Tuesday, June 24, 2003
NAYEF HEADS BETTING FOR CORAL-ECLIPSE
Prince Of Wales Stakes winner Nayef is the 2-1 favourite with the sponsors for next month's Coral-Eclipse, a race that forms part of the BHB Triple Crown, for which Coral quote Nayef at 10-1.
Derby fourth Norse Dancer is 4-1 second favourite for the Coral-Eclipse ahead of Grandera at 5-1 and Hold That Tiger at 6-1.
Coral-Eclipse Betting
2-1 Nayef, 4-1 Norse Dancer, 5-1 Grandera, 6-1 Hold That Tiger, 8-1 Rakti, 10-1 Balestrini, Olden Times, 16-1 Comfy, Sights On Gold, Victory Moon, 20-1 Highdown
**BHB Summer Triple Crown
10-1 Nayef
LESS THAN TWO WEEKS TO GO TO THE CORAL-ECLIPSE STAKES
There is less than a fortnight to go until one of the great events of the racing year, the Group One CORAL-ECLIPSE STAKES, takes place on Saturday, July 5.
The highlight of the Flat season at Sandown Park gives the top three-year-olds a first opportunity at the highest level to take on the established stars over a mile and a quarter and this year has prize money of £350,000, an increase of £25,000 on 2002.
The Coral-Eclipse is also the second leg of the British Horseracing Board's new Summer Triple Crown/Grand Slam initiative with bonuses of £1 million and £5 million respectively.
Coral-Eclipse Day also features the £100,000 TOTE SCOOP6 HANDICAP, run over a mile and open to three-year-olds and upwards. The first running with such high prize money took place 12 months ago and went to the James Fanshawe-trained Heretic.
In 2001, the equivalent race, won by the Mark Johnston-trained Desert Deer, was worth £45,000 so the prize money has more than doubled in the last two seasons.
Other notable winners include Caribbean Monarch in 2000, when completing a big-race double after winning the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot on his previous start, Racing Post Trophy hero Peter Davies, who carried 9st 7lb to success seven years earlier, and Starlight Flyer, who gained back-to-back wins in 1991 and the following season.
Saturday's brilliant seven-race card opens with the Listed £32,000 PORCELANOSA SPRINT STAKES for the speedsters over five furlongs at 1.45pm. There are two brand new Listed races, the £32,000 ADDLESHAW GODDARD STAKES for stayers over two miles and the £32,000 DISTAFF STAKES for three-year-old and older fillies and mares over a mile.
There is also excellent racing at Sandown Park on Friday, July 4, with record prize money of £715,000 on offer over the two days - up £43,000 on last year.
The action on Friday, July 4, features two Listed contests as well as a valuable handicap. The Listed £32,000 GALA STAKES for three-year-olds and upwards who have not won a Group One or Group Two race after September 1, 2002, is being run at Sandown Park for the second time, having previously been held at Kempton Park in late June.
Last year this contest went to the Marcus Tregoning-trained Izdiham, who was following in the hoofprints of some useful winners like Island House in 2000 and Godolphin's Happy Valentine two seasons earlier.
The Listed £25,000 DRAGON STAKES for juvenile sprinters has been moved from last year's Saturday berth to Friday's programme. Chris Wall launched a successful raid in 2002 from his Newmarket training base with Bella Tusa.
For racegoers who love competitive handicaps, they don't come much better than the £40,000 SANDOWN SUMMER HANDICAP over 10 furlongs for three-year-olds and upwards rated 0-105.
Prize Winner took the event last year for Jeremy Noseda, denying Champion Lodge by a neck in a tremendous finish. Ulundi had been successful the season before and in 2002 the son of Rainbow Quest went on to finish a close fourth to Beat Hollow in the Grade One Arlington Million in Chicago.
Andrew Cooper, Sandown's Clerk of the Course, said: "We had 20 millimetres of rain at Sandown on Sunday - the ground is on the fast side of good at present and the course is in excellent condition. We watered all of last week and will continue doing so as necessary.
"The Coral-Eclipse Meeting is tremendously exciting and the big race will again attract some of the world's top 10-furlong performers, such as Grandera and maybe Nayef."
