Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

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Intello strikes for Fabre.

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

Andre Fabre secured his third Prix du Jockey Club triumph as hot favourite Intello ran out an impressive winner of the Chantilly Classic.

A fast-finishing third after a troubled passage in the French 2000 Guineas, the Galileo colt was sent off the 15-8 favourite stepped up to a mile and a quarter for the first time and was always travelling strongly in the hands of Olivier Peslier.

Ridden to lead heading inside the last two furlongs, Intello showed smart acceleration to put the race to bed and he came home comfortably clear of Morandi and Christophe Soumillon. Fabre also saddled the third, Godolphin's Sky Hunter.

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Bolger taking patient approach

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

Jim Bolger will take his time with Dawn Approach before formulating a plan for the beaten Investec Derby favourite.

The previously undefeated colt was sent off the 5-4 market leader for the premier Classic at Epsom on the back of his Qipco 2000 Guineas success, but finished last of the 12 runners.

The writing had been on the wall for the son of Bolger's Derby hero New Approach from some way out, as he took a fierce hold under Kevin Manning from an early stage.

As the runners went along at just a sedate pace and with his mount refusing to settle, Manning had little choice but to let Dawn Approach stride on and he was a spent force not long after Tattenham Corner

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Derby runner-up set for rematch.

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

Supplementing Libertarian for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh is a "strong possibility" according to connections following his superb run in defeat at Epsom on Saturday.

The son of New Approach did not make his racecourse debut until striking at Pontefract in early April, but has come a long way in a short space of time.

After a fair run at Sandown, the three-year-old ran out a shock winner of the Dante Stakes at York, but proved that to be no fluke when beating all bar Ruler Of The World in the Investec Derby.

Karl Burke, assistant to his trainer-wife Elaine, is keen on another crack at the winner in Ireland on June 29.

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Spirit lands French sprint.

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

Robert Cowell's British raider Spirit Quartz took Group Two honours in the Prix du Gros-Chene at Chantilly under a tactically astute ride from Jamie Spencer.

Placed at Pattern level on numerous occasions last season, the five-year-old's only previous success since joining Cowell came in a Nottingham conditions race back in early April, though he was a fair fifth in the Temple Stakes at Haydock last weekend.

The 7-2 joint-favourite was never far off the pace in this five-furlong contest and quickened a couple of lengths clear over a furlong down. Market rival Catcall finished strongly down the centre of the track, but Spirit Quartz held on to gain a narrow verdict.

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No rush for Rock plan

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

David Wachman is in no rush to make definite plans for Galileo Rock following his tremendous run in defeat in the Investec Derby.

A hugely impressive winner of a Leopardstown maiden on his juvenile debut and a fast-finishing third on his return in the Sandown Classic Trial, the three-year-old was an outsider for the premier Classic at Epsom.

However, clearly a sound stayer, the son of Derby hero Galileo stayed on determinedly to finish a close-up third and Wachman is looking forward to the rest of the campaign.

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Ocovango dealt a Longchamp target.

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

Ocovango will have his next start in the Grand Prix de Paris after finishing fifth in the Derby at Epsom on Saturday.

Unbeaten before running in the Classic, he met two spots of interference which the stewards looked into but no action was taken. He will stay at a mile and a half for his next run at Longchamp on July 13, but trainer Andre Fabre has not ruled out dropping in trip in the future.

"I was satisfied with him," said Fabre.

"Ocovango could have finished a bit closer, but he met two bits of trouble - only what happens at Epsom all the time.

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Moonlight to swerve Royal Ascot

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

Trainer Freddie Head has decided Moonlight Cloud will miss Royal Ascot, with the top-class mare having Deauville as her priority.

Although a triple Group One winner herself and sportingly kept in training as a five-year-old by owner George Strawbridge, Moonlight Cloud is just as well known for getting as close as any horse ever managed to the wondermare Black Caviar in last year's Diamond Jubilee Stakes.

