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Suprise entry for Sea The Stars.
In a suprise move, connections of Sea The Stars have entered the 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Derby and Coral Eclipse winner amongst the forty two initial declared horses for the one mile Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on 26 September.
It seems only bottomless ground will prevent Sea The Stars from running in the Juddmonte International at York's Ebor Meeting, but this possible reversion to the mile trip in September has caught many pundits by suprise.
Sole George Washington filly to go on sale.
The only progeny of the ill fated George Washington, a bay filly produced with Rainbow Quest mare Flawlessly, will go on sale at this year's October Tattersalls Sales.
With her sire having won four Group 1 races, including the 2,000 Guineas, there is certain to be huge interest in this sole heiress of the Ballydoyle favourite, and bidding is expected to be brisk.
Main Aim leads entries for Betfair Cup.
Nineteen horses have been confirmed as entrants for the highlight of day one of Glorious Goodwood - the Group 2 Betfair Cup.
The field is led by Sir Michael Stoute's July Cup runner up Main Aim, while Barry Hills will rely on the very progressive Jersey Stakes winner Ouqbaa.
Marcus Tregonning is hoping Finjaan's return to the scene of his Malcomb Stakes victory last year will help him to rekindle his form after injury and virus problems have wrecked his early season preparations.
With fancied entries from Godolphin and Peter Chapple Hyam also in the line-up, this year's Betfair Cup looks as difficult a renewal as mormal to predict the eventual winner over the fast seven furlong course.
Sir Michael leaving it to Moore.
Although the trainer seems increasingly bullish about the chances of Conduit, apparently, Sir Michael Stoute has decided to leave it up to Ryan Moore to pick between Conduit and Tartan Bearer in Saturday's Betfair sponsered King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and while earlier in the week, Moore seemed certain to pick Conduit, it now seems the decision is not so clear cut.
Cima connections change their minds again.
Originally, Luca Cumani suggested Cima de Triomphe would miss the Betfair sponsered King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in favour of a run in the Arlington Million in the United States, but then it looked like he would run at Ascot. But today, confirmation has been forthcoming of a final change of plans, and the Brigadier Gerard Stakes winner will miss Saturday's Group 1 at Ascot in favour of a run in America.
Fareer out of Abu Dhabi Handicap.
Royal Ascot winner Fareer has today been ruled out of the running for Saturday's Abu Dhabi International Handicap at Ascot. The absence of one of the fancied horses for the ultra competitive handicap is likely to increase the support for the two market leaders; Captain Brilliance and Roaring Forte.
Weld uncertain of Conquest tomorrow.
Earlier in the current flat season, the Dermot Weld trained Casual Conquest followed up a good effort behind Bronze Cannon in the Jockey Club Cup with a very impressive victory in the Tattersalls Gold Cup.
However, that was two months ago, and Dermot Weld believes his four year old will need the run in tomorrow's Meld Stakes at Leopardstown before he returns to full race fitness.
"Since his planned summer break, he has done some work at home, but he will need tomorrow's race to loosen him up. We are looking more towards the important races in the autumn, and the Meld Stakes is a stepping stone on the road to his main targets", Weld added,
"We definitely have the Arc de Triomphe in mind, but we will have to see how he goes over the next couple of months before we make a final decision on Longchamp in October".
Ward targeting more British juvenile success.
California based trainer Wesley Ward proved at Royal Ascot his two year olds have to be feared when entered in British races, so punters will be interested to note he has now entered Mississippi Hippie and Frankie Cal in the Group 1 Shadwell Stud Middle Park Stakes, and filly Crimson Glory in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes, both six furlong contests to be run at Newmarket on 02 October.
The Cheveley Park Stakes could prove to be one of the most informative fillies races of the whole season, for apart from the Wesley Ward entry, Clive Brittain has also decided to enter recent Cherry Hinton winner Misheer, who on her races so far, looks like the filly to beat over the six furlong trip on potentially soft ground.
Galway specialist Ansar retired.
Dermot Weld announced this morning, thirteen year old Ansar, who included seven career wins at Galway, including two Galway Plates and one Galway Hurdle, has been retired from racing and is now enjoying retirement in North Dublin.
Paco Boy leads line-up in Park Stakes.
At today's closing date for the DFS sponsered Group 2 Park Stakes at Doncaster on 12 September, 51 horses have been entered into the seven furlong contest, with the winner for the last two years Arabian Gleam looking like he might need to overcome Queen Anne Stakes winner Paco Boy if he is to complete a hattrick of victories in this particular race.
Having not found a stud home so far for Major Cadeaux, Richard Hannon has included him in the list of entrants for a race in which he finished second last year, but with Paco Boy also in the race, and with the fact Hannon doubted earlier in the season Major Cadeaux would run again, it seems an unlikely prospect he will actually line up for the Hannon yard in this prestigious Group 2.