SANDOWN PARK
CORAL-ECLIPSE MEETING
ORDER OF RUNNING
FRIDAY, JULY 4, 2003
Time Race Distance Prize Money
2.05pm THE BRODIE PLANT GODDARD RATED STAKES 5f £14,000-added
2.40pm THE DRAGON STAKES (LISTED RACE) 5f £25,000
3.15pm THE SANDOWN SUMMER STAKES (SHOWCASE HANDICAP) 1m 2f £40,000
3.45pm THE EUROPEAN BREEDERS FUND MAIDEN STAKES 7f £9,000-added
4.20pm THE GALA STAKES (LISTED RACE) 1m 2f £32,000
4.50pm THE HAMPTON COURT HANDICAP STAKES 1m 6f £14,000-added
Total £134,000
SATURDAY, JULY 5, 2003 - CORAL-ECLIPSE DAY
Time Race Distance Prize Money
CH4 1.45pm THE PORCELANOSA SPRINT STAKES (LISTED RACE) 5f £32,000
CH4 2.20pm THE ADDLESHAW GODDARD STAKES (LISTED RACE) 2m £32,000
CH4 2.55pm THE TOTE SCOOP6 STAKES (SHOWCASE HANDICAP) 1m £100,000
CH4 3.35pm THE CORAL-ECLIPSE STAKES (GROUP ONE) 1m 2f £350,000
4.10pm THE DISTAFF STAKES (LISTED RACE) 1m £32,000
4.45pm THE RAYNES PARK HANDICAP STAKES 7f £25,000-added
5.20pm THE GUILDFORD HANDICAP STAKES 1m 2f £10,000-added
Total £581,000
Prize Money for whole meeting £715,000
GREAT LEIGHS GIVEN GO-AHEAD
BHB has given the go-ahead to a new racecourse at Great Leighs subject to it being granted a licence by the Jockey Club.
BHB Chief Executive Greg Nichols, who chaired BHB's New Racecourse Fixtures Committee (NRFC) which evaluated the application, said: "It is very exciting for British Racing that we now have the prospect of Britain's 60th racecourse and the first new racecourse in this country for over 75 years.
"BHB has continually emphasised that our sport is thriving, constantly modernising itself and capable of attracting a high level of entrepreneurial interest."
After discussing Great Leighs at its meeting on 10th June, the BHB Board requested further details from the promoters of the project. Having considered this additional information, the Board is satisfied that Great Leighs meets the criteria set out in its published Guidelines for the Development of New Racecourses.
Tony Goodhew, Jockey Club Director of Racecourse Licensing and Standards and a member of the NRFC, said: "The Jockey Club has been kept fully apprised of the planned course layout and its key facilities. As soon as all the necessary construction work has been completed we expect to be in a position to formally licence Great Leighs."
GREAT LEIGHS GETS SET TO CONSTRUCT
Track design is fantastic, says Kieren Fallon
Great Leighs Racing is set to break the soil at its Essex site following today's (June 24) confirmation by the British Horseracing Board that it is Britain's 60th licensed track
The track's situation in a wealthy part of the country, its left-handed oval circuit and the global reach of its broadcasting capabilities give Great Leighs the confidence to believe that it has created a winning formula for all.
The licence follows three years of detailed preparatory work to redevelop Essex County Showground near Chelmsford. Great Leighs is the only all-weather proposal to have secured crucial local planning consent. Existing buildings on the 165-acre site will be demolished and replaced by a £40 million state-of-the-art steel and glass grandstand and eight furlong Polytrack circuit. The grandstand has a stand-alone function for 365 day-a-year use, with flexible conferencing and exhibition space, a 25,000 square-foot fitness centre, night club, full range of public restaurants and permanent TV production studios.
Elsewhere in the grounds, a 120-stable permanent training yard will offer an exciting opportunity for up and coming trainers, and tempt newcomers to sample the thrill of horse ownership.
John Holmes said: "I am thrilled that the BHB has recognised our potential for the racing industry and for the region; we have an exciting catchment area in an enterprising county and the scope to attract a new audience to the sport. "A few years ago our vision looked radical, but from the outset we've tried to anticipate the needs of the racing industry in 2004, when we are ready to open.
