Brian Lynch, a native of Brisbane, Australia, is enjoying arguably his finest year as a trainer with 16 stakes wins in the first nine months of 2026. 

He had a great winter meet at Gulfstream and then went five for 17 at the Keeneland Spring Meet. After a bit little bit of a quiet summer he hopes to pick things up again, beginning with the Keeneland Fall Meet that gets underway on Friday, live on Sky Sports Racing.

COMPREHENSIVE (maiden)

Though winless in nine starts, this son of Hard Spun has finished in the money seven times. Seems to have run better when he’s been allowed to settle and come with a run. He comes off a solid second in a 10-horse field at Churchill on September 20.

“He’s been put on the lead and run some very fast splits, and they’ve been swamping him late,” Lynch said. “The last time, he rated nicely and got beat by a good horse. We’ll run back at Keeneland.”

TRAVELIN (maiden)

This two-year-old son of Twirling Candy out of the Grade 2 stakes-placed mare Traipsing has a seventh and a third in two starts. Lynch believes he’s looking for more ground and is hoping for a nine-furlong maiden turf race later in the meet.

“He’s learning with each race. He’s out of a mare who wanted to run really long so hopefully he’s building toward that,” Lynch said. I think he’s going to be a marathon-type horse.” 

DON’T TELL MOM (allowance)

A two-year-old daughter of Upstart comes off a 5 3-4-length maiden win at Churchill and Lynch is hopeful of running in an allowance near the end of the meet.

“Her last race was really good, she couldn’t have done any more, drew off nicely and is doing everything right,” Lynch said.

MOCHA SWIRL (maiden)

A two-year-old daughter by Curlin cost $525,000 as a yearling. 

“She’s been training well, I look forward to getting her started,” Lynch said.

I LIKE TO PARTY (maiden)

A two-year-old colt by Life Is Good, he could show up at the end of Keeneland or the beginning of the Churchill Fall Meet.

“He’s by Life is Good. He’s a real nice horse,” Lynch said.

TUMBARUMBA

Back with Lynch after racing four times in the Middle East, where he finished third in the Saudi Cup and sixth in the Dubai World Cup. Firing bullet works for his return in either an allowance or the Fayette Stakes at the end of the meet.

“He’s been breezing really well,” Lynch said. “Had thoughts of running in the Lukas Classic (at Churchill on September 26) but it didn’t work out rider-wise. I thought let me hang onto this allowance race or Fayette, one of those races.”

HIGHWAY ROBBER (allowance)

This six-year-old gelding has been off for 14 months with a soft tissue injury. He won the Grade 3 Sycamore at Keeneland in 2024. He hasn’t run since winning a stakes at Kentucky Downs in August 2025. Lynch said he is eligible for a money allowance race later in the Keeneland Fall Meet.

“He’s ready to run,” Lynch said. “He won at Kentucky Downs then we had to give him some time off with a soft tissue issue. There’s a money allowance that he’s eligible for and then the River Memories Stakes at Churchill.”

STORM’S WAKE (Queen Elizabeth II Stakes)

This three-year-old daughter of Oscar Performance won the Grade 3 Appalachian at Keeneland in April. She came off a two-month layoff to win the Old Dominion Stakes at Colonial Downs in September.

“She came out of the Old Dominion Oaks, and she deserves a chance in the QE II,” Lynch said. “She seems to be going into it in good form.”

SISTER TROIENNE (Valley View)

This three-year-old filly ran off five consecutive wins, including three stakes, from September to January. She got a break following a fifth-place finish in the Grade 2 Appalachian at Keeneland in April.

Sister Troienne was scheduled to return in the Winter Memories at Belmont on September 27, that race having been postponed until October 1. A good performance in the Winter Memories could lead to a start in the Grade 2 Valley View at Keeneland on October 23.

“She was always a big filly, but she has filled out a bit more,” Lynch said. “She appears to be into what she’s doing right now.”

MANUKA HONEY (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies)

This two-year-old daughter of Upstart is three for three including wins in the Grade 3 Pocahontas at Churchill Downs and the listed Ellis Park Debutante. Lynch decided to skip the Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland on opening day to train her up to the Breeders’ Cup.

“That would have been races in seven weeks, she’s got her berth in the Breeders’ Cup, so we’ll just point to that.”