Britain’s champion trainer Richard Hannon is to hand over his licence to his son Richard junior in the new year. Roles will be reversed with the 68-year-old, who has been at the helm for 43 years, to assist his son from January 1. “We thought long and hard as to… Read More »
Moonlight Cloud heads a stellar list of overseas possibles for the Hong Kong international races after the publication of selected horses for the four flagship races at Sha Tin on December 8. Moonlight Cloud seeks a seventh top-level victory of her career in the Hong Kong Mile. Australia’s only representative… Read More »
Top Hong Kong galloper California Memory is out of next month’s International meeting and his racing career is in jeopardy. Scans have shown California Memory, a two-time winner of the Hong Kong Cup as well as two other Group One races, has injured his right foreleg. A popular grey galloper,… Read More »
Connections of Simenon believe he has improved for his excellent run in the Melbourne Cup ahead of the Japan Cup this weekend. Runner-up in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and the Lonsdale Cup at York, the Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old made the journey to Australia in September, accompanied every step… Read More »
Officials at the Professional Jockeys Association have stressed they are keen to see all relevant documentation relating to claims made in the Indian media over riders Martin Dwyer and Paul Mulrennan. Reports in the Mumbai Mirror suggest the jockeys will be asked to return to the sub-continent by Royal Western… Read More »
Champion Japanese jockey Yutaka Take has reached a milestone 100th Group One win aboard Tosen Ra in the Mile Championship at Kyoto. Tosen Ra normally races over longer distances but ran in Sunday’s Mile in preference to next week’s Japan Cup in Tokyo because of his liking for the Kyoto… Read More »
Hurricane Fly has jumped to a world record 17 Grade One wins with victory in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown in Ireland. The Willie Mullins-trained champion overtook Paul Nicholls’ outstanding steeplechaser Kauto Star and legendary American Flat performer John Henry as the winning-most horse at the highest level with his… Read More »
Trainer Gerard Butler has celebrated a Listed win ahead of his appearance at an inquiry into the use of a banned steroid on horses in his care. Butler sent Prince Alzain out to win Saturday’s Churchill Stakes at Lingfield under star apprentice Oisin Murphy and the horse’s aim next year… Read More »
Jonjo O’Neill has been helping Tony McCoy hog the headlines over the past couple of weeks but it was time for his backstage man Richie McLernon to take the spotlight on Johns Spirit in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham. Record-breaking McCoy was required for owner JP McManus’ unplaced… Read More »
Flamboyant racing pundit John McCririck was sacked by Channel 4 because his “pantomime persona” was “unpalatable” to a wide audience, an employment tribunal ruled. Dismissing the 73-year-old’s age discrimination claims, a Central London Employment Tribunal panel said that McCririck could be seen by some as “arrogant and confrontational”. McCririck said… Read More »
Treve has been named Cartier Horse of the Year at the 23rd annual Cartier Racing Awards in London. Trained in France by Criquette Head-Maarek, the Sheikh Joaan Al Thani-owned filly is unbeaten in five starts and secured a stunning five length triumph in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at… Read More »
Atlante lived up to the opinion his trainer Murray Baker had of him at the start of the season when he took out the 2000 Guineas at Riccarton. Atlante led most of the way and despite hanging and being headed in the straight by Chambord, he had something in reserve… Read More »
Excitement rather than nervousness is the main emotion for Cambridge trainer Tony Pike as he saddles the 2000 Guineas favourite for the second year in a row. Pike and his co-trainer Mark Donoghue on Saturday has Sacred Park in New Zealand’s first Group One Classic of the season, a $3… Read More »
Tony McCoy produced the kind of swashbuckling ride for which he has become so famed as he secured his 4000th winner over jumps at Towcester. A huge crowd descended on the Northamptonshire circuit – which as always offered free admission – in the hope of seeing history being made and… Read More »
Mucho Macho Man won the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic by a nose to make Kathy Ritvo the first female trainer to win North America’s richest race on a day that began tragically with the death of a horse in the first race. Gary Stevens capped his comeback at the… Read More »
Mucho Macho Man has won a Breeders’ Cup Classic thriller, edging Will Take Charge in a photo finish to give trainer Kathy Ritvo an emotional victory. Ritvo, a heart transplant survivor, became the first woman to train a winner of the North America’s richest race when Mucho Macho Man erased… Read More »
Australian-bound stayer London Bridge has won the Breeders’ Cup Marathon for new owner Paul Fudge. London Bridge was sold by owner and former trainer Mikael Magnusson to the mining entrepreneur with the specific intention of running in the Marathon before continuing his career in Australia. Magnusson now rents his stables… Read More »
New Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby has struck at the Breeders’ Cup meeting with Outstrip, a narrow winner of the Juvenile Turf over Giovanni Boldini. Outstrip continued the success of Mike Smith, the jockey who has won more Breeders’ Cup races than any other. Bobby’s Kitten set a blistering early pace… Read More »
Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien believes Declaration Of War offers something different that might just make a difference in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. O’Brien has tasted plenty of success in the Breeders’ Cup, but victory in the $US5 million ($A5.30 million) marquee race has eluded him – so much so that… Read More »
John Gosden declared The Fugue in “tremendous shape” as his star filly limbered for the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita. The Irish Champion Stakes winner was accompanied on the grass by big-race pilot William Buick, and was watched by Gosden, part-owner Lady Lloyd Webber and racing manager Simon Marsh…. Read More »
