Last week, Ayr and Newbury grabbed the racing spotlight. The Scottish track staged its flagship Ayr Gold Cup Festival, which kicked off on Thursday and concluded on Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, in Berkshire, all eyes were on the juvenile division, as a talented field lined up for the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes.
Earlier in the week, thoughts turned to an international showstopper on the other side of the world, with the announcement of the Melbourne Cup weights. The home team have held on to the trophy in the “race that stops a nation” in each of the past five seasons. If they are to do so again in 2026, they will need to repel a Joseph O’Brien challenge that may number as many as 10.
Pellitory Lands Gold Cup Gamble
| Pos | Horse | SP | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Pellitory | 12/1 | David O’Meara | Daniel Tudhope |
| 2nd | Tuco Salamanca | 16/1 | Ollie Sangster | Marco Ghiani |
| 3rd | Flash Harry | 28/1 | Clive Cox | Paul Mulrennan |
| 3rd | Fine Interview | 12/1 | Hamad Al Jehani | James Doyle |
The Scottish weather did its best to wreak havoc with the big day at Ayr on Saturday. Already set to be run on soft ground, a deluge on the morning of the Ayr Gold Cup turned conditions heavy and left the fixture in doubt. Happily, for the trainers, owners, jockeys, and fans at the track, the meeting went ahead following two inspections.
Having featured prominently in the market throughout the week, Binhareer and Far Above Dream shared favouritism at the off. However, the big betting story concerned the David O’Meara-trained Pellitory. Among the rank outsiders on the morning of the race, the four-year-old was backed from 50/1 down to 12/1. Recommended by a couple of prominent tipsters, Pellitory dropped to 6f following seven consecutive runs over 7f, including a win at Haydock. Would that proven stamina be an advantage in the arduous conditions?
To the delight of those involved in the gamble, Pellitory relished the test provided by the bottomless ground, staying on best of all to score by ½l from Tuco Salamanca. Having grown up in nearby Irvine, winning rider Daniel Tudhope expressed his delight at claiming the race for the second time, saying, “It’s always been on my bucket list, so to have won it twice is unbelievable.” As for what is next for the winning horse, it appears that Pellitory has done his job for the season, with his trainer stating, “This was the target. We haven’t thought beyond this.”
Red Hot Appleby Nabs Newbury Feature
| Pos | Horse | SP | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Nabati | 7/4 | Charlie Appleby | William Buick |
| 2nd | Jolivette | 4/1 | Andrew Balding | Colin Keane |
| 3rd | Arapaho Gold | 5/4F | Michael Dods | Connor Beasley |
Won by Excellent Art, Dark Angel, Ribchester, and Harry Angel since the turn of the century, the Mill Reef Stakes is among the most anticipated late-season juvenile contests. Acting as the centrepiece of last week’s Friday-Saturday fixture at the Berkshire track, the 2026 edition featured a host of intriguing contenders.
Heading into the race, Arapaho Gold and Jolivette provided the two most compelling storylines. A perfect four-from-four in his career to date, Arapaho Gold boasted the type of unbeaten profile that always catches the eye. His trainer Michael Dods did little to dampen the hype when he suggested the Bayside Boy gelding was the best juvenile he had ever trained. With only one win from four starts, the Andrew Balding-trained Jolivette didn’t stand out quite as much on form. However, in a race officially run in honour of Andrew’s father Ian Balding, who sadly passed away in January 2026, she would be the most apt winner.
In the end, form and sentimentality were undone by the hottest trainer in racing. Three pounds better off with Arapaho Gold for a neck defeat in the Rose Bowl Stakes, Charlie Appleby’s Nabati started as a well-supported second favourite. In a thrilling finish to the 6f event, Nabati, Jolivette, and Arapaho Gold were separated by just half a length at the line, with Nabati prevailing by a short head from the Balding filly.
This win represented Charlie Appleby’s 15th success from his first 24 runners in September, giving the Godolphin number one a phenomenal 62.5% strike rate for the month. For Nabati, a tilt at the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint may be next on the agenda – a race Appleby won with Mischief Magic in 2022.
O’Brien Dominates Melbourne Cup Entries
Thursday 17 September saw one of the most anticipated announcements of the international racing year, as the weights for the 2026 Melbourne Cup were revealed. Over 100 runners remain in contention for the richest handicap in the world – this year taking place on Tuesday 3rd November.
With such a vast list of contenders, it is no surprise to see several trainers with multiple entries for the Flemington contest. Top Aussie trainers Ciaron Maher and Chris Waller lead the way, with 14 and 12 entries respectively. However, just behind them is a trainer located a little closer to home.
Having registered a famous win with Rekindling in 2017, before doubling his tally with Twilight Payment in 2020, Joseph O’Brien has no fewer than 11 entries for the 2026 Melbourne Cup.
Of that football team-sized squadron, only Nil Bua Gan Dua is not expected to travel, leaving O’Brien with a mere 10 potential challengers. The market suggests that Defiantly is one of the most likely to prevail, with the unexposed four-year-old currently trading as the clear second favourite for the 2m event. The favourite is recent St. Leger hero Highwayman, who could renew his partnership with Saffie Osborne, with other natabales including the J.P. McManus-owned Goodie Two Shoes, who finished second in the 2025 edition, and Epsom Derby third, James J Braddock.
With wins in the English and Irish Oaks, St Leger Stakes, and National Stakes, 2026 has already been a year to remember for Joseph O’Brien. Could the Owning Hill trainer round it off with a third success in Australia’s greatest race?
