Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

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Cauthen leads the tributes.


http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Wed

Former champion jockey Steve Cauthen led the tributes to the legendary Sir Henry Cecil, who has died at the age of 70.

The great American rider enjoyed six memorable and highly successful years as stable jockey at Warren Place, including many Classic triumphs.

"It's a great loss to the sport and to everybody who knew him. he was such a great guy - different, special, a genius," he said.

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Approach set to appear at Ascot.


http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Wed

Dawn Approach has emerged as a surprise contender for Tuesday's St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Godolphin's 2000 Guineas hero was originally thought to be an unlikely runner after finishing last in the Derby at Epsom earlier this month. However, trainer Jim Bolger reports his Classic winner on course for a return to a mile, subject to a gallop on Thursday.

He told www.godolphin.com: "He's been left in the St James's Palace Stakes and, subject to a satisfactory piece of work on Thursday, he is an intended runner."

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International look to King's Stand

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...+Stand&day=Wed

South African runner Shea Shea is included in a cosmopolitan list of 21 horses left in Tuesday's King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Mike de Kock's charge landed the Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai on his latest start and is a fascinating international contender along with Australian runner Shamexpress.

Danny O'Brien's raider recently won the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington, a race fellow Antipodean runner Miss Andretti won before claiming the 2007 King's Stand.

Home hopes are headed by Clive Cox's Reckless Abandon, who won both the Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes last term and finished third in the Temple Stakes on his reappearance.

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Kingdom confirmed for Queen Anne

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Wed

Hot favourite Animal Kingdom will face a maximum of 14 rivals in Tuesday's Queen Anne Stakes, the opening event of Royal Ascot.

Graham Motion's American raider has been all the rage for the mile heat following his impressive victory in the 10-furlong Dubai World Cup at Meydan in March.

The five-year-old also won the 2011 Kentucky Derby and will be dropping back to eight furlongs for the first time since finishing second in last year's Breeders' Cup Mile.

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Pink bids for poignant success.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Thu

Owner Trevor Stewart admits it will be an "emotional day" at Leopardstown when Tickled Pink runs in the Group Three Ballyogan Stakes.

The four-year-old won the Group Three Abernant Stakes at Newmarket on her penultimate start for Sir Henry Cecil, who died on Tuesday.

She will represent his wife, Lady Cecil, on Thursday, and Stewart said: "I've only had horses with Sir Henry for the last three years, but I feel so proud to have been associated with him for that time. He was an absolute genius when it came to training racehorses and he was just a charming and very special man."

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Shea Shea in July Cup frame

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Thu

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Kazeem set for Camelot rematch

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Thu

Al Kazeem is among 11 confirmations for Wednesday's Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Roger Charlton's five-year-old handled the step up to Group One company with aplomb in the Tattersalls Gold Cup, in which he lowered the colours of triple Classic winner Camelot.

Charlton said: "He's fine. He worked well this morning."

Aidan O'Brien has not been scared off by that defeat, however, and will renew rivalry with Camelot. O'Brien could also give Windsor Palace the chance to shine.

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Kate on track for Queen Anne.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Thu

Animal Kingdom is set to face a formidable challenger in Tuesday's Queen Anne Stakes after John Gosden's mare Elusive Kate was confirmed a "very likely runner" in the Royal Ascot curtain-raiser.

Graham Motion's Kentucky Derby and Dubai World Cup hero is an odds-on favourite across the board for the one-mile contest, with Elusive Kate the only other Group One winner among 14 remaining entries.

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Poignant success for Morpheus.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Fri

Morpheus gave Lady Jane Cecil an emotional first success since she took over the licence from her husband Sir Henry Cecil, who died on Tuesday, when landing an emphatic victory at Nottingham.

Following a long battle with stomach cancer, Cecil passed away following a brilliant training career. The British Horseracing Authority granted Lady Cecil a temporary licence and the first five horses to run under her name were sent out at various venues in Britain and Ireland on Thursday.

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Approach still on course for Palace.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Fri

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Estimate in Royal Gold run.


http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Fri


The Queen's Estimate is one of 19 confirmations for the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot on Thursday.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained filly is already a winner at the Royal meeting having struck in last summer's Queen's Vase, and she booked her place in the two-and-a-half-mile Group One by making a winning return in the Sagaro Stakes at Ascot at the start of May.

Attempting to spoil the party will be 2010 Gold Cup hero Rite Of Passage, who has been restricted to just two competitive starts in the last three years due to injury.

Dermot Weld's stayer looked better than ever, however, when making a winning return in the British Champions Long Distance Cup last October.

Rite Of Passage spearheads a strong Irish challenge, with Weld also leaving in Saval Beg Stakes scorer Pale Mimosa.

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Magician run in the balance.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Fri

A final decision on Magician's participation in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot on Tuesday will be made on Sunday after the colt sustained minor bruising following a knock.

Impressive winner of the Irish 2000 Guineas, the Aidan O'Brien-trained colt had previously won the Dee Stakes at Chester's May meeting.

Mars, sixth in the Investec Derby at Epsom, is on standby to substitute for Magician should he not take up his place for his eagerly anticipated clash with Dawn Approach and Toronado in the Group One mile contest.

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Secret set to make Ascot stand.


http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Sat

David Barron's star sprinter Pearl Secret remains on course to make his belated seasonal reappearance in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot on Tuesday.

Unbeaten in his first four career starts before finishing down the field in the Nunthorpe at York, the talented chestnut was expected to take high rank in the sprinting division this year but his return has been delayed by fast ground.

Barron admits it is not ideal to be bringing his pride and joy back to the racecourse in such a fiercely competitive heat without the aid of a prep run, but is happy with his work at home.

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Ribblesdale chance for Lark.


http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Sat

Investec Oaks third The Lark is among 15 confirmations for the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot on Thursday.

The Michael Bell-trained filly stuck on well to claim minor honours at Epsom and had two other possibles for the Group Two contest, Gertrude Versed and Say, back in eighth and 10th places respectively.

Say's trainer Aidan O'Brien has left in two other of his entries, Just Pretending, who was third in the Irish 1000 Guineas, and Magical Dream.

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Big guns to clash in Coronation.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Sat