Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

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O'BRIEN 'DELIGHTED' TO HAVE FRANKIE

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

Aidan O'Brien has spoken of his delight at having Frankie Dettori on board Camelot in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp tomorrow.

The ever-popular Italian, who will be riding in his 25th consecutive Arc and has won the great race three times, has come in for the mount with O'Brien's son, Joseph, unable to do the weight of 8st 11lb.

O'Brien junior instead rides stablemate St Nicholas Abbey.

Reporting Camelot in "good form" since his second place in the Ladbrokes St Leger that denied him the Triple Crown, O'Brien said: "Frankie is a great rider, he has all the experience in the world, and we're delighted to have him."

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CHANNON EYES NEWMARKET JACKPOT

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

Mick Channon aims to break the bank when he puts in a strong bid in the two Tattersalls Millions races at Newmarket today.

The West Ilsley trainer saddles fillies in both events, Ollie Olga and Graphic Guest, as he did not want them to take each other on.

Ollie Olga, winner of the Group Three Prestige Stakes, goes for the £500,000 Tattersalls Millions 2YO Trophy just a week after losing her unbeaten record when last of six behind Certify in the Fillies Mile, while Graphic Guest takes on her own sex in the £300,000 Tattersalls Millions 2YO Fillies' Trophy.

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CIRRUS LANDS EXPLOSIVE VICTORY

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

Cirrus Des Aigles made a sensational return after four and a half months off the track to land the Qatar Prix Dollar at Longchamp.

Winner of the Group Two contest in 2010 and just touched off 12 months ago, the six-year-old moved up smoothly for Olivier Peslier early in the straight after Don Bosco had made the running.

Leading two furlongs out, the 4-5 favourite stretched clear in impressive fashion to win easily from the Godolphin-owned Hunter's Light, who stayed on for second ahead of Saga Dream, with John Gosden's Colombian fourth.

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TREGONING LODGES ANOTHER STRIKE

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

Hawaafez gave trainer Marcus Tregoning a sixth win in the Grosvenor Casinos Cumberland Lodge Stakes with a gusty all-the-way success at Ascot.

The four-year-old mare was having only her third outing of the campaign, but she showed no signs of race-rustiness as she kept pulling out more for Johnny Murtagh.

After shrugging off the dual Godolphin challenge of Willing Foe and Songcraft, the 9-4 joint-favourite crossed the line two and a half lengths clear of the wayward Camborne.

SUPER SIZING BACK IN BUSINESS

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

Crack two-miler Sizing Europe made a pleasing seasonal reappearance with a smooth win in the PWC Champion Chase at Gowran Park.

A fortunate winner of this two-and-a-half-mile contest 12 months ago, Henry de Bromhead's stable star duly landed his 16th success from 32 starts in a race that was made easier as China Rock and Joncol were late absentees.

I Hear A Symphony made it a true test, but Sizing Europe (11-10 favourite) always had the leader in his sights and jumped in front at the second-last fence before pulling away to strike by seven and a half lengths from Forpadydeplasterer.

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NATHANIEL IN CHAMPION RECKONING

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

Nathaniel could join Cirrus Des Aigles in ensuring Frankel does not have things all his own way in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot on October 20.

The John Gosden-trained star had been well-fancied for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, but was forced to miss a trip to Paris after running a temperature earlier in the week.

However, Gosden reports the Eclipse winner to be back in good shape again at his Newmarket base.

'BRIDESMAID' SHIROCCO JUST SHADED

http://www.attheraces.com/article.as...shaded&day=Sun

Shirocco Star was denied yet again in a top event as Alain de Royer-Dupre's Dalkala beat her by a whisker in the Prix de Royallieu at Longchamp.

Touched off in both the English and Irish Oaks, Hughie Morrison's filly was blinkered for the first time and threw down a sustained challenge in the final furlong, but could never quite get her nose in front.

"She just doesn't want to quite go through with it," said Morrison.

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GROUND CONCERNS FOR SHARETA

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

Jockeys reported the Longchamp ground to be distinctly on the soft side on the opening afternoon of Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe weekend.

The news was not welcomed by the Aga Khan, whose Shareta is bidding to improve her second placing from last year, although it was not expected to pose any problems for the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Sea Moon.

What was already testing going by the first Group race on Saturday was exacerbated by steady rain throughout the afternoon.

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WIZZ KID FLOORS RAIDERS

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

Wizz Kid, the sole French runner in the Qatar Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp, came with a late flourish to deny Mayson and Hamish McGonagall.

