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Coronation Cup moved to Derby Day for this year.
Following discussions with interested parties, officials at Epsom have today confirmed they will be moving the Investec sponsored Coronation Cup to Derby Day in honour of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
The Surrey course are to hold the first celebrations of Her Majesty’s sixtieth anniversary year as monarch, with the Queen attending Derby Day, as she did just 3 days after her coronation as British and commonwealth ruler sixty years previously.
The Investec sponsored Group One coronation Cup is usually one of the main highlights of the Friday meeting, but this year it is to be included in the same Saturday programme as the Investec Derby, and for this year only, it will be called the Diamond Jubilee Coronation Cup.
Epsom Managing Director, Rupert Trevelyan, said:
“We are delighted to announce the name change for this year’s Coronation Cup, and it’s transfer to Derby Day in recognition of her majeesty’s Diamond Jubilee Year.
“We are proud to acknowledge the longevity of support and enthusiasm her majesty has shown to Epsom over the last sixty years, and we look forward to a spectacular day in June for the whole nation to enjoy.”
Johnston backs De Souza’s move to Godolphin.
Trainer Mark Johnston, who provided the majority of Sylvestre de souza’s winners in his break-through season in 2011, has stated, in his opinion, the jockey is making a smart move to join the Godolphin team.
Johnston provided De Souza with 70 winning rides as he went on to finish second to Paul Hannigan in last season’s British Flat Jockeys Championship, and the Middleham trainer has indicated he would still like to use the Brazilian jockey’s talents when he is not riding for his new employers.
Johnston oversees a large string of horses for Godolphin supremo Sheikh Mohammed’s son – Sheikh Hamden bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, and the best of these usually graduate to the Godolphin operation.
De souza is currently riding in Dubai, and he will soon link up alongside Frankie Dettori in the famous Royal Blue silks of Godolphin, with Mark Jonston remarking on the overall situation:
“I’m sorry to see Sylvestre go, but there’s no question he’s making the right decision.
“We sat down and chatted about things before he went to Dubai, as I thought originally he would be back with me this year, but I understand he has been made a great offer.
“When we spoke, I said to him, apart from becoming Champion Jockey, it’s important to get rides in top class races if you want to be recognised as one of the top jockeys, and I have no doubt he will now have the opportunity to do that.”
Joe Fanning, who obtained 43 winners for Johnston last year, has been the Middleham trainer’s ‘go-to man’ during the recent all-weather campaign, and while he looks likely to be busy during the summer, Johnston has also indicated he would like to offer rides to Frankie Dettori and Sylvestre de souza when they are not riding for Godolphin.
Grandouet still a possible for Champion Hurdle.
Nicky Henderson is of the opinion Grandouet could still run in the Stan James sponsored Champion Hurdle at next month’s Cheltenham Festival after undergoing apparently successful surgery on his near hind leg last night.
The five-year-old was due to have his Festival prep run in last Saturday’s Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton, but Grandouet was withdrawn at the 24 hour decleration stage after banging his leg in his box on Thursday night.
Updating the situation today, Nicky Henderson said:
“He had a bit of surgery last night to flush an infected hind fetlock joint. It’s a peculiar one. It’s not everyday stuff, and there’s no wound or anything.
“The vet flushed out the infection inside the joint not outside it, and it all seemed to go well. As a consequence, he was much more comfortable this morning, and he was sound when walking on it.
“He won’t do anything today, but happily, he hasn’t missed anything significant to date.
“Last Friday, when we discovered it, he had a day off, and Saturday he was due to race. Since then, he has had a couple of days swimming.
“Fortunately, it reacted yesterday, and having done the surgery, we’re now going to have to monitor it, and then see how we get on. We’re going to give it every chance, and we’ll keep everyone posted on what we’re doing.
“We’ve relieved the pressure on the joint, and if that holds, all could be well.
“He was very fit last Thursday, and at the moment we’re not missing anything. He can only have so many days off, so it may become a concern, but so long as he’s back in work by this weekend, he’s still got a chance of running in the Champion Hurdle.”
Super will not be on Duty at cheltenham.
Donald McCain’s impressive recent Ascot winner Super Duty will not be heading to the Cheltenham next month.
The six-year-old was an impressive winner of his first two outings over timber at Carlisle and Haydock, and while he suffered a heavy fall whengoing for the hat-trick at Ayr in January, he showed he had suffered no ill effects when giving weight and a sound beating to the well-regarded Nicky Henderson inmate Keys at Ascot.
Despite this recent success, Donald McCain feels his charge is not yet ready to deal with the hustle and bustle of the Cheltenham festival, with the trainer explaining:
“He’s a grand young horse, and a fine hurdling prospect, but he won’t be going to the cheltenham Festival this year.
“Possibly he could go to Aintree, but we’ll see nearer the time.
“We knew he was a horse who was playing at it a bit, and it was nice for him to go down south and beat some better horses, but undoubtedly, the better ground suited him as well.”
McCain’s other weekend winner at Ascot - Bourne - is set to go to the Cheltenham Festival, with the trainer confirming:
“He’ll probably run in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle on Gold Cup Day.
“He went up 10 lb for winning on Saturday, and that should be enough to get him into the race. It’s great for his owners to have a runner at the Festival.”
Peaceful demise for Royal Academy.
