Thursday, July 1, 2004
MOST INTERNATIONAL AND MOST COMPETITIVE SPRINT EVER RUN IN EUROPE?
The £250,000 Darley July Cup (Group 1), highlight of the last day of the July Meeting at Newmarket next Thursday (8th July), looks set to be arguably the most international and most competitive sprint ever run in Europe with likely runners from Japan, Hong Kong, Australia and the USA, as well as France, Ireland and Britain.
This morning SEEKING THE DIA, trained in Japan by Hideyuki Mori, worked very well on the July Course ahead of his bid to follow in the footsteps of Agnes World, who won the Darley July Cup for Mori in 2000. Travelling companion, DORUBAKO, also worked and holds an entry in the race as well.
This morning also, trainer David Oughton confirmed that his challenger from Hong Kong, CAPE OF GOOD HOPE, will run in the six-furlong Darley July Cup. Having finished second in the King's Stand Stakes (Group 2) and third in the Golden Jubilee (Group 1) at Royal Ascot, connections had been considering missing Newmarket in favour of a step down in class to the Group 2 Lennox Stakes at Goodwood later this month. The Darley July Cup is now firmly back on the agenda, however, and transport has been arranged to bring the gelding to Newmarket next week.
Meanwhile the big Australian hope, EXCEED AND EXCEL, is expected to work on the Al Bahathri gallop on Saturday morning. Connections remain hopeful that their champion will be ready in time for next Thursday's race following the poor blood count which ruled him out of Royal Ascot. The four year-old will be looking to go one better than the only previous Australian challenger, Choisir, managed in the race when runner-up 12 months ago.
LYDGATE, trained by Eoin Harty in the USA, completes the impressive line-up of inter-continental challengers. The four-year-old had no luck in running in the King's Stand Stakes and his trainer, who had a flying visit to Newmarket earlier this week to check on his colt's well-being, expects him to appreciate the step-up in trip to six furlongs at Newmarket. LYDGATE made a brief visit to the July Course on Tuesday to get himself acquainted with the parade ring there.
The best sprinters in Europe are ready take on the overseas challengers. From France, Yves de Nicolay today confirmed that his Prix du Gros-Chene (Group 2) runner-up, PORLEZZA, will run, while the Golden Jubilee runner-up, CRYSTAL CASTLE, could also be in the line-up for trainer John Hammond. From Ireland, Aidan O'Brien seems likely to saddle his highly talented St James's Palace Stakes (Group 1) third, ANTONIUS PIUS, the subject of a lot of money in the ante-post market last week.
All Britain's top sprinters are entered in the race. Roger Charlton would not want the ground too fast for PATAVELLIAN, brilliant winner of the Prix de l'Abbaye (Group 1) at the end of last season and who also won the Ladbrokes Bunbury Cup on Darley July Cup Day last year, but AVONBRIDGE, who won the Prix du Gros-Chene (Group 2) and was fifth in the Golden Jubilee, would be an able deputy.
FAYR JAG, who won the Golden Jubilee, FRIZZANTE, a fast-finishing third in the King's Stand, KHELEYF, the impressive Jersey Stakes (Group 3) winner, AIRWAVE, who was a fine third in last year's Darley July Cup, and BALMONT, one of last season's top two-year-olds, are others to take the eye.
"This has all the hallmarks of being a phenomenal race and I cannot tell you how excited about it everyone is here," commented Newmarket's Clerk of the Course, Michael Prosser.
"To have likely runners from four different countries outside Europe in one race at Newmarket is unheard of and I doubt whether any other track in Europe has matched that in the past.
"With Attraction the star of the show on Tuesday and a great card on Wednesday as well, the £1m three-day July Meeting is going to be something very special next week!"
GOING AND WEATHER UPDATE
The going on the July Course is currently GOOD-TO-FIRM, but showers, some likely to be heavy, are forecast for this afternoon, tomorrow and through the weekend.
Michael Prosser said: "With the forecast as it is, we currently have no intention to water. I would much prefer to leave it to 'mother nature'. The track is in very good shape with a great covering of grass."
JEFF ENNIS TO CHAIR BHB WORKING GROUP TO PRESS FOR FURTHER RENEWAL OF VAT SCHEME
Jeff Ennis MP, Joint Chair of the Parliamentary All Party Racing Group, has been appointed to head a BHB Working Group which will seek a further renewal of the valuable VAT Registration Scheme for racehorse owners.
The Scheme, worth some £20m to Racing and Breeding annually, enables racehorse owners to register their racing activity as a business for VAT purposes. The Scheme, launched in 1993, was extended by Government in 1997 and 2002 and is next due to be reviewed by Customs and Excise in 2005.
Ahead of this, the Working Group will be tasked with increasing the number and value of sponsorships for owners, highlighting the benefits of the Scheme to a wide audience and increasing awareness of the Scheme among existing and potential sponsors. The Group will also complement the existing methods for policing the Scheme, and ensure that registered owners are complying with the rules.
