Tuesday, September 25, 2001
LATEST WILLIAM HILL ANTE-POST PRICES
QUEEN ELIZABETH II STAKES (29th Sept): 9-4 Noverre (from 5-2), 7-2 No Excuse Needed, 5-1 Proudwings, 6-1 Hawkeye (from 5), Vahoramix, 12-1 Bach, Olden Times; 16-1 Beckett, Bocelli; 20-1 Tamburlaine, 25-1 Valentino, 66-1 Summoner.
TOTE TRIFECTA HANDICAP (29th Sept): 11-2 Mr Mahoose (from 7), 8-1 Continent (from 9), 12-1 A Touch Of Frost, Great News, 14-1 Duke Of Modena, 16-1 Banjo Bay, Capricho, Golden Dragon, Hand Chime, I Cried For You, Zibet; 20/1 Big Future, Bold King, Hilltop Warning, Intricate Web, Millenium Moonbeam,
Needwood Blade, Undeterred; 25/1 BAR.
PRIX de L'ARC de TRIOMPHE (Longchamp, Oct 7th): 7-2 Aquarelliste (from 4), 9-2 Milan, 5-1 Golan, 13-2 Hightori, 12-1 Anabaa Blue, Egyptband, 14-1 Morshdi, 16-1 Diamilina, 20-1 Grandera, Lailani, Sabiango, Storming Home, 25-1 Holding Court, 33-1 Millenary, Mr Combustible, Wellbeing, With The Flow, 50-1 Endless Hall, (Others Upon Application, including 9-4 WAR Sakhee)
TOTE CAMBRIDGESHIRE HCP (Oct 6th): 5-1 Alphaeus, 8-1 Albuhera, Katy Nowaite, Smirk, 12-1 Halland, 20-1 Nimello, Scheming, Transatlantic, 25-1 Bakiri, Duke Of Modena, Faithful Warrior, Highland Reel, Man O'Mystery, Moon Goddess, Nashaab, Putra Pekan, Soft Breeze, 33-1 BAR
TOTE CESAREWITCH (Oct 20th): 5-1 Taffrail, 10-1 Brother Joe, Heros Fatal, 12-1 Barba Papa, Big Moment, Cover Up, 14-1 Distant Prospect, Hugs Dancer, Ravenswood, 16-1 Ansar, Give Notice, Wave Of Optimism, 20-1 Archduke Ferdinand, Guard Duty, Hirapour, Hyderabad, Tarxien, 25-1 BAR ( 5-2 (With A Run) Alleluia)
FOSTERS MELBOURNE CUP (Nov 6th): 6-1 Universal Prince, 9-1 Native Jazz, 10-1 Kaapstad Way, Vinnie Roe, 14-1 Sale Of Century, 20-1 Big Pat, Freemason, Northerly, The Secondmortgage, 25-1 Bar
2002 TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS: 6-1 Dubai Destination, Hawk Wing, 8-1 Johannesburg, 20-1 Comfy, Meshaheer, Rock Of Gibraltar, 25-1 Hills Of Gold, Naheef, 33-1 Bragadino, Canberra, King Of Happiness, Lahooq, Landseer, Leos Luckyman, Official Flame, Right Approach, Roar Of The Tiger, Tasmanian Tiger, Waldenburg, War Zone, Zipping (Others Upon Application)
2002 ONE THOUSAND GUINEAS: 6-1 Gossamer, 10-1 Revealing, 12-1 Half Glance, Queens Logic, 16-1 Quarter Moon, Silent Honor, 20-1 Muklah, 25-1 Barzah, Echo River, Islington, Night Sky, Zaeema, 33-1 Carinae, Karamah, Kootenay, Lady High Havens, Leggy Lou, Lipstick, Seba, Sophisticat, Ya Hajar, (Others Upon Application)
2002 SMURFIT CHAMPION HURDLE: 6-4 Istabraq, 8-1 Jair du Cochet, 10-1 Landing Light, 12-1 Ned Kelly, 16-1 Bilboa, 20-1 Moscow Flyer, Ulundi, 25-1 Geos, Valiramix, 33-1 Barton, 40-1 Azertyuiop, First Ballot, 50-1 Ansar, Joe Cullen, Montalcino (Others Upon Application)
2002 TOTE GOLD CUP: 9-2 First Gold, 12-1 Marlborough, Sackville, 14-1 Best Mate, Kotkijet, Looks Like Trouble, See More Business, 16-1 Lord Noelie, 20-1 Ad Hoc, Bacchanal, Legal Right, Shotgun Willy, 25-1 Alexander Banquet, Monsignor, Paris Pike, Whats Up Boys, 40-1 Go Ballistic, Ilare, (Other Upon Application)
POINT TO POINTING SET TO RESUME IN JANUARY 2002
The Jockey Club Point to Point Liaison Committee (PPLC) has today confirmed that the 2002 Point-to Point season is set to start on schedule on Sunday, 6th January 2002.
