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Gezora crowned her impressive ascent to the elite level with a stunning victory in the G1 Prix de Diane (French Oaks) at Chantilly.

The outstanding daughter of our resident Almanzor was making just her seventh appearance and her previous four wins included the G2 Prix Saint-Alary at Longchamp and Deauville’s G3 Prix des Reservoirs.

Trainer by Francis Graffard, Gezora lodged her claim for glory 300 metres from home and held a strong gallop to land the 2100 metre Classic by a length.

“She ran a nice race at Longchamp, she showed something new to me. She's improving all the time, and I saw after the race she really improved again, she was so happy, so confident in herself,” Graffard said.

Gezora was expertly handled by Christophe Soumillon, who had been in a bullish pre-race mood.

“What an amazing race, I was very confident before the race as she was going down to the start very easily. She was moving perfectly,” he told Sky Sports Racing.

"I had a good draw but I was a bit, not nervous, but thinking that if a lot of fillies without (strong) chances are in front of me, I could be stuck inside so I told Francis before the race and said if I have an option to come out then try to stay second-deep or third-deep, it will be great.

"When they started to quicken in the straight, I was following them really easily, I knew she’d be able to change gear and that’s exactly what she did. The pace was on, and she was ready to react at the right time.”

Gezora was raced by Haras d’Etreham before she was purchased by Peter Brandt’s White Birch Farm three starts back.

“I think it's probably one of the three or four races I've dreamed of winning. I think it's the greatest three-year-old filly race, it’s always stiff competition,” Brandt said.

Gezora is now likely to return to Longchamp for the G1 Prix Vermeille over 2400 metres before a call is made on the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, also 2400 metres.

She is a daughter of the Silver Hawk mare Germance, who won five races including the Saint-Alary in 2006 when it carried Group 1 status and then finished runner-up in the Oaks.

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Glamour sprinter Joliestar had trainer Chris Waller and rider James McDonald searching for superlatives following her stellar performance at Eagle Farm to claim a last stride victory in the G1 Kingsford Smith Cup.

Our superstar mare looked out for the count before she raised a monumental final effort to seal victory on the post in the 1300 metre feature.

“It’s been a hard day to run the leaders down and we can’t change her racing pattern, but in saying that, it was a lovely ride by James,” Waller said.

“He went straight across and got ahead of Giga Kick and one or two others, and that was probably the winning move.

“She was off the bridle at the 500 metres but to her class, she just kept coming.

“She’s a pleasure to train and the team at the Gold Coast call her the Queen, I’ll go with that.”

The regally bred Joliestar has now won six of her 15 starts and added the Kingsford Smith to her previous elite level victories in the Newmarket Handicap and Thousand Guineas.

“She’s just a lovely horse with a great record,” said Waller, who indicated she would now head for the paddock with October’s A$20 million The Everest her spring target.

“It was a mission that we missed out on last spring, so we’ll have a chat about it.”

Joliestar was taken back to fourth last from her wide barrier draw before McDonald got busy, but the daughter of Zoustar still had a mountain to climb on straightening.

“Obviously, she was the class horse in the race and she’s a big rocket because she wasn’t entitled to win,” he said.

“When I looked up at the 600, I thought I was okay and when I got on my bike at the 500 the pace had quickened, and the margin went from five lengths turning to home to seven.

“She made me look good, she’s a super mare.”

Joliestar was bred by Chris Barham and offered by Segenhoe Stud at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale where we went to A$950,000 to secure our pride and joy.

She is a daughter of the Fastnet Rock mare Jolie Bay, who won the G2 Roman Consul Stakes and finished runner-up in the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes and is a sister to the Australian and international Group 1 winner and stallion Merchant Navy.

All six of Jolie Bay’s progeny to race have been successful and includes the stakes performers Emperor and God Of Thunder.

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Talented filly Godspeed bounced back to her best at Chantilly with victory over 1600 metres in the G2 Prix de Sandringham.

