Estimate To Confirm Melbourne Cup Start

{SCPinterestShare href=https://form.virtualformguide.com/racing-news/international/62777-estimate-to-confirm-melbourne-cup-start.html layout=standard image= desc=Estimate can confirm a trip to Australia for the Melbourne Cup with a strong showing in the Doncaster Cup.Raced by... size=small}

Estimate can confirm a trip to Australia for the Melbourne Cup with a strong showing in the Doncaster Cup.

Raced by the Queen, Estimate narrowly failed to defend the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in June before a failure at Goodwood.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained mare bounced back to push fellow Melbourne Cup entrant Pale Mimosa all the way in York's Lonsdale Cup.

The Ed Dunlop-trained Times Up has won the Group Two race for the past two years and lines up again on Friday following his third in the Lonsdale Cup.

"Times Up is in fantastic order. He had his final blow-out on Tuesday morning and we are very pleased with him but we are under no illusions about the size of the task in front of him," Dunlop said.

Richard Fahey runs Northumberland Plate winner, Angel Gabrial who is also a Melbourne Cup nomination, while High Jinx has been declared by James Fanshawe having been off the track since winning a Listed race at Maisons-Laffitte in July.

Other contenders include the Andrew Balding-trained Whiplash Willie, Peter Niven's stable star Clever Cookie and Sabrina Harty's Irish raider Kalann.

Seismos Could Run In Irish St Leger

{SCPinterestShare href=https://form.virtualformguide.com/racing-news/international/62698-seismos-could-run-in-irish-st-leger.html layout=standard image= desc=Seismos could run in the Irish St Leger before he travels to Australia for the Melbourne Cup.The six-year-old, owned by... size=small}

Seismos could run in the Irish St Leger before he travels to Australia for the Melbourne Cup.

The six-year-old, owned by Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock, will either run in St Leger at the Curragh on September 14 or go into quarantine a day earlier and have a race in Melbourne before the Cup.

"He's in good form. We're very happy with him and is probably in the best form he's been in so far. He looks great," trainer Marco Botti said.

"We haven't decided whether he will go into quarantine for the first shipment to Australia or whether we run him in the Irish St Leger.

"I think we will decide next week which way we go, but the plan is for him to take his chance in the Melbourne Cup.

"It's just whether he is going to have one more run over here and then just go for the Melbourne Cup or have two races down there instead.

"The first quarantine starts on September 13.

"The Irish Leger is the day after so if he goes for that race he will have to go on the second flight and go into quarantine two weeks later."

Last year's Mackinnon Stakes winner Side Glance is enjoying a short rest at home before he travels to Melbourne for a possible Cox Plate start.

The globetrotting seven-year-old is back at Andrew Balding's stables after finishing third in the Arlington Million in Chicago earlier this month.

"He's just having a little break then he's due to go into quarantine for Australia," Balding said.

"Targets are possibly the Cox Plate, possibly the Mackinnon Stakes again, and he's also got a Caulfield Cup entry.

Another Trainer Caught Up In Morphine Case

{SCPinterestShare href=https://form.virtualformguide.com/racing-news/international/62482-another-trainer-caught-up-in-morphine-case.html layout=standard image= desc=Eve Johnson Houghton is the latest trainer to come forward and reveal one of her horses has tested positive for... size=small}

Eve Johnson Houghton is the latest trainer to come forward and reveal one of her horses has tested positive for morphine in a case which has involved The Queen.

The Oxfordshire trainer has confirmed three-year-old gelding Charlie Wells failed a drugs test after winning at Chepstow on June 23.

She said she was mystified as to where the contaminated food was contained and has had all of her string tested as a precaution.

"I had all my horses tested, but they haven't come up with the results yet," Johnson Houghton said.

"I don't know which bit of feed it's in, but hopefully we'll get to the bottom of it, and hopefully it's a one-off."

Johnson Houghton admitted to using some products provided by animal feed manufacturer, Dodson & Horrell but not the substance the supplier named as the possible source.

