Mostahdaf, Luis Saez and Do Deuce feature in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Irish Champion Stakes could be next after Mostahdaf takes down Paddington
GB: John Gosden said it will be “ten furlongs all the way” for Mostahdaf after he halted Paddington’s winning sequence in the G1 Juddmonte International on Wednesday [Aug 23].
The last time out winner of the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot exposed Paddington’s stamina limitations by making all the running under Frankie Dettori at York.
On his only defeat this year he finished fourth in the Dubai Sheema Classic, seven lengths behind TRC Global Rankings #1 Equinox.
“I’ve always thought he was a very good horse, but when he won the Neom Cup that was electric,” said Gosden. “We then stupidly tried him over a mile and a half again against the Japanese world champion and got put in our box, but I think it will be 10 furlongs all the way now.
“You could probably get away with a mile and a half at the Breeders’ Cup round a few bends and down a hill, but I don’t think we’ll see that. The Irish Champion has to be a possibility, but I always like to get home and make a decision after 10 days. Some are trying to persuade me to run him in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on the dirt, but I don’t know about that.”
Flavien Prat replaces injured Luis Saez on Mage in Travers
USA: The connections of Mage have turned to Flavien Prat to ride the Kentucky Derby winner in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga [Aug 26] after Luis Saez was ruled out by injury.
Saez suffered a dislocated collarbone and wrist fracture in a race spill at Saratoga [Aug 23] after he was thrown into the bushes on the inner turf course when his mount suffered a fatal cardiac episode and crashed through the rail.
He was due to take over on Mage from Javier Castellano who rides Belmont Stakes winner Arcangelo in Saturday’s showdown with Preakness winner National Treasure and last year’s champion two-year-old Forte.
Do Deuce to return in Tenno Sho Autumn ahead of Equinox rematch
Japan: Do Deuce, the last horse to beat Equinox, is set to return from an injury lay off in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) on October 29 ahead of a possible rematch with the #1 in the Japan Cup.
The pair have not met since Do Deuce’s neck victory in last year’s Japanese Derby since when Equinox has won four G1 races in a row.
Do Deuce was due to run in the Dubai Turf in March but had to be scratched due to a leg injury.
Dual champion Paul Hanagan announces retirement
GB: : Paul Hanagan, champion jockey in 2010 and 2011 who went on to become first jockey for the late Hamdan Al Maktoum, has announced his retirement at the age of 42.
Hanagan, who rode over 2,000 winners and will have his final ride at York [Aug 25], broke his back in three places two years ago and has struggled to regain former heights since his return.
Pegasus winner Art Collector euthanized due to laminitis
USA: The 2023 Pegasus World Cup winner Art Collector was euthanized [Aug 17] after developing laminitis while in training at Saratoga.
Trainer Bill Mott said the issue began as a minor foot abscess but quickly developed into laminitis in all four feet which caused the horse so much discomfort he was put to sleep.
The Bob Baffert-trained two-time G1 winner Cave Rock, not seen since finishing second to Forte in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, has died after developing laminitis after undergoing surgery to resection the small intestine.
Wertheimer brothers buy Wildenstein family stock
France: Two of French racing’s most famous racing and breeding operations have been brought together after brothers Alain and Gerard Wertheimer purchased the remaining parts of the Wildenstein family's breeding assets.
Elsewhere in racing …
UAE: 2023-24 Dubai racing programme unveiled More here
USA: Baffert’s appeal of 90 ban set to move to courts after denied by KHRC More here
New Zealand: Star filly Prowess a Spring Carnival doubt due to abscess More here
UAE: Pat Comerford appointed new ERA commentator More here
USA: Death of Siena Farms Anthony Manganaro More here
Australia: Everest winner Classique Legend retired to Kerrin McEvoy's farm More here
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