Stars return across the ditch at Flemington and Randwick
Across the Ditch • February 13th, 2026 1:33 PM • 5 min read
STAR SPRINTERS CLASH
Nick Quinn
Group 1 racing heads to Flemington on Saturday with Black Caviar Lightning over 1000 metres.
There are five three-year-olds in the race including the $2.40 favourite Tentyris from the Anthony and Sam Freedman stable.
He won the Group 1 Coolmore stud stakes up the straight in the spring and was scratched at the barriers in the Group 1 Champions Sprint which was won by Giga Kick.
Giga Kick is on the second line of betting at $4.50
There has been early money for Philia in the final race with bets of $2500 at $4.80 and $1029.41 at $4.40.
The David Vandyke trained mare won four races in a row last campaign before contesting the Group 1 Queensland Oaks.
She makes her Victorian debut after winning three recent trials/jump-outs.
Some star gallopers resume in Randwick with Apocalyptic, Joliestar and Autumn Glow all kicking off their campaign.
In some sad racing news, sprinter Queman has died after succumbing to a battle with illness.
Queman had 26 career starts for 10 wins and seven placings, the highlight being the 2024 Group 1 Oakleigh Plate when he saluted as a $17 chance with Harry Coffey in the saddle.
Shane Oxlade, who trained Queman in partnership with daughter Cassie, said the loss was a tough pill to swallow.
“It’s just devastating,” Oxlade said.
“It’s just all happened fairly quickly and it came from absolutely nowhere. I think us and Boof (Francis Smith – owner and breeder) were hoping he’d be able to spend the rest of his days in a paddock – that's what he deserved, but it wasn’t to be.
“He was a tough horse and typically he was tough right until the end, but sadly this was a fight he just couldn’t win.”
REPUBLICAN PARTY'S PERFECT HUNTER CUP
Adam Hamilton
An unlikely Kiwi win in the iconic Hunter Cup (Race 6 at 10:35) has become a bit more likely thanks to a perfect draw for Republican Party.
The dual Auckland and Invercargill Cup winner snared the coveted pole position when he takes on the three Aussie big guns – Leap To Fame, Kingman and Swayzee – in Saturday night’s 2760m feature.
All three have had Republican Party’s measure so far, but his best pointer was a luckless third in last year’s Hunter Cup won by Swayzee and with Leap To Fame a close second.
“That’s really why we’ve come back to have a crack again,” co-trainer Cran Dalgety said.
“We’ve got the draw to be a chance now. It’s a hell of a bonus, the fence is the quickest way home.
“Hopefully he’ll get a similar sort of run to last year, but a bit more luck when it matters.
“Ideally he can hold the spot behind the leader, rather than be shuffled to three-back on the inside like last year.”
Republican Party opened this Aussie raid with a sound second, albeit easily held by Leap To Fame, in last Saturday night’s Group 1 Kilmore Cup.
Dalgety knows he’ll have a much better horse this week.
“Five weeks between runs caught up with him last week, he blew out in the last 80m. He’ll be a lot fitter and he’ll need to be.”
Defending champion and dual NZ Cup winner Swayzee was the other big winner from the barrier draw in gate two.
He is the most likely of the big guns to find the lead, the role he took to beat a gallant Leap To Fame in track record time last year.
Leap To Fame is wide on the front row in gate six, while Kingman has the task ahead from the back row (gate 10).
Trainer-driver Grant Dixon wasn’t too fazed by Leap To Fame’s draw.
“There’s as many positives as negatives,” he said. “We’ve had a lot worse. The horse is as well as we can have him and thriving on the racing, that’s all we can ask.”
Leap To Fame is racing for a new $1 million bonus plus the $142,500 first prize.
He set-up the bonus chase wins in the Ballarat, Cranbourne and Kilmore Cups over the past three weeks.
(Watch the Hunter Cup live on Trackside 1 and trackside.co.nz at 10:35pm on Saturday night)
Another highlight of a stunning Hunter Cup night will be superstar trotting mare Keayang Zahara’s quest for a 13th Group 1 win and the biggest of her career on the $250,000 Great Southern Star.
She too is racing for a bonus of $500,000 after winning three of the key lead-up races.
Unlike any other Australian feature race, Keayang Zahara will have to qualify through a heat and win the final on the same night to bank the bonus.
She will be a commanding favourite from gate five in the first heat (Race 2).
The Great Southern Star Final is Race 8 at 11:33
GREYHOUNDS
Jared Timms
Cumbria Jack has opened a popular favourite in betting ahead of Friday night’s Group 2 Bulli Gold Cup Final after breaking the track record in last week’s heats.
Having previously been held by 2025 Golden Easter Egg/Million Dollar Chase champion Power And Glory, a new time of 25.74 was set by Cumbria Jack as he charged away from his rivals to ultimately stamp himself as the dog to beat.
“That’s his fourth track record,” trainer Steve Fitch said after the race.
“He’s had a little niggle in a toe, and he was kept to free galloping for the past couple of weeks. Maybe less is more for him!”
Kennelmate and fellow Group 1 winner, Eriza Sparkles also won through to Friday’s featured final in an impressive 25.76, equalling the previous market set by Power And Glory.
“She’s enormous,” Fitch said.
“She’s now the fastest bitch ever at Bulli and also Wentworth Park.”
With star chasers Jungle Johnny and Gold Force also confirmed starters, the Bulli Gold Cup shapes as one of Australia’s standout greyhound races of 2026 (so far).
“Jungle Johnny and Gold Force are amazing dogs, and they will be very hard to beat. Then there is Black Myth Wave … it’s no gimmie,” Fitch added.
Cumbria Jack opened a $2.60 chance in Bulli Gold Cup betting ahead of Jungle Johnny ($3.40) and Eriza Sparkles ($3.60).
Elsewhere in Australian greyhound racing this week, Group 1 racing returned to The Meadows in Victoria on Saturday night when both the Zoom Top and Temlee are contested, while the Listed Puppy Classic headlines Perth’s offering at Cannington.
