Overseas Raiders Shape Up Well for Japan Cup
- Wednesday, 20 November 2002 00:00
Each of the foreign raiders had a barrier test to complete on Monday and no problems ensued.
King George winner Golan is back in the Orient for a second tilt at Japan's richest race and JRA has reported no hitches in his preparation. The condition of Falbrav, from Italy, was described as "good as usual."
The connections of the Classic winning French filly Bright Sky declared themselves happy with her preparation and a good blow out is expected at the track on Wednesday morning.
The training of the Hong Kong hope Indigenous, meanwhile, "went well" at Shiroi, Edwin Wong Sau-fung, assistant trainer to Ivan Allan, said. Indigenous is in Japan for his third Cup run having finished second in 1999 and seventh in 2001.
Fresh from collecting Australia's greatest race with Media Puzzle, Irish trainer Dermot Weld's pot hunting around the Pacific Rim continues with Irresistible Jewel. "She's eating and working well," Tracy Crown, her work rider stated of the three-year-old filly that was well and truly put to the sword by Cup rival Bright Sky in a four length defeat in last month's Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp.
No problems were emanating from the camp of Sarafan, the only American-trained runner, while British trainer Barry Hills' Storming Home is expected to work at Nakayama on Thursday under his big race jockey, the trainer's son, Michael.
Of the home defence, last year's winner Jungle Pocket and Narita Top Road were reported doing some good work this morning at the Ritto Training Centre outside Tokyo. The former clocked 51 seconds for 800m on the Ritto slope course. Meanwhile, across town in the Miho Training Centre, Magnaten and Symboli Kris S were also seen putting in some good work ahead of this Sunday's test, the penultimate leg of the World Series Racing Championship.
Meanwhile,
exercise rider So Wai-yin for Red Sun, who will
represent Hong Kong in the Japan Cup Dirt, is reported in good condition. "He was
able to train quietly at Shiroi and it went well," So said.
Media Release - HKJC
Nikolic to Ride Mistegic at Sha Tin
- Wednesday, 20 November 2002 00:00
Top class Australian sprinter Mistegic, a specialist at 1000 metres
trained in New South Wales by Lee Curtis, is "all set" for the Hong Kong Sprint
next month according to his trainer. Mistegic has had ten starts for five wins and five
placings over the 1000 metres.Curtis is now confident all is well with the four-year-old despite initial concerns after his failure behind Choisir and Falvelon in the Group 2 Emirates Classic (1200m) at Flemington on November 7.
"The track was very firm that day and I think he just jarred up a little," Curtis said.
"And he might have also been a touch jaded backing up from his
run at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate day".
On that occasion, Mistegic was beaten less than a length into third place behind Australia's best sprinting mare Spinning Hill, ridden by Frankie Dettori, in the Group 2 Schweppes Stakes at 1000m.
Mistegic, who has won at Group 1 level, stands at six wins and 11 placings from 22 in his career for prizemoney earnings of $A 1.5 million.
Curtis said that Danny Nikolic would ride Mistegic in Hong Kong.
PICS - Quentin Lang.
Media Release - HKJC
Hong Kong International Races Take Shape
- Friday, 01 November 2002 00:00
From Australia to America and Europe to Japan, last weekend was one of the most important on global racing calendar. Several Group/Grade 1 results affected the composition of the Hong Kong International Races on December 15 and the following details are a summary of how likely HKIR candidates performed.
HK$18 million Hong Kong Cup (Gr. 1 2000m)
Australia's most prestigious weight-for-age race, the Carlton Draught Cox Plate (Gr.1-2040m), witnessed Grandera run out a fast-finishing third best to Northerly. Now holding a near unassailable advantage in the World Series Racing Championship, Grandera will soon ship to Hong Kong ahead of his assignment in the world's richest turf race over 2000m.
Sarafan, winner of the Eddie Read Handicap (Gr.1-1800m) earlier this year, is on course to contest the Hong Kong Cup after first having a crack at the Japan Cup (Gr.1-2200m) at Nakayama on November 24.
