The final leg of the Triple Crown, plans for Epsom hero City Of Troy plus former world #1s Golden Sixty and Contrail feature in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Sierra Leone tops Belmont Stakes – at Saratoga
USA: Sierra Leone is favoured to avenge his narrow Kentucky Derby defeat at the hands of Mystik Dan as the Triple Crown concludes with a strong-looking edition of the Belmont Stakes.
The ‘Test of the Champion’, which also features Preakness winner Seize The Grey, is the $2m highlight of a four-day Belmont Stakes Festival held this year at Saratoga while its traditional home is being renovated. The race’s distance has also been cut to a mile and a quarter owing to the temporary move.
Flavien Prat takes over from Tyler Gaffalione on Sierra Leone in the Belmont, beaten a nose by Mystik Dan after a late charge at Churchill Downs and 9-5 favorite on the morning line ahead of unbeaten Mindframe, who represents Saratoga legend Todd Pletcher. Mystik Dan is rated an 8-1 shot.
Among other highlights on a spectacular weekend featuring eight G1 events are a clash between Breeders’ Cup Classic hero White Abarrio and Pegasus winner National Treasure in the Met Mile plus the latest appearance of Kentucky Oaks winner Thorpedo Anna in the Acorn Stakes and champion mare Idiomatic in the Ogden Phipps. More here
Curragh or Sandown next for City Of Troy
Ireland: The Coolmore team are considering the Irish Derby or the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown Park for the next racecourse outing of impressive Epsom Derby winner City Of Troy.
Further down the line, a trip to Saratoga and a switch to dirt for the Travers Stakes is still a possibility. “Obviously it’s between here and Sandown, I’d imagine,” said trainer Aidan O’Brien, speaking to RacingTV at the Curragh on Wednesday [June 5].
“We’ve three months to Saratoga if he was to go there, they are the three races,” he added. “I’m still waiting on the lads, they are still dwelling over it. When they decide what to do we’ll go with the plan.” More here
• O’Brien-trained Dee Stakes winner Capulet has been sold to Hong Kong. More here
Multi-million-dollar filly switched to US
Australia: Tutta La Vita, a three-year-old filly bought by John Stewart’s Resolute Racing for A$3.2m ($2.12m/£1.66m), will continue her career in the US. The daughter of The Autumn Sun has been scratched from the G1 Queensland Oaks on Saturday [June 8] and will exit trainer Chris Waller’s stable with an eye on the Breeders’ Cup. More here
John Stewart: I want to have the best broodmare band on the planet
• Royal Ascot unlikely for Chain Of Lightning after sale More here
Arc plans for French Derby winner Look De Vega
France: Look De Vega is likely to be targeted for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe after his impressive victory in the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) at Chantilly on Sunday [June 2].
Unbeaten in three starts, Look De Vega scored by two lengths at Chantilly under jockey Ronan Thomas for the father-and-son training partnership of Carlos & Yann Lerner. “I think he can stay the mile and a half, absolutely no doubt,” said Yann Lerner. “The Arc can be a very tricky race and he can adapt to those conditions – he is a horse that ticks all the right boxes.”
Look De Vega is rated 7-1 second favourite for the Arc with European bookmakers behind market leader City Of Troy. More here
Golden Sixty could stay in training
Hong Kong: The career of Golden Sixty, the world’s all-time leading money earner, may not be over with trainer Francis Lui not yet ready to make any retirement decision on the former world #1.
When the 10-time G1 winner returned from an injury setback to finish only fourth in the Champions Mile in April, Lui indicated his superstar had “probably” run his last race.
However, the trainer told the South China Morning Post that Golden Sixty will stay in light training until next season. “He’s physically great and mentally he really likes to race – he really enjoys it,” Lui said.
“I think the [Hong Kong] Mile is the main target if I decide to run him again. We’ll see, it’s no harm to give him a warm-up race as well.” More here
Hall of Fame recognition for Contrail
Japan: Triple Crown hero Contrail and 2004 Derby winner King Kamehameha have been inducted into the Japanese Hall of Fame.
Contrail went undefeated through the Triple Crown in 2020 and ended his career with victory in the Japan Cup in 2021. Now seven and a Shadai stallion, he enjoyed seven weeks as world #1 according to TRC Global Rankings.
King Kamehameha won the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) in 2004 and was a leading sire before his death in 2019. More here
Elsewhere in racing …
USA: Metformin suspensions deferred as HISA seeks review More here
Japan: Ramjet team eye world travel after Tokyo Derby win More here
GB: Irish Guineas runner-up Haatem heads Wathnan spending spree More here
GB: Jockey Club exit for chief executive Nevin Truesdale More here
Hong Kong: Douglas Whyte hails retired chanpion Russian Emperor More here
Dubai: 2023 Saudi Derby winner Commissioner King joins Bhupat Seemar More here
France: Arqana signs deal to support aftercare efforts of Au-Dela des Pistes More here More here
Australia: Kylie Rogers appointed VRC CEO More here
• View all previous editions of Seven Days In Racing
View the latest TRC Global Rankings for horses / jockeys / trainers / sires