Wandering Eyes

Jerry Hollendorfer originally chose to re-route ‘TDN Rising Star’ Instagrand (Into Mischief) from Santa Anita’s GII San Felipe S. to Aqueduct’s GIII Gotham S. Saturday because he thought the latter’s one-turn mile was preferable for his undefeated charge’s first start in seven months. That decision seemed wise due to the presence of the unbeaten Bob Baffert pair of champion Game Winner (Candy Ride {Arg}) and GISW Improbable (City Zip) in the San Felipe. It proved to be even wiser when racing was canceled indefinitely in Arcadia Tuesday night due to the amount of equine fatalities that have occurred at the track since the opening of the meet. Instagrand looms large in the Aqueduct feature, where he looks to pick up points towards the GI Kentucky Derby. A dazzling 10-length debut winner going five panels at Los Alamitos June 29, the $1.2 million FTFMAR co-topper was ultra impressive yet again with a 10 1/4-length tour de force in the six-furlong GII Best Pal S. Aug. 11. After that triumph, owner Larry Best opted to rest his colt in hopes of a strong sophomore campaign and the layoff looks like Instagrand’s main obstacle in this test. “We’re very happy to have Javier Castellano riding,” said Jerry Hollendorfer. “I feel like our horse has speed and I think he can also rate if we have to.” The likely favorite will still have to face a Baffert runner, albeit not of the caliber of Game Winner or Improbable, in Much Better (Pioneerof the Nile). Stakes-placed on the grass, the dark bay was third in the GIII Sham S. when getting back on dirt Jan. 5 and scored a decisive win in a 6 1/2-furlong main track optional claimer at Santa Anita last time Feb. 9. The New York-based contingent should certainly have a say with the presence of GIII Gotham S. runner-up Not That Brady (Big Brown) and Jerome S. hero Mind Control (Stay Thirsty). A three-length victor of the Damon Runyon S. against fellow Empire-breds over this track and trip, Not That Brady made a strong showing when missing by just a head after setting the pace in the nine-panel Gotham Feb. 2. Upending the GI Hopeful S. at the end of the Saratoga meet, Mind Control was seventh in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Nov. 2 and made easy work of the course-and-distance Jerome on New Year’s Day. “Going into the Gotham, this race appears to be a tougher race with Instagrand coming and Not That Brady was very impressive in the Withers,” said Mind Control’s trainer Greg Sacco. “Our horse is going to have to improve, but we’re expecting an effort like the Jerome. He’s going into this race better than he went into the Jerome in terms of maturity and filling out. He’s really starting to put the muscle on in the right places.” Another locally based contender of interest is Haikal (Daaher), who followed his second-out graduation in Ozone Park Dec. 15 with a win in the seven-panel Jimmy Winkfield S. going seven panels here Feb. 9. Blowing up the tote when winning the GI Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity S. at 70-1, Knicks Go (Paynter) checked in second to the aforementioned Game Winner in the BC Juvenile, but failed to fire when 11th in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. Nov. 24. He was last seen finishing a disappointing fifth as the favorite in the Feb. 9 GIII Sam F. Davis S. at Tampa and his trainer chose this one-turn spot over the GII Tampa Bay Derby Saturday. View the full article

When Instagrand makes his seasonal debut in the $300,000 Gotham Stakes (G3) March 9 at Aqueduct Racetrack, owner Larry Best won't be the only one watching the reappearance of the Into Mischief colt with bated breath. View the full article

