Equinics 2026: Group 1 Scobie Breasly

A rare opportunity to score a dirt mile medal awaits a field of accomplished fillies and mares in Perth.

Eleven well-heeled distaffers have assembled for this Equinics 2026 event, number 18 on your scorecard. Surely by this point in the contest a residency leader will have emerged, and what better place to bring the series into the homestrech than this 1600m affair for ladies 4yo and older. Fitting, too, that a race of this magnitude is named after none other than the very first inductee to the Australian Racing Hall of Fame – that’s the legendary champion jockey Arthur Edward “Scobie” Breasly.

His list of Group 1 wins is longer than a paper receipt from your local everything market (CVS in the States, Woolworth’s down under – we’ll even acknowledge Canada Tire, where I once bought a snow shovel) and more international than a house of pancakes. Most impressive to me are the FIVE Caufield Cup victories, including a ridiculous four straight from ’42 to ’45. The last time I pulled off an impressive four-peat in anything was probably “consecutive visits to Taco Bell without soiling myself on the way home.” And soil indeed is the terrain to be traversed in this next test of Residential supremacy. The slight chance of showers proved a empty proposition; the track is fast and so are the ladies. Horse ladies, I mean. Fem-pixels, or what have you. You get it.

ORPHANS

CHIPSFORU2C sends out $2 million earner SHADOW OF A DREAM from his briana substable. The 6yo daughter of Practical Joke x Unbridled x Seattle Slew (scratch bred) is a 5-time winner at Group/Graded levels, with the latest being the best – a G1 victory at 9 furlongs last out in California (The Very Vane, on July 4th.) Nearly posting a lifetime best Speed Figure (116) in start number 28 is a masterful feat in and of itself. She’s got 8 overall stakes victories at distances from 8.5 to 9.5 furlongs, so the adjustment to the distance is but a minor one. A deep but not too-deep closer, her dream trip has her in front of just a few horses before flying past in the last 40 meters. A deeper dive reveals that she is 2 for 3 at today’s 1600m distance – the wins came in allowance company early in her career, and the lone loss was a smashing second (115 SP) in the G2 Cool Hand Luke. There are no holes in her resume, she’s in impeccable form and has top billing in a division where she has won 5 of her last 8 trips to post. The Orphans’ prospects are looking positively choice. Donny’s odds: 2-1 deserving favorite.

EMPIRE STATE RACING

LBAILEY is not messing around with the ultra-serious INTO BOOKWORMS. The Into Mischief x Smart Strike x Nureyev scratch bred is a 4yo who has already cleared the $1 million earnings mark in only 14 starts and 5 victories. When three of those come in Grade 1 routes at age 2, 3, and 4? That’s when you know your pedigree studies paid off and you’re doing something right. Her resume includes the Movieland Starlet (8.5f), the Sister Hen (9f) and most recently the Union Jack Flyer (8f) two starts back in April. In each of those scores (and in all of her near-misses) she settled mid-pack and wore them down with a sustained run from roughly 5-6 lengths behind the leader. The only misfires in her PP’s are exactly that… she settled in the middle and unexpectedly stayed there. Could that mean she is dependent upon a hot pace to set up her finishing move? I think this is one that is better at 8f than the longer distances, so if you toss her last sub-par effort (unplaced in a very deep G1 Steadhemp / Mike Phipps in New York, 8.5f) she might be booking a visit to the medal stand. Donny’s odds: 7/2 and dangerous.

MIDAS

While not entirely true that everything SUPERTAFFY touches turns to gold, the pairing of Practical Joke x Bernardini x Seeking The Gold (yet another scratch bred) has paid off handsomely in BAZZINGA. This come-from-the-clouds closer has unironically come into her own as a 4yo. After looking like a superstar in the making with a 108 SP as an April 3yo, she ran out of the money in her next two starts (including a not terrible 5th in the loaded G1 Chestnut, and a head-scratching 9th in the more shallow G3 Chicago Oaks.) Returning to her favorite distance of 1700m seemed to be the elixir, winning the G2 Cotton Handicap and running her reliable race thereafter. A listed 7f stake served as a nice prep for her last out, where she blew the doors off an unsuspecting field of elders going a mile, paying $23.40 to win the G3 Dochman Dash (Japan, June 20th.) She earned an eye-popping 115 SP, drawing away by 4 lengths and announcing her presence as a legit 1600m threat. The cleverly named Sheldon reference is not as accomplished as the two favorites, but the arrow is pointing up and she has momentum (mass x velocity) in her favor. Donny’s odds: 5-1 draws all the Sudoku money.

