Captain Pluto is a five-year-old brown gelding, foaled on October 5, 2019, in New Zealand.He is sired by Savabeel out of the dam Miss Bernardini.Trained by Grant and Alana Williams at Karnup, Captain Pluto has had 25 race starts, achieving six wins, five second-place finishes, and five third-place finishes, accumulating earnings of $358,765.
On March 8, 2025, Captain Pluto secured a notable victory in the Listed Bunbury Cup over 2019 meters.Under the guidance of jockey William Pike, he delivered a strong performance to claim the win.This triumph marked a significant milestone for co-trainer Alana Williams, who had previously won the Bunbury Cup 13 years earlier with Lords Ransom.
South Australia hosts several notable horse racing events throughout the year. Here are five of the top races scheduled for 2025:
1. South Australian Derby Date: May 3, 2025 Location: Morphettville Racecourse, Adelaide Details: A prestigious Group 1 race for three-year-olds, covering a distance of 2500 meters. It is a highlight of the Adelaide Racing Carnival.
2. The Goodwood Date: May 10, 2025 Location: Morphettville Racecourse, Adelaide Details: A premier Group 1 sprint race over 1200 meters, attracting top sprinters from across the country. It offers significant prize money and is a key feature of the Adelaide Racing Carnival.
3. Australasian Oaks Date: April 26, 2025 Location: Morphettville Racecourse, Adelaide Details: A Group 1 race for three-year-old fillies, run over 2000 meters. It is a significant event during the Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival.
4. Robert Sangster Stakes Date: April 26, 2025 Location: Morphettville Racecourse, Adelaide Details: Also known as the TAB Classic, this Group 1 race is for fillies and mares aged three years and older, contested over 1200 meters. It is a key sprint event in the South Australian racing calendar.
5. Adelaide Cup Date: March 10, 2025 Location: Morphettville Racecourse, Adelaide Details: A historic Group 2 race run over 3200 meters, making it one of the few two-mile races in Australia. It is a time-honored event that attracts stayers from around the country.
Here at Ultra Racing we love many events in South Australia and look forward to racing here again in 2025!
Victoria hosts several premier horse racing events throughout the year. Here are the top five races scheduled for 2025:
1. Melbourne Cup Date: November 4, 2025 Location: Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne Details: Known as “the race that stops a nation,” the Melbourne Cup is a 3200-meter handicap race with a prize pool of $7.75 million. It’s Australia’s most famous horse race, attracting international competitors and widespread public attention.
2. Caulfield Cup Date: October 18, 2025 Location: Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne Details: A prestigious 2400-meter handicap race offering $5 million in prize money. It’s a key lead-up event to the Melbourne Cup and is renowned for its competitive field.
3. Cox Plate Date: October 25, 2025 Location: Moonee Valley Racecourse, Melbourne Details: Considered Australia’s premier weight-for-age race, the Cox Plate covers 2040 meters and offers a $5 million prize. It’s known for its high-quality field and thrilling finishes.
4. Victoria Derby Date: November 1, 2025 Location: Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne Details: A classic 2500-meter race for three-year-olds, the Victoria Derby boasts a $2 million prize. It’s a highlight of the Melbourne Cup Carnival and showcases emerging talent.
5. Australian Cup Date: March 29, 2025 Location: Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne Details: A 2000-meter weight-for-age race with a $2.5 million prize pool. The Australian Cup attracts top middle-distance horses and is a key event in the autumn racing calendar.
Some of Ultra Racing’s favourite races are held in Victoria, which the entire racing community looks forward to each year!
New South Wales (NSW) hosts several premier horse racing events throughout the year. Here are the top five races scheduled for 2025:
1. Golden Slipper Stakes Date: March 22, 2025 Location: Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, Sydney Details: The world’s richest race for two-year-olds, offering a prize pool of $5 million. It’s a highlight of the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.
2. The Championships Dates: April 5 and 12, 2025 Location: Royal Randwick Racecourse, Sydney Details: A two-day event featuring several Group 1 races, including the Doncaster Mile and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, with substantial prize money.
3. The Everest Date: October 18, 2025 Location: Royal Randwick Racecourse, Sydney Details: The world’s richest turf race, boasting a $20 million prize pool, attracting elite sprinters globally.
4. The Golden Eagle Date: November 1, 2025 Location: Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, Sydney Details: A 1500-meter race for four-year-olds, with a $10 million prize, making it one of Australia’s richest races.
5. Epsom Handicap Date: October 4, 2025 Location: Royal Randwick Racecourse, Sydney Details: A prestigious mile handicap race with a rich history, offering a $1.5 million prize.
