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Sea The Stars Breeders Cup attempt on hold.

In a series of interviews today, John Oxx has repeatedly thrown cold water on the idea Sea The Stars will be a definite runner at this year's Breeders Cup meeting in America. Amongst Oxx's comments were,

"He has eaten up and stretched his legs, and he seems fine, but we will have to discuss his participation in the Breeders Cup. I am not saying he won't go to Santa Anita, but it is a lot to ask any horse to keep going at the highest level from May to November, and the Breeders Cup could be a meeting too far. I suspect at some stage I will speak to Mister Sui, and then we will make a decision, but whatever it is, it will be a decision which is the best one for Sea The Stars."

Youmzain to finish year with international campaign.

Mick Channon confessed he had mixed emotions after watching his Youmzain finish as runner up in the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe for the third year in succession,

"I am delighted for the owner, and after all their hard work with Youmzain, I am proud of everyone at our West Ilsley yard. He will be back again next year, and hopefully he won't have a Dylan Thomas, or a Zarkava, or more especially a Sea The Stars to beat." Going on to lay out his plans for the six year old for the rest of this year, Channon said,

"He is obviously in top form now, and I think a crack at the Canadian International and the Japan Cup are distinct possibilities."

Chinese White to take Canadian option.

A spokesperson for owner Lady O'Reilly has confirmed Chinese White was taken out of yesterday's Prix de L'Opera due to a setback, and not the fast going at Longchamp.

The Dermot Weld trained four year old filly has been on the upgrade all season, recording three back to back wins, but it is thought she received a slight knock in her box prior to Sunday's race, and connections felt she would not show her best if allowed to race.

Providing she fully recovers during the rest of this week, she is likely to head to the E P Taylor Stakes at Woodbine in Canada on Saturday 17 October.

Meade to give Harchibald a novice chasing campaign.

The enigmatic and sometimes frustrating Harchibald has won ten of his thirty one starts over hurdles, and despite the fact he will turn eleven years of age on 01 January 2010, handler Noel Meade has decided to let his old campaigner have one season of novice chasing.

Knowing Harchibald as we do, he will either hate the larger obstacles, or he will make monkeys of all of us by winning one of the big novice chases in the upcoming national hunt season.

McManus bumper winner to go hurdling.

Sweeps Hill, who was awarded the Punchestown Champion Bumper Race after original winner Dunguib was disqualified for testing positive for a banned substance, is to go novice hurdling in the next few weeks.

Handler John Kiely has confirmed the youngster is in fine form, and he has schooled well over obstacles in training, and connections are looking forward to a good season with an exciting young prospect hopefully competing for major honours in the novice hurdling division.

Venalmar to return to track in novice chase.

Second to Fivefourthree in the 2008 Cheltenham Ballymore Properties Hurdle, the Mouse Morris trained Venalmar was last seen on a track pulling up with injury at the 2008 Punchestown Festival. Morris has now confirmed his exciting prospect is back in full training, and is due to start a novice chasing campaign as early as the end of the month.

If the Grade 2 winning hurdler can recapture his earlier form, he will be a very interesting recruit to the novice chasing ranks during the upcoming national hunt season.

Johnson return to racing ruled out until new year.

Newcastle based national hunt jockey Kenny Johnson has had surgery on a shoulder injury which has put his career on hold since May of this year. Three falls in quick succession left him with a shoulder which kept dislocating and minimising the amount of sensation he could feel in his arm.

Although Johnson is keen to return to race riding, he admits he will have to adhere to medical advice, and his latest prognosis suggests no decision can be taken until the spring of next year.

Do you want to expand your knowledge of horseracing?

Today as part of our news service we are happy to be promoting an initiative which gives racing enthusiasts the opportunity to learn more about the fascinating world of Irish horse racing from the people directly involved in the industry.

Horse Racing Ireland are running a special course which over six evenings gives you access to guest speakers who will provide an insight into ownership & sales, betting, training horses, the life of a jockey, racecourse management, funding and administration, media and promotion. There will also be a day out at the races including admission for all course participants in addition to a tour of the RACE academy and Kildangan Stud.

Well known racing personalities who will lecture on the course include leading jockeys, trainers and owners plus key leaders within the industry, including:

· Brian Kavanagh – CEO of Horse Racing Ireland

· Denis Egan – CEO of the Turf Club

· John Oxx – Leading Flat Trainer

· Johnny Murtagh – Leading Flat Jockey

· Donn McClean – Journalist with Sunday Times & Irish Field

· Bobby O’Ryan – Leading Bloodstock Agent

· Leo Powell – Editor of the Irish Field

· Paul Hensey – Manager of the Curragh Racecourse

· Lar Byrne – Racehorse Owner – Hardy Eustace, Schindlers Hunt, etc

· Tamso Doyle – PR Manager Horse Racing Ireland

· Representatives from Paddy Power & Tote Ireland

Details relating to the course are as follows:

Venue - RACE campus, Kildare
Time & Day - Tuesday 7.30pm - 9.30pm
Course duration - 6 weeks from October 20th to November 24th
Fee - €100

Access to the course is limited, so to book your place, contact RACE at 045-522468 or education@racingacademy.ie before October 13th
For more information please check out the brochure on: -

http://hri.newsweaver.ie/newsletter/1nvcqz3pv1vek9if2ithu3

Media scrum expected at Sea The Stars home-coming.

An invitation to the media to 'meet and greet' Sea The Stars on his return to John Oxx's Curragh stables is expected to turn into a media scrum.

With so much worldwide interest in the six time Group 1 winning racehorse, the home-coming, planned for 1.00 pm this afternoon is expected to be attended by a large number of representatives from every section of the world's media, all of whom will be attempting to obtain the 'definitive shot' of the racehorse who has caught the public's imagination.

For the best odds and the best anti post markets:

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