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Man arrested on suspected arson charges.

Further to our story below concerning the suspected tragic death of two apprentice jockeys at a three storey block of flats in Norton North Yorkshire.

This afternoon, the Yorkshire constabulary issued a statement in which they advised, a man had been arrested on suspected arson charges, and was now answering questions while in custody.

He is the best!

Well, all the doubters can slink back into their dark corners and find someone or something else to knock, for Sea The Stars proved without doubt, he is currently the best racehorse in the world.

Ballydoyle pacemakers had set the race up for either Mastercraftsman or Fame and Glory to take today's Irish Champion Stakes if they were good enough, and when Fame and Glory went clear at the two furlong from home pole, it looked for a second as if Sea The Stars had met his match, but Michael Kinane did not panic, and by the furlong pole, his mount was back on level terms as Johnnie Murtagh had to go to work on Fame and Glory, but John Oxx's superstar had plenty in reserve, and in a matter of strides he had opened up a two length gap on the Ballydoyle number one, an advantage Sea The Stars held all the way to the finishing line.

With this fifth successive Group 1 victory, Sea The Stars has now become one of the most successful three year olds of all time, and the way he handled and finished over ten furlongs in the yielding ground at Leopardstown must be giving his connections the urge to see if he can cap a perfect season with victory over a mile and a half in this year's running of the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp.

Regal Parade edges out tiring Fleeting Spirit.

The way Newmarket July Cup winner Fleeting Spirit had cruised to the lead at the furlong pole of today's Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock, it seemed inevitable she would go on to secure another Group 1 triumph, but in the rain softened good to soft ground she began to falter in the last half furlong, and under a determined drive from Adrian Nicholls, Regal Parade, who just twelve months ago had landed the 2008 Ayr Gold Cup, managed to assert his dominance over the filly in the last few strides before the post.

Regal Parade's victory gave Adrian Nicholls his first ever Group 1 win, and in a post race interview with Channel 4, he accredited today's triumph to the great team at his father Dandy's yard, and thanked the owners for keeping faith with him in today's race.

Fleeting Spirits trainer Jeremy Noseda admitted in hindsight, today's going probably prevented his filly from securing a historic sprint double, but he admitted in the conditions, the best horse had won.

Kieran Fallon, riding in a Group 1 for the first time in eighteen months, did well to get his former handicapper High Standing into third place, and after the race, Fallon stated his belief that his mount would land a Group 1 prize in due course.

Yes Mister President romps home.

Mark Johnston found out today his Yes Mister President loves soft ground, for in the final furlong of the Listed Old Borough Cup he streaked away from his rivals, scoring by six lengths from proven York soft ground winner Neemo Spirit, with Johnston also saddling the third home in the shape of three year old Alanbrook.

Favourite Kings Destiny flattered only to deceive two furlongs from home in today's mile and three quarter contest, while Ebor third Hits Only Vic failed to show under his big weight.

Rainbow shows her true colours.

John Gosden showed his delight when Rainbow view recaptured her two year old form when landing this afternoon's Group 1 Matron Stakes at Leopardstown. Always sitting comfortabley in behind early leader Totally Devoted, jockey Jimmy Fortune asked the Nassau Stakes runner up to quicken at the two furlong pole, and the three year old filly responded immediately, opening up a gap to her rivals. Sir Michael Stoute's Heaven Sent went in pursuit, but she was never able to close the gap on Rainbow view, who finished the race two lengths in front of her fellow British raider.

David Wachman's Again seemed one paced on her return to the track, and was only capable of taking third place in today's one mile contest.

Kirklees continues his upward march.

Philip Robinson had seemed to have highjacked today's Group 3 September Stakes at Kempton, for leading for most of the contest on All The Aces, he controlled the pace, and then made a telling kick for home off the last bend, but Frankie Dettori on favourite Kirklees knew he had plenty of horse, and when asked to quicken, Kirklees responded instantly, changing the complexion of the race in a few strides. At the furlong pole, Kirklees was in the ascendancy, and try as he might, All The Aces was held all the way to the line, with the front two finishing well in front of the remainder of the field.

Kirklees has now proved he can step up to a mile and a half in Group company, and with his third successive victory now under his belt, he looks progressive enough to be a genuine contender for Group 1 honours before the end of this year.

Gamble landed by Love Lockdown.

The Ger Lyons trained Love Lockdown was the gamble of today's Group 3 Sirenius Stakes at Kempton, being supported in the on-course market from 15/2 to 7/2 second favourite prior to the off, and the gamble was well founded, for the Irish raider got up in the shadow of the post to deny long time leader Iver Bridge Lad.

The other two fancied horses in the market, favourite Monsieur Chevalier, and the other Irish raider In Some Respect, fought out the minor honours, but they both seemed to lack application at various stages of today's six furlong all weather contest.

Fallon admits he is 'race rusty'.

After a frustrating first day back in the saddle, Kieran Fallon last night admitted he is a little 'race rusty' after his long enforced lay-off from race riding, and despite picking up two second places, the former champion jockey admitted he needed to brush up on his course knowledge and tactical awareness.

However, Fallon, now aged 44, is hopeful his rides at Haydock and Wolverhampton today will provide him with his important first winner since renewing his jockey's license. Certainly on paper, High Standing, the anti post favourite for the Betfred Sprint Cup, gives Fallon the opportunity to get on the board with an instant Group 1 victory, and if he succeeds, it will be interesting to see how the racing public at the Merseyside track respond to such a victory.

Quinn apprentices believed dead in tragic fire.

A 999 call early this morning brought fire and ambulance crews rushing to a fire at a block of flats at Buckrose Court, Norton, near Malton, in North Yorkshire, and it was later found the fire ravaged building had been the home to four apprentices attached to John Quinns stable in Malton.

After a couple of desperate hours, a police spokeswoman indicated two people had been taken to York hospital suffering from burns and the effects of smoke inhilation, but more tragically, it was also announced two people, believed to be apprentice jockeys, were not accounted for, and subject to confirmation by the fire service, it is understood they tragically perished in the fire.

Manifest will not be supplemented.

Prince Khalid Abdullah's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe has today confirmed, the Henry Cecil trained Manifest will not be supplemented for next Saturday's St Leger. Despite winning his last race by an outstanding nineteen lengths, connections currently believe the colt is too inexperienced to take on a selection of tried and tested three year olds in a Classic race, and they would prefer to bring him on slowly, with a major race campaign as a four year old as the long term aim.

Long term illness causes death of Mister Baileys.

It has been reported overnight, the 1993 Newmarket 2,000 Guineas winner Mister Baileys has died from the long term effects of grass sickness.

Bought at the sales for just 10,500 guineas, the colt went into training with North Yorkshire trainer Mark johnston, and in his juvenile year he won the Champion Vintage Stakes and the Royal Lodge Stakes. Then as a three year old, he won the Newmarket 2,000 Guineas, but could only finish third in the Dante Stakes, and fourth in the Epsom Derby behind Erhaab. In his last run, Mister Baileys finished a disapponting fifth in the 1993 Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

At the age of four, the Classic winner contracted Grass Sickness, and although he survived, it left him with only 33% bowel function, and 40% liver function. Despite this, he recovered sufficiently to take up stud duties at the National Stud between 1996 and 2003, but the effects of the illness caught up with him, and sadly, they have eventually caused his demise at the age of eighteen.

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