"We aim to provide a seamless programme, offering the extra betting opportunities that the industry has finally identified as critical and the chance to build on the growing profile of all-weather. Most of the world's richest races take place on left-handed ovals. In the longer term, if the hope is to bring world class all-weather racing to Britain, we are poised to meet the challenge."
Champion jockey Kieren Fallon has inspected Great Leighs' detailed track design. Kieren commented: "This will be fantastic. The final bend will be cambered nicely, with a nice moving turn so you can get where you want to be and, very important, a nice two-furlong finish. We won't get horses switching off their lead as they do when you're coming downhill or where it's too tight turning into the straight.
"Its very similar to a lot of tracks in America but with a much, much friendlier surface. It would be a good trial for something like the Breeders Cup - for sharpness, for going into that first turn, and for getting your position, which is so important. It's perfect."
Andy Clifton, public relations director for the Horserace Totalisator Board (Tote) commented: "With the growth of all-weather racing in this country, we're now seeing some of our best horses racing on artificial surfaces. To have a top quality venue like Great Leighs able to stage trials for the Breeders Cup or other major race meetings abroad or top quality Listed, or even Group races, can only add to the quality of the all-weather programme and could well give European trained horses more of an edge when they travel abroad to some of the biggest meetings in the world."
IRISH THOROUGHBRED NEWS
IRISH DERBY ATTRACTS THE STARS
Derby winners Dalakhani and Kris Kin look certain to clash in the EUR1.3m Group1 Budweiser Irish Derby at the Curragh next Sunday.
Epsom hero Kris Kin is expected to be supplemented for the race early this week and Dalakhani, so impressive when winning the Prix du Jockey-Club at Chantilly, will definitely run unless the ground turns heavy.
Racecourse manager Paul Hensey reported that the ground is good to firm on the round course and good in the straight. "There has been some rain about but we have had none of it and the forecast is for good weather," he said.
"We will keep the situation under review and depending on what happens with the weather we will decide whether watering is needed."
Epsom Derby third Alamshar is another intended runner and both Aidan O'Brien and Dermot Weld are expected to finalise their running plans early this week.
TATTERSALLS DERBY SALE BEGINS ON THURSDAY
The Tattersalls (Ireland) Derby Sale begins this Thursday the 26th and 27th June at 9.30a.m.
Flagship graduate of the Derby Sale is undoubtedly Queen Mother Champion Chase winner; Moscow Flyer, sold by Ballymorris Stud in the 1998 Derby Sale for 17,000gns to Mr John Harrington. Other graduates of the sale include this year's Aintree Grand National winner; Monty's Pass, sold in the 1997 Derby Sale by Coolnagour House Stud for 4,200gns to John Howard. Other notable graduates include Ad Hoc winner of the Attheraces Gold Cup (formely Whitbread Gold Cup) sold by Parkville Stud to Sir Robert Ogden for 45,000gns. Native Upmanship a two-time winner of the Martell Melling Chase at Aintree was purchased in the 1996 Derby Sale for 8,800gns by Arthur Moore from Castedillon Stud. Others purchased in the Derby Sale were More than a Stroll (James Nicholson Champion Chase), Be My Royal (winner of the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup), Rhinestone Cowboy (Axminster Kingwell Hurdle), Native Emperor (Tote Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle), Lord Transcend (Grade 2 Premier Stayers Hurdle) and Kopek (Gerrard Wealth Novices Hurdle).
Tattersalls (Ireland) graduates have in fact won 6 of the last 7 Cheltenham Gold Cups, with Tattersalls (Ireland) graduates Best Mate,Truckers Tavern and Harbour Pilot filling the first three places in this year's Gold Cup.
The last 2 Aintree Grand National winners, Monty's Pass and Bindaree were also purchased at the Fairyhouse venue, as was Take Control, Holy Orders, In Contrast and Beef or Salmon.
This year's catalogue has just over 520 lots catalogued and once again there is a plethora of quality on offer. All the leading sires are represented and close relatives of horses such as Ebony Jane, King on the Run, Kingsmark, Native Jack, Davenport Democrat, Maximise, Cable Beach and Sparkling Gold, a full brother to Florida Pearl, Flakey Dove's 3 year old gelding, Chauvinist, Rhinestone Cowboy, Ross Moff, Strath Royal, Classified, Space Trucker and a 3 year old gelding by Presenting ½ brother to Merry People, Merry Masquerade and Over the Bar are among the many quality lots on offer.
