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| NEWS | ARCHIVE | TIPSTER CHALLENGE | NAG ME | YOUR SAY |
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Sunny prospects for Godolphin
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Darley at the double
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Hey Joe!
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Jumping wins the day for Seebald
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Balakheri's stamina to the fore
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Expectations high for Arctic Owl
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Knight's stars set to shine
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Nureyev dies at Stud
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Cheltenham tops the bill
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O'Brien simply unstoppable
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Stable stars to be kept apart
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Sunny outlook for Cheltenham double fixture
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Mutamam retired
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Nottingham gets the nod for Tuesday
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Celibate in the pink for Cheltenham
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Wetherby ready for Saturday
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Johannesburg tipped for Kentucky Derby
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Windsor heavy, but still on
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Tuesday, October 30, 2001
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Sunny prospects for Godolphin ^top
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Sakhee is set to remain in training for Godolphin, who have increased their string with the purchase of Grandera, both horses head for Dubai.
Sakhee, who was so brave in defeat at Belmont Park on Saturday when beaten a nose by Tiznow in the Breeders Cup Classic, will now head straight to Dubai from America where Godolphin have him in line for the Group one Dubai Gold Cup in March at Nad Al Sheba.
The decision was announced on the official Godolphin website, and he may well go for the Breeders Cup Classic again next year. He is only a four-year-old and to have won the Arc at Longchamp in such devastating style and then run so well at Belmont Park only two weeks later proves what a champion he is.
He joined Godolphin from John Dunlop's stable last year and was sidelined for nearly a year while he recovered from a knee injury. He returned to win a Listed race at Newbury and then went on to win the Group one Juddmonte stakes at York.
Grandera, who finished runner up to Sakhee in the Juddmonte has been purchased by Godolphin; he will leave James Fanshawe's yard to join new stablemate Sakhee in the warmer climate of Dubai. As well as finishing second in the Juddmonte, he has been placed in the Eclipse Stakes and the Prix Du Jockey-Club, both Group One events.
Most recently he won the Listed Dubai Arc Trial at Newbury. As the Godolphin website states, he will continue his career in Dubai. |
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Godolphin send Sakhee (pictured) and Grandera to Dubai |
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Darley at the double ^top
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Last season's champion jockey, Kevin Darley, kept the pressure on Kieren Fallon for this years' crown by riding a short priced double at Redcar.
Darley began the day 12 winners behind Fallon but despite the latter's success on board Sir Michael Stoute's 1/2 favourite Balakheri at Nottingham, the deficit was reduced at the Yorkshire venue courtesy of a 5/1 double with Eastern Image in the 2:55 and Beauchamp Pilot in the finale at 4:05.
The John Dunlop-trained Eastern Image was the subject of strong market confidence (8/11 from evens) to follow up his impressive eight-lengths maiden win at Pontefract and the son of Gone West didn't let his supporters down as the juvenile made most to defeat Sholay by half a length with the pair drawing five lengths clear of the third.
The double was completed by Gerard Butler's Beauchamp Pilot who put up a fine weight carrying performance to shoulder 9-10 to victory in the TRNI Handicap Chase. The three-year-old - backed from 3/1 into 5/2 - came from off the pace to supplement a recent Ascot success. |
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Kevin Darley still hungry for winners |
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Hey Joe! ^top
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The booking of Mick Fitzgerald for a Robert Ogden-owned horse was clue enough to the chances of Brother Joe as he landed Cheltenham's Showcase.
The Irishman has a very impressive record when he takes the reins on one of the champion owner's horses and it was business as usual when he gave Brother Joe a very confident ride to land the cheltenham.co.uk (Showcase Handicap) on Wednesday afternoon. The partnership travelled smoothly throughout and when Fitzgerald asked his mount to go and win his race approaching the second last, the writing was soon on the wall. The seven-year-old responded readily, and pulled clear of the staying on Run For Paddy after safely negotiating the final fence. Eventually crossing the line five lengths to the good.
