Get the facts about your family tree from Genes Reunited, and dependant on your level of interest you can obtain either our Standard or Premier package. For full details, click the link below:
Kauto Stars in Anglo Irish Awards.
At today's Anglo Irish National Hunt Awards held in London, Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Kauto Star was selected to receive the award for the top steeplechaser in training. In addition, his allocated rating of 186, makes him the highest rated horse in the ten years of the awards.
Paul Nicholls also picked up the award for the top rated experienced hurdler, when his World Hurdle victor Big Bucks received the award for the best Anglo Irish Experienced Hurdler.
As expected, Willie Mullins picked up the two Novice Awards, with Hurrican Fly being selected as the top Novice Hurdler, and Cooldine, the top Novice Chaser.
Tonight's Roscommon meeting cancelled.
The apparently ever present rain during this month of May has claimed another racing fixture, for after a morning inspection, officials at Roscommon have been left with no option but to call off this evening's card as parts of the course are waterlogged and totally unraceable.
Tipperary to lose Friday sprints.
With parts of the straight five furlong course in a waterlogged condition, officials have agreed to cancel the sprint races planned for Friday evening's card at Tipperary. In a proposed new running order, one of the seven furlong races will probably be divided into two heats, thus producing a seven race card, but naturally, there will be no races under seven furlongs in duration.
Sizing Europe to make chasing debut.
Having returned to something like his former good form when finishing fourth in the Rabobank Champion Hurdle at the recent Punchestown Festival, Sizing Europe is to return to the same course tomorrow evening for his initial race over the bigger obstacles. Trainer Henry de Bromhead is happy with the condition of his former Irish Champion Hurdler, and he is hopeful of a good showing in Tuesday's Beginners Chase over two and a half miles.
Ghanaati to by-pass Epsom Oaks.
Ghanaati, the accomplished winner of the Stan James 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket, is to by-pass the Epsom Oaks in favour of a run in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot on 19 June.
Angus Gold, racing manager for owner Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum, has confirmed the decision in an interview with the Times. It is understood, connections believe the long striding filly will be better suited by the Ascot track, rather than the undulations and tight corners of Epsom's Oaks course.
More news about the Epsom Oaks.
As a result of her win in last week's Blue Wind Stakes at Naas, connections of Beauty O'Gwaun are said to be seriously considering letting the filly line up in this year's Investec Epsom Oaks. Although still a 'baby' in her racing experience, she has won her two starts, and if John Oxx does send her across for the Group 1, all concerned can be sure, she will be ready to compete.
Having discussed options with the connections of Star Ruby after her pleasing run in the Musidora Stakes at last week's York Meeting, trainer Peter Chapple Hyam has confirmed she will not be supplemented for the Investec Epsom Oaks, but instead, the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot, or the Irish Oaks at the Curragh are being discussed as potential targets.
Delegator run dependant on ground.
Brian Meehan has stated Delegator is physically all tuned up for this Saturday's Boylesports Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh, and if the weather forecast for drying conditions at the end of the week proves to be true, then Delegator will almost certainly attempt to go one better than his runner up position in the Stan James 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. Laying out his ideal conditions, Meehan commented,
"Although Delegator would be at his best on good ground, I don't mind if there is some cut, but we wouldn't want it to be any worse than soft".
Jim Bolger has also indicated Intense Focus will miss Saturday's race if the ground conditions remain too soft.
Goldacova future plans currently suspended.
In an in-depth interview today, trainer Freddie Head admitted the apparent flop by Goldacova in yesterday's Prix dispahan could be partly down to the ground at Longchamp, or more worryingly, it could be due to an apparent malaise amongst the horses in his stable.
Apart from Goldacova's poor performance, last year's promising juvenile Naaqoos, and europe's top rated sprinter Marchand d'or, have also put in lack lustre efforts in their races so far this season.
In the case of Marchand d'or, Head intends to run him again this month, but if he fails to spark, there will be serious reservations about sending him over for Royal Ascot.
With regard to Goldacova, connections are said to be reconsidering her options, for as a triple Group 1 winner, including her excellent Breeders Cup success, she technically has very little to prove, and an earlier than anticipated retirement to the breeding paddocks must now be under consideration.
Sans Frontieres blow to British hopes.
It is beginning to look like Irish horses will dominate the first three positions home in this year's Epsom Derby, as Sans Frontieres , third in last week's Dante Stakes, is the latest british defector from the three year old middle distance blue-ribbon contest. A spokesperson for owner Sir Robert Ogden has indicated, connections do not believe the Epsom track would suit their charge, so he will take his chance at Royal Ascot rather than Epsom.
With major doubbts still hanging over Crowded House and Harbinger's participation in the 06 June Group 1, it seems the Aidan O'Brien and John Oxx representatives could have a total lack of high quality British opposition for this totally British race.
U S trainer planning major juvenile raid.
American trainer Wesley Ward was already bringing his four year old sprinter Cannonball to compete in Royal Ascot's Golden Jubilee and Kings Stand Stakes, but it now seems the handler is also planning a raid on the Coventry and Norfolk Stakes with four of his top two year olds.
With each passing year, the number of foreign based raiders attending the Royal Ascot Meeting increases, and this not only shows the appeal of this particular superb festival of racing, it also indicates the increasing international nature of top class horseracing.
McNamara confirmed as out for around two months.
Andrew McNamara has had confirmation the broken arm he suffered when falling from Kasimali at the third last flight of Friday's three mile handicap hurdle at Cork, is severe enough to keep him out of action for around two months.
After Friday's incident, Edward O'Grady's stable jockey was taken to Cork Hospital, where he had to undergo surgery to reset the injury, and only time and physiotherapy will return it to full use.
Tote Ireland open up French markets.
Thanks to a deal concluded between Totesport and the Paris Mutual, Tote Ireland on-line customers can now place bets on the Paris Mutual prices quoted on each day's major French meeting. As with Tote betting, customers can wager on win or place, but they should remember, in France, if an owner has two or more horses in a single race, these are coupled or amalgamated into one overall price.
New sponsor for Hunter blue-ribbon event.
Stratford racecourse have today announced, a new sponsor has been found for the fifty first running of their prestigious Champion Hunter Steeplechase for the Horse and Hound Cup, due to be run on Saturday evening 23 May 2009.
The proprietor of new sponsors W+S Recycling Group, Geoff Thompson, is well known in racing circles, having several national hunt horses in training with three british based trainers.
The Stratford race is regarded as the third most important Hunter Chase after Aintree and Cheltenham, and it is understood, thanks to Thompson's generosity, the total prize fund on offer for this year's contest will be £30,000.
Celebrate your winnings, or commiserate with others with fine wines & champagne’s:
==================================
Archives:
News Stories prior to July 2008
Return to text based index page
