Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

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Ruby ready to rock Punchestown.

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

Harry Fry is aware of the task facing Rock On Ruby when the Champion Hurdle runner-up bids to reverse form with Hurricane Fly in the Rabobank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown on Friday.

Fry's stable star, who had the Willie Mullins-trained Hurricane Fly back in third when winning the Champion Hurdle last season, finished two and a half lengths adrift when second in this season's renewal last month.

The Seaborough handler said on his StanJames.com blog: "We want to ride to give ourselves the best possible chance and that's to play to our strengths, which is that we know we stay.

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Six-month ban for Al Zarooni horses

http://www.britishhorseracing.pressc...rooni-3ba.aspx

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

1. This suspension has been imposed by the BHA and is separate from the Disciplinary Panel hearing involving Mahmood Al Zarooni.

2. The suspension relates to the following horses:

ARTIGIANO (USA)
BATHRAT AMAL (JPN)
CERTIFY (USA)
COMITAS
DESERT BLOSSOM (IRE)
FAIR HILL
GHOSTFLOWER (IRE)
OPINION POLL (IRE)
ORKNEY ISLAND
RESTRAINT OF TRADE (IRE)
SASHIKO
SWEET ROSE
TEARLESS
VACATIONER
VALLEY OF QUEENS (IRE)

3. The suspension will end on Tuesday 8th October 2013 and the horses will be free to race again from Wednesday 9th October 2013

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Al Zarooni banned for eight years for drugs scandal.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/22294124

Trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni has been banned from racing for eight years after a doping scandal which has rocked Godolphin - one of the world's leading racing operations - to its core.

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World rule for Quevega.

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

Quevega helped form a brilliant five-timer for Willie Mullins when winning the Ladbrokes World Series Hurdle at Punchestown for the fourth successive year.

Her task, though, was made considerably easier when the favourite Solwhit was withdrawn at the start on veterinary advice. Even so Mullins' mare, ridden by Ruby Walsh, put up a superb display as she won with her head in her chest from Reve De Sivola.

Whatuthink made the running until the sixth-last flight where Reve De Sivola went on. Daryl Jacob did his best to make it a true stamina test but he could not shake off Quevega (6-4). She loomed menacingly from the third-last and was able to take Reve De Sivola when she wanted to before the final flight. Once Walsh let out an inch of rein, Quevega forged clear to win with great ease.

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BHA to carry out further tests.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/22307503

http://www1.skysports.com/horse-raci...12426/8672920/

The eight-year ban for Godolphin trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni is only the "end of the beginning", says the British Horseracing Authority.

Fifteen horses trained by Al Zarooni were also suspended for six months after a doping hearing on Thursday.

His horses will be tested before being cleared to race and the BHA will seek worldwide consistency over drug use.

"It is not correct to say that is the end of the matter, far from it," said BHA chief executive Paul Bittar.

"I would term it the end of the beginning, in a way."

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On-song Mullins goes for Gold.

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

Willie Mullins is dominating another Punchestown Festival, but he will have one eye on Sandown on Saturday when Away We Go takes in the bet365 Gold Cup.

Runner-up in the Irish National last time out, stamina is clearly no issue and the trainer believes quicker ground will also pose no problem, but he has some doubts about the race coming too soon after his Fairyhouse exertions.

Mullins said: "He travelled over well and is doing everything right. Although his pedigree suggests he wants soft ground, I think he'll handle faster ground all right. Declan Lavery travels over to ride him and takes a handy 7lb off his back. He's going there off the back of a great run. I just hope it isn't coming too soon."

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Crisford 'betrayed' by Al Zarooni.


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

Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford "deeply regrets" the part he played in hiring Mahmood Al Zarooni.

Crisford recommended Al Zarooni to Sheikh Mohammed and believes he showed a "remarkable lack of judgement" after the trainer, who won the St Leger with Encke last year, was banned for eight years for administering anabolic steroids to 15 of his horses.

Two of Al Zarooni's horses failed tests for painkillers last April, after which Crisford stressed to him the importance of keeping his medical records up to date.

"I think we have to be very clear about this situation. A trainer is a licensed individual and it is his duty to take professional care of the horses in his stable," Crisford told Channel 4 Racing.

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Hurricane blows away rivals.

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

Hurricane Fly produced a scintillating display in the hands of Ruby Walsh to claim the Rabobank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown for the fourth successive year as Willie Mullins landed a hat-trick on the card.

Lining up off the back of a successful bid to regain his crown in the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, the nine-year-old was unsurprisingly a red-hot 1-4 favourite to confirm placings with runner-up Rock On Ruby.