The death was announced today of former top racehorse and sire Royal academy at the ripe old age of twenty five.
Royal Academy won the Group One July Cup, but he will be best remembered for his success in the 1990 Breeders Cup Mile, where he provided Lester Piggott with a quick-fire Grade One success not long after the legendary jockey was released from a period of incarsiration following tax offences.
Royal Academy, who while he lived, provided a direct link to Nijinsky and trainer Vincent O’Brien, died at coolmore Stud in Australia, where he spent the last part of his life.
Coolmore representative John Magnier said today:
“It’s very sad, as Royal academy has been a great servant to Coolmore. He spent the last five years of his life here in Australia, the last two years in retirement.
“He was amazingly prolific, siring over 160 Stakes winners, with his progeny earning over US$120 million. He produced a wide range of winners over all distances and ages, but I suspect his greatest legacy will be the speed he passed on to his immediate decendants, with wonder mare Black Caviar being sired by one of his sons. While champion sire elect – Fastnet Rock – is out of one of his daughters.”
Dubai no longer on Caviar agenda.
Connections of Black Caviar have confirmed she is to skip a trip to Dubai for a proposed run on World Cup Night, and instead, the Australian wonder-mare is to be given a long rest before taking up her option to run in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.
Black Caviar completed her nineteenth undefeated run in the Lightning Stakes at Flemington last Saturday, but the initial plan to run her again this coming Saturday over 7 furlongs in the Futurity Stakes at Caulfield has been scrapped, with her trainer explaining:
“Black Caviar will not be seeking her record breaking twentieth consecutive win in the Futurity Stakes this coming Saturday at Caulfield, nor in next month’s Newmarket Handicap, nor for that matter, at Dubai on World Cup Night, nor anywhere else for the next two months.
“There’s nothing wrong with her. On the contrary, she’s at the top of her game, but we’re now gearing her up to be at her peak when she flies across to England for the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.
“The owners have had their eyes on the Royal Ascot race for some time, and all is being tailored like a Savill Row suit to get her ready for the race on 23 June.
“After she’s had her break, we’ll be looking to let her get her record breaking win in either Adelaide or Brisbane, then she’ll have just over two weeks back at my Caulfield stables before we fly off to England three weeks before the Diamond Jubilee.
“I’m really looking forward to getting her ready to take on the Poms at Ascot, and I reckon Black Caviar will show them a thing or two.”
Hughes using Bobbyjo Chase as a stepping-stone.
Dessie Hughes has confirmed he is using this Saturday’s Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse as a stepping-stone for future races for his three entrants in the Grade Two contest.
Hughes has virtually made the Bobbyjo Chase his own in recent times, training the winner three times in the last four years, and this season the County Kildaire handler has entered Black Apilachi, Rare Bob, and Magnanimity.
Black Apilachi and Rare Bob are both being aimed at the John Smiths Aintree Grand National, while Magnanimity has entries in the Ryanair Chase and the Gold Cup at next month’s Cheltenham Festival.
Black Apilachi certainly looks as if he will be the one who benefits the most from this coming Saturday’s outing, as he has not been seen on a racecourse since finishing second in the 2010 Aintree Grand National, and discussing his charge with ATR, Hughes said:
“Black Apilachi will certainly need the run, but he’s in good form, and he’s ready to run. Providing all goes well on Saturday, the plan would be to give him another run over hurdles before going to Liverpool. He’s proved himself there before, and he ran a tremendous race in the National two years ago when finishing as runner-up to Don’t Push It.”
Based on his run over the unique National fences earlier in the season, Hughes also feels Rare Bob could be the right sort for the Grand National, with the trainer explaining:
“We were delighted with the way he ran at Liverpool in early December. He jumped impeccably, but the testing ground was against him that day, and he tired over the last two fences. Up to that point, he looked a dream of a ride for Paddy Brennan, and we all feel he’ll make a National horse.”
Hughes admits he is getting into the last chance saloon with Magnanimity, for after a reasonable run in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas, he made blunders which saw him come home last of the finishers in the recent Hennessy Gold Cup back at the dublin venue, and discussing Magnanimity, Hughes said:
“I was reasonably happy with his run in the Lexus Chase, but when he ran in the Hennessy he made two major blunders, and the bad mistake at the fourth last ruled him out of contention.
“It’s not ideal to be running him in the Bobbyjo, as it’s so close to cheltenham, but we have to see more of him, and I suppose we could always look at running him in the Irish National.”
Charm to be remembered by Sandown Memorial Race.
Oliver Sherwood’s popular staying chaser Eric’s Charm is to be remembered in a race named in his honour at Sandown this coming Friday.
The Eric’s Charm Handicap Chase will be run over three miles, and is being staged in honour of the gelding who was fatally injured during a fall at Newbury last March, but who was a standing dish at Sandown, winning 3 staying handicap steeplechases, as well as obtaining several placed positions during his 10 career runs at the Esher track.
Oliver sherwood said:
It’s an honour to have a race named after Eric’s Charm. He was a very special horse who really loved Sandown Park. He really was as tough a horse as I’ve trained.”
Sandown’s Director of Racing, Andrew cooper, said:
“Eric’s Charm became a real favourite with the race-goers, and he certainly excelled here. It’s now a pleasure to name a race after him.”
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