Champion British trainer Richard Hannon has given one of the clearest signals yet he is soon to retire from racing. The 66-year-old told the Times he is poised to pass on the baton to his son, Richard Hannon jnr. “It might be nice to get out while I’m in front,”… Read More »
Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden heads a field of eight declared for the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday. The six-year-old, trained in France by Mikel Delzangles, begins his 2012 campaign on European soil following an epic end to 2011 in which he not only struck in Australia but also… Read More »
Melbourne Cup runner-up Red Cadeaux has pleased his trainer Ed Dunlop despite being beaten on his return at Kempton. Red Cadeaux finished 1-1/2 lengths second to to Godolphin’s promising Colour Vision in the Group Three Sagaro Stakes (3200m) with Frankie Dettori easing the winner down over the final stages. “He’s… Read More »
Bodemeister has been installed the 4-1 favourite for the Kentucky Derby with Union Rags the second choice in a full field of 20 horses. Trained by three-time Derby winner Bob Baffert, Bodemeister will start from barrier six while his stablemate Liaison (50-1) has the outside gate. Union Rags drew barrier… Read More »
Former Australian galloper Eclair Mystic is the only late entry for Singapore’s feature sprint, the $1 million Krisflyer International Sprint (1200m) on May 20.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien holds the key to both Guineas races at Newmarket this weekend. Pre-post favourite Camelot features among the 22 confirmations for Saturday’s 2000 Guineas while stablemate Maybe, favourite for the 1000 Guineas, heads 21 nominations for the fillies event the following day. Camelot was a brilliant winner of… Read More »
Frankel is set for a racecourse gallop at Newmarket on Sunday as he builds towards his eagerly-anticipated seasonal return. The world’s highest-rated Flat horse suffered a leg injury earlier this month and for a brief period there were real concerns about the four-year-old’s future racing career. A subsequent scan revealed… Read More »
French star Cirrus Des Aigles has claimed his first Group One prize in his homeland with an impressive display in the Prix Ganay at Longchamp. Corine Barande-Barbe’s pride and joy beat So You Think to land last year’s Champion Stakes at Ascot and he collected his second top-level victory in… Read More »
Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden begins his new campaign in the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday. Trainer Mikel Delzangles is keen to test the six-year-old against Europe’s best mile-and-a-half (2400m) horses this season. Dunaden enjoyed a spectacular end to 2011, winning the Geelong Cup and the Melbourne Cup in… Read More »
Mike de Kock, who has done so well in Hong Kong with Ballydoyle cast-offs such as Eagle Mountain and Archipenko, will be looking to repeat the trick at Sha Tin on Sunday. The South African handler fields Viscount Nelson in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup as the former Aidan O’Brien… Read More »
Richard Hughes has the plum ride of Trumpet Major to look forward to in the 2000 Guineas on his first week back from a 50-day ban. Richard Hannon’s stable jockey and son-in-law had to sit out Trumpet Major’s win in the Craven Stakes over the full Rowley Mile at Newmarket… Read More »
Excelebration made the perfect start to life with the Aidan O’Brien stable when he easily won his seasonal debut at the Curragh. A Group One winner for Newmarket-based Marco Botti but three times put in his place by the brilliant Frankel, Excelebration had no trouble taking the Big Bad Bob… Read More »
Merigo became the first horse for 27 years to win the Scottish Grand National twice with a courageous effort in the marathon handicap chase at Ayr. While Androma landed back-to-back victories in 1984 and 1985, Merigo was reclaiming his crown after finishing second last year. Merigo answered veteran jockey Timmy… Read More »
Frankel remains on course to make his eagerly-awaited four-year-old debut in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury next month. Having been given the all-clear to resume training following an injury scare, the world’s highest ranked racehorse is progressing well according to trainer Sir Henry Cecil. Speaking at Newbury after saddling Frankel’s… Read More »
Frankel could still make his seasonal reappearance in next month’s Lockinge Stakes at Newbury after being given the all-clear to resume training. The four-year-old is the world’s highest rated racehorse following a stellar campaign in 2011 during which he won four Group One prizes including the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket…. Read More »
David Pipe has urged racing’s rulers not to make a “knee-jerk” reaction to the deaths of Synchronised and According To Pete in the Grand National. Pipe, who won the race in 2008 with Comply Or Die, believes the safety measures in place have improved greatly in recent years. With another… Read More »
Irish stud Coolmore will enter into a multi-million euro deal with China to help set up a thoroughbred industry in the Far East. Under the agreement, the top Irish farm in County Tipperary will help China set up a similar operation. Sited in Tianjin, China’s fourth largest city, the planned… Read More »
Dragon Pulse, prepared by Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Mike Delzangles, got up right on the line to end Dabirsim’s unbeaten run in the Prix de Fontainebleau at Longchamp. The Christophe Ferland-trained Dabirsim, winner of all five starts as a juvenile, the last two of which were in Group One company under… Read More »
Aidan O’Brien took both Guineas Trials at Leopardstown as he enjoyed a treble at the Dublin track. The Ballydoyle trainer sent out Furner’s Green to capture the 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes followed by Homecoming Queen in the fillies’ version. Furner’s Green was cut to 33-1 from 66-1 for the Qipco… Read More »
British Horseracing Authority chief executive Paul Bittar has spoken of his belief that changes implemented since last year’s Grand National need time to be judged. Australian Bittar, a recent incumbent to his position at the BHA, also expressed his sympathy to connections of Synchronised and According To Pete, who both… Read More »
