Christophe Soumillon, Bob Baffert and the Saudi Cup feature in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Christophe Soumillon rides first G1 winner since returning from ‘elbow’ ban
South Africa: Christophe Soumillon rode his first G1 winner since returning from a 60-day ban when he won the Majorca Stakes on the Mike De Kock-trained Desert Miracle at Kenilworth in Cape Town on Saturday [Jan 28].
The Belgian, who was stood down for knocking fellow jockey Rossa Ryan out of the saddle with his elbow during a September 30 race at Saint-Cloud, had returned to action at the Cape Town track three weeks earlier when riding in the King’s Plate.
Desert Miracle was one of three winners on Cape Town Met day for the 41-year-old who spent several weeks of his suspension in South Africa on holiday with his family. He could not add the feature prize, the G1 Cape Town Met, as the Justin Snaith-trained Jet Dark denied 2022 winner Kommetdieding by a head.
When he returns home Soumillon, ten-time champion jockey in France, will start the season as a freelance having lost his job as the Aga Khan’s retained rider in the wake of the ‘elbow’ incident.
Bob Baffert’s New York ban expires
USA: Bob Baffert is free to race horses in New York again after the expiration of a one year ban imposed by the NYRA for repeated medical violations.
The Hall of Fame trainer told the Associated Press the suspension was “water under the bridge” despite none of the violations occurring at Aqueduct, Belmont or Saratoga.
He remains barred from Churchill Downs under the two-year ban imposed by the track after 2021 Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit tested positive for an unallowed raceday substance, although that decision continues to be the subject of a legal challenge by the trainer.
Baffert is guaranteed to win the Robert B Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday [Feb 4] for the fifth year in a row as he trains all four horses entered for the G3 contest.
Japan to field six runners in Saudi Cup
Saudi Arabia: Japan is set to have six representatives in the $20 million Saudi Cup with invitations accepted for Cafe Pharaoh, Crown Pride, Geoglyph, Jun Light Bolt, Panthalassa and Vin de Garde.
Australian jockey Damian Lane will make his debut in the race after being booked for Crown Pride, runner-up to Jun Light Bolt in the G1 Champions Cup (former Japan Cup Dirt). Lane has also been named to partner Daring Tact, the 2020 fillies’ Triple Crown winner in Japan, in the Neom Turf Cup.
Local Saudi horse, the former Steve Asmussen-trained Scotland Yard, secured a start in the field after winning the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup (King's Cup) by 10¼ lengths.
Pegasus series could become two events in 2024
USA: Following Art Collector’s victory in the seventh edition of the $3m Pegasus World Cup, racetrack group 1/ST Racing has revealed ambitions to hold two versions of the race in 2024 — one at Gulfstream and the other at Santa Anita. Exact details have still to be finalised.
World Pool extends global network in 2023
Hong Kong: The Saudi Cup, Irish Derby and Lightning Stakes day in Australia will be part of the World Pool, the commingled horse racing pools created and powered by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, in 2023.
The World Pool Moment of the Year, introduced in 2022 in Britain and Ireland to reward stable staff with prizes, as well as a VIP trip to Hong Kong, will be extended to include all World Pool races.
Met day at Kenilworth in South Africa [Jan 28} was the first meeting where racing fans from over 20 countries were able to bet into the pool and Melbourne Cup day [Nov 7] will be the last.
Japan’s oldest active jockey Yoshiomi Shibata to ride on Saudi Cup card
Nation: Yoshiomi Shibata, who at 56 is the JRA’s oldest active jockey, will ride overseas for the first time since 2011 after accepting the mount on G3 winner Ryuno Yukina in the Dirt Sprint. Shibata has ridden more than 2,300 winners.
Elsewhere in racing …
USA: Belmont Park renovation plans included in NY governor's budget plans More here
USA: Horse fatalities down 52 per cent in California More here
Australia: Derby winner Hitotsu retired due to injury More here
USA: Peter Brant outlines plans for mares More here
Ireland: Trainer Ronan McNally disqualified for 12 years More here
USA: HISA anti-doping program ready to be enforced from March 27 More here
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