The gelding had indicated that there was still a big race in him when he finished with a flourish in the Ebor in his previous outing, and the betting public did not take long to take the hint. Sent off the 6/4 favourite, Brother Joe made his short price look to be fully justified in the end. |
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Mick Fitzgerald pushes Brother Joe out to victory at Cheltenham. |
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Jumping wins the day for Seebald ^top
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Arkle prospect St Pirran fell on his second start over fences leaving Martin Pipe's Seebald to continue his unbeaten run at Cheltenham.
The Thwaites Smooth Beer Novices' Chase represented the stiffest test so far for two of this season's most promising novice chasers, with the daunting Cheltenham fences supplying their usual drama.
The field was reduced to just three following the expected withdrawal of Master Tern, after the six-year-old disappointed at Bangor on Tuesday afternoon, leaving only the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Your Punishment to take on St Pirran and Seebald. However the contest still promised to be a fascinating clash
Your Punishment set about making all the running but was soon struggling to come to terms with the course, jumping out to the right at the majority of fences. However, it was the well-regarded St Pirran who was the first to come to grief, blundering and unseating Timmy Murphy at the seventh. The Twiston-Davies runner was then found out when falling two fences out, although Carl Llewellyn was able to remount and finish a distant runner-up.
Seebald was left to record a facile victory under Tony McCoy extending his winning run over fences to four and is proving to be a fine acquisition for footballers Steve McManaman and Robbie Fowler. He is certainly a chaser who is progressing along the right lines, whilst St Pirran will be better given time, providing that this first experience with the Cheltenham fences does not have an adverse effect. |
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Seebald and Tony Mccoy on thier way to another success at Cheltenham. |
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Balakheri's stamina to the fore ^top
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Sir Michael Stoute's Balakheri displayed stamina in abundance to land the odds in the Oath Maiden Stakes at Nottingham on Tuesday.
The Theatrical colt in the Aga Khan's colours was sent off at prohibitive odds of 1/2 to land the 13 runner juvenile contest on the back of a promising second at Yarmouth last time. He had to work hard to break his duck, however, as Kieren Fallon was pushing along at halfway and it was only in the final furlong that his stamina began to show, eventually pulling three lengths clear of Pure Mischief in second place. It seems certain on this evidence that Balakheri will get at least a mile and a half next year, but it remains to be seen whether he can emulate the eponymous Oath, who Fallon partnered to victory in this race back in 1998 before going on to win the Vodafone Derby the following year. |
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Sir Michael Stoute plays it cool under pressure at Nottingham |
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Expectations high for Arctic Owl ^top
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As a Group one winner on the Flat, the hurdling debut of Arctic Owl has been eagerly awaited and connections are pleased with his preparations.
The James Fanshawe-trained gelding's first run over the smaller obstacles may not be too far away. He has made a good impression in his first bout of schooling and connections are more than happy with the way his preparations are going. "He is schooling well and he may well be ready to race by early December", said TEAMtalk's David Nicholson, who is a regular member of Fanshawe's saddling team. "He is being patiently brought along and expectations are high", he added. The eight-year-old has not seen competitive action since returning jarred-up after finishing a very respectable fifth in the Melbourne Cup last year, but will be a very interesting contender when he next appears on the racecourse. He won a total of nine of his 22 races on the Flat, with his Group one success coming in September of last year when he stayed on in fine style to take the Irish St Leger. |
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Arctic Owl (red cap) will be aiming to translate his Flat form to hurdleses |
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Knight's stars set to shine ^top
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Henrietta Knight takes two of her stars to Cheltenham on Wednesday, Southern Star in the Novice Chase, and Stars Out Tonight in the Bumper.