These events are integral to NSW’s rich racing heritage, attracting top-tier talent and offering substantial prize money. They are anticipated by fans and participants alike!
Poison Chalice came in 1st place in the Schweppes Handicap at Caulfield on the 16th October 2024. Excellent ride by Thomas Stockdale and training by Paul Preusker and his team!
The Australian Racing Hall of Fame is an institution that recognizes and celebrates the achievements of notable racehorses, jockeys, trainers, and other influential figures in the Australian horse racing industry.
It was established to honour individuals and horses who have made significant contributions to Australian racing through their exceptional performances, records, or contributions to the sport.
Key aspects of the Australian Racing Hall of Fame include:
Inductees: The Hall of Fame includes inductees from various categories, such as horses, jockeys, trainers, and associates (which may include breeders, owners, administrators, etc.)
Criteria: Induction into the Hall of Fame is based on a nominee’s outstanding achievements, impact on the sport, and legacy within the Australian racing community.
Selection Process: Candidates are nominated and selected by a panel of experts, which may include racing historians, journalists, and industry professionals. The selection process considers factors such as racing performance, records, championships won, and overall influence on the sport.
Recognition: Inductees are honored with a formal induction ceremony, often held annually, where their achievements and contributions are celebrated. Their names and accomplishments are permanently enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
Education and Preservation: The Hall of Fame serves as an educational resource, preserving the history and heritage of Australian horse racing. It helps to promote and commemorate the achievements of legendary figures and the cultural significance of the sport.
The Australian Racing Hall of Fame plays a vital role in showcasing the rich history and tradition of horse racing in Australia and serves as a tribute to the extraordinary individuals and horses who have left an indelible mark on the sport.
Miss Andretti is a legendary Australian racehorse known for her exceptional speed and numerous victories on the track.
Born in 2001, Miss Andretti was a bay mare bred in Western Australia. She was trained by Lee Freedman and later by David A. Hayes during her racing career.
Miss Andretti’s notable wins include:
The Lightning Stakes (now Black Caviar Lightning): Miss Andretti won the Lightning Stakes, a Group 1 sprint race held at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia, in 2005 and 2007.
The Newmarket Handicap: She triumphed in the Newmarket Handicap, another prestigious Group 1 sprint race held at Flemington Racecourse, in 2007.
The Manikato Stakes: Miss Andretti won the Manikato Stakes, a Group 1 sprint race held at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne, in 2006.
The King’s Stand Stakes: One of her most notable international victories came in the King’s Stand Stakes, a Group 1 race held at Royal Ascot in England, in 2007. This win showcased her remarkable speed and talent on the global stage.
Miss Andretti was named Australian Racehorse of the Year in 2007. This recognition came after her notable performances on the track, including victories in prestigious races like the Lightning Stakes, Newmarket Handicap, and King’s Stand Stakes.
Her exceptional speed and versatility as a sprinter made her a standout in Australian racing during that year, leading to her being honored with the prestigious title of Australian Racehorse of the Year.
She became one of the most beloved and successful racehorses in Australian racing history and a favourite of owner Sean Buckley.
Captain Envious added the Group 3 Easter Cup (2000m) at Caulfield on 6th April 2024 to his victory in the Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) at the end of last spring.
Bursting through a narrow gap, Captain Envious ($26) with Thomas Stockdale aboard, defeated Jennilala ($7.50) by a half-neck with Deny Knowledge ($16) a short-half-head away third.
Captain Envious was racing third-up from a break on Saturday having finished out of the placings in tougher races in his first two runs back.
Stockdale said Captain Envious showed a lot of courage to get through late in the contest and register a narrow win.
“It was tight, and I had both horses coming in on me, so full credit to him to get through that hole and win the race,” Stockdale said.
“He took a long time to pull up, so I think he’s going to be suited getting out over further.
“I think he can go on with it now and he enjoyed the fast tempo that was on today, being able to camp off it and being produced late.
“He was gutsy, he was tough, and he had a bit of a blow, so he will come on.
“I think there are bigger things in store for him and it’s great to get a Stakes winner for the Preusker team who have been great supporters of mine over the last 12 or so months.”
Having delved into the 2021 mare book for Cox Plate winning sire So You Think last week, we thought it would be interesting to investigate another Cox Plate winning sire and this one covered the dam of the world’s best sprinter last spring.
As a Cox Plate and Australian Guineas winner, Shamus Award was the Champion 3YO of his generation, but it’s really only been in the last year that the son of champion sire Snitzel has been given the respect he deserves as a sire.
