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Eastern Aria wins at St Cloud.

Mark Johnston made a successful raid to St Cloud this afternoon, when his Halling filly Eastern Aria ran on strongly over the last couple of furlongs to take the mile and a half Listed Prix Joubert by two and a half lengths from German filly Superstition.

After the race jockey Joe Fanning said,

"I was always confident, and she did it very nicely when I asked her to quicken. I would imagine she will win a Group race before the end of the season."

Five to battle for crown.

After today's 48 hour decleration stage, only five horses remain entered in Ascot's Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, but what the race is missing in quantity it certainly makes up for in terms of quality.

Group 1 Sussex Stakes winner Rip Van Winkle is suprisingly joined in the line up for Saturday's race by St James's Palace Stakes winner and stable mate Mastercraftsman. While Godolphin's Celebration Mile victor Delegator is very highly regarded by connections, and would seem to be on a stronger up curve than fellow three year old Zacinto.

But the three year olds may all have to beat the sole four year old in the field, the William Haggas trained Aqlaam. Hamdan al Maktoum's horse has improved all season long, and in his last two runs he managed to finish as runner up to wonder filly Goldikova, before going on to land the Prix du Moulin. Add to that the fact he has won the Group 2 Summer Mile on the Berkshire course earlier in the year, and it has to be said, if he is continuing to improve, one of the three year old's may have to be very special to deny Aqlaam his first Group 1 success on home ground.

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Our information concerning Mastercraftsman suggests he is only in the race in case Rip Van Winkle has an unexpected setback, so he must still be regarded as an unlikely runner.

Long Lashes will have to sweep aside eight rivals.

If Godolphin's Irish import Long Lashes is to return to the winners enclosure after the Meon Valley Stud Fillies Mile this weekend, she is going to have to dispose of eight rivals.

After today's 48 hour declerations for the Ascot race, Curragh and Newmarket winner Long Lashes has to face several interesting fillies, including; Aidan O'Brien's lightly raced You'll be mine, the John Gosden representative Dyna Waltz, and the Barry Hills trained Sent From Heaven, both of whom go into Saturday's contest off wins in their respective last races.

Clive Brittain seems very bullish about Hibaayeb after her recent second in Doncaster's May Hill Stakes, and the field is made up by - Blue Angel, Lady Darshaan, Mutaadaah, and french raider Chantilly Creme.

Leahurst to miss Totesport Challenge Cup.

As we warned yesterday, the Jeremy Noseda trained Leahurst, who was anti post favourite for this weekend's Totesport Challenge Cup, is now a definite non-runner. The trainer has confirmed the expected fast ground at Ascot is totally unsuitable, and connections will now look for an alternative target on softer ground.

Suprise announcement about War of Attrition.

Having had a relatively indifferent 2008 2009 national hunt campaign after an enforced two year injury absence, it had been expected Mouse Morris would announce the retirement of 2006 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner War of Attrition.

However, Morris has today indicated he is very happy with the ten year old's current form on his home gallops, and the decision has been taken to prepare him for another campaign, with the possible first target being the John Durkan Chase in December.

Notra Pere could take on Kauto Star.

Jim Dreaper believes Notra Pere will only prove himself a top steeplechaser if he can take on and defeat the best horses in the best races. With this in mind, Dreaper is considering the possibility of allowing his eight year old Welsh Grand National winner to go head to head with Kauto Star in this November's renewal of the jnwine.com Chase at Down Royal.

Mixed messages over British Arc runners.

While Sir Michael Stoute's Conduit limbered up for the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe with a strong workout over nine furlongs on Sandown racecourse this morning, the connections of Dar re mi submitted their appeal against her disqualification from first position in the Prix Vermeille.

While Conduit showed his well being by pulling two and a half lengths clear of the highly regarded filly Crystal Capella, Lord Lloyd Webber was informed he would have to wait until next Tuesday before he can expect a decision on behalf of the owners of Dar re mi.

On the face of it, Conduit is in prime position to put in his effort at Longchamp, while Dar re mi will only run in the Arc if her owners feel the french authorities are even handed and reasonable, and in this case, it means they will expect the disqualification issued against Dar re mi to be rescinded. If this does not happen, which is the likely outcome, then Dar re mi will not line up in this year's Prix de L''Arc de Triomphe.

Kavanagh hoping to return next month.

