No Charges In Sungate Inquiry

Wednesday, 07 August 2013 23:45

No charges will be brought against trainers interviewed during a British Horseracing Authority investigation into the use of the veterinary product Sungate.

Sungate contains stanozolol, an anabolic steroid and therefore a prohibited substance under the Rules of Racing.

The BHA spoke to a number of trainers as the treatment was advised by a veterinary practice which all had in common.

The investigation identified that 43 horses from nine trainers had been treated with Sungate since early 2010.

However, all had been correctly entered into the relevant medical records and had been administered by veterinary surgeons and on veterinary advice, and with none of the horses producing positive samples, the BHA concluded there were no grounds for charges to be brought.

Newmarket-based trainer Gerard Butler went public over the issue of Sungate in the wake of the Mahmood Al Zarooni inquiry in April at which the trainer was disqualified for eight years after being found guilty of administering anabolic steroids to 15 horses in his care.

The BHA has been keen to point out that although Sungate contains stanozolol, it is in fact used to treat joints which makes it different from an intramuscular anabolic steroid product which would have a much higher concentration of anabolic agent.

The BHA said it became aware of the situation following a visit to Butler's yard in February as part of its testing in training programme, from which nine tested positive for stanozolol.

On investigation it became apparent that a veterinary practice, which had imported the drug legally from Italy, was prescribing Sungate and recommended it for horses in training, the BHA said.

After meeting with the vets the BHA said it was clear Butler was not the only trainer to have used the treatment and the authority met with 38 trainers who used the same vets.

Butler does face charges as he admitted to administering the drug himself in some cases and is not a qualified vet. The date of the hearing has still to be announced.

Arc-winning Jockey Pasquier To Appeal Ban

Friday, 02 August 2013 01:30

French jockey Stephane Pasquier plans to appeal a three-month suspension for testing positive for a banned substance.

The stewards of racing authority France Galop issued the ban on Thursday morning after Pasquier was tested at Longchamp on April 11.

A statement issued to Press Association Sport by Pasquier's agent, Herve Naggar, read: "Stephane Pasquier was this morning sentenced to a three-month suspension by the stewards of France Galop following a positive sample for a prohibited substance on April 11, 2013 at Longchamp.

"The France Galop medical commission, which met on July 9, concluded there was a possibility of contamination or that the incriminating substance was not consumed deliberately.

"As a result, Stephane Pasquier has decided to submit an appeal against the decision of the France Galop stewards and will make no comment on the subject while the process is ongoing."

Pasquier, 35, won the 2006 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe aboard Rail Link and was successful in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket three years ago when Special Duty was awarded the race in the stewards' room.

His most recent Group One triumph came when Maxios prevailed in the Prix d'Ispahan at Longchamp in May.

Dettori Secures French Listed Win

Wednesday, 07 August 2013 04:30

Mshawish has provided Frankie Dettori with his first stakes winner since his return to the saddle from a drug ban, claiming the Listed Prix de Tourgeville at Deauville.

The victory was also significant as it was Dettori's first notable success in his new job as retained jockey to Sheikh Joaan Al Thani.

Last seen finishing fourth in the St James's Palace Stakes behind Dawn Approach and Toronado, the Mikel Delzangles-trained colt looked to have plenty to do entering the final furlong (200m) but eventually quickened up smartly to win going away by a neck from Market Share.

Delzangles said Mshawish would bypass the Celebration Mile at Goodwood later this month and have his next race at home in France.

"He did it well in the end," Delzangles said.

"He had a little break after the St James's Palace and it's nice to see him win again.

"Obviously Frankie rode him at Ascot but I don't think it was a case of knowing him any better.

"He did nothing wrong on him at Ascot he was just beaten by some very good horses and did everything right there also.

"He could go to Longchamp - there's a Group Three at Deauville - or we may even wait until Arc day, we'll just wait and see.

"It's nice to win a decent race for Sheikh Joaan. The competition is very hard with him also having horses with the Hannons!"

Hannon Happy To Wait For Toronado Target

Friday, 02 August 2013 01:15

Richard Hannon feels the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville may come too soon for his crack miler Toronado after his thrilling victory in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

The son of High Chaparral pulled one back in his head-to-head battle with Jim Bolger's Dawn Approach after being beaten in both the 2000 Guineas and the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Hannon and jockey Richard Hughes had not lost faith, however, and the three-year-old confirmed he was no morning glory by swooping late to win his first Group One.

In the immediate aftermath connections mentioned Deauville as his likely next port of call, but that may now be unlikely as Hannon thinks it may be too big an ask to turn out again on Sunday week.

"We will stick to a mile this year, and we will talk to the owner (Sheikh Joaan Al Thani) and make a plan as to where to go next," said Hannon on www.richardhannonracing.co.uk.

"Deauville (Prix Jacques le Marois) will probably come a bit quick, but we will leave it a week before making a decision, and the QEII at Ascot in September would be the obvious race. Who knows, Dawn Approach might turn up there too."

Nechita Entered For Irish Stakes Race

Wednesday, 07 August 2013 00:45

Australian Group One winner Nechita is set to have her first northern hemisphere start for Coolmore in Ireland in Friday.

Formerly owned by Nathan Tinkler, Nechita won the Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington last spring.

Coolmore paid $1.55 million for Nechita at Tinkler's dispersal sale earlier this year and she was sent to Aidan O'Brien.

Nechita has been entered in the Abergwaun Stakes at Tipperary and has a host of entries in coming weeks including the Nunthorpe at York and the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown.

Eddie Lynam's Slade Power is likely to be her chief rival at Tipperary if both run after his fine effort to finish third in the July Cup. Lynam could also run Boston Rocker.

Russian Soul, trained by Mick Halford, and Tommy Stack's Cape Of Approval and Scream Blue Murder are in the mix.

Brown Panther Bound For Melbourne Cup

Thursday, 01 August 2013 23:45

Brown Panther has emerged as a genuine Melbourne Cup contender with victory in the Goodwood Cup for retired football superstar Michael Owen.

The former England international bred Brown Panther from his cherished mare Treble Heights and his five-year-old has already provided a Royal Ascot victory as well as a placing in the St Leger.

Owen and trainer Tom Dascombe flagged the Melbourne Cup as the aim after Brown Panther beat a large field of stayers by 3-1/2 lengths.

"As long as he didn't bomb out today we were thinking Irish St Leger and then Melbourne Cup. I haven't talked to Tom or Bert (Black, joint owner) but I don't see why we should change our mind," Owen said.

Starting over the Melbourne Cup distance - two miles (3200m) - for just the second time, Brown Panther (13-2) was not ridden cautiously by Richard Kingscote and secured a healthy advantage a furlong (200m) from home, while several of his colleagues were rather too restrained.

Jamie Spencer was a long way behind aboard last year's Melbourne Cup fifth placegetter Mount Athos turning for home and could not trigger much response from the 3-1 favourite who finished eights.

"It's fabulous, especially as you look at the heritage of this race going back 200 years," Owen said.

"He hasn't been over-raced and I suppose there were headlines about him after his win at Ascot, I suppose because of him being associated with me.

"It's a totally different experience to football, where you feel you're in some sort of control, it's in your hands, but this racing game is so tough on the nerves - you're powerless.

"You send your jockey out to ride and you hope your trainer has got him spot-on. Tom and Richard have done a brilliant job, as well as Andrew Jackson who rides him out every day."

Telescope In Lancaster Entries

Tuesday, 06 August 2013 02:59

One-time Derby favourite Telescope is the star name among 18 entries for the Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock on Saturday.

Sir Michael Stoute's colt was forced to miss the Dante Stakes at York in May and subsequently the Derby after an interrupted first half of the season.

However, he oozed class when he returned, striking by 24 lengths in a restricted race at Leicester on his belated three-year-old debut.

As well as being entered for this weekend's Group Two event, Telescope is also engaged in both the Juddmonte International and the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York later this month.

If the son of Galileo does make the trip to Liverpool this weekend, he could face some interesting opposition, not least Godolphin's City Style.

The seven-year-old has been placed at Group One level on three occasions in Dubai and could make his first appearance since finishing a fair sixth in the Dubai Duty Free at Meydan in late March.

Luca Cumani's Danadana, the Lady Cecil-trained Noble Mission and Sri Putra from Roger Varian's stable all have wins to their credit at this level.

Another interesting contender is Mark Johnston's Maputo, who claimed his fifth win from six starts this season in last month's Glasgow Stakes at Hamilton.

Mount Athos In Goodwood Lead-up To Aust

Thursday, 01 August 2013 01:30

Trainer Luca Cumani has indicated Mount Athos could have just one more run before he returns to Australia for another shot at the Melbourne Cup.

Cumani has made no secret of the fact Mount Athos' whole season is being built around the Melbourne Cup again, in which he finished fifth last year.

He will start one of the favoured runners in the Goodwood Cup early Thursday morning (AEST) but Cumani says it will be a bonus if they can pick up another nice prize along the way having won the Ormonde at Chester.

"We think the Goodwood Cup places less emphasis on stamina than the other Cup races which is why he is running in this," Cumani said.

"Whether he'd run again before Melbourne after this I don't know, we'll have to see how he comes out of this and decide whether we think he needs another run."

Saeed bin Suroor runs three with last year's Gold Cup winner Colour Vision joined by Ahzeemah and Cavalryman.

John Oxx feels Saddler's Rock is heading into the defence of his Goodwood Cup crown in better form than he was before he disappointed in the Ascot Gold Cup.

However, the handler believes this year's renewal is a much stronger race, with horses like Mount Athos and Brown Panther stepping up in trip and unexposed in staying terms.

St Nicholas Abbey Making Progress: O'Brien

Friday, 02 August 2013 01:45

St Nicholas Abbey is continuing to progress along the right lines after having undergone two major operations.

The six-times Group One winner fractured a pastern on Aidan O'Brien's Ballydoyle gallops which ended his racing career and developed colic soon after.

"Everybody is very happy. It's a day-to-day thing with him," O'Brien told At The Races.

"He's had two massive surgeries and it's a credit to everybody he's doing as well as he is.

"It's so far, so good. Every week that goes by he's getting a shorter price to make it.

"Hopefully everything keeps going well. He's a magic horse."

Kingsbarns Remains In Juddmonte Entries

Thursday, 01 August 2013 01:30

One-time Epsom Derby favourite Kingsbarns is one of 19 remaining entries for the Juddmonte International at York on August 21.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained colt has not been seen since winning last year's Racing Post Trophy, the nature of which saw him head into winter quarters as a strong fancy for Classic honours only to suffer a setback revealed in late March.

Exciting stablemate Darwin is another possible for Ballydoyle, together with Camelot, Magician and Declaration Of War.

Al Kazeem is the headline act, as Roger Charlton looks to land a fourth Group One success in a row on the way to a crack at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Telescope also stands his ground for Sir Michael Stoute, having run just once this year, while the William Haggas-trained Mukhadram remains in the STG750,000 ($A1.28 million) event following his course and distance win at the weekend in the York Stakes.

Irish Derby hero Trading Leather could clash with his Epsom counterpart Ruler Of The World, and the 10-furlong showpiece, won last year by the great Frankel, is still under consideration for Cirrus Des Aigles.

Quick ground at Ascot last weekend was put forward as one of the reasons for the seven-year-old gelding's reverse in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

But Cirrus Des Aigles has taken his Ascot trip well, according to trainer Corine Barande-Barbe, and could come to York for the richest ever race staged on the Knavesmire should conditions be in his favour.

"The horse is really well - better than before the race. There are no problems with him after Saturday," Barande-Barbe said.