Wednesday, November 24, 2004
GOLFERS SAM TORRANCE AND LAURA DAVIES BECOME RACEHORSE OWNERS WITH FAVOURITES RACING
Favourites Racing, the leading racehorse ownership group, announces today that two of the biggest names in golf have joined its ranks of owners. Ryder Cup legend Sam Torrance OBE and Britain's greatest ever female golfer, Laura Davies CBE, have both taken shares in Favourites Racing horses and will help to raise the profile of the company which lists the like of Limerick Boy, Mister Mustard and Crosspeace among its string of around 25 horses.
The arrangement kicks off on Thursday 25th November when the Venetia Williams-trained Jolly Boy, in which Laura Davies has a share, runs in the Holland and Finney Beginners Chase at Uttoxeter. The race is due off at 2 o'clock and will be shown live on At The Races on Sky digital Channel 415.
Andy Clifton, Managing Director of Favourites Racing, said: "Sam and Laura are legendary names in the golf world and their exploits on the course are well documented, but what they both also share is a passion for sport and for having fun. We're delighted that they have both agreed to take 1/12th shares in some of our horses, which will enable us to raise our profile and attract new people into the sport but will also allow them to experience the excitement of racehorse ownership at first hand."
Sam Torrance commented: "Favourites Racing is a professional operation that knows how to look after its horses and their owners. I've always had a passing interest in racing, but now I'm involved in several Favourites horses and looking forward to getting closer to the action, sharing in plenty of fun and hopefully cheering home a few winners!"
Laura Davies added: "The people behind Favourites Racing have a passion for the sport and have put together an excellent team of horses with some of the best trainers around. I'm delighted to have shares in a couple of really promising horses myself and am excited about what the future holds. I hope that Jolly Boy does us proud on his first run in this country."
WORLD CHAMPIONS EMBARK UPON CATHAY PACIFIC HKIR 2004
The champions of global horseracing are poised to converge on Sha Tin Racecourse December 12 for the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races 2004.
Today's announcement of the selections for the four international Gr.1 races worth HK$56 million (approx. US$7.2 million) draws champions from four continents to Hong Kong for the highest calibre of turf racing.
"We are delighted with the quality of the invitees for the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races this year. We are honoured that internationally renowned owners, such as John Magnier and Michael Tabor; Godolphin and Sheikh Mohammed; Prince Khalid Abdullah, Alec Wildenstein, Gary Tanaka and the Yoshida family are participating in the CXHKIR. Many champions from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres are on the way and there are Classic winners, too. Considering this depth and the strength of the Hong Kong horses, the meeting certainly has the feel of a Turf World Championships," said Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, the Hong Kong Jockey Club's Executive Director of Racing.
The Headline Horses:
Silent Witness: the highest ranked sprinter in the world, unbeaten in 12 starts - a Hong Kong record – and bidding to become the first local horse to defend an international crown after his Sprint victory last year.
Rakti: the winner of five Gr.1 races in his career and the highest-rated horse to take part at the meeting.
Durandal: Japan's champion sprinter-miler in 2003 and champion elect for the same title this year after a second straight victory in the Mile Championship last weekend.
Vallee Enchantee: the winner of last year's Vase returns to Hong Kong looking to record back-to-back victories.
Var: the champion 1000m performer in Europe on the strength his last start success in the Prix de l'Abbaye.
Fields Of Omagh: he lifted the 2003 Cox Plate and was an excellent second in Australia's premier weight-for-age race on October 23.
Calstone Light O: Japan's leading sprinter after his four-length rout in the Sprinters' Stakes in October.
Alexander Goldrun: the top-ranked filly in Ireland and successful in the Prix de l'Opera in October.
Antonius Pius: the leading miler in Ireland; he finished second in the Breeders' Cup Mile late last month.
Yell: the winner of three consecutive Gr.1 races in Australia last year and the first horse sent from the powerful John Hawkes stable to Hong Kong.