She went on to land the Prix Maurice de Gheest and the Prix du Moulin and finished off with a weaker effort in the Breeders' Cup Mile.

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Stubbs stamps his class.

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

Stubbs, a son of an Irish Oaks winner in Moonstone, is showing surprising speed early in his career and set himself up for a trip to Royal Ascot when victorious in the Alfred Nobel Rochestown Stakes at Naas.

Won by Dawn Approach 12 months ago, the Listed race only attracted a field of four but it was by no means a straightforward task with Richard Hannon's Sacha Park and Jim Bolger's Club Wexford having already shown reasonable form

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Appleby primed for Godolphin role.


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

Charlie Appleby is set to take over at Godolphin's Moulton Paddocks yard following former trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni's eight-year ban.

Long-time Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor has been overseeing matters at the yard in recent weeks following Al Zarooni's admission he administered anabolic steroids to a number of horses in his care.

However, with his own Godolphin Stables too, Bin Suroor currently has responsibility for nearly 400 horses in Newmarket, prompting Sheikh Mohammed to look towards Al Zarooni's former assistant Appleby.

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Butler charges set to be issued.

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

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Assessor left cold by World rule

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

Ruler Of The World has been given the lowest rating of any Investec Derby winner this century by the British Horseracing Authority's senior handicapper.

Phil Smith has given Aidan O'Brien's unbeaten colt a figure of just 120 following his defeat of Libertarian, although he admits he has the potential to improve it.

He was similarly dismissive of Oaks winner Talent, rated 114 and above only Casual Look and Was at this stage.

Smith said in his BHA blog: "I have Libertarian on 117 as he has basically run to the same level as Battle Of Marengo, and that is what I had him running to on both of his starts this year.

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Style set to sidestep Ascot.

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

French 2000 Guineas winner Style Vendome is "very unlikely" to run at Royal Ascot later this month after being bought by leading owner Sheikh Joann Al Thani.

Trainer Nicolas Clement mentioned Ascot's St James's Palace Stakes as an option after his three-year-old grabbed Classic glory at Longchamp last month, beating Sunday's French Derby winner Intello into third.

However, with Richard Hannon's Newmarket Guineas fourth Toronado set to represent Al Thani in the same Ascot contest, Style Vendome will stay at home and the Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly on June 30 is his most likely next port of call.

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Winner from Moulton Paddocks.

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

Godolphin landed a significant victory at Lingfield when Air Of Glory, the first runner from Moulton Paddocks since it reopened following the Mahmood Al Zarooni scandal, won a maiden race.

The yard on the Bury Road in Newmarket was closed for investigation by Godolphin principal Sheikh Mohammed after trainer Al Zarooni was found guilty of using anabolic steroids on horses in his care.

With Al Zarooni banned for eight years, Moulton Paddocks is now supervised by Godolphin's other trainer, Saeed bin Suroor, after the move was ratified by the British Horseracing Authority.

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Assessor left cold by World rule.

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

Ruler Of The World has been given the lowest rating of any Investec Derby winner this century by the British Horseracing Authority's senior handicapper.

Phil Smith has given Aidan O'Brien's unbeaten colt a figure of just 120 following his defeat of Libertarian, although he admits he has the potential to improve it.

He was similarly dismissive of Oaks winner Talent, rated 114 and above only Casual Look and Was at this stage.

Smith said in his BHA blog: "I have Libertarian on 117 as he has basically run to the same level as Battle Of Marengo, and that is what I had him running to on both of his starts this year.

"I have no reason to believe that Battle Of Marengo did not run his race at Epsom. As a result I have Ruler Of The World performing to 120.

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Solwhit heads for Auteuil

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

Charles Byrnes has confirmed Solwhit will bid to end a memorable campaign on a high in the French Champion Hurdle at Auteuil on Sunday.

Despite a near two-year injury lay-off, the nine-year-old returned better than ever in the middle of last season, making the most of the enforced absence of legendary stayer Big Buck's by winning the World Hurdle at Cheltenham and the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree.