Breeders' Cup Classic hero Sovereignty has gone straight from the racetrack to the breeding shed, with Godolphin announcing stud fees for both him and Classic third placegetter Knightsbridge. Closer to home, Flemington is braced for a wet Monday ahead of the $10.2 million Melbourne Cup, and the betting ring has already seen plenty of action at Call of the Card.
BreedingThoroughbred Daily NewsInternational
Breeders' Cup Classic winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief) was loaded onto a Godolphin van bound for Jonabell Farm on Sunday morning, joined by Classic third placegetter Knightsbridge (Nyquist). Stud fees of $75,000 and $150,000 respectively were announced later that morning, along with news that a lifetime breeding right in each stallion would be offered Monday night at Fasig-Tipton. Trainer Bill Mott said Sovereignty had confirmed he was "as good as we always thought he was" and was in no doubt he deserved the 2026 Horse of the Year title, having been forced to withdraw from the 2025 Classic through illness. TDN reports Nitrogen will return to racing in 2027.
Pedigrees: Sovereignty, Knightsbridge, Nitrogen
PeopleRacenetAustralia
Racenet reports Harry Coffey remains a chance of riding in Tuesday's Melbourne Cup after successful surgery on his collarbone. The injury was sustained in a fall on Derby Day.
Racingjusthorseracing.com.auAustralia
Flemington is rated a Good 4 after Saturday's Victoria Derby meeting, but the Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting 3mm to 15mm of rain, thunderstorms and possible flash flooding across Melbourne on Monday. Tuesday's outlook is kinder, with only a slight chance of showers and a maximum of 18 degrees. Runners with form on rain-affected ground, including Ciaron Maher's Juja Kibo ($11) and Bjorn Baker's So You Are ($12), would be suited by a downgrade. Derby Day drew almost 90,000 racegoers and the track handled the changing weather well.
Pedigrees: Juja Kibo, So You Are
WageringRacenetAustralia
Racenet reports Irish billionaire owner JP McManus made his presence felt early at the Melbourne Cup Call of the Card, backing three horses for $2 million collects. The runners were not named in the available material.
RacingPaulick ReportInternational
Breeders' Cup Classic runner-up The Puma will head back to trainer Gustavo Delgado's base at Gulfstream Park with a 2027 campaign to come, the Paulick Report says. The Essential Quality colt is not bound for stud. "We don't think too far ahead," Delgado said. "But the Classic next year sounds pretty good."
Pedigrees: The Puma
PeopleThe AgeAustralia
Jabez Johnstone, 20, received death threats and social media abuse after a horse death in the Caulfield Cup, with many wrongly accusing the second-year apprentice of causing the mid-race interference that brought down two horses and their riders. Racing Victoria stewards cleared Johnstone and all riders involved two days later. Supported by his sister Taylor, first trainer Sarah Cotton, apprentice coach Stephen Maskiell and new master Ciaron Maher, he returned on Cox Plate day at Flemington and almost won the Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup on Mr Monaco. He rides the same horse in Tuesday's Melbourne Cup as the only apprentice in the field.
Pedigrees: Mr Monaco
