Dubai World Cup winner Ushba Tesoro, a Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe update and Cody’s Wish feature in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Dubai hero Ushba Tesoro impressive in BC Classic prep
Japan: Dubai World Cup winner Ushba Tesoro (Noboru Takagi/Yuga Kawada) returned to action after a six-month layoff on Wednesday [Sept 27] with a comfortable victory at Funabashi to put himself in line for a crack at the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on November 4.
The six-year-old son of Orfevre claimed the Nippon TV Hai by 2½ lengths from Tenkaharu after sweeping into the lead on the home turn in the 1,800-metre (1m1f) contest – a G2 event on the NAR local government second-tier circuit, but only Listed status internationally.
Ushba Tesoro has now won six in a row and is rated a 12-1 chance with European bookmakers for the Classic, in which he is likely to be joined by compatriot Derma Sotogake, the UAE Derby winner before coming sixth in the Kentucky Derby. More here
Fantastic Moon and Continuous added to Arc field
France: German Derby winner Fantastic Moon and St Leger hero Continuous were added the field for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe atv Wednesday’s €120,000 supplementray entry stage for the storied €5m contest at ParisLongchamp on Sunday [Oct 1].
A total of 15 runners will go to post for the Qatar-sponsored Arc, headed by the unbeaten Ace Impact, the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) winner, plus King George one-two Hukum and Westover. Record six-time Arc winner Frankie Dettori partners Free Wind on his final ride in Europe’s richest race.
Through Seven Seas, narrowly beaten by world #1 Equinox on her most recent outing, will bid to give Japan a much cherished triumph after decades of trying.
The Arc is one of no fewer than eight G1 races – five of them Breeders’ Cup ‘Win and You’re In’ qualifiers – at Longchamp this weekend. More here
Cody’s Wish back in action – and cutting back in distance
USA: America’s favourite horse Cody’s Wish headlines a major weekend programme full of potential significance ahead of the Breeders’ Cup.
His unbeaten sequence having been snapped when stepped up in trip fr the Whitney, the hugely popular five-year-old cuts back to seven furlongs in the G2 Vosburgh at the ‘Belmont at the Big A’ meet on Saturday [Sept 30].
“One turn and seven to a mile is good for him,” said trainer Bill Mott. “We wanted to see if he could win the Whitney – it’s a very important race and if he could win the Met Mile and the Whitney, those are two very big races.”
Elsewhere on a stakes-laden card, Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Rebel’s Romance takes on War Like Goddess in the G1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, while Dubai World Cup runner-up Algiers tries New York dirt in the Woodward for British-based Simon & Ed Crisford.
Over at this year’s Breeders’ Cup venue Santa Anita, an open-looking edition of the G1 Awesome Again is headed by Bob Baffert-trained Defunded.
Everest favourite Giga Kick ruled out by injury
Australia: Top sprinter Giga Kick will not defend his title in the A$20m ($12.7m/£10.5m) Everest on October 14 after tearing a muscle in his warm-up in a G2 event at Moonee Valley earlier this month.
Giga Kick was beaten by the impressive Imperatriz after getting what jockey Craig Williams acknowledged was a poor ride.
Trainer Clayton Douglas told Racenet: “I have arguably the best horse in the country, who was set to have a great spring running in races carrying $30m in prize-money, but unfortunately he is going to the paddock. That's racing.” More here
Classic winner Alpha Centauri to headline sale of Niarchos talents
Ireland: Classic heroine Alpha Centauri and fellow G1 winner Alpine Star are to go under the hammer at the Goffs November Breeders Stock Sale on November 24-25.
Mares in-foal to Frankel and Dubawi are also among the 44 lots assembled by the Niarchos family which is restructuring its breeding operation, according to racing manager Alan Cooper.
Alpha Centauri won the 2018 Irish 1,000 Guineas, the first of four G1s in a row, while Alpine Star won the Coronation Stakes on 2020. Both were trained by Jessica Harrington. More here
Elsewhere in racing …
USA: Racing groups table legislation aimed at replacing HISA More here
USA: Bob Baffert sues social-media influencers alleging attempted extortion More here
USA: Kentucky Derby winner Mage to stand at Airdrie Stud on retirement More here
USA: Breeders’ Cup-bound Nobody Listens dies in freak accident on way home from G3 More here
USA: Arizona horsemen say Turf Paradise will reopen in January 2024 More here
Japan: Sprinters Stakes heralds return of G1 racing for JRA fall season More here
Saudi Arabia: More races and prize-money for upcoming Riyadh season More here
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