As racing mourns the loss of one of the sport’s true giants, our weekly round-up also features news of high-profile defections from the Saudi Cup field and a record number of Japanese-trained horses among 373 Triple Crown nominations
Racing salutes HH Aga Khan, who has died aged 88
France: The Aga Khan, one of the world’s most influential owner-breeders for more than half a century, “passed away peacefully” on Tuesday [Feb 4] in Lisbon. He was 88.
HH Prince Karim, Aga Khan IV, was the spiritual leader of the Ismaili Muslims, having acceded to the role aged 20 in 1957 upon the death of his grandfather, Aga Khan III.
Steve Dennis: Ten of the best for the Aga Khan
Having assumed control of the family’s racing and breeding interests in 1960, he was responsible for a number of greats headed by the fabled Shergar, who still holds the record for the biggest winning margin in the Derby at Epsom. As an owner, he won the Derby five times altogether; he also won the Irish Derby six times.
However, the Aga’s primary operational base was France, where his iconic emerald green and red silks were carried by a multitude of Classic victories, among them eight winners of the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby). He owned four winners of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, namely Akiyda, Sinndar, Dalakhani and the unbeaten Zarkava. His three Breeders’ Cup winners all came in the Turf with Lashkari, Kalanisi and Tarnawa. More here
Tributes flooded in from across the racing world for the man described as a “true visionary and breeder extraordinaire” by Coolmore and a “true icon of the sport” by Godolphin. More here
Saudi Cup no-go for Sierra Leone and White Abarrio
USA: Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Sierra Leone will miss both the Saudi Cup and Dubai World Cup after a setback.
According to Thoroughbred Daily News, the four-year-old has been suffering from an abscess on his coronet band. “You could tell it was bothering him and something was going to come out of there and it did,” said trainer Chad Brown, who mentioned the Oaklawn Handicap as a revised target. More here
Pegasus World Cup winner White Abarrio will also bypass the Middle East to pursue a domestic campaign in 2025. He is likely to run next in the G3 Ghostzapper Stakes on the Florida Derby undercard at Gulfstream Park as a prep race for the Met Mile. The Whitney and BC Classic, which he won in 2023, are longer-term targets.
On the other hand, the Saudi Cup remains under consideration for Pegasus runner-up Locked. More here
Triple Crown nominations: record 69 horses from Japan
USA: Nominations for this year’s Triple Crown were released this week, with a total of 373 three-year-olds made eligible for the series, which kicks off with the $5m Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 3.
On the Kentucky Derby trail: Citizen Bull – Plenty to like but champion still lacks the ‘wow’ factor
A notable feature was a dramatic rise in the number of Japanese-trained nominations, with a record 69 entries on the list. This figure compares to last year’s all-time high of 47 Japanese entries, which included Derby third Forever Young.
Among trainers, dual Derby winner Todd Pletcher leads the way with 32 nominations, while Bob Baffert has 21, including leading fancies Barnes and champion two-year-old Citizen Bull, who made a winning seasonal debut last weekend at Santa Anita. More here
• Unbeaten Rated By Merit off Kentucky Derby trail with bone bruising More here
Amy Murphy makes French move for better prize-money
France: Up-and-coming trainer Amy Murphy is joining the exodus across the Channel by leaving Newmarket to set up in France on a full-time basis.
Speaking to the Racing Post, Murphy cited better prize-money as the main driving force for her move to France, where she earned £180,000 during a three-month spell with a satellite operation at Myriam Bollack-Badel’s yard at Lamorlaye, near Chantilly. She will rent 40 boxes at the same yard.
“Ever since we started training, the French prize-money has propped up the British side of things,” explained Murphy, 32. “Winning a race or two a month over there has paid the wages here, so it now makes sense to have a proper go at it while we're young and ambitious.” More here
G1-winning trainer Mick Halford to retire
Ireland: G1-winning trainer Mick Halford has announced he will retire before the start of the Irish turf season, bringing to an end a long career spanning more than 40 years.
Halford, who has been operating in partnership with Tracey Collins since 2023, trained more than 1,000 winners (under both codes. Highlights include when he saddled Sheikh Mohammed’s Casamento in 2010 to win the G1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster, plus Royal Ascot success with Portage (2016).
“Unfortunately our numbers aren’t what they once were and I’m not getting any younger,” he said. “So before the 2025 season gets underway it felt like the right time to bow out.” More here
Michael Cahill calls time on 45-year career
Australia: Five-time G1-winning jockey Michael Cahill (right) will bring the curtain down on a 45-year career with his final rides at the Gold Coast on Saturday [Feb 7]. Renowned as ‘racing’s nice guy’, the jockey is set to take up a new role coaching apprentices for Racing Queensland.
Cahill, 60, rode his first winner aged 15 on Lady Swan at Orange racecourse on the NSW Country circuit; major successes since then include the G1 Stradbroke, Queensland’s highest profile race, on St Basil (2005), plus four more G1s in Brisbane. More here
Elsewhere in racing …
USA: Former Santa Anita employee’s lawsuit alleges lying amid horse deaths More here
GB: Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly switched to James Owen More here
Australia: Mr Brightside bids for ninth G1 win in CF Orr More here
South Africa: Jay Peg trainer Herman Brown set to resume career after 12-year hiatus More here
Dubai: Ouzo and Osborne aim to shine again at Meydan More here
Bahrain: Phantom Flight (George Scott/Callum Shepherd) wins Crown Prince’s Cup More here
Malaysia: Jockey handed one-year ban after testing positive for crystal meth More here
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Cup update on Facteur Cheval More here
India: Derby delight for Ranquelino (Darius Byramji/A Sandesh) More here
New Zealand: NZTR appoints new CEO More here
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