Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

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ST NICK PRIMED FOR FRANKEL CLASH.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Tue

Aidan O'Brien is looking forward to giving St Nicholas Abbey a crack at superstar Frankel in the Juddmonte International at York on Wednesday week.

While Frankel is unbeaten in 12 career starts, St Nicholas Abbey also boasts impressive credentials, having won four Group One races himself, and he was last seen finishing third in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

INTERNATIONAL DATE FOR TWICE OVER.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...e&sub=&day=Tue

Frankel will be joined by defending champion and stablemate Twice Over as owner Khalid Abdullah goes all out to land the Juddmonte International at York next week.

The Knavesmire Group One is understandably close to the heart of Juddmonte Farms owner Abdullah, who has sponsored the race for over two decades.

He tasted victory in the 10-furlong contest for the first time 12 months ago, with Twice Over narrowly getting the better of fellow Abdullah-owned and Sir Henry Cecil-trained runner Midday.

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BIBLE ON YORKSHIRE OAKS TRAIL.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...2&sub=&day=Wed

Jessica Harrington is looking forward to a crack at next week's Darley Yorkshire Oaks with Bible Belt following an encouraging performance at Leopardstown.

Making her first appearance since finishing fourth in the Tattersalls Gold Cup in May, the four-year-old finished a close third behind Galileo's Choice in last Thursday's Ballyroan Stakes.

Harrington is now ready to pitch the filly into Group One class and is hoping for a sound surface on the Knavesmire.

ENERGIZER ON VOLTIGEUR MISSION.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...2&sub=&day=Wed

Connections of Energizer expect the German import to be suited by the step up to a mile and a half when he tackles the Neptune Investment Management Great Voltigeur Stakes at York on Wednesday week.

Godolphin nominated the Group Two, for which he will have to be supplemented, as a likely first port of call for the colt after they bought him following his victory in the Tercentenary Stakes at Royal Ascot.

"He has settled in very well. He is a horse very much for next year, but I think he will run a big race in the Voltigeur," said Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford.

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CAMELOT TO WORK AT LEOPARDSTOWN.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...e&sub=&day=Wed

Triple Crown-seeking Camelot is due to work between races at Leopardstown on Thursday.

The Montjeu colt has won the 2000 Guineas, Derby and Irish Derby in an all-conquering season so far, and trainer Aidan O'Brien has now set his sights on next month's Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster.

DABIRSIM CAMP EYEING AUTUMN RETURN.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...e&sub=&day=Wed

Trainer Christophe Ferland is preparing beaten French 2000 Guineas favourite Dabirsim for an autumn campaign.

The colt has had a long rest since finishing a close and unlucky sixth to Lucayan in the Classic at Longchamp in May.

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MURTAGH TO MISS EBOR FESTIVAL.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...e&sub=&day=Wed

Johnny Murtagh will be sidelined for about three weeks after suffering a facial injury in a nasty incident at the Curragh on Sunday.

The Irish jockey sustained a hairline fracture to a small bone under an eye when kicked by his mount Lottie Dod in the preliminaries before the Group One Keeneland Phoenix Stakes.

Murtagh discovered he would miss next week's Ebor Festival at York when he saw a specialist at James's Street Hospital in Dublin on Wednesday morning.

CLASSY FILLIES IN ROMANET.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...e&sub=&day=Wed

Snow Fairy appears to face a tough task if she makes her long-awaited seasonal bow in the Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville on Sunday.

Ed Dunlop's multiple Group One winner has been sidelined since November after suffering an early season setback but is one of 10 left in the 10-furlong race, with John Gosden's Pretty Polly winner Izzi Top a possible rival, along with the Freddie Head-trained Galikova.

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Saint marches in.

http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/n...int-marches-in

British raiders, Starboard and Rewarded sat prominently in the contest and attempted to kick on with three furlongs to travel but the pair merely served to undermine each others' chances in a speed duel.

Guyon only had to give the signal and Saint Baudolino demonstrated an impressive change of gear to sweep to the head of affairs a furlong out.