Hurricane Fly's stable companion Thousand Stars played pacesetter and when Rock On Ruby went to the lead rounding the home turn, Walsh was sat motionless aboard the Mullins-trained superstar. He quickly sealed the deal going to the final flight before passing the post a hugely impressive winner.

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Daly lifts season's finale.

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

Quentin Collonges got the better of Same Difference in a thrilling finish to lift the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown.

Andrew Tinkler was always prominent aboard the Henry Daly-trained 14-1 shot and with three fences to jump he was among a handful of horses in contention and travelling well, including favourite Away We Go, who then crashed through the second-last.

In the end it was left to Quentin Collonges and Same Difference to slug it out, with Sam Twiston-Davies looking pretty confident on the latter. They took the last together and Same Difference edged ahead, only for Tinkler to ask his mount for one last push which proved decisive as he pulled two lengths clear at the line

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Moore celebrates with Grugy.

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

Sire De Grugy outbattled former Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Finian's Rainbow to land the bet365.com Celebration Chase at Sandown.

Impressive winner of a novice event at Stratford last week, Gary Moore's charge (6-1) made a seamless switch to Grade Two level as he sprinted a length and three-quarters clear at the line.

Barry Geraghty was always going well aboard Finian's Rainbow and jumped to the front at the third-last, but Jamie Moore was just starting to get to work on Sire De Grugy and he moved up to challenge two out before edging ahead after the last and pulling clear.

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Kazeem is back with a bang.

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

Al Kazeem returned from a 357-day lay-off with victory in the bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown.

Last seen when winning the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket, Roger Charlton's charge (9-4 favourite) travelled well throughout the 10-furlong heat in the hands of James Doyle.

Ektihaam set out to make virtually all, but Al Kazeem was cruising in behind turning for home before finally making his move with a furlong to go. Thomas Chippendale made it a three-way finish by launching his challenge down the outside and while Al Kazeem possibly felt his long absence in the dying strides, he hung on by a length

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Cadeaux makes frame in Far East.

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

Red Cadeaux finished a creditable third behind local runner Fenomeno in the Tenno Sho (Spring) at Kyoto racecourse in Japan.

The seven-year-old has been an admirable servant for Ed Dunlop, running in races in Australia, Hong Kong, Japan and Dubai in recent seasons. Last seen finishing second in the Dubai World Cup, he stepped back up to two miles for this Grade One heat after being campaigned over middle-distances on his last three starts.

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Sajjhaa settles for fourth.

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

Godolphin's Sajjhaa could finish only fourth as Military Attack landed the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup at Sha Tin in Hong Kong.

Winner of the Dubai Duty Free on her most recent start, Sajjhaa was slowly away in the hands of Silvestre De Sousa, giving her rivals a length or two from the off.

De Sousa did not panic though and had worked his way back into contention by the time they turned for home in the 10-furlong heat, although he had to challenge right down the middle of the track. Sajjhaa tried to follow Military Attack as he began to motor in the final furlong, but she could not pick up in the same kind of style.

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Judge delights in final spin.


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

Just The Judge delighted connections in her last serious gallop ahead of next Sunday's Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.

The unbeaten filly was put through her paces at Charlie Hills' Lambourn stable by big-race jockey Jamie Spencer on Saturday ahead of her date in the Classic over the Rowley Mile.

"Jamie did the final serious piece of work on her on Saturday morning and we were down there to watch," David Redvers, racing manager for owners Qatar Racing, told At The Races.

"She looks magnificent and her coat has improved dramatically since she did that racecourse gallop at Newmarket on Craven day. We couldn't be happier with her.

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Gerard Butler faces horse racing steroids inquiry.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/22336037

A second Newmarket trainer faces a British Horseracing Authority inquiry over giving steroids to racehorses.

Gerard Butler told the Independent several of his horses had treatment for injured joints, but he had been assured the substance did not breach rules.

Godolphin trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni was given an eight-year ban on Thursday for using anabolic steroids on horses.

Butler says more than 100 Newmarket-based horses will have been given the same drug.

Anabolic steroids are banned in the UK, although allowed out of competition in countries including Australia, Dubai and the United States

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Pastorius pounces in Ganay.

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

Last year's German Derby winner Pastorius made a successful start to the new campaign by claiming Europe's first Group One race of the 2013 season, the Prix Ganay at Longchamp.

The Mario Hofer-trained four-year-old, who was fourth to Frankel in the Qipco Champion Stakes on his final start last year, swept to a comfortable victory under Olivier Peslier after stablemate Point Blank had done his job as pacemaker.

Pastorius came with a smooth run on the rails in the straight and had too many guns for Maxios, with Dunaden, ridden by Jamie Spencer for owners Pearl Bloodstock, a staying-on third.