The weekly TRC industry digest - a round-up of the international racing news from the past week
Richard Mandella on Kentucky Derby trail with Forbidden Kingdom
USA: In a long career, Californian-based Hall of Fame trainer Richad Mandella has only ever had six runners in the Kentucky Derby.
It would have been seven, had favourite Omaha Beach not been scratched in 2019 owing to a throat issue – but Mandella is back on the trail now after Forbidden Kingdom routed his rivals under Juan Hernandez for a 5¾-length victory in the San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita.
The G2 event is a 50-pointer in Kentucky qualifying terms, so the son of 2015 Triple Crown hero American Pharoah is now guaranteed a spot in the Churchill Downs starting gate. He’ll run next in the G1 Santa Anita Derby on April 9.
Simplification (Antonio Sano/Jose Ortiz) also stamped himself a major contender when he circled the field five wide on the turn to win going away by 3½ lengths in the G2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park.
Kentucky Derby betting (Ladbrokes): 10 Epicenter, Messier, 12 Forbidden Kingdom, 16 Corniche, Early Voting, Morello, Simplification, Smile Happy, 20 bar.
Christophe Lemaire gets Covid on way home from Saudi Arabia
Japan: After riding four winners at the Saudi Cup meeting, Christophe Lemaire returned to Japan to go straight into isolation after testing positive for COVID-19.
The Frenchman was forced to cancel all his rides for the following weekend, telling fans: “I feel OK but I have to spend few more days isolated.”
Mishriff ruled out of Sheema Classic defence
UAE: After finishing last in defence of his Saudi Cup crown, Mishriff will not return to Dubai to bid for a repeat success in the $6m Sheema Classic.
John Gosden reported the five-year-old has returned to Newmarket showing no physical issues after the world’s richest race, in which the trainer suggested the horse may have been compromised by the fast early pace.
“They went so hard early in the race that I think some of the jockeys thought the winning post was down the back straight,” Gosden told the Racing Post. “It didn't help that Mishriff got a mouthful of dirt turning for home and it was game over for him.”
Other plans for the Sheema Classic have been confirmed with top Australian jockey Damien Lane booked to ride last year’s Japanese Oaks winner Uberleben, whose regular rider Mirco Demuro partners Stella Veloce.
Leading fancies for a potentially red-hot contest include their compatriots Shahryar and Authority, plus Godolphin’s Yibir and the British-trained pair Alenquer and Hukum.
Wesley’s Ward’s first Royal Ascot winner perishes in barn fire
USA: Wesley Ward’s first Royal Ascot winner Strike The Tiger died with two other horses in a Lexington barn fire caused by a lightning strike during thunderstorms.
The 15-year-old Strike The Tiger, who won the Windsor Castle Stakes in 2009, had made several visits back to Ascot where he was used to pony Ward’s runners to the start. Modesto, a five-year-old, and an unraced two-year-old were the other victims.
Speaking to Horse Racing Nation, Ward, who recently lost a number of Royal Ascot trophies during a burglary, said the blaze was “100 times worse than losing those damn trophies, I'll tell you that”.
Russian bid to join EMHF halted over Ukraine invasion
Russia’s bid to join the group that connects Europe’s smaller racing nations with the major countries has been halted over the invasion of Ukraine.
The Russian National Racing Association had applied for membership of the European Mediterranean Horseracing Federation (EMHF).
The news was announced in a statement from its secretary-general Dr Paull Khan. “This application will not be further progressed at this time,” he said. “The EMHF expresses its concern and sympathy for our former member and colleague, the Ukrainian Jockey Club.”
Members of the EMHF comprise 14 racing countries from the European Union, plus Britain, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey and Morocco. The group was formed in 2010.
• Visit the EMHF website
Seven up for Deep Impact progeny in memorial race
Japan: The G2 Yayoi Sho, a major Classic trial at Nakayama, is now run as a memorial to the late, great Deep Impact. Ask Victor More, who claimed Sunday’s renewal of the ‘Deep Impact Kinen’, is the seventh winner sired by Deep Impact to win the G2 contest. The other six were Camino Tassajara (2013), Makahiki (2016), Cadenas (2017), Danon Premium (2018), Meisho Tengen (2019) and Satono Flag (2020).
With Sunday’s result, Deep Impact surpassed his own sire Sunday Silence, who was responsible for six Yayoi Sho winners. Deep Impact’s final crop of two-year-olds will be running in 2022.
Elsewhere in racing …
Australia: Derby winner Serpentine was gelded "on veterinary advice", according to his new connections. More here
USA: 1994 Kentucky Derby winner Go For Gin dies at 31 More here
USA: Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux has been suspended until further notice after failing to appear before Santa Anita stewards on a disorderly conduct charge More here
GB: Annamarie Phelps to step down as BHA chairman in May More here
GB: Anthony Penfold, former racing manager to Generous owner Fahd Salman, has died aged 74 More here
France: Prix du Jockey Club winner and leading sire Le Havre dies weeks after being pensioned More here
What’s been happening: Dubai latest, big Covid fines in HK, Guineas entries and more …
What’s been happening: 14-month ban for Oisin Murphy, Medina Spirit's Kentucky Derby DQ and more …