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Barouda denies victory to Johnston juvenile filly at Deauville.

Olivier Pesslier gave Barouda a fine ride as she eased to victory in this afternoon's Group 3 Prix de Reservoirs at Deauville. A previous winner at Saint Cloud, Barouda showed some fine acceleration in the final stages of today's six runner affair, and she finished half a length in front of Ayun Tara and the Mark Johnston trained Marie de Medici - the latter two runners dead heating for second place.

Based on her performance today, Barouda is a progressive filly who could be a very interesting one to follow in her three year old career.

Ghanaati retired to the paddocks.

Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum has confirmed dual Group 1 winner Ghanaati is to go to the paddocks as a brood mare with immediate effect.

Regardless of her relatively disappointing efforts at Goodwood and Newmarket in the latter part of the season, most true racing fans will remember Ghanaati as the imperious winner of both the 1,000 Guineas and the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, and we are just thankful her ability will now be passed on to another generation.

Fitzgerald to undergo more surgery.

It would be fair to say, Mick Fitzgerald has never been entirely well since his horrific fall from L'Ami in the 2008 Grand National. Immediately after the fall, he underwent neck, spine and leg surgery, and although he slowly heeled, he admitted his riding days were over, and he started a new career as a racing commentator and pundit.

However, in the early part of this year, he developed complications from an infection which originated from the surgery undertaken on his neck and spine, and six weeks ago he ended up back in hospital with a lung infection. Two operations later, his surgeons have advised the luckless Fitzgerald he will have to undergo another two operations if he is to overcome the complications caused by the infection.

All we can say to Mick is - At Racingsight we wish you all the best, and hope to see you back giving us the benefit of your advise as soon as possible.

Johnston confident Shakesperian will rise to the occasion.

While all the talk about this weekend's Racing Post Trophy has centred on the potential clash between Aidan O'Brien's St Nicholas Abbey, Godolphin's Al Zir, John Dunlop's Elusive Pimpernel and Peter Chapple Hyam's Coordinated Cut, all the major pundits have overlooked the Mark Johnston trained Shakesperian - and this is a situation which suits the Yorkshire trainer.

Shakesperian has been progressive throughout the season, and on his last two outings he has picked up the Sandown Solario Stakes and the huge purse associated with his success in the Goffs Million Mile at the Curragh. After the latter race, the trainer also confirmed he would only run Shakesperian in the Racing Post Trophy if he had kept his form, and the word coming out of the Johnston yard four days prior to the Doncaster race suggests Shakesperian is 'bouncing'.

It is also worth noting, Johnston has a line on race favourite St Nicholas Abbey through the running of layali al Andalus in the Beresford Stakes, and Johnston has told anyone who will listen,

"I consider Shakesperian to be better than Layali al Andalus!"

Editor's Comment: Shakesperian is my favourite kind of dark horse, and I am glad to say publicly, the juvenile has provided me with some profit on his last two outings, and I will be having some each way action on him in the Racing Post Trophy - so make of that what you will.

Noseda joins Lynam in wish for Hong Kong invitation.

As we have reported over the last week, Edward Lynam is hoping Duff has done enough to qualify for an automatic invitation for the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile in December. Now Lynam is joined in that hope by Arabian Gleam's trainer Jeremy Noseda, who said today,

"I am hopeful Arabian Gleam's win in Saturday's Group 2 Victor Chandler Challenge Stakes will be enough to ensure an automatic invitation for the Hong Kong Mile. He is in fine form at the moment, and I would give him a big chance if he obtains an invitation, but I guess we will just have to cross our fingers for a few more days."

Fighting Fifth seasonal debut for Sublimity.

Following an operation on his palate earlier this year, top class hurdler Sublimity was only a short head behind Prix du Cadran winner Alandi in a Listed flat race, and trainer Robbie Hennessy is very happy with his nine year old ahead of an intended seasonal return in Newcastle's Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle on 28 November. Discussing his plans, Hennessy commented,

"After two fine races at the start of last season, Sublimity's performances tailed off, but we think we have now sorted what was a medical problem, and we would be very hopeful for the coming season. He has been back in training since the first of August, and his first target will be the wbx.com Fighting Fifthe Hurdle at Newcastle, and if he were to win it, we would seriously consider trying to win the million pound bonus by taking in the Christmas Hurdle and the Champion Hurdle. But at this stage, we will take it one step at a time."

