Irad Ortiz, the Queen's Plate and Cyberknife feature in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Irad Ortiz breaks single-season stakes record
USA: Irad Ortiz broke North America’s single-season stakes-winning record when Dr B became his 77th of the year in the G3 Go For Wand at Aqueduct on Saturday [Dec 3].
The 30-year-old Puerto Rican surpassed the total set by the late Garrett Gomez in 2007, the latest landmark of a campaign during which he won the Belmont Stakes on Mo Donegal, secured three victories at the Breeders’ Cup and took meet titles at Belmont spring/summer, Saratoga and the ‘Belmont at the Big A’ fall meet.
North America’s leading rider by wins every year since 2017, Ortiz is well on track to continuing that streak with 305 wins in 2022 and best ever earnings of more than $36m.
“This [record] is something that I didn’t even know until a week before the Breeders’ Cup,” said Ortiz. “I never tried to pay too much attention, I just ride and try to keep winning and whatever happens at the end of the year, we’ll see how it goes. Thank God the last couple of years have been great.”
De Sousa and Marquand share Hong Kong spoils
Hong Kong: Silvestre de Sousa and Tom Marquand shared the spoils at the end of one of the tightest Longines International Jockeys’ Championships in the event’s history on Wednesday [Dec 7].
Each of the four legs at Happy Valley went to a different jockey, with none among De Sousa, Marquand, Vincent Ho and Derek Leung able to add a scoring place that would have separated them from the pack.
The joint-champions were named on countback, with De Sousa and Marquand sharing HK$700,000 ($90,000) on account of both riders notching a fourth placing earlier in the evening.
Queen’s Plate to become King’s Plate in 2023
Canada: The Queen’s Plate, North America’s longest continuously run stakes race, will be run as the King’s Plate on August 20 next year following the accession of King Charles III.
The 2023 edition will mark the 164th running of the $1m contest historically named in honour of the reigning monarch. The race, which began during the reign of Queen Victoria, was run as the King’s Plate for 51 years until 1952 when it became the Queen’s Plate for 70 years until Queen Elizabeth II’s death this year.
Pegasus World Cup then stud for Cyberknife
USA: Haskell Stakes winner Cyberknife, who was beaten a head in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, will have one more start in the $3m Pegasus World Cup on January 28 before he takes up stallion duties.
Breeding rights to the Brad Cox-trained son of Gun Runner were acquired by Spendthrift Farm in August. Another of the year’s leading three-year-olds, Travers winner Epicenter, will stand at Coolmore America’s Ashford Stud for a fee of $45,000.
Tommy Berry charged with giving tips for presents
Australia: Top Sydney jockey Tommy Berry has vowed to fight allegations he received gifts in exchange for tips from a professional punter after RacingNSW issued five charges against him. Register owner and punter Zaid Miller has also been charged.
Three other jockeys Jordan Mallyon, Jack Martin and Kayla Nisbet have also been charged with another owner and punter following an extensive investigation into betting-related breaches.
Derby winner Serpentine joins Gai Waterhouse
Australia: The 2020 Epsom Derby winner Serpentine has been moved to the stable of Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott after owner Lloyd Williams redistributed his string away from his Macedon Lodge base, which has been for sale.
Serpentine, who was gelded after he was sold by the Coolmore partners and joined trainer Robert Hickmott, has not won in six runs in Australia and on his last start finished 20th of 22 in the Melbourne Cup.
Elsewhere in racing …
GB: Charlie Appleby clinches second trainers’ championship More here
Australia: Nature Strip ‘60-40’ against Royal Ascot return More here
USA: Six of the best for Flavien Prat as he claims Del Mar title More here
USA: Richard Baltas suspended for one year for 21 substance violations More here
Australia: Trainer and jockey charged over jigger allegations More here
France: Malavath to join Christophe Clement after $3.35m sale More here
Ireland: Death of first European Japan Cup-winning trainer Frank Dunne, aged 79 More here
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