blog.indianracing.in

 

The tragic death of Eight Belles after the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) and the subsequent changes and responses within the Thoroughbred industry was selected by the editors and staff of Thoroughbred Times as the most significant story of the year and awarded the publication’s annual Newsmaker of the Year. Eight Belles finished second behind Big Brown in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs but suffered catastrophic condylar fractures to both front ankles and was euthanized on the track just minutes after the running of the historic race. A wave of negative publicity immediately ensued and the racing industry’s response, either through passage of measures to improve safety or through its self-evaluation, followed for several months. The changes included the formation of the Thoroughbred Safety Committee, which was charged with reviewing every facet of equine health and issue recommendations to improve the health and safety of Thoroughbreds, and steps by the industry to ban anabolic steroids, restrict the use of toe grabs on racehorses, and implement whip regulations. Federal lawmakers stepped into the mix when the Energy and Commerce Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives invited horsemen and industry decision makers to testify at a June 19 hearing titled “Breeding, Drugs, and Breakdowns: The State of Thoroughbred Horseracing and Welfare of the Thoroughbred.” A few months later, Breeders’ Cup Ltd. instituted a steroid ban for all its affiliated events, including the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park. The headlines generated by the tragedy of Eight Belles and the subsequent action by the industry topped a year that also included such prominent stories as Big Brown’s quest for the Triple Crown, the world’s economic crisis, the campaigns by Curlin and Zenyatta, and continued spending sprees by Dubai’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum.

Courtesy: www.thoroughbredtimes.com

 

Eagle Mountain, who missed almost 12 months of racing due to fracturing a pelvis in  Dubai over the winter, made up for lost time by winning yesterday’s Gr.1 Hong Kong Cup, the most valuable race in Hong Kong.  The four-year-old Tattersalls October Sale graduate, now trained by Mike deKock, sprinted into the lead down the home straight and comfortably held the French-trained Balius (Mujahid), who was collecting his third Gr.1 place in the

Far East. The

much-travelled Linngari (Indian Ridge), a Gr.1 winner in Italy and

Germany, finished fast against the rail to take third ahead of the unlucky favourite Viva Pataca (Marju), who had been boxed in behind the leaders. Eagle Mountain, a son of Rock of Gibraltar, started his delayed 2008 season with a win in the Gr.3 Joel Stakes at Newmarket before chasing home Conduit (Dalakhani) in the Gr.1 Breeders’ Cup Turf. Also a Gr.2 winner at two and three, he was scoring here for the fifth time in 16 starts.  A trip to

Dubai again beckons for the London Thoroughbred Services-bred winner, who will race on the “Super Thursday” to determine his target for Dubai World Cup night.

 SECOND VASE FOR DOCTOR DINO  Doctor Dino got up in the final stride to deny the luckless Purple Moon (Galileo) and win his second consecutive Gr.1 Hong Kong Vase. The Japanese raider Jaguar Mail

(Jungle Pocket) was third in a three-way photo finish, with the former Irish-trained The Bogberry (Hawk Wing), now in the care of Alain de Royer Dupre, back in fourth.

Doctor Dino, a son of Muhtathir, also landed the Gr.1 Man O’War Stakes in 2007 and is a dual Gr.2 winner in his native

France. Yesterday’s victory, his ninth in 29 starts, took his earnings to some £1.95m.

Another repeat winner at the big meeting was Good Ba Ba (Lear Fan), who landed the Gr.1 Hong Kong Mile in a course record time. The six-year-old made his move on the outside and flew clear for an impressive two and a half length victory from Able One (Cape Cross). In third was the front-running Egyptian Ra (Woodborough), who had

Good Ba Ba back in third when winning the main trial race late last month.

The Australian-bred Inspiration (Flying Spur) caused a 66-1 upset when accounting for some classy speedsters in the Gr.1 Hong Kong Sprint. In a close finish, he outbattled Green Birdie (Catbird) and the Australian trained favourite Apache Cat (Lion Cavern), while the European Champion Marchand d’Or (Marchand de Sable) could finish only sixth.