The French filly Marotta, who was successful in the Prix Saint-Alary (Gr.1-2000m) last May, entered the Cup picture on Sunday with victory in the Premio Lydia Tesio (Gr.2-2000m) from fellow HKIR nominee, Choc Ice.
Eishin Preston, however, trailed in eighth past the post, beaten under five lengths, by a trio of Vase candidates in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (JpnGr.1-200m).
HK$14 million Hong Kong Mile (Gr.1-1600m)
Domedriver, the Breeders' Cup Mile (Gr.1-1600m) winner at Arlington Park last weekend, is likely to conclude a hugely successful season in the Hong Kong Mile. Domedriver is now ranked as one of the best milers in the world in the wake of his defeat of Rock Of Gibraltar, previously the winner of seven consecutive Group 1 races.
Aidan O'Brien has not ruled out Rock Of Gibraltar contesting the Hong Kong Mile, which, if he won, would be an amazing sixth Group 1 success of 2002.
Fourth behind Fantastic Light in the Hong Kong Cup in 2000 and similarly placed behind Eishin Preston in last year's Hong Kong Mile, the remarkably consistent Forbidden Apple again had to settle for fourth best behind Domedriver in the Breeders' Cup Mile. He is on course for a third Hong Kong adventure.
On the Cox Plate supporting card at Moonee Valley, Royal Code placed himself in the HK Mile reckoning with a smart success by over two lengths in the Waterford Crystal Mile (Gr.2-1600m).
HK$14 million Hong Kong Vase (Gr.1-2400m)
With the possibility of last weekend's Breeders' Cup Turf (Gr.1-2400m) winner High Chaparral remaining in training in 2003, connections are considering either the Hong Kong Cup or Vase for this top class colt who completed the Epsom and Irish Derby double in June. 'The Turf' also elicited a good third-placed run in from Vase contender Falcon Flight, who had previously finished second in the Canadian International (Gr.1-2400m).
Three Vase nominations fought out the first four placings in one of the highlights of Japanese racing calendar, the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (JpnGr.1-200m). Here Symboli Kris S prevailed over Narita Top Road by half a length with Air Shakur back in fourth.
Although they didn't run over the weekend, other likely Vase runners include Aquarelliste and Ange Gabriel, both French-trained Group 1 winners this season, and Germany's Boreal, successful in the Coronation Cup (Gr.1-2400m) at Epsom in June.
HK$10 million Hong Kong Sprint (Gr.1-1000m)
With top-flight European racing grinding to a halt, speed stars with one eye on the Hong Kong Sprint centred were in action in Australia and Japan.
In the Schweppes Stakes (Gr.2-1000m) at Moonee Valley last Saturday, just a neck separated the third, fourth and fifth placegetters, Mistegic, Century Kid and the dual Hong Kong Sprint champion Falvelon as they flashed past the post off level weights. Meanwhile Shonen Kampf was posting an impressive three-length victory in the Swan Stakes (JpnGr.2-1400m) at Kyoto.
In other Sprint news, the connections of both Continent, winner of the July Cup (Gr.1-1200m) and the Prix de l'Abbaye (Gr.1-1000m), and Malhub, the Golden Jubilee Stakes (Gr.1-1200m) victor, are keen to contest the richest five-furlong dash in the world.
Media Release - HKJC
The Rock Wins Cartier Horse of Year Award
- Wednesday, 20 November 2002 00:00
The Danehill colt beat his stable companion High Chaparral to win the award and two other Irish-bred stars also featured on the roll of honour.
Vinnie Roe (Definite Article), fourth in the years Melbourne Cup, was declared the top stayer in training while not surprisingly Grandera (Grand Lodge) was announced as the leading older horse.
Hold That Tiger, like Rock Of Gibraltar, trained by Aidan OBrien, was the top two-year-old colt.
Media Release - TNZ
Smart Bet Looks a Good Thing in Gold Cup
- Thursday, 31 October 2002 00:00
With $1.25 million at stake and 14 classy entries filed for the coveted feature, the Singapore Gold Cup promises to be a great and exciting race.
