Three footballers are among a group who have been charged by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) following an investigation into suspicious betting activity. Ipswich’s Michael Chopra, Nottingham Forest loanee James Coppinger, ex-Manchester United player Mark Wilson and six others are accused of “serious breaches of the rules of racing”. Jockey… Read More »
Frankel has captured the imagination of the racing industry all over the world. It’s hard not to be swept up in Frankel fever – the four year old is unbeaten, having recorded some of the most breathtaking wins imaginable. His 2000 Guineas annihilation and his Queen Anne Stakes romp at Royal… Read More »
A horse in Cornwall has tested positive for Equine Infectious Anaemia, commonly known as “swamp fever”, the same condition that has closed down Cologne racecourse in Germany. Last year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Danedream is housed at Cologne, along with over 300 other horses and all of them… Read More »
Italian riding great Frankie Dettori has received a surprise call-up to ride Irish champion Camelot in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on Sunday. The 41-year-old, who is retained by Godolphin and won the last of his three Arcs in 2002 on Marienbard, got the rare ride on an Aidan… Read More »
Orfevre’s chances of making racing history on Sunday by giving Japan its first win in Europe’s most prestigious race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, and fulfilling a nation’s dream have grown immeasurably. Japan’s 2011 horse of the year Orfevre became clear favourite for Sunday’s showpiece after two of his… Read More »
Owner Clive Smith believes a decision on the future of Kauto Star is likely to be made within the next couple of weeks. The five-time King George winner and dual Cheltenham Gold Cup hero was pulled up with over a circuit to run in the blue riband at Prestbury Park… Read More »
Danedream’s bid for back-to-back wins in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe appears over after Cologne racecourse where she is stabled was placed into quarantine on Monday afternoon. The German track has been shut down for three months after a horse tested positive for an equine infection of the blood…. Read More »
Trainer Peter Schiergen has nominated Camelot and Orfevre as the main dangers to German filly Danedream completing back-to-back wins in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday. The size of the task confronting the four-year-old German star is that none of the great champions who have returned… Read More »
Irishman Colm O’Donoghue will forgo rides in Japan to partner Jakkalberry in the Caulfield Cup ahead of his Melbourne Cup bid. The Marco Botti-trained English horse, who will race under the Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock (ATB) banner, was among a contingent of European raiders who arrived in Australia on Saturday. Darren… Read More »
Frankel warmed up for what is likely to be the final race of his career with a work-out at Newmarket before racing on Saturday. Sir Henry Cecil’s superstar, officially the best racehorse in the world, is due to end his glittering career in the Champion Stakes at Ascot on October… Read More »
Japanese trainer Yasutoshi Ikee is confident Orfevre is in better shape than he was before his Prix Foy triumph ahead of his bid for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. The Japanese Triple Crown winner made the perfect debut in France by winning one of the Arc’s most recognised trials… Read More »
Snow Fairy has been ruled out of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and the rest of the season after being found to have heat in a tendon. An injury sustained at the end of last year threatened to bring the five-year-old’s racing career to an end but she roared… Read More »
Former Australian horse Retrieve has won a Listed race at Newmarket in an event appropriately sponsored by his owner Sheikh Mohammed. The 2011 Australian Derby runner-up justified his 5-2 favouritism when he took out the Aqlaam Godolphin Stakes (2400m). “He likes this ground and he has improved a lot,” trainer… Read More »
A Listed-race double as part of a treble on the first day of Newmarket’s Cambridgeshire meeting took John Gosden past Aidan O’Brien and into the lead in the Flat trainers’ championship standings. Gosden has amassed unquestionably his strongest squad since he returned to Britain in 1989 from the United States,… Read More »
Champion Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien and his family have escaped unharmed after a fire at their Ballydoyle home. The blaze is reported to have started in an upstairs bedroom at around 10pm on Wednesday (0700 Thurs AEST) but the emergency services were soon on the scene. A Garda spokesman said… Read More »
Ed Dunlop has played down speculation Snow Fairy could be re-routed from the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe to the E P Taylor Stakes at Woodbine in Canada a week later. The Newmarket trainer has stressed he is merely keeping all avenues open for his top-class mare. The Arc at… Read More »
Racegoers at Newmarket on Saturday will be treated to an up close appearance by Frankel ahead of what is likely to be his final start next month. The Sir Henry Cecil-trained superstar will gallop an hour before the start of racing on Cambridgeshire day in preparation for the Champion Stakes… Read More »
The current spell of wet weather may force trainer Ed Dunlop to rethink his Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe plans for Snow Fairy. Having returned from a serious injury better than ever, the globetrotting mare earned her place in the end-of-season showpiece by beating Nathaniel and St Nicholas Abbey in… Read More »
Cirrus Des Aigles is set to return to action in the Prix Dollar at Longchamp on October 6. Trainer Corine Barande-Barbe reports the six-year-old to be back in fine shape ahead of his lead-up run for the Champion Stakes at Ascot on October 20. Cirrus Des Aigles was second in… Read More »
Pat Smullen believes Galileo’s Choice represents his best chance yet of winning the Melbourne Cup at Flemington on November 6. The multiple champion Irish jockey is hoping to give trainer Dermot Weld a remarkable third triumph in the two-mile (3200m) race. Smullen is happy with the 53.5kg Galileo’s Choice will… Read More »
