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Hannon to give Monsieur an unexpected outing.
Most pundits had expected Richard Hannon to keep three time winner Monsieur Chevalier on ice for his proposed run at Royal Ascot, but the trainer has other ideas. He feels the two year old is so laid back, leaving him out of action for too long could prove detrimental, and having discussed options with connections, the decision has been made to go for this Thursday's Listed Bluesquare Casino's National Stakes at Sandown Park.
If he is successful on Thursday evening, Monsieur Chevalier will have to carry a penalty in the Windsor Castle Stakes, but he could still run in the Norfolk Stakes at the royal meeting without the extra burden of a penalty.
Another useful looking recruit for O'Brien.
Disregarding the soft underfoot conditions, the Aidan O'Brien juvenile Kingdom Of Munster put in a pleasing first run at this afternoon's Tipperary meeting. With his head in front for most of today's Maiden event, he quickened in the final furlong, going on to win by a length and a half. The manner of today's victory suggests there is plenty to come from this particular two year old, and his breeding would suggest he may be even more effective on good ground.
Aga Khan colt Beheshtam looks impressive.
Having won his maiden race just three weeks ago, the Aga Khan owned Beheshtam stepped up to Listed class in this afternoon's Prix de L'avra, and despite a small margin of victory, he seemed to toy with his rivals in the final furlong, suggesting he won with plenty in reserve.
After the race, trainer Alin de Royer-Dupre indicated the smart three year old prospect would now go for the Prix du Lys on 14 June, and if he comes through that test, he will go forward to the Grand Prix de Paris back at Longchamp in July.
Hurdlers to mount flat challenge.
In an interesting move, trainer Robbie Hennessy has decided to give Sublimity and Donegal their seasonal finale's on the flat. Both of the hurdlers are to run in this Thursday's Listed Seamus and Rosemary Mcgrath Memorial Saval Beg Stakes at Leopardstown.
It would appear the trainer means business in the mile and three quarters race, as he has booked Seamus Heffernan to ride Sublimity, while Declan McDonogh has been booked to ride Donegal.
Velazquez to replace severely injured Douglas at Royal Ascot.
Following his plane crash in the year 2000, Frankie Dettori had several replacement jockeys at that year's Royal Ascot meeting, and amongst the alternatives selected by Godolphin was American jockey John Velazquez.
In a strange twist of fate, Velazquez has been called on again for Royal Ascot duty, this time by trainer Wesley Ward, who has had to find a replacement for his normal jockey Rene Douglas, the latter having suffered such severe crush injuries during a race this weekend, he may never walk again.
Having had valuable experience of the Ascot courses in 2000, Velazquez is now due to ride sprinter Cannonball in one or both of the major Group 1 sprints on the Royal Ascot five day racing programme. He will also ride the top picks amongst the four juveniles Ward is bringing to Ascot for the top two year old races.
Standing Dish Take Over Target arrives.
Ten time Group 1 winning Australian sprinter Take Over Target this morning arrived at his temporary home at Newmarket, where he will undergo quarantine and acclimatisation procedures prior to his regular appearances at Royal Ascot. Now a favourite with the Ascot crowds, this is Take Over Target's fourth visit for the royal meeting, and when not winning either the Kings Stand or Golden Jubilee Stakes, he has been the each way punters pal, mostly obtaining placed positions in both of the major sprints on each of his visits to Britain.
Stoute big two stand their ground for Sandown.
2008 St Leger and Breeders Cup Turf winner Conduit will have to face twelve rivals in Thursday evening's Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown Park. Although having to give four pounds to all of his rivals, including John Gosden's very useful yardstick Pipe Dreamer, Conduit's main problem on Thursday could be the inadequate trip on his first outing of the season.
On the same card, stable mate and Ascot Gold Cup favourite Patkai, will face five rivals in the Henry II Stakes. This race will be a very useful pointer to next month's Gold Cup, as Patkai has the opportunity to show how good he is against last year's Ascot Gold Cup runner-up Geordieland, and also recent winner Tastahil.
Sir Michael casts doubt over Leocorno Oaks bid.
