The weekly TRC industry digest - a round-up of the international racing news from the past week.
Now Charlatan could be in the running for Riyadh
North America: It would be a particularly tall order for a young horse who has raced only four times, but the world’s richest race, the $20 million Saudi Cup, appears to be on the radar for Charlatan, the Bob Baffert-trained one-time Kentucky Derby favorite who surged back into the public eye with a devastating 4½-length victory in the G1 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday.
The Speightstown colt had not been seen since being disqualified because of a medical violation after crossing the wire an impressive first in one of two divisions of the G1 Arkansas Derby in May. He was later operated on for an ankle injury and missed the Triple Crown races.
After Saturday’s win, Baffert mentioned the ten-furlong Riyadh spectacular on February 21 as a possible, but the $3 million G1 Pegasus World Cup Dirt Invitational over nine furlongs on January 23 at Gulfstream Park is a more likely target.
“His only option is the Pegasus, unless I take him to Saudi,” said the trainer. “I want to keep him healthy.”
Charlatan, who is owned by a partnership that includes SF Racing, Starlight Racing, and Madaket Stables, enters the TRC Global Rankings at #221. His only other Graded run, in the Arkansas Derby, doesn’t count towards the standings because of the disqualification.
The Malibu helped lift Speightstown to #13 in the TRC Dirt Sire Rankings.
But things aren’t so smooth for another Baffert trainee
North America: Mucho Gusto, who finished fourth in the inaugural Saudi Cup in February for Bob Baffert, returned to the track at Santa Anita on Saturday but finished a disappointing fourth when 1/2 favorite for the G2 San Antonio Stakes.
After being in contention, the 4-year-old faded to finish 2½ lengths behind 15/1 scorer Kiss Today Goodbye.
“He got really tired,” Baffert said. “He wasn’t as ready as I thought he was. He struggles on that deep track. He likes it firm.”
All systems go at last for new act
North America: The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) has finally been signed into law after a hiccup last week when President Trump surprised legislators by holding back from agreeing the $2.3 trillion Covid-19 relief and government funding package that included the HISA reform.
Trump had objected to a payment of $600 to Americans earning less than $75,000 a year, saying he wanted them to get $2,000. But Republicans in Congress refused to agree to the change. Trump was also unhappy at the annual aid money for other countries in the federal budget, arguing that those funds should instead go to struggling Americans.
However, on Sunday the President signed the bill anyway without explanation.
The HISA, which will go into effect no later than July 2022, will establish national standards on anti-doping, medication control and safety in Thoroughbred racing, and the new legislation includes other provisions beneficial for the racing and breeding industries.
Historic Ellerslie six-timer for Richards
Oceania: World #7 trainer Jamie Richards on Boxing Day became the first trainer ever to record a six-timer at Ellerslie, New Zealand’s premier racetrack.
Richards, trainer for the powerful Te Akau Racing team, missed out on the big race, the G1 Zabeel Classic (his runner, In A Twinkling, ran third, beaten half a length).
Three of his wins were ridden by Te Akau’s main jockey, world #22 Opie Bosson, and the other three by NZ premiership leader Danielle Johnson, who at #220, is the joint fifth-highest female rider in the rankings - behind #63 Jamie Kah (Australia), #109 Hollie Doyle (GB), #156 Rachel King (Australia) and #177 Linda Meech (Australia). In a tie for fifth on #220 is another Aussie, Lucy Warwick.
Purse revisions for Dubai World Cup undercard
Middle East: Prize money for the Dubai World Cup will stay at $12 million this year, making it the second most valuable Thoroughbred race in the world behind the Saudi Cup.
Dubai Racing Club has also announced that the deadline for free nominations for the 25th running of the Dubai World Cup has been extended until January 20.
The race, which will be run at Meydan on March 27, is the centrepiece of a card that boasts six G1s and three G2s.
Purses for the remaining eight races are slightly reduced from the previous running in 2019 (the event was cancelled this year because of the coronavirus pandemic), but the Dubai Racing Club says it is making every effort to ensure the return of racing in safe and secure conditions. And prize money will go all the way down to eighth in all races on the night.
Revised purses
- G1 (Arabian) 2000m Dubai Kahayla Classic Sponsored by Mubadala - $750,000.
- G2 1600 m (dirt) Godolphin Mile - $750,000.
- G2 3200m (turf) Dubai Gold Cup Sponsored by Al Tayer Motors – $750,000
- G1 1200m (turf) Al Quoz Sprint Sponsored by Azizi Developments – $ 1 million
- G2 1900m (dirt) UAE Derby Sponsored by Emirates NBD – $ 750,000
- G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen (dirt) Sponsored by Gulf News –$1.5 million
- G1 1800m (turf) Dubai Turf Sponsored DP World –$4 million
- G1 2410m (turf) Longines Dubai Sheema Classic –$5 million
- G1 2000m (dirt) Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline – $12 million
The first supplementary stage for all races on Dubai World Cup day will close on Wednesday, February 10.
For further details from Dubai Racing Club’s International Racing Liaison Officer, Stephanie Cooley, at Stephanie.cooley@dubairacingclub.com
Elsewhere in racing
North America: Santa Anita’s 11-race card, including six stakes, set an all-time opening day record pari-mutuel handle of $23,003,159 on Saturday. More here
Far East: Joao Moreira has become the third jockey to ride 1,000 winners in Hong Kong. The Brazilian, currently world #21, joins South African Douglas Whyte and Aussie Zac Purton as the only riders to have achieved the feat. More here
Europe: Mickaelle Michel has been granted a short-term licence to ride on the Japan Racing Association circuit. The French 25-year-old, who rode 30 winners on Japan’s second-tier National Association of Racing circuit at the start of the year, is the first European female jockey in JRA history to receive a licence to ride on the country’s top tier. More here