The vast majority of the 2001 season was cancelled by the Committee in mid March in light of the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak but next year's programme of 210 fixtures has now been compiled and is due to be approved by the British Horseracing Board next month.
Assuming there is no major deterioration in the FMD situation venues will need to comply with the conditions laid down by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' (DEFRA). Owners will be required to present signed declaration forms for their runners confirming compliance.
In the weeks ahead all participants will be made aware of the finer detail of the procedures through their respective associations, but owners will definitely have to provide a grid reference for the premises where their horse is trained when they lodge their Hunter Certificate.
Chairman of the Committee, Mark Davies, stated: "We have taken advice from Jockey Club Chief Veterinary Adviser, Dr Peter Webbon and received landowners' permission to hold meetings at virtually all courses. Whilst we can't predict or rule out localised FMD flare-ups, we are confident that as things stand the 2002 season will get under way without too much disruption. All the associations are pulling together to make this
happen."
ASCOT COMMEMORATES DETTORI'S MAGNIFICENT SEVEN
The 2001 BETDAQ Festival of Racing at Ascot marks the fifth anniversary of Frankie Dettori's unique and unbeaten feat of riding all seven winners on a single card.
On Saturday, September 28th 1996, just after 5.30pm, Dettori sealed his place in racing folklore when Fujiyama Crest completed the jockey's total domination of one of the most competitive racedays of the year. At cumulative odds of 25,095-1, and at a cost of some £40 million to the bookmaking industry, Frankie Dettori's "Magnificent Seven," surely The Sporting Life's best known headline, became part of racing history.
FRANKIE DETTORI STATUE UNVEILING - 12.45pm
Ascot Racecourse has commissioned a life-sized bronze of Frankie as a permanent reminder of the Magnificent Seven and this superb statue, depicting one of the jockey's most famous "poses," will be unveiled in the Members' Enclosure entrance courtyard on Saturday, 29th September at 12.45pm. Lord Hartington, Her Majesty's Representative at Ascot, will conduct the opening ceremony and Frankie himself will be asked to pull the curtain back and reveal his double.
The bronze was sculpted by David Roper-Curzon, who has worked on both sides of the Atlantic and counts commissions for Viscount Cranbourne, Lord Cavendish, McGill University in Canada and P&O Ferries Ltd among his works.
PARADE OF WINNERS - 1.00pm
Decorated Hero and Fujiyama Crest, legs four and seven of the seven-timer, will parade up the course before racing. Dettori will ride Fujiyama Crest, who he now owns. The parade will begin in the winners' enclosure at about 1.00pm, where there will be photo opportunity with Frankie and the two horses.
Graham Sharpe, Media Manager for William Hill, launches his book "The Magnificent Seven" at Ascot on Saturday and the author will be on hand to sign copies outside the Grandstand shop from 3.50pm onwards.
GROUND AT ASCOT REMAINS GOOD TO FIRM
The ground at Ascot ahead of the BETDAQ Festival Of Racing remains good to firm (good in places).