The daughter of our shuttle stallion Hello Youmzain had been a sound third in the G3 Prix de la Grotte at Longchamp before returning there for a midfield finish in the G1 French 1000 Guineas over a mile.

She travelled easily near the pace under Christophe Soumillon and rounded off stylishly for her second win from just five outings.

"The filly did really well and gives me a lot of pleasure for her to run like that,” co-trainer Yann Lerner told Sky Sports Racing.

“We missed a bit of that luck at the beginning of the season with her, but we have plenty of confidence. We know she has a lot of talent.

"She has a nomination in the French Oaks (Prix de Diane, G1), but that's 15 days. I need to talk to all the partners, then we will see.

"She's a very easy filly. If she can show the same turn of foot over 2000 metres, she could be quite good."

An 80,000gns Arqana Deauville Yearling Sale graduate, Godspeed is out of the stakes-winning Stormin Home mare Mary’s Precedent and the family of international Group 1 winners Sottsass and Sister charlie.

Chaldean covered a high-quality book of 173 mares in his first season at Juddmonte Farm in the UK and his first foals have been arriving this spring. The progeny of our mulitple Gr.1 winning son of Frankel are receiving rave reviews from European breeders and farm managers.

"A quality colt, well balanced with size, scope and a mscular hip. Very much the sire." Simon Mockridge, Juddmonte. 2025 bay colt ex Hot Snap (Pivotal).

"A very good-looking and athletic colt with a lot of quality. It's the best foal the mare has produced to date." Simon Weeting, Overbury Stud. 2025 bay colt ex Velma Valento (Dabirsim).

"A strongly made foal with a big walk and lots of quality. A very pleasing result especially with the Frankel/Pivotal cross proving so successful with five Group One winners to date." Cathal Beale, CEO Irish National Stud. 2025 chestnut filly ex Aimhirgin Lass (Pivotal).

"He is a cracking first foal. Strong, correct, fantastic muscle definition and a great mover, just like his sire." Stuart Thom, Galloway Stud. 2025 bay colt ex Desert Dreamer (Oasis Dream).

"I'm really impressed with the Chaldean foals I've seen come through the breeding shed at Whitsbury and Juddmonte have some stunners I saw on a recent visit there. Strong, correct foals with good bone. They've got a great hip and shoulder like their sire and have a real presence about them." Ben Tappenden, Whitsbury Manor Stud

By Jess de Lautour, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Alice Jeffries didn’t always see a future for herself in the breeding industry, but a very special filly played a key role in getting her to where she is today, working as Cambridge Stud’s Assistant Yearling Manager, and receiving Entain’s Newcomer Excellence Award on Sunday.

Growing up on a sheep and beef farm in Tauranga, Jeffries’ father Warwick Jeffries delved into breeding on a small scale and was rewarded in a big way, breeding glamour mare Legarto out of his mare Geordie Girl.

Before she was a three-time Group One winner and $2 million earner, much of Legarto’s handling and early education was conducted by Jeffries, who took her through the sales ring at Karaka in 2021 where she was knocked down to Ancroft Stud for $90,000.

“Legarto was one of the first horses I took through from a baby to the sales, I did all of the handling with her and took her through the ring,” Jeffries said. “She was one of the first horses to really grab my attention in getting into the industry.”

Through that period, Jeffries was attending Lincoln University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce and Agriculture. Having had experience working in studs and at the yearling sales, she decided to apply for the Keith and Faith Taylor Family Trust Equine Scholarship, which led her to a six-month stint in Ireland.

“Dad has a few broodmares as a bit of a hobby so I had breeding in my background, but I didn’t think I would be working full-time in the industry until after uni,” she said.

“I did a Bachelor of Commerce and Agriculture at Lincoln, but following that, I didn’t see myself in any of the roles that it directly leads to, so I applied for the Keith and Faith Taylor Family Trust Equine Scholarship to go to the Irish National Stud.

“The scholarship gave me a really good foundation, I would recommend it to anyone wanting to go overseas and learn more about the breeding industry over there, while having a great time doing so.”

