No less than 33 yearlings from the first crop of the brilliant Sea The Stars are among the 406 entries revealed today for the 2014 English Derby. Sea The Stars won the Derby in 2009 during a fantastic campaign that saw him win six Group One prizes in as many… Read More »
Retired jumps legend Kauto Star has left Paul Nicholls’ stable amid controversy, with owner Clive Smith sending him to be assessed as a dressage competitor. Nicholls was unhappy with the decision having hoped Kauto Star would see out his days with Clifford Baker, the trainer’s head lad and Kauto Star’s… Read More »
Ed Dunlop will see how Red Cadeaux copes with the British winter before deciding whether to prepare his globetrotter for another potentially lucrative trip. The Newmarket trainer is considering the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan for the six-year-old gelding who registered his first Group One success in the Hong Kong… Read More »
Trainer Aidan O’Brien has outlined 2013 plans for champion colt Camelot at the Horse Racing Ireland awards at Leopardstown. The Coolmore-owned three-year-old became the first son of his late sire Montjeu to win a mile (1600m) Classic when he claimed the 2000 Guineas in May. He added the Derby at… Read More »
Among the declarations made by China’s leader Deng Xiaoping when Hong Kong was handed back to his country in 1997 was one small promise that directly affected more residents of the former British territory than almost any other. “The racing will continue, the dancing will stay,” decreed premier Deng. The… Read More »
Nicky Henderson believes Sprinter Sacre is already close to being the best chaser he has ever trained after his effortless victory in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown. The six-year-old is unbeaten over fences and never came off the bridle in adding another Grade One to his haul. Henderson houses… Read More »
Australian jockey Zac Purton has guided Hong Kong’s reigning champion Ambitious Dragon to victory in the International Mile at Sha Tin. The Tony Millard-trained Ambitious Dragon was cleared by vets just hours before Sunday’s race after he was found to be moderately lame in a hind leg a day earlier…. Read More »
Australian mare Sea Siren has finished unplaced in the Hong Kong International Sprint won by Japanese horse Lord Kanaloa. Sea Siren was three-wide most of the way and failed to produce her usual finishing burst while Lord Kanaloa was perfectly poised and raced away to an easy victory over Cerise… Read More »
English stayer Red Cadeaux has claimed an overdue Group One win in the Hong Kong International Vase at Sha Tin. Denied victory by the barest of margins in the 2011 Melbourne Cup won by Dunaden, the Ed Dunlop-trained Red Cadeaux burst through the pack to claim a narrow win over… Read More »
Two new Grand National fence designs have been given a favourable response after they were trialled for the first time at Aintree. Jockeys gave the thumbs up in what appeared to be a seamless change with all the fences on the famous course looking outwardly the same. However, four obstacles… Read More »
Sprinter Sacre is now odds-on to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham on the back of his easy win in the Tingle Creek at Sandown. His win was part of a four-timer for trainer Nicky Henderson and the undoubted star of the show, extending his unbeaten run over… Read More »
Former Grand National winner Ballabriggs kicks off his season with another start over the famous Aintree fences against 15 rivals for Saturday’s Becher Handicap Chase. Donald McCain’s fine stayer ran just twice last term, finishing sixth when attempting to defend his National title, and must concede weight all round over… Read More »
Frankie Dettori fears he may never repair the damage done to his reputation by a failed drugs test which has resulted in a six-month ban for the popular jockey. The 41-year-old will not return to action on the racecourse until a fortnight before next year’s Derby, with his suspension, handed… Read More »
Helen Johnson Houghton, unofficially the first woman to train an English Classic winner, has died at the age of 102. Although not in the record books, Johnson Houghton is now acknowledged as as the trainer of Gilles De Retz who took out the 2000 Guineas in 1956. Due to Jockey… Read More »
Legendary jockey Frankie Dettori was suspended from riding worldwide for six months by French racing’s governing body on Wednesday for failing a doping test. The 41-year-old Italian-born England based rider – probably racing’s most high profile personality – tested positive for a non-performance enhancing banned substance at the September 16… Read More »
Legendary jockey Frankie Dettori will learn the length of his suspension for failing a doping test on Wednesday, his lawyer said on Tuesday. The Italian rider was represented during a 40-minute disciplinary hearing at French racing’s governing body France Galop by his lawyer, Christopher Stewart-Moore. “We had a very sympathetic… Read More »
Renowned jockey Frankie Dettori will learn his fate for failing a drugs test when French racing’s ruling body issues its verdict on Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT). The England-based Italian failed a test after riding in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe trials at Longchamp on September 16. Through his lawyer, Christopher… Read More »
Jockey Barry Geraghty believes Hennessy Gold Cup winner Bobs Worth deserves to be the ante-post favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Last season’s RSA Chase winner, trained by Nicky Henderson, turned in a virtuoso display when defeating Tidal Bay by three and a quarter lengths at Newbury on Saturday. “He… Read More »
Jockey Craig Williams is convinced Dunaden can show his true colours when he bids for back-to-back wins in the Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin on Sunday week. The Mikel Delzangles-trained six-year-old claimed the esteemed Group One in some style last season, but must put behind him a disappointing run… Read More »
Trainer Ed Dunlop’s star mare Snow Fairy has been stripped of her victory in the Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville after failing a test for a banned substance. Dunlop explained it was due to anti-inflammatory treatment the five-year-old had been receiving. Snow Fairy has struggled with injury through her career,… Read More »