Entry fee rules out Lahaleeb Breeders Cup attempt.

Despite automatically qualifying for the Breeders Cup when winning the E P Taylor Stakes in Canada at the weekend, connections of Lahaleeb have decided to forego the opportunity after they learnt they would have to pay a supplementary entry fee of $160,000 to allow their filly to run.

Navan spectators could witness Ninetieth Minute victory.

According to information released today by trainer Tom Taaffe, the Cheltenham Festival Coral Cup winner Ninetieth Minute is scheduled to make his seasonal come back in the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan in early November. One of the few hurdlers to defeat Solwit last season, Ninetieth Minute is likely to follow up on his Navan run with entries in several of the major long distance hurdles during the upcoming season, and with Kasbah Bliss's absence from the marathon hurdle races in 2009 2010, Ninetieth Minute could be the one to challenge the dominance of the Paul Nicholls trained Big Bucks.

Keniry sidelined for at least four months.

Over the last twenty four hours, jockey Barry Keniry has learnt from his orthopedic specialists the double fracture of his leg, which he suffered in a fall at Kelso on Saturday, will probably keep him off the track for at least four months. It is understood the double break has been pinned, but it will require considerable physiotherapy and remedial work before the jockey will be allowed to resume even the lightest riding duties.

David Gandolfo calls it a day.

For most of the fifty years he has held a trainers license, David Gandolfo has been producing winners. In fact, his record of over 1,500 career wins only tells half the story, as for much of his career he was known as the 'Wizard of Wantage', for he managed to produce a whole host of national hunt big race winners from his Oxfordshire base in Wantage.

However, three years ago he sold his Wantage yard to a property development company, and moved to his current smaller yard in Somerset, but after due consideration, the veteran trainer has decided to call it a day.

"Many of my old owners have either died or are no longer involved in racing, and while I may keep a few horses for my own amusement, I think the time has come to hand over my yard to a younger trainer."

With David Gandolfo's departure from the training scene, it leaves Reg Hollinshead as the longest serving trainer by some considerable margin, but it would seem octogenarian Reg has no plans to call it a day in the foreseeable future.

Nicholls enters strong team in jmwine.com Chase.

Twenty five leading steeplechasers have been entered for the jmwine.com Chase on 07 November at Down Royal, and at present, it looks possible Kauto Star will attempt to copy last season by starting with a win in the Northern Ireland Grade 1, before then moving on to the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.

However, Paul Nicholls is not making it easy for Kauto Star, for amongst the remaining entries he has included capable stable mates Taranis and My Will. The former has been absent from the track for some time due to injury, but bearing in mind he won the 2007 running of the jmwine.com Chase, he has definite top class ability, and could be a major danger if recapturing his pre injury form. While My Will is probably being prepared for the 2010 Grand National , he is also a very talented individual on a 'going day'.

Jonjo O'Neil is hopeful Albertas Run will recapture his Arkel Trophy winning form of 2008, and if that proved to be correct, he would be a major threat to Kauto Star at Down Royal.

All of the other British entrants; The Listener, Joe Lively, Darkness, Money Trix and Roll Along also have claims on there very best form.

Amongst the home contingent, Jim Dreaper's progressive Welsh Grand National and Guinness Gold Cup winner Notra Pere would have every chance if the going at Down Royal becomes soft. While former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner War of Attrition and the Willie Mullins trained Snowy Morning have place claims on their best 2008 2009 form.

However, the most interesting Irish based entrant could be the former smart novice In Compliance. Off the track for nearly two years due to injury, during which time he was transferred from Michael O'Brien's yard to the stables of Dessie Hughes, In Compliance could be a serious adversary to Kauto Star if his new trainer has managed to return him to his former level of fitness and ability.

Black Apalachi has Aintree Grand National agenda.

Dessie Hughes was adamant after April's Grand National, Black Apalachi would have won if he had not unseated Denis O'Regan at Becher's Brook on the second circuit, and the trainer is so determined to ensure his charge has every chance of winning the 2010 running of the Aintree centrepiece, he is gearing Black Apalachi's whole campaign with the one race in mind.

"He will not run until after Christmas, and then we will start with a hurdle, and providing he comes through that unscathed, we will try to repeat his win in the Bobbyjo Chase prior to a run in the Grand National. If we can get him there fresh and in one piece, I am very hopeful he can pull off the victory we think he deserves after last year's effort."

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