Frankie Dettori, Torquator Tasso and Mo Donegal feature in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
‘Sabbatical’ over as Dettori called up for Inspiral by Gosdens
GB: The split between Frankie Dettori and the John & Thady Gosden stable has been repaired after the Italian was booked to ride Coronation Stakes winner Inspiral in the G1 Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket on Friday [July 8].
The break-up, which had been described by John Gosden as a “sabbatical” in the wake of a sequence of disappointing results at Royal Ascot, was over after less than three weeks when Dettori rode Mighty Ulysses to win a Listed race at the July meeting on Thursday [July 7]. He will also ride Emily Upjohn in the Irish Oaks on July 16.
Speaking on the Nick Luck Daily podcast, John Gosden said: "He is a great jockey but he can be easily distracted – and that's what was beginning to frustrate me. I think we are going forward now. I am sorry in a sense that it had to be a little bit of a disagreement that spilled out into the public, but there comes a stage where you have to get someone's attention.”
Dettori will be in New York on Saturday [July 9] where he has two rides for Charlie Appleby in the Belmont Oaks and Derby Invitationals.
Olympiad enters Breeders' Cup reckoning
USA: Olympiad earned a guaranteed spot in the starting gate for America's richest race, the Breeders' Cup Classic, as he extended his winning streak to five in 2022 in the Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs on Saturday [July 2].
The Bill Mott-trained four-year-old was landing his fourth graded stakes on the bounce in the $750,000 contest, which is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series. Last year's promoted Kentucky Derby winner Mandaloun could finish only fourth in the G2 contest, in which Olympiad beat Americanrevolution by 2¼ lengths.
Olympiad is an 8-1 chance with British bookmakers Coral for the $6m Classic at Keeneland [Nov 5]. Unbeaten Flightline heads the ante-post market at 3-1, with Life Is Good next in at 7-1 after a five-length victory in G2 company last week at Belmont Park.
Married jockeys uncoupled after change to New York rule
USA: Married jockeys who ride in the same race in New York will no longer automatically be coupled for betting purposes after the New York State Gaming Commission agreed to a change in the rules. The little-known rule had been invoked at Aqueduct 18 months ago when newlyweds Trevor McCarthy and Katie Davis, both jockeys, moved to New York, resulting in a reduction in field sizes and loss in handle.
Torquator Tasso back in King George contention as Adayar ruled out
Germany: Arc winner Torquator Tasso is back in the frame for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot (July 23) after a 3½-length triumph in the G2 Grosser Hansa-Preis (July 3). However, he will not meet defending champion Adayar after last year’s Derby winner was scratched from the race.
King George betting (Ladbrokes): 4-5 Desert Crown, 3 Westover, 5 Mishriff, 7 Torquator Tasso, 8 Emily Upjohn, 12 Alenquer, Broome, 14 Pyledriver, 20 bar
Mo Donegal sidelined with bone bruising
USA: Belmont Stakes winner Mo Donegal has been taken out of training for 60 days after he was diagnosed with bone bruising. The injury to an area of his front fetlocks was discovered after the colt delivered a one-two for the Todd Pletcher stable by defeating the filly Nest in the final leg of the Triple Crown.
Three jockeys seriously injured after spate of falls
Australia: Jockeys Leah Kilner, Elissa Meredith and Juana Andreou have each been placed into induced comas in hospital after being seriously injured in separate incidents across Australia.
Kilner, 24, fractured ribs and her clavicle and is being monitored for a possible brain injury in a Brisbane ICU after coming off her mount towards the end of a race at Grafton on Sunday [July 3].
Meredith, 27, is being treated in hospital in Newcastle after she suffered two contusions to her brain when involved in a race fall at Gunnedah.
The 28-year-old Andreou is in a critical but stable condition in hospital in Melbourne after undergoing surgery to release pressure on her brain after she was kicked by a horse she was grooming at Flemington.
Meanwhile In the US, Cindy Hutter, 57, wife of trainer George Weaver, is stable but unconscious in hospital after suffering a brain bleed, broken ribs, broken collarbone and lung injury after she was pinned underneath a horse when it suffered an apparent heart attack while galloping at Saratoga.
Elsewhere in racing …
Australia: German-trained Belmont Gold Cup winner Loft bought for Melbourne Cup campaign More here
Germany: Murzabayev hit with 17-day whip ban after first Derby win More here
USA: New HISA era begins More here
Hong Kong: John Size allowed to train beyond 70th birthday More here
Singapore: Vlad Duric extends stay until end of year More here
Macau: Jockey Club losses hit $235m More here
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