The company has announced a full investigation into how possible component contamination could have occurred after Estimate, owned by The Queen, also tested positive for morphine after her second in the Ascot Gold Cup.

Dodson & Horrell, horse and dog food manufacturer to The Queen since 2006, identified Alfalfa Oil Plus as the possible product which had been contaminated but said it may not have happened on its premises.

The company said it has launched a "thorough investigation" with an unnamed supplier of the product.

Dodson & Horrell believes contamination could have come from poppy seeds that occur naturally in the environment.

Estimate, trained in Newmarket by Sir Michael Stoute, produced one of the headline stories of last season with a nail-biting triumph in the Gold Cup at the Royal meeting.

She then went down narrowly to Leading Light in the defence of her crown last month.

The five-year-old mare is reportedly still in contention for next week's Goodwood Cup.

The British Horseracing Authority announced last week that five horses under the care of various trainers had shown the presence of morphine in their 'A' samples.

Trainers Charlie Hills and Gay Kelleway have also revealed horses in their care have tested positive for morphine.

Ebor Handicap Produces Melbourne Cup Hopes

{SCPinterestShare href=https://form.virtualformguide.com/racing-news/international/62670-ebor-handicap-produces-melbourne-cup-hopes.html layout=standard image= desc=Mutual Regard and Van Percy have run the quinella in England's richest handicap to set up another clash in Melbourne.Jockey... size=small}

Mutual Regard and Van Percy have run the quinella in England's richest handicap to set up another clash in Melbourne.

Jockey turned trainer Johnny Murtagh sent out 20-1 chance Mutual Regard to beat to beat the Andrew Balding-trained Van Percy (14-1) by a length in the STG265,000 ($A483,709) Ebor (2800m).

"I never won this race as a jockey, but I was second a few times," Murtagh said.

"Ascot might be on his agenda now, but we'll see about the Melbourne Cup as he loves fast ground."

Balding said Van Percy was improving with each run.

"I'm delighted, he's run a good honest race and he keeps improving," he said.

"That's it now, he'll be off to Australia. He goes into quarantine on September 11 and we'll look at his options out there.

"We will have to see if he goes up enough to get in the Melbourne Cup."

Another potential Cups horse, Glorious Protector, stepped up to win the Listed August Stakes (2300m) at Windsor.

Glorious Protector is trained by Ed Walker who brought Ruscello to Australia last year.

Ruscello won the Lexus Stakes to qualify for the Melbourne Cup but was outclassed and finished 23rd of the 24 runners.

Glorious Protector has been entered for the Caulfield Cup and the Cox Plate with Melbourne Cup entries taken early next month.

Queen's Gold Cup Winner Fails Drug Test

{SCPinterestShare href=https://form.virtualformguide.com/racing-news/international/62472-queen-s-gold-cup-winner-fails-drug-test.html layout=standard image=http://www.virtualformguide.com/aapnews/WEDJULY23_ESTIMATEROYALHORSEDRUGS_400x300.jpg desc=A horse owned by the Queen which won one of England's most prestigious races has failed a drugs test, Buckingham... size=small}

A horse owned by the Queen which won one of England's most prestigious races has failed a drugs test, Buckingham Palace says.

Estimate, which lifted the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in 2013 and came second in this year's edition, has tested positive for morphine, a banned substance.

A statement issued by the Queen's racing adviser said initial indications were the positive test had resulted from the "consumption of a contaminated feed product".

The Queen's horse EstimateThe Queen's horse Estimate

The Queen, renowned for a love and knowledge of racing which dates to the 88-year-old monarch's childhood, cheered on Estimate when the filly won at Ascot last year.

A statement by John Warren, the Queen's bloodstock and racing adviser, said: "On Thursday July 17 the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) announced that a number of post-race samples, obtained from recent race meetings, had been found to indicate the presence of morphine, which is a prohibited substance on race days.

"Five horses, under the care of various trainers, were affected.

"I can confirm that one of those horses was Estimate, the five-year-old filly trained by Sir Michael Stoute and owned by The Queen.

