Frankie Dettori, Highfield Princess, Mickaelle Michel and Mike Repole feature in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Bombshell as Dettori aborts retirement plans to ride in the US
GB: Frankie Dettori stunned the racing world on Thursday [Oct 12] when he announced a U-turn on his decision to retire from the saddle – to ride full-time in the US with the primary goal of getting a decent ride in the Kentucky Derby.
The news comes several months into what was believed to be a ‘farewell tour’ for the world’s most famous jockey, who had announced that he would end his career at the end of 2023, which began for him with a successful spell based at Santa Anita in California.
Now, however, he has performed a volte face almost as acrobatic as any flying dismount during his garlanded career. “I am simply not ready to retire completely,” said Dettori, 52, speaking to the Great British Racing team. “I’m still enjoy riding and want to carry on for a while on the international circuit.”
Speaking to the Nick Luck Daily Podcast, he added: “It could be three months or three years but I am going to give it a good go on the USA circuit and the international circuit, Dubai and Saudi Arabia when they come along, and the dream is to find a horse for the Kentucky Derby.” More here
Breeders’ Cup: Highfield Princess ruled out in favour of HK
GB: Top sprinter Highfield Princess will miss the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in favour of a visit to Hong Kong for the Longines-sponsored HK Sprint at Sha Tin on December 10.
The six-year-old, who won the Prix de l’Abbaye on the Arc card at ParisLongchamp on her most recent outing, was favourite with UK-based bookmakers for the BC Turf Sprint, in which the four-time G1 winner was fourth 12 months ago.
“We thought about it long and hard and there were a number of things,” said trainer John Quinn, speaking to the Daily Mirror. “The Breeders’ Cup is round a sharp turn and Hong Kong also gives us some extra time.” More here
Last year’s BC Turf Sprint winner Caravel (Brad Cox/Tyler Gaffalione) runs in the G2 Franklin Stakes on Sunday at Keeneland, where Godolphin’s 1000 Guineas winner Mawj (Saeed Bin Suroor/Oisin Murphy) makes her long-awaited reappearance on the Saturday card in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup. More here
Meikel Yell added to Japan’s Breeders’ Cup team
Japan: Six-time graded stakes winner Meikei Yell has been added to the Japanese team for the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita on November 3-4.
Jockey Kenichi Ikezoe will partner the five-year-old, who has a choice of engagements between the BC Filly & Mare Sprint or the G1 BC Turf Sprint. More here
In other Japanese news, leading three-year-old filly Liberty Island will start hot favourite to complete Japan’s Triple Tiara on Sunday [Oct 15] in the Shuka Sho, the Japanese fillies’ St Leger over 2,000 metres (1m2f) at Kyoto racecourse. More here
Daring Tact, who was still unbeaten when she won all three Japanese fillies’ Classics in 2020, has been retired after an old injury flared up again. More here
Mike Repole’s blueprint for new owner-trainer association to run the sport
USA: Outspoken owner-breeder Mike Repole is calling for a new association of powerful owners and trainers to take a major role in the sport.
Repole outlined his vision in an interview with Nick Luck on NBC Sports at Keeneland on Sunday [Oct 8] "There is not anything in the sport that is good right now," he said.
“I think it is our responsibility. In other sports like the NFL or the NBA, the owners are very involved; they run the sport. Here we let everyone else run it for us … it is time the owners took back this game.” More here
Guineas favourite City Of Troy heads Dewhurst
GB: City Of Troy (Aidan O’Brien/Ryan Moore), favourite for next year’s Qipco 2,000 Guineas, is the star attraction on Saturday [Oct 14] at Newmarket’s Future Champions Day meeting.
The unbeaten son of Triple Crown winner Justify is odds-on favourite against a maximum of seven rivals in the Dewhurst Stakes, Britain’s G1 championship event for two-year-olds. City Of Troy is running for the first time since a sparkling 6½-length romp in G2 company in July. More here
Stablemate Luxembourg will miss the Champion Stakes on British Champions Day [Oct 21] owing to a foot infection; St Leger winner Continuous may deputise.
‘I will never give up’ – Mickaelle Michel fails first JRA exam
Japan: French star Mickaelle Michel has vowed to try again after failing the first JRA (Japan Racing Association) exam for a full-time jockey’s licence.
“I will never give up,” said the 27-year-old in a statement. “I am disappointed and sad – but it is my dream to become a JRA jockey, so I will work even harder to try for the exam next year.”
The first section of the procedure is a written exam in English designed to test knowledge of Japanese racing. More here
Elsewhere in racing …
GB: Grand National field reduced by six to 34 in raft of safety changes More here
GB: Major shake-up to 2024 fixture list with 170 ‘Premier’ racedays More here
Australia: A$20m Everest, world’s richest turf race, on Saturday [Oct 14] at Randwick More here
Australia: Zac Purton to ride Ebor winner Absurde in Melbourne Cup More here
Japan: Deep Impact eclipses Sunday Silence with record 2,751st victory More here
USA: Last year’s Kentucky Oaks winner Sacred Oath retired with injury More here
Bahrain: Nations Pride tops entries for $1m Bahrain International More here
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