With Sunday's Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Again already a major doubt for the Investec Epsom Oaks, the racecourse and sponsors obtained another potential blow to the fillies middle distance classic, as it emerged yesterday afternoon, Sir Michael Stoute is having serious doubts over running Leocorno at Epsom on 05 June.
The experienced and canny trainer is thought to have reservations over Leocorno coping with the Epsom course, added to that, she is still relatively inexperienced, and a run at the Royal Ascot meeting is now emerging as a serious alternative to potential participation in the Group 1 Oaks.
Emily Blake now has limited options.
Apart from obvious delight at success in Saturday's Curragh Tri Equestrian Stakes, trainer and breeder John Hayden has the extra delight of knowing winner Emily Blake is in foal.
The five year old mare is in excellent form at present, and Saturday's all the way win over classy opposition came on top of her victory in Leopardstown's Athasi Stakes earlier in the month.
The problem connections now have is finding suitable races for the mare on her preferred soft or heavy going, Particularly as being in foal means there is a limited window of opportunity for future races. Speaking on behalf of his father John , J J Hayden said,
"We are in no hurry to give her another run, but I suppose if the ground came up soft at Fairyhouse on 01 July, then the Brownstown Stakes for fillies and mares would be an obvious target".
No representation at Royal Ascot?
Sir Mark Prescott has confirmed in a recent interview his horses are all well below par at present, and the trainer has decided to give his charges' a two week break from racing.
When asked if he would be represented at the Royal Ascot meeting next month, he replied,
"Unless we can identify the current problem and put it right, It is looking unlikely at the moment".
Rachel Alexandra has spin in the rain.
Yesterday at Churchill Downs, Kentucky Oaks and Preakness Stakes winner Rachel Alexandra was having her first training gallop since her recent Pimlico victory, but after just an eighth of a mile she was caught in a heavy downpour, but as is the nature of the plucky filly, she galloped on as the track became muddy and slippery around her. Despite the freak squall, she completed her planned half mile exercise, and afterwards, she was said to be 'fine and dandy'.
The wonder filly is due to have a second gallop next week, and it is her performance in that exercise which will determine whether connections decide to go for the third leg of the American triple crown - the Belmont Stakes at Belmont racecourse in New York.
Hamilton leading the way in attracting new spectators.
If nothing else, the current recession is giving the marketing people at british racecourses the opportunity to attract new spectators into the sport, and Hamilton Park are full of innovative ideas.
This coming Friday, the race meeting will have to added attractions. Firstly, an on-course Farmers Market will enable all visitors to purchase the very best in local produce before they depart the course, while locall born three times World Snooker Champion John Higgins will be the racecourses guest of honour, and he will present the prizes to the winning connectionsfor the Wizard of Wishaw Handicap, a new race named in his honour.
Then on Thursday 04 June, the race meeting will be supplemented by the Hamilton Motor Show, where custom built cars, and the latest models from makers such as; Jaguar, Bentley, BMW and Suzuki will be on show, giving all race-goers the opportunity to inspect top makes of cars in between the racing action.
This multi specticle approach to attracting new race-goers could well prove to be a great idea, and many other racecourses may well be watching the results of the Hamilton experiment with great interest.
Kilbeggan genral manager unhappy with replacement fixture policy.
Paddy Dunican, the general manager of Kilbeggan racecourse, has launched a scathing attack on the current policy regarding the re-arranging of abandoned fixtures in the Irish racing calendar.
Under new regulations, racecourses only have seven days from the date of an abandonment to agree a replacement date with Horse Racing Ireland, but Dunican believes this is too short a period for the smaller courses, as they rely much more on volunteer and part-time staff, and it takes time to organise a suitable date which is agreeable to the army of helpers which enable the smaller courses to function.
In a terse statement, Dunican has made it clear to HRI, if they do not change the new regulation, it could sound the death knell to several of the smaller racecourses in Ireland.
Commanche Court dies aged sixteen.
It is sad to report, the former Ted Walsh trained top national hunt horse Commanche Court has died at the age of sixteen. Second to Best Mate in the 2002 Cheltenham Gold Cup, the son of Commanche Run had previously been a winner of the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham, while in 2000 he won the Irish Grand National and Punchestown Gold Cup in the same season.
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