Heading the charge of the final leg of the Singapore Triple Crown series is trainer Mohd Yusofs SMART BET, who has been touted to win for his owners the $50,000 bonus by adding the Gold Cup to his Raffles Cup success. The bonus is given to the owners of the horse that wins any two legs of the Triple Crown series. The five-year-old Australian-bred is in terrific form going by his last-start victory in the 1,800m Raffles Cup. He has to date picked up 10 races which include the recent Emirates Singapore Derby and last years Chairmans Trophy and Kranji Mile.
Trainer Paddy Busuttins BOCELLI looks the main threat going by his performance last Friday when second to THUNDERAWAY over 1,649m. Although BOCELLI has not saluted this season, he was nevertheless, a sensation last year winning five consecutive races and in the process, won the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge. He had also greeted the judge three times in 2000.
Busuttin has also FIRE HOUSE as his back-up support. The five-year-old New Zealand-bred has primed for the Gold Cup. Winner of the Queen Elizabeth Cup in August, FIRE HOUSE could win for his owners the $50,000 bonus if he added this final leg to his first-leg success.
Trainer Laurie Laxon is pinning his hope on THUNDERAWAY. The New Zealand-bred, who won the Class 1 1,649m race brilliantly last week, will travel light a distinct advantage over the grueling trip. He also has the ability to see out the Cup distance having won once over 2,100m back home.
The Patrick Shaw-trained PALACE LINE is one to watch judging by his fourth to SMART BET in the Raffles Cup. The Singapore Guineas and Singapore Classic winner ran a good sixth to GRANDERA in the International Group 1 Singapore Airlines International Cup in May.
Shaw has also filed his Argentine-bred ELECT who finished a third and a fourth in both starts this season.
Other entries with their respective trainers are: PETROSELLI, STEAL A SCENE & THE GREAT EMPEROR (John Meagher); KASH IS KING (Charles Leck); LEAD TO VICTORY (Charles Read); AIR CHIEF (Don Baertschiger); STRIKING DIAMOND (Michael Clements) and THE UNICORN (Stephen Gray).
Apart from the 2,200m Singapore Group 1 feature on Sunday, 3 November 2002, the Clubs Gold Cup meeting starting on Saturday will also feature the MRA Cup and the Paititi Gold Trophy on the same afternoon.
MRA CUP
Ten topnotch sprinters have been entered in the 1,400m MRA Cup. The $250,000 event, named after the Malayan Racing Association, is staged annually on a rotational basis among the four turf clubs in the Singapore-Malaysia circuit.
Last years race hosted by the Perak Turf Club over 2,000m was won by OPPOSING FORCE. The inaugural race in 1988 was won by COLONIAL CHIEF who captured it again in 1990.
PAITITI GOLD TROPHY
The Paititi Gold Trophy over 1,200m has attracted nine entries. The $125,000 feature is staged in honour of the Agasam-owned Paititi Gold, the Iron Horse of the circuit from 1978 to 1986.
Media Release - Singapore Turf Club
Fradd Relicenced in Hong Kong
- Saturday, 16 November 2002 00:00
On 7 August 2002, Robert Fradd was charged in a District Court with one count of cheating at gambling. The particulars of the alleged offence were that
"Robert Desmond Fradd, on the 16th day of January 2002, in Hong Kong, won money from another person for himself or for any other person unascertained in connection with the placing of bets on the outcome of a horse race, namely Race 309 which took place at the Happy Valley Racecourse in Hong Kong on the 16th day of January 2002 by a false practice, namely by the said Robert Desmond Fradd preventing his horse WINNING DRAGON running to the best of its natural ability and thereby dishonestly influenced the outcome of the said race."
The trial into the above charge commenced on Friday 8 November 2002 and concluded on Thursday, 14 November 2002. At the conclusion of this trial Robert Fradd was found not guilty of the charge.
