Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

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Colour Vision leads Godolphin trio.

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

Colour Vision, winner of last year's Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, will make his seasonal reappearance in the Seymour Pierce Henry II Stakes at Sandown on Thursday.

The Saeed Bin Suroor-trained five-year-old was winless after his great victory at the big meeting and will be ridden by Mickael Barzalona for the first time.

Stablemate Cavalryman was a very impressive winner of the Dubai Gold Cup in Meydan and he looks to be the chosen mount of Silvestre de Sousa, while bin Suroor has a third representative in Ley Hunter, not seen since being well beaten in this contest 12 months ago.

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Qatar buy into Oaks favourite.

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

Qatar Racing Ltd has bought a half-share in leading Investec Oaks candidate Secret Gesture ahead of the Classic at Epsom on Friday.

The promising filly, an impressive winner of the Lingfield Oaks Trial, will stay with Ralph Beckett, who already has a win in the Oaks to his name with Look Here in 2008.

Qatar Racing is the brainchild of Sheikh Fahad Al Thani and the organisation enjoyed its first Classic success on Sunday when Just The Judge landed the Irish 1,000 Guineas for Charlie Hills.

David Redvers, the owner's racing manager, said: "She absolutely stays with Ralph. We've bought a 50% share and Newsells Park Stud will retain the other 50%. Nothing else will change apart from she will run in our colours.

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Dettori Derby hopes still alive.

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

Frankie Dettori still hopes to be able to ride at the Investec Derby fixture this weekend following a further meeting with France Galop officials on Tuesday.

The French authority banned the Italian for six months after he tested positive for cocaine at Longchamp last September, but the rider had been due to return to action last week after serving that suspension.

However, a "private matter" between Dettori and the medical committee of France Galop has so far prevented the French regulator from clearing the jockey to return, with the British Horseracing Authority reciprocating that stance.

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Al Zarooni withdraws appeal.

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

Mahmood Al Zarooni has withdrawn his appeal against an eight-year disqualification from training, said the British Horseracing Authority.

Al Zarooni, 37, was found guilty of administering anabolic steroids to 15 horses in his care at a BHA hearing on April 25. The former Godolphin handler was officially charged with rule breaches related to prohibited substances, duty to keep medication records, and conduct prejudicial to racing.

Al Zarooni stated on May 7 he would contest the severity of the suspension, but the BHA said it received notice from his solicitors that he will no longer be appealing.

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Gesture spearheads Oaks field.


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

Ante-post favourite Secret Gesture features among 11 fillies declared for a superb renewal of the Investec Oaks at Epsom on Friday.

The daughter of Galileo shot to prominence for the mile-and-a-half Classic with a devastating display in the Lingfield Oaks Trial and will bid to give trainer Ralph Beckett his second win in the race, following Look Here's triumph five years ago.

Secret Gesture will carry the colours of Qatar Racing for the first time after Sheikh Fahad snapped up a half-share earlier this week, but Jim Crowley keeps the ride.

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Vision focused on Henry II rule.

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

Last season's Ascot Gold Cup hero Colour Vision is among three Saeed bin Suroor-trained runners in Thursday's Seymour Pierce Henry II Stakes at Sandown.

Trained by Mark Johnston in his younger days, the grey initially showed improved form for his switch to Godolphin but struggled after his big Ascot win. However, Bin Suroor is happy with his condition and feels he may be best when fresh.

"Colour Vision won the Gold Cup last year but was a little disappointing afterwards. We gave him a break after his run on British Champions Day and he has been working nicely. It will be his first appearance of the season but he won on his first start last year and it's a case of so far so good with him," Bin Suroor told www.godolphin.com.

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Magician set to skip Derby date.

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

Irish 2000 Guineas winner Magician is set to sidestep Saturday's Investec Derby at Epsom, according to owners Coolmore Stud.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien raised the possibility of the Galileo colt bidding for a quickfire Classic double when leaving his Curragh hero in the Derby field at Monday's five-day stage.

