Andrew Balding’s Bonfire emerged as the most serious threat to Derby favourite Camelot with an impressive comeback performance in the Dante Stakes at York. His seasonal return was moved to Britain’s most high-profile Epsom trial from last week’s Dee Stakes at Chester due to the rain-softened ground and it proved… Read More »
Kentucky Derby winner I’ll Have Another will jump from barrier nine in Saturday’s 137th Preakness, two spots outside Derby runner-up Bodemeister. I’ll Have Another charged from behind to beat Bodemeister by 1-1/2 lengths two weeks ago at Churchill Downs to give himself a chance at becoming the first horse since… Read More »
The Fugue has been catapulted to the head of the betting for the Oaks with an brilliant display in the Musidora Stakes at York. John Gosden’s filly was having just her third start having run a respectable fourth in the 1000 Guineas 10 days earlier. She was struck into on… Read More »
Christophe Soumillon has sacked himself from Dabirsim following the colt’s defeat in the French 2000 Guineas at Longchamp on Sunday. The Belgian jockey told Paris-Turf he lacked “chemistry” with the Christophe Ferland-trained three-year-old who won two Group Ones for Frankie Dettori in an unbeaten juvenile campaign. Soumillon has twice been… Read More »
International jockey Jeff Lloyd hopes to send a clear message when the latest chapter of his star-studded career begins at Doomben on Saturday. Lloyd, 50, wants it known his decision to quit Hong Kong and base himself at the Gold Coast is not related to thoughts of retirement. The winner… Read More »
Light Heavy will be aimed at the Irish Derby after continuing his progressive profile for Jim Bolger with an ultra-game performance in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown. Tower Rock, the apparent pacemaker for better-fancied Aidan O’Brien-trained stablemate and Breeders’ Cup winner Wrote, set off in front with Kevin… Read More »
Ed Dunlop’s incredible mare Snow Fairy will soon be back in full work as her trainer eyes up some major prizes in the second half of the season. The five-year-old has won five Group One contests in four different countries and was last seen landing Japan’s Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative… Read More »
Ed Dunlop is weighing up the options for his luckless sprinter Burwaaz while confirming last year’s Melbourne Cup runner-up Red Cadeaux is set to race in the Yorkshire Cup. Although Burwaaz has registered only one victory from nine career starts, he has been placed on a further six occasions. He… Read More »
Lucayan won the French 2000 Guineas at Longchamp on Sunday to give his owners the perfect revenge for having their filly Liliside disqualified after winning the 1000 Guineas two years ago. What made it even sweeter for Ahmed Mouknass and Anthony Forde was that the breeder of Lucayan, Jean-Pierre Colombo,… Read More »
Frankel completed his preparation for the Lockinge Stakes with a workout on grass at Newmarket that left trainer Sir Henry Cecil delighted with his unbeaten champion. Cecil resisted the temptation to work Khalid Abdullah’s colt round the bend where he sustained the minor leg injury that put his training schedule… Read More »
Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Doug O’Neill could face a suspension in California after one of his horses was found to have an elevated level of total carbon dioxide (TC02), an infraction for which he has been punished previously. The California Horse Racing Board is considering the case, which involves “milkshaking,” the… Read More »
Racing is rich in the bloodlines of visiting New Zealand trainer Adrian Bull who is back on mission number two for the Brisbane winter carnival. Bull made his first trip to Brisbane last winter with So Devine who failed to make it to the Group One Queensland Oaks at Eagle… Read More »
Richard Fahey is relishing the prospect of saddling his first Derby runner after Mickdaam booked his ticket to Epsom in a thrilling renewal of the Chester Vase. The trainer is one of the most upwardly mobile trainers in the game but has yet to have a horse worthy of a… Read More »
William Buick does not believe the switch to the Polytrack will inconvenience Thought Worthy in the Derby Trial at Lingfield on Saturday. Thought Worthy was runner-up to Imperial Monarch in the Classic Trial at Sandown on heavy ground last month and Buick is pleased the John Gosden-trained colt will not… Read More »
After his best ever National Hunt season, Donald McCain turned his attentions to the Flat and saddled the first two home in the Chester Cup through Ile De Re and Overturn. The latter was attempting to add his name to the illustrious list of dual winners. Heavy rain just before… Read More »
This weekend’s Derby and Oaks Trials at Lingfield will be run on the all-weather track after course officials made the early decision to abandon all the turf races on Friday and Saturday’s cards. The Surrey circuit has been hit by some substantial rainfall over the weekend, leaving the turf course… Read More »
Beat Black, impressive winner of the Japanese Tenno Sho nine days ago, Is a strong chance to come down under for the Melbourne Cup. Leigh Jordon international recruiter for Racing Victoria was at Kyoto to witness Beat Black’s win and he talked to Owner Koji Maeda who said he was… Read More »
Racing Forum, who are behind radical proposals to raise levy from bookmakers, are to promote their plans at a dinner at York racecourse on Friday. The group, supported by owners, trainers, breeders, racecourses, journalists, punters and racegoers, will bring together racing’s political leaders with members of the betting industry to… Read More »
Windsor Palace caused a huge upset by holding off his esteemed stablemate St Nicholas Abbey to clinch the High Chaparral European Breeders Fund Mooresbridge Stakes at the Curragh. Trainer Aidan O’Brien landed this Group Three prize for the past two seasons with proven top-class performers Fame And Glory and So… Read More »
Champion Irish steeplechaser Florida Pearl has died aged 20. Trained by Willie Mullins, the Violet O’Leary-owned gelding won the 2001 King George VI Chase at Kempton and a record-breaking four Irish Gold Cups. Florida Pearl had spent his last five years at the Irish National Stud which he had to… Read More »
