International Horse Racing

• Goldikova bows out with Mile placing

  Freddie Head spoke of his pride in Goldikova after the brilliant mare ended her career with third place in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Churchill Downs.

   
• So You Think unplaced in Breeders’ Classic

  Two-time Cox Plate winner So You Think has finished unplaced in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

   
• St. Nicholas Abbey wins Breeders’ Cup Turf

  St. Nicholas Abbey swept to a scintillating Turf victory on Saturday, making 18-year-old Joseph O’Brien – trainer Aidan O’Brien’s son – the youngest jockey to win a Breeders’ Cup race.

   
• Silvestre De Sousa hangs on in title battle

  Silvestre de Sousa ensured the race for the jockeys’ championship will go to the final day of the season at Doncaster on Saturday with a four-timer on the penultimate day.

   
• Perfect Shirl shines, Euros denied

  erfect Shirl’s upset win in the Filly and Mare Turf was just one Breeders’ Cup result on Friday that had the European contingent needing to regroup for the big day on Saturday.

   
• Burgundy won’t need to lead, says trainer

  Jason Bridgman says Burgundy won’t need to set the pace as he looks to emulate his close relation Darci Brahma in Saturday’s 2000 Guineas at Riccarton.

   
• Hanagan still heading title race

  Paul Hanagan heads into the penultimate day of the Flat season seven winners ahead of Silvestre de Sousa in the race for the jockeys’ championship.

   
• Frankel firmly in Breeders’ frame

  Connections of Frankel have raised hopes that the brilliant colt could grace next year’s Breeders’ Cup meeting.

   
• Rain pain for Strong Suit team

  Connections of Strong Suit, Sea Moon and Elusive Kate were left unhappy when track officials at Churchill Downs refused to let them use the turf course for trackwork on Thursday.

   
• So You Think O’Brien is happy? He is

  Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien liked the look of So You Think, his 5-1 challenger in Saturday’s $US5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, after checking out the horse at the barn on Thursday.

   
• Ortensia targets NZ sprint double

  The decision to defer Ortensia’s stud career proved lucrative when the mare won the Listed GH Mumm Stakes at Flemington at her first start for new trainer Paul Messara.

   
• Melbourne Cup makes flying visit to NZ

  There may not have been any Kiwi horses in the Melbourne Cup this year, but the cup still made its way to New Zealand, albeit briefly.

   
• Burgundy won’t need to lead, says trainer

  Jason Bridgman says Burgundy won’t need to set the pace as he looks to emulate his close relation Darci Brahma in Saturday’s 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton.

   
• Sarafina set for Breeders’ Cup Turf

  Well-fancied French filly Sarafina cantered around Churchill Downs on Wednesday as rivals began making plans on how to pull off an upset in Saturday’s $US3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf showdown.

   
• Head salutes his Golden girl

  Freddie Head made his first appearance at the Churchill Downs track to supervise his history-seeking mare Goldikova in a workout on Wednesday.

   
• Kauto Star and Long Run to clash

  Long Run and Kauto Star are the headline names among 19 entries for the Betfair Chase at Haydock on November 19.

   
• BHA review into National concluded

  A British Horseracing Authority review into the Grand National has been completed, leading to the publication of 30 recommendations “designed to continue enhancing the safety and welfare” of the Aintree showpiece.

   
• Oxx retains Born To Sea faith

  John Oxx still plans to train Born To Sea with a tilt at next year’s 2000 Guineas in mind after he was beaten and suffered an injury at Leopardstown on Sunday.

   
• So You Think third pick for Classic

  Former Australian superstar So You Think has been installed the 5-1 third favourite for Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs.

   
• Goldikova tunes up for star turn

  Trans-Atlantic superstar Goldikova tuned up Tuesday for her latest bid for history, touring the Churchill Downs dirt track with half a dozen other European Breeders’ Cup hopefuls.