Shock retirement of world #2 Imperatriz, Tom Albertrani’s final runner and significant Hong Kong milestones feature in our weekly digest – plus tragic news from Japan
Superstar sprinter Imperatriz retired
New Zealand: Ten-time G1 winner Imperatriz, the world’s leading sprinter according to Thoroughbred Racing Commentary’s Global Rankings, has been retired.
Te Akau Racing’s five-year-old, who sits at #2 overall on TRC Rankings, will take up broodmare duties in the spring after winning 19 of 27 career starts for trainer Mark Walker.
Partnered by jockey Opie Bosson, the daughter of I Am Invincible won six G1s in 2023 – more than any other horse on the planet – and has won five G1s during the current Australian season, including the Darley Champions Sprint and Lightning Stakes.
Te Akau principal David Ellis said a veterinary inspection had led to her retirement, saying: “The indications are that another high-level racing preparation would not be in her best interests, so whilst sad, the decision is very straightforward.”
“Her tenacity, courage and sheer determination, combined with the sweetest nature you could imagine, have certainly won the hearts of fans worldwide.” More here
Santa Anita six-timer for Frankie Dettori
USA: Frankie Dettori enjoyed the best day of his successful winter stint in southern California on Saturday [April 6] when he rode six consecutive winners on the Santa Anita Derby card.
Dettori, 53, shocked the racing world last year when he postponed his intended retirement midway through his supposed ‘farewell tour’ to prolong his career in the US, where he won last month’s G1 Santa Anita Handicap on Newgate.
Highlight of Dettori’s high-profile six-timer was the surprise Santa Anita Oaks success of Nothing Like You, after which he treated the crowd to a flying dismount. “I don't know how to put it into words,” said the rider. “Is it real? Am I dreaming? Is this really happening? It's incredible. I just don't know what to say.”
The record for wins on a single Santa Anita card is seven, by Laffit Pincay on March 14, 1987. Dettori was only a neck away from equalling the feat when Imagination was beaten a neck by Stronghold in the Santa Anita Derby. More here
Japan mourns jockey Kota Fujioka
Japan: The tragic news feared by the Japanese racing community came on Thursday [April 11] when the JRA announced that jcokey Kota Fujioka (right) had succumbed to the injuries he suffered from a fall at Hanshin on April 6.
Fujioka, 35, suffered severe head and chest injuries and had been unconscious since the fall, in which he was dislodged from his mount on Hanshin's back straight.
Fujioka, who rode a career total of 803 JRA winners, stood tenth in this year’s title race with 28 victories. He won the G1 Mile Championship in 2023 on Namur. More here
Bernardini trainer Tom Albertrani retires
USA: Tom Albertrani, the trainer of brilliant 2006 Preakness winner Bernardini, announced his retirement on Saturday [April 6].
The former jockey was Cigar’s regular work-rider during the horse’s early time at Bill Mott’s stable before Albertrani moved to Godolphin in the Dubai, where he was Saeed Bin Suroor’s assistant during the glory years.
He returned to the US in 2003 as trainer to Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley team, for whom he saddled Bernardini to a three-year-old championship winning the Preakness, Jim Dandy, Travers and Jockey Club Gold Cup in 2006.
After two decades as a trainer his in own right, the 66-year-old saddled his final runner with Sterling Silver, fourth in the G1 Madison at Keeneland. He retires with 624 winners to his name. More here
Reduced safety limit for Grand National
GB: The Grand National, the world’s leading steeplechase, takes place on Saturday [April 13] at Aintree with a reduced field of only 34 for safety reasons.
The reduction in field size is just one of a number of measures introduced over recent years for equine welfare reasons, which have seen the fearsome Aintree fences modified and the distance cut to 4m2½f.
A remarkable 26 of the 34 runners for the £1m showpiece are trained in Ireland, continuing a marked trend that raised a number of questions at the recent Cheltenham Festival, which was dominated by the omnipotent Willie Mullins stable. Mullins saddles eight in the Aintree spectacular – including three of the top six in the betting – the same number as compatriot Gordon Elliott. Favourite, though, is UK-trained Corach Rambler as he bids for a repeat success. More here
The Grand National comes around only days after Aintree’s owners, the Jockey Club, sparked anger by announcing prize-money cuts set to result in purse reductions totaling £1.5m in the remainder of 2024. More here
Major Hong Kong milestones for Tony Cruz and Zac Purton
Hong Kong: The HK racing scene has been marked by some significant milestones in the last week. Legendary former jockey Tony Cruz became only the third trainer to reach the 1,500-winner landmark in the region when he saddled Beauty Joy to win the G2 Chairman’s Trophy at Sha Tin on Sunday [April 7].
Only John Moore and John Size have trained more HK winners than Cruz, 67, a former six-time champion jockey in HK. More here
On Wednesday night [April 10], six-time champion Zac Purton continued his relentless pursuit of Douglas Whyte’s all-time record of 1,813 wins when he partnered his 1,700th HK winner as part of a treble at Happy Valley. More here
Lucky Sweynesse, the star HK sprinter who won the G2 Sprint Cup on Sunday, has fractured a cannon bone and will require surgery. More here
Elsewhere in racing …
USA: Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Master Of The Seas back at Keeneland More here
USA: Trainer Phil Schoenthal provisionally suspended for two methamphetamine positives More here
Japan: Classic season kicks off as Stellenbosch claims Oka Sho More here
GB: British racing launches equine welfare platform More here
Australia: Australia: VRC CEO Steve Rosich quits after four years at the helm More here
Australia: Waller eyes sixth Queen Elizabeth Stakes with Via Sistina More here
Hong Kong: World #1 Golden Sixty heads FWD Champions Day runners More here
• View all previous editions of Seven Days In Racing
View the latest TRC Global Rankings for horses / jockeys / trainers / sires