Nature Strip, Frankie Dettori and Flightline feature in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Nature Strip crowned Australia’s Horse of the Year
Australia: Nature Strip, whose superb 2021-22 campaign included victory in the A$15 million Everest and success at Royal Ascot, has been named Australia’s Horse of the Year for the second time.
The champion sprinter, who previously earned the accolade in 2020, won five of his eight starts also landing the G1 Darley Sprint Classic and T J Smith before shipping to England where he captured the King’s Stand Stakes.
It is the seventh time in a row that a horse trained by Chris Waller has been honoured, with Nature Strip following Verry Elleegant and Winx, who was crowned on four occasions.
Minzaal retired injured after G1 Sprint Cup win
GB: Shadwell Estate’s newest G1 winner Minzaal has been retired after it emerged he suffered a knee fracture when capturing the Haydock Sprint Cup on Saturday [Sept 3]. The four-year-old son of Mehmas has had the break in his left fore pinned but trainer Owen Burrows said the colt would not race again and would head to stud.
Dettori free to ride in Arc despite 14-day whip ban
Germany: Frankie Dettori has no plans to appeal against a 14-day whip ban picked up at Baden-Baden after learning the suspension will end the day before the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on October 2.
Dettori went one stroke over the limit as last year’s Arc winner Torquator Tasso was beaten a head by Mendocini, ridden by Rene Piechulek, the rider the Italian replaced on the German star, in the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden on Sunday [Sept 4].
Both horses are in contention for the ParisLongchamp showpiece but King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Pyledriver will miss the race due to a training setback.
Appleby tribute to 2,000 Guineas winner Coroebus
France: Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby described Coroebus as “a great horse” after the 2,000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes winner suffered a fatal injury while contesting the G1 Prix du Moulin at ParisLongchamp on Sunday [Sept 4].
The son of Dubawi was beginning his challenge when he stumbled and fell a furlong and a half from the line in the race won by the Ed Walker-trained Dreamloper. Jockey William Buick escaped without injury.
“It is very sad to see a great horse, who gave so much to racing, lose his life in this way," Appleby said. "Everyone took a lot of joy from his victories in the 2,000 Guineas and at Royal Ascot."
Saratoga meet ends with record handle
USA: The Saratoga summer meet has concluded with all-sources wagering handle reaching a record $878,211,963 during the 40-day fixture, a 7.7 per cent rise on 2021. The average daily handle of $21,955,299 was also a record for Saratoga with total attendance of 1,075,586 breaching seven figures for the seventh consecutive year.
Flightline half-brother withdrawn from sale by breeder
USA: Flightline’s breeder Summer Wind Farm has withdrawn a Curlin half-brother to the stunning Pacific Classic winner from the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The Kentucky farm said owner Jane Lyon “couldn’t part” with the colt, named Eagles Flight, after seeing Flightline’s 19 length romp at Del Mar and will keep him for racing
Elsewhere in racing …
GB: James Delahooke, key figure in foundation of Juddmonte empire, dies aged 77 More here
Japan: Death of 2004 Horse of the Year Zenno Rob Roy More here
USA: Parx trainer banned for 1,950 days after six horse positives More here
USA: Secretariat sculpture planned for park honoring legendary Triple Crown winner More here
GB: Champion apprentice Marco Ghiani stood down after alleged drug test failure More here
USA: Chicago Bears unveil stadium plans for Arlington Park More here
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