Our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Lester Piggott admitted to hospital
Switzerland: Legendary jockey Lester Piggott, the most celebrated rider in the history of the sport, is in hospital near his home in Switzerland with family by his bedside after being admitted for an undisclosed illness.
His son-in-law, trainer William Haggas, said the 11-time British champion Flat jockey, who is 86, was “battling a bit” but hoped he would pull through.
A household name well beyond Britain during an illustrious career, PIggott won a record nine Derbys and rode more than 5,000 winners worldwide. Together with Frankel, he was among the first draft of inductees into the British Champions Series Hall of Fame on its launch last year.
Preakness hero Early Voting to bypass Belmont
USA: Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike will not have to contend with last weekend’s Preakness scorer Early Voting in the Belmont Stakes on June 11.
Just as connections of shock 80-1 Churchill Downs winner Rich Strike opted to bypass the Preakness, so Pimlico hero Early Voting will miss the Belmont in favour of targeting the Travers Stakes at Saratoga on August 27.
According to the Daily Racing Form, ten horses currently known to be under consideration for the final leg of the Triple Crown. They Mo Donegal and Barber Road, fifth and sixth respectively in the Kentucky Derby, plus Preakness third Creative Minister. Kentucky Oaks runner-up Nest is also a Belmont possible.
82 races feature in Breeders’ Cup ‘Win and You’re In’ Challenge
USA: A total of 82 ‘Win And You’re In’ races in 11 countries will make up the schedule for the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series.
They include 39 international races whose winners will receive an automatic fees-paid qualifying berth into a corresponding race in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland on November 4-5.
The next two races in the programme are the Gran Premio Club Hipico Falabella in Chile on May 29 and the Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita the following day, both ‘Win And You’re In’ races for the FanDuel Mile.
Full Breeders' Cup Challenge schedule fo 2022
Notable Guineas achievement for Appleby with Native Trail
Ireland: Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby completed the unique feat of winning three of Europe’s main Classics with three different horses after Native Trail landed the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh.
Appleby, the #1 trainer in the TRC Global Rankings, won the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket with Coroebus and France’s equivalent, the Poule d’Essai des Poulains, with Breeders’ Cup winner Modern Games, who is now headed to next weekend’s Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby).
Dermot Weld-trained Homeless Songs has been made favourite for the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot after an impressive success in the Irish 1,000 Guineas.
Second Classic success for Stars On Earth
Japan: Stars On Earth (Mizuki Takayanagi/Christophe Lemaire) is in line for a crack at the fillies’ Triple Crown after pulling away inside the final furlong to win the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) at Tokyo racecourse on Sunday [May 22].
Sent off an 11-2 chance, the daughter of Duramente took the ¥306 million ($2.6m) event by a length and a quarter over outsider Stunning Rose to follow up her success in the Oka Sho (1,000 Guineas). She will now bid to become the third filly in five years to complete the Triple Crown after Almond Eye (2018) and Daring Tact (2020) in the Shuka Sho (Japanese fillies’ St Leger) over 1m2f at Kyoto on October 16.
The Tokyo Yushun (Derby) takes place at Tokyo racecourse on Sunday [May 29] featuring Satsuki Sho (2,000 Guineas) winner Geoglyph and likely market rival Equinox.
Landmark win for Tony Cruz at Sha Tin
Hong Kong: Tony Cruz, a legend of the HK racing scene for decades, became the third trainer to reach the 1,400-winner mark in the region when Circuit Nine scored at Sha Tin on Sunday [May 22]. He follows John Moore and John Size in reaching the landmark.
Ridden by former Cruz apprentice Matthew Chadwick, Circuit Nine justified favouritism in a 6f event. “It’s always an achievement,” said Cruz. “Racing is part of my life. I love doing this business – it’s the only thing I know.”
A former six-time champion jockey, 65-year-old Cruz also rode 946 winners in Hong Kong. After he completed a double later on with Five G Patch, his aggregate total stood at 2,347 after Sunday’s meeting.
On the same card, Russian Emperor (Douglas Whyte/Blake Shinn) produced a sensational last-to-first burst to land the final G1 event of the 2021-22 season, the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup.
Elsewhere in racing …
Germany: Arc winner Torquator Tasso faces six rivals on Baden-Baden comeback on Sunday More here
Ireland: Aidan O’Brien launches legal action against feed company over 2020 Arc non-runners More here
Ireland: 300-1 stunner equals record for longest-priced winner More here
Australia: Future of top three-year-old Hitotsu uncertain after injury More here
Australia: Away Game sells for A$4m ($2.84m) at Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale More here
New Zealand: Champion 2yo Sword Of State retired More here
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