Leading Light Given Arc Go-ahead

Monday, 30 September 2013 22:59

Trainer Aidan O'Brien could have four runners in Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp after deciding to pay a late entry for English St Leger winner Leading Light.

The Montjeu colt has displayed versatility this year, winning twice over a mile and a quarter (2000m) before stepping up to two miles to take the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot.

He came back to a mile and three-quarters to claim Classic glory at Doncaster earlier this month and will now pit his wits against the world's top mile-and-a-half performers in France.

Epsom Derby winner Ruler Of The World, Camelot and Kingsbarns are the other potential Ballydoyle representatives in the Arc.

"The four (Arc) horses are Ruler Of The World, Leading Light, Camelot and Kingsbarns," O'Brien told At The Races.

"I think we're going to supplement the Leger horse and then obviously we'll get closer to the weekend (before knowing) about ground (conditions) because Camelot would only run if it was good or better.

"He (Leading Light) obviously hasn't done a lot (since Doncaster) - it's not that long ago - but everything he's done we've been happy with."

Roger Charlton's Al Kazeem also remains on target for Europe's premier middle-distance prize after pleasing in a workout with Prix de l'Opera-bound stable companion Thistle Bird over the weekend.

"They both worked well on Saturday morning over eight furlongs on our summer gallops, which are in fantastic condition," the trainer said on his website.

"Although Al Kazeem has had some tough races and on ground faster than he would have preferred, from what I can see he still retains his enthusiasm and his speed figures compared well on Saturday morning with his work before both the Prince of Wales's Stakes and the Eclipse.

"There is no disputing that this year's race is going to be contested by the best horses in Europe and two very smart colts from Japan.

"We will need all the assistance we can get in Europe's most exciting race but some ease in the ground and going right handed will help him."

Society Rock Heading To Tally-Ho Stud

Saturday, 28 September 2013 07:59

James Fanshawe's star sprinter Society Rock will be retired to Tally-Ho Stud in Ireland at the end of the season.

The six-year-old claimed his first Group One victory in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot two years ago and struck again at the highest level in the Sprint Cup at Haydock last September.

He made a winning start to the current campaign in the Duke of York Stakes and has since filled the runner-up spot behind the recently retired Lethal Force in the Diamond Jubilee and the July Cup at Newmarket.

Society Rock was due to defend his Sprint Cup crown a Haydock earlier this month, but was forced to miss the race after suffering concussion in a fall.

A statement on www.tallyhostud.com read: "Tally-Ho Stud are delighted to announce that Society Rock will be our new stallion in 2014, we are looking forward to an exciting new season."

Landmark British Agreements Announced

Monday, 30 September 2013 02:45

Ascot, Newmarket and York feature on a list of 27 British tracks to sign up to new agreements committing an agreed proportion of their income to prize money pots.

The Horsemen's Group and the British Horseracing Authority are anticipating an uplift of almost STG5 million ($A8.73 million) in prize money contributions compared to 2013 should all tracks sign up.

The signing of Prize Money Agreements changes a racecourse's contribution from a discretionary payment to a contractual minimum commitment between racecourses and horsemen.

"These are landmark agreements for the sport and we view their introduction as a welcome first step towards delivering improved returns for horsemen," Philip Freedman, chairman of the Horsemen's Group, said.

"Until now a racecourse's contribution to prize money has been totally discretionary and even though racecourse revenues have grown significantly in recent years, it has been left to them to decide how much should be passed on to the participants.

"We hope that they represent the start of a new era of collaboration and trust between the sport's key stakeholders."

"Should all courses sign agreements, this would increase racecourses' contribution to prize money by around STG5 million in 2014.

"While this would obviously be a positive development, nobody should be in any doubt that there is still much to be done before British Racing offers levels of prize money that adequately finances an industry into which owners inject nearly STG500 million ($A873.13 million) every year."

The six large independent courses - Ascot, Ayr, Chester, Goodwood, Newbury and York, - together with Bangor, Ffos Las, Hamilton, Kelso, Musselburgh, Perth and Salisbury have all signed up.

All the courses run by the Jockey Club, which include Cheltenham, Aintree and Newmarket, are also on board with the new agreement.

Paul Bittar, chief executive of the BHA has welcomed the announcement, but admits the deals alone will not end funding issues in the sport.

"Everyone in the sport recognises that the agreements, while being a significant step forward, will not on their own address the financial shortcomings in the funding of British racing.

"We will continue to press Government to address the deficiencies in the sport's funding mechanism and ultimately progress the necessary changes in legislation.