The top three finishers from the Feb. 15 John Battaglia Memorial S., led by winner Somelikeithotbrown (Big Brown), face off once again Saturday in the GIII Jeff Ruby Steak S. going a sixteenth further at Turfway Park. Runner-up in both the Aug. 29 GIII With Anticipation S. and the Sept. 29 GIII Pilgrim S., Somelikeithotbrown was third beaten just over a half-length in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Churchill Downs Nov. 2. The bay was making his seasonal bow in the Battaglia, which was delayed a week due to bad weather, and scored a facile 3 1/2-length victory. His trainer Mike Maker has done well here in the past, winning four prior renewals of this test. Battaglia runner-up Dynamic Racer (Run Away and Hide) owns a win over this strip as well in a one-mile optional claimer Jan. 3, while third-place finisher Dabo (Temple City) has just one win in four starts, a debut score at Arlington in August. Somelikeithotbrown’s biggest threat is likely to come from the undefeated Skywire (Afleet Alex). The bay opened his account with a victory sprinting over the Woodbine synthetic Dec. 9 and romped by six lengths next out when stretched to two turns on the dirt at Gulfstream Feb. 13. View the full article

A total of 72 juveniles have been catalogued for Keeneland’s April Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, which will be held in Lexington on Tuesday, Apr. 9 starting at 2:00 p.m. The catalog can be viewed online now, and print catalogs will be mailed the week of Mar. 18. The sale will also feature a horses of racing age section, with entries closing Friday, Mar. 15 and that catalog to be released digitally on Friday, Mar. 22 complete with Daily Racing Form past performances and Thoro-Graph and Ragozin sheets. Print catalogs for the horses of racing age section will be available Friday, Mar. 29. Keeneland will continue to accept supplemental entries for the sale. It will host a Preview Day with breezes on both the dirt and turf on Monday, Apr. 8 starting at 11 a.m. “The return of the April Sale adds further excitement to Keeneland’s Spring Meet opening weekend, which begins April 4 and includes the $1-million [GI] Toyota Blue Grass,” Keeneland Vice President of Racing and Sales Bob Elliston said. “This is a high-quality, boutique auction that boasts a proven record of success, evidenced by the two Eclipse Award winners, Lady Eli (Divine Park) and Roy H (More Than Ready), who sold at the last edition of the April Sale in 2014.” The Keeneland April 2-year-old sale had been held 1993 to 2014. View the full article

In these days when we are all encouraged to reduce our carbon footprint, two stud masters have come up with an unusual way of saving on multiple trips with mares to visit a stallion. Captain Gerrard (Ire) has been a stalwart of Richard Kent’s Mickley Stud in Shropshire for the last nine seasons and was rewarded with his first Group 1 winner last year courtesy of the Coolmore Nunthorpe S. victory of Alpha Delphini (GB). His popularity may have waned a little over the years but one breeder who has kept the faith is Mick Channon, who combines his successful training career with his interest in Norman Court Stud in Wiltshire. Channon has been so pleased with the foals he’s bred by the son of Oasis Dream (GB) that he has decided to send him 12 mares this season. With just a handful of other mares booked, Kent and Channon decided that the sensible thing to do was for the stallion to visit Norman Court Stud rather than the other way round. “It seemed silly to drive the mares all the way up to Shropshire,” said Channon. “We have plenty of room here and we’re all set up with Sixties Icon (GB) and Coulsty (Ire) so it seemed a good idea to shuttle Captain Gerrard here. He’ll stay for a month or so and it’s not really a commercial arrangement as such but if anyone wants to use him while he’s here they can, and he’ll be back at Mickley in time to cover any other mares booked to him.” Winner of the G3 Cornwallis S. at two and later the G3 Palace House S., Captain Gerrard stayed in training until he was four, winning six of his 27 starts for trainer Bryan Smart and owner Reg Bond. He stands for a fee of £1,500. “He gets winners all over,” Channon added. “We’ve got six or seven 2-year-olds to let loose by him this year. I’ve always liked him and always supported him.” The trainer and breeder has previously put the might of his broodmare band behind his long-term resident Sixties Icon with good effect. The St Leger-winning son of Galileo (Ire) and the Oaks winner Love Divine (GB) (Diesis) took the breeding world a little by surprise when his first-crop juveniles hit the track in 2012. His first 2-year-old winner came as early as April 8, while Chilworth Icon became his first black-type winner in the Woodcote Stakes on Derby day. “Sixties Icon is our big gun. He continues to defy convention, but then he is a Group 1 winner with a proper pedigree,” Channon added. “He’s got a good book of mares this year, and there’s the nice filly of Tom Dascombe’s, Iconic Choice (GB), who won the Radley Stakes and is entered in the 1000 Guineas. We also have Coulsty here now, who has come over from Rathasker Stud. He gave me a pleasant surprise when he arrived. He’s a lovely horse, but Maurice Burns has always had an eye for a good-looking horse.” While the trainer is looking forward to unleashing his juveniles once the turf season starts at the end of the month, his immediate priority is the Cheltenham Festival, where, among his trio of runners, he will saddle Glen Forsa (Ire) (Mahler {GB}), who is one of the leading fancies for the G1 Racing Post Arkle Novices’ Chase on Tuesday. View the full article

