Novellist Out Of The Arc

Saturday, 05 October 2013 12:45

Novellist, one of the leading contenders for Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, has been ruled out of the Longchamp showpiece with a temperature.

The news is a huge blow for his German connections as, on the strength of his record-breaking King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes win at Ascot in July, he had a major shot at Europe's most prestigious race on Sunday.

He was aiming to give Germany their second Arc in three years after Danedream's success in 2011.

"Everything was fine until this morning when we took his temperature," trainer Andreas Wohler told The Racing Post.

Wohler had delayed Novellist's trip from Germany to Paris in the hope that his stable star's condition might improve but in the end his fever only got worse.

This is the second successive year that German racing has been robbed of fielding a major fancy for the French feature as Danedream was unable to mount a title defence due to an outbreak of swamp fever in Cologne.

Arc Win Would Have Double Impact For Take

Thursday, 03 October 2013 02:45

Should Kizuna fulfil a 44-year quest by Japan and win Europe's most prestigious race the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Sunday it would have an added emotional significance, says his jockey Yutaka Take.

For Japan Derby winner Kizuna - one of two fancied Japanese Arc runners with last year's runner-up Orfevre - is seen as part of the process of rebuilding the shattered morale of the Japanese people following the 2011 tsunami and earthquake that hit the north east of the country and left over 18,000 people dead.

His name translated into English as 'ties' or 'bond' was a sentiment his owner Shinji Maeda hoped would prevail among the Japanese people in the wake of the disaster.

Take, who will be riding in his sixth Arc, said winning would bring so much joy to the Japanese people just as Tokyo winning the right to host the 2020 Summer Olympics last month had given the country a huge boost.

"Kizuna is a very special name and very important for the Japanese people," the 44-year-old told AFP.

"If we won the Arc it would bring a lot of pleasure to the Japanese people and give them a lot of encouragement.

"I will ride in this Arc with a very special feeling in my heart."

For Take too there is a feeling of unfinished business and a debt he owes the Japanese people after failing to land the 2006 Arc on odds-on favourite Deep Impact.

"The Arc is a huge goal for me," said Take who if he wins will also bury the European critics who have never been convinced of his ability in the big European races,

"I always hoped to win this glorious race. The result on Deep Impact was not good and since he retired I said to myself I would return on a son of his.

"I have achieved that part of the dream with Kizuna and I am delighted about that now I want to fulfil the other part of the dream and win the Arc.

"Kizuna may not realise he is the son of Deep Impact but I do and it would bring me great joy to win it on him."

Dettori Undergoes Ankle Operation

Saturday, 05 October 2013 10:15

Frankie Dettori will be sidelined for around three months after undergoing an operation on the ankle injury he sustained in a fall at Nottingham on Wednesday.

Dettori came off Eland Ally leaving the mounting yard before his race and was stood down for the rest of the day, having been in some distress.

Although an initial on-course prognosis suggested he had suffered only soft-tissue damage, X-rays subsequently revealed a fracture.

In a further development, Dettori's business manager Peter Burrell said the injury was even more serious.

"As well as fracturing his ankle, he has also broken his talus bone and he has had a plate and five screws inserted," Burrell said.

"Originally they were thinking he would be out for a couple of months, but now it is looking more like three months. The doctors think he'll need a month in plaster, a month in a boot and then it will be a month or six weeks for it to fully heal after that.

"Frankie has had masses of phone calls from people wishing him well and he is very grateful for that."

The injury could not have come at a worse time for Dettori as he had been due to ride one of the favourites, Treve, in Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

It caps a miserable year for Dettori, who returned to the saddle on May 31 having served a six-month suspension after testing positive for a banned substance at Longchamp last year.

With the rest of this season out of the equation, Dettori will now have to look forward to 2014, when he has the prospect of riding some top-class horses for retained owner Sheikh Joaan Al Thani.

Burrell confirmed Dettori still hoped to be back to ride at the Dubai Carnival at Meydan, which commences in early January.

Lord Stevens To Head Inquiry

Wednesday, 02 October 2013 22:30

Former Metropolitan police chief Lord Stevens will conduct an internal inquiry into the global racing empire of Sheikh Mohammed.

He has already begun the process of "assembling a team of experts" for an investigation which is likely to continue into the new year.

Sheikh Mohammed's racing organisations were placed under the spotlight after former Godolphin trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni was found to have given banned anabolic steroids to 22 of his horses in April.

A consignment of veterinary products from Moorley Farm, which is owned by Sheikh Mohammed's Darley Stud Management Co Ltd and is used for training endurance horses, was seized in Newmarket in August.

An illegal shipment of unlicensed veterinary products was also taken from a Dubai Royal Air Wing Flight by UK Border Force and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate at Stansted airport in May.

Last month the British Horseracing Authority said it had been assured the seized products were not related to racing, a stance it reiterated on Monday.