All three and four year old fillies purchased at the sale nominated prior to the sale for the Bewleys Hotel and EBF National Hunt Fillies Scheme will be eligible for the EUR100,000 Bewleys Hotel and EBF N.H. Fillies Championship Bumper at the Punchestown Festival 2004, in addition to the Bewleys Hotel and ITBA Fillies Bonus Bumper at Punchestown in November/December 2004.
Irish Thoroughbred Marketing will continue its programme of flight reimbursements for purchasers at the sale. Catalogues are now available and online on the Tattersalls website www.tattersalls.ie.
GOFFS INTERNATIONAL SALE ON SATURDAY JUNE 28TH
The Goffs International Sale begins at 10.30am on Saturday morning and has a catalogue that will be of interest to all, as it contains both fillies and mares with excellent breeding potential, and horses with great potential to remain in training.
The sale contains daughters of leading stallions such as Danehill, Sadlers Wells, Diesis, Alzao, Machiavellian, In the Wings, Barathea, Zafonic, Distant View, Cadeaux Genereux, Grand Lodge, Zamindar and Lear Fan.
Ballymacoll Stud offer a mare in foal to Golan, Horse Park Stud offer a half sister to My Branch and Fasliyev is the covering sire of Dashing Colours' half- sister, Allison Brooks. Machiavellian is the sire of a 3yo filly in foal to Iron Mask and Danehill Dancer's covering of Peruvian Chief is sure to make this lot much in demand after the exploits of Choisir, as will be the Definite Article half sister to Wait Till Monday, Token Gesture and Rare Holiday that comes from Moyglare Stud Farm.
Top Strategy, a gelding by Hernando is sure to attract a lot of interest after his recent impressive maiden success. He was always travelling well on his debut in Cork and was the easy winner by 3 lengths. Other horses in training in the sale include the Jim Bolger trained Aqualina. Stakes placed already this year and a half-sister to the high class Malvernico, Aqualina has won again since the catalogue was printed and finished 3rd in the valuable Ulster Derby at the weekend. Another filly in training that is set to be offered is the Sadler's Wells filly Savieres. She is a winning daughter of the Grade 1 winning mare Gravieres and is a half sister to the Group 1 placed Coliseum. The Catalogue can be viewed on www.goffs.com.
GOFFS CHALLENGE RACE HAS STRONG ENTRY
Entries for Fridays Goffs Challenge race at the Curragh are as strong as ever with leading trainers such as Richard Hannon, Tim Easterby, John Gosden, Mick Channon, David Barron, Nerys Dutfield and Brian Meehan among many English trainers with horses entered in the race.
Winners entered in the race include Newmarket maiden winner Gwaithir (Cape Cross) and debut winners Palace Theatre (Imperial Ballet) and Blue Banner (Grand Lodge), the latter from the Kevin Prendergast yard. Other winners entered include; Carrizo Creek (Charnwood Forest), Danesmead (Danehill Dancer) and Amourallis (Dushyantor) as well as some well bred newcomers and placed horses.
This race was the first to attract an American trained two-year-old runner and it breaks new ground again this year with the first Spanish-trained runner ever in Ireland. The vendor of the winner will receive a bonus in the form of a cheque for EUR12,500. The runners were all sold at the Challenge Sale last year and the sale has a new date in 2003, Thursday 25th September.
WELD TRAINED 'IN TIMES EYE' LOOKS HORSE TO FOLLOW
Dermot Weld, who so often flies the flag for Ireland on the world's racing stage, was responsible for last weeks Royal Ascot winner In Times Eye.
Weld landed the Listed Wolferton Rated Stakes with In Time's Eye, a son of Singspiel and closely related to Refuse To Bend, is owned and bred by the Moyglare Stud Farm.
A second Royal Ascot winner for Pat Smullen, connections have high hopes for In Time's Eye who should certainly be able to build on this success, both at home and abroad.
ASCOT GOLD CUP SUCCESS FOR MR DINOS
Mr Dinos ran out a most impressive winner of the featured race at Royal Ascot when taking the Group 1 Gold Cup by all of six lengths.