Powerscourt: winner of the Tattersalls Gold Cup in May and most recently third in the Breeders' Cup Turf and due to run in the Japan Cup on Sunday.
Warrsan: dual Gr.1 winner this year and also due to run in the Japan Cup on Sunday.
Furthermore, five Classic winners are included in an all-star cast from overseas numbering 35 horses, 19 of which are individual international Gr.1 winners:
· Latice: winner of this year's French Oaks.
· Dance In The Mood: victorious in the Japanese 1,000 Guineas.
· Brian Boru: won the 2003 St Leger Stakes.
· Martillo: triumphed in the German 2,000 Guineas last year.
· Rakti: 2002 Italian Derby.
The selection panel has left one vacancy in both the Hong Kong Cup and Hong Kong Vase that will be filled after the running of the Japan Cup on Sunday. It is expected that Powerscourt will be added to the list of runners.
The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup
Gr.1 - 2000m - HK$18 million (US$2.3 million)
The richest race in the world on turf over 2000m and the final leg of the World Series Racing Championship. At this stage, nine of this year's field, comprising seven Gr.1 winners, are from overseas.
Sha Tin is familiar territory to Rakti – he ran second to Falbrav in the 2003 Hong Kong Cup and now seeks to go one better. First up this year, he landed the prestigious Prince Of Wales's Stakes (Gr.1-2000m) at Royal Ascot and later dropped back to a mile to take the QEII Stakes (Gr.1) on his penultimate outing.
Ancient World, trained by Godolphin, and successful in last month's Premio Vittorio di Capua (Gr.1-1600m), is ranked second in Cup with Latice, the French Oaks (Gr.1-2100m) heroine, and Touch Of Land, the in-form Prix Dollar (Gr.2-2000m) winner.
Three horses are tied for third ranking: tough-as-teak filly Alexander Goldrun, winner of the Prix de l'Opera (Gr.1-2000m) in October; the 2003 Cox Plate winner and this year's runner-up, Fields Of Omagh; and Solider Hollow, the victor of the Premio Roma (Gr.1-2000m) and his last four starts at the Cup distance.
Execute, who landed the Gr.1 Prix Ganay (2100m) in May, and brilliant Japanese filly, Dance In The Mood, winner of the Japanese 1,000 Guineas (JpnGr.1-1600m), will also make the journey to Sha Tin.
Much travelled this year, Bowman's Crossing is joint-highest ranked of the Hong Kong defence along with Bullish Luck. The runner-up in last year's Hong Kong Mile, Bowman's Crossing has seven WSRC points owing to his fourth in the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup (Gr.1-2000m) and third in the Singapore Airlines International Cup (Gr.1-2000m). Bullish Luck, meanwhile, posted the best performance of his career over this journey in the CSL Hong Kong Gold Cup (HKGr.1) in February.
Trainer David Hayes supplies two strong local contenders in Ain't Here and Elegant Fashion. The former ran fourth in Singapore Airlines International Cup (Gr.1-2000m) in May, but is much improved this term, winning his last two races - both Pattern events – and he stylishly claimed the Cathay Pacific International Cup Trial (HKGr.2-2000m) on November 14. The latter, Hong Kong's champion race mare, Elegant Fashion, bids to improve on her excellent third in this race last year behind Falbrav and Rakti. She displayed her readiness for the task with a strong-finishing third in the Cathay Pacific International Mile Trial (HKGr.2-1600m) last weekend.
The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile
Gr.1 - 1600m - HK$14 million (US$1.8 million)
The richest race in the world on turf over 1600m. Hong Kong horses finished one-two in this race last year as Lucky Owners defeated Bowman's Crossing.
Japan's Champion Sprinter-Miler in 2003, Durandal is likely to receive the same accolade this year after starring in a second straight Mile Championship (Gr.1-1600m) success last weekend. He is the highest ranked Mile contender.