"In addition, we continue to work constructively with the major betting firms to deliver enhanced yet commensurate financial support for the sport."

Star Sprinter Lethal Force Retired

Saturday, 28 September 2013 00:15

Star sprinter Lethal Force, winner of two Group One races this season, has been retired to Cheveley Park Stud.

Cheveley bought a share of the Clive Cox-trained four-year-old earlier this month with the intention that he would retire at the end of the season.

However he has already departed Cox's yard with the trainer paying tribute to a horse that gave him top-level success in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and in the July Cup at Newmarket.

"He's been retired and has joined Cheveley in the last 24 hours," Cox said.

"I think it's a very exciting time to go to stud. We have had such a marvellous time in the time we have trained him.

"He's been absolutely super, right from the beginning of this year especially, and it has been a tremendous journey.

"Winning at Royal Ascot was tremendous and following up in the July Cup in a course-record time was an extremely proud and powerful success.

"We should also remember his second to Moonlight Cloud at Deauville in what was another race run in a course-record time. It was a very commendable run.

"I have been so thrilled to be part of his career. This is a new chapter for him going to stud."

Lethal Force's final start was when ninth in the Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock on unsuitably soft ground.

Illegal Veterinary Drugs On Dubai Plane

Monday, 30 September 2013 01:45

Dubai monarch and leading racehorse owner Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has ordered a probe after an illegal shipment of veterinary goods was found on a government jet, the Guardian has reported.

British authorities seized the unlicensed products, which included steroidal injections, anaesthetics and anti-inflammatories, from a Dubai government private jet at London's Stansted airport earlier this year, according to the report.

Sheikh Mohammed is believed to have asked his wife Princess Haya, the president of the International Equestrian Federation, to conduct an internal investigation into the seizure.

The sheikh is Britain's leading racehorse owner and runs Godolphin Racing, the Maktoum family's private thoroughbred horseracing stable.

The stable was recently hit by the biggest doping scandal in racing history when the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) revealed that 22 horses trained by Mahmood Al Zarooni had tested positive for anabolic steroids.

The BHA said there was no evidence that anyone other than Al Zarooni was involved in the case at the Gulf outfit's stables in Newmarket, eastern England.

Al Zarooni was later banned for eight years.

Head-Maarek Admits To Treve Arc Concerns

Friday, 27 September 2013 01:45

Trainer Criquette Head-Maarek has admitted her brilliant filly Treve would not be running in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Sunday week if she had not changed ownership mid-season.

At the original entry stage, Treve was owned by Head-Maarek's stud Haras Du Quesnay, but she was purchased by Sheikh Joann Al Thani after winning the Prix de Diane (French Oaks).

She won the Prix Vermeille on her first run for new connections to take her perfect track record to four and will be added to the field for Europe's premier middle-distance contest at the supplementary stage.

Head-Maarek revealed she did not consider Treve for this season's Arc at the start of the campaign, but was looking forward to a possible tilt at the Group One prize in 2014.

When asked whether Treve would be running on Sunday week had she remained in her original ownership, Head-Maarek told At The Races: "No, because I didn't put her in and I did it on purpose.

"She was a light-framed filly and my idea was to run her in the Arc next year as a four-year-old and not give her tough things to do as a three-year-old and go through that age easily.

"I wanted to save her. I did it on purpose, not to go to the Arc because it is a tough race. People don't think but it is a killing race for horses.

"When she ran in May we had to enter for the Arc and that was when she ran her first race this year. As she hadn't run I thought she's not built enough to go there, we are going to pass the Arc and go for the Breeders' Cup maybe.

"The Prix Diane and the Vermeille were always my targets.

"Sheikh Joann didn't put pressure on me. He bought that filly because people told him that she was the best three-year-old and that (she) was a filly to win the Arc and I'm sure that the people who said that to him were right."

Vorda Victorious In Cheveley Battle

Sunday, 29 September 2013 02:15

French filly Vorda has run out a convincing winner of the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket to give trainer Philippe Sogorb his first Group One win.

Vorda met with defeat for the first time when downed by American speedster No Nay Never last time out, but back against her own sex, the 11-8 favourite stamped her class on proceedings under Olivier Peslier.

Vorda was a little keen as she was kept towards the back of the field as Princess Noor raced alone and in front with Johnny Murtagh aboard.

However, Peslier found a fine response entering the final of the six furlongs (1200m), quickening past Princess Noor to take top honours by three-quarters of a length.

"I knew straight away she was a good filly as she did everything so easily, from February I knew she was really good," Sogorb said through a translator.

"She stood out from the rest. I knew she was better than average but I didn't think she was a Group One filly.

