Royal Ascot may come too soon for Cirrus Des Aigles but trainer Corine Barande-Barbe is upbeat about his return from injury. The seven-year-old was the only horse to give Frankel a real race when he was beaten just a length and three-quarters on Champions Day. Barande-Barbe has not given up… Read More »
Dunaden has has a familiarisation gallop at Epsom ahead of next weekend’s Coronation Cup. The 2011 Melbourne Cup winner returned to Australia last year to win the Caulfield Cup over 2400m, the same distance he will run at Epsom. Having finished fourth to St Nicholas Abbey in the Sheema Classic… Read More »
Godolphin’s founder, Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, issued a decree Thursday banning anabolic steroids in all horse-related sports in the United Arab Emirates. Sheikh Mohammed’s racing empire was rocked to the roots in April when it emerged that 11 horses at Godolphin trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni’s classic-winning yard… Read More »
German challenger Chopin will be supplemented for the English Derby at Epsom on June 1. Considered as the best three-year-old in his homeland, he was bought by Sheikh Fahad Al Thani after winning his last race by eight lengths. He will be ridden by Jamie Spencer, who recently went to… Read More »
James Clutterbuck, son and assistant to Newmarket trainer Ken Clutterbuck, has lodged an appeal against a two-and-a-half-year ban from racing. Clutterbuck was found guilty by the British Horseracing Authority of passing on inside information on March 9, 2011 when Stoneacre Gareth, trained by his father, finished fourth in a seven-furlong… Read More »
Devastated jockey Eddie Ahern will appeal a 10-year disqualification imposed after he was found guilty of corruption charges. The British Horseracing Authority handed down the ban after finding the 35-year-old had failed to ensure Judgethemoment was ridden on its merits at Lingfield in January 2011, and of passing information for… Read More »
Top American runner Unbridled Command could make his British debut at Royal Ascot. The four-year-old won the Grade One Hollywood Derby for trainer Thomas Bush last November and also claimed third in the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap at the Florida track in February. Subsequently transferred to the care of Ed… Read More »
French racing authority France Galop says it is awaiting further contact from Frankie Dettori concerning a “medical” matter if the rider’s application for a renewed licence is to be approved. France Galop banned the Italian for six months after he tested positive for cocaine at Longchamp last September. Dettori was… Read More »
Connections of Farhh will take their time in deciding which race he will tackle at Royal Ascot. Having chased home Frankel twice last term and finished second in four Group Ones, Saeed Bin Suroor’s charge finally landed his first success at the highest level in last Saturday’s Lockinge Stakes at… Read More »
Last year’s dual Derby hero Camelot tops five Aidan O’Brien-trained possibles for Sunday’s Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh. The four-year-old, who also won the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket last season, was struck down by colic after his run in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe but reappeared this season… Read More »
Trainer Ed Dunlop will wait to see how Red Cadeaux returns from his international exploits before mapping out a plan for his globetrotting runner. The seven-year-old finished eighth in the Singapore Airlines International Cup at Kranji on Sunday, supplementing a fine third in the two-mile Tenno Sho in Japan on… Read More »
Jockey Johnny Murtagh is aiming for a dream start to his training career with Fort Knox in the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh on Saturday. The multiple Group One-winning jockey has been assisting Tommy Carmody for the past couple of seasons, with a string for prominent owner Andrew Tinkler… Read More »
The 2012 St Leger winner Encke is among seven horses to test positive for anabolic steroids as the investigation widened into doping involving Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation. The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) revealed on Monday it had undertaken an extensive testing program at the yard of former Godolphin trainer Mahmood… Read More »
Hopes continue to rise that Snow Fairy could make her reappearance in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot. The six-time Group One-winning mare looked as good as ever when she won the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown last September, but she was ruled out for the rest of… Read More »
Although no one really keeps track of such things, Gary Stevens had no problem making the assessment with complete conviction. “I guarantee I’m the first grandfather winner of a Triple Crown race,” said the 50-year-old Stevens, who guided Oxbow to a stunning upset victory in the Preakness Stakes on Saturday… Read More »
There will be no Triple Crown winner this year after Oxbow won the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico with Kentucky Derby winner Orb fourth. Oxbow’s win crowned the comeback of 50-year-old jockey Gary Stevens who returned to riding earlier this year after an absence of seven years. The winner is trained… Read More »
Jockey Joseph O’Brien has cast doubts on Dawn Approach’s stamina ahead of the next month’s Epsom Derby. O’Brien, who won the Derby last year on Camelot and is set to ride Battle Of Marengo from his father Aidan’s squad, spoke of his admiration for Jim Bolger’s 2000 Guineas winner but… Read More »
Oxbow won the 138th Preakness Stakes on Saturday as heavily favoured Kentucky Derby winner Orb finished fourth, his bid for US racing’s coveted Triple Crown ruined. “I get paid to spoil dreams,” said Oxbow’s trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who claimed a sixth Preakness victory and his 13th win in one… Read More »
Comeback jockey Gary Stevens has won the Preakness Stakes aboard Oxbow for veteran trainer D. Wayne Lukas with Kentucky Derby winner Orb fourth. Stevens, who came out of retirement in January after seven years away from the sport, took Oxbow to the front from the outset and the colt was… Read More »
Internationally renowned jockey Johnny Murtagh has been granted a training licence by the Irish Turf Club. Murtagh owns the Curragh stables where Tommy Carmody is based and has been working alongside the trainer while undergoing his preparation to take out a licence. The team started out last year and sent… Read More »