European Union Racing Organization (EURO)

Representing Sweden, the EU, and the aptly named EURO residency is another tantalizing Kentucky bred scratch bred filly – this one from the mind of DANIEL and his musse3 substable. SIGYN LINE took awhile to launch her voyage to stardom, but the 4yo Flightline x Danzig x Gone West scratch bred can be excused for some growing pains with only 16 lifetime starts. A smashing debut victory (89 SP, November 2yo) was followed by several races of regression, but the return to that 1600m distance righted the ship. She won a listed stake about a year ago, but failed to reproduce that 110 SP effort until taking an allowance race this March, followed by another smashing win in the G2 Maryland Distaff at 1700m. Again, she follows a stakes win with a couple sub-par efforts, so it’s hard to know which way the winds are blowing with this one. Despite missing the board, she was only beaten a length last out (listed) and by 5 lengths in the tough G1 Steadhemp, so it’s not like she went way off course. Shortening up certainly seems to be in her interest, and so with a little luck and timely form she could be right in the mix for a medal, or better. Donny’s Odds: 6-1 if that floats your boat.

THE MECCA

High-octane trainer GOWANS gets the call for the small but poweful THE MECCA residency packed with equine professional know-how. Despite being housed in the nybred substable, Kentucky is the birthplace of 4yo veteran filly and nearly dual-million earner FUN ONE. If her rival BAZZINGA comes from the clouds, then this girl is coming from another galaxy with her “settle into a canter for 80 seconds and hit the turbo button” approach to rallying down the lane. She scored two G1 victories as a juvenile before just missing by 3/4 of a length in the 2024 Breeder’s Bowl Juvenile Filly, making up a ridiculous 9 1/4 lengths between final calls, and passing 10 horses once she got to motoring. The scratch bred daughter of Good Magic x Distorted Humor x A.P. Indy has been a reliable performer at both 3 and 4, having placed in 5 Graded Stakes over that span. Problem is, only one of her last 12 starts ended in victory – that being the G2 Encino Man (California) at 1700m two starts back. She is supremely well managed, perfectly rested (3 starts in 2026) and oozes class, but just doesn’t seem to have enough real estate to go last-to-first at the mile. Donny’s Odds: 5-1 but favored in the show pool.

FLORIDA RACING CLUB

The pride of the high percentage NEONSHADOW stable, and representing perhaps the ‘newest’ residency is this fine Japanese bred distaffer named HIGH LOW METHOD. The 4yo daughter of Kentucky bred stallion Cafe Pharoah and the pensioned Unbridled’s Song x Meadowlake mare FANTASTIC SONG is a two time Grade 3 winner, including once at today’s flat mile distance. That last achievement came early in her three year old season, and while remaining quite handy at the short route as she aged, she has only accounted for two listed stakes victories to show for it since. The most recent earned her an excellent 115 SP versus a full field on March 22nd (Idaho), and would be good enough to contend today. Subsequent out of the money finishes (last two starts) might signify that she is on the wrong side of the all-important form cycle, though not embarrased with a fast 4th in the G2 Wizzer in New York. Let’s call her a marginal contender who would represent a mild upset, but under no circumstances should you discount this one’s chances. Donny’s Odds: 8-1 and likely a variable cost.

UNIVERSAL RACING CLUB

Back in 2021, URC’s LBCSTABLES scored a successful $8,000 claim on a sprinting Flatter x Kingmambo mare named VIBE, who then won two impressive mile-ish races (107 SP) before promptly hitting the breeding shed. Sparing no expense, her maiden suitor was none other than Into Mischief, and the resultant offspring was named KILLER PENGUIN. The vibe from that name, I suppose, would be cute but deadly – and this now 5yo mare has shown a little of both in her career. She possesses blazing speed out of the gate, regularly reeling off 45 and change half-miles with daylight leads in two-turn dirt races. Sometimes her early foot is lethal, like when she won the G3 Dirtydishragyou with a formidable 117 Speed figure. Other times she fails to reach front or sustain when she does, and subsequently waddles home unplaced – this has happened in her four previous Grade 1 efforts. I would postulate that while deep, this bunch is not the usual Grade 1 distaff and this flightless fowl might foul up the proceedings if left alone on a leisurely lead. She’s gonna get the first call… but will she also get the final one? Donny’s Odds: 10-1 but I am keying her for 2nd and 3rd in exotics.

