Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

No longer supporting Godolphin, I see ...

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Windhoek back at Newmarket

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

Windhoek, who enjoyed a bumper pay-day on his last visit to HQ, is among a small but select field of six for the Qatar Racing Newmarket Stakes on Saturday.

The Mark Johnston-trained colt scooped the £200,000 Tattersalls Millions 3-Y-O Trophy over this mile and a quarter two weeks ago and bids to take his 100% record to three.

The other unbeaten runner in the line-up is the Marco Botti-trained Centurius, who made a successful debut at Nottingham recently.

---------- Post added at 19:14 ---------- Previous post was at 17:18 ----------

Originally Posted by Chris

No longer supporting Godolphin, I see ...

l felt it best to put a new Avatar up for the meantime as l felt it was not right with the current headlines although l must point out that there are two Godolphin trainers and one of them Saeed Bin Suroor is totally clean and one of the nicest men in the game but alas the other one has bought shame to the most world famous name in horse racing.

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O'Brien expecting Colombo progress

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...ogress&day=Fri

Joseph O'Brien believes Cristoforo Colombo can cut the length deficit on Dawn Approach when they renew rivalry in the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday.

Ireland's champion jockey is convinced the colt was beaten by the draw when third behind the Jim Bolger-trained ante-post favourite and Olympic Glory in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.

"The fast ground will help him and I think he will improve for the step up in trip. He ran a massive race in Ascot last year when he was drawn on the wrong side of the track," the jockey told At The Races.

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Fifteen stand firm for 1000 Guineas

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

There were no surprise omissions at the final declaration stage for Sunday's Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, with 15 horses set to face the starter.

Sir Henry Cecil's filly Hot Snap has been favourite ever since she blitzed the opposition in the Nell Gwyn on her seasonal return. Second to her that day was Richard Hannon's Moyglare Stakes winner Sky Lantern, and the pair clash again.

Hannon also has a strong second string to his bow in Maureen, winner of the Fred Darling at Newbury, where she beat Peter Chapple-Hyam's Agent Allison, who will renew rivalry.

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Hamilton gunning for Garswood glory

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

Tony Hamilton is thrilled to have been given the opportunity to shoot for Classic glory for the first time in his riding career as he partners Garswood in Saturday's Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

For so long the Hartlepool-born 29-year-old was the trusty understudy to dual champion jockey Paul Hanagan at Richard Fahey's Malton yard, but his opportunities increased markedly when Hanagan was given the job of retained jockey to leading owner Hamdan Al Maktoum in February of last year.

Although Hanagan was available for the Guineas, Fahey is sticking with Hamilton after he guided Garswood to a hugely impressive victory in the European Free Handicap at last month's Craven meeting

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Hannon team bullish about Toro

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

Richard Hannon has won the Qipco 2000 Guineas with Mon Fils, Don't Forget Me and Tirol, and is double-handed with Toronado and Van Der Neer on Saturday.

Toronado is undoubtedly the first string following his breathtaking performance in the Craven Stakes and connections are confident of upsetting unbeaten favourite Dawn Approach.

Assistant trainer Richard Hannon jnr said: "Toronado did his last proper piece of work last Sunday and goes to Newmarket in the form of his life."

He continued: "We always felt that he was more one for the Derby than the Guineas, but this spring he has been showing much more speed in the mornings than he did last year, so, while Dawn Approach is obviously a very good horse, we feel we have a solid chance of beating him.

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Bolger expecting Dawn delivery

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

Jim Bolger is confident that Dawn Approach possesses all the necessary attributes to give him his first victory in the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

The master of Coolcullen has enjoyed a brilliant training career, but the first Classic of the British Flat season on the famous Rowley Mile course is one of the few top-level prizes to have eluded him so far.

The unbeaten Dawn Approach's sire New Approach came mighty close to breaking the trainer's duck when beaten just a nose by Henrythenavigator five years ago, before going on to a famous triumph in the Derby.