Henrietta Knight has had five winners from 15 runners over the last fortnight, and she must be hopeful that Southern Star will run well in the Ian Williams Owners Novices' Chase. He was such an impressive winner on his Chasing Debut at Bangor when beating Gentle Rivage by seven lengths. He is stepped up to three miles here, and bearing in mind there were noises made about him running in the Royal and SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle last year, he is clearly held in high regard. Ashley Muck, who recorded a fantastic tally of five unbroken wins over the summer, was beaten on his latest appearance by Valley Henry (held in good regard by his trainer Paul Nicholls), and he may struggle now that the better horses are coming out for the season.
Stars out Tonight, who runs in the 'Stars of Tomorrow' National Hunt Flat, made his debut in February on heavy ground, finishing only seventh where it took most of the race to learn what it was all about. He has not been out since but is highly likely to have improved a good deal.
Knight also runs Be My Manager in the Showcase Handicap Chase. His latest win was at the January Meeting when he took the Timeform Novices' Handicap Chase in convincing style. His trainer thinks an awful lot of him, and after this race she said: "He is a gorgeous horse who took lengths off his rivals in the air, and as he's huge and still unfurnished you wouldn't know how much improvement he had in the tank."
He takes on 12 others in this event, and his greatest dangers are likely to be at the other end of the weights. King of Sparta, who looked to be returning to form on his reappearance at Stratford when a close second to Foly Pleasant, has to be respected as does the mare Gulshan, who finished second at Wetherby recently. She had no chance with the winner, Redemption, but finished close enough to be considered worthy of note here.
The Jewson Handicap Hurdle Final has attracted 10 runners, and the one they all have to beat is Westender for Martin Pipe who comes here off two easy wins. |
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Knight has chances at Cheltenham on Wednesday |
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Nureyev dies at Stud ^top
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The prolific sire Nureyev was put down on Monday at the age of 24, following complications resulting from a cancerous foot problem
The son of Northern Dancer will best be remembered by the British racing public for his sensational disqualification after winning the 1980 2,000 Guineas, but it was at stud that he was to make an even bigger impact. Ironically, on the very day that he was put down, yet another of his progeny visited the winners' enclosure.
Bred at the Hancock family's Claiborne Farm, he was acquired at the 1978 Keeneland Sales for Stavros Niarchos by the BBA at a cost of $1.3million that made him the second highest priced yearling ever at the time. In his brief but eventful career on the track he captured the Prix Djebel on his only start as a juvenile and won the Prix Thomas Bryon en route to his controversial demotion in the colts Classic at Newmarket. Retired immediately after, he was moved to Walmac for the 1982 breeding season and went on to sire a veritable who's who of equine stars despite having to overcome a fractured right hind leg.
The list includes Breeders' Cup winners Spinning World, Miesque, and Theatrical. The latter took the 1987 Turf and gained an Eclipse Award as best grass male, was champion in Ireland and has since become a notable stallion himself, siring 56 stakes winners.
Peintre Celebre, Sonic Lady, Soviet Star, Polar Falcon, Wolfhound and Zilzal are other famous names to have been sired by Nureyev who first topped the million mark in 1986, with his progeny amassing $2.4million. This year alone he totted up a total of $3.9million, with Aidan O’Brien's Stonemason, winner of the Group 3 Killavullan Stakes at Leopardstown on Monday adding the final contribution while the great sire was still alive. |
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Influential sire Nureyev |
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Cheltenham tops the bill ^top
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The return of National Hunt racing at Cheltenham tops the bill of fare for Tuesday's horse racing programme in Britain.
The first of two days of competitive action at Prestbury Park sees the swing of the tide finally turn towards the winter game. The first race is due to post at 1.30pm and is sure to be the first of many thrilling heats over the coming months. Continuing through until 4.35pm, the six race card plays host to many familiar names from the training world and messrs Pipe, Nicholls and Hobbs to name but three will be hoping to gain some early pointers for the coming campaign.