Ireland's best miler, Antonius Pius, is without a win at Gr.1 level in 2003 but has placed in Gr.1 mile races in England, France and the United States, finishing second in the Breeders' Cup Mile most recently.
Telegnosis returns to Sha Tin for another attempt at this race. This year he has won a Gr.2 in Japan and been placed in both of Japan's premier mile events, the Yasuda Kinen and the Mile Championship; while Firebreak is another seeking to improve on last year's finish in the Mile when beaten two lengths fifth. This year he has landed Gr.2 races in Dubai and Newmarket.
Eagle Rise from Germany and Valentino from France are two older horses that have shown considerable improvement this year and both will arrive in Hong Kong after respective back-to-back wins at Gr.2 and Gr.3 level; Martillo, a Classic-winning German four-year-old, has four times been successful in Gr.2 races throughout a career notable for its consistency.
The presence of seven Hong Kong horses says plenty about the current depth of the local milers and three of the first five past the post in last weekend's Cathay Pacific International Mile Trial (HKGr.2-1600m) – The Duke, Meridian Star and Perfect Partner - will re-oppose in the Mile.
However, highest-ranked of the Hong Kong defence is Oriental Magic, formerly Kalaman when he raced for the Aga Khan and was trained by Sir Michael Stoute in Britain. He was unlucky not to win the St James's Palace Stakes (Gr.1-1600m) last year when second and has won twice in 2004 and ran third in the Eclipse Stakes (Gr.1-2000m). Oriental Magic will have his first start for trainer David Hayes and owner Larry C K Yung in the Mile.
Next is Grand Zulu, whose meteoric rise to prominence in Australia earlier this year culminated in a track record-breaking win in The BMW (Gr.1-2400m). He makes his HK debut this weekend.
Scintillation, Hong Kong's Most Improved Horse in 2003/04, also finds a place in the Mile. Both Scintillation and The Duke are graduates of the Hong Kong International Sale from 2002 and 2001 respectively.
The classy Figures, winner of last year's Champions Mile (HKGr.1-1600m), completes a very strong local Mile line-up.
The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase
Gr.1 - 2400m - HK$14 million (US$1.8 million)
Seven Gr.1 winners will assemble for the Vase, won for the last two years by French runners, Ange Gabriel (2002) and Vall?e Enchant?e (2003).
Last year's Vase produced a tight finish as just one-and-a-quarter lengths covered the first four past the post. Those four - Vall?e Enchant?e, Polish Summer, Warrsan and Roosevelt – will renew rivalries in a fascinating 2004 renewal.
Vallee Enchantee has been unlucky not to win another Gr.1 since her finest hour last December, unlike Polish Summer, who cruised to Dubai Sheema Classic (Gr.1-2400m) glory in March; and Warrsan, victor of a second Coronation Cup (Gr.1-2400m) in June and later the Grosser Volkswagen Preis von Baden (Gr.1-2400m). Warrsan is also the highest ranked member of the field.
Simonas will arrive in Hong Kong from Germany after a career best effort behind the top class Sulamani in the Pattison Canadian International (Gr.1-2400m), a race in which Brian Boru, Aidan O'Brien's winner of last year's St Leger (Gr.1-2920m), ran third. Another German contender, the firm ground lover Senex has made rapid strides this year, securing his first Gr.1 in Italy over 2400m.
Trainer John Hammond prepared Red Bishop to take home the Vase in 1994 and, a decade later, is trying to regain the trophy through Sweet Stream, his Prix Vermeille (Gr.1-2400m) winning filly. Sights On Gold, meanwhile, will carry the famous blue Godolphin livery in a race never before won by the Dubai-based team. He was a Gr.3 winner over 2200m in England in September. Imperial Dancer, midfield in last year's Vase after his win in the Premio Roma (Gr.1-2000m), returns to HK after running second in the same race to Cup aspirant Soldier Hollow.
