British racing’s governing body on Thursday banned trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni for eight years for his role in a doping scandal that has rocked the sport. Al Zarooni, 37, was given the punishment after a disciplinary hearing, at the BHA headquarters in London, revealed 11 of the horses he trained… Read More »
British racing’s governing body on Thursday handed six-month bans to 15 horses owned and trained by the leading Godolphin stable in connection with a doping scandal that has rocked the sport. The bans mean that the 11 horses that tested positive for anabolic steroids, including former 1,000 Guineas favourite Certify,… Read More »
Trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni is attending a disciplinary hearing at British racing’s governing body over doping allegations that have rocked the sport. The 37-year-old was met by a crowd of photographers and television cameras outside the British Horseracing Authority’s offices in central London on Thursday but said nothing to waiting… Read More »
Moonlight Cloud is likely to be campaigned predominantly over a mile this season making another bid for the Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot unlikely. Freddie Head’s mare nearly caused a huge shock at Royal Ascot last year when she closed to within an head of the recently-retired Black Caviar. While… Read More »
Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has spoken of his anger at the doping scandal engulfing his Newmarket-based Godolphin stable, which he has put in lockdown. Sheikh Mohammed’s racing empire was rocked to the roots on Monday when it emerged that 11 horses at Mahmood Al Zarooni’s classic-winning… Read More »
Tommy Berry will be straight back into Group One action just hours after he leaves Sydney on Saturday to take up a contract in Hong Kong. Berry has picked up the ride on the John Moore-trained Military Attack in the QEII Cup at Sunday’s Sha Tin meeting. The 22-year-old has… Read More »
Sprinter Sacre has extended his unbeaten record over fences to 10 with victory in the Champion Chase at Punchestown. Trainer Nicky Henderson admitted Sprinter Sacre needed to dig deeper into his reserves than ever before to add the Irish race to his recent Grade One victories at Cheltenham and Aintree…. Read More »
Godolphin trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni faces the loss of his licence after admitting to treating horses in his care at Newmarket with anabolic steroids in a major embarrassment for Sheikh Mohammed’s operation. The trainer will front a British Horseracing Authority (BHA) disciplinary panel hearing after samples taken from 11 horses… Read More »
Jim Bolger says Dawn Approach is equal to the best horses he has ever trained ahead of the colt’s bid for Classic glory in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday week. A son of Bolger’s 2008 Epsom Derby winner New Approach, the strapping chestnut was unbeaten in six starts… Read More »
Injured jockey JT McNamara has been transferred to a hospital in Dublin to continue his rehabilitation after being paralysed in a fall at last month’s Cheltenham festival. McNamara suffered a serious neck injury in the fall and had been in hospital in England. A statement issued on behalf of the… Read More »
Auoras Encore never looked like following up his Aintree success as Godsmejudge gave Alan King an emotional success with a convincing victory in the Scottish Grand National. In doing so, the seven-year-old became youngest horse since Gingembre in 2001 to capture the Ayr marathon. The Sue Smith-trained Auroras Encore, bidding… Read More »
Grand National-winning jockey Ryan Mania came through his first ride unscathed since returning from injury on the opening day of the Scottish Grand National meeting at Ayr. Mania made his comeback aboard the Sandy Thomson-trained Signalman, a 28-1 shot for the Play Golf At Close House Handicap Hurdle. They grey… Read More »
Richard Hughes believes Toronado will find any chinks in the armour of red-hot 2000 Guineas favourite Dawn Approach. Fresh from his startling performance in the Craven Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday, Hughes was effusive in his praise of the new Guineas second favourite. Connections had been viewing him as more… Read More »
Champion jumps jockey Tony McCoy will miss the prestigious Punchestown Festival after sustaining broken ribs in a fall at Cheltenham on Thursday. McCoy, who will pick up his 18th jockeys’ championship title next weekend, fell from Quantitativeeasing in the Barbury International Horse Trials Handicap Hurdle when the horse stumbled at… Read More »
English Grand National hero Auroras Encore heads a field of 26 runners in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr on Saturday. Sue Smith’s 11-year-old recorded a shock 66-1 victory in the Aintree spectacular a fortnight ago and having gone up 11lb in the weights, he has to carry a huge… Read More »
Toronado has confirmed himself as the leading British hope to beat the Irish in next month’s 2000 Guineas with a comprehensive win in the Craven Stakes at Newmarket. Trainer Richard Hannon believes the unbeaten son of High Chaparral has such a potent blend of speed and stamina he can tackle… Read More »
Auroras Encore is set to take his chance in the Scottish Grand National on Saturday despite heavy rain at Ayr on Wednesday. Connections of the Aintree winner confirmed their intention to send a strong team, among which will be the 11-year-old who will bid to become the first horse since… Read More »
Sir Henry Cecil has suddenly found himself with the new favourite for the 1000 Guineas as Hot Snap appeared from nowhere in more ways than one to win the Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket. This was a serious statement of intent for the legendary trainer and owner Prince Khalid Abdullah… Read More »
Dubai World Cup hero Animal Kingdom appears more likely to run in the Queen Anne Stakes, rather than the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, at Royal Ascot in June. Co-owned by Australia’s Arrowfield Stud and trained by American-based handler Graham Motion, the 2011 Kentucky Derby winner claimed the world’s richest race… Read More »
Mikel Delzangles is considering the Coronation Cup at Epsom as a possible seasonal starting point for his globetrotting stable stalwart Dunaden. Winner of the Melbourne Cup and Hong Kong Vase in 2011, the Pearl Bloodstock-owned seven-year-old enjoyed another fine campaign in 2012. He was second in the Hardwicke Stakes at… Read More »
