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Lush Lashes retired.

Jim Bolger today confirmed Lush Lashes has run her last race. The triple Group 1 winner in 2008 has failed to recapture her form as a four year old, and connections have confirmed she will be offered for sale as a brood mare at this December's Tattersalls Sales at Newmarket.

A winner of the Goffs Millions Fillies Sales race as a juvenile, Lush Lashes went on to land the Coronation Stakes, Matron Stakes and Yorkshire Oaks as a three year old, and with such a C V it is likely there will be plenty of prospective buyers at Newmarket in December.

Bitter sweet moment for Soumillon.

Although Christophe Soumillon is to lose his berth as retained jockey to the Aga Khan at the end of the current flat season, he was very professional in the way he road Shalanaya to victory this afternoon in the Listed Prix Liancourt on the first day of Longchamp's early September meeting.

Soumillon gave the filly her head a furlong and a half from home, and connections must have been delighted with the way she handled the muddy conditions, scooting away very easily from her rivals before being eased for a three length success.

It was difficult not to notice the rueful smile on Soumillon's face as he brought the filly into the unsaddling area, and no doubt it is rides like this which will make him temper his comments in the future.

Youmzain spin for Fallon ahead of hearing.

Kieran Fallon is due to be a 'busy boy' today. In an early morning spin, he partnered Youmzain on Mick Channon's West Ilsley gallops, and after the seven furlong session , Fallon reported the six year old to be in fine fettle ahead of Sunday's proposed run in the Grosser Priese Von Baden in Germany. Youmzain wore a first time vizor during this morning's gallop, but afterwards, Fallon advised connections, in his opinion, the proposed head-gear for Sunday's race was unnecessary.

Later today, Fallon is due to meet with the Licensing Committee of the BHA, where it is expected he will be allowed to return to race riding following his eighteen month ban, but it is normal practise that he will go through the formality of undertaking an initial nine rides which will be used to assess his fitness and competance to return to full time riding as a professional licensed jockey.

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Kieran Fallon was in with the licensing committee for around half an hour, and as expected, he was given permission to re-commence race riding, and it is understood he will re-start his riding career at Lingfield Park on Friday afternoon 04 September, before going on to ride at Kempton Park on Friday evening.

Weather misery continues in Ireland.

The unending rain over Ireland has already caused two early casualties for next week. After an inspection of the totally waterlogged course at Roscommon which was undertaken today by Turf Club officials, the early decision has been made to cancel the two days of racing planned at the venue on Monday and Tuesday 07 and 08 September.

Late this afternoon, Clonmel have confirmed they will hold an 8.30 a m inspection on Thursday morning to determine the fate of their intended Thursday evening fixture. While Kilbeggan have confirmed they will hold a precautionary inspection at 8.00 a m on Thursday morning to ascertain as to whether Friday's planned card can go ahead.

Culhane ban cold comfort to Mulrennan.

The Newcastle stewards yesterday found Tony Culhane guilty of irresponsible riding after his mount Mazzola was responsible for bringing down rival All Spin and partner Paul Mulrennan during the five furlong handicap sprint. But the fourteen day ban handed to Culhane was of little comfort to the connections of All Spin or fellow jockey Mulrennan, for All Spin died as a result of the incident, and Mulrennan has now learnt he has a broken collarbone, and will nnow be out of action for at least three weeks.

Top partner sought for Main Aim.

With Ryan Moore sitting on the sidelines due to suspension this weekend, connections of Main Aim are reported to be casting about to find the best possible partner for their four year old son of Oasis Dream in Saturday's Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock Park.

However, the search for a suitable jockey may be in vain if the ground were to come up good to firm, as connections have also indicated Main Aim will not run if the ground is too fast, but based on the latest weather forecast, the prevailing ground at Haydock on Saturday is certain to be good at best, and is far more likely to be on the soft side of good.

As a note of caution to any anti post punters supporting Golden Jubilee winner Art Connoisseur or July Cup winner Fleeting Spirit, connections have warned if the ground is too soft, both runners are unlikely participants in Saturday's six furlong Group 1.

Hills has Rockfel in mind for Sent From Heaven.

Following her all the way win in Saturday's Prestige Stakes at Goodwood, Barry Hills is now reported to be preparing Sent From Heaven for a run in the Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket on 19 October.

Currently a 33/1 chance for next year's Newmarket 1,000 Guineas, Hills believes his daughter of Footsteps in the Sand is still progressing, and with the correct preparation, he also thinks his charge can follow up her Goodwood success with a win in the Newmarket Group 2 contest.

Allied Powers defeated before Galway is abandoned.

The Irish West Coast raid by the Michael Bell trained Allied Powers seemed to have been worthwhile as the four year old took off for home at the two furlong pole of Monday's Ardilawn Hotel Oyster Stakes, but in the bottomless ground, Bell's charge suddenly became leg weary at the final furlong pole, and as he weakened into third position, Michael Kinane pounced on the John Oxx trained Aliyfa to secure a Listed race success.

Allied Powers is known to like soft ground, but the underfoot conditions at Galway yesterday were so severe, they not only proved too much for the British raider, they eventually led to the abandonment of the last two races as the ground became unraceable.

Rachel Alexandra impresses in training run.

This weekend, Preakness Stakes victor Rachel Alexandra will attempt to become the first filly to win Saratoga's Grade 1 Woodward Stakes in its fifty six year history, but if her training run yesterday is any guide, she might be the filly to defeat the long running hoodoo. Covering her four furlong gallop in 49.09 seconds, she looked like there were a whole series of gears still available to her, and after the spin, connections were described as delighted with her form ahead of this weekend's nine furlong contest.

Scenic Blast voted Australian Horse of the Year.

In a ceremony at the Melbourne Crown Palladium on Monday, the Australian Racing Industry Award for the Horse of the Year was given to the connections of Kings Stand Stakes winner Scenic Blast.

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