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GOODWOOD PAIR ON COURSE FOR REMATCH.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...e&sub=&day=Thu

Saddler's Rock and Electrolyser could renew rivalries in next week's Weatherbys Insurance Lonsdale Cup at York.

The pair, who are trained by John Oxx and Clive Cox, filled first and fourth place respectively in the Goodwood Cup last time.

Saddler's Rock had previously finished a narrow third to Colour Vision in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and won the Doncaster Cup last term, and Oxx believes his charge prefers quicker ground and would not want to see too much rain ahead of the Group Two heat.

CRACKERJACK COULD BE ARLINGTON KING.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...e&sub=&day=Thu

Marco Botti's intended runners have settled in well at Arlington and connections are expecting Crackerjack King and Jakkalberry to feature in the shake-up of their respective races.

Both horses are owned in part by Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock and antipodean adventures could be on the cards later in the year.

Crackerjack King was a Group One winner in Italy in May and was not disgraced when fifth behind Nathaniel in the Eclipse on his first start for Botti.The four-year-old tackles the Million this weekend, with ATB's Darren Dance eager to see how he fares in that kind of company.

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OXX - GROUND KEY TO KHAN RUN.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Thu

John Oxx will leave it late before deciding whether Native Khan will take his chance in the Desmond Stakes at Leopardstown on Thursday.

The four-year-old will be having just his third start for Oxx if he does line up in the Group Three contest over a mile, having been trained by Ed Dunlop previously, finishing third in the Derby at Epsom.

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HIGHWAY TEAM CONSIDER OPTIONS.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...e&sub=&day=Thu

Princess Highway has a choice of Group One engagements in her quest to win at the highest level after being found out by soft ground in the Darley Irish Oaks.

The Dermot Weld-trained filly could not quite get to grips with the conditions when third behind Great Heavens in the Curragh Classic last month.

She had earlier trounced subsequent Nassau Stakes winner The Fugue by six lengths in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot. Connections will look at the Darley Yorkshire Oaks over a mile and a half at York next Thursday and the 10-furlong Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on September 8th

HARASIYA HAS MOYGLARE TARGET.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...e&sub=&day=Thu

Harasiya is on course to test her mettle at Group One level in next month's Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh.

John Oxx's charge made a winning debut at Leopardstown in June before following up in a Group Three event back at that track.

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FRANKEL TOPS INTERNATIONAL TEN.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...e&sub=&day=Thu

Frankel will face a maximum of nine rivals when he switches up to a mile and a quarter for the first time in Wednesday's Juddmonte International at York.

Sir Henry Cecil's incredible colt will step onto the famous Knavesmire turf unbeaten in 12 starts and officially the highest rated racehorse in the world, where he is set to be joined by his regular pacemaker and three-parts brother Bullet Train, as well as his stablemate Twice Over, who won this prestigious Group One prize 12 months ago.

Frankel's main danger is surely the Aidan O'Brien-trained St Nicholas Abbey. A dual winner of the Coronation Cup at Epsom and a four-time Group One scorer in all, the five-year-old got going all too late when only third in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

CECIL ON VOLTIGEUR MISSION.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...e&sub=&day=Thu

Sir Henry Cecil's duo Thomas Chippendale and Noble Mission feature among 11 confirmations for the Neptune Investment Management Great Voltigeur Stakes at York on Wednesday.

The stable companions fought out a thrilling finish to the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, with Thomas Chippendale on that occasion winning the argument by half a length, but he will have to concede weight to each of his opponents on the Knavesmire and Noble Mission has since gone on to success at Glorious Goodwood.

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DESMOND DELIGHT FOR DUNTLE.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...e&sub=&day=Thu

Duntle followed up her Royal Ascot success with a battling victory in the Desmond Stakes at Leopardstown.

Racing on markedly different ground to that which saw her claim the Sandringham Handicap at the Royal meeting, David Wachman's lightly-raced filly travelled sweetly in mid-division as Requisition and Ballybacka Lady cut out the pace.

The latter looked the one to catch two furlongs out but Duntle (5-2) picked up when asked by Wayne Lordan and asserted inside the furlong pole, eventually scoring three-quarters of a length to secure a valuable Group Three win.