Lord Stevens was asked to spearhead the inquiry following a meeting with Princess Haya, Sheikh Mohammed's wife and the president of the International Equestrian Federation.

"I have been asked by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed to oversee an internal inquiry that will examine organisational structures, internal communication and veterinary practices at all of the major components of Sheikh Mohammed's equestrian properties and operations, including Darley, Godolphin, Meydan and Janah, the equine flight company," Lord Stevens said in a statement.

"Sheikh Mohammed is adamant that any evidence of violations of law or regulation in any jurisdiction should be shared with the appropriate authorities.

"Our primary focus is on preventing any future systemic failures.

"Following my meeting with Princess Haya on Tuesday, I have begun assembling a team of experts for this task.

"We have agreed that we will not wait until the inquiry is finished to suggest any improvements that should be implemented more quickly."

Novellist Misses Arc Bid With Temperature

Saturday, 05 October 2013 08:15

King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes hero Novellist has been ruled out of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp after running a temperature.

Andreas Wohler's four-year-old produced a scintillating display to clinch Ascot's mid-summer showpiece in July under Johnny Murtagh and was set to head to France as a major contender for this weekend's Longchamp feature after a satisfactory prep race win at Baden-Baden last month.

However, Wohler discovered all was not well with his stable star when preparing him for his trip to Paris this morning and he has had no option but to pull him out of Europe's premier middle-distance event.

"He had a temperature this morning and it has developed even more, so there is no way we can let him travel to Paris," Wohler said.

"It's unbelievable and very disappointing, but he has given us some great moments this year."

The Gutersloh-based handler is understandably keen to let the dust settle before making future plans, but he did raise the possibility of Novellist running again before the end of the year.

"He will get an entry in the Japan Cup, but it is much to early to think about that now," said the trainer.

Britain To Race On Good Friday

Wednesday, 02 October 2013 22:15

Good Friday racing in Britain has been approved in principle from next year.

The British Horseracing Authority confirmed it had taken applications from racecourses to stage meetings on the day despite some opposition.

The details of which courses will race on Good Friday is still to be confirmed.

"Racecourses were asked to submit applications which covered specific BHA criteria, including prize money commitment on the day, forecast attendances, support for participants and stakeholders, and overall net contribution to the sport," a BHA statement said.

"Extensive consultation also took place with stakeholders and interested parties enabling the Board to assess the proposal with all feedback taken into consideration and to take a view in the best interests of the sport overall."

The final composition of the fixture list for 2014 is to be announced next week and will be influenced by which racecourses or racecourse groups have signed the prize money agreements which were unveiled last weekend.

However, the BHA confirmed that the fixture list would not exceed the 1464 fixtures programmed in 2013.

"The BHA Board agreed to delay signing off on the full fixture list in order to allow further racecourses time to reach prize money agreements with the Horsemen's Group and BHA," Paul Bittar, chief executive of BHA, said.

Japanese Pair Score Positive Arc Barriers

Saturday, 05 October 2013 02:15

Japan's hopes of landing Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe for the first time were boosted on Friday as both their runners received favourable draws for the Longchamp showpiece.

Last year's unlucky runner-up Orfevre was drawn in eight - where 2010 winner Workforce sprang from - and Japanese Derby winner Kizuna 11 of the 18-runner field giving them an excellent chance of fulfilling a dream that began with their first runner 44 years ago.

The highly fancied unbeaten French filly Treve - who was the mount of Frankie Dettori until he fractured an ankle on Wednesday - will have a tough task to extend her unbeaten record as she drew 15.

Treve will also be aiming to improve the dire record of horses that have been supplemented for Europe's most prestigious race.

Only two winners of the Arc since 2001 have been drawn higher than stall six, the latter number being filled this year by Epsom Derby winner Ruler of the World and from where Solemia won last year.

Master French trainer Andre Fabre, who is bidding to win an eighth Arc, has three runners with French Derby winner Intello, who would give jockey Olivier Peslier a record fifth win in the race, drawn in nine from where the filly Urban Sea won in 1993.

Flintshire, Fabre's impressive winner of the Grand Prix de Paris in July, got stall seven which has produced six winners of the Arc since the starting gate was installed for the race in 1964.

German runner Novellist - bidding to give the Germans their second Arc winner in three years after filly Danedream won in 2011 in a record time - got stall 12 but perhaps the most ill-favoured of the favourites was English runner Al Kazeem who is on the wide outside in 18.

The only consolation for his trainer Roger Charlton is that Orfevre finished second from there last year while Irish great Alleged won one of his two Arcs from the 18 barrier.

Kizuna's owner Shinji Maeda was delighted with his draw, he having unscrewed the ball with his barrier draw inside it - France's now retired women's Wimbledon title winner Marion Bartoli drawing the horses' names first.

"I was looking for a draw of either 10, 11 or 12, so this is ideal," he beamed.