However, with Coolmore having a further five runners in the mile-and-a-half contest, including long-time leading fancy Battle Of Marengo, Dee Stakes winner Magician is set to be saved for another day.

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BHA poised for Dettori resolution.

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

The British Horseracing Authority is poised to issue Frankie Dettori's riding licence once the jockey has been given clearance to return to the saddle by France Galop.

The French authority banned the Italian for six months after he tested positive for cocaine at Longchamp last September, but the rider had been due to return to action last week after serving that suspension.

However, a "private matter" between Dettori and the medical committee of France Galop has so far prevented the French regulator from clearing him to return, with the BHA reciprocating that stance.

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Beckett backs 'special' one in Oaks

http://www.attheraces.info/article.a...n+Oaks&day=Thu

Ralph Beckett's only British Classic victory was one of the bigger surprises in recent Investec Oaks history, but no-one will be rubbing their eyes in disbelief should Secret Gesture repeat the feat at Epsom on Friday.

The Hampshire trainer's standing in the game since Look Here's 33-1 success in 2008 has risen to the extent he has two viable contenders, with leading light Secret Gesture ably supported by Talent

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More to come from Nauticus.

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

Sir Michael Stoute believes his Investec Oaks candidate Liber Nauticus will come on a lot from her successful reappearance when she tackles the Classic at Epsom.

The daughter of Azamour featured prominently in ante-post lists throughout the winter and made it two wins from as many starts in the Musidora at York.

"She's a fine, big athlete who does very little at home. I thought in the Musidora she did well. She wasn't spectacular, but that was never going to be her style. Mentally it will have sharpened her up for the Oaks and we go there with a good chance," said Stoute.

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Frankie Dettori cleared to return to racing after drug ban.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/22722298

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Mukhadram takes Brigadier spoils.


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

Paul Hanagan executed an excellent piece of front-running riding as he steered Mukhadram (3-1) to victory in the Cantor Fitzgerald Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown.

Hanagan had William Haggas' charge, who was making his seasonal bow, smartly away and he appeared to set a decent clip at the head of the field.

Chased throughout by 15-8 favourite Main Sequence, Hanagan set sail for home well over two furlongs out and his mount only began to tire inside the distance.

That allowed Main Sequence to close the gap but Mukhadram was still half a length too good at the line.

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High hopes for Moth

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

Joseph O'Brien is hopeful Moth will last out the mile and a half of the Investec Oaks at Epsom today.

The Galileo filly is bred to stay the trip but has never run over further than a mile in her career to date. Having finished strongly when third in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, her big-race rider believes she has every chance of seeing out the extra distance.

"I met a bit of trouble in Newmarket but she stayed on well," said O'Brien of the filly, who is trained by his father Aidan.

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Ocovango out to pour it on at Epsom.

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

Investec Derby candidate Ocovango has followed a similar path to Epsom to that taken successfully by Pour Moi two years ago.

Andre Fabre brought Pour Moi for a racecourse gallop at a pre-Derby media event ahead of his victory, and he did the same with this year's representative, allowing jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot a first taste of the undulations as well. Like Pour Moi, Ocovango won the Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud, where he has raced exclusively so far.

"They are totally different horses. Pour Moi was a fiery horse with a fantastic turn of foot, this is more of a galloper type. We decided to go for the Derby after he won three in a row, the last one was very convincing," said Fabre.

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Thistle Bird takes flight

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

Thistle Bird claimed a first victory at Group level with a determined triumph in the Investec-sponsored Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom.

A three-times winner in Listed company last year and a fair third on her return in Newmarket's Dahlia Stakes, Roger Charlton's talented filly was a 3-1 favourite for this Group Three assignment.

Making Eyes cut out much of the running and briefly looked to have got loose, but her stride shortened in the straight and Thistle Bird took over the lead a couple of furlongs down under James Doyle before doing enough to hold Gifted Girl by three-quarters of a length. The consistent Ladys First ran another fine race in third.