ELITE RACING CLUB

We now move into the portion of the field without a Graded Stakes Victory, but not without promise or intrigue. ECHO CODY DORMAN certainly shows plenty of both, having raced only thrice as a 4yo and but once at today’s mile distance (a good-track allowance victory in her 3yo debut). The Cody’s Wish filly, out of Tapit x Storm Cat mare FATAL DUET, has strong stakes sprinter credentials despite never taking home a trophy or plate. Three is the magic number again with three placings in G3 events at age 3, using a closing burst to get in the money at 7.5, 8.5, and 8.5f, respectively. After some lung-opening long distance races finally dispelled any notion of her wanting more than 1800m, DUNNVILLEDOWNS returned his albertdowns substable charge to an allowance sprint this April. “ECHO” was resoundingly best, drawing off by 3 plus lengths over a wet 1400m. Stepped up in class to the G3 Blackhawk Cup, she put up a solid 110 SP while missing the main prize by just a quarter length. More impressively, the winner was two time G1 queen INFINITE INGENUITY (kf/UFC), indicating a high level of class for the time and place. So the timeless question of “preferred distance” remains a mystery, but we may find out today – her first time running the eight panels on a fast track. Donny’s Odds: 12-1 sounds about right.

EAST-WEST CONNECTION

KASHBARN very well might have greased lightning on his hands in the form of this emergening talent of a Constitution filly named TELLMEABOUTIT STUD. Out of the Giant’s Causeway x Unbridled’s Song mare ADOPT A DOG, this half sister to G1 Bluegrass Oaks winner WHERE’S MY HEELS (Ghostzapper) certainly teased classic potential with a trio of triple digit scores, all 100 SP, at a mile and twice at 9 furlongs (one listed stake) before her summer 3yo campaign. After a poor showing in the G2 LA Oaks at 8.5f, she never really got out of second gear and developed into a deep closer with a tepid late kick going 9f plus. Perhaps the resume of her older sister was too impressive to ignore. Finally after 9 winless tries, the now 4yo kashstorage substable trainee was entered into a 6.5f listed stake – the shortest race of her career. Suddenly her late kick was not so late and she left 10 foes in her wake. A lifetime best 109 SP suggested there was more where that came from. Wheeled back in 5 weeks to another listed stake, this time at 7.5f, she came from even further back to dust a bigger field, 13th by 13 to first going away, earning another lifetime best 112 SP. Evidence now clearly suggests the STUD is a serious sprinter, undefeated at one-turn distances. But whats another 100m in the Sim? Kashbarn clearly felt it’s worth finding out for a chance at a medal and some G1 black-type. She hasn’t run this mile distance since the Boxing Day 2024 victory, and she annihilated that field. Lots to like here for the enterprising handicappers among us. Donny’s Odds: 15-1 value play.

LATINOS DEL MUNDO

The forecast for the most lightly-raced entrant in the field calls for a 100% chance of rain – as in “make it rain”, because STORM MO is poised to bring in piles of cash for trainer HIPICA and his mundial4 substable. This 4yo scratch bred daughter of UNCLE MO x STORM CAT x INTO MISCHIEF certainly has top pedigree credentials to be precocious and speedy, but it didn’t play out that way initially. A debut winner going 6f as a three year old (March), she didn’t win again until start number 5 and not again until 4 starts later, both going 1400m in lifetime allowance company. A fast finish would be followed by an inexplicable dud, and certainly we have all been there with frustrating, seemingly inconsistent well-bred fillies like this. Something finally clicked in start number 12 last out following a modest 3rd place in an Alw N4L. Send off at nearly 16-1 in a 17 horse residency restricted stake- a clever “win and you’re in the Equinics” for Latinos Del Mundo, maybe – STORM MO stormed home a winner over G1 Exam winner LA CHIMICHANGA with an attractive 112 speed figure. Not a bad way to pick up your first stakes victory, or black type of any kind. Dios Mio! And now she’s back at the same mile distance – STORM MO exhibiting “the big mo” type energy. If we needed more hints, despite that 112 SP being her only performance greater than a 107 on record, her CPU value is a whopping 1424. Donny’s Odds: 15-1 hunch bettor special.