Injured Dettori Out For The Season

Wednesday, 02 October 2013 21:59

Frankie Dettori has been ruled out for the season with a broken ankle after a fall at Nottingham.

Although an initial on-course prognosis suggested he had suffered only soft-tissue damage, X-rays subsequently revealed a break.

Dettori was due to partner leading Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe contender Treve at Longchamp on Sunday.

The unbeaten Treve will now be ridden by Thierry Jarnet, who rode the filly to victory in her first three races before she was sold to Dettori's new boss, Sheikh Joaan Al Thani.

Trainer Criquette Head-Maarek said Jarnet would be an able replacement.

"I have just spoken to Frankie and I have just spoken to Sheikh Joaan, who has agreed that Thierry Jarnet will ride Treve on Sunday," Head-Maarek said.

"He knows the filly very well and won the Prix de Diane (French Oaks at Chantilly) on her in June.

"It is bad luck for Frankie, but that is life in racing."

Ikee Seeks To Fulfil Japan's Arc Dream

Friday, 04 October 2013 03:15

Yasutoshi Ikee came agonisingly close last year to achieving Japan's dream of winning Europe's most prestigious race and on Sunday he intends to set that right with the same horse Orfevre.

The 44-year-old trainer, who was born in 1969 the same year that Japan first had a runner in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe when Speed Symboli finished 11th, said he had disappointed the Japanese people last year when Orfevre's contrary temperament cost him the race at Longchamp.

Orfevre, who captured the Japanese Triple Crown (2000 Guineas, Derby and St Leger) in 2011, burst clear in the final two furlongs (400m) only to lose concentration and veer towards the rails, allowing unheralded filly Solemia to steal the honours.

"The Arc counts a lot to me, but it is not just about me because it also counts a lot for the Japanese racing world and the Japanese people," Ikee said.

"It is the big dream of Japan to win this race. It is the best race in the world and I hope to be the person who brings that dream to fruition.

"Last year I disappointed hugely the Japanese people. This year they are counting on me for victory.

"I have all but finished my part, the preparation, then it will be for Orfevre and his jockey Christophe Soumillon to execute the plan to perfection."

Ikee, whose father Yasuo also suffered Arc disappointment as a trainer with his Triple Crown winner Deep Impact in 2006, admitted his greatest challenge has been to try to rectify Orfevre's habit of losing concentration when he hits the front.

"I don't fear any of his rivals on Sunday," said Ikee.

"I fear Orfrevre, for he is his biggest rival."

To that end Ikee along with Soumillon, who rode Orfevre last year and has described him as a "War Machine", galloped him on Wednesday with three other horses with the goal of bringing him through the middle of the front two to see how he reacted once he passed them.

"I was pleased and relieved with what I saw, as was Soumillon," Ikee said.

"He didn't look at either of the two horses as he passed them and he kept to a straight line once he took the lead in the final 300 metres.

"Now we must hope that what he did in practice he will also do in the heat of battle."

Ikee said although last year's race remained etched in his mind, the pressure was not getting to him.

"I have a lot of pressure but it is not at a level where I'm not eating or unable to sleep.

"I am going out every night with the team and eating good food and drinking some alcohol, leading a normal life," he said.

Arc Rain Won't Dampen Novellist Prospects

Wednesday, 02 October 2013 00:45

Connections of Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe runners will need to brace themselves for potential rainfall close to Sunday's race.

The ground at the Paris course was reported as officially good to soft on Tuesday by the International Racing Bureau, and it will be generally warm and dry in the region until Friday night.

A field of 21 horses stood their ground at the first forfeit stage, with the leading ante-post hopes still in the mix, while the likes of Treve and Leading Light are expected to be supplemented on Thursday.

John Lee, a forecaster for MeteoGroup, said: "There is a chance of a shower but it is otherwise generally dry on Wednesday, and Thursday will have sunny periods with the chance of an isolated shower, but most areas are staying dry.

"There does appear to be an area of unsettled weather on Friday afternoon and early into Saturday."

Ground should not be a concern for Novellist, who has won on conditions ranging from good to firm to soft.

Trainer Andreas Wohler is confident his representative will strip much fitter than when winning at Baden Baden last time out.

Novellist is unbeaten this season, including three times at the highest level, but he really sprang to prominence when routing top-class opposition in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

Next time out in Germany he was nowhere near as impressive in seemingly weaker company, despite it being a Group One, but Wohler was using the race purely as a stepping stone.

Man-of-the-moment Johnny Murtagh was on board at Ascot and he will take over in the saddle once more at Longchamp.

"The horse is very well and he did his last piece of work (on Monday),'' Wohler told At The Races.

"Everything has gone smooth and fine since his last race and hopefully it will for the next couple of days so we are looking forward to Sunday.

"He's a different type of horse since Baden Baden. It was a Group One race but we treated it as a prep race."