Kicked clear by Kieren Fallon at the two-furlong marker, the son of Desert King pulled right away to win his second Group 1 race and the sixth race of his career.
Second home was the veteran Persian Punch (Persian Heights) who was running at Royal Ascot for the sixth successive year.
Mr Dinos, who was sold at the Goffs Orby sale in 2000 for IR£40,000, is to be rested for an autumn campaign and looks set to return in France in September or October.
KING'S THEATRE PROVES HIMSELF A VERSATILE SORT
Ballylinch Stud sire King's Theatre, responsible for recent French Champion Hurdle winner Nobody Told Me, scored a second notable success in France early last week.
King's Drama, bred by Kilfrush Stud, battled well to lead in the closing stages and win the Group 3 Prix de la Jonchere over a mile at Chantilly.
SADNESS AS SHELTERING DIES
Ireland's leading hunter chaser has died while on a summer break at trainer Edward O'Grady's County Tipperary stables.
A son of the legendary Strong Gale, Sheltering was the winner of five point-to-point races, 14 races on the racecourse proper and was the champion hunter chaser on three occasions.
He finished third in the 2001 Irish Grand National and Edward O'Grady said, "His death was completely unexpected and came as a big shock to us. A post-mortem has shown that he died of a twisted colon."
CURRAGH TO HONOUR TWO RACING GREATS
Vincent O'Brien and Lester Piggott are set to become the first two people elected to the Irish Derby Hall Of Fame at the Curragh Racecourse next weekend.
Senior steward Ray Rooney will unveil a plaque in a ceremony at the course on Saturday and both O'Brien and Piggott will be in attendance. Vincent O'Brien has won the Irish Derby on a record six occasions and in his glittering career Piggott won the race five times.
COOLMORE SIRES ON THE MARK AT ROYAL ASCOT
The highly promising Pearl Of Love made every yard of the running to win the Listed Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot.
An all the way winner at Doncaster last month, the son of Peintre Celebre readily held off the late run of Aidan O'Brien's Tycoon to win for the second time in three starts.
The winner, trained by Mark Johnston, was bred by Swettenham Stud while Fantastic Love, another son of the sire landed the King George V Stakes on the same afternoon.
Russian Valour, a son of Fasliyev (also sire of Much Faster, who maintained her unbeaten record in fine style when winning the Listed Prix la Fleche over the weekend), comfortably saw off odds-on favourite Kheleyf to win the Group 3 Norfolk Stakes. Once again, the winner made all the running and on this performance looks like one to follow.
Grand Lodge, another standing at Coolmore, was responsible for Persian Majesty who made a winning return in the Listed Hampton Court Stakes. The winner of his only start last season, Persian Majesty was running for the first time this season and battled well to land the 10-furlong event under Johnny Murtagh.
MORE SUCCESS FOR SCUDERIA GOLDEN HORSE WITH IRISH BREDS
Golden Devious, the 3yo Dr. Devious colt trained by G Fratini, took the listed Premio d'Estate in Milan at the weekend. He was purchased for IR£18000 at Goffs Orby Yearling sale by Scuderia Golden Horse, owners of the Irish bred Italian 1000 Guineas winner, Golden Nepi.
MONDAY AFTERNOON RACING AT PONTEFRACT
The action at Pontefract on Monday begins at 2.15 p.m. with the principal race being the £20,000-added E.B.F. Park Suite Fillies' Stakes, a Showcase Handicap over six furlongs for fillies and mares supported by The European Breeders Fund.
Two-year-olds are catered for in The Spindrifter Conditions Stakes, a race also over six furlongs, which is held annually in memory of the record-breaking juvenile who won 13 races as a two-year-old in 1980, three of which were recorded at Pontefract. Spindrifter was owned by Grahame Waters, who will make the journey to Pontefract to present the challenge trophy to the successful owner.
Patrick Mathers has opened up an 11 point lead over his nearest challenger Piers Gallagher after winning the first two heats of this season's Betfair.com Apprentice Series. Round Three of this popular five race series - all held at Pontefract - takes place on Monday - a handicap contest over one mile and a quarter. The leading rider at the end of the Series in October will receive a fortnight's working holiday next winter, based at Gulfstream Park, Miami, with a leading United States trainer. The Series is supported by Betfair.com, the leading sports betting exchange company.
For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink
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