Kempton’s feature novice chase on Boxing Day is to be permanently run as the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase. Formerly the Feltham Novices’ Chase, the three-mile contest was staged for the first time with its new title last year in honour of the now-retired Kauto Star, who won the track’s King… Read More »
Dawn Approach and Toronado will lock horns for the third time this season after featuring among seven horses declared for the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on Wednesday. The Richard Hannon-trained Toronado was expected to give the unbeaten Dawn Approach most to think about in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket… Read More »
New trainer Charlie Appleby has saddled his first winner for Godolphin with Expressly making an impressive debut at Ascot. The Street Cry filly (7-2) made light work of her seven rivals to score by 4-1/2 lengths from Mu’ajiza (12-1) in a fillies maiden. “I am delighted to have my first… Read More »
Corine Barande-Barbe will gear the rest of Cirrus Des Aigles’ campaign around another crack at the Champion Stakes at Ascot in October. The Chantilly-based trainer believes the best has not yet been seen of the seven-year-old this season, who was having only his second run of the campaign when fourth… Read More »
St Nicholas Abbey is reported to have made positive progress following colic surgery on Friday. The six-year-old had to have emergency surgery at Fethard Equine Hospital, just two days after he underwent a major leg operation. The six-time Group One winner fractured a pastern during a gallop at Aidan O’Brien’s… Read More »
Novellist, trained in Germany by Andreas Wohler, won the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in record time at Ascot on Saturday. The 13-2 shot scooped the STG630,000 ($A1.06 million) first prize from Irish Derby victor Trading Leather, who took second, five lengths behind, with Hillstar a further… Read More »
Godolphin’s forgotten man Ahmed Ajtebi secured his first winner of the season aboard the unbeaten Zibelina in the Listed Valiant Stakes at Ascot. The former camel rider has enjoyed particular success on Sheikh Mohammed’s horses in his native Dubai during the World Cup meeting but was still used regularly by… Read More »
Saddler’s Rock, Askar Tau and Colour Vision, the first three home in last year’s Goodwood Cup, are among 18 possibles for the two-mile Group Two on Thursday. The John Oxx-trained Saddler’s Rock has failed to get his head in front since then and was only eighth to Estimate in the… Read More »
St Nicholas Abbey has suffered a serious setback in his recovery from a major leg operation. The six-year-old had a bad bout of colic on Thursday for which he has had to have emergency surgery. “Unfortunately St Nicholas Abbey had a major setback in his recovery during the night, suffering… Read More »
Frankie Dettori cut an optimistic figure at Sandown after newcomer Shamshon provided the first of what he hopes will be many more winners in the colours of Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani. It was only at the start of this month that the ambitious Qatari owner offered the Italian… Read More »
French ace Cirrus Des Aigles heads a field of eight declared for the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot on Saturday. Corine Barande-Barbe’s seven-year-old bids to become the oldest horse to lift the midsummer highlight. The three-times Group One winner is likely to go off a… Read More »
Dawn Approach and Toronado are on course for another mouth-watering clash in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood on Wednesday. The star three-year-olds feature among 13 horses confirmed for the mile showpiece, won for the last two years by the mighty Frankel. The two last met in the St James’s Palace… Read More »
St Nicholas Abbey is recuperating in intensive care after undergoing complex surgery on a career-ending injury to a pastern. The six-time Group One winner fractured a leg during a routine gallop at Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle stables on Tuesday morning in preparation for Saturday’s King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes…. Read More »
Godolphin are to face no further charges in relation to a doping scandal that resulted in one of the stable’s leading trainers being banned from racing for eight years, the British Horseracing Authority said on Thursday. The BHA said there was no evidence that anyone other than Mahmood Al Zarooni… Read More »
Aidan O’Brien has a strong hand in the Irish Champion Stakes as he seeks an eighth success in the Group One at Leopardstown in September. The Ballydoyle trainer’s multiple entry includes Epsom Derby winner Ruler Of The World and exciting American import Darwin, who was an impressive winner of the… Read More »
Corine Barande-Barbe believes Cirrus Des Aigles will be at peak form when he lines up for the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday. The trainer felt her stable star was only at 60 per cent fitness when he made his return from injury in the… Read More »
Dual Classic-placed Galileo Rock is one of 43 entries for the St Leger at Doncaster on September 14. Third in the English Derby and second in the Irish equivalent, David Wachman’s colt is 5-1 joint favourite along with the Aidan O’Brien-trained Leading Light. Galileo Rock’s three-parts brother, Saddler’s Rock, landed… Read More »
Cheltenham’s Jewson Novices’ Chase is one of four races to be upgraded to Grade One status in the 2013-14 jumps season. The two-and-a-half-mile heat is one of three novice events to be reclassified in the top division along with the Mildmay Novices’ Chase and Mersey Novices’ Hurdle, both run at… Read More »
Johnny Murtagh has been confirmed as the rider of Novellist in Saturday’s King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, but news of the booking was overshadowed after leading fancy St Nicholas Abbey sustained a career-ending injury. In the absence of the six-times Group One winner, Novellist is now… Read More »
St Nicholas Abbey is to undergo surgery on a fractured pastern which has ended his career and threatened his life. The six-time Group One winner suffered the injury during a routine gallop at Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle stable on Tuesday morning as he continued his preparations for Saturday’s King George VI… Read More »
