Shock news from Singapore, Forte, the Belmont Stakes and Auguste Rodin feature in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Singapore shock with racing to cease in 2024
Singapore: The Asian racing community has been rocked by news that the 180-year history of the sport in Singapore will come to an end in 2024.
The island country’s government is set to reclaim the 120-hectare site of the Singapore Turf Club at Kranji raceco
urse – the Southeast Asian nation’s sole racetrack – for housing development.
Racing was first established in Singapore in 1842 when merchants founded the Singapore Turf Club. They moved to Kranji, which boasts an impressive five-storey grandstand, in March 2000. But although racing thrived for a long time, with well-endowed international races on the annual calendar, attendances have declined in recent years.
The final meeting at Kranji is set to take place on October 5, 2024, with the 100th running of the Grand Singapore Gold Cup. More here
Belated Triple Crown debut for Forte in Belmont Stakes
USA: Last year’s champion two-year-old Forte finally gets his chance in a Triple Crown race on Saturday [June 10] when he is morning-line favorite in a nine-runner field for the $1.5m Belmont Stakes.
Trained by four-time Belmont winner Todd Pletcher, Forte was controversially scratched by the vets on the morning of the Kentucky Derby – and then disqualified retrospectively for failing a dope test after last year’s G1 Hopeful.
Forte breaks from gate six in a slaty field also featuring Preakness hero National Treasure plus G1 scorers Tapit Trice and Angel Of Empire (blinkers on), third after a wide trip in the Kentucky Derby.
A total of nine G1 events are scheduled across the three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, with several lesser graded stakes as supporting events. Among stars due to be in action on Saturday’s card are Breeders’ Cup winners such as Cody’s Wish (Met Mile), Elite Power (True North) and Caravel (Jaipur). Kentucky Oaks winner Pretty Mischievous reappears in the G1 Acorn on Friday’s card. More here
Irish Derby for Epsom hero Auguste Rodin
Ireland: Epsom Derby winner Auguste Rodin will run next on home turf at The Curragh on Sunday July 2.
Speaking to Racing TV, part-owner Michael Tabor has outlined plans for the son of Deep Impact, saying: “I would say he’ll go to the Irish Derby. I haven’t discussed it, but it’s common sense to say he definitely goes to the Irish Derby. Then we’ll bring him back in trip – a mile and a quarter – for some of those races.”
Ireland’s premier Classic could host an Epsom rematch, as runner-up King Of Steel plus White Birch and Sprewell – third and fourth in the Derby – are also in line to run. Beaten Epsom favorite Arrest has also been given the green light. More here
Poor air quality forces cancellations
USA: Poor air quality in the northeast is playing havoc with the fixture list, with several tracks in the region cancelling racecards – among them Woodbine, Finger Lakes, Delaware Park and Penn National. It is expected they will resume next week.
With air quality in New York also considered hazardous owing to wind-blown smoke following Canadian wildfires, training was cancelled for Thursday at both Belmont Park and Saratoga. A decision will be made later on whether racing at Belmont on Thursday can continue. More here
Sprint star Lucky Sweyneese equals HK record
Hong Kong: Lucky Sweynesse, #4 on Thoroughbred Racing Commentary’s Global Rankings, equalled the Hong Kong records for victories in a single season when he matched Beauty Generation’s mark of eight wins at Sha Tin on Sunday [June 4].
The world’s highest-rated sprinter powered to a comfortable 1¼-length win under Zac Purton in the G3 Sha Tin Vase Handicap over 1,200 metres (6f) – a race in which he was conceding 20lb to the runner-up.
Trained by Manfred Man, Lucky Sweynesse has a career record of 13 wins, two seconds and a third from just 17 starts. He may try to break the seasonal record with a ninth victory in the G3 Premier Cup Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin on June 25. More here
Irish Guineas runner-up New Energy sold to Australia
Ireland: Australian Bloodstock have purchased last year’s Irish 2000 Guineas runner-up New Energy, who will be set for the Cox Plate by new trainers Ciaron Maher & David Eustace.
Trained in Ireland by Sheila Lavery, the four-year-old son of New Bay was a length and three-quarters behind winner Native Trail in the Curragh Classic.
New Energy was last seen coming third in a Listed race at Naas in May “On exposed form, he is probably the highest-rated horse we have ever got our hands on,” said Australian Bloodstock's Jamie Lovett, speaking to racing.com. “He is Group 1-placed in Ireland as a three-year-old and we know how hard it is over there, so he is obviously a high-calibre horse.”
Elsewhere in racing …
Japan: Songline set for Breeders’ Cup Mile after second Yasuda Kinen success More here
NZ: Oaks Stud buys U S Navy Flag outright from Coolmore More here
NZ: Dominant owners Te Akau set to establish Australian stable More here
Hong Kong: Wellington’s trainer Richard Gibson saying farewell More here
USA: Breeders’ Cup launches promo campaign to celebrate 40th edition More here
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