The Working Group is comprised as follows:
Jeff Ennis (Chairman)
Rupert Arnold (NTF)
James Beazley (Bloodstock industry representative)
Michael Harris (ROA)
Chris John (BHB Marketing Director)
Peter Mendham (VAT Advisor)
Rhydian Morgan-Jones (Industry Committee (Horseracing) Ltd)
James Oldring (BHB Sponsorship Executive)
Nigel Payne (HSA)
Phillip Potts (Bloodstock industry representative)
Mary-Ann Sandercock (RCA)
Jeff Ennis said: "I am delighted at the opportunity to be involved in a matter of vital importance to the racing industry. The VAT Scheme has been an undoubted success since its inception, and has far-reaching benefits in terms of additional business income generated and the employment opportunities it creates. I look forward to working with industry experts to secure the Scheme's future."
BHB Marketing Director Chris John said: "The VAT Scheme remains of crucial importance to Racing and Breeding. We are very pleased that Jeff Ennis will be heading the industry-wide Group. His substantial political experience and great passion for racing will be major assets."
RESULTS OF ENQUIRIES HELD BY THE DISCIPLINARY PANEL OF THE JOCKEY CLUB TODAY
Panel: Tim Bell (Chairman), Nick Nutting and Stephen Allday
Paul Eddery
The Disciplinary Panel of the Jockey Club held an enquiry on 1st July 2004 to consider whether or not Paul Eddery, a licensed jockey, had committed a breach of Rule 221B(i) in the light of Instruction F5 headed 'Use of Mobile Telephones by Riders, Master Jockeys' Valets and Master Valet's Assistants on Racecourse Property.'
Having considered the evidence, the Panel accepted an admission from Eddery that he was in breach of Rule 221B(i) in that he chose not to use the phone zone and went to the car park to make a telephone call from his mobile telephone at Windsor on 19th April 2004. It imposed a fine of £500 upon him.
Ronald Thompson
The Disciplinary Panel of the Jockey Club held an enquiry on 1st July 2004 to consider whether or not Ronald Thompson, a licensed trainer, had committed a breach of Rule 220(viii) of the Rules of Racing, in respect of his forging the signature of Mrs Michelle Thompson, his wife and a registered owner, on the Authority to Act form he submitted to Weatherbys on 23rd April, appointing himself to act as an authorised agent for Mrs Thompson
Having considered the evidence, including a statement from Thompson who was legally represented, and Mrs Thompson, the Panel found him to be in breach of Rule 220(viii) in that he submitted the Authority to Act form to Weatherbys which contained a forged signature for which he was responsible. It imposed a fine of £500 upon him.
Brett Johnson
The Disciplinary Panel of the Jockey Club held an enquiry on 1st July 2004 to consider whether or not Brett Johnson, a licensed trainer, had committed breaches of Rule 220(vii)(b) of the Rules of Racing, in respect of his incorrect responses to the questions, detailed below, under the heading 'Health and Safety' on page 4 of his Application Form for Renewal of Trainer's Licence 2004/2005, signed and dated 20th December 2003:
a) Have your employees been given a full and detailed Health and Safety induction?
b) Do you have emergency arrangements in the event that a person needs hospitalisation,
including arrangements for accidents that occur on the training gallops?
c) Have you carried out a Fire Risk Assessment?
Having considered the evidence, including a statement from Johnson, the Panel found him to be in breach of Rule 220(vii)(b) in that he made incorrect responses on his Application form. It imposed a fine of £300 upon him.
RACING UK GOES GLOBAL
Revenues roll in for UK racecourses from sales of TV pictures overseas
UK racecourses backing Racing UK are set for a financial windfall, following the successful sale of their TV pictures to a number of major overseas markets.
Phumelela Gold Enterprises (PGE), Racing UK's international media rights partner, has announced to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange that it has concluded exclusive agreements for the broadcast of racing from Racing UK's 30 courses to Sri Lanka, the Caribbean, Russia and its adjacent territories. These agreements, together with existing revenue producing operations, meet the guaranteed minimum revenues identified in the May 2004 agreement between Racing UK and PGE. Further international simulcasting agreements are anticipated in the coming weeks.
Simon Bazalgette, Executive Chairman of Racing UK, said: "The successful sale of Racing UK's TV pictures in the international market demonstrates the strength of our product, reinforces the channel's long term future and underlines the benefits to courses. The strong broadcast revenues that Racing UK is generating overseas are not flowing out of the sport - they are staying in the sport for reinvestment because our channel is entirely owned by UK courses."
Andrew Brown, Chief Operating Officer of Racing UK, said: "It is great news that Phumelela have already met the minimum guarantee, because that means that there will be additional upside for Racing UK, so we could achieve break-even even faster than we expected."
For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink
Archive
|
