New 2,000 Guineas favourite, Joao ‘Magic Man’ Moreira booked for Japanese contender, Horse of the Year pensioned from stud duties – all this and more in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Field Of Gold is new favourite for 2,000 Guineas
GB: Field Of Gold is the new 11-4 favourite for the Betfred 2,000 Guineas on May 3 after an impressive victory in the bet365 Craven Stakes at Newmarket on Wednesday [April 16].
The son of Kingman was in a different league to his rivals in the traditional G3 trial over the full Classic mile trip, in which he was brought between horses before extending away for an emphatic 3½-length victory. “I’ve not been as excited about a colt winning a trial in a long time,” said co-trainer Thady Gosden, whose father John has never won the 2,000 Guineas.
Owners Juddmonte now have an embarrassment of riches for the colts’ Classic, with Greenham Stakes winner Jonquil and promising Cosmic Year also possibles. More here
• German Derby winner Palladium joins Gosden team More here
Kentucky Derby: ‘Magic Man’ to ride Japanese hope Luxor Cafe
USA: Kentucky Derby news this week is headed by the booking of Joao ‘Magic Man’ Moreira (right) for leading Japanese contender Luxor Cafe. The Brazilian was in Classic-winning form at the weekend, when he partnered Embroidery to win the Oka Sho (Japanese 1,000 Guineas) at Hanshin.
How they qualified: watch all the videos as Derby field shapes up
In other developments, Tampa Bay Derby winner Owen Almighty is back in the mix, having originally been ruled out in favour of the Pat Day Mile. Javier Castellano, who scored on Mage, has been booked, while Manny Franco will partner East Avenue. More here
California Burrito has been added to the also-eligible list but River Thames will bypass Churchill Downs to concentrate on the Preakness. More here
The Pimlico Classic is also the target for Gosger, who won the G3 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland on Saturday [April 12], plus UAE Derby runner-up Heart Of Honor, trained in the UK by Jamie Osborne. More here
Mineshaft retired from stud duties
USA: Mineshaft, the 2003 Horse of the Year, has been pensioned from stud duties at the age of 26 and will spend the rest of his life on the farm at Lane’s End.
The son of the great A.P. Indy became a US champion as a four-year-old after being transferred from the UK to Neil Howard, for whom he won a series of graded stakes including four G1s – the Pimlico Special, Suburban, Woodward and Jockey Club Gold Cup.
Injured after the Jockey Club, he was retired to Lane’s End, where he spent his entire stallion career until his retirement at the end of the 2025 breeding season. His progeny include eight G1 winners headed by Saudi Cup winner Senor Buscador. More here
Silvestre de Sousa lands UAE jockeys’ title
UAE: Three-time British champion jockey Silvestre de Sousa has added the UAE jockeys’ title to his laurels. The much-travelled Brazilian rider secured his first championship in the region when he ended the UAE season with 54 winners, seven more than 12-time champion Tadhg O’Shea. The season ended on Saturday [April 12].
De Sousa, 44, secured the title mainly via a fruitful association with champion trainer Musabbeh Al Mheiri and Yas Racing, who won the owners’ title. More here
He will ride as de facto first jockey to Roger Varian’s stable in Britain this summer. More here
Trevor McCarthy confirms retirement aged 30
USA: Trevor McCarthy has announced his retirement at the age of 30, with 1,871 winners to his name. The jockey’s name has been notable only for its absence on racecards since he last appeared at Colonial Downs in August 2024.
Speaking to the Thoroughbred Daily News, McCarthy revealed that he has quit the saddle and moved into real estate – for mental health reasons.
“I had just been so unhappy for so long and was a miserable person to be around,” he told TDN. “That’s why I took the steps to retire. I don’t want to go back to being that person. Riding was bringing out the worst in me.” More here
Havana Grey colt breaks breeze-up record at 1,750,000 guineas
GB: Records were broken all over the place at the two-day Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale in Newmarket this week [April 15-16], with new marks established for highest price, average and turnover.
Wednesday’s second and final session was headed by the 1.750,000 guineas sale of a two-year-old colt by Havana Grey, knocked down to Alex Elliott for Amo Racing – and thereby eclipsing a new record set only 24 hours earlier when Anthony Stroud went to 1,400,000 guineas on behalf of Godolphin for an Acclamation colt.
The sale’s turnover of 18,804,000 guineas was an increase of 29% on last year’s sale, with the average and median up 25% and 15% respectively and 27 lots selling for 200,000gns or above. More here
Elsewhere in racing …
USA: Santa Anita to host Olympic equestrian events in 2028 More here
USA: Judge dismisses ‘Shoegate’ lawsuit More here
France: Death of former trainer Philippe Demercastel, aged 73 More here
Japan: Unbeaten Croix Du Nord heads Satsuki Sho (2,000 Guineas) More here
Hong Kong: Triple G1 winner California Spangle retired More here
Australia: Retirement of Coolmore sprinter Switzerland More here
GB: EBF announce £2 million support for racing in 2025 More here
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