On Friday, 15 November 2002 Robert Fradd submitted a fresh application of a Club Jockey's Licence for the period 20 November 2002 until 30 June 2003 inclusive.
The Licensing Committee today held a meeting to consider the application from Robert Fradd for a Club Jockey¡¦s Licence. The Committee considered submissions put by Robert Fradd in support of his application, evidence from Mr John Size, the Trainer of WINNING DRAGON, the written statement of Mr Gavin Whiterod which was obtained by the prosecution for use in the court case, and viewed the patrol video of Race 309, the race in question.
The Committee on the evidence placed before them were satisfied with the riding by Robert Fradd of WINNING DRAGON in Race 309, and that he did not breach any rules of racing.
The Committee also considered the performance statistics of Robert Fradd whilst licensed as a jockey in Hong Kong together with his entire disciplinary record. It was decided Robert Fradd be granted a Club Jockey's Licence for the period 20 November 2002 until 30 June 2003, inclusive.
Media Release - HKJC
Douglas Whyte to Ride in World Jockeys Series
- Thursday, 31 October 2002 00:00
The
top three jockeys awards would be decided upon racing results of the four races. Two races
would be run per day:
30 Nov
2002 Golden Saddle Trophy (1,600m - Turf)
2002 Golden Whip Trophy (2,000m - Turf)
1 Dec
2002 Golden Spur Trophy (1,800m - Dirt)
2002 Golden Boots Trophy (2,200m - Turf)
Eight overseas jockeys have been invited by the Japan Racing Association to compete with six jockeys who represent Japan.
Jockeys from the following regions have been invited:
North America (USA) - 2 jockeys
Europe (France, Ireland and United Kingdom) - 3 jockeys
Oceania (Australia and New Zealand) - 2 jockeys
Asia (Hong Kong) - 1 jockey
Media Release - HKJC
De Montfort's Appeal Successful in Singapore
- Wednesday, 13 November 2002 00:00
De Montfort was originally outed by stewards for his handling of Air Chief at Sha Tin in last August.
Yesterday the appeals panel heard from De Montfort and then upheld the appeal thus allowing the Aussie to return to the saddle.
He has indicated he will stay in Singapore and ride until at least the end of the season in December before possibly returning to ride in Sydney.
Hong Kong's Strong Interest in Cox Plate
- Thursday, 24 October 2002 00:00
A unique day of championship racing will unfold first this weekend with a whole cast of horses nominated for Hong Kong International Races to watch out for first in the Cox Plate from Moonee Valley on Saturday afternoon, and then at the Breeders' Cup meeting from Arlington Park in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Since the Hong Kong Jockey Club announced a record haul of top-class nominations on October 11, several entries have gone onto win Pattern races, notably Northerly (Gr.1 Caulfield Cup); Storming Home (Gr.1 Champion Stakes); Shot Of Thunder (Gr.1 Toorak Handicap); Nayyir (Gr.2 Challenge Stakes); Ange Gabriel (Gr.2 Prix du Conseil de Paris) etc.
This weekend's racing in Australia and America will have a significant bearing on the make-up of the fields for the HKIR with eight of the nine declared starters for the W.S. Cox Plate, Australasia's most prestigious weight-for-age race, engaged for Hong Kong.
Meanwhile over in Chicago, a long list of American and European stars already nominated for the International Races in December are set to contest a card which, in total, features eight Grade 1 races.
And not only that, but the World Series Racing Championship table will also change considerably with table-topper and HKIR candidate Grandera bidding to consolidate his advantage in the Cox Plate.
However, should Grandera fail in Melbourne, Ballingarry or High Chaparral will be snapping at his heels if either succeeds in the Breeders' Cup Turf over twelve hours later on the other side of the world.
