Missing in action: The stars that won’t be seen this spring carnival
A New Zealand Oaks winner from the Chris Waller camp is among a host of Group-class horses that won’t feature in Melbourne or Sydney this spring carnival due to injury or retirement.
OUT INJURED OR ON THE COMEBACK TRAIL
2025 G1 New Zealand Oaks winner Leica Lucy will miss the spring after undergoing surgery following a pair of underwhelming Sydney barrier trials in August. The Waller-trained mare, beaten just 1.56 lengths in this year’s G1 All-Star Mile, won six of her first seven starts in NZ before being transferred to Australia. Her ownership group is weighing up whether she races on or is retired for breeding.
A winner of eight of his 13 starts, the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained Yorkshire is “about four or five months away from returning to racing,” according to Charlton, after the 6YO gelding sustained a near foreleg injury in the G1 George Ryder Stakes in March this year.
Talented but injury-plagued galloper Globe has been in pre-training for a month after a spell on the back of his distant last-placing in the Doncaster Prelude in March. A dominant all-the-way winner of the G1 Caulfield Stakes last year, the 8YO won’t be defending his crown with the race less than a month away. Globe’s stablemate Warmonger, not seen since finishing worse than midfield in the 2025 Sydney Cup, is close to having a trial but co-trainer Michael Kent Jnr told NZTW that there is nothing in the spring calendar circled for him at this stage.
A trackwork mishap has cast serious doubt over Tony Gollan’s star galloper Transatlantic’s spring carnival. Last year’s G1 Toorak Handicap winner is “bruised and battered” after slipping over on bitumen, according to a recent Racenet report.
While he did make one ‘spring’ appearance – an inglorious last in the G2 McNeil Stakes at Caulfield – Seize The Day won’t race again for at least the next three months after he was found to have bled from both nostrils following a Cranbourne trial on Monday, September 14. The Kiwi colt was a destructive 4.5 length winner of the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce in March but things went awry for him in Australia.
RETIRED SINCE LAST SPRING
Star of last year’s spring carnival, Tentyris, heads the list of high-profile retirements but even those living under a rock would be aware of his pivot to breeding.
Some retirements that have perhaps flown under the radar a touch more include G1 Vinery Stud Stakes winner Belle Cheval and $2.1m earner Manaal. The former unfortunately pulled up with an issue following a heavy first-up defeat in the G3 Courtza Stakes at Caulfield. The daughter of Savabeel will be a sought-after broodmare.
Fellow mares Stefi Magnetica and Magic Time have also left the racing game, while stallion duties await entires Observer and Private Harry.
Popular Group 1-winning 8YO geldings Baraqiel and Antino had time called on their racing careers in March and April respectively, with the latter a two-time winner of ‘Queensland Horse of the Year’. 2024 G1 Moir Stakes winner Mornington Glory is another gelding enjoying a nice paddock in retirement.
NZTW FUTURES TIP:
Mark Walker has his Cranbourne base humming after a slow start to spring, the stable has saddled up 6 winners from their past 10 starters and have the unbeaten TOLAGA BAY nominated for the Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield. A logical step up in distance after a narrow win first-up win. With added fitness improvement and her positive racing style she only needs to draw a gate to be highly competitive on Saturday and we expect her to start favourite with a favourable barrier draw tomorrow.
*Currently $4.50 with Ladbrokes
