Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

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YORK DOUBTS RAISED FOR NATHANIEL.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...e&sub=&day=Thu

Opposition to Frankel in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York later this month could be thin in the ground with John Gosden raising doubts about his Eclipse winner Nathaniel.

With Cirrus Des Aigles already ruled out of the Group One highlight, the best horse in the world may face no more than a canter round on his first start over 10 furlongs.

Nathaniel won the Eclipse on his first start of the season and went down only by the narrowest of margins to Danedream when trying to defend his King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes title at Ascot just a fortnight later.

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FAIRY BOOKED FOR DEAUVILLE RETURN.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Thu

Snow Fairy continued her preparations for a seasonal comeback with a gallop at Sandown on Thursday morning.

The multiple Group One-winning mare has been absent since picking up an injury when in the Far East towards the end of last year and missed a possible engagement in the Nassau Stakes last week, but if all goes to plan she will run in the Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville on August 19.

Dunlop said: "I'm on my way back from Sandown where we took Snow Fairy for a gallop. Sandown kindly let her and a lead horse gallop, she worked over a mile and I was happy with how she went."

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CHOICE RESULT FOR WELD AND SMULLEN.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Fri

Galileo's Choice continued on the upgrade with victory in the Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown.

The Dermot Weld-trained six-year-old finished seventh to Cinders And Ashes in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham in March and returned to the level with a Listed-race win at this track in July.

Stepped up to Group Thee company, the gelding travelled smoothly in mid-division through the early stages before making his bid off the home turn under Pat Smullen, and the move proved a decisive one, because although he came close with Bible Belt at one stage and Massiyn rallied late for Johnny Murtagh, the 9-4 favourite had a length and a half in hand of the latter at the line

DETTORI FAVOURITE FOR SHERGAR PRIZE.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Fri

Frankie Dettori is favourite to be leading rider at this weekend's Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup following the draw for the Ascot competition.

Ladbrokes make Dettori, who will captain Team Europe, the 4-1 market leader for the Silver Saddle in what will be the 12th staging of the unique event, which is set to attract a huge crowd and features an after-racing 80s revival concert.

Team GB and Ireland, which will comprise of Kieren Fallon, Johnny Murtagh and James Doyle, are the 7-4 favourites to take the team prize.

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DAWN MISSES PHOENIX RUN.


http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Fri

Jim Bolger has decided against running Dawn Approach in the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday as he feels ground conditions will be unsuitable.

The unbeaten juvenile was last seen landing the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot and would have been a warm order had he stepped up to Group One level for the first time this weekend.

Bolger said: "I don't think the ground will be suitable for him on Sunday. The signs are that the weather is going to improve and I would hope conditions will be suitable for him in the Futurity Stakes at the Curragh in a fortnight's time. That race was always the plan for him anyway."

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SPRINT STAR BACK IN ACTION.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Sat

Joseph O'Brien is not expecting any fireworks from Starspangledbanner as he makes his first start since coming out of retirement in Sunday's Patrick P O'Leary Memorial Phoenix Sprint Stakes at the Curragh.

Already a dual Group One winner in Australia before joining Aidan O'Brien at the start of 2010, the six-year-old enjoyed a fantastic first year in Europe by landing the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and the July Cup at Newmarket.

LANTERN ON FULL BEAM FOR SOLERA.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Sat

Trainer Richard Hannon believes a rise in distance will bring out the best in Sky Lantern in the German-Thoroughbred.com Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket.

The unbeaten daughter of Red Clubs could hardly have been more impressive on her racecourse bow at Goodwood in late May, after which she secured Listed honours at Naas.

Sky Lantern makes her first appearance since early June and steps up to seven furlongs for the first time.

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OXX GOING NATIVE IN DESMOND.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Sat

Native Khan could make his third appearance for John Oxx in next Thursday's Desmond Stakes at Leopardstown.

Third behind Frankel in last year's 2000 Guineas, the grey was moved from Ed Dunlop to Oxx this season and has been roundly beaten by Famous Name on both occasions

OXX HAS DEBUTANTE FANCY.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...e&sub=&day=Sat

One of Ireland's most promising young fillies takes to the track for the third time in Sunday's Keeneland Debutante Stakes at the Curragh.

Harasiya, an Aga Khan home-bred trained by John Oxx, has won both her starts at Leopardstown by more than two lengths, most recently in last month's Group Three Silver Flash Stakes.

"She has done well in both her starts and is a progressive sort of filly and she goes on soft ground," said Oxx.

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REED AND FABRE RULE IN POMONE.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Sat

North Yorkshire owner Guy Reed teamed up with French master trainer Andre Fabre to win the Prix de Pomone at Deauville with La Pomme D'Amour.

The four-year-old filly showed a neat burst of pace late on to deny the Roger Varian-trained Shimmering Surf, who attempted to make all the running in the Group Two over an extended mile and a half.

La Pomme D'Amour was never too far off the moderate pace set by Neil Callan's mount, who still held a clear advantage two furlongs from home and stayed on in determined fashion before giving way.

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CERTIFY SO SWEET IN SOLERA.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Sat

Certify gave Godolphin a fourth consecutive victory in the German-Thoroughbred.com Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket with a dominant display.

The Mahmood Al Zarooni-trained youngster (11-8 favourite) looked the real deal on debut here last month and took her game to the next level in this Group Three assignment over seven furlongs.

DE SOUSA A SHINING LIGHT.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...e&sub=&day=Sat

Silvestre de Sousa is enjoying a summer renaissance and lifted the feature Talk To Victor Rose Of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock on the Godolphin challenger Hunter's Light.