‘TDN Rising Star’ Winter Sunset (Tapit) hopes to keep her perfect record in tact and earn her first graded stakes victory in Saturday’s GIII Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs. The gray ran them off their feet on debut at Fair Grounds Nov. 29, taking the field from gate-to-wire for a 4 1/4-length graduation, and followed suit with a win in the Shantel Lanerie Memorial S. there Feb. 9. The runner-up from that Fair Grounds stakes Elsa (Animal Kingdom) also returns in this spot. Unlike Winter Memories, the Godolphin homebred is already a graded winner having captured the GIII Jimmy Durante S. at Del Mar Nov. 24. Concrete Rose (Twirling Candy) looks to return to winning ways in this seasonal bow. Following her first-out graduation at Saratoga Aug. 20 with a victory in Keeneland’s GIII Jessamine S. Oct. 10, the dark bay finished eighth last time in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Nov. 2. Chad Brown can never be ignored in a turf stakes and he saddles two in here, Blowout (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and La Feve (Fr) (George Vancouver). Owned by Peter Brant, Blowout made a wide, late bid to capture her career bow over this course and distance Jan. 23. Winner of one of six starts in France for owner/trainer Bruce De Montzey, La Feve was privately purchased and transferred to Chad Brown after finishing third in the G3 Prix d’Aumale Sept. 9. The chestnut filled the same spot in her American debut in Gulfstream’s GIII Sweetest Chant S. Feb. 3. View the full article

Former Newsells Park Stud Yearling Manager Gerry Meehan and Simon and Dr. Emma Capon have teamed up to launch Skyline Thoroughbreds, a boutique nursery that will raise weanlings and yearlings for the major European sales. Skyline Thoroughbreds will operate from Glebe Stud in Cheveley, which was purchased by the Capons recently. Simon Capon said, “Emma and I are delighted that Gerry Meehan has joined us as partner in Skyline Thoroughbreds and we are all very excited about the new venture. We are determined to work hard to prepare yearlings to the highest quality for clients.” Meehan, who was yearling manager of Newsells for the last 15 years, added, “I am very excited to have been offered the good fortune of becoming a partner of Skyline Thoroughbreds. I’ve always wanted to do this for myself but never had the funding to go out on my own, and this is the perfect opportunity for me. Glebe Stud is an ideal place for a boutique Thoroughbred nursery as it is situated on the edge of a very peaceful village, with plenty of lush pasture to naturally raise yearlings. “We have a unique business model whereby we will only raise weanlings and yearlings on the stud, and we will also offer yearling preparation for clients who still wish to consign their own yearlings. Simon and Emma are carrying out extensive works to enhance the existing facilities here at Glebe Stud and I am very much looking forward to our inaugural yearling preparation season.” View the full article

Sent off the 17-10 favourite on this debut, Shadwell’s Motamarris (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}) quickly imposed himself at the head of the affairs in this newcomers’ affair at Chantilly. Always travelling well within himself, the homebred bay had killed the contest halfway up the straight and hit the line with purpose seven lengths ahead of Youmna (Fr) (French Fifteen {Fr}). The listed-placed dam’s first foal was the useful Riqa (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who managed three seconds at that level before producing this stable’s G3 Prix de Cabourg, G3 Prix de Meautry and G3 Prix du Petit Couvert scorer Tantheem (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}). Freddy Head knows this family well, having handled most of the immediate relatives and masterminded the career of the dam’s half-brother Tamayuz (GB) (Nayef), hero of the G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois and G1 Prix Jean Prat. The fourth dam is Allegretta (GB) (Lombard {Ger}), dam of the incomparable megamare Urban Sea (Miswaki). Thamarat, who also threw the listed-placed filly Saraaba (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), has a 2-year-old colt by Invincible Spirit (Ire) named Sharib (GB). 3rd-Chantilly, €25,000, Debutantes, 3-8, 3yo, c/g, 9 1/2f (AWT), 1:57.07, st. MOTAMARRIS (IRE) (c, 3, Le Havre {Ire}–Thamarat {GB} {SP-Fr}, by Anabaa) Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €12,500. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Shadwell Estate Co Ltd (IRE); T-Freddy Head. View the full article

It’s been great to have runners again and get some routine back at Bankhouse. We have already had 3 winners in the past few days and we are getting much needed runs into some of the horses. All eyes will be on Cheltenham next week but unfortunately it looks like we are not going to […] The post Donald McCain Blog appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Sweden’s Lady Jockeys’ Thoroughbred World Championship has been re-branded the Women Jockeys’ World Cup, and will be contested this year on June 30 at Bro Park in Stockholm. The event is designed to expand international opportunities for professional female jockeys and has attracted riders from as far afield as Hong Kong, New Zealand and South America. Dennis Madsen, Svensk Galopp’s Director of Racing, said, “We are looking forward to welcoming some of the world’s most accomplished female riders to Sweden at the end of June for what is guaranteed to be another competitive event. “Races for female jockeys have become a popular feature at Bro Park since the opening meeting in June 2016 when three of the races were dedicated to female riders, and we are delighted to have this opportunity to showcase the talent of female elite athletes from around the world and provide them with a platform to inspire future generations.” View the full article

Ireland could have a second all-weather course running by 2021, with Horse Racing Ireland having asked racecourses to submit expressions of interest in developing one. HRI Chief Executive Officer Brian Kavanagh said there has been demand from the industry and that the sport’s governing body recognized the many opportunities it would afford. “Dundalk has proven the demand for a high quality all-weather racing product and has played a vital role in sustaining the racing industry and employment in flat yards throughout the winter months,” said Kavanagh. “It has also served as a shop window for our breeding industry with strong international demand for horses with proven ability. “It came across clearly in our consultations and public roadshows last year that there was a demand from the industry for a second all-weather facility. The board has recognised the role which a second all-weather track can play in creating further employment and increasing opportunities for owners, horses, trainers and jockeys. “The development of a second all-weather track in Ireland will require significant investment by the racecourse owners and by Horse Racing Ireland and, funding permitting, we would like to see one introduced by 2021. We are therefore writing to existing racecourses to gauge the levels of interest in such a proposal and inviting interested parties to come forward with their proposals for discussion and consideration.” View the full article

New York Racing Association officials said March 7 they have stepped up efforts in the aftermath of the Christopher Kay controversy to alert employees of their obligation to report possible ethics violations they witness. View the full article

In what is surely an indelible highlight to an incredible 43-year career in the saddle, jockey Scott Stevens has been selected by a nationwide vote of his peers as the winner of Santa Anita Park's 2019 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award. View the full article

Last year's TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) runner-up Whitmore is scheduled to make his 2019 debut in the $150,000 Hot Springs Stakes for older sprinters March 9 at Oaklawn Park. View the full article

It’s Super Saturday at Meydan, and the Dubai course hosts seven events where aspirants to the Dubai World Cup card on Mar. 30 will have their hopes either vindicated or dashed. The headliner is the $600,000 GI Al Maktoum Challenge R3 over 2000 metres on the dirt-an exhibition for the $12-million GI Dubai World Cup in three weeks’ time. Globetrotting Group 1 winner Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) finished second in this last year before going on to win the World Cup by 5 3/4 lengths. He makes his seasonal return here off a third, beaten 1 3/4 lengths, in the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 3, and an encouraging performance would have to leave connections hopeful ahead of a World Cup title defense. Thunder Snow failed to win in three starts last year after the World Cup, but he was also second by just a neck in the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup. “He had a busy 2018, so we have given him a nice break,” trainer Saeed bin Suroor said. “He did a very nice final serious piece of work last Saturday and we also took him over to Meydan for a gallop, which went very well. Obviously the Dubai World Cup is the main target, with this the obvious stepping stone. We expect him to run well, but he will definitely improve for the outing.” Also putting in an inspiring performance at Belmont Park last year was Gronkowski (Lonhro {Aus}), who ran Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy) to 1 3/4 lengths in his crowning moment. The then 3-year-old failed to replicate that effort in both the GI Travers S. and the Jockey Club Gold Cup, and he was last seen finishing third of four in the GIII Discovery S. at Aqueduct on Nov. 24. Gronkowski transfers from the Chad Brown barn to local trainer Salem bin Ghadayer for his Dubai debut. Charlie Appleby pitches last-out 1800 metre turf handicap winner Nordic Lights (GB) (Intello {Ger}) onto the dirt for the first time, and he said, “He works on dirt at home where the surface is quite deep, and I think the one at Meydan will suit him better. The Jebel Hatta was the alternative, but we are well represented in that and we think, given his style of racing, good gate speed and natural speed, he may take to the dirt. Thunder Snow is obviously going to be hard to beat, but the rest are pretty evenly matched, so it looked worth a go.” The South Korean-trained Dolkong (Afleet Alex) turned heads at last week’s carnival-closing card, taking a handicap over this course and distance by an eased-down 9 1/2 lengths, and the progressive 5-year-old takes a big class jump to tackle Group 1 company for the first time. G1 Jebel Hatta S. The second of two Group 1s on the card is the G1 Jebel Hatta, which is contested over the same 1800 metres on the turf as the $6-million G1 Dubai Turf in three weeks’ time. Godolphin’s progressive Dream Castle (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is the lone last-out winner in the lineup, he having won the G2 Al Rashidiya over this track and trip on Jan. 24. Saeed bin Suroor’s 5-year-old was gelded after a fruitless carnival last year and looks a different animal this year, having gone two-for-two at the carnival. Charlie Appleby saddles defending Jebel Hatta winner Blair House (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}). After defeating Saeed bin Suroor’s Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in this last year, Blair House was well beaten by that rival in the Dubai Turf, but the margin was much closer again when they next met in Australia’s G1 Caulfield S. in October, with Benbatl prevailing by just a short head. Blair House will have to progress from a fourth behind Dream Castle in the Al Rashidiya last time. “Blair House won this last year when everything fell into place for him,” Appleby said. “If the gaps open again he should run well and we were pleased with his comeback.” Of his other three runners, Appleby added, “First Contact (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Wootton (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) both pleased us in the Zabeel Mile and with a clear run, we feel the latter would have finished a fair bit closer. The Dubai Turf has always been Loxley (Ire) (New Approach {Ire})’s target, so this was the obvious race for his comeback.” Simon Crisford sends out another globetrotter in Century Dream (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), who won Epsom’s G3 Diomed S. last term and was close up in races like the G1 Queen Anne S., GI Arlington Million and G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. Century Dream warmed up with a second in the G2 Zabeel Mile on Feb. 21. G3 Mahab Al Shimaal The G3 Mahab Al Shimaal, the card’s opener, sees aspirants to the 1200 metre G1 Golden Shaheen take a turn around the track. Doug Watson’s Drafted (Field Commission) merits attention off a course and distance win in the G3 Al Shindagha Sprint on Jan. 31, where he bested Tato Key (Arg) (Key Deputy), an Argentinean Group 2 winner who ran with credit on his local debut. Satish Seemar’s Lavaspin (GB) (Hard Spun) is three-for-three over this track and trip this season, and the 5-year-old gelding backed up a pair of non-carnival wins with a 2 1/4-length score over the re-opposing Switzerland (Speightstown) on Valentine’s Day. I Kirk (Swe) (Eishin Dunkirk) is a progressive raider from Sweden. A Group 3 winner in his native land in July, he showed no signs of rust when defying a six-month layoff to win at handicap level on local debut on Jan. 17. Listed Al Bastakiya S. The Listed Al Bastakiya S. for 3-year-olds over 1900 metres on the dirt has shaped up as a battle of the sexes between Saeed bin Suroor’s G3 2000 Guineas winner Estihdaaf (Arch) and Charlie Appleby’s G3 UAE Oaks winner Divine Image (Scat Daddy). The latter has certainly fared better in the draw; she will exit gate three, with Estihdaaf out in 13. After breaking his maiden at third asking at Leicester in October and posting a pair of ordinary efforts at Meydan in January-one on the dirt and one on the turf-Estihdaaf looked a completely different animal on Feb. 7, waltzing to a 5 1/2-length victory in the Guineas when dropped back to a mile. Divine Image has had a more consistent body of work-with two wins and a second from three outs-but nothing quite so flashy. She does, however, have the benefit of the draw and a three-kilo weight break. Ali Rashid Al Rayhi’s Manguzi (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) had bested Estidhaaf in the Al Bastakiya trial the time prior, so he must get some credit for that, and back in fourth that day was Kenny McPeek’s Argentinean import and Group 1 winner Grecko (Arg) (Not For Sale {Arg}), who is entitled to improve second time off the layoff. G3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint The G3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint serves as a prep for the G1 Al Quoz Sprint over 1200 metres on the turf, and it looks very tough to oppose Godolphin’s G1 King’s Stand S. winner and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal). Charlie Appleby’s 5-year-old made a smooth return to action in the G2 Meydan Sprint over a furlong shorter than this on Feb. 14, besting the re-opposing Faatinah (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}) by five easy lengths. While it could be argued that Blue Point is better over the minimum trip, he does have three group wins over six, so the step back up in trip shouldn’t be a massive hindrance. Hugo Palmer sends out Gifted Master (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), whose win in the Stewards Cup H. at Glorious Goodwood last summer saw him earn a Racing Post Rating of 120. The 6-year-old gelding may have a bit of dust to shake off, having been on the shelf since finishing fifth in Lingfield’s Listed Golden Rose S. in November. Hit The Bid (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) won the G3 Mercury S. at Dundalk in October and was second in a pair of five furlong turf handicaps at the carnival. Interestingly, he has been tried beyond five furlongs just three times in a 21-race career and has been soundly beaten each time. G3 Burj Nahaar Heavy Metal (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) checked in fourth in last year’s G3 Burj Nahaar before going on to win the G2 Godolphin Mile on Dubai World Cup night, and the 9-year-old gelding is back for another crack at the Burj Nahaar. Heavy Metal had over the previous seasons been a consistent force over Meydan’s dirt mile, but his 2019 results haven’t exactly been encouraging: he was beaten 40 lengths and trailed in last of nine in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R1 on Jan. 10, and while he improved to be third in the G3 Firebreak S. five weeks later, a 7 1/2-length beating by Muntazah (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) wasn’t exactly ideal. The 6-year-old Muntazah had been second to Heavy Metal last year in the Godolphin Mile and although his first two outs this season weren’t exactly inspiring either, he certainly caught the eye winning by 4 1/2 lengths last time and draws the coveted rail here. Second in the Firebreak was Satish Seemar’s Secret Ambition (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), and the consistent 6-year-old-who was second in this race last year-was building on a win in the G3 Jebel Ali Mile on Jan. 25. Phoenix Thoroughbreds has bought out former partner Slam Dunk Racing on 4-year-old colt Axelrod (Warrior’s Reward), and last year’s GIII Indiana Derby and GIII Smarty Jones S. winner and GI Pennsylvania Derby second makes his local debut for trainer Salem bin Ghadayer. Axelrod was last seen finishing fourth behind McKinzie (Street Sense) in the GI Malibu S. on Dec. 26. G2 Dubai City Of Gold The G2 Dubai City of Gold over 2400 metres on the turf provides the more stamina-laden runners a chance to advertise their merits ahead of World Cup night, and the race looks likely to be decided between Godolphin and a handful of international contenders. Heading team blue is Old Persian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Godolphin’s 2018 G2 King Edward VII S. and G2 Great Voltigeur S. winner who will have to shake off some dust, having last been seen checking in fifth in the G1 St Leger on Sept. 15. Provided the bay has held his form from three to four, Saturday’s run should set him up for a big performance on the World Cup card. Charlie Appleby’s Spotify (Fr) (Redoute’s Choice {Aus}) and Saeed in Suroor’s Racing History (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) have the benefit of some recent seasoning, and they finished one-two, with a short head separating them, in the G3 Dubai Millennium S. over 2000 metres on Feb. 21. Spotify is two-for-two at the carnival, having won over this trip on Jan. 24, while Racing History is twice Group 1-placed over the distance. A pair of European-trained runners make their seasonal returns here. Charlie Fellowes’s Prince of Arran (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}) ran in five countries last year including Meydan, where he picked up a two-mile turf handicap. A career-best win came in Meydan’s G3 Lexus S. three days before he was third in the G1 Melbourne Cup, and he could hardly be blamed for checking in a tame eighth in Sha Tin’s G1 Hong Kong Vase off a busy season. Desert Encounter (Ire) (Halling) put in some useful performances in middle-distance company in Europe last summer, but he hit his best stride on a trip to Canada in October, scooping the GI Canadian International. He makes his first start since. View the full article

SJB Stable and Marcello Micozzi's Skyler's Scramjet returns to the scene of his lone graded stakes win to defend his title in the $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap (G3) March 9 at Aqueduct Racetrack. View the full article

Sandown Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Final It took Before Midnight four attempts to get his head in front over hurdles but he really got his jumping together when scoring at Taunton. This trip looks ideal for the son of Midnight Legend and he should prove difficult to beat. Top weight One For Rosie represents the in-form […] The post Saturday Preview – Nicky Looking For “Grand” Win In The Imperial Cup appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

THIS is the weekend we’ve been waiting for as our big hope for the Carnival Thunder Snow is in action as he warms up for the $12 million Dubai World Cup at the end of the month. He’s the one we’re most looking forward to on Super Saturday, but Saeed Bin Suroor runs a lot […] The post Kieren Fallon Dubai World Cup Carnival Blog – Super Saturday appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Super Saturday’s biggest turf race looks poised to go the same way as many of the features in the Dubai World Cup Carnival so far, with Godolphin boasting five of the 10 runners in the Group One Jebel Hatta (1,800m) at Meydan.Charlie Appleby has been at his prolific best in recent weeks and is looking to take things to another level on Saturday, saddling up Wootton, Loxley, Blair House and First Contact.The first three of those are all right in the market but it is his Godolphin counterpart… View the full article

Frankie Lor Fu-chuen will look to utilise the lethal 10-pound claim afforded to his new apprentice Alfred Chan Ka-hei by sending his horses to the front and adopting a catch me if you can mantra.Chan has been allocated to the red-hot second-year trainer, whose dream season has included winning two Group One’s along with both the Classic Mile and Classic Cup.While Chan will not begin race riding until March 31, he will begin working for Lor from Monday.“Last month I got a phone call and they… View the full article

Santa Anita Park will reopen its training track for light training March 8, according to Alan Balch, the executive director of the California Thoroughbred Trainers. View the full article

Duric rounds out Friday night with treble View the full article

Heavenly feeling for Jerome Tan at first Kranji win View the full article

Mikki is so fine again at second win View the full article

King Zoustar thanks to another Rodd masterclass ride View the full article