At Saturday’s Calder meeting, there were Gr.2 wins for Hernando’s Haras de Bourgeauville-bred daughter Herboriste in the La Prevoyante Handicap and Presious

Passion (Royal Anthem) in the W L McKnight Handicap.

Courtesy: European Bloodstock News

 

Grade 3 winner Fatal Bullet was named the Canadian Horse of the Year during the 34th annual Sovereign Awards on Friday at the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto.

The winner of the Kentucky Cup Sprint Stakes (G3) on September 27 at Turfway Park, Fatal Bullet also was named Canada’s champion sprinter. The Red Bullet gelding out of multiple stakes-placed winner Sararegal, by Regal Classic, is owned by Bear Stables Ltd., which was named Canada’s outstanding owner.

Bear Stables also owns multiple graded stakes winner Bear Now, Canada’s champion older female on the main track.

Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs bred Fatal Bullet and was named outstanding breeder. Stronach previously earned Sovereign Awards as Canada’s outstanding breeder in 1984, 1997-’99, and 2005-‘07.

Reade Baker trains Fatal Bullet, a bay gelding who won six of his eight starts this season and earned $718,286. The three-year-old gelding posted consecutive victories in the Bold Venture Stakes on July 20 at Woodbine, the Tom Ridge Labor Day Stakes on September 1 at Presque Isle Downs, and the Kentucky Cup Sprint Stakes.

Fatal Bullet finished second to Midnight Lute in the Sentient Flight Group Breeders Cup Sprint (G1) in his most recent start on October 25 during the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park.

Adena Springs homebred Ginger Brew was named champion three-year-old filly. Trained by Brian Lynch, the Milwaukee Brew filly won four of seven starts this year and earned $729,006.

Ginger Brew posted back-to-back wins in the Calder Oaks on April 26 and the Woodbine Oaks on June 8. The chestnut filly won the Jammed Lovely Stakes in her most recent start on November 9 at Woodbine.

Patrick Husbands, who rode Ginger Brew to victory in the Jammed Lovely, was named Canada’s outstanding jockey for the second consecutive year. Husbands also earned Sovereign Awards as Canada’s outstanding rider for four consecutive seasons from 1999 to 2002.

Canadian classic winner Not Bourbon was named champion three-year-old male. The winner of the Queen’s Plate Stakes, the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, on June 22 at Woodbine, Not Bourbon won four of his six starts this season and earned $874,501.

Mark Casse, who trains Canadian Grade 2 winner Marchfield, earned his third consecutive Sovereign Award as Canada’s outstanding trainer. Marchfield, a Eugene Melnyk homebred who won the Autumn Stakes (Can-G2) on November 9 at Woodbine, was named Canada’s champion older male on the main track.

A four-year-old A.P. Indy colt, Marchfield won three of his seven starts this year and earned $208,420.

Other Sovereign Award winners included:

*Champion two-year-old filly—Van Lear Rose, by Stroll

*Champion two-year-old male—Mine That Bird, by Birdstone

*Champion male turf horse—Rahy’s Attorney, by Crown Attorney

*Champion female turf horse—Callwood Dancer (Ire), by Danehill Dancer

*Outstanding apprentice jockey—Janine Stianson

*Outstanding broodmare—Kathie’s Colleen, by Woodman

*Outstanding photograph—Matt Waples

*Outstanding film/video/broadcast—Horse Racing Alberta & Whiteiron Productions

*Outstanding newspaper story—Beverly Smith

*Outstanding feature story—Peter Gross

Courtesy: www.thoroughbredtimes.com 

  The Hong Kong Jockey Club “has sought advice on Racing Victoria’s position in relation to the reciprocation of the penalties recently imposed” on Australian jockey Christopher Munce by the HKJC racing stewards. RV replied formally: “Mr Munce is not licensed in Victoria & Racing Victoria has not received any application from Mr Munce to be granted a licence to ride in