HKIR nominations in the Cox Plate and Breeders' Cup
Carlton Draught Cox Plate - Gr.1-2040m
Northerly (trained in Australia), Assertive Lad (Aus), Grandera (GB), Fields Of Omagh
(Aus), Lonhro (Aus), Ustinov (Aus), Sunline (NZ), Bel Esprit (Aus)
Netjets Breeders' Cup Mile - Gr.1-1600m
Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire), Beat Hollow (USA), Hawk Wing (Ire), Forbidden Apple (USA),
Landseer (Ire), Domedriver (Fr), The Tin Man (USA), Del Mar Show (USA), Aldebaran (USA)
Reserves - Zenda (GB), Nuclear Debate (USA), Green Fee (USA), Chopinina (Can)
Napa Breeders' Cup Sprint - Gr.1-1200m - Dirt
Disturbingthepeace (USA)
Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf - Gr.1-2000m
Turtle Bow (Fr), Chopinina (Can)
Breeders' Cup Turf - Gr.1-2400m
High Chaparral (Ire), Denon (USA), Ballingarry (USA), The Tin Man (USA), Blazing Fury
(USA), Falcon Flight (USA), Perfect Soul (Can)
Breeders' Cup Classic - Gr.1-2000m-Dirt
Hawk Wing (Ire), Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire)
Media Release - HKJC
Sadler Among Emirates Award Winners
- Monday, 04 November 2002 00:00
Street Cry's dominance in the Dubai World Cup and an equally impressive performance three weeks earlier in the Group II third round of the Maktoum Challenge saw him secure an almost unanimous victory in the voting.
The race for top Purebred Arabian honours was similar with Nez D'Or expectedly winning the Alanudd Horse of the Year after a season that saw him run on seven occasions for three wins, three seconds and a third, his wins all coming at Group I in the first and third rounds of the Maktoum Challenge and the Dubai Kahayla Classic on the Dubai World Cup programme.
Owned by Godolphin, Street Cry became their fourth horse in the four years of the Nashwan Awards to secure the Horse of the Year title following on from Almutawakel (1998/1999), Dubai Millennium (1999/2000) and Festival Of Light (2000/2001). In winning both the third and final round of the Maktoum Challenge and then the Dubai World Cup he emulated the deeds of Dubai Millennium in 2000.
Street Cry subsequently went to America where he had just two more runs before injury brought about a premature end to his career, he won the Grade I Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs before his second in the Grade I Whitney Handicap at Saratoga.
Nez D'Or's crowning achievement also continued a trend, the
horse being the fourth in as many seasons to carry the colours of HH The President to be
voted the Alanudd Horse of the Year, following on from Alanudd 1998/1999 and the dual
winner Ezil in 1999/2000 and 2000/2001. Like Ezil, Nez D'Or is trained by Julian Smart.
"The performances of Street Cry and Nez D¹Or showed them to be the outstanding
horses of the season and their names compare favourably with those that have won the title
in recent seasons," said Emirates Racing Association Chief Executive Mr Les Benton.
The change in criteria for the Owner and Trainer of the Year in 2000/2001 were continued
for 2001/2002 with the Awards decided upon those with the highest percentage of winners to
runners throughout the season, each having to have a certain number of winners and runners
to qualify. Races that carry US$ prizemoney are excluded from calculations.
Following a season of dominance where he won the National Day Cup and HH The President Cup
with Ezil, the aforementioned events with Nez D'Or and the inaugural Purebred Arabian
Derby with Chilena, Julian Smart was the Alanudd Trainer of the Year.
John Sadler's second season in the Emirates was also a success, preparing Glad Master to
win the Al Shindagha Sprint and HH The President Cup and also Royal Tryst to
finished fifth in the Dubai World Cup.
Smart ended his season have trained 21 qualified winners from 142 runners at a strike rate
of 14.78% while Sadler's season was also impressive, his 27 winners coming from 120
qualified runners at a 22.5% strike rate.
In 2000/2001 the award for the Alanudd Owner of the Year went to Qatar and Sheikh Abdullah
bin Nasser Al Thani and it again went to Qatar for 2001/2002 with Sheikh Abdulla bin
Khalifa Al Thani receiving the award.