Connections keen on Famous Name for Deauville.
Prince Khalid Abdullah's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe has indicated connections are seriously dropping Famous Name back to a mile for the Group 2 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville in August. When asked about the proposal, trainer Dermot Weld said,
"He has always done well when dropped back in trip, and a mile on potentially softish going at Deauville might prove to be a very smart move."
Balding dreaming of Champagne success.
It appears the Jeff Smith owned Dream Speed is being aimed by handler Andrew Balding at two important champagne titled races in the remainder of the current flat season. Initially the Sandown Park winner will compete in the Veuve Clicquot sponsered Vintage Stakes at Goodwood, and if he performs well in that particular Group 3 contest, he will go forward to the Group 2 DFS sponsered Champagne Stakes at Doncaster on 12 September. Speaking today, Balding said,
"Very little has come out of his Sandown race so far, but we think he is a useful type, and we decided to enter him in the Champagne Stakes, as we think he will be capable of winning a Group 2 in due course. We will see how he goes in the Vintage Stakes before we make a final decision, but I must admit we are fairly hopeful he will prove to be very useful".
Crowley thanks Paul Cashman for Bangor record.```
When Brian Crowley set the record for the longest priced winner at Bangor upon dee on Tuesday, he immediately thanked Irish trainer Paul Cashman for encouraging him to return to race riding. For after breaking his neck in a fall from Real Cracker in 2004, Crowley took ten months to recover, during which time he started to struggle with his weight. When he did eventually return to the saddle, Sam Thomas was picking up most of the good rides for Venetia Williams, so Crowley decided to quit race riding on Valentines Day in 2006.
After working in several horse related jobs in his native Ireland, he eventually ended up at Paul Cashman's stable at the back end of last year, and in January of this year, Cashman asked Crowley to undertake exercising of his horses, and then he encouraged him to re-start his racing career, which Crowley did when re-applying for his jockey's license in May of this year.
Exhibiting the excellent comradeship of the national hunt weighing room, his colleagues riding at Bangor came out to give him a round of applause when he entered the Bangor winners enclosure aboard the Paul Flynn trained Ten Or More after Tuesday's winning ride. Later 28 year old Crowley commented,
"I want to thank Paul Cashman for all his encouragement, and although I am very happy to ride a winner again, I wish it could have been for Paul".
"Having proved I can still win on even long priced horses, I would once more like to obtain the opportunity to ride some quality horses, particularly if I could win a big race riding for Paul Cashman".
Gallagher bullish over Mac Gille Eoin Stewards Cup chances.
The new six furlong Epsom course record holder Mac Gille Eoin is reported to be in rude health by handler John Gallagher ahead of his intended run in the Stewards Cup at Glorious Goodwood. Placed fifth in last year's running of the ultra competitive handicap, the five year old has already won on two occasions at Goodwood, and Gallagher believes if he gets good going, he will go very close in this year's running of the six furlong Heritage Handicap.
Burke preparing Lord Shanakill for potential Group 1 swansong.
Despite his impending ban from racing, Yorkshire based trainer Karl Burke is reported to be very happy with Lord Shanakill ahead of his intended run in Glorious Goodwood's Group 1 Sussex Stakes. The three year old has already won a Group 1 in France this year, but if he were to be successful in the Sussex Stakes, it could create a major story, which would be most unwelcome to racing officials in light of Burke's recent banning by the BHA.
Ascot hopeful of ideal going.
With rain showers due to fall over the next two days, Ascot officials are anticipating the going for Saturday's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes meeting should be ideal for all potential runners, with the ground being generally good, with good to firm patches in places.
Benbaun in line for his favourite race.
The old phrase, 'horses for courses' could not be more appropriate for sprinter Benbaun and his beloved Curragh. The eight year old's win earlier this season in the Group 3 Sapphire Stakes was his eighth track success at the Curragh, and trainer Kevin Ryan is now eyeing Benbaun's favourite race as a potential September target.
Benbaun won the Group 3 Flying Five Sprint in three consecutive years between 2005 and 2007, but he did not run in the race last year due to the upheavel involved in his transfer from former trainer Mark Wallace to Kevin Ryan.
However, with his charge now fully settled, Ryan is hoping 'normal service will be resumed' when Benbaun lines up for his favourite race at the Curragh in September.
BBC favouring digital viewers.
It appears the BBC are now exhibiting favouritism to their digital viewers in relation to their coverage of future race meetings. This Sunday's coverage of Ascot is to be joined by the Saturday coverage of the Longchamp Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe meeting in only being available behind the red button on digital hand controls.
We accept the BBC may want to encourage the general public to switch over to digital coverage as soon as possible, but while analog terrestrial television remains prevalent in certain areas, the Corporation should tailor its service to the needs of the majority of license fee payers, and that means coverage on terrestrial channels until the final switch over to digital takes place in 2011.
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