Victoria. RV supports the principle of the reciprocal application of penalties imposed by foreign horse racing authorities, subject to the rules of natural justice being afforded to the affected person by the domestic racing authority. RV has received preliminary legal advice on the interpretation & application of Article 10(III) of the International Federation Of Horseracing Authorities’ International Agreement On Breeding, Racing & Wagering which seeks to give effect to the reciprocity principle. This advice indicates there are complex legal issues associated with the operation of this Article. Should RV receive a licence application from Mr Munce, the matter will be dealt with by the RV Board by way of a process that accords procedural fairness to Mr Munce. RV cannot pre-empt the outcome of any potential application & accordingly, it is inappropriate for RV to make any further comment on this matter.” (Dec 11) Callander Backs “Gutsy Decision To Tell HK To Go To Hell”
Meanwhile leading turf columnist Ken Callander gave the Hong Kong Jockey club both barrels in The Daily Telegraph. Callander declared: “If I get into a scrap I want Peter V’Landys alongside me, not any of these do-gooders who think keeping sweet with the HKJC is more important than the well-being of Chris Munce. V’Landys has been copping plenty of flak from HK & other racing centres & also from a few Aussies who think a just penalty for tipping is to be thrown into a 2-to-a-bed, poorly sanitised HK jail. They are kidding. Please be told: In the case of Chris Munce, the penalty did not fit the crime. Fortunately the man in the street is 100% behind V’Landys & his just & gutsy decision to tell HK to go to hell.” Callander noted: “HK is now making a lot of noise as to why Munce did not appeal against the decision of the stewards inquiry. There are 2 reasons . . . . Firstly he had only 24 hours to do so & secondly he had totally lost faith in HK justice. Why wouldn’t he lose faith? The stewards inquiry last week was headed by Anthony Chow, a board member of the HKJC & the board of the HKJC is who he was supposed to appeal to. How’s that for corporate governance?” Callander continued: “Can somebody please tell me what HK has ever done for us? We can get on without them. The latest bluff is for HK to threaten to stop the NSW TAB betting on its races. Who cares? There is more interest in Nowra & Ballina & the holds are bigger. HK has never offered to reciprocate, as New Zealand does, & let their punters bet on

Sydney racing. They are all one-way. We supply HK with horses, jockeys, trainers & stewards & they supply us with nothing. . . . . Week after week they raid our most promising horses. As soon as a horse wins a race or two, its connections are hit with an offer from HK. Many Australian owners succumb to the temptation & sell the horse & I must admit I would probably do the same. But does it help

Sydney racing for all of our promising horses to be going overseas?” (Dec 11)

 

Courtesy: www.racingandbreeding.com

South African Douglas Whyte won the Cathay Pacific International Jockey Championship for the second consecutive year while United States-based jockey Cornelio Velasquez tied for third.

Whyte, who is based in Hong Kong, recorded his third victory in the championship, having also won in 2002. He earned 18 points for finishing second in each of the three races in the challenge, which was two more than the 16 points earned by French rider Christophe Lemaire, who posted a win and a third-place finish.

Whyte’s second-place finishes came aboard Bobo Win, Royal Portrait, and Rewarding Star.

“I’m a happy guy,” Whyte said. “Sorry not to have had any wins, but it is points that count in these competitions. I had some great rides and good alleys. It would be marvelous to make it three in a row next year.”

Velasquez and German jockey Andrasch Starke each won a race and earned 12 points to tie for third. Velasquez and Garrett Gomez, the 2007 Eclipse Award winner as outstanding jockey, were the only two United States jockeys to compete in the International Jockey Championship.

Velasquez won his first ride ever in Hong Kong as he guided the Tony Cruz-trained Super Genki in a closing rush that took him past Gomez a few strides from the wire.

“Gomez is a great rider, and he had opened six or seven lengths at the quarter pole,” Velasquez said. “But I had a lot of horse, and he ran well. I feel good. It is nice to represent America here.”