The going is currently good, good to firm in place, as the Gloucestershire track must be one of the few places in the country to have been spared a deluge of recent rain. However, the day's two other meetings have not been so lucky and those attending proceedings at Nottingham will be looking for heavy ground form for those taking part in events run on the round course. The five furlong straight course is currently described as soft and a 12.50pm start is scheduled for Colwick Park's activities with the last of six races due to post at 4.15pm. Redcar stages Tuesday's other flat offering, where the ground is described as soft, good to soft in places and the first of seven races will go to post at 12.35pm. Concluding at 4.05pm. |
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Cheltenham returns on Tuesday |
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Monday, October 29, 2001
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O'Brien simply unstoppable ^top
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Aidan O'Brien sent the first two home in the Killavullan Stakes at Leopardstown but once again it was the unfancied runner who prevailed.
It was no surprise to see the Group Three contest dominated by the Master of Ballydoyle but more of a shock was that Mick Kinane was left trailing in second place on the odds-on shot Temple of Artemis.
It was the 12/1 stablemate Stonemason who only had to be pushed out under number two jockey Seamus Heffernan to a five-length success.
This made it a one-two for O'Brien in the race but brought back memories of Saturday's Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster when High Chaparral upset another odds-on stable-mate Castle Gandolfo.
Kinane was returning fresh from his incredible success aboard Johannesburg in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Belmont Park and despite the Group Three disappointment it was another successful day at the office.
He scored either side of the Killavullan Stakes with two-year-old successes aboard Pietra Dura and Sorcerous for O'Brien. However he did miss out on two further wins for his trainer who continued his superb form with a four-timer.
As well as the Group Three disappointment Kinane was later to partner Chamela Bay and had to watch as stablemate Ice Dancer battled out a narrow success under Paul Scallan. |
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O'Brien continued his unstoppable form at Leopardstown |
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Stable stars to be kept apart ^top
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Connections have revealed that Ad Hoc and Marlborough will be kept apart this season until a possible tilt at the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Paul Nicholls certainly has a very strong chasing team at his disposal, which could see the him make a serious challenge at the Trainer's Championship and he is planning separate campaigns for two of his stable stars.
Speaking about Ad Hoc, Nicholls told TEAMtalk: "He is at a cross roads, he could be a horse who ends up running in the Gold Cup, or he could be a high-class handicapper."
The seven-year-old finished off last season in fine style winning the 45th Whitbread Gold Cup Chase by 19 lengths from What's Up Boys, when making a quick reappearance after finishing runner-up in the Scottish Grand National.
Just like his stablemate, Marlborough, he runs in the famous colours of Sir Robert Ogden and similarities in their racing style also naturally spring to mind. Both relish being covered up before making late runs and both look set for profitable campaigns.
Marlborough finished off last season in great form, completing a hat-trick with wins at Cheltenham in the Chubb Chase, Wincanton in the Jim Ford Challenge Cup Chase and finally with the both the bravest and narrowest of victories from Go Ballistic in the Tote Gold Trophy. His early target is likely to be the King George but it is a mouth-watering prospect to think that in the long term both he and Ad Hoc could line up together in Cheltenham's famous race. |
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Paul Nicholls is likely to keep Ad Hoc and Marlborough apart |
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Sunny outlook for Cheltenham double fixture ^top
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Cheltenham holds two top-class meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the cheltenham:co:uk Hurdle highlighting the first day's fixture.
There are 13 races over the two-day event, which will offer good insights into good jumps prospects. Tuesday's six-race card starts at 1:30 with the Cheltenham Business Club Maiden Hurdle. Seebald is among four quality contenders that line up for the Thwaites Smooth Beer Novices' Chase, which is due off at 2:05.
The cheltenham.co.uk Hurdle Showcase Handicap is the pick of the action and leaves post at 2:40. A field of seven will dispute the Scarvagh House Stud PTA Juvenile Novices' Hurdle, which includes the in-form Frederic Forever from Philip Hobbs' yard. The Telectronics System Handicap Chase at 3:50 provides amateur riders with the chance to show their skills around the Gold Cup course. The meeting concludes with the Mazars Neville Russell Novices' Hurdle at 4:25.