Hong Kong is without a win in the Vase since the late, great Indigenous scored in 1998 but this could change this year. Hong Kong's Champion Stayer, Super Kid, so versatile at the highest level, succeeded in winning two legs of the local Triple Crown – a rare feat – in the Stewards' Cup (HKGr.1-1600m) and the HK Champions & Chater (HKGr.1-2400m) last term.
Roosevelt has had another interrupted preparation but that didn't stop him finishing fast to take fourth last year and he wasn't far away in the Cathay Pacific International Mile Trial (HKGr.2-1600m) last weekend.
Supreme Rabbit, winner of the Queen Mother Memorial Cup (HKGr.2-2400m), will relish the Vase distance, with the same applying to Beethoven, a creditable three lengths fifth to Ain't Here in the Cathay Pacific International Cup Trial (HKGr.2-2000m).
The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint
Gr.1 - 1000m - HK$10 million (US$1.28 million)
The richest race over 1000m in the world. Hong Kong horses have won three of five editions to date, with Falvelon winning twice for Australia.
The eyes of the world will focus on the living legend that is Silent Witness when the exceptional five-year-old seeks to defend the race he won last year and become the first Hong Kong horse to win consecutive international titles. Undefeated in 12 starts, Hong Kong's Horse of the Year is also the world's highest-ranked sprinter and in his first start after a seven-month break last weekend, he posted a one-length success in the Cathay Pacific International Sprint Trial (HKGr.2-1000m).
The opposition, however, is particularly strong this year, with the best sprinters from Europe, Japan and the United States on a mission to dethrone the champ.
The first four home in Europe's championship sprint, the Prix de l'Abbaye (Gr.1-1000m) – Var, The Tatling, Royal Millennium and Osterhase – have accepted their invitations. Formerly trained in the USA, Var is the champion performer 1000m in Europe after his Abbaye win in a scorching 55 sec, while The Tatling, seventh in this race last year, has improved in 2004, defeating Hong Kong's Cape Of Good Hope, third last year, in the King's Stand Stakes (Gr.2-1000m).
Royal Millennium has been in excellent form in Britain this year, winning three Gr.3 sprints; the same applies to Irish speedster Osterhase, who broke a 25-year-old track record for 1000m at The Curragh in June. Pivotal Point is another rapidly improving British representative, the winner of the Gr.2 Diadem Stakes (1200m) by three lengths on fast ground on his last run.
Horses from Japan have won every international race in recent years in Hong Kong - bar this one. However, Calstone Light O and Sunningdale are the best Japanese candidates to contest this race. Japan stages just two JpnGr.1 races per year over 1200m with this pair taking one each: Calstone Light O was especially impressive when slamming a top class field in the Sprinters' Stakes (Durandal and Cape Of Good Hope were four lengths behind), while Sunnnigdale defeated Durandal in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen in March.
Yell, the winner of three straight Gr.1 races in 2003, travels from Australia. The John Hawkes-trained star arrives in good form judged on a good second in the Manikato Stakes (Gr.1-1200m) during the Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Remember Morluc? In 2000 and 2001, he came within a whisker of Sprint glory for the United States. Connections of Battle Won, one of America's top turf sprinters, feel their horse has as good a shot as any at Silent Witness. Battle Won has displayed considerable improvement since switching from dirt to turf and has scored in his last races, both Listed sprints.
Natural Blitz completes the international representation in the Sprint. His string of eight Macau wins undefeated (including the MacGr.1 Directors' Cup (1200m)) ground to a halt last Saturday when he finished down the field having wrenched a shoe.
Ninth in 2002 and third in this race last year, Cape Of Good Hope will strive to further improve his finishing position in the Sprint. The other local challengers are Able Prince, who put up a career best when one length second to Silent Witness in the Cathay Pacific International Sprint Trial and Multidandy, triumphant on his penultimate start, the HSBC Premier Vase (Premier-1200m).
