Vancouver Retired To Coolmore Stud

{SCPinterestShare href=https://form.virtualformguide.com/racing-news/international/67447-vancouver-retired-to-coolmore-stud.html layout=standard image= desc=Vancouver's northern hemisphere campaign is over before it started and he will now return to Australia to begin his stud... size=small}

Vancouver's northern hemisphere campaign is over before it started and he will now return to Australia to begin his stud career.

Trained by Gai Waterhouse to win last year's Golden Slipper, Vancouver was bought by Coolmore and sent to Aidan O'Brien in Ireland with ambitions to add a northern hemisphere Group One win to his record.

But Coolmore has decided to scrap plans to run him in the Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot after he missed a recent run because of an unsatisfactory blood picture.

"His bloods failed to improve as quickly as we might have hoped so he missed more work last week and this week," O'Brien told the Racing Post.

"Unfortunately we've now run out of time to get him ready for the Diamond Jubilee and the July Cup.

"It's very disappointing as he looked very special on what we'd seen of him at home and we were looking forward to running him."

Coolmore Australia boss Tom Magnier said Vancouver would now head home.

"It's a major disappointment that Vancouver won't be running at Royal Ascot but he is proving very popular with breeders so we're keen to get him here as soon as possible," he said.

"He'll enter quarantine in Newmarket next week and will be on the farm here in Coolmore Australia by mid-July."

Aidan O'Brien Has Strong Hand In Classics

{SCPinterestShare href=https://form.virtualformguide.com/racing-news/international/67439-aidan-o-brien-has-strong-hand-in-classics.html layout=standard image=http://www.virtualformguide.com/aapnews/20151009001186130680-original_400x300.jpg desc=Champion Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien holds a strong hand in Britain's premier Classics at Epsom. The O'Brien-trained 1000 Guineas winner... size=small}

Champion Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien holds a strong hand in Britain's premier Classics at Epsom.

The O'Brien-trained 1000 Guineas winner Minding heads a field of nine declared for Friday's Oaks as she bids to become the first filly since Kazzia in 2002 to complete the double.

However she goes into the mile-and-a-half (2400m) showpiece on the back of a defeat in the Irish equivalent when second to Jet Setting after suffering a minor head injury leaving the gates.

Aidan O'BrienAidan O'Brien

O'Brien also has Seventh Heaven and Somehow in the Oaks.

Ryan Moore has chosen to ride the O'Brien-trained market leader US Army Ranger in Saturday's Derby with Jamie Spencer on stablemate Deauville.

The Epsom track has been described as soft, good to soft in places, after rain earlier this week.

Further light rain is forecast over the next couple of days.

Nyquist Wins 142nd Kentucky Derby

{SCPinterestShare href=https://form.virtualformguide.com/racing-news/international/67244-nyquist-wins-142nd-kentucky-derby.html layout=standard image= desc=Nyquist has lived up to his favouritism to extend his unbeaten record in the 142nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs,... size=small}

Nyquist has lived up to his favouritism to extend his unbeaten record in the 142nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, sparking talk of a second consecutive Triple Crown champion.

Nyquist took his record to eight wins with a smooth trip under Mario Gutierrez on Saturday (Sunday AEST)

Nyquist pulled away from Gun Runner down the straight and held off a closing charge by Exaggerator to win the first leg of US thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown series for three-year-olds.

Exaggerator, the second choice, finished second by 1-1/4 lengths followed by Gun Runner, who was 4-1/2 lengths off the pace.

"He's amazing," Gutierrez said.

"You get this two-year-old baby with thoughts of getting into the Kentucky Derby.

"Everything has translated into reality. There are no words for it."

Nyquist jumped cleanly from gate 13 and Gutierrez eased him back to allow speed runner Danzing Candy, to clear him from the outside.

After Danzing Candy dropped back in the later stages, Gun Runner took over the lead but at the top of the stretch, Nyquist blew past the colt and opened up a wide lead heading for the finish.

Exaggerator, who ran along the rail in the middle of the pack through the first half of the 1-1/4 mile (2000m) race, made a gallant charge down the stretch and closed within a length but could not overhaul the favourite.

It was a second Derby win for Gutierrez who teamed with Nyquist's trainer Doug O'Neill to win four years ago with I'll Have Another.

"He's such a special horse, you can see it in his eye on a daily basis," O'Neill said.

"He's such a professional. At any human sport he'd be the top notch athlete.

"He's just first class. Just the way he carries himself, he's the type of horse would be in the gym all day, go to bed early, he knows when to rest, he knows when to bring his A game.

"There is no way you could be nervous. You just knew he was going to figure out a way to pull it out at the end and he did."