The current season has been a particular eye opener with Shamus Award producing six stakes—winners, all of them Group winners and three of them Group I winners in Incentivise, Duais and El Patroness.
Shamus Award started his career at Widden Stud, but is now in Victoria with Rosemont Stud, who set his fee at $33,000 last spring.
Breeders were quick to sniff out a sire on the up, still priced at value and Shamus Award covered 216 mares making him the busiest sire in Victoria and the second busiest in the country behind only Capitalist.
This year he has been priced more in keeping with his stature at $88,000 and will no doubt cover his best ever book of mares, but the foals in the pipeline for this year hold plenty of interest with one in particular set to garner international media attention.
A couple of the Group I producers covered by Shamus Award in the list below did not go in foal and Spectacula, (dam of dual Group I winner Global Glamour) sadly died in December last year.
We can however confirm that Nature Strip’s dam Strikeline is safely in foal and is due in late September.
STAKES WINNERS
Mare
Born
Country
Damsire
Best win
Mirjulisa Lass
2007
AUS
Danasinga
G1
Azkadellia
2011
NZ
Shinko King
G1
Vintedge
2005
AUS
Flying Spur
G2
Winterinthewoods
2005
SAF
Western Winter
G2
Tahanee
2012
ARG
Stormy Atlantic
G3
Ana Royale
2013
AUS
Anacheeva
G3
Fancy Feet
2009
AUS
Fath
G3
Hear The Chant
2013
AUS
Nicconi
G3
Pixilim
2013
BRZ
Agnes Gold
G3
Unchain My Heart
2006
AUS
Al Maher
Listed
Sweet Cheeks
2007
AUS
General Nediym
Listed
Sophia Babe
2006
AUS
Iglesia
Listed
Marveen
2005
AUS
Orientate
Listed
Blondie
2014
AUS
Reward For Effort
Listed
Cosmic Alert
2015
AUS
Star Witness
Listed
Scratchy Lass
2011
AUS
U S Ranger
Listed
Dance To My Tune
2004
CAN
Stravinsky
Listed
Its Time For Magic
2013
NZ
Per Incanto
Listed
STAKES PRODUCERS
Mare
Born
Damsire
Horse
Best Win
Strikeline
2000
Desert Sun
Nature Strip
G1
Admirelle
2003
General Nediym
Sizzling
G1
Condesaar
2004
Xaar
Yankee Rose
G1
Special Favour
2009
General Nediym
Mr Quickie
G1
Spectacula
2004
Testa Rossa
Global Glamour
G1
Sure You Can
2010
O’Reilly
El Patroness
G1
Generous Nature
2003
Carnegie
Savvy Nature
G2
Take All Of Me
2005
Jeune
I’Ll Have A Bit
G2
Attessa
2006
Belong to Me
High Seas Beauty
G3
Condesaar
2004
Xaar
Miravalle
G3
Crossyourheart
2004
Show A Heart
Swear
G3
Generous Nature
2003
Carnegie
Addictive Nature
G3
Hissy Miss
2003
Golden Snake
Glass Warrior
G3
Is It A Mosquito
2011
Bel Esprit
Swats That
G3
Love Of Liberty
2009
General Nediym
Ellsberg
G3
M’Lady Hallowell
2011
Wanted
Hoi An
G3
Miss Ethics
2003
Count Dubois
Ethical Solution
G3
Quietzer
2006
More Than Ready
Hear The Chant
G3
Sovereign Charm
2005
Show A Heart
Sovereign Award
G3
Baize
2008
Commands
Corner Pocket
Listed
Carolina Bella
2006
Zabeel
Mickey Blue Eyes
Listed
Cheers Rihanna
2009
General Nediym
Struck By
Listed
It’s You
1999
Celtic Swing
Yourein
Listed
Lunar Lights
2005
Bianconi
Honey’S Steel Gold
Listed
Miss Encosta
2006
Encosta De Lago
Captain Duffy
Listed
My Tusker
2001
Volksraad
Game Keeper
Listed
Sophia Babe
2006
Iglesia
Final Salute
Listed
Special Mission
2004
Towkay
Redouble
Listed
Strikeline
2000
Desert Sun
The Barrister
Listed
SIRES OF DAMS COVERED BY SHAMUS AWARD (6 or more mares)
In this table we’ve had a look at the sires of these quality mares that have gone to Shamus Award and looked to see the success rate of the nick in terms of winner to runner and SW to runner.
The overall statistics for Shamus Award are 64.5% winner to runner and 7% SW to runner.