This Class B race will see Punchy trying to knockout the challenge from the Ferdy Murphy-trained Wemyss Quest during the gruelling extended 3m1f course.
The advance going at Cheltenham is good, good to firm in places and the forecast is dry and sunny for both days. |
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Cheltenham is back! |
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Mutamam retired ^top
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Mutamam's run in the Breeders' Cup Turf has been confirmed as his last race and he will now be retired to stud.
The American adventure had always been intended to be the six-year-old's last race, but it must have been disappointing to his connections that he could not end such an illustrious career on a high note, as he finished last of 11 behind Godolphin's superstar, Fantastic Light.
This should not detract, however, from what has been a fantastic season for the Alec Stewart-trained horse, who scored three times to complete a career tally of 11 victories.
His last success came in the Canadian International at Woodbine, although his last win on British soil came at Kempton in early September when running out a convincing victor of the Milcars September Stakes, putting behind him a disappointing run in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes.
The son of Darshaan's other win this season came at Newmarket with a Group Two success in the Princess of Wales's Pearl And Coutts Stakes and, with these glories behind him, it would be no surprise to see Mutamam proving to be a very popular choice with breeders in the near future. |
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Mutamam has run his last race |
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Nottingham gets the nod for Tuesday ^top
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Nottingham Racecourse passed its inspection on Monday morning after a weekend of dry weather over the East Midlands.
Course officials had been worried that yet another fixture would be lost due to bad weather when Colwick Park was bombarded with showers last week. However, dry and sunny conditions over the last few days have helped to improve the ground and Tuesday's meeting will go ahead. The going for the round course is officially heavy, while the new five-furlong straight course is soft.
Gates open at 11.30am for the track's seven-race card, which is due to start at 12.50pm. |
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Tuesday's meeting goes ahead |
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Celibate in the pink for Cheltenham ^top
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Charlie Mann's Desert Orchid Chase winner will now go for the Thomas Pink Chase next week before being aimed at Kempton's Racing Post Chase.
The winner of the revived Grade 2 Barbara King Memorial Desert Orchid Chase jumped fluently throughout the two-mile-five-furlong race, but looked tired when running towards the finish line in what was his first victory over this distance. The 10-year-old will now be trained for stamina with the Cheltenham extended two-mile-four-furlong trip in mind.
Charlie Mann, his Lambourn-based trainer, told TEAMtalk: "He did it very well at Wincanton yesterday, but he needed the outing. His next race will be the Thomas Pink, and he'll probably be aimed at most of the two-and-a-half-mile and three-mile handicaps. He'll likely go for the Racing Post at Kempton in January."
The son of Shy Groom owes connections nothing, as, apart from 1998, he has visited the winner's enclosure at least once a year since 1994. His big career wins so far include the Grade 1 BMW Chase at Punchestown and Grade 2 successes at Cheltenham in the Stakis Casinos November Novices' Chase and Newbury's Mitsubishi Shogun Game Spirit Chase, in addition to last weekend's Wincanton victory. |
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Celibate aims to score at Cheltenham |
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Wetherby ready for Saturday ^top
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The Peterhouse Group Charlie Hall Chase, which now has record prize money of £50,000, heads a quality seven-race card at the Yorkshire track.
Acknowledged as one of the most prestigious early-season contests of the British jumping season for leading steeplechasers, The Peterhouse Group Charlie Hall Chase is a Grade 2 race over three miles and one furlong. The winning connections of Saturday's big race will also receive a unique bonus of £50,000, if the winner then goes on to land the 2002 Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup next March.
See More Business, successful in the last two runnings of The Peterhouse Group Charlie Hall Chase, may try to make it a hat-trick of wins in this feature race - a feat which has not been achieved since the first running of The 'Charlie Hall' in 1969. Shotgun Willy, like See More Business, trained in the West Country by Paul Nicholls, could also take part in this feature race, while another possible contender is Lord Noelie, trained by Henrietta Knight.