"Initial indications are that the positive test resulted from the consumption of a contaminated feed product.

"Sir Michael is working closely with the feed company involved to discover how the product may have become contaminated prior to delivery to his stables.

"As the BHA investigates this matter, including potential links between the different cases, Sir Michael continues to offer his full co-operation.

"There will be no further comment until the BHA announces its considered findings.

"Her Majesty has been informed of the situation."

Morphine is banned by the BHA because it can be used to numb pain.

Even though morphine is not deemed to be a performance-enhancing drug, trainer and qualified vet James Given, speaking on Sunday before Estimate was revealed to have failed a test, said it was right it remained banned.

"You are not allowed to use prohibited substances and if you open the door just an inch then it will be kicked open and abused, as we saw last year with anabolic steroids," he told the At The Races television channel.

Estimate made sporting history for the Queen in 2013 when she became the first reigning monarch to own a Gold Cup-winning horse.

Immediately after Estimate's victory, Stoute said: "It's a special thrill to win this race for the Queen and it will have given her enormous pleasure - she really loves this game."

Under the rules, Estimate will not be stripped of her 2013 Gold Cup victory but could be deprived of her second place in this year's edition if officials decide there has been an infringement.

Dandino Primed For St Leger Defence

{SCPinterestShare href=https://form.virtualformguide.com/racing-news/international/62620-dandino-primed-for-st-leger-defence.html layout=standard image=http://www.virtualformguide.com/aapnews/16_AUG_DANDINO_400x300.jpg desc=Dandino will have his final lead-up to the Caulfield Cup when he attempts his defence of the American St Leger... size=small}

Dandino will have his final lead-up to the Caulfield Cup when he attempts his defence of the American St Leger at Arlington on Sunday.

The seven-year-old Marco Botti-trained entire is set to follow the same program as last year when he finished second at Caulfield before his fifth in the Melbourne Cup.

Owned by Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock, Dandino has had just two runs since then, at Royal Ascot and Newmarket, without troubling the judge.

Dandino is worked at Werribee International Horse Centre in MelbourneDandino is worked at Werribee International Horse Centre in Melbourne

"When he ran at Royal Ascot he needed the run and when he ran him back at Newmarket the ground went too soft for him," Botti said.

"Dandino definitely handles the track and we hope he can repeat his form of last year.

"Frankie Dettori rode the horse in the Hardwicke Stakes last year, so he knows the horse well and he's an uncomplicated ride.

"If all goes to plan his next target would be the Caulfield Cup and then Melbourne. That's the plan."

Andrew Balding's Havana Beat, who ended a 22-month losing streak in a Listed race at Sandown at his latest start, and David Simcock's Moment In Time are the other British challengers.

Aidan O'Brien saddles the one-eyed Eye Of the Storm, who will be ridden by Ryan Moore who also teams up with Adelaide for Ballydoyle in the Grade One Secretariat Stakes.

All going well, Adelaide is scheduled to come to Australia for the Cox Plate before possibly joining the Chris Waller stable.

Melbourne Cup Winner Dunaden Retired

{SCPinterestShare href=https://form.virtualformguide.com/racing-news/international/62426-melbourne-cup-winner-dunaden-retired.html layout=standard image=http://www.virtualformguide.com/aapnews/15July_Dunaden_400x300.jpg desc=Dunaden, winner of the 2011 Melbourne Cup, has been retired after suffering an injury in training. The horse, who ran... size=small}

Dunaden, winner of the 2011 Melbourne Cup, has been retired after suffering an injury in training.

The horse, who ran under Sheikh Fahad's Pearl Bloodstock banner, beat Red Cadeaux by a nose to win the Melbourne Cup and returned to Australia the following year to take out the Caulfield Cup.

Trained in France by Mikel Delzangles, the eight-year-old also won the 2011 Hong Kong Vase and earned more STG5 million ($A9.13 million) prize money.

Dunaden during the 2011 Melbourne CupDunaden during the 2011 Melbourne Cup

His last run was when ninth behind Gentildonna in the Dubai Sheema Classic in March.

