Executives at Kempton have reacted with excitement at the possibility of a clash between Sprinter Sacre and Sire De Grugy. The second day of the Winter Festival on December 27 is far quieter than the first which features the King George, but the appearance of jumping superstar Sprinter Sacre in… Read More »
Hong Kong stayer Dominant has upset a field of global stars to win the Vase on International day at Sha Tin. Five of the recent Melbourne Cup runners, including the minor placegetters Red Cadeaux and Mount Athos, were in the world class line-up which also boasted English mare The Fugue… Read More »
Andrew Balding hopes for a strong pace at Sha Tin on Sunday ahead of Side Glance’s run in the Hong Kong Cup. The Group One Mackinnon Stakes winner during the Melbourne Cup carnival is a testament to the training skills of Balding, with few horses in Hong Kong this week… Read More »
Moonlight Cloud’s story has taken on a new dimension after owner George Strawbridge introduced the prospect of the Hong Kong Mile favourite remaining in training as a six-year-old. Trackside at Sha Tin to watch the Freddy Head-trained mare work on the all-weather training track ahead of Sunday’s race, Strawbridge hinted… Read More »
The Hong Kong Mile will be a defining race for French mare Moonlight Cloud who came closer than any other horse to inflicting defeat on Black Caviar. Moonlight Cloud got to within a head of the now-retired Black Caviar in last year’s Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and has… Read More »
The Queen has been named Owner of the Year for 2013 by the Racehorse Owners Association. The accolade is in recognition of her first success in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and her unparalleled commitment and contribution to the sport of horse racing over more than 60 years. It… Read More »
Owner Stephen Arnold has been disqualified for three months after admitting to breaching the rules in relation to laying 10 of his horses, the British Horseracing Authority has said. Arnold, whose horses run under the moniker of Rakebackmypoker.com, was called before a disciplinary panel of the BHA charged with 10… Read More »
Craig Williams hopes to convert a Melbourne Cup placing into a Hong Kong Vase victory aboard European raider Mount Athos. Williams partnered Mount Athos in a 1200-metre workout at Sha Tin on Thursday and came away adamant the horse had improved since his third to Fiorente in Australia’s most famous… Read More »
Irish trainer Gerard Butler has been banned from racing for five years over doping offences. The 47-year-old admitted to seven charges at a British Horseracing Authority (BHA) inquiry after nine horses in his care tested positive for a banned anabolic steroid. Butler had claimed that veterinary surgeons had assured him… Read More »
A British trainer who administered anabolic steroids to horses in his care has been banned for five years. Gerard Butler was handed the punishment on Wednesday following a British Horseracing Authority hearing that considered seven breaches of racing rules. Butler, who is based in Newmarket, admitted to giving four horses… Read More »
Eddie Lynam is pleased with the condition of his two star sprinters Sole Power and Slade Power ahead of the Hong Kong Sprint on Sunday. The Irish handler is in the envious position have having two of the best sprinters in Europe in his care and both have travelled to… Read More »
Star steeplechaser Sprinter Sacre is in doubt for the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown. Trainer Nicky Henderson said Sprinter Sacre, who is unbeaten in 10 starts over fences, returned “unsatisfactory figures” from a tracheal wash. Sprinter Sacre will be tested again on Thursday morning before final declarations are made for… Read More »
Jezki has thrown his hat into the ring for this season’s Champion Hurdle with a solid if unspectacular victory at Fairyhouse. Jessica Harrington’s stable star is one of a host of youngsters looking to topple 17-time Grade One winner Hurricane Fly when he attempts his third Champion Hurdle, with My… Read More »
A bad week turned around in an afternoon for champion British jumps trainer Nicky Henderson with Grade One victories at two different venues. Triolo D’Alene gave Henderson and jockey Barry Geraghty their second successive Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury an hour after My Tent Or Yours confirmed he was on… Read More »
Mount Athos is reported to be in fine form as he prepares for another international challenge in the Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin on Sunday week. The six-year-old was last seen finishing third behind Fiorente in the Melbourne Cup in early November and recently moved on to Hong Kong… Read More »
Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamed Al Thani’s desire to preside over the “best racing operation in the world” led to his Al Shaqab Racing launching a UK operation on Friday. Leading British turf figure Harry Herbert, the racing manager of the successful Highclere syndicate, has been appointed as a full-time racing… Read More »
Irishman Eddie Lynam has two chances to become the first European trainer to lift the Hong Kong Sprint with Sole Power and Slade Power representing his stable. Sole Power won the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot this year but has not yet won over six furlongs (1200m) and finished… Read More »
St Nicholas Abbey faces a critical few weeks as the multiple Group One winner continues his fight to fully recover from a fractured pastern and ensuing complications. Aidan O’Brien’s star had to be retired after suffering the leg injury during a routine work-out in July. Just two days after he… Read More »
Godolphin has purchased a majority share in Irish Derby winner Trading Leather, who is to stay with trainer Jim Bolger. The Teofilo colt, who beat Galileo Rock to lift Group One honours at the Curragh in June, also finished third in the Irish 2,000 Guineas over a mile and was… Read More »
North Yorkshire trainer Malcolm Jefferson is in no rush to decide whether to let Cape Tribulation carry top weight in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury. The nine-year-old now heads a 23-strong field for Saturday’s hugely prestigious staying handicap following the anticipated defection of Tidal Bay. Jefferson had considered entering… Read More »