The action on Saturday begins at 1.10 and the card also features The John Smith's Hurdle (a Grade 2 contest formerly known as The West Yorkshire Hurdle), The Stanley Racing Wensleydale Juvenile Novices' Hurdle, The Tote Scoop6 Handicap Hurdle (the trophy for which will be presented by the chairman of the Tote, Peter Jones) and The Rocom Handicap Chase.
The opening race on Saturday is the ninth running of The Arthur Stephenson Novices' Handicap Chase, while the concluding contest is The Assert Training Novices' Hurdle, a race over two miles supported by regular Wetherby sponsors, The thanx group.
Racing on Friday also begins at 1.10. The Betfair.com Novices' Chase is one of 20 races sponsored primarily in the north by the sports betting exchange company, Betfair.com, while The Polycom Handicap Hurdle is supported by regular Wetherby sponsors, Rocom in conjunction with Polycom, the world leaders in audio and video conferencing. The Tetley's Bitter Novices' Chase and The Wetherby Millennium Stand Conferences & Banqueting Handicap Chase complete Friday's feature races.
On both days, racegoers can experience the thrills and spills of riding in The Grand national, courtesy of the Aintree Simulator, while musical entertainment is provided on Saturday by The Elland Silver Youth Band (Paddock Enclosure) and The Tom Wilson Band, playing Irish music in the 'Saddling Up Bar', which is also the venue for the 'Rodeo Bull'! The Fundays Funbus will be situated in the Course Enclosure, while there is also face painting for youngsters in the same enclosure. |
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See More Business could attempt treble |
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Johannesburg tipped for Kentucky Derby ^top
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Ladbrokes have quoted Johannesburg at 3/1 to win the 2002 Kentucky Derby after his superb victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
The winner of this year's Group 1 Middle Park Stakes stormed to his seventh consecutive victory at Belmont Park on Saturday night and pundits immediately speculated that he could be prepared for next year's Kentucky Derby. The Aidan O'Brien colt impressed the spectators with his bold run in his first time over the mile, and he even drew enthusiastic praise from his jockey Mick Kinane, who told the press: "We always thought he was made for the dirt and he proved it today . . . I think the Americans overlooked him a little bit."
Matt Finnigan from Ladbrokes issued this statement after Johannesburg's win:"Aidan O'Brien's Wonder horse, Johannesburg, is quoted at 3/1 for next year's Kentucky Derby, the 2-year-old is also quoted at 5/2 with a run for the 2000 Guineas with Ladbrokes."
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O'Brien's juvenile may go back to America |
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Windsor heavy, but still on ^top
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Despite some doubts about the course on Sunday, Windsor has passed an early inspection and has the go-ahead for its Monday meeting.
The Berkshire course had received more than its fair share of rain over the past few days, but some dry weather on Sunday helped the situation. The going on Monday morning is officially heavy, and the forecast is for a dry and sunny day. The first race of the meeting is due away at 1:10, and its seven-race card culminates at 3:10 with the Robert Days Raceday 2001 Handicap, a five-furlong sprint worth over £7,000 to the winner.
Horseracing in the North is represented by Bangor, which also hosts seven races. The going at the North Wales course is soft, and the weather should be bright and dry. The meeting gets underway at 1:30, with its feature race, the Tote Exacta Handicap Chase, due to start at 3:30. The extended two-mile-and-one-furlong event has only attracted three participants, but promises an exciting finish.
There are two race meetings in Ireland on Monday. Leopardstown hold an eight-race card which starts at 1:00 and boasts the Group 3 Killavullan Stakes at 2:00. At Galway, there are seven races over the jumps to tempt the punter, and action starts at 1:15. |
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Hard work at Windsor has its Monday meeting passes an inspection |
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