Cracksman will wear blinkers for his swan song in the Champion Stakes at Ascot. The John Gosden-trained Cracksman is trying to win the race for a second successive year after he demolished a good field last season. Despite winning two Group One races this year, the Prix Ganay and the… Read More »
Jack Hobbs must defy a wide draw as he heads a cast of 13 for the Champion Stakes at Ascot. John Gosden’s Irish Derby winner skipped the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe earlier this month in favour of Saturday’s race and remains a short-priced favourite. The 5-4 favourite, Jack Hobbs… Read More »
Complacent, one of the favourites for the Group One ATC Australian Derby, is out of the autumn because of injury. Darley’s head trainer Peter Snowden advised Racing NSW stewards on Tuesday that the Group One-winning three-year-old had sustained an injury to the near fore leg and would miss the autumn…. Read More »
Ground conditions are expected to be on the soft side for the showpiece British Champions day at Ascot on Saturday. Bookmakers have reacted by firming French star and wet track specialist Cirrus Des Aigles from 9-4 to 7-4 for the Champion Stakes. Clerk of the course Chris Stickels described the… Read More »
New Zealander It’s A Dundeel has returned to Sydney to begin his Australian Derby campaign and will be seen against Pierro in a barrier trial at Warwick Farm on Friday. The Murray Baker-trained colt won four races in NSW last spring including the Group One Spring Champion Stakes. He went… Read More »
Frankel will slowly prepare for life as a stallion at Banstead Manor Stud near Newmarket after bowing out with a perfect record of 14 wins from 14 starts in the Champion Stakes at Ascot. It was not as pretty to watch as so many of his other majestic performances but… Read More »
Frankel produced perhaps his finest performance on Saturday to retain his unbeaten record with his 14th victory in the Group One Champion Stakes (2000m). The Henry Cecil-trained colt — winning his 10th Group One race and likely to be his last — had stumbled out of the barrier but recovered… Read More »
Frankel is still set to head a star-studded cast on Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday (Sunday AEDT) as long as the ground is considered safe for the world’s highest-rated racehorse. The going at the Berkshire track on Friday afternoon eased from soft all round to soft on the straight… Read More »
Irish jockey Tom Queally has been the unsung hero of racing superstar Frankel’s 13-race unbeaten run. But even if the great horse wins his 14th and likely final race at Ascot on Saturday, don’t expect the 28-year-old Irishman to be pushing himself to the front to claim the credit. For… Read More »
The Ascot track is expected to be soft for Frankel’s farewell in the Champion Stakes despite a heavy amount of rain falling on the Berkshire track this week and more forecast. Ascot clerk of the course Chris Stickels reports the track to be taking the rainfall well but conceded the… Read More »
Frankel will remain the top rated horse of all time whether he rounds off his career with his 14th win in 14 starts or loses in the Champion Stakes at Ascot on Saturday. Form bible Timeform rates Henry Cecil’s star a stone (6kg) better than Champion Stakes second favourite Cirrus… Read More »
Tom Queally put himself in the shoes of most of his weighing room colleagues on Wednesday morning by watching Frankel disappear into the distance in a racecourse gallop at Newmarket. Sir Henry Cecil’s colt, who is very likely to round off his incredible and so-far unbeaten career in the Champion… 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 »
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 »
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 »
Glamour mare Snow Fairy has stolen the show at Leopardstown with an emotional victory over fellow British raider Nathaniel in the Irish Champion Stakes. The globe-trotting mare settled nicely for Frankie Dettori and always looked to have Nathaniel covered as he was driven to overhaul pacemaker Daddy Long Legs rounding… Read More »
Trainer Ed Dunlop believes “all the signs are good” for Snow Fairy as she bids for a seventh Group One success in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown. The five-year-old mare added even more value to her incredible CV when she made a perfect return from a career-threatening injury in… Read More »
News Frankel is likely to finish his career on British Champions Day at Ascot on October 20 has seen the final premier enclosure tickets sell out. “The Frankel factor has clearly had a big impact on sales over the weekend and we are planning a very special farewell to the… Read More »
Frankel will have what could possibly be his last race in the Champion Stakes at Ascot next month. Connections of the unbeaten four-year-old have confirmed the Champion Stakes as the intended target for the world’s highest rated racehorse in preference to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. The Sir Henry… Read More »
