A look back on Phar Lap Race Day

Boomtown Bosses them in dramatic Aurie’s Star

In good old Phar Lap fashion, drama and excitement made for a memorable 2026 version of the Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m).

Tony Gollan, Queensland’s premier trainer rolled the dice in giving Boomtown Boss one more run while making the trip to Melbourne was vindicated with victory in the first black-type feature for the new racing season.

Gollan decided to make the move after a luckless Brisbane winter carnival and whether the 1200-metre Group 3 event would tell him whether Boomtown Boss ($13) still had it in him to snag one an elusive win this preparation, and if handling the Flemington straight would open other more lucrative opportunities.

“He profiles as a more who loves big tracks and a lot of room so I felt that for a little while he would make a nice straight horse,” Gollan said.

“During his winter prep, he was going nowhere and when I zigged I should have zagged, everything was going wrong.

“I knew this race was on the cards so I backed off him (after the Eye Liner Stakes) and sent him to Ciaron’s (Maher) at Cranbourne to really settle him in.

“I thought the trip away, and with straight racing, I thought it would suit him and through the race he was travelling alright.”

Initial race favourite War Machine was a late scratching after bursting through the starting stalls and post-race drama followed in the stewards room as connections of second-placed Royal Insignia ($8.50) fired in a protest over excessive use by winning jockey Daniel Moor.

Stewards found that there was evidence of excessive use but the amount was insufficient to overturn the result with the winning margin of a neck.

“He came her a bit unknown down the straight and he did wander about a bit and change legs a lot, but you just know that when you’re on a Tony Gollan horse that they are well prepared,” Moor said.

Tony Gollan also won the Aurie’s Star Handicap in 2011 with Temple Of Boom.

Blake Shinn back a winner with first ride

If only the recovery was as easily won as the first ride for Blake Shinn who returned a winner in his first ride back.

Back to the scene of his race fall on Lexus Melbourne Cup Day last year, Shinn returned a winner at Flemington aboard a spring staying prospect with the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Nearco Frod ($2.50 favourite) in the TAB We’re On (2500m).

‘On’ Shinn was as he pushed the five-year-old out for a 1¾-length victory over Urban Outlook ($21) and Our Chief ($2.70).

“The legs have pulled up a little but sore which is a understandable but it is such a great feeling,” and emotional Shinn said.

“It has been a bit of a journey, but it is nice to be coming home a winner and not in the back of an ambulance.

“To get the support of all the leading trainers and owners and I’ve had to ensure that I’m ready for today with a great team who have helped me in the recovery.

“First ride back a winner so it is special. Hopefully it is the start of a great season.”

Though the margin was respectable, the way the gelding run out the distance was impressive enough which brings bright hopes for the stable towards a possible start in the Group 3 Lexus Archer Stakes (2500m) on September 12.

Nearco Frod notched his third win in succession after two wins at Sandown.

“We have a nice preparation with him but he has really come on, Calvin McEvoy said.

“To win three in town is a good effort and it is lovely to provide Blake Shinn with his first winner.”

Good advice taken for Flemington win

Being realistic is often a good thing but aiming higher can pay dividends and Gavin Bedggood is the beneficiary of some very good advice from form analyst Mark Hunter who suggested sticking to racing at Flemington for Almontego ($16).

Well known for his ability to turn around the careers of tried horses, a two-year-old winner at Flemington put his versatility on display after purchasing the son of group one-winning sire Alabama Express for $25,000 at the 2025 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

Winning at his second start in the Jockeys Celebration Day Sprint (1000m), Almontego’s prizemoney now sits at $90,000.

“I was keen to go to a maiden and try and make a good thing of him but he drew barrier 11 and Joe Bowditch who does a lof of work on him at home said he wasn’t as effective on heavy ground,” Bedggood said.

“He’s taken good improvement every time he has had a jump out.”

Almontego finished fourth on debut at Flemington on July 18.

UK import delivers in Phar Lap celebration

It is stuff of fantasy to think of how Phar Lap may have gone if he had raced in the UK but it was a British import who left nothing in doubt by breaking his Australian maiden in the Phar Lap 100th Birthday (2000m).

See That Storm ($3.80) won five times in England before being shipped to the care of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr.

Two runs in, including a tenth placing last start in the Listed VRC-CRV Winter Championship Series Final (1600m), had the six-year-old ready for victory here.

“He’s been a real work-in-progress,” Kent Jnr said.

“He’s taken a while to get the hang of things here in Australia and if you saw him here in the mounting yard at his first start, he was a muck lather in the yard and behind the gates.

“We re-educated him a little bit to ride him back further.

“On his UK form he is an on-pace ten-furlong horse so today was a nice opportunity to ride him normally and Lachie (Neindorf) rode him absolutely beautifully.”

Kent Jnr also noted that with See That Storm had not evidence of wet track form in his former home so the good surface a Flemington suited.

Touchdown makes all to continue impressive record

A shrewd investment by Lindsay Park and partners is paying dividends as Touchdown furthers his positive impression racing in Australia.

The former New Zealand galloper purchased by Ben, Will and JD Hayes took his record to five wins and three placings in nine starts with victory in the 2026 Melbourne Cup Carnival On Sale (1620m).

Second-up this time, the five-year-old finished second over 1400 metres last start at Sandown.

“Although he didn’t at Sandown, it was still a great run,” co-trainer Ben Hayes said.

“We had to got back from the draw on a heavy track first-up and he was super through the line.

“He really came through it well. This time he had to a bit more work than we thought but it was an easy watch in the end and he was strong through the line and there were nice spacings back to second and third.”

Touchdown ($1.95 favourite) won by two-lengths over the Danny O’Brien-trained Farhh Flung ($12) with Kaleo ($5.50) a further 2¼-lengths away in third.

“I think there is a lot more to come and he is an exciting horse going forward,” Hayes added.

Sass Appeals in perfect Flemington record

As Ben Hayes said, it is always good to have a horse who likes Flemington, and that can be said for the Danny O’Brien Sass Appeal ($1.45) who took her track record to four wins in as many starts.

Trained at the track, the four-year-old mare delivered her fifth career win in six starts in the 26/27 VRC Membership Renewals Open (1410m).

While this race first-up this preparation may not top her list, her wins in the Listed Desirable Stakes (1400m) in February and the Group 2 TAB Kewney Stakes (1600m) in March give all the indications of more to look forward to this Spring.

“I was very pleased that the track was prepared so well and when the weather gods were so kind, this race was an obvious one to kick off in,” O’Brien said.

“I was really pleased to get her started and it was important that we did get started today to get her ratings points up.”

O’Brien is eyeing group one handicaps like the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and Toorak Handicap for the rising talent.

Blake Shinn took riding honours on the day with a double while nice stables shared the wins across the card.

Racing returns to Flemington on September 12 for the first Group 1 of the new season at headquarters. The Crown Makybe Diva Stakes over 1600m looks like it will draw an exciting field to kick off the spring.