Titleholder, Chris Waller and Frankel feature in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Japan’s Titleholder is new Arc favourite
France: Japan’s top older horse Titleholder has been installed the new favourite for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe by British bookmakers after Epsom Derby winner Desert Crown was ruled out for the rest of the year.
The four-year-old, who is undefeated in three starts this year, the latest victory coming in the G1 Takarazuka Kinen in June, and #6 in the TRC Global Rankings, is 5-1 with Coral to end Japan’s long and so far fruitless pursuit of Europe’s richest race.
Desert Crown will stay in training in 2023 and could have the Dubai Sheema Classic in March as his early target.
Arc betting (Coral): 5 Titleholder, 7 Vadeni, 8 Alpinista, Torquator Tasso, 12 Onesto, Pyledriver, 14 Free Wind, 16 Baaeed, Do Deuce, Hurricane Lane, Luxembourg, Nashwa, Westover, 20 Bar
Waller and Pike top Australian national rankings as 2021/22 season ends
Australia: Trainer Chris Waller and jockey William Pike were the familiar names at the top of the national rankings when the latest season ended on July 31.
Waller outscored all other trainers with 352 wins while Pike rode 189 winners despite relocating away from his Perth stronghold to base himself in Sydney.
Waller also clinched his 12th metro championship in Sydney (New South Wales), where James McDonald finished top jockey. In Melbourne (Victoria), the training partnership of Ciaron Maher & David Eustace topped the metro rankings while Jye McNeill was leading jockey for the first time.
Dual King George winner Swain dies aged 30
USA: Swain, one of the stars of the early years of Godolphin when he won back-to-back editions of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes in 1997 and 1998, has died in Kentucky aged 30. He was humanely euthanized at the Old Friends retirement facility in Georgetown due to the infirmities of old age.
Frankel sires 100th stakes winner
GB: Frankel hit a new milestone in his extraordinary stallion career when filly Emotion brought up the sire’s 100th stakes winner at Newmarket on Sunday [July 31]. He raced to the mark in 2402 days to join Danehill as the fastest to the century.
World #1 Baaeed among entries for Champions Day
GB: TRC Global Rankings #1 racehorse Baaed is one of 47 G1-winning horses of 100 G1 races who feature among the entries for the 12th staging of QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on October 15, which offers prize money of £4.1 million making it Britain’s richest raceday.
• Visit the British Champions Series website
G1-winning NZ jockey Michael Walker in coma
Australia: New Zealand-born jockey Michael Walker is in an induced coma in a serious but stable condition after suffering a fall during jumpouts at Pakenham, Victoria on Tuesday [August 1].
Walker, 38 who has ridden 24 top-level victories, suffered a heavy concussion in the fall but scans have so far cleared of any spinal or internal injuries. According to reports doctors in Melbourne have started to bring him out of sedation.
RacingNSW raises prize-money by A$30m for new season
Australia: Racing NSW has announced a further A$30 million ($20m) in prize-money increases which will take total prize-money paid in the state rise to A$358 million per annum. The new total is more than triple the prize-money levels of 2012.
• Visit the RacingNSW website
Elsewhere in racing …
GB: Ex-champion jockey De Sousa joining HK ranks More here
USA: Kentucky Downs to offer $1m purse incentive to attract G1 winners More here
Australia: Spring Carnival international entries return to pre-pandemic levels More here
Ireland: Apprentice on ventilator after Galway fall More here
USA: Belmont Fall meet switched to Aqueduct due to construction work More here
NZ: Japanese jockey Yanagida in critical condition after fall More here
Australia: G1 winner Alligator Blood banned from Victoria More here
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