The weekly TRC industry digest - a round-up of the international racing news from the past week
Happy homecoming for Cheltenham heroes
Ireland: A homecoming for Unibet Champion Hurdle heroine Honeysuckle and Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup victor A Plus Tard, was held at Henry de Bromhead’s stables at Knockeen, County Waterford, on Monday [March21].
Honeysuckle created history by becoming the first mare to win the Champion Hurdle twice as she repeated her success of 2021. A Plus Tard got the better of stable companion Minella Indo in the Cheltenham Gold Cup – a reversal of the 2021 result.
Both Honeysuckle and A Plus Tard were partnered to victory by Rachael Blackmore. Having already made history in 2021 by becoming the first female rider to win the Unibet Champion Hurdle, this year the 32-year-old became the first female jockey to win the Gold Cup, the blue riband of steeplechasing.
Blackmore’s Champion Hurdle-Gold Cup success in 2022 was the first time this prestigious double had been completed since 1997, when Sir Anthony McCoy won the Champion Hurdle on Make A Stand and the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Mr Mulligan.
Death of Jimmy Lindley, Classic-winning jockey and popular broadcaster, aged 86
GB: Jimmy Lindley, one of the leading Flat jockeys of the 1960s and early 1970s before becoming a racing pundit for the BBC, has died aged 86.
In a 22-year career as a jockey Lindley rode more than 800 winners, among them three British Classics and numerous G1 successes. Perhaps his most celebrated victory came in the 1960 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot where Aggressor famously defeated the odds-on Petite Etoile under Lester Piggott.
He retired from the saddle in 1974 and was subsequently recruited to the BBC racing team, for whom he was an ever-present during the Flat season for nearly 30 years.
All roads lead to Queen Elizabeth for Aussie stars
Australia: After a bonanza Saturday programme, all roads lead to The Championships in Sydney for a plethora of Australia’s leading performers – with special emphasis on the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick on April 9.
Despite a shock odds-on defeat on heavy ground in the Ranvet Stakes, Horse of the Year Verry Elleegant remains on course for the A$4m highlight and a rematch with her Rosehill conqueror Montefilia.
However, the Ranvet was only one of five G1s on the Rosehill card, and new favourite for the Queen Elizabeth is Godolphin’s three-year-old Anamoe, who looked a superstar in the making with a 6½-length drubbing of his Rosehill Guineas rivals.
Down in Melbourne, Zaaki landed his latest big-race success for expat British trainer Annabel Neasham with a powerful display under Jamie Kah in the A$5m All-Star Mile. The seven-year-old will also be on his way to the Queen Elizabeth.
Meanwhile, the A$5m Golden Slipper, the world’s richest two-year-old race, was won in miraculous fashion by Fireburn (Gary Portelli/Brenton Avdulla), who overcame serious interference.
More arrests in French doping investigation
France: Police have arrested 23 people from the horse racing and trotting disciplines, including former champion jump jockey-turned-trainer David Cottin, during a number of raids on premises across France, Spain and Italy which also netted a substantial amount of doping products.
According to the French website Le Parisien, members of the Gabeur family, who bred the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Long Run, were also taken into custody.
These were the latest arrests of an extensive investigation by agents of France’s SCCJ (Service Central des Courses et Jeux) who raided the yards of trainers Frederic, Cedric and Charly Rossi in November over allegations of organised doping.
Saratoga: 19 G1s and $22.6m in stakes prize-money
USA: Saratoga is set to host 19 Grade 1 events during its prestigious 40-day summer meet for 2022, when prize-money is up by $1.1m. The New York Racing Association last week announced a total of 77 stakes worth $22.6m in purses for the eight-week meet (Thursday July 14 to Monday Sept 5).
The 153rd running of the $1.25m Travers Stakes takes place on August 27 as the centrepiece of a blockbuster card featuring five G1s.
Elsewhere in racing …
GB: Tom Marquand and Hollie Doyle tie the knot More here
HK: Romantic Warrior denies California Spangle in HK Derby More here
USA: Jockey banned for 30 days after pulling up 1-20 favourite More here
USA: Baffert denied stay of suspension in Kentucky More here
GB: Team managers and jockey draft announced for Racing League 2022 More here
Australia: Andrew Jones appointed next Racing Victoria chief exec More here
GB: York announces record prize-money at £10m 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 …
View the latest TRC Global Rankings for horses / jockeys / trainers / sires