Just shy of a year ago, Jeffries entered her new role at Cambridge Stud, where she has been able to apply that knowledge with their large selection of young stock. She was recognised for her passion and contribution to the nursery when nominated for the Newcomer Award, and was grateful to be announced the winner, receiving the $10,000 prize from Entain.

“It was very rewarding because you put in a lot of effort, so it was really nice to be recognised at an industry level,” she said.

“The love of the horse is the main reason why I’m in this industry, and also, you’re able to do a lot, you can travel the world, meet lots of new people, and no two days are the same.

“Day to day at the moment, we are weanling handling, so mobs are coming in every week for handling, with things like having the farrier done. We’ll start to bring them on to grooming and getting them ready for that final yearling prep come the end of October to January.”

Cambridge Stud have committed to selling their yearlings solely at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale at Karaka next year, where Jeffries had a memorable experience this year, taking the farm’s draft-topping lot through the ring.

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Manzoice sparked a long overdue celebration for connections when he turned the G3 Tattersall’s Cup at Eagle Farm into a one act affair.

It was the five-year-old son of Almanzor’s first victory since he was successful in the G1 VRC Derby, although he had been a multiple stakes placegetter in between times.

Trained by Chris Waller, Manzoice settled at the back of the small field at Eagle Farm and rider Andrew Mallyon took advantage of a rails run at the top of the straight.

The gelding quickly put his rivals to the sword and was out on his own by four and a-half lengths at the post.

“Andrew cut the corner and saved all the ground and he was very good,” Waller’s Racing Manager Charlie Duckworth said.

“Obviously, it’s been a long time between drinks so it’s a good result.”

Manzoice was bred by Stephanie Hole and was purchased out of Bhima Thoroughbreds’ draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by Waller and Guy Mulcaster for A$340,000.

His dam is the Mastercraftsman mare Choice, whose three wins featured the G3 Eulogy Stakes.

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The second-top lot of the Inglis Digital June (Late) Sale was Hell Hound (Hellbent), a half sister to G2 Blue Diamond Prelude winner Letzbeglam, offered by Vinery Stud in foal to Exceedance and bought by Cambridge Stud for $310,000.

“Phenomenal,” said Vinery Stud’s Harry Roach.

“The interest in her all week was significant and just judging from the amount of phone calls and people coming to the farm to see her, we felt she had a lot of momentum and it all correlated to her selling very well.

“We offered her on behalf of Brookdale Racing’s David Lucas, a very good client of the farm who raced Exceedance with us so that was a nice touch.

“We have a good relationship with Cambridge Stud who bought Letzbeglam (Snitzel) from us as a yearling and they have a really progressive filly by Exceedance Dance to the Boom,” Roach said.

It was these factors and an impending match with their G1-winning stallion Sword of State (Snitzel), that attracted the Cambridge Stud team to Hell Hound.

“She was a good 2YO herself, a city-winning 2YO and we followed her racing career obviously being a half to Letzbeglam,” Cambridge Stud’s Cameron Ring said.

“We had Mike Fleming from Bhima inspect Hell Hound on our behalf and when he gave her the tick and said she’s a 10/10 physical, we knew we would have to work hard to get her.

“We’ve had Stakes success with progeny of Exceedance and another component to why we bought her is we obviously stand Snitzel’s G1-winning son Sword of State, a cross that has worked so well with this family.

“It’s a family Brendan and Jo Lindsay really want to invest in”,” Ring said.

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Leading thoroughbred nursery Cambridge Stud have committed their full support for NZB’s 2026 National Yearling Sales Series, with the announcement they will be selling 100% of their yearling stock at Karaka.

Karaka 2026, which marks the 100th National Yearling Sale in New Zealand, will debut a new format that features condensed quality throughout Book 1 and Book 2 and the introduction of a third session, the Karaka Summer Sale.

Cambridge Stud has a long-standing history of selling yearlings, dating back to their debut at Trentham during the 1978 National Yearling Sale, with Sir Patrick Hogan at the helm and Sir Tristram’s inaugural crop on offer.