"In winning the Melbourne Cup, Dunaden gave me the most exciting day's racing I have ever had," Sheikh Fahad said.

"He has been a dream horse to own. He has taken us all over the world from Europe to Dubai, Japan, Hong Kong and Australia and every time he tries his heart out and runs his race. He owes none of us anything.

"I would like thank Richard Gibson who trained the horse when we bought him and in whose care Dunaden would have stayed but for Richard moving to Hong Kong.

"As a result, Mikel Delzangles inherited a horse on the upgrade and he did the most wonderful job training Dunaden to win three Group Ones and to compete at the very top level all over the world for four consecutive seasons.

Delzangles described Dunaden as a life-changer.

"Dunaden will be very missed by all of us in the yard, but we are so proud of what he has achieved and very happy that he will get to stand at stud," he said.

"He always showed us that anything is possible when you have a big heart. I owe him so much, much more than just victories. He is a once-in-a-lifetime horse."

There has been no decision on where Dunaden will go to stud.

Eighth Morphine Positive Revealed

{SCPinterestShare href=https://form.virtualformguide.com/racing-news/international/62597-eighth-morphine-positive-revealed.html layout=standard image= desc=The number of horses from the stables already caught up in the morphine controversy has risen to eight.The initial stage... size=small}

The number of horses from the stables already caught up in the morphine controversy has risen to eight.

The initial stage of a British Horse Racing Authority inquiry has suggested contaminated feed as the source of the positives.

Seven horses had been reported to have tested positive for the banned substance, including Estimate, owned by the Queen.

"Further to the already reported seven samples testing positive for morphine, BHA can confirm an additional finding from within one of the yards that has already produced a positive," a BHA statement said.

"Once the outstanding 'B' sample analysis is complete, BHA will be able to confirm the identities of all the horses whose samples returned positive results."

Sir Michael Stoute confirmed Estimate and stablemate Russian Realm had shown traces of the drug, while Tony Carroll, Eve Johnson Houghton, Gay Kelleway and Charlie Hills have also said they train horses which had returned positives.

The BHA said that, with the exception of one case, the circumstances about which the positive samples were found were very similar and "point to the source of the positive test being contaminated horse feed".

Should the BHA disciplinary panel find that the source of the positives was contaminated feed, sanctions against those trainers involved will not occur - assuming they have "taken all reasonable precautions to safeguard against a positive test".

The horses will, however, be disqualified from the races in which post-race samples were taken.

That could mean that connections of Estimate, owned by the Queen, could have to forfeit STG80,625 ($A147,166) prize money for her second in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot on June 19.

Slade Power Adds July Cup To Resume

{SCPinterestShare href=https://form.virtualformguide.com/racing-news/international/62419-slade-power-adds-july-cup-to-resume.html layout=standard image= desc=Slade Power has set up a tantalising clash with Lankan Rupee by adding the July Cup to his Group One... size=small}

Slade Power has set up a tantalising clash with Lankan Rupee by adding the July Cup to his Group One resume.

The Eddie Lynam-trained horse will take on Lankan Rupee in the VRC Sprint at Flemington in November before he begins stud duties with Darley.

"I've always spoke of him very highly and thought he was very good," Lynam said.

"I'm looking forward to taking him to Melbourne. The last race of his career will be in the VRC Sprint in Melbourne in November.

"I think today he's proved he's the best sprinter in Europe and the obvious step now is to try and make him the best sprinter in the world.

"What better place to go than Australia and try to beat them on their own patch, which won't be easy, but we'll give it a go.

"Ideally, we've about eight weeks between now and Haydock (Sprint Cup) and then eight weeks between Haydock and the VRC Sprint.

"Haydock is a maybe, nothing else."

Slade Power, winner of the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, was the heavily supported 7-4 favourite and the lone runner for the stable following the withdrawal of his Group One winning stablemate Sole Power due to the wet ground.

Both horses are owned by the David and Sabena Power, the parents of bookmaker Paddy Power.