RACING RETURNS TO NAD AL SHEBA
The Dubai Racing Club's season is back at Nad Al Sheba on Thursday evening with the first race starting at 7.00pm.
Willie Supple can continue his early season winning streak when he partners the Paddy Rudkin-trained Medraar in the fourth race of the evening, a Thoroughbred handicap over 1,100 metres.
The son of Machiavellian was an easy course winner last month over 1,000 metres and the extra 100 metres and the slight step up in class should not be too much of an obstacle.
Another suited by the trip will be the Satish Seemar-trained Mawaheb, the mount of reigning champion jockey Ted Durcan and a course winner over 1,200 metres back in April. Erwan Charpy's Indian Dreamer with Tadhg O'Shea in the saddle could be thereabouts in the shake up.
The night's racing begins with a 1,300 metre handicap for Purebred Arabians with the Gillian Duffield-trained Al Kesbe, Supple up, looking the pick of the field. The five-year-old was a winner of his last two outings, the most recent coming over 1,400 metres at Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club in April.
Jawad Al Kheir, from the stables of reining champion trainer Mazin Al Kurdi, was runner-up to Al Awal at Nad Al Sheba's opening meeting and should have come on for the run. Dr Jaber Bittar's Basilic de Ghazal, with Seamus O'Gorman in the saddle, could be in the placings if running up to his best, along with Doug Watson's Winner du Causse, Patrick Dobbs up.
Watson and Supple team up with Secret Plot in the second race of the evening, a Thoroughbred Handicap over 1,500 metres. Secret Plot was a length and three quarters runner-up here at the opening meeting and with the stable currently in form he could run a promising race.
Dangers here will be the Rashed Bouresly-trained Dubai Guest, the mount of Gary Hind, who ran second a month ago here over 1,000 metres and has place claims over this longer trip. Dhruba Selvaratnam's Morshid, with stable jockey Pat Smullen in the saddle, can improve on his fourth place last time out and could go close if returning to his best.
Delude was an easy winner here on opening night over 1,600 metres and there is little reason why the Al Kurdi-trained son of Be My Guest cannot repeat the victory in the third race, a 1,400 metre handicap for Thoroughbreds. Delude will once again be partnered by Durcan.
Seemar's Mr Sena was a course and distance winner here at the end of last season and could be a danger if he has held his form over the summer break. Other course and distance winners include Charpy's Muwassi, a close fourth behind Mr Sena last time, and Mannjam, from the Selvaratnam stable, who has a chance if at his best.
Others to watch in this race are the Rudkin-trained Emtilaak who is making his UAE racing debut and Al Kurdi's Kulachi who was placed behind Delude last time.
The Watson and Supple combination look to have a good chance with Opportunist in the fifth race, a 2,000 metre Thoroughbred handicap. The son of Machiavellian tends to run well in the early part of the season and he is suited by this course and distance.
Rudkin's Valdancer is a live danger and can take advantage of the eight and a half kilogramme weight advantage he has over Opportunist. Valdancer, the mount of Dean Mernagh was a distant runner-up at the opening meet but he should be closer on Thursday.
The final race of the evening over 1,800 metres could see a win for the Musabah Al Muhairi-trained Rich Pickins, the mount of stable jockey Stanley Chin. Rich Pickens ran third behind Fight on the opening night and should have come on for that run.
Temeraire looks a danger and with apprentice Derek Stamp aboard claiming four and a half kilogrammes he could make use of this slight advantage.
For full racecards, go to: http://www.emiratesracing.com/eq/RaceCards.cfm?racefile_id=4501
JEBEL ALI MAKES A WELCOME RETURN
Racing returns to the popular Jebel Ali Racecourse for the first time his season on Friday afternoon.
Jebel Ali based trainer Dhruba Selvaratnam looks to have a good chance f landing the feature race over 1,950 metres with the Pat mullen-partnered Emteyaz who has been placed over this course and distance on a number of occasions.
