Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

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SLADE POWERS TO FAIRYHOUSE VICTORY.

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

Slade Power battled through the testing conditions to lift the feature Belgrave Stakes at Fairyhouse.

Edward Lynam's progressive young sprinter got the better of the much more experienced five-year-old Arctic to take the Listed contest in determined fashion after travelling sweetly throughout the race.

Wayne Lordan produced Slade Power towards the centre of the course to make his challenge and the 11-4 shot responded gamely to win by half a length in a blanket finish, with Santo Padre in third spot.

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POWELL ESCAPES SERIOUS INJURY.

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

Brendan Powell junior escaped serious injury after being taken to hospital following a crushing fall in the Mansfield Jobs today.co.uk Handicap Chase at Southwell.

The young rider, who only on Friday rode a winner for the Queen on the Flat at Newmarket, was knocked unconscious after coming to grief from The Lemonpie, trained by his father, Brendan senior.

Powell was taken by ambulance to the Queen's Medical Centre but was later released and tweeted: "Thanks for all your concerned tweets, a bit sore and a bit of a headache, but nothing broken!! thankgod".

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WILLIAMS TAKES DUN RIDE.

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

Craig Williams will renew his association with Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot this weekend.

Mikel Delzangles' six-year-old, who also won the Hong Kong Vase under Williams, met plenty of trouble in running when second in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.

With regular jockey Christophe Lemaire likely to be claimed to ride for his retained owner the Aga Khan later in the season, owner Sheikh Fahad Al Thani thought it best to secure the services of someone who can commit to his horse, despite Williams living in Australia.

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MARS LIVES UP TO DERBY HYPE.

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

Mars, early ante-post favourite for the 2013 Investec Derby, made a successful debut with the minimum of fuss at Dundalk.

Quoted as short as 12-1 for the Epsom Classic before he had even seen a racecourse, the Aidan O'Brien-trained colt made most of the running to take the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

Joseph O'Brien brought the son of Galileo from his wide draw to go across to the rail and lead. Winding up the gallop, the 4-7 shot pulled clear from the furlong pole to beat his stable companion The Ferryman by four and three-quarter lengths, with My Rules third.

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ARC HEROINE ON COURSE FOR ASCOT.

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

Arc winner Danedream will have her first start in England on Saturday when she contests the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

The Betfair-sponsored showpiece looks like being a very strong renewal with dual Coronation Cup winner St Nicholas Abbey, last year's winner and Eclipse hero Nathaniel and Melbourne Cup hero Dunaden all among 12 possibles.

Following her victory in the Arc, the Peter Schiergen-trained Danedream finished sixth in the Japan Cup but returned with an easy win at Baden-Baden in May. She then travelled back to France for the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud but could only manage fourth to Meandre.

HIGHWAY TAKES ROAD TO CURRAGH.

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

Dermot Weld would like to see an improvement in the weather ahead of Princess Highway's bid for the Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Sunday.

The County Kildare trainer has won the fillies' Classic twice, with Blue Wind (1981) and Dance Design (1996), and believes the Moyglare Stud-owned three-year-old has a good chance of making it number three.

Princess Highway booked her place in the Group One contest with a six-length romp in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot, beating Epsom Oaks third The Fugue.

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HOUSE CONFIRMED FOR MILE START.

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

Carlton House is set to drop back in trip in the Transformers & Rectifiers Summer Mile at Ascot on Saturday.

Sir Michael Stoute has confirmed the Queen's colt will take his chance in the Group Two on the round course at the Berkshire track. He has not run over that distance since his juvenile days when he won at Newbury on his second start.

The son of Street Cry was in action over a mile and a quarter at Ascot on his latest start, finishing second to So You Think in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at the Royal meeting.

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HEAVENS ADDED TO OAKS FIELD.

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

Great Heavens and Colliding Worlds have been supplemented for the Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Sunday.

They are among 11 possibles for the fillies' Classic, along with Investec Oaks heroine Was and impressive Ribblesdale Stakes scorer Princess Highway, following the confirmation stage.

The John Gosden-trained Great Heavens is a full-sister to King George and Coral-Eclipse hero Nathaniel and booked her place in the Group One with an emphatic victory in the Lancashire Oaks.

FARHH HAS FRANKEL IN SIGHTS.

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

Farhh, a close second to Nathaniel in the Coral-Eclipse, is to be supplemented for the Qipco Sussex Stakes.

The Saeed bin Suroor-trained colt is likely to meet Frankel at Glorious Goodwood as the world's best racehorse seeks back-to-back victories in the Group One highlight.

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NATHANIEL CONFIRMED FOR ASCOT.

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

John Gosden has given Nathaniel the go-ahead to attempt back-to-back victories in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

Connections of last year's winner have been receiving the right vibes from the horse to pitch him into battle just two weeks after he made a successful first appearance of the season in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.

The trainer said: "As of this morning, he's a runner. William (Buick) breezed him this morning and I think it went really well - William was delighted. I expect the ground to be on the easy side, not heavy, and I think it would be wimpish not to run."