Racing in the far-side group on Saturday and given a nice lead by Spanish challenger Noozhoh Canarias, Slade Power was ridden to the lead by Wayne Lordan entering the final furlong (200m).

He asserted his authority to pass the post 1-1/2 lengths clear of outsider Tropics (66-1).

The Mick Price-trained Lankan Rupee is back in work preparing for his spring campaign and his bid to retain his ranking as the world's highest rated sprinter.

Bittar To Leave Top British Racing Job

{SCPinterestShare href=https://form.virtualformguide.com/racing-news/international/62551-bittar-to-leave-top-british-racing-job.html layout=standard image= desc=Paul Bittar is to leave his role as chief executive of the British Horseracing Authority when his three-year term ends... size=small}

Paul Bittar is to leave his role as chief executive of the British Horseracing Authority when his three-year term ends in the new year.

The Australian was appointed in September 2011, having previously worked for Racing Victoria and New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing.

Bittar will be involved in the appointment of his successor and that process has already begun, with an announcement due in the autumn.

"I am proud of what BHA has achieved in the past few years and it will be with some sadness that I will leave early next year," Bittar said.

"I love the quality and diversity of the racing staged in this country. I'll never tire of it and nowhere else can rival it in that regard."

During Bittar's tenure, the BHA's financial position has progressed to a much firmer footing, highlighted by the five-year STG40 million ($A73 million) funding deal with Betfair and the four-year levy agreement with the big four retail bookmakers.

He has, however, needed a thick skin at times following the introduction of controversial new whip rules, significant changes to the Grand National course and, of course, the Mahmood Al Zarooni drugs scandal.

"There are many areas in which we have made significant progress.

"The opening weeks brought the challenge of resolving the dispute over the whip rules, followed by a difficult Grand National.

"We've consciously sought, and have seen, a fundamental change for the better with regard to our relationship with the betting industry, while our strategy of engagement with Government over the funding of British racing has also started to pay dividends.

"Our primary role is the regulation of the sport, so arguably the greatest challenge the sport faced during this period followed the positive tests for anabolic steroids in horses trained by Mahmood Al Zarooni.

"The gravity of the case warranted swift and decisive action, and in years to come it may well be seen as the catalyst which led to a material change in how racing around the world deals with the threat posed by the use of anabolic steroids.

"The outlook for British racing is significantly more positive now than it was at the close of 2011 and I firmly believe that the reputation of BHA has also improved. We have created a platform from which the sport can really grow and thrive."

Move To Run Epsom Derby At Night

{SCPinterestShare href=https://form.virtualformguide.com/racing-news/international/62385-move-to-run-epsom-derby-at-night.html layout=standard image= desc=Epsom officials are reported to be considering moving the Derby to a Saturday evening slot in a bid to reverse... size=small}

Epsom officials are reported to be considering moving the Derby to a Saturday evening slot in a bid to reverse the declining television audience of the great race.

While bookmakers are keen on any initiative that boosts interest in racing, some believe a head-to-head with another big occasion would cancel out the potential benefits.

And 2015 would be one of those years as football's Champions League Final is being staged in Berlin on the same day as the Derby, Saturday, June 6.

"I would encourage them not to do it next year because it would clash with the Champions League Final. That is very late next year as it's the World Cup this year," David Williams of Ladbrokes said.

"Racing has to understand that when it goes head-to-head with big football events it comes off second-best."

Epsom's managing director Rupert Trevelyan told The Times that moving the start time of the Derby was likely to come under discussion in a move already taken by counterparts in Ireland.

The peak audience for this year's race, won by Australia, was 1.55 million, less than half that achieved the last time the Classic was shown by the BBC.

But any change is likely to need the approval of the Queen as the course is well aware of the influence placed on the attendance of the monarch.

"We may decide to innovate. I've never ruled anything out and staging the race later in the evening could be considered," Trevelyan said.

"The broadcasters tell us that every hour later could be worth an extra million viewers.

"The presence of the Queen is paramount and she will be consulted before we make any such change."