Clerk of the Course Nick Cheyne said: "We've had no rain at all today.
"Basically we were dry all day yesterday, dry last night, but we did have very thick fog first thing this morning. There is a chance of a shower tomorrow and it will probably be dry on Thursday and Friday with maybe some showers on Saturday."
However, watering of the Royal course looks unlikely. Cheyne explained: "It doesn't look like it at this stage, but I haven't made a final decision on it."
£100,000 THOMAS PINK GOLD CUP HEADS OPEN 2001
The Open 2001, staged at Cheltenham Racecourse from Friday to Sunday, November 16 to 18, will this year boast total prize money of nearly half a million pounds with the feature Thomas Pink Gold Cup worth £100,000, a 25% increase on last year.
No race at The Open is now worth less than £12,000, a 20% boost on the minimum prize money offered last season.
The Thomas Pink Gold Cup, run on Saturday, November 17, over two miles and four and a half furlongs, was won in 2000 - the first year of Thomas Pink's sponsorship - by Lady Cricket, ridden by champion jump jockey Tony McCoy and trained by Martin Pipe who dominated the race as he also had the second Exit Swinger and fifth Majadou from three runners.
A record crowd for the day of nearly 26,000 watched as McCoy sent Lady Cricket into the lead four fences out and took a clear lead in the prestigious handicap chase, daring the 14 other talented chasers to catch them.
For Thomas Pink, the well-known shirtmakers whose flagship shop is in London's Jermyn Street, this was a great start to horse-race sponsorship.
The Thomas Pink Gold Cup is supported by the £50,000 Intervet Trophy Handicap Chase, the three mile, three and a half furlong contest added to the card at last year's meeting. Irish raider Foxchapel King landed the inaugural running 12 months ago for trainer Mouse Morris.
There is top-class racing throughout The Open with the opening day, Countryside Day on Friday, November 16, again featuring the £30,000-added Sporting Index Chase, run over Cheltenham's unique cross-country course. The three mile and seven furlong contest was won last year by Supreme Charm from 12 rivals.
On the same day, the £20,000-added Mitsubishi Shogun Trophy is an ideal early-season target for decent two-mile chasers, while the winner of the Grade 2 £25,000-added Gerrard Novices' Hurdle will, if also successful in the Grade 1 Gerrard Sharp Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the National Hunt Festival at Cheltenham in March, receive a £50,000 bonus.
The Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup prospect Sackville, trained in Ireland by Frances Crowley, won the £17,500-added Steel Plate and Section Novices' Chase 12 months ago on the Friday.
Saturday's outstanding card is augmented by the £40,000-added Tote Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle, always an ultra-competitive event with prize money increased by 33% this year, and a £17,500-added novices' chase, which often pinpoints some stars of the future.
That comment also applies to the £30,000 Independent Novices' Chase that forms part of Sunday's card. Best Mate won the two-mile chase last year and Fadalko took it in 1999 and both are now among the best chasers in training.
Sunday's feature event is the £50,000 Direct Answers Hurdle, a Listed handicap over two miles and a half furlong which went to Hulysse Royal last year.
Other Sunday highlights include the £25,000-added Arch Hurdle, an intermediate handicap, the £12,000-added Gloucestershire Cricket Club Novices' Hurdle, which was won by Sheer Genius last year, and the Open Bumper, a Listed National Hunt Flat Race which has been won in the past two years by very smart performers In Contrast and Best Mate.
Edward Gillespie, Cheltenham's Managing Director, commented: "The Open goes from strength to strength and we are delighted that we have been able to increase the prize money to £484,500, an increase of £59,500 on last year.
"The Thomas Pink Gold Cup this year carries boosted prize money of £100,000, which will ensure it continues to enjoy its status as one of the top races of the whole National Hunt season.
"There is very strong racing on all three days of The Open and we would like to thank all the sponsors for their support."
For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink
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