The 3-1 shot was never far away under the Brazilian rider as Ransom Note scampered clear once the gates opened for the Group Three contest.

The Saeed bin Suroor-trained winner eased upsides the long-time leader at the three-furlong pole and galloped into an unassailable advantage. Jet Away, the 15-8 favourite, gave chase in vain and was two lengths adrift at the line.

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WORLD DOMINATION IN SHERGAR CUP.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...2&sub=&day=Sun

A slightly under-the-radar Rest of the World team dominated the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup from start to finish at Ascot.

While Yutaka Take is a well-established name outside Japan, the same could not be said for the American Aaron Gryder and Hong Kong starlet Matthew Chadwick, but the trio were well in control of the international jockey competition after race four following a hatful of placed efforts.

Rest of the World then collected the final two events, with the veteran Gryder driving home Viking Storm (5-1) in the Michael Page International Shergar Cup Challenge Handicap and Chadwick excelling from the front on Mince (6-1) in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint.

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MAROIS EX-CELEBRATION FOR O'BRIEN.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...;Brien&day=Sun

Excelebration took advantage of a Group One race with no Frankel in opposition by landing the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville for Aidan O'Brien.

Ridden by substitute jockey Christophe Soumillon after Ryan Moore was ruled out because of a fall, the four-year-old raced in mid-division for much of the Group One contest as Elusive Kate took them along.

The leader kept on strongly but she succumbed when Cityscape and Excelebration tackled her entering the final furlong and it was the Ballydoyle runner who proved strongest. He was well on top at the line and scored by a length and a quarter.

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PEDRO TAKES DRAMATIC PHOENIX.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Sun

Aidan O'Brien's Pedro The Great was a surprise winner of the feature event at the Curragh, the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes, in what turned out to be a dramatic renewal.

Cristoforo Colombo, a stablemate of the winner, was travelling with great ease at the two-furlong marker when he appeared to clip heels with Probably and gave Joseph O'Brien a crashing fall, which the pair were able to walk away from.

Bungle Inthejungle put the pace to the race but was a spent force just after halfway and Leitir Mor and Probably were left in front, but Seamie Heffernan brought Pedro The Great (10-1) to challenge widest of all to win going away by two and three-quarter lengths. Leitir Mor was second.

FAMOUS VICTORY FOR NAME.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Sun

Famous Name won his 19th race from 36 starts but significantly his first at Group Two level in the Keeneland Royal Whip Stakes at the Curragh.

Many were keen to take on Dermot Weld's stalwart (evens) with Sea The Stars' half-brother Born To Sea, who finished second to Camelot in the Irish Derby on his last start and was sent off the 10-11 favourite.

However, racing without a hood, Born To Sea did not settle in the early stages and once into the straight the result never looked in any doubt as Pat Smullen nudged Famous Name clear of his market rival to win by six and a half lengths.

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LILY GRABS SPOTLIGHT FROM BANNER.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Mon

There was no fairytale return to action from former Group One-winning sprinter Starspangledbanner as he finished tailed off in his comeback in the Patrick P O'Leary Memorial Phoenix Sprint Stakes at the Curragh.

A failed stud career saw him return to the track at the age of six and he led for a long way before fading badly. Where connections decide to go from here is anyone's guess.

ST NICK SET FOR FRANKEL CLASH.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Mon

Frankel could face at least one stern rival when he lines up for the Juddmonte International in the shape of St Nicholas Abbey.

The world's highest-rated horse is scheduled to tackle 10 furlongs for the first time at York on August 22 in a race sponsored by his owner, Khalid Abdullah.

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SPECIAL SUCCESS FOR SHANAHAN.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Mon

Pat Shanahan struck at Group Two level as My Special J's reversed form with the highly regarded Harasiya in the Keeneland Debutante Stakes at the Curragh.

My Special J's (12-1) had been second on her two previous starts, most recently to Harasiya at Leopardstown, where she was beaten over two lengths.

The pair fought it out inside the final furlong, with the Colm O'Donoghue-ridden My Special J's holding off the 2-5 favourite, who never looked happy on the rain-softened ground, to win by a neck.

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IMG LAND CHANNEL 4 CONTRACT.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Mon

IMG Sports Media have been announced as the new producers of Channel 4's racing coverage from January 2013.

The new four-year agreement will see former BBC racing presenter Clare Balding take a leading role in coverage of meetings such as the Cheltenham Festival, Royal Ascot and the Grand National.

The deal, in operation from January 2013 until December 2016, runs alongside Channel 4's four-year media agreement with Racecourse Media Group. In addition, Channel 4 Racing sponsors, Dubai, have signed a new four-year extension deal until 2016.

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MOULIN BECKONS FOR LUCKLESS CLOUD.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...e&sub=&day=Mon

The Prix du Moulin at Longchamp next month is the likely next port of call for Moonlight Cloud.

Trainer Freddie Head feels the filly would have won Sunday's Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville, but for meeting serious traffic problems. Following a narrow defeat to Black Caviar in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, the four-year-old was a superb winner of the Prix Maurice de Gheest at the start of the month.

MARS IN ORBIT FOR FUTURITY RUN.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Tue

Mars could clash with Dawn Approach in the Galileo European Breeders Fund Futurity Stakes at the Curragh on August 25.

Should the unbeaten pair meet, it would mean the ante-post favourites for the Derby and 2000 Guineas going head-to-head over seven furlongs.

The Group Two event has a rich recent history and Jim Bolger, trainer of Dawn Approach, won it with star colts Teofilo in 2006 and New Approach a year later.