COLLINA TARGETING CURRAGH RETURN.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Fri

Kevin Prendergast's Group One-winning filly La Collina will aim to get her season back on track in the Lanwades Stud Fillies Stakes later this month.

Last year's Phoenix Stakes heroine signed off her juvenile year with a fine third in the Moyglare Stud Stakes and connections harboured Classic hopes at the beginning of the current campaign

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SOUL ON SONG FOR HUNGERFORD.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Fri

Australian import Soul bids to further enhance his reputation in the Betfred Hungerford Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.

Having run twice for Godolphin in Dubai, the five-year-old was not beaten far in the Duke Of York Stakes earlier in the season on his British bow and then put in a huge effort when just over a length behind Black Caviar in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.

He then landed the Hackwood Stakes at Newbury and trainer Saeed bin Suroor said: "He came back from his last race sound and healthy and his last piece of work was really good. I think the trip will suit him very well and he has improved with each run for us."

PANTHER READY FOR FREER DATE.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Fri

Trainer Tom Dascombe believes Brown Panther is in as good a shape as he has been all season ahead of Saturday's Betfred "The Bonus King" Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury.

Last season's St Leger runner-up was below-par on his seasonal return in Chester's Ormonde Stakes, but bounced back with victory at Pontefract and a creditable seventh in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

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DANCING MISSES YORKSHIRE OAKS.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Fri

William Haggas has ruled star filly Dancing Rain out of next Thursday's Darley Yorkshire Oaks.

The four-year-old enjoyed a stellar Classic campaign, winning the Investec Oaks at Epsom, the German Oaks and the Qipco British Champions Fillies' And Mares' Stakes at Ascot.

She was due to make her belated seasonal reappearance on the Knavesmire next week, but Haggas feels his charge is not yet ready to make her comeback.

The Newmarket handler said: "I'm afraid she won't be going to York as we're just not happy with her. It's not bad, but there's something we're just not happy with and we've got to regroup.

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NEWFANGLED IN LOWTHER MIX.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Fri

Newfangled is among 18 confirmations for the Jaguar Cars Lowther Stakes at York next Thursday.

John Gosden's exciting prospect was an impressive winner of the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot as she took her 100% record to two.

Sandreamer and Hoyam, second and third respectively behind Maureen in the Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot last month, could renew rivalry.

ABANDON HOPE OF MORNY GLORY.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Fri

Trainer Clive Cox is excited about seeing unbeaten juvenile Reckless Abandon shoot for Group One glory in the Darley Prix Morny at Deauville on Sunday.

The Norfolk Stakes winner took a step up to six furlongs in his stride when landing the Prix Robert Papin at Maisons-Laffitte last month and returns to France for his first start at the highest level.

"Everyone at home is very happy with him. He's in great nick and I think he has continued to progress physically. I've been very happy with his progress," said Lambourn-based Cox.

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QUEEN REIGNS AT NEWBURY.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Fri

Rosdhu Queen confirmed the promise of her striking debut when taking Listed honours in the Bathwick Tyres St Hugh's Stakes at Newbury.

The youngster first ran at Ripon last month and could hardly have been more impressive as she made every yard and with a number of those conquered having performed with merit since, she was the 11-10 favourite stepped up in class, with Ryan Moore doing the steering.

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IRISH LEGER PLAN FOR SAPPHIRE.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Sat

Sapphire could step up in trip for the Gain Horse Feeds Irish St Leger at the Curragh on September 15 if conditions are suitable.

The four-year-old filly's only previous attempt at a Group One came in the Pretty Polly Stakes over a mile and a quarter at the Curragh six weeks ago, when she was runner-up to Izzi Top.

WACHMAN THRILLED WITH ROCK.

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...=&sub=&day=Sat

David Wachman is in no rush to make any immediate big plans for Galileo Rock following his runaway debut victory at Leopardstown on Thursday.

The stoutly bred son of Galileo could not have been more impressive on his racecourse introduction over a mile, pulling right away for a seven-length success.

Bookmakers were quick to introduce the colt at 25-1 for next year's Investec Derby at Epsom, but Wachman has yet to map out firm ideas for the rest of the current campaign.