DOWN UNDER RACING (DUR)

Leave it to my good pal and ageless Derbyfever wunderkind Pascal to throw a massive wrench in the works with his 5yo mare THE MILE HUNTER. Officially the DUR entry from the coolmorewoette2 substable of the WOETTE empire, she earns her souvenir saddle cloth by virtue of a spectacular last-out performance, a lifetime best 112 SP open allowance victory over 8.5 furlongs on the dirt track in Turkiye. “So what’s your beef, Donny B?” asks the imaginary reader in my head. I’ll tell you, random imaginary Equinics fan! It’s that this sprint stakes winning veteran of 24 lifetime starts was making HER FIRST START ON THE DIRT in try number 24. And she’s by No Nay Never. And she’s out of a Sea The Stars x Makfi mare. And that mare is named PHANTOM CADET who just, oh, won a vanilla latte’s worth of dollars under a million bucks and the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas, is all. That’s a turf race, too, as were all her other 15 lifetime placings and 8 stakes placings. Her four half siblings? They’ve earned a total of $1,821 in 3 combined dirt starts – one was retired after exclusively running on grass. So it just pisses me off that the mad genius from Belgium pulls a magical rabbit out of his ass hat and has a runner better than anything I might have nominated. How she performs today? I would say your guess is as good as mine, but my guess is not worth mentioning, probably! Donny’s Odds: 35-1 but afraid to look at the podium afterwards.

NORTHWEST RACING CIRCUIT (NWRC)

The last of our qualifiers comes from the redsox05 substable of master UNREAL aka ‘Jef’. (Footnote: I did my own research.) Stable star millionaire RENTED BEACH is a G1 winner at 9 furlongs on the turf and sadly was not “woetted” into a dirt try for this contest. Instead we get a very nice former claimer taking a once-in-a-lifetime moonshot in YOTTAYEAR. Haltered for a measly $7,500 in January, and offered for less than half of that only three starts back, the 4yo War of Will filly broke her maiden going long on the turf. A then lifetime best 96 SP on a “taken off the turf” effort meant she would get more chances on the dirt. The new connections saw some ROI in start number three where the precipitous class drop resulted in a 100 SP rating and her third lifetime win. A rolling stone gathers no moss, which has nothing to do with horses but this one rolled that effort into a 104 SP win for 60k and a nice 103 SP victory in a Str3500 last out. The other details are of less consequence than the class chasm – I would venture to say she is attempting to leap 7 levels at once today. Basketball players often employ a “heat check” after hitting multiple consecutive shots, checking their level of invincibility in the moment with improbable odds in their faces. This is an equestrian heat check of Olympic proportions, so best of luck. Donny’s odds: 80-1 and I don’t actually believe stranger things have happened.

The wrap: This a solid but not spectacular field of very very very good older fillies. But actually they aren’t that old – one 6yo and two 5yo mares out of a field of 12. Only three of them have made 20 or more lifetime starts. The future is bright and I could very well imagine scenarios where more than one of the runners-up score Grade 1 victories of their own. The game is tough, the variables are numerous, the margins are razor thin and the Random Stick bludgeons us all without impunity. I will pre-emptively designate the Scobie Breasly to be a Key Race, from which great racing futures will emerge for the fortunate, and poorer performers use as a platform from which to bounce forward.

GOLD MEDAL – INTO BOOKWORMS doesn’t always bring her “A” game, but I think she aces the test today

SILVER MEDAL – ECHO CODY DORMAN could have hidden a maturity spike and explode into prominence

BRONZE MEDAL – KILLER PENGUIN possesses the speed to get an easy lead and hold it for a long time

DAMN THIS SUCKS, MY HORSE RAN PRETTY GOOD AND I STILL DIDN’T GET A MEDAL, MEDAL –

BAZZINGA because she’s getting good and wins a big race next out