Starke, also a two-time championship winner (2000 and ‘05), took the second leg on Ever King, trained by John Moore. Lemaire held off a determined Whyte aboard Kenobe, trained by Andreas Schutz, in the final race.

“For a moment, I was in trouble in the final race but he came home great,” Lemaire said. “We have had great fun tonight.”

Gomez, who tied for fifth in the championship, said he was overwhelmed at the setting of gleaming buildings surrounding Happy Valley Race Course in Hong Kong. He also acknowledged the “amazing racetrack” on which he finished third behind Velasquez in the opening race of the championship.

“It’s a unique shape, and set against the high rises, it makes for a unique experience; [it’s] the most unusual racetrack I’ve ridden at,” Gomez said.

Courtesy: www.thoroughbredtimes.com

After what threatened to become one of the biggest controversies in Melbourne Cup (Aus-G1) history, England-based trainer Luca Cumani has been cleared of any wrongdoing after 2008 Emirates Melbourne Cup runner-up Bauer was found to have received illegal treatment days before the great race.

Racing Victoria Ltd. opened an inquiry into the Melbourne Cup after it was revealed Bauer had been treated with illegal shock wave therapy four days before the race. According to Australian Rule of Racing 65H, any horse that has received such treatment is ineligible to race for seven days and, in normal circumstances, would be disqualified.

Stewards determined, however, that as Cumani was acting under the advice and guidance of a veterinary surgeon provided by Racing Victoria, he had no case to answer. Racing Victoria issued a statement on Thursday afternoon (Australian time) to say no further action would be taken against Cumani or Bauer’s connections and the horse would retain second placing after he was beaten in a photo finish by outsider Viewed.

“We have taken legal advice from a senior Queen’s Counsel who is an expert in this field of the law,” Racing Victoria said in a written statement. “In essence, that advice is that in circumstances where the otherwise ineligibility of Bauer was caused as a result of actions taken by a veterinary surgeon specifically assigned by RVL to be responsible for the veterinary care of the visiting horse (and who Mr. Cumani for that very reason was entitled to assume was fully familiar with the Australian Rules of Racing), AR64H can have no application. In these circumstances it is not open to RVL stewards to apply the rule.”

The statement concluded that no traces of an analgesic effect from the treatment on October 30 would have been present on Melbourne Cup day, November 4.

Courtesy: www.thoroughbredtimes.com

English trainer Luca Cumani says potentially illegal physiotherapy treatment on Melbourne Cup runner-up Bauer had been administered by official veterinary stewards.

The results of a Racing Victoria Ltd (RVL) investigation into whether or not Bauer received shock wave therapy as part of his treatment just a few days before the race will be announced on Thursday.

Under Australian racing rules any horse that receives shock wave treatment cannot race for seven days.

The RVL inquiry into the treatment could result in Bauer, owned by a syndicate headed by Australian businessman Terry Henderson and former Test cricketer Simon O’Donnell, being stripped of his second placing to Viewed.

Cumani said Bauer had received physiotherapy treatment on Thursday October 30, five days before the Melbourne Cup on November 4.

He said he had put his faith in veterinary stewards appointed by RVL and did not check the local rules himself.

Cumani would not reveal the exact nature of the treatment but said it was permitted all around the world as long as it was not administered on race day.

“We had a slight issue with Bauer and he (the vet) recommended the treatment,” he told Sydney radio station 2KY.

“We were told it was okay and we have to rely on the vet’s advice.

“This treatment is widely available in every racing country. It is only banned in England on race day so I wasn’t aware there would be an issue.

“The vet was appointed by Racing Victoria to look after our horses, I thought everything was fine.

“I took it for granted that if he recommended it would be okay.

“I probably should have looked at the rules myself and I was not aware this physiotherapy was not allowed.”

The shock wave therapy is used to treat musculoskeletal problems in race horses by creating pressure waves that stimulate specific sites in the body.

