61-year-old Cindy Murphy hits graded-stakes mark for 2,000the career win – plus Cody’s Wish Saratoga aim and latest running plans from Japan in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Cindy Murphy rides 2,000th winner – aged 61
USA: Cindy Murphy landed her 2,000th career victory when partnering locally based Crypto Mo to an all-the-way win the G3 Iowa Oaks at Prairie Meadows on Saturday [July 8].
At the age of 61, Murphy was recording the first graded-stakes victory of a career in which she rode her first winner at Tampa Bay Downs in December 1987.
Murphy and Crypto Mo had history: the jockey was hospitalised with pelvic and rib injuries last year when the filly unseated her prior to her first career start. "I don't hold it against her – she paid me back,” said Murphy, who plans to retire at the end of the current meet at Prairie Meadows.
Whitney assignment for Cody’s Wish
USA: Fan favorite Cody’s Wish is set to run next in the G1 Whitney at Saratoga on August 5, trainer Bill Mott has confirmed.
Speaking to the Daily Racing Form, Mott said the hugely popular Godolphin five-year-old will stretch out around two turns for the $1m event. “Cody is doing well and we are aiming for the Whitney,” said the trainer. “Naturally it goes without saying the horse has to be good and we still have some more work to do,” he added.
Cody’s Wish has won nine of his last ten starts, including a current win streak of four in G1 company. More here
• Saratoga’s annual 40-day summer meet kicks off on Thursday [July 13], with the Diana Stakes on Saturday [July 15] offering the first G1 prize. In Italian will seek a fifth G1 victory as one of four Chad Brown-trained runners in the $500,000 contest. More here
Japanese Arc challenge: Through Seven Seas on course for Paris
Japan: Through Seven Seas will target the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe [Oct 1] for Japan. Carrot Farm’s five-year-old closed well to be beaten only a neck by the world #1 Equinox in last month’s Takarazuka Kinen.
Do Deuce, who beat Equinox in last year’s Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), is being pointed towards the Tenno Sho (Autumn) at Tokyo racecourse on October 29 – and another potential clash with the world leader. Do Deuce hasn’t been seen since being scratched from the Dubai Turf owing to lameness.
Titleholder, pulled up in the Tenno Sho (Spring) with an injury to his foreleg, is also on the road to recovery and set to return to action in the G2 Sankei Sho All-Comers at Nakayama. The Japan Cup and Arima Kinen are the five-year-old’s end-of-season targets.
Tokyo Yushun winner Tastiera is set to contest the Kikuka Sho (St Leger), the final Classic of the season at Kyoto on October 22.
Mick Fire completes NAR dirt Triple Crown in Japan
Japan: New dirt star Mick Fire (Kazo Watanabe/Norifumi Mikamoto) took his unbeaten career record to six with an authoritative 2½-length victory in the Japan Dirt Derby at Ohi racetrack in Tokyo on Wednesday [July 12].
Having won the Tokyo Derby on his previous start, the son of SInister Minister duly became the first horse in 22 years to complete the NAR (National Association of Racing) Triple Crown. Clashes with older horses now beckon in races like the JBC Classic and the Champions Cup. More here
Zac Purton breaks single-season record in HK
Hong Kong: On the verge of his sixth jockeys’ title in Hong Kong, Zac Purton has broken the HK record for most wins in a single season.
Purton, 40, surpassed Joao ‘Magic Man’ Moreira’s previous best of 170 when he rode a four-timer at Sha Tin on Sunday [July 9], when his ‘go-ahead’ winner came via Manfred Man-trained Magic Supreme in a 6f handicap.
That was the second of Purton’s four winners on the card – and he continued in the same vein at Happy Valley on Wednesday [July 12] with another treble to take the jockey to 176 for 2022-23, with the season’s finale due on Sunday [July 16].
Purton’s colossal season reached a peak with a seven-timer at Sha Tin on October 9 and has also included two five-timers, eight four-timers and 19 trebles. His next target will surely be 13-time champion Douglas Whyte’s all-time HK record of 1,813 wins.
Elsewhere in racing …
Australia: Top rider Jamie Kah charged by stewards in white powder scandal More here
USA: Veteran trainer David Vance retires after 3,198 winners in 58-year career More here
USA: Kentucky Turf Cup now worth $1.7m – plus four more worth $1m More here
USA: Jose Ortiz edges out brother Irad for Belmont meet title More here
USA: Santa Anita announces autumn stakes schedule More here
GB: Rossa Ryan called up for favourite Shaquille in July Cup More here
GB: Ascot turnover exceeds £100m for first time More here
Germany: Germany: G1 winner Tunnes moved from Peter Schiergen to Markus Klug More here
• View all previous editions of Seven Days In Racing
View the latest TRC Global Rankings for horses / jockeys / trainers / sires