Country Grammer, Charlie Appleby and Point Given feature in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Dubai World Cup winner Country Grammer retired
USA: Dubai World Cup winner Country Grammer, the third-leading North American prize-money earner of all time, has been retired from racing to stand at WinStar Farm in Kentucky.
The six-year-old, who was trained Bob Baffert, amassed $14,921,320 in prize-money, a sum topped by only Arrogate and Gun Runner.
His victory in the 2022 Dubai World Cup was a significant contributor to his earnings when he defeated a field including Hot Rod Charlie and Life Is Good at Meydan under Frankie Dettori. On his previous start he finished a narrow second in the Saudi Cup and suffered another near-miss when beaten by Japan’s Ushba Tesoro in the $20m race this year.
WinStar Farm president Elliott Walden said: “He is a real throwback to the great horses of our time, and he retired sound.”
Appleby bids for eighth successive G1 success at Woodbine
Canada: Charlie Appleby will try to maintain an extraordinary record at Woodbine on Saturday [Sept 16] where his last seven starters have earned G1 victories.
Dazzling Star will bid for the Godolphin trainer’s third success in the G1 Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes while Master Of The Seas will represent the team in the Ricoh Woodbine Mile. Both races are ‘Win and You’re In’ qualifiers for the Breeders’ Cup.
“It is a race which we like to target each year, and she has a similar profile to our other fillies who we have run in the past with success,” said Appleby.
William Buck, well on the way to being crowned champion jockey in Britain for the second time after passing 100 wins for the year, will take the rides, having guided Modern Games to victory in last year’s Mile and Mysterious Night to success in the Summer Stakes on the same card.
Point Given dies aged 25
USA: Gary Stevens has paid tribute to 2001 Horse of the Year Point Given, who has died aged 25 at the Kentucky Horse Park’s Hall of Champions where he had been a resident since 2017.
“I’m saddened to hear of Point Given’s passing,” said Stevens. “He was, to me, the greatest horse to not win the Triple Crown. It was an honor to ride such a phenomenal horse. Rest in peace, PG.”
Owned and bred by the Thoroughbred Corporation, and trained by Bob Baffert, Point Given won six G1 races, including two legs of the 2001 Triple Crown, the Preakness and Belmont Stakes.
Affectionately known as the ‘Big Red Train’ due to his 17.1hh height, Point Given earned $3.9m with nine wins from 13 starts. He was the first horse in history to win four $1m races in a row, landing the Haskell and Travers after his Triple Crown campaign, and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2010.
Son of Into Mischief fetches $3m at Keeneland
USA: A partnership of Sonson, Woodford, West Point, LEB, agent, spent $3m, the highest price paid at Keeneland;s September Yearling Sale since 2019, for a colt by Into Mischief who is a half-brother to G1 winner and sire Outwork and from the family of recent Saratoga juvenile winner Fierceness.
West Point president Terry Finley said: “I was up at Saratoga when Fierceness won. I was awestruck by that performance. We are really excited and have a new group of partners who are in on him. We will try to get to the Derby in 2025.”
Kevin Stott sacked as Amo Racing jockey
GB: Kevin Stott has been sacked as first jockey to Amo Racing after six months in the role. The Dane, who was appointed in February, was told by Amo boss Kia Joorabchian that his contract would not be renewed.
Joorabchian was not happy with the ride given to King Of Steel, who finished a running-on fourth behind Auguste Rodin in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday [Sept 9].
Stott partnered ambitious Amo Racing’s first Royal Ascot and G1 winners this year with the operation earning more than £1.5m in Britain in prize-money.
Disgraced Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Weir hit with more charges
Australia: Racing Victoria stewards have issued ten fresh charges against Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Darren Weir who was disqualified for four years in 2019 over the use of an electronic device on three horses in training.
A new video of Weir and two others using a device emerged last year when they were found guilty of animal cruelty in a magistrates court after which the footage was passed to stewards. Weir completed his sentence in February but has not applied for a licence.
Elsewhere in racing …
Ireland: Billionaire trainer Luke Comer suspended for three years over steroid positives More here
USA: HISA report finds no single factor to blame for 12 deaths at Churchill Downs More here
USA: Vet who treated Medina Spirit put on four-year probation More here
USA: Breeders’ Cup winner Caravel entered in November sale More here
GB: Death of six-time Classic winning jockey Edward Hide, aged 86 More here
South Korea: Japan sweep the Korea Cup and Sprint in Seoul More here
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