Bob Baffert, Frankie Dettori and Titleholder feature in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Baffert back to work – but New York ban continues
USA: Beleaguered trainer Bob Baffert has been suspended from racing and training at all New York Racing Association tracks until January 2023 – just as he is about to return to work at his Santa Anita barn.
The new ban was announced as the 90-day suspension imposed by authorities in Kentucky over Medina Spirit’s 2021 Kentucky Derby disqualification, and reciprocated in all states, expires on July 3.
Baffert has been excluded from NYRA tracks since May last year when news first emerged that he was under investigation after Medina Spirit had tested positive. He was subsequently alleged by the NYRA to have engaged in “conduct detrimental to the best interests of the sport of thoroughbred racing or potentially injurious to the health or safety of horses or riders” for which a hearing panel recommended a 365-day suspension, from which the time already served was deducted.
Parting of the ways for Dettori and Gosdens
GB: Frankie Dettori’s association with John & Thady Gosden is over, at least temporarily, after John Gosden announced their relationship was “taking a sabbatical”.
The split followed a set of frustrating results at Royal Ascot, most notably in the Gold Cup after which Gosden snr publicly criticised Dettori for his riding of Stradivarius, the three-time race winner who was left with too much to do for the second year running.
Dettori was also an unlucky loser on Queen Elizabeth’s Saga, beaten a head in the Britannia Stakes, and failed to remove the hood from Lord North until several strides after the start in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes.
Gosden said in a statement: “Following speculation in the press, Frankie and I have amicably decided to take a sabbatical from the trainer-jockey relationship but we remain the closest of friends and colleagues.”
The trainer said he would not be appointing a stable jockey while Dettori, 51, insisted he had no plans to retire.
Titleholder heading to Arc after record-breaking win
Japan: Titleholder became Japan’s number one hope for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe after defeating a stellar line-up to capture the G1 Takarazuka Kinen, lowering the 1m3f track record at Hanshin.
The four-year-old won by two lengths, from Hishi Iguazu and Daring Tact, to earn a guaranteed start in the Breeders’ Cup Turf through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series but connections said they will focus on the Arc at the start of October. "We're planning to send him straight to France with Kazuo [Yokoyama, jockey]," trainer Toru Kurita said.
Arc betting (Ladbrokes): 5-2 Desert Crown, 6 Emily Upjohn, 7 Vadeni, 8 Westover, 10 Baaeed, Titleholder, 12 Hurricane Lane, Tuesday, 14 Shahryar, 16 bar.
Leading sire Not A Single Doubt dies after battling lung disease
Australia: Not A Single Doubt, who sired 16 G1 winners from 79 stakes winners, to become one of Australia’s most successful stallions, has died at the age of 21 at Arrowfield Stud after suffering from lung disease. He retired from stud duties in 2020 when the illness was first diagnosed.
Not A Single Doubt became Redoute’s Choice first stakes winner on the track and among his best progeny have been Everest winner Classique Legend and Hong Kong G1 winner Southern Legend.
Arrowfield chairman John Messara said: “Not A Single Doubt was a very special friend to everyone at Arrowfield, and a wonderful flag-bearer for us and for his sire Redoute’s Choice.
Saratoga purses raised by $1.6m ahead of summer meet
USA: The NYRA has announced a raft of purse increases totalling more than $1.6 million for the 2022 Saratoga summer meet, which runs from July 14 until September 5.
The historic track is set to host $1.25m Travers on August 27 and the $1m Whitney on August 6 among 77 stakes races worth $22.6m to be staged during the meet.
Meanwhile, Keeneland is to offer 22 stakes worth a record $8.75m during its Oct 7-29 Fall Meet ahead of the Breeders’ Cup.
Japanese pair arrive in England for G1 targets
GB: King Hermes and Bathrat Leon, set to contest the July Cup and Sussex Stakes respectively, have arrived in Newmarket from Japan. Ryusei Sakai will travel to Europe to ride both horses.
The pair will be the first runners in Britain for international pioneering trainer Yoshito Yahagi, who saddled three winners on Dubai World Cup night to add to an overseas haul that includes two Breeders’ Cup wins, the Cox Plate plus the Hong Kong and QEII Cup.
Elsewhere in racing …
GB: King George possible for Westover as Beckett announces death of Scope More here
USA: Runhappy trainer Maria Borell pleads not guilty to cruelty chargesMore here
Japan: Lemaire reveals Shergar Cup offer during European vacation More here
Japan: NAR announce launch of dirt Triple Crown in 2024 More here
Australia: Melbourne Cup winner Payne rides first winners for 15 months More here
Australia: Death of Might And Power owner Nick Moraitis More here
Singapore: Jockey Rizuan Shafiq DQd for a year More here
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