Emteyaz enjoyed his most recent success in a 2,000 metre race at Nad Al heba in February, his major obstacle on Friday looks to be the fact that he has been lumbered with the top weight.
Attentive, from the Satish Seemar stable, the mount of Ryan Roberts, has been placed here over this trip and could be a danger. Proven, trained by Paddy Rudkin and ridden by Michael Fenton, was a winner here at the first meeting last season and could go close if returning to his best form.
Old favourite State Shinto, trained by Mazin Al Kurdi, makes a return to Jebel Ali after finishing a three quarter length runner up to Conflict in the Jebel Ali Mile in February.
Racing begins at 2.30pm with a 1,800 metre event for Purebred Arabians, with the James Frazier-trained Agrab Al Nas looking the likely favourite. Others who should be fighting out the finish include Al Awal and Kasid, both from the Doug Watson stable.
Erwan Charpy and Tadhg O'Shea look to have a chance in the 1,400 metres second race of the afternoon, with the five-year-old Peladito, a course winner in March over 1,400 metres. Cupola, trained by Al Kurdi, was a course and distance winner back in December and will have a chance if right back to his best.
Two challengers making their UAE debut are the Selvaratnam-trained Granato and the Watson-trained Cotosol, the mount of Patrick Dobbs.
Selvaratnam's Almaram is already a course and distance winner and should run well in the fourth race of the afternoon, a Thoroughbred handicap over 1,600 metres. Selvaratnam also looks to have a chance in the fifth race, a 1,600 metre maiden, with Dillagi, who was placed here back in December.
The final race of the afternoon over 1,400 metres could go to the Al Kurdi-trained Meshty, the mount of Richard Mullen and a winner at Jebel Ali over 1,600 metre in February. Another to watch in this race is Charpy's Maksad who had promising form in France.
QBE SADDLES UP WITH PETER BOWEN
QBE is proud to announce the sponsorship of leading National Hunt trainer Peter Bowen and his yard.
This move is a further demonstration of QBE's ongoing commitment to the Bloodstock and Equine industry, running alongside its continued sponsorship of flat race jockey, Lisa Jones and leading National Hunt horse ‘Swansea Bay', also trained by Bowen.
With many leading horses under his expert eye, Peter will have runners in the major National Hunt races occurring in the forthcoming season including three entered runners, ‘Swansea Bay', ‘Take The Stand' and ‘Ballycassidy' in the prestigious Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup Chase in late November.
Phil Needham, Portfolio Manager of the Bloodstock & Equine insurance team at QBE is delighted with the new arrangement. "QBE is very pleased to be associated with such a high quality yard and we wish Peter Bowen's team the very best success for the forthcoming season".
Peter Bowen is equally pleased with the new relationship. "The yard continues to go from strength to strength and we are very pleased to be associated with a company as eminent as QBE".
The Bloodstock and Equine team form part of QBE's European operations and specialise in providing high value horse insurance worldwide, offering the most comprehensive equine coverage in the market through specialist insurance brokers and agencies. The team at QBE was formed in 1995 and has since become one of the largest insurers of thoroughbreds in the UK and Ireland. They are dedicated to providing an exceptional quality of service and continually endeavor to establish mutually beneficial, long-term relationships.
QBE is one of the world's leading international insurance and reinsurance groups, headquartered in Sydney, Australia. The Group consists of diversified insurance and reinsurance activities, operating out of 36 countries worldwide and gross written premium of A$4,763 million*.
The four operational divisions are geographically organised: European operations based in London, the Americas managed from New York, and Australian operations and Asia-Pacific both managed from Sydney.
QBE European operations consists of the commercial insurance and reinsurance division, operations at Lloyd's via the managing agency Limit, and the retail division.
QBE is rated A+ financial strength by S&P, ‘A+' Insurer Financial Strength by Fitch Ratings and A-(Excellent) by A M Best.
For more information on QBE, visit www.QBE.com.
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