Manny Franco and Mike Smith come in for big rides in Kentucky Derby prep, favorite The Lion In Winter doubtful for Newmarket Classic, City Of Troy shuttle plans – plus more in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Florida Derby: Injuries mean new jockeys for Sovereignty and Madaket Road
USA: All change in jockey plans for the Florida Derby on Saturday [March 29], where leading Kentucky Derby hope Sovereignty will be ridden by Manny Franco and Mike Smith partners the Bob Baffert-trained Madaket Road.
Franco stands in for the injured Junior Alvarado, who fractured a shoulder blade in a fall on Sunday’s card at Gulfstream Park, while Madaket Road’s intended rider Tyler Gaffalione is sidelined indefinitely after breaking his left ankle in an incident prior to the start of a race on Wednesday.
Godolphin’s Sovereignty, who won the Fountain of Youth on his most recent start, has drawn the outside post in gate ten for the $1m contest. If you had given me my druthers, I probably would have picked something inside of that, but we can’t change it,” said trainer Bill Mott. More here
Impressive Baffert-trained maiden winner Cornucopian (John Velazquez) is favored ahead of Rebel Stakes winner Coal Battle in the $1.5m Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park. John Velazquez takes the reins on the much-touted son of Into Mischief, who starts from the outside post in a nine-runner field. More here
Guineas doubts surround The Lion in Winter and Lake Victoria
GB: With the British Flat turf season due to start at Doncaster on Saturday [March 29], Aidan O’Brien has thrown a spanner in the works ahead of the first Classics of the year at Newmarket on May 3-4.
The Ballydoyle trainer revealed this week that the longtime favourites for both Guineas – The Lion In Winter and Breeders’ Cup heroine Lake Victoria – in the Betfred 2000 Guineas and 1000 Guineas respectively.
“The Lion In Winter is in good shape but he took a little bit of time to come right so he’s a little bit behind the others,” said O’Brien, speaking to the Racing Post. “Whether he’ll make it in time for the Guineas, I’m not sure. There has to be a doubt.” More here
Stablemates Expanded and Twain are now heading the betting for the colts’ Classic, while O’Brien also expressed doubts about Lake Victoria for the fillies’ version.
“I’m not sure she'll make the Guineas, but we're training her for it,” he said. “If she doesn't, she'll go to the Athasi Stakes at the Curragh the day after.” More here
Fierceness set for Aqueduct return – and White Abarrio back at weekend
USA: Todd Pletcher has outlined plans for Breeders' Cup Classic runner-up Fierceness, who is set to make his four-year-old debut in the G3 Westchester at Aqueduct on May 4 after a 60-day recovery period following a surgical procedure on a hind ankle.
“Hopefully, that will be a lead-in to the Met Mile,” said the trainer, speaking to Thoroughbred Daily News. “He’s come back very well. The important Grade 1s this summer and fall are what we are targeting.” More here
Also targeting the Met Mile is Pegasus World Cup winner White Abarrio, who runs on Saturday [March 29] in the G3 Ghostzapper at Gulfstream Park. “This race is at home. It makes sense from a timing standpoint,” said trainer Saffie Joseph. More here
City Of Troy set to shuttle to Australia for stud duties
Ireland: City Of Troy, the European Horse of the Year for 2024, will shuttle to Australia for the 2025 southern hemisphere breeding season.
The Derby-winning son of Triple Crown hero Justify is currently standing at Coolmore’s main Irish base for a first-season fee of €75,000. As such, breeders down under are set for a bargain, as his fee has been set at A$49,500 (£24,300/€30,000). More here
Leading racemare Emily Upjohn has been sold to Japan’s Northern Farm, who intend to breed her to brilliant US champion Flightline. More here
Uproar as meeting is truncated amid jockeys’ protest
South Africa: A meeting at Durbanville on Wednesday [March 26] had to be called off after only three races amid a jockeys’ protest against a suspension handed down to senior rider Grant Van Niekerk.
The jockey had been suspended for 21 days and fined SAR50,000 ($2,700/£2,100) on Tuesday for alleged interference in a race at Kenilworth on March 21.
Van Niekerk, who had pleaded not guilty, rode the winner of the second race at Durbanville and launched into a criticism of the NHA (National Horseracing Authority) in a post-race interview with GallopTV. “I just think it’s a waste of time being a jockey in South Africa,” he said. “With the way they are having us with the fines, it’s unacceptable. In my case I’m as innocent as can be.”
NHA chief executive Vee Moodley immediately suspended Van Niekerk pending another inquiry – prompting a jockeys’ protest and the cancellation of the last five scheduled races on an eight-race card. More here
History maker: Kyoko Maekawa is first female to train JRA winner
Japan: History was made in Japan on Sunday [March 23] when Kyoko Maekawa became the first female trainer to saddle a winner at a JRA (Japan Racing Association) venue.
Maekawa, the first female to hold a training licence in JRA history, hit the mark with three-year-old colt Mitono Orfe in Race 4 at Hanshin. Though she already had a winner to her name at NAR venue Kochi, this was her breakthrough on the main circuit.
“I was well aware that this could be trainer Maekawa’s first JRA win,” said winning jockey Akira Sugawara. “I’m grateful for the opportunity and thrilled that we were able to deliver the result.” More here
Elsewhere in racing …
USA: NBC Sports and Breeders’ Cup extend partnership to 2030 More here
Australia: Pride Of Jenni tops Australian Cup More here
Australia: Vin Cox resigns as Yulong Investments general manager More here
GB: BHA introduces gene-doping testing programme More here
GB: 1,000 up for Hollie Doyle More here
GB: Eight-month suspended sentence for Neil Callan over social media posts More here
GB: 39-day whip ban for jockey Nicola Currie More here
Hong Kong: Sha Tin treble for Richard Kingscote More here
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