Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

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Viz firing ahead of Guineas test.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Sat

Eddie Lynam reports Viztoria to be ready for her Classic appointment in the Etihad Airways Irish 1,000 Guineas on Sunday.

The daughter of Oratorio defeated Snow Queen by seven and a half lengths at the Curragh in September before finishing second in a Group Two at Maisons-Laffitte, and has already shown she has trained on by winning the Group Three Athasi Stakes, also on this track, on her reappearance.

"She's unbeaten here in Ireland and the only time she has been beaten was in France," said the County Meath trainer.

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Banoffee added to Oaks field.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Sat

Hughie Morrison's Banoffee has been formally supplemented for next Friday's Investec Oaks at Epsom.

Her owners had been widely expected to come up with the £30,000 required to add the daughter of Hurricane Run to the field, having won both her starts so far.

She started off in a maiden at Newbury in mid-April and successfully stepped up in class when coming with a late finish in the Cheshire Oaks

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Magician works Curragh magic.


http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Sat

Magician gave Aidan O'Brien his ninth victory in the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh.

Sent off at 100-30 and ridden by the trainer's son, Joseph, the colt followed a strong pace set firstly by Ask Dad, and then by the Jim Bolger representative Trading Leather, who still looked in control with a couple of furlongs remaining.

O'Brien junior never panicked and Magician powered clear to end up a convincing winner, with Gale Force Ten completing a Ballydoyle one-two.

O'Brien junior, winning his third Irish 2,000 Guineas, said: "He's a very, very tough horse and tries very hard. He stays well, he handles fast ground, he relaxes. He's a horse that is improving every day.

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Native back on familiar ground.


http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Sat

Kingsgate Native made a spectacular return to form as he regained the Betfred Temple Stakes at Haydock.

On a long losing run since this very event three years ago, the Robert Cowell-trained runner was on the stands side along with the 11-10 favourite Sole Power, while last year's Middle Park hero and eventual third Reckless Abandon was in the far group.

While Sole Power began to weaken, Shane Kelly was galvanising Kingsgate Native and he passed Reckless Abandon just before the post, finishing a neck in front. Swiss Spirit, who was bumped at the start, ran a mighty race from the rear to snatch second.

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Chigun fires in Abu Dhabi heat.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Sun

Sir Henry Cecil's Chigun rewarded strong market support in the Abu Dhabi Stakes at the Curragh.

Although slightly flat-footed at the halfway pole, Tom Queally soon had her on an even keel and she joined La Collina moving sweetly.

Once Queally asked the 11-8 favourite to quicken the response was quite taking and she had two and three-quarter lengths in hand at the line.

Queally said: "She did it well, I had a moment's worry at halfway on the ground but she has enough class and is going the right way. I'm glad she won the way she did as I didn't want to throw the kitchen sink at her on this ground.

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Police probe betting shop murder.


http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Sun

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King's Stand aim for Reckless.


http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...ckless&day=Sun

Reckless Abandon is likely to have the King's Stand Stakes as his Royal Ascot objective following his highly-promising seasonal debut at Haydock.

The three-year-old was only beaten a neck and a head in third place behind Kingsgate Native and Swiss Spirit when carrying a Group One penalty in the Temple Stakes on Saturday.

His trainer Clive Cox was delighted with the performance and it is all systems go for Ascot next month.

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Kazeem shocks Camelot for Gold.


http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...medium=twitter

Al Kazeem produced a tremendous performance to lower the colours of hot favourite Camelot in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh.

Roger Charlton's British raider was settled in last place of the four runners, just behind Camelot, as the market leader's stablemate Windsor Palace took them along in single file.

All looked to be going well enough for triple Classic winner Camelot but James Doyle ranged upsides at the quarter-mile pole on the lightly-raced Al Kazeem (9-4) and it soon became apparent he had his rival's measure.

Quickening in great style, Charlton's five-year-old claimed the Group One prize with something in hand.

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Just the job at the Curragh.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Sun

Just The Judge gained Classic compensation for her narrow defeat at Newmarket when going one better in the Etihad Airways Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh.

The Charlie Hills-trained filly made amends after finishing second to Sky Lantern in the Qipco 1000 Guineas by landing the honours in emphatic fashion.

Sent off the 2-1 favourite, the strong-travelling Just The Judge scored in the hands of Jamie Spencer from the fast-finishing Rehn's Nest (40-1), with Just Pretending (14-1) third and Big Break just behind in fourth. Spencer had Just The Judge smartly away from stall two and was always prominent as the Elaine Burke-trained Exactement made the running with What style close up.

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Hawkins swoops for Ballydoyle.


http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...e&sub=&day=Mon

Aidan and Joseph O'Brien picked up where they left off on Saturday with victory for the beautifully-bred Sir John Hawkins in the opening Big Bad Bob EBF Maiden at the Curragh.

Fresh from Magician's Irish 2,000 Guineas triumph, the Ballydoyle team continues to fire on all cylinders and 2-1 favourite Sir John Hawkins looks a juvenile to follow.

Settled in fourth behind the early leaders, O'Brien jnr bided his time on the Henrythenavigator colt before swooping with 150 yards to run and beating Intensified by three-quarters of a length.

Aidan O'Brien said: "We are delighted with him. He was very green and learnt an awful lot there. His father (Henrythenavigator) and mother (Peeping Fawn) won four Group Ones each, so he is very well bred. He could well go to Royal Ascot.

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Ruby Walsh splits from trainer Paul Nicholls.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/22677640

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Coronation up Mizzava's street.

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...street&day=Mon

Mizzava could be in line for a trip to Royal Ascot after her fine effort in the Etihad Airways Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh.

Sent off at 50-1, the Mick Halford-trained filly outran her odds and was around the same distance behind third home, Just Pretending, as she was in a trial race at Leopardstown.

Halford could now look to the Coronation Stakes on June 21, where she is likely to meet Curragh winner Just The Judge.

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Approach tops fifteen left in Derby.


http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Mon

Dawn Approach will face a maximum of 14 opponents in Saturday's Investec Derby at Epsom.

Jim Bolger's unbeaten Qipco 2000 Guineas winner has stamina questions to answer on the Downs having never run over further than a mile and even his effervescent trainer has admitted there is no guarantee he will stay a mile and a half.

He could at least face one surprise rival in the shape of Aidan O'Brien's Magician, an easy winner of the Irish 2,000 Guineas on Saturday, while German contender Chopin has been supplemented at a cost of £75,000 by Andreas Wohler.

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Abbey back in Coronation habit.


http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...=&sub=&day=Mon

St Nicholas Abbey will face a maximum of six rivals when he bids for a hat-trick of wins in the Investec Coronation Cup at Epsom on Saturday.

Aidan O'Brien's six-year-old entire proved he was as good as ever when victorious in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan in March and the Ballydoyle handler could also be represented by Chamonix and Ernest Hemingway.

Former O'Brien inmate Joshua Tree could run for Ed Dunlop after his first start for his new connections at York.

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Al's well with Kazeem.


http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...Kazeem&day=Tue

Al Kazeem has returned to England in top trim following his heroics in the Tattersalls Gold Cup on Sunday.

The Roger Charlton-trained colt claimed the significant scalp of Camelot at the Curragh to initiate a possible long-term assault at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Charlton tweeted: "Al Kazeem arrived home at Beckhampton this morning at 6.30 having lost 6kg and trotted up very sound."