Almost five decades later, now Stud Principals Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay, continue to ensure the rich Cambridge Stud legacy lives on in the fabric of the National Yearling Sales.  

“With the 100 year milestone of the sales in New Zealand, it is fitting that Cambridge Stud give their full support to Karaka 2026.”

“We will be selling all of our yearlings at Karaka this season, which gives buyers clarity about where they need to be to source our stock.”

“Sir Peter and the Vela family have done an incredible amount for the industry for many years, and it is important to acknowledge and support their ongoing investment in the industry here.”

With Karaka 2026 due to take place from 25 to 29 January, NZB’s Managing Director Andrew Seabrook is gearing up for the new sales season and the countdown to the historic 100 year milestone.

“It is certainly an exciting time in New Zealand, and having spoken to a number of people here on the grounds at Karaka at our weanling sale last week, they are all keen to get behind the 100th National Yearling Sale celebrations.”

“Cambridge Stud’s commitment that they will be selling 100% of their yearlings at Karaka 2026 is incredibly positive for our industry.”

“We need to preserve our flag-bearing sale as the cream of the crop with our best stock, and we need the support of our breeders and vendors to do that.”

“We look forward to celebrating the history of the National Yearling Sale over the coming months, as well as ensuring the future of the Sale is just as successful.”

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Second crop representatives of our resident sire Sword Of State found favour with Australasian buyers during New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Weanling Sale.

A quality selection of youngsters by the Group 1 winning son of Snitzel were on offer at Karaka and sold up to $120,000.

Lot 129 from Curraghmore’s draft was a popular colt and eventually knocked down to the final bid of Waikato operation Kaha Nui Farm.

Out of the Helmet mare Goldilicious, he is a half-brother to the G3 Easter Cup winner Torranzino with the third dam Showella, the Group 1 winner of the New Zealand Stakes and South Australian Derby.

“He was a very late foal so we forgave him for being on the lighter side than what I would normally look at, but he is just a baby, and he will furnish pretty well, I hope,” Kaha Nui’s Nicky White said.

Victorian Bloodstock agent Cameron Cooke also joined the Sword Of State fan club when he went to $90,000 for Lot 36 from the draft of Elsdon Park.

The colt is a half-brother to multiple Group placegetter Sedaka with their dam the Rip Van Winkle mare O’Carol and the family of international stakes winners Tale Of A Champion, Ilusora, Bandua, Olympic Flue and Mr Roary.

Cooke later paid $55,000 for Lot 77 from Curraghmore, a grandson of the two-time Group winer Lady Kipling also a multiple placegetter at the highest level.

Meanwhile, our own Sword Of State youngster, Lot 69, was knocked down to Auckland-based company Lordof Wingrove for $55,000.

His dam is the Street Cry mare Solar Cry who is a half-sister to three-time elite level winner Sunlight and her siblings Sisstar and Clean Energy were the respective G3 winners of the Red Roses Stakes and Typhoon Tracy Stakes.

The family has also enjoyed updates from the recent Brisbane juvenile winner and stakes performer Susstainable.

Lordof Wingrove also successfully secured Lot 110 from our consignment, a colt by Spirit Of Boom and the first foal of the Snitzel mare Chenzel.

The second dam is the G1Auckland Cup winner Chenille, whose half-sister Chintz was a multiple Group winner and top-flight placegetter whose son Not An Option won twice at Listed level in Australian in our colours.

It’s a pedigree page that also features Mo’unga, the two-time Group 1 winner of the Winx Stakes and Rosehill Guineas.

Waikato buyers GST Bloodstock took a shine to our son of Savabeel, Lot 25, and secured him for $56,000.

The colt is out of the winning So You Think mare Meghan, who also placed in the G3 Sunline Vase, and her half-brothers Devildom and Reevederci were also stakes performers.

It is also the family of champion sire Last Tycoon with international form added by Group winners Mon Petit Cherie, Ice Queen and Rabah.

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