The next leg of the Triple Crown, won for the first time in 37 years last season by American Pharoah, is the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico in Baltimore on May 21.

Max Dynamite Third On Return

{SCPinterestShare href=https://form.virtualformguide.com/racing-news/international/67396-max-dynamite-third-on-return.html layout=standard image= desc=Melbourne Cup runner-up Max Dynamite has been beaten into third place as odds-on favourite in his return at Sandown.Pallasator, ridden... size=small}

Melbourne Cup runner-up Max Dynamite has been beaten into third place as odds-on favourite in his return at Sandown.

Pallasator, ridden by Oisin Murphy for Sir Mark Prescott, emerged a worthy winner of a tactical battle in the Group Three Henry II Stakes (3200m).

Max Dynamite, trained by Willie Mullins, was sent off at 4-7 for his first run since his Melbourne Cup second in November and was sharply away under Ryan Moore.

Despite shouldering a 4lb (2kg) penalty for his Doncaster Cup win last season, Pallasator found plenty in the closing stages and passed Max Dynamite to run out a comfortable winner with Suegioo snatching second.

"I'm disappointed," Mullins said.

Max Dynamite has eased from 7-1 to 14-1 for the Ascot Gold Cup at next month's Royal meeting while some price assessors have Pallasator as short as 8-1.

Nyquist Draws Barrier 13 In Kentucky Derby

{SCPinterestShare href=https://form.virtualformguide.com/racing-news/international/67222-nyquist-draws-barrier-13-in-kentucky-derby.html layout=standard image= desc=Unbeaten colt Nyquist has been made the early 3-1 favourite for the 142nd Kentucky Derby after drawing barrier 13 of... size=small}

Unbeaten colt Nyquist has been made the early 3-1 favourite for the 142nd Kentucky Derby after drawing barrier 13 of 20.

Trainer Doug O'Neill said he was happy to be drawn wide rather than inside for Saturday's famous race.

"The post draw didn't matter to us a ton but we're happy being more toward the outside for sure," O'Neill said.

"The whole team is pumped up. We're just very optimistic for a big day."

Exaggerator drew gate 11 and is the second favourite at 8-1.

He is trained by Keith Desormeaux, whose Hall of Fame brother, Kent, will be aboard.

Creator, Gun Runner and Mohaymen are the co-third choices at 10-1.

Mor Spirit, trained by four-time Derby winner Bob Baffert, will start from 17.

Last year, Baffert won with American Pharoah, who swept the Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes to win the sport's first Triple Crown in 37 years.

"The last time I had the 17 post was Point Given with Gary Stevens (fifth in 2001), and here we are again," Baffert said.

"I wanted the 16. All the speed is on the outside, so there will probably be two different races going on."

The dreaded No. 1 spot that pins a horse to the inside rail coming out of the gate went to Trojan Nation, who has yet to win a race and is a 50-1 chance.

Japan's entry, Lani, is listed at 30-1. The horse is known to be unpredictable in starting gate and will come out of barrier eight.

Nyquist To Miss Belmont Stakes

{SCPinterestShare href=https://form.virtualformguide.com/racing-news/international/67380-nyquist-to-miss-belmont-stakes.html layout=standard image= desc=Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist will miss the Belmont Stakes because of a high white blood cell count.The colt's bid for... size=small}

Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist will miss the Belmont Stakes because of a high white blood cell count.

The colt's bid for the Triple Crown ended when he finished third in the second leg, the Preakness States on Saturday, as the odds-on favourite.

He succumbed to a fever on Monday and has since been recovering at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.

"He's out because of sickness," trainer Doug O'Neill said.

Although Nyquist appeared to be improving on Tuesday morning, the decision was made to withdraw the colt from the Belmont Stakes in New York on June 11 following the results of his latest blood work.

"There was a slightly elevated white count and we took his temperature again and that was slightly elevated," O'Neill's assistant Jack Sisterson said.

"So I spoke to Doug and Doug wants to do what's best for Nyquist and get him back 100 per cent health-wise here at Pimlico and then fly him back to California.

"We're not sure exactly the day we will do that but Nyquist will tell us when he's ready."

Exaggerator won the the Preakness Stakes with Nyquist suffering his first defeat at his ninth start.

Rule The World Dominates Grand National

{SCPinterestShare href=https://form.virtualformguide.com/racing-news/international/67021-rule-the-world-dominates-grand-national.html layout=standard image= desc=Rule The World has ploughed through the rain-softened Aintree ground to land an emotional Grand National win for trainer Mouse... size=small}

Rule The World has ploughed through the rain-softened Aintree ground to land an emotional Grand National win for trainer Mouse Morris and apprentice David Mullens.

In what has been a testing 12 months for the popular Irish trainer Morris following the sudden death of his son Christopher last year, Rule The World delivered him a win that had eluded him since he sent out his first runner in the race more than 30 years ago.

Prominently positioned throughout the extended four-and-a-quarter-mile (6800m) contest by 19-year-old Mullins on his first National ride, the Grade Two-winning hurdler seemed to take a distinct liking to the unique fences.

"He's a class horse on his day, even though he was a maiden over fences coming into this," Morris said.

"With half a mile to go I was going to be happy with third, but somebody was obviously looking down on us again.

"I didn't want to ask (Christopher) twice, having already won an Irish National. I thought we'd used up all our luck.

"But he must be an iron horse to win a Grand National after his injuries.

"He's fractured his pelvis twice. Before that I always thought he was the best horse I ever had, how good would he be with a proper rear end on him?"

Mullins, who later completed a double aboard Ivan Grozny for his uncle, trainer Willie Mullins, was understandably thrilled.

"There was one little mishap at the fourth-last, but thank god I came out (the other side). Everything went to plan really," Mullins said.

"Credit to Mouse, he's produced this horse without having won over fences. Then there's me, who's never even walked around the Grand National track.

"That's the best ride I've ever got off a horse and it's the best feeling to come back into a place like this.

"It was just brilliant."

Exaggerator Wins The Preakness Stakes

{SCPinterestShare href=https://form.virtualformguide.com/racing-news/international/67354-exaggerator-wins-the-preakness-stakes.html layout=standard image= desc=Exaggerator has beaten Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist in the Preakness Stakes to end any chance of back-to-back Triple Crowns.Seizing the... size=small}

Exaggerator has beaten Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist in the Preakness Stakes to end any chance of back-to-back Triple Crowns.

Seizing the lead at the top of the stretch, Exaggerator splashed past a tiring Nyquist and went on for a 3-1/2-length victory over Cherry Wine on a rain-drenched Pimlico track on Saturday (Sunday AEST).

The previously unbeaten Nyquist tried to rally after sharing the lead to the home turn but finished third in the second leg of the Triple Crown won last year by American Pharoah.

Exaggerator's elusive victory over his nemesis came after four tough losses, including his runner-up finish to Nyquist in the Kentucky Derby.

Nyquist was sent off the 3-5 favourite in the 11-horse field, and duelled with Uncle Lino for the lead through the first mile of the 1-3/16th mile (1900) second leg of the Triple Crown.

But it was all Exaggerator.

The three-year-old colt kept gaining ground along the rail. Jockey Kent Desormeaux saw an opening around the final turn, angled outside and Exaggerator took over.

Trained by Kent's younger brother, Keith, Exaggerator showed his talent in the sloppy conditions once again having won the Santa Anita Derby on a wet track.

It was the first Preakness winner for the trainer who began his career in Maryland, and the third for the Hall of Fame rider.

The crowd was estimated at a record 134,000.

Ex-jockeys Part Of Concussion Study

{SCPinterestShare href=https://form.virtualformguide.com/racing-news/international/66391-ex-jockeys-part-of-concussion-study.html layout=standard image= desc=Five former champion jumps jockeys, including Sir Anthony McCoy and Richard Dunwoody, have enrolled in a ground-breaking research project examining... size=small}

Five former champion jumps jockeys, including Sir Anthony McCoy and Richard Dunwoody, have enrolled in a ground-breaking research project examining the long-term impact of concussion in sport.

The study will investigate the correlation between those in sport susceptible to receiving blows to the head and long-term damage to the brain.

Concussion in Sport's screening process will initially focus on more than 200 retired jockeys from Europe, including McCoy, Dunwoody and fellow former National Hunt champions Peter Scudamore, John Francome and Stan Mellor.

The study will then extend to sports such as boxing, rugby and football in which concussion is recognised as a significant risk.

Dunwoody, who retired in 1999 with a neck injury, said it was important research.

"As professional jockeys, with on average a fall every 14 rides, it was accepted that we would suffer concussion," Dunwoody said.

"But we gave little thought as to what the long-term effects of repetitive head injuries would be, so this is an important research project, not only for racing, but for all sports.

"It will be of great benefit to establish the facts regarding the effects of concussion and to be able to minimise risks for athletes in the future."

Concussion in Sport is the trading name of the International Concussion and Head Injury Research Foundation (ICHIRF), a non-profit organisation that works collaboratively with research projects in Australia, Switzerland and the USA.

The ICHIRF receives support and funding from various global sources, including the NFL, the Injured Jockeys Association and Godolphin, the powerful racing operation owned by Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed.

