Frankie Dettori, Ciaron Maher and Kevin Manning feature in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Frankie Dettori to spend winter in California
USA: Frankie Dettori has revealed he will ride in California over the winter with plans to be in action from the first day of the Santa Anita meet on December 26.
Dettori, who has engaged top agent Ron Anderson to book his rides, told the Nick Luck Daily Podcast: "I've been doing my winters in Dubai recently, but this opportunity came and I've been getting a lot of requests to come over from trainers, so I thought, why not?
"I'm going to give it a go. It's a place I'm a big fan of and I'm very fond of Santa Anita. I'm looking forward to the challenge and this is the plan for the winter."
Melbourne Cup: Gold Trip completes spring slam for Ciaron Maher
Australia: Ciaron Maher completed a slam of the Melbourne Spring Carnival’s three feature prizes when Gold Trip captured the Lexus Melbourne Cup under Mark Zahra on Tuesday [Nov 1].
Maher, who started training in 2005, landed the Caulfield Cup in 2016 with Jameka and the Cox Plate in 2020 with Sir Dragonet, by then in a co-training partnership with David Eustace.
“We won a Caulfield Cup and a Cox Plate … the three big ones,” said Maher, 41. “It was definitely something we were looking to tick off – it was fitting with this horse.”
Derby-winning jockey Kevin Manning retires
Ireland: After 40 years in the saddle, Kevin Manning called time on his glittering career after riding a winner at Galway on Monday [Oct 31].
The 55-year-old rode as stable jockey for Jim Bolger for nearly 30 years when he rode 36 G1 winners of which eight were British and Irish Classic winners, including the 2008 Derby on New Approach.
Trainer Mick Channon to hand licence to son
GB: Mick Channon, who followed a successful footballing career when he represented England 46 times by becoming a racehorse trainer, is to hand over the licence to his son Jack at the end of the year.
The 77-year-old has trained over 2.500 Flat winners in Britain and 15 G1 winners, the best-known of which, Youmzain, finished second three times in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Historic Head family stud sold
France: The Haras du Quesnay stud in Normandy which has been in the Head family ownership since 1956 has been sold. Its four stallions, headed by Derby winner Motivator, will be relocated and 40 broodmares, fillies and foals will be offered for sale at Arqana in December.
Parx pick Paquette to be first full-time female announcer
USA: Parx Racing in Pennsylvania has picked Jessica Paquette to become the track’s announcer from December. She will be the only full-time female announcer in the US.
Elsewhere in racing …
USA: Raceday medication heightens risk of sudden death, study claims More here
USA: Desormeaux aims to return at Del Mar meet More here
UAE: Racing season opens at Meydan More here
Australia: Death of Starcraft, winner of five G1s in four countries More here
Japan: Dubai Turf new goal for Do Deuce after being ruled out of Japan Cup More here
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