The Pegasus World Cup, Irad Ortiz and Kent Desormeaux feature in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Cyberknife, Defunded and Proxy top Pegasus invitation list
USA: G1 winners Cyberknife, Defunded and Proxy head the 12-strong invitation list for the seventh running of the $3m Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park on January 28.
Brad Cox-trained Cyberknife, winner of the Arkansas Derby and Haskell Invitational and head runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, will be making his final start before going to stud.
Bob Baffert, who saddled Arrogate for a Pegasus triumph in 2017, trains Defunded, a four-year-old who closed out the 2022 season with victory in the Awesome Again before a G3 score at Del Mar.
Godolphin’s Proxy earned G1 credentials in his 2022 finale in the Clark and is joined on the list by other top-level winners White Abarrio, Art Collector, Super Corinto and O’Connor.
Dual defending champion Colonel Liam is among a dozen horses on the first invitation list for the $1m Pegasus World Cup Turf.
Irad Ortiz, Chad Brown and Godolphin top the 2022 charts
USA: Irad Ortiz established single-season records by earnings and stakes wins to finish the leading jockey of 2022. He rode 325 winners and broke his own prize-money record by landing $37,075,772 in earnings as well as winning 80 stakes races, eclipsing the mark of 76 set by the late Garrett Gomez in 2007.
Chad Brown finished the year as leading trainer by earnings with $31,057,362 prize-money and 225 winners, his first title since 2019, while Godolphin dominated the owners' rankings with $16,343,067 in earnings, in figures published by Equibase.
Record-breaking trainer Mark Johnston hands licence to son Charlie
GB: Britain’s winningmost trainer Mark Johnston, who entered into a partnership with son Charlie in 2022, has stepped aside to allow his son to be the sole licence holder.
Johnson, who reached the 5,000-winner mark in August last year and will remain involved in the operation, said he wanted his son to achieve more recognition. Johnston jnr got off the mark with his first winner at Kempton on Jan 4.
Kent Desormeaux kicks off 2023 with double for Wesley Ward
Nation: Hall Of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux began 2023 with two winners and a second from three rides for Wesley Ward at Turfway Park on New Year’s Day.
Desormeaux is on a mission to reestablish his career on more solid foundations after undergoing further therapy to address his alcoholism having missed most of 2022 due to suspension and a now-lifted ban from working at Santa Anita.
BHA backs down on whip changes
GB: A key part of controversial whip reforms which would restrict whip use to the backhand position only have been scrapped by the BHA after fresh concerns were raised by jockeys.
Disqualification in races where the strike limit is exceeded by four or more is among the range of stiffer penalties which will still come into force when a four-week bedding-in period begins from Jan 9.
Yahagi and Kawada seal title honours
Japan: Yoshito Yahagi has been declared top trainer of 2022 by the JRA by prize-money and wins, with earnings of ¥1,908,664,400 ($14,399,441) and 64 wins. Yugo Kawada was champion jockey with 143 victories.
Elsewhere in racing …
USA: Beverly Park becomes winningmost horse since 2011 More here
USA: The late Rick Porter's Fox Hill Farm to close More here
UAE: 2023 Dubai Carnival kicks off at Meydan More here
Japan: Champions Cup winner June Light Bolt registered for Saudi Cup More here
USA: Champion mare Ashado pensioned More here
France: Mishriff stud start delayed after setback More here
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