The efforts of Mutabahi (Al Ruwais) and Darman (Purebred Arabian Triple Crown Round II)
being the highlights of a season that saw Sheikh Abdulla represented by 21 runners for
five winners at a strike rate of 23.8%.
The three-year-old State City's impressive six run first campaign that included three wins
and a third to Essence of Dubai in the Group III UAE 2000 Guineas, formed the basis for
his owner S M R M winning the Nashwan Owner of the Year.
S M R M was represented by 19 eligible runners for six winners at a strike rate of 31.57
%.
Street Cry's was not the only dominant performance on the Dubai World Cup programme and
this was emphasised by the close vote for the ERA Award for Best Performance by an
Overseas Trained Horse.
Caller One's performance to win his second successive Dubai Golden Shaheen polled well as
did Grey Memo's last to first effort to become the first horse trained outside of the UAE
to win the Godolphin Mile however it was Nayef's effort to win the Dubai Sheema Classic
that earned him the award.
Owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, trained by
Marcus Tregoning and ridden by Richard Hills, Nayef defeated Helene Vitality, Boreal and
Marienbard to win the Dubai Sheema Classic, the latter two subsequently winner the Group I
Coronation Cup and the Group I Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe while Nayef would also secure
Group I glory with his subsequent win in the Juddmonte International at York.
The Steve Cauthen Award, inaugurated for the 1999/2000 season, recognises the riding
excellence of jockeys within the United Arab Emirates racing season and is decided by
points given on a 3-2-1 basis by the panel of three judges at each meeting.
Ted Durcan, the inaugural winner of the award for 1999/2000 before finishing a close
second to Richard Hills in 2000/2001 regained his title, earning 38 points and holding off
a determined late season challenge from Wayne Smith, who registered 34 points.
"Those successful in all awards were worthy winners as the competition was extremely
strong. Last season proved again that racing in the Emirates has gone from strength to
strength in the last few seasons and the list of winners at the Alanudd and Nashwan Awards
emphasises the class now on display," said Mr Benton.
"The 2001/2002 season proved to be an outstanding success and we are confident that
2002/2003 will be able to build on that and continue the standard of excellence that we
have achieved."
LIST OF WINNERS
ALANUDD AWARD FOR OWNER OF THE YEAR
Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani
NASHWAN AWARD FOR OWNER OF THE YEAR
S M R M
ALANUDD AWARD FOR TRAINER OF THE YEAR
Julian Smart
NASHWAN AWARD FOR TRAINER OF THE YEAR
John Sadler
ERA INTERNATIONAL AWARD
Best Performance by an Overseas Trained Horses
Nayef (Dubai Sheema Classic)
STEVE CAUTHEN AWARD
Ted Durcan
ALANUDD AWARD FOR HORSE OF THE YEAR
Nez D'Or
NASHWAN AWARD FOR HORSE OF THE YEAR
Street Cry
Media Release - Martin Talty (ERA)
Zabenz Falls in Breeders' Cup Steeple
- Sunday, 20 October 2002 00:00
New Zealand-bred jumper Zabenz failed in his attempt at a second Grade 1 win
in the United States when he fell in this mornings's Breeders' Cup Steeplechase in New
Jersey.Zabenz was sent out favourite in the $US250,000 event but was never travelling like a winner, according to jockey Craig Thornton, who 'phoned his wife Trudy afterwards.
"Craig told me he felt nothing like the horse he had won on last time," said Trudy. "He mixed his jumping and was flat virtually all the way."
Thornton, who was uninjured in the penultimate fence fall, had earlier finished second on Mr Percolator in a novice steeplechase on the same programme.
The Breeders' Cup Steeplechase was won by Flat Top from Tres Touche, the two horses who had chased Zabenz home in the New York Turf Writers' Steeplechase.
The winner, a nine-year-old by Alleged, had won the same race in 1998. This latest win, his eighth from 16 starts over fences, took his earnings beyond the $US500,000 mark, making him the fourth highest earning steeplechaser in United States history.
PIC - Quentin Lang.
Media Release - TNZ