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GOSDEN TARGETS NASSAU RAID.

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

This year's Markel Insurance Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood is shaping up to be a cracker with John Gosden confirming his two top-class fillies Izzi Top and The Fugue are to be aimed at the race.

Izzi Top has gone from strength to strength this season, winning the Pretty Polly in Ireland last time out, while The Fugue was considered by many to be unlucky in the Oaks. She has since finished second in the Ribblesdale.

VISION GOING FOR CUP DOUBLE.

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

Ascot Gold Cup winner Colour Vision will put his reputation on the line in the Artemis Goodwood Cup on August 2.

Trained by Mark Johnston until this season, the four-year-old is unbeaten in two races since joining Saeed bin Suroor. He beat the Mahmood Al Zarooni-trained Opinion Poll last month, but will not have to face him this time as the latter has met with a setback.

"We are probably going to run Colour Vision and Lost In The Moment in the Goodwood Cup. Opinion Poll had a small setback - a minor bone issue - and is having an mid-season break to hopefully come back for British Champions Day," said Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford

VINTAGE TEST FOR GHURAIR.

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

Impressive Newmarket debutant Ghurair will have his next start in the Veuve Clicquot Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on August 1.

The John Gosden-trained juvenile defied signs of greenness to win stylishly at Headquarters last week, earning a general 33-1 quote for the 2000 Guineas.

"Ghurair won a maiden on the July course and I'd like to run him in the Vintage Stak

es," said the Clarehaven handler of the Sheikh Hamdan-owned colt. "I'm keen on his chances, and hopefully his future."

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ENCKE TO TEST LEGER CLAIMS.

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

Encke could embark on the Ladbrokes St Leger trail with a run in the bet365 Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on July 31.

Mahmood Al Zarooni's colt looked a smart prospect in winning a Newmarket maiden last October but did not reappear again until earlier this month, when he narrowly landed a handicap at Sandown.

"He won, but he was a little short of work and was very green," said Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford.

"He has the option of running in the Gordon Stakes or a mile-and-a-half handicap for three-year-olds at the meeting.

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GELDED BONFIRE OUT FOR SEASON.

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

Dante Stakes winner Bonfire has been gelded and will not run again this year.

The Andrew Balding-trained three-year-old was Group One-placed as a juvenile and created plenty of excitement when scoring a cosy victory in the York Group Two in May.

However, he failed to fire when sixth in the Derby and fared no better in the Eclipse at Sandown, despite returning to a more conventional course.

The son of Manduro took a keen hold in the early stages in the Eclipse and Harry Herbert, racing manager for owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, felt that was a sure sign all was not well with Bonfire.

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GROUND KEY TO SHARETA ASCOT RUN.

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

Alain de Royer-Dupre is keeping an eye on the weather before deciding whether to commit Shareta to the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

The French trainer wants the ground to dry out for the Aga Khan-owned filly, though he will be represented in the Betfair-sponsored Group One by last year's Prix du Jockey Club winner Reliable Man.

NO GO FOR GIO AT GOODWOOD.

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

Giofra is unlikely to attempt to supplement her Falmouth Stakes victory back on these shores in the Markel Insurance Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

French trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre feels the three-week gap from Newmarket's July meeting is not enough.

She is instead likely to turn up at Deauville later next month in either the Prix Jacques le Marois or the Prix Jean Romanet.

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WACHMAN SEEKS WINNING VERDICT.

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

True Verdict aims to end a run of second places as she lines up in Thursday's Group Three Silver Flash Stakes at Leopardstown.

The David Wachman-trained filly has filled the runner-up spot on each of her three starts, most recently when beaten a length and a quarter behind the high-class Sendmylovetorose. That filly has since gone on to claim the Cherry Hinton Stakes at Newmarket and Wachman believes seven furlongs should aid the claims of his runner.

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HAMMOND EAGER TO SEE GEORGE BATTLE.

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

John Hammond has a special reason to be interested in the outcome of the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

The English-born, Chantilly-based trainer saddled the great Montjeu to land the midsummer middle-distance championship in 2000. A champion racehorse, Montjeu also enjoyed great success as a stallion and is represented by St Nicholas Abbey, winner of the Breeders' Cup Turf and two Coronation Cups, and 2011 St Leger victor Masked Marvel in the big race.

MOORE - MOON MUST RISE HIGHER.

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

Ryan Moore believes Sea Moon has to find a bit more to land the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

Sir Michael Stoute's four-year-old is two from two this season and landed the Hardwicke Stakes over course and distance at the Royal meeting.

"This year you've got the Melbourne Cup winner, the Arc winner, Japanese Derby winner, St Nicholas Abbey, Nathaniel - it's a very strong race," Moore told At The Races.

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CURRAGH GETS THE GO-AHEAD.

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

This weekend's Darley Irish Oaks meeting at the Curragh will go ahead as planned after the track passed a 7am inspection.

Officials were concerned about the state of the ground after some persistent rain over the last few days, but general manager Paul Hensey reports the track to be ready for action.