ll be competitive.”
Kelso paid $120,000 to buy Alabama Lass from the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale in Melbourne in March of 2023, having travelled over for Legarto’s successful raid on the Group 1 Australian Guineas.
Alabama Lass has had eight starts in New Zealand for five wins and three second placings, most recently a five-length runaway over multiple Group 1 winner Crocetti in the Group 3 King’s Plate (1200m) at Ellerslie on March 8.
The daughter of Alabama Express had been tripped up by rain-affected ground when runner-up in the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and Crocetti’s Group 1 Sistema Railway (1200m) in her previous two starts.
Business as usual for Yulong
Yulong has said the departure of general manager Vin Cox won’t impact its ambitions, passion or determination.
The thoroughbred industry behemoth put out a statement acknowledging Cox was leaving the company, after Thursday’s shock announcement from the Yulong boss that he had handed in his six-month notice and would depart.
“We sincerely thank Vin for his hard work, dedication and leadership during his time with us in what has been a phenomenal year for the Yulong team,” Yulong said in statement.
“His contributions have been invaluable to our success this season, and we wish him the very best in his future endeavours.
“At Yulong, our vision remains strong. We are committed to continued investment and growth in the industry, ensuring a bright and prosperous future.
Bren O’Brien
“This transition will not affect our current operations or ambitions, Yulong will continue to lead with the same passion and determination going forward, whilst always welcoming talented individuals to our growing team.”
Cox said in a message to select media, including The Straight on Thursday, that he was leaving Yulong due to “differences in opinion on strategic direction and values”.
Ghibellines’ straight six at ‘home’ track
White Robe Lodge’s Ghibellines had an extraordinary six winners on the one program at Wingatui on Friday.
The son of Shamardal had 19 runners entered throughout the nine-race program and was the sire of the winners of the final six races, a run of success that may well be unprecedented.
Five of the six winners were for the training partnership of Brian and Shane Anderton, who stand the sire at White Robe, which is less than 5km from the Wingatui track. Four of those were ridden by Courtney Barnes, who had a five-timer on the day.
The final winner, the perhaps appropriately named The Cluster, was trained by Robert Dennis, He led home a trifecta for Ghibellines.
The Darley-bred stallion has been a fixture on White Robe Lodge’s stallion roster for a decade. Related to Bivouac and a half-brother to champion filly Guelph, his lone Group 1 winner has been Smokin’ Romans.
Winners for Graff and Anders
First-season sires Anders and Graff both had first-crop winners on Friday.
Widden’s Anders had his fourth winner with Casino Bay successful for Mark Currie in the $125,000 Pat O’Shea Plate at Toowoomba.
Casino Bay takes the 2025 Pat O'shea Plate at Toowoomba, giving Kyle Wilson-Taylor a double today! 🙌@RaceQLD pic.twitter.com/ICSlBqaeMR
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 28, 2025
Graff, the Kitchwin Hills-based stallion who had Grafterburners win the recent Aquis Jewel, had his second winner thanks to the Peter Snowden-trained Telling winning a 1000-metre maiden at Muswellbrook.
