Mike de Kock’s highly-talented trio of Shea Shea, Soft Falling Rain and Kavanagh are among 61 entries for the July Cup at Newmarket. All three were successful in Dubai in March with Shea Shea winning the Al Quoz Sprint, Soft Falling Rain taking three races including the Godolphin Mile and… Read More »
Former Godolphin trainer Mahmood al-Zarooni launched an appeal on Tuesday against the severity of his eight-year worldwide ban for doping race horses at his stables in Newmarket. Al-Zarooni was handed the lengthy suspension by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) on April 25 after admitting to giving 15 horses anabolic steroids,… Read More »
Former champion jockey Kevin Darley was among those to pay tribute to distinguished trainer Reg Hollinshead, who has died aged 89. Hollinshead was famed for his production line of future top jockeys, such as Darley, Walter Swinburn and Pat Eddery. Derby-winning rider Willie Ryan was also associated with the Hollinshead… Read More »
Aidan O’Brien declared himself delighted after seeing his Classic winner Camelot make a perfectly satisfactory return to action in the Mooresbridge Stakes at the Curragh. The son of Montjeu appeared destined for greatness after winning both the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and completing the English-Irish Derby double in the first… Read More »
Jim Bolger admits it is “more than likely” his 2000 Guineas hero Dawn Approach will be allowed to take his chance in the Englishc Derby at Epsom next month. Unbeaten in six starts as a juvenile, the son of Bolger’s 2008 Derby hero New Approach went one better than his… Read More »
Reigning champion jockey Richard Hughes has accumulated a host of top-flight European races during his career but finally corrected one glaring omission as Sky Lantern provided his first British Classic in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. Riding with greater confidence and competence than any other jockey at present, the 40-year-old… Read More »
Dan Excel continued John Moore’s incredible run of success in the Champions Mile giving the trainer his fourth success in as many years in the Sha Tin Group One. Moore was two-handed with the 2011 and 2012 winner Xtension preferred in the market to Dan Excel, but it was the… Read More »
Orb powered through the mud to win the 139th Kentucky Derby and give Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey his first winner in the Run for the Roses. Jockey of the moment Joel Rosario piloted Orb to the victory in the 1-1/4-mile (2000m) race on a muddy track at Churchill… Read More »
Orb has given veteran Hall Of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey his first victory in the Kentucky Derby with a come-from-behind win under Joel Rosario. In the moments before the race on Saturday (Sunday AEST) there was a seven-figure avalanche of betting on Orb who started the 5-1 favourite. More than… Read More »
Group One winning sprinter Sole Power has set himself up for another lucrative summer by stamping his authority on the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket. The Eddie Lynam-trained globetrotter has only won twice since he sprang a 100-1 surprise the Nunthorpe in 2010, although he has been placed on numerous… Read More »
Orb has splashed through the mud to win the Kentucky Derby, giving veteran Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey his first victory in the three-year-old classic. When the field turned for home on the cool, overcast Saturday (Sunday AEST) afternoon at Churchill Downs, Normandy Invasion grabbed the lead while Orb… Read More »
Unbeaten Dawn Approach made it seven wins from seven starts on Saturday as he won the English 2000 Guineas to give the embattled Godolphin Operation a welcome piece of good news. Trained by Irishman Jim Bolger the 11/8 favourite – whose sire New Approach finished second in the same race… Read More »
Rosie Napravnik isn’t worried about history. She is, however, working on her chemistry – with a horse named Mylute in the Kentucky Derby. Two years after achieving the best finish by a female jockey in the Derby, she will try to become the first woman to win it. Napravnik’s pursuit… Read More »
Long shot Black Onyx was a late scratching for the Kentucky Derby because of a chip in his left ankle, leaving 19 horses to vie for the roses. The scratching occurred on Friday after wagering for the race had opened, so Black Onyx’s No.1 post position will be left empty… Read More »
No horse has captured the American triple crown since Affirmed in 1978, but 20 hopefuls led by favourites Orb, Verrazano and Goldencents run for the dream in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby. The 139th edition of the famed 1 1/4-mile (2000m) race at Churchill Downs will be a $US2 million launch of… Read More »
Joseph O’Brien believes Cristoforo Colombo can cut the length deficit on Dawn Approach when they renew rivalry in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday. Ireland’s champion jockey is convinced the colt was beaten by the draw when third behind the Jim Bolger-trained ante-post favourite and Olympic Glory in the… Read More »
Rasmeyaa is set to take her chance in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on Sunday despite reservations that the race may come just a shade too soon. Following a pleasing workout on Tuesday the Dermot Weld-trained filly was given the go-ahead to bid for Classic glory. “Like everybody they’ve had… Read More »
Camelot and Parish Hall are set for a early-season clash in the Mooresbridge Stakes at the Curragh on Monday. Trained by Aidan O’Brien, Camelot enjoyed a superb Classic campaign, winning the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, both the English and Irish Derbys and only narrowly missed out on Triple Crown glory… Read More »
Orb is the early 7-2 favourite for the Kentucky Derby, with undefeated Verrazano the second choice in a full field of 20 horses. The Shug McGaughey-trained Orb will start from barrier 16, a gate that has produced four winners, most recently Animal Kingdom two years ago. McGaughey is in racing’s… Read More »
The British Horseracing Authority has explained its decision to ban Godolphin trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni for eight years, saying he is guilty of a “widespread systematic misuse of illegal substances”. The 37-year-old was suspended last Thursday after he admitted administering banned anabolic steroids to 15 horses at the Gulf outfit’s… Read More »