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Star blossoming for Dahlia

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

Trainer Hughie Morrison hopes Shirocco Star can get her season off to the perfect start in the Qatar Bloodstock Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket on Sunday.

The four-year-old filly has won over £280,000 in her short career, having been placed in the Oaks, the Ribblesdale, the Irish Oaks and at Ascot on Champions Day, yet she only has a maiden success to her name.

"I suppose I'm looking forward to it, but she's given me the usual sleepless nights on the basis that she's been her usual excitable self," said Morrison

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Nouf sitting pretty for Polly

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

Connections of Lady Nouf feel the step up in trip will help her redeem her reputation in the Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket on Sunday.

The daughter of Teofilo disappointed over seven furlongs behind Hot Snap in the Nell Gwyn Stakes on her reappearance last month, but she had looked a bright prospect when making a winning debut at the main expense of Secret Gesture over seven furlongs at Leicester last October.

Lady Nouf, trained by William Haggas, tackles a mile and a quarter this time and hopes are high the Oaks entrant will be seen in her true colours.

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/22342551

Long-term favourite Dawn Approach remained unbeaten by winning the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket by five lengths.

Nice to see a new star emerge after the mighty Frankel.

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Sole switches on power

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

Eddie Lynam's sprint star Sole Power stamped his class on the Pearl Bloodstock Palace House Stakes at Newmarket for a commanding victory.

Having been campaigned at the highest level for some time now, the 7-2 joint-favourite was entitled to win this and having run in Dubai, his race-fitness was never in doubt.

Johnny Murtagh tracked the pace set by Heeraat and Tangerine Trees and shot clear on meeting the rising ground, and though the veteran Kingsgate Native made relentless progress to chase him home, there was a length in it at the line. Tangerine Trees clung on for third and Spirit Quartz and Heeraat were just behind.

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Winning return for Sheikh Mohammed

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

Sheikh Mohammed made his first visit to a racecourse in Britain since the Mahmood Al Zarooni drugs scandal when watching Dawn Approach win the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

The Jim Bolger-trained colt runs in the famous blue colours of the Sheikh's Godolphin operation, for whom Al Zarooni trained before he was banned for eight years at a British Horseracing Authority hearing last week after admitting administering anabolic steroids to 15 horses in his care.

The Moulton Paddocks stables where Al Zarooni trained have been in lockdown since the news broke, with the British Horseracing Authority testing all inmates over the last week.

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Universal strikes for Johnston

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

Mark Johnston's Universal continued his progression by winning the Group Two Qatar Bloodstock Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket.

Joe Fanning set out to make all in the four-runner field on the John Porter winner, but Dandino challenged hard and took up the running two furlongs out.

The threat probably helped Universal as on meeting the rising ground, he had something to aim at, and the 11-4 chance battled back to run out a neck winner.

Frankel's brother Noble Mission had finished behind Universal last time out but was sent off favourite to make amends, although he never looked like winning this time

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Orb makes history in Derby

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

Orb produced a tremendous late surge to give Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey his first ever win in the Kentucky Derby at a rainswept Churchill Downs.

Palace Malice set frantic early fractions on the sloppy track before capitulating on the home turn, where Normandy Invasion took up the running briefly.

However, Joel Rosario then produced Orb, who swept by and kept up the gallop to beat fellow fast finishers Golden Soul and Revolutionary.

"It means everything to me. I've always dreamed of this day," McGaughey told NBC Sports.

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Judge bids for Classic verdict

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

Just The Judge attempts to give the race sponsors victory in the Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket this afternoon.

The daughter of Lawman was bought by Sheikh Fahad after running out an impressive winner of the Rockfel Stakes.

The Sheikh's racing manager David Redvers said: "She had a very good spin last weekend and really looks great. She's really come in her coat and has done tremendously well over the winter. She's very impressive in her size and scope. You will see a very big and strong filly in the parade ring at Newmarket."