Race Tech and Chelmsford City Racecourse have signed a long term extension to their service agreement that began in 2017, the two companies announced on Monday. The outside broadcaster and technical service provider to racing for Chelmsford City will provide key race day services including outside broadcast, photo finish, starting stalls and public address, as well as racecourse tv production, additional technical support and multimedia enhancements.
“John Bozza, Chief Executive at RaceTech said, “I am delighted we have signed this agreement that supports our vision to be the technical partner of choice for UK horse racing. RaceTech has unrivalled experience in the delivery of these essential race day services and we look forward to continuing and growing, our long standing relationship with Chelmsford City Racecourse.”
Fraser Garrity, Racecourse Manager, Chelmsford City Racecourse said, “We have a busy racing schedule at CCR and it’s vital that our raceday operations run smoothly. So, we’re very happy to extend our partnership with RaceTech and will continue to benefit from their expertise across a wide range of raceday services.”
In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for the first meeting of the new year to be held Tuesday at Nakayama Racecourse:
Tuesday, January 5, 2021 2nd-NKY, ¥9,680,000 ($94k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m AMERICAN YELL (c, 3, Tapit–Sindy With An S, by Broken Vow), a $700K Keeneland September purchase by owner Katsumi Yoshizawa, is a full-brother to SW & GSP My Miss Tapit and the GSP duo of I’ll Wrap It Up and Rattataptap, and is the 19-10 favorite to improve off a strong runner-up effort over this course and distance when last seen Dec. 13 (video, gate 12). Yoshizawa, who campaigns 2019 Triple Crown participant Master Fencer (Jpn) (Just A Way {Jpn}), has been represented by four Tapit winners in Japan, including the listed-placed American Seed. B-Gainesway Thoroughbreds Ltd (KY)
3rd-NKY, ¥11,400,000 ($110k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1800m WELL SNIPER (f, 3, Violence–Down the Well {Ire}, by Mujadil) is the latest to make the races for her dam, whose three winners from as many to hit the track include SW Aqua Frio (Uncle Mo) and Karak (Karakontie {Jpn}), the latter of which broke her maiden at first asking sprinting on turf at Belmont before winning the 2019 Tyro S. on the grass and the 2020 Cincinnati Trophy on the Polytrack.. Well Sniper was bought back on a bid of $37K at KEENOV in 2018 and fetched $35K at KEEJAN a couple of months later. B-Parrish Hill Farm & Amanda Roach Cole (KY)
8th-NKY, ¥21,000,000 ($204k), Allowance, 4yo/up, 1200m SUI (f, 4, Candy Ride {Arg}–Eltimaas, by Ghostzapper), the half-sister to champion and MGISW Drefong (Gio Ponti), doubled her win tally when taking out an Oct. 3 allowance over track and trip first off a six-month absence before finishing down the field in her last visit to the post Oct. 25. A $300K KEESEP yearling turned $675K OBS March breezer, Sui is out of a half-sister to champion Action This Day (Kris S.). B-Machmer Hall, Carrie & Craig Brogden (KY)
10th-NKY, Junior Cup-Listed, ¥38,370,000 ($372k), 3yo, 1600mT ASCALON (c, 3, Speightstown–Coco As In Chanel, by Awesome Again) validated 4-5 favoritism when breaking his maiden at first asking going 1200 meters at Sapporo Aug. 22 (see below, gate 6), but was well-beaten in his first try against winners three weeks later and resumes here. The stakes-winning Coco As In Chanel was purchased by SF Bloodstock and Newgate Farm for $150K in foal to Violence at KEENOV in 2018 and produced a filly by Newgate’s Russian Revolution (Aus) in 2020. B-Heider Family Stable (KY)
Neither of Godolphin's two Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup aspirants based at the Fair Grounds, Maxfield nor Mystic Guide, will make the Jan. 23 race at Gulfstream Park, reports the Daily Racing Form. Both colts came down with minor respiratory illnesses and missed enough training to take them out of Pegasus consideration.
The undefeated Grade 1-winner Maxfield, who returