Connections of Main Sequence will wait until next week before deciding whether to aim the Derby runner-up at the English St Leger. The colt will be confirmed on Monday for the oldest of Britain’s five Classics at Doncaster on Saturday week, in which he would meet his Epsom conqueror Camelot…. Read More »
British raiders Nathaniel and Snow Fairy feature are among a final field of six declared runners in Saturday’s Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown. The 10-furlong (2000m) Group One prize has been dominated by home-trained runners for the last decade, with Saeed bin Suroor’s Grandera the last British winner in 2002…. Read More »
Sans Frontieres, winner of the 2010 Irish St Leger, has been retired due to the recurrence of a tendon injury. His St Leger victory made him one of the favourites for the 2010 Melbourne Cup but injury prevented him making the trip to Australia and he has not raced since…. Read More »
Lord John Oaksey, the former jockey, journalist, author, broadcaster and founder of the Injured Jockeys Fund, has died aged 83. Oaksey died on Wednesday at his family home in Wiltshire following a lengthy period of ill health. He will always be associated with his work for injured jockeys which began… Read More »
Unbeaten juvenile Reckless Abandon has been sold to Darley as a stallion proposition but will continue to race for trainer Clive Cox until the end of next year. The winner of four starts to date, the son of Exchange Rate won the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot in June before… Read More »
Trainer Paul Messara is delighted William Buick has come up with a contingency plan enabling him to ride Australian mare Ortensia as she bids for a second English Group One on Saturday. The leading jockey is engaged to ride Nathaniel in the Irish Champion Stakes on the same afternoon as… Read More »
Johnny Murtagh will continue to ride for trainer John Oxx for the remainder of the season – despite the jockey’s split with leading owner and breeder the Aga Khan. Murtagh’s contract to ride the Aga Khan’s Irish-based horses was terminated last week, with the owner’s stud farm manager Pat Downes… Read More »
News Frankel is likely to finish his career on British Champions Day at Ascot on October 20 has seen the final premier enclosure tickets sell out. “The Frankel factor has clearly had a big impact on sales over the weekend and we are planning a very special farewell to the… Read More »
Connections of Australian mare Ortensia are making contingency plans to replace William Buick in Saturday’s Sprint Cup but remain hopeful he can ride. Leah Gavranich, who has been overseeing Ortensia’s summer in Britain which includes victory in the Group One Nunthorpe Stakes, admits she will be devastated if a change… Read More »
A potential disaster has been averted at Luca Cumani’s stable in Newmarket after all employees and horses were reported to have emerged unscathed from a fire on Monday. Cumani is based at Bedford House Stables at racing’s major training centre and among the many horses in his care are Melbourne… Read More »
Top British trainer Luca Cumani has had a scare with fire ripping through the roof of one of his stable blocks at Newmarket. All the horses were safely evacuated at the Bedford House stables on Monday morning. Cumani is planning on bringing out Mount Athos for the Melbourne Cup and… Read More »
Champion jumper Kauto Star is in training and could attempt a sixth King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. The 12-year-old was last seen being pulled up in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham in March, having suffered a fall in training in the lead-up to the blue riband…. Read More »
William Buick is considering the logistics of riding both Nathaniel and Ortensia in their respective Group One targets on different sides of the Irish Sea on Saturday. Coral-Eclipse winner and King George runner-up Nathaniel is bound for the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown and Buick will be committed to riding… Read More »
Danedream has successfully defended her crown in the Grosser Preis Von Baden in her lead-up to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. The Peter Schiergen-trained mare landed this Group One prize in her homeland prior to her memorable victory in last year’s Arc and she is likely to return to… Read More »
Triple Group One winner Cirrus Des Aigles will not run in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown next Saturday. French trainer Corine Barande-Barbe feels the three-time Group One winner could be overwhelmed against the likes of Nathaniel and Snow Fairy on what would be his first start since May. The… Read More »
Danedream faces seven opponents as she defends her crown in the Grosser Preis Von Baden on Sunday. The Peter Schiergen-trained filly was a breathtaking winner of last season’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and proved that was no fluke with a last-gasp victory over Nathaniel in a thrilling King George… Read More »
Frankel will have what could possibly be his last race in the Champion Stakes at Ascot next month. Connections of the unbeaten four-year-old have confirmed the Champion Stakes as the intended target for the world’s highest rated racehorse in preference to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. The Sir Henry… Read More »
Akeed Mofeed will continue his racing career in Hong Kong after being sold by his owner-breeder Jaber Abdullah. The one-time Classic contender, trained by John Oxx, has been bought by a patron of trainer Richard Gibson. Akeed Mofeed looked a bright prospect when opening his account by five lengths at… Read More »
Mystery surrounds the termination of Johnny Murtagh’s contract as retained rider for Aga Khan’s Irish-trained horses. The 42-year-old was offered the role in November 2010 after resigning as stable jockey for Coolmore and few details were released as to the reason for his departure. A statement issued on Thursday by… Read More »
Unbeaten French Oaks winner Valyra has been put down after suffering a serious injury while being prepared for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. The filly, owned by the Aga Khan and trained by Jean Claude-Rouget, fractured her femur while exercising on the beach at Deauville on Wednesday morning. “It… Read More »