Four months and three operations after smashing his pelvis in a fall at Bangor on dee, Wayne Kavanagh has been told by his own specialists he will be fit enough to return to race riding some time next month.

However, Kavanagh now has to convince the BHA Medical Officer, Doctor Michael Turner of his well-being before he will be granted permission to return to the saddle, and as we know from the case involving jockey Hayley Turner, Doctor Turner (no relation), can be pedantic at times.

No more from Patkai this season.

Sir Michael Stoute had been hoping to give Ascot Gold Cup runner up Patkai a seasonal finale in the Prix du Cadran at Longchamp, but a setback in training has ruled out any such option. It is understood the four year old will receive medical treatment before being sent to the winter paddocks, but connections are very hopeful he will return in 2010 to go one better in Ascot's long distance centrepiece.

Later return for Voy Por Ustedes.

Barry Simpson, racing manager for owner Sir Robert Ogden has indicated the owner's top class eight year old chaser Voy Por Ustedes, last seen winning the John Smiths sponsered Melling Chase for a second consecutive year, will not be ready in time to compete in this season's Old Roan Chase on 24 October back at Aintree.

Voy Por Ustedes started his 2008 2009 campaign by finishing fourth behind Nowhere in last year's Old Roan Chase, but Simpson admits,

"As he gets older, it takes him longer to get into tip top condition, and we will just have to find him a suitable race when he is ready to compete."

Darren Williams likely to have his license request rejected.

As we intimated in our news story yesterday, Darren Williams, the jockey involved in the race fixing quartet with messrs Lynch, Burke and Rogers, is likely to have his application for a new riding license to be blocked by the BHA Licensing Panel when he goes in front of them next week.

Williams, aged 30, will end his three month suspension from race riding at the end of this week, and he had assumed his license re-application would be a formality, but it is our understanding his request for a new riding license will be rejected under the rules relating to 'unfit persons'.

If this is the case, Williams could consider applying for a license to ride in another country, but with the BHA rejecting his application, there is no guarantee he would be accepted anywhere else.

Ghanaati ruled out of QE II.

As we suggested earlier in the week, Ghanaati is to miss the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, with Hamdan al Maktoum relying on Aqlaam as his sole representative in the Group 1 contest.

After another boost Twice Over could be Champion bound.

Henry Cecil's highly tried Twice Over completed his second successive victory when coming home two and a half lengths in front of Perfect Stride in yesterday's First Drinks Brands Foundation Stakes at Goodwood, and as a result of his second consecutive win, serious consideration is now being given to stepping him back up in class, with a possible tilt at the Group 1 Champion Stakes at Newmarket now on the cards.

The four year old had done his best in many top class races over the last eighteen months, but he seemed to have lost his confidence by failing to get his head in front in the majority of his races. In an attempt to rebuild his appetite for racing, the Cecil camp have given him successive opportunities to rediscover the winning thread, and Twice Over has responded in good style, first winning a Conditions race, and yesterday taking his Listed contest in impressive style.

After Wednesday's success, a spokesperson for the Cecil yard said,

"Henry will give due consideration to the Champion Stakes, but where-ever he goes next, he is in a much better frame of mind to do himself justice at the highest level."

Scenic Blast off to Japan.

The Golden Jubilee Stakes winner Scenic Blast has now left his temporary training base in Newmarket, and will next be seen in public when he runs in the Group 1 Sprinter Stakes at Nakayama in Japan on 04 October. The race represents the next leg of the worldwide sprinter challenge, and it proceeds similar races in America, Hong Kong and Australia.

Apprentice Jan Wilson laid to rest.

At a ceremony attended by over 250 mourners at Forfar Parish Church, apprentice Jan Wilson, who along with fellow apprentice Jamie Kyne was killed in the suspected arson attack on her accommodation, was yesterday laid to rest.

Editor's comment: Quite simply, the staff at Racingsight would like to send their condolences and best wishes to all the family and friends of Jan Wilson.

Retraining of Racehorses obtains royal patron.

HRH Princess Haya of Jordan has agreed to become the first Patron to the Retraining of Racehorses charity.

Founded in 2000, the charity raises funds from within the racing industry to enable them to assess and retrain former racehorses for competition in dressage, showjumping, eventing, and horse shows.

In many ways this patronage is symbiotic, as The Princess, along with her husband Sheikh Mohammed, have had a sustained interest in the charity, and many of their retired racehorses have passed through the charity's gates over the past few years.

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