Yasutoshi Ikee brushed aside the disappointment of his Japanese superstar Orfevre finishing second in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe for the second successive year and pledged to return to claim the victory his country craves. The 44-year-old trainer, whose father Yasuo also failed to land the race when his… Read More »
Treve demolished a high class field to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and emulate the great Zarkava in 2008 in landing the French Oaks, Prix Vermeille and Arc in the same season. Jockey Thierry Jarnet, winning Europe’s most prestigious race on Sunday for the first time since 1994,… Read More »
Thousands of Japanese racing fans have turned out at Longchamp racecourse hoping to see one of their two highly-fancied runners finally win Europe’s most prestigious race the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. About 6000 fans – some dressed in traditional kimonos – flew in from Japan bringing with them small… Read More »
Reigning United States horse of the year Wise Dan has been beaten by Silver Max in the Group One Shadwell Mile at Keeneland. Because of heavy rain earlier on Saturday afternoon, the race was taken off the turf course and run at 1-1/16 miles (1700m) on the polytrack. The win… Read More »
Around 5000 Japanese racing fans are expected to descend on Longchamp racecourse as expectation builds they will at last win Europe’s most prestigious race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, 44 years after their first runner. Orfevre, last year’s unlucky runner-up, and this year’s Japanese Derby winner Kizuna, provide Japan’s… Read More »
French star Cirrus des Aigles became the first horse to win the Group Two Prix Dollar at Longchamp three times and set himself up for a return to England for the Champions Stakes. The seven-year-old gelding, who was recording his 18th career win, dispelled any notions of a waning of… Read More »
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… Read More »
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… Read More »
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… Read More »
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… Read More »
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… Read More »
Irish St Leger winner Voleuse De Coeurs will be aimed at the Melbourne Cup after New Zealand bloodstock agent Paul Moroney secured the mare in a surprise deal on Wednesday. Voleuse De Coeurs’ Cup price was slashed to $17 from $34 after the announcement she would leave Dermot Weld to… Read More »
Veterinary surgeons treating St Nicholas Abbey in his recovery from a fractured pastern and a subsequent bout of colic say they are happy with his progress. The Aidan O’Brien-trained six-time Group One winner had to be retired after suffering the leg injury in a training gallop when he was being… Read More »
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… Read More »
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… Read More »
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… Read More »
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,… Read More »
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… Read More »
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… Read More »
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… Read More »