Research has shown the therapy can result in decreased pain in local areas.

But prominent equine veterinary surgeon Dr Nick Kannegeiter said the benefits of shockwave treatment were inconclusive.

“High intensity soundwaves are used and the theory is it can improve recovery,” he said.

“The concern is that it decreases pain and therefore is a non-drug painkiller.

“But the evidence is not good as to what it actually does and it is no miracle cure.

“It is used in Melbourne more than anywhere else in Australia and the Europeans use it all the time.”

Courtesy: www.aapracing.com.au

When trainer Susumu Yano retired he handed down to Yuichi Shikato a talented colt named Screen Hero, who several jockeys told Shikato might be a potential superstar if he was able to return from a fracture that sidelined him for 11 months.

On Sunday at Tokyo Racecourse, Screen Hero performed like a star as he held off a pair of Japanese classic winners for a half-length win in the $4,958,333 Japan Cup (Jpn-G1).

The four-year-old Grass Wonder colt completed a rapid ascent with his first career group stakes victory in the Japan Cup at odds of 41-to-1. Screen Hero missed 11 months after a third-place finish in a stakes at Nakayama Racecourse in September 2007.

Screen Hero returned with an allowance win on August 16 in his first start for Shikato, who started out on his own in March. He subsequently finished second in two stakes before a clear win in the Copa Republica Argentina on November 9 at Tokyo in his final tune-up for the Japan Cup.

“Screen Hero was handed to me coming off a recovery from a bone fracture, and the colt made a speedy progress from an allowance-race horse to a grade-race runner in a short time since the summer,” said Shikato, who trains Screen Hero for owner Teruya Yoshida. “He was ridden by a number of different jockeys during his career, but all of them would comment that, ‘This horse will make it big.’ I believed them—working out a racing program towards this day.”

The Japan Cup was a disappointing race for European-based contenders—2007 Emirates Melbourne Cup (Aus-G1) runner-up Purple Moon’s ninth-place finish under Jamie Spencer for trainer Luca Cumani topped the three-horse European contingent—but a terrific result for the host country.

Never Bouchon set a leisurely pace in the 2,400-meter Japan Cup. Champion Vodka, winner of the 2007 Tokyo Yushun-Japanese Derby and a Japanese fan favorite, was rated in third by jockey Yasunari Iwata. Mirco Demuro positioned Screen Hero near the middle of the 17-horse field.

Japanese classic winner Meisho Samson, the third-place finisher in the 2007 Japan Cup, raced in sixth, while 3.40-to-1 favorite Deep Sky settled near the back of the field along with European contenders Papal Bull, Purple Moon, and 2006 English classic winner Sixties Icon (GB).

Vodka, the only filly in the field, charged to the lead in the stretch but could not keep pace with Screen Hero, who uncoiled an explosive closing kick in the straight to seize command with about 100 meters remaining. Deep Sky finished fastest of all but ran out of real estate and was unable to reel in winner Screen Hero.

“The race was slow-paced but I was able to position well from starting from an outside stall,” Demuro said. “I thought, ‘Oh My God!’ when I saw the horse closing up from the outside, but I know that Screen Hero is a fighter and I believed in him as he finished well in his last start.”

Screen Hero completed the distance in 2:25.50 on firm turf to improve to five wins in 17 starts.

Deep Sky, winner of this year’s Japanese Derby, finished three-quarters of a length in front of third-place finisher Vodka.

Meisho Samson finished willingly for sixth without seriously threatening the winner. Sixties Icon finished 13th under Johnny Murtagh and Papal Bull was 14th under Ryan Moore.

“The pace was too slow and we were forced to travel in the rear,” Murtagh said. “I think the course was too fast for the horse.”

North American contender Marsh Side, winner of the Pattison Canadian International Stakes (Can-G1) on October 4 at Woodbine, was scratched due to an illness.

Courtesy: www.thoroughbredtimes.com