Dr Michael Turner, the former chief medical adviser to the British Horseracing Authority who is now in the same position with the Lawn Tennis Association, founded the ICHIRF in 2014 and will lead the study.

"For the first time, a state-of-the-art, controlled, multi-sport research study will look exclusively at concussion in European sportsmen and women, starting with a detailed study of over 200 former jockeys," he said.

"Through impartial, objective analysis of a significant pool of data, we will seek to establish whether there is any correlation between repeated concussion and long-term damage to the brain.

"What we are looking at here is to give people a decent risk analysis."

Vancouver Set For Irish Debut

{SCPinterestShare href=https://form.virtualformguide.com/racing-news/international/67259-vancouver-set-for-irish-debut.html layout=standard image=http://www.virtualformguide.com/aapnews/20150321001113961326-original_400x300.jpg desc=Australian colt Vancouver could make his northern hemisphere debut in a Group Two race at the Curragh ahead of a... size=small}

Australian colt Vancouver could make his northern hemisphere debut in a Group Two race at the Curragh ahead of a tilt at the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien said the Greenlands Stakes (1200m) on Saturday week was among the options for last year's Golden Slipper winner before next month's Group One sprint at Royal Ascot.

"We are very excited about him, but we've not got a lot of time as we know he is going back to Australia after the July Cup," O'Brien said.

Jockey Tommy Barry riding VancouverJockey Tommy Barry riding Vancouver

"What we have pencilled in with him is the Greenlands. We are probably going to go there on a fact-finding mission, but he is very exciting at home.

"He is only going to be ready for a racecourse gallop, but he has got to have a race if he is going to be ready for Royal Ascot, where he will probably go for the Golden (Diamond) Jubilee."

Formerly trained by Gai Waterhouse, Vancouver was sent to Ireland for a northern hemisphere campaign before he begins stud duties at Coolmore Australia in the spring.

O'Brien also said Bondi Beach could miss Friday's Yorkshire Cup and instead run at Navan on Sunday with his long-term target the Melbourne Cup.

Part-owned by Australian businessman Lloyd Williams, Bondi Beach made a winning return in a Listed race at Limerick on April 23 at his first start since he was unplaced in last year's Melbourne Cup.

American Pharoah Sweeps Horse Of The Year

{SCPinterestShare href=https://form.virtualformguide.com/racing-news/international/66346-american-pharoah-sweeps-horse-of-the-year.html layout=standard image=http://www.virtualformguide.com/aapnews/20160116001218757809-original_400x300.jpg desc=American Pharoah has been named the United States Horse of the Year by a knockout, claiming all 261 votes. The... size=small}

American Pharoah has been named the United States Horse of the Year by a knockout, claiming all 261 votes.

The Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup Classic winner was also named the top three-year-old in another unanimous decision.

American Pharoah and his connections picked up five Eclipse trophies on US racing's biggest award night, with Zayat Stables prevailing in the owner and breeder divisions and Bob Baffert taking the award as top trainer.

American Pharoah, with Victor Espinoza upAmerican Pharoah, with Victor Espinoza up

The colt was the first to sweep the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes since 1978, earning nearly $US8.3 million ($A12.12 million) last year alone.

"We had a phenomenal year," Baffert said.

American Pharoah's year wasn't flawless. He was beaten in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga in August by Keen Ice, one of only two losses he would endure from his 11-race career before being retired to Coolmore's Ashford Stud in Kentucky.

Votes were taken from the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers And Broadcasters.

"I keep saying it," Baffert said. "There was something special about American Pharoah."

The only division where Pharoah's team was beaten on Saturday (Sunday AEDT) was in the jockey race, where Victor Espinoza finished second behind Javier Castellano.

Baffert's Eclipse Award was his fourth and he became the fourth trainer to win at least four times, joining joining seven-time winner Todd Pletcher, five-time recipient Bobby Frankel and four-timers Laz Barrera and D Wayne Lukas.

Baffert said he didn't think he would ever win another Eclipse, and actually dropped the trophy before congratulating the other finalists, Pletcher and Chad Brown.

"You guys were looking really strong, had a great year," Baffert said. "Until June 6."

That was the day American Pharoah won the Belmont, and punched his ticket to racing immortality.

And to think there was some concern when 2015 started as to whether American Pharoah could run at all, a deep bruise that kept him from the 2014 Breeders' Cup threatening his potential availability for the Triple Crown.

Last year's juvenile Eclipse winner dodged another bullet in a lead-up to the Derby, racing with a bent shoe and somehow not only winning but escaping without injury.

"Everything about his story, and about his year, was fantastic," Baffert said.