"I regret not being able to ride her myself, but I take great pleasure standing in the stands and watching her run."

Sogorb was reluctant to look as far as a return to Newmarket for next year's Thousand Guineas.

"We will take her to the Breeders' Cup and see if she stays a mile (1600m) out there," he said. She's bred for speed so that will be the test."

Peslier said a mile should be within Vorda's range.

"I think she'll stay a mile," he said. She's not very big but she's got a big heart.

"It is great for (Sogorb). He did not ride a Group One winner as a jockey, but now he has this filly."

Harley Thrilled To Link With Marco Botti

Friday, 27 September 2013 00:59

Former champion apprentice jockey Martin Harley has spoken of his delight at being appointed stable jockey to Marco Botti in Newmarket for next season.

Harley had been attached to Mick Channon's West Isley yard since arriving from Ireland and has enjoyed plenty of success, most notably when returning to his homeland to win the Irish 1000 Guineas last year with Samitar.

Despite a win at Royal Ascot in June with Elidor, this season has been a bit quieter, and Channon urged Harley to take the job with the Italian, whose string is growing all the time.

"I'm over the moon, to be honest," Harley told At The Races.

"When Marco first spoke to me about it 10 days ago it came as a big shock, it's something you always dream of and it came through quicker than I ever thought it would.

"He's been good to me and he's filled in a lot of gaps where Mr Channon didn't have runners, we had quite a bit of luck together in Listed races and some handicaps. It's been good so far and let's hope it continues.

"I wouldn't have been in the position to get this job if it wasn't for Mr Channon, he's given me a massive leg-up since I came to England, putting me on Group horses. It's not easy for any boss to do that but he put faith in me so I owe him a massive thank you.

"It's a one-year thing but I'm happy to take that, you never know what is around the corner and I'll take each day as it comes."

Sky Lantern Takes Chariot Crown

Sunday, 29 September 2013 00:45

Sky Lantern has returned to her best and settled an old score in the Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket.

The winner of the Thousand Guineas earlier in the season, the Richard Hannon-trained 7-4 favourite was not just taking on Classic runner-up Just The Judge once again but also Elusive Kate, who beat her in controversial circumstances in the Falmouth Stakes.

The rematch with Elusive Kate never materialised, as John Gosden's multiple Group One star folded from her prominent position and could only finish fourth, while it was the lightly-raced Integral who made a break for it as Elusive Kate began to drift off a true line.

Sir Michael Stoute's filly was slightly flattered to finish as close as a length in the end, with Richard Hughes never needing to get too serious on Sky Lantern as she flashed past Integral with 100 yards to run and confined her modest fifth in the Nassau Stakes firmly to the past.

"Fillies like this don't come along very often and when they do you've got to make the most of them," Hannon's son and assistant, Richard jnr said.

"She's a very special filly being Hughesie's first Classic winner and we all love her.

"She is very strong and always held her condition very well. She has been on the go since April and held her form. She has never given us a moment's worry."

Looking further ahead, Hannon jnr will follow the wishes of owner Ben Keswick.

"She and Elusive Kate are two great fillies and let's hope their rivalry continues," he said.

"The owner lives in Hong Kong and that is where he wants to go. Whether we look at something like the QEII at Ascot as well, we'll have to see."

Brown Panther On Track For Melbourne

Wednesday, 25 September 2013 23:45

Brown Panther is on track for the Melbourne Cup after recovering from a high temperature to run fifth in a Listed race at Goodwood won By Grandeur.

With part-owner, former English soccer great Michael Owen present, Brown Panther attempted to burn off his rivals but was conceding weight across the board and was swamped by rivals entering the home straight in the 2000m race.

Brown Panther missed the Irish St Leger due to a temperature spike and Owen said he and trainer Tom Dascombe wanted to give him a race before he entered quarantine.

"We didn't get to go to our intended target but we wanted a tilt before the Melbourne Cup," Owen said.

"As much as you always want to win he's run a good race, giving weight all around over an inadequate trip, so you've got to be pleased.

"He needs a lot further than that to be shown to his best, but he's run a decent race and hopefully will come out sound and we can go to Melbourne. If he runs, I'll be there."

The Jeremy Noseda-trained Grandeur will return to the United States with the Breeders' Cup among his options.

Grandeur won the Twilight Derby at Santa Anita and Hollywood Turf Cup on his last visit.

"He has a few options out there and I will have to speak to the owner about it first," Noseda said.

"He loves Santa Anita, but there are horses like The Fugue going there so we'll have to see. It will depend if we decide to be brave."