Outpaced in the early stages, Gerald Mosse looked to have a mountain to climb as Yorkshire-trained pair Mayson and Hamish McGonagall pulled away from the field inside the final furlong.

However, Robert Collet's filly relished the testing ground and began to make relentless progress, getting on top close home. Mayson appeared set to follow up his July Cup win, but was narrowly denied.

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SILASOL KEEPS BOUSSAC AT HOME

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

Silasol made just about every yard of the running to win the Total Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp.

Carlos Laffon-Parias's filly had only won a conditions race, but stuck on gamely for Olivier Peslier to hold off Frankie Dettori on Topaze Blanche, a stablemate of the winner.

The raiders had no luck, with Agent Allison handy early but fading late, while Purr Along could never get involved after finding herself in an unpromising position from the off, and then being short of room. My Special J's was prominent for most of the way on the outside, but was swallowed up in the straight.

FRENCH GLORY FOR OLYMPIC

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Richard Hannon's Olympic Glory added a Group One victory to his prolific juvenile season with a hard-fought success in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Grand Criterium) at Longchamp.

In four previous starts, his only defeat had come at the hands of ante-post 2000 Guineas favourite Dawn Approach in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, and he had subsequently won the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket and the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood.

Victory looked unlikely two furlongs out as Kevin Ryan's outsider Indian Jade loomed large, but champion jockey-elect Richard Hughes asked his mount for a major effort and he delivered, holding off What A Name, with Indian Jade running a big race in third.

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SOLEMIA LANDS ARC THRILLER

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

Solemia denied Japan a first victory in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe as the filly got up in the last strides to beat Orfevre in a thrilling renewal at Longchamp.

Everything appeared to have gone to plan for Orfevre, who carried the weight of a nation's hopes. Christophe Soumillon dropped him out at the back, but he came cruising through in the straight and went at least two lengths clear.

However, Carlos Laffon-Parias's four-year-old Solemia showed guts to fight back under Olivier Peslier to give the rider his fourth win in the race, snatching the prize in the shadow of the post. Masterstroke was third.

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CAMELOT STAYS IN TRAINING

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

Connections of Camelot are looking forward to another big season next year after a long campaign took its toll on the dual Derby winner in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp.

Aidan O'Brien's colt was given every chance by Frankie Dettori and briefly threatened to take a hand in the finish, but he emptied out close home and could fare no better than seventh behind Solemia.

"He's something for us to look forward to next season, as he will remain in training. Hopefully he has a good winter and he could be something unbelievable next year," said the Ballydoyle handler.

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GORDON FLIES HOME IN FORET

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

Gordon Lord Byron came with a late rattle under William Buick to win the Qatar Prix de la Foret for Tom Hogan at Longchamp to justify being supplemented for the Group One event

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OLYMPIC TEAM PONDER FURTHER GLORY

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Connections of Olympic Glory have yet to make a firm decision on whether the top-class juvenile will run again this year following his thrilling victory in Paris on Sunday.

The Richard Hannon-trained colt arrived at Longchamp as a hot favourite for the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, having tasted defeat just once in four starts.

APPROACH AMONG DEWHURST CANDIDATES

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

Dawn Approach is one of 15 possible runners in the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

The Jim Bolger-trained youngster took his unbeaten record to five in the Vincent O'Brien Stakes at the Curragh last month and is currently ante-post favourite for next year's 2000 Guineas.

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MOOHAAJIM SET FOR MIDDLE SHOWDOWN

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

Moohaajim could bid to gain revenge on his Prix Morny conqueror Reckless Abandon in the Vision.ae Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

The Marco Botti-trained youngster was fifth behind Clive Cox's unbeaten colt in France, having met trouble in running, and has since landed the Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury.

Botti said: "I think eventually he will get a mile. I wouldn't be concerned to step him up to seven furlongs this year but just because the Middle Park and Dewhurst are on the same day, it makes sense to stick at six."

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IMPERIAL ON MARCH TO HAYDOCK

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

Imperial Commander remains on course to reappear in the Betfair Chase at Haydock after delighting connections since returning to work last month.

The 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero has been sidelined with a leg injury since being pulled up in the Prestbury Park showpiece in March of last year.

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PIPE MULLING CRUS CAMPAIGN

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

David Pipe has yet to make a final decision on where stable star Grands Crus will start off his season.

The top-class staying hurdler made a brilliant start to his career over fences last term, winning at Cheltenham, Newbury and in the Feltham Novices' Chase at Kempton.

He disappointed when a hot favourite for the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, but has pleased his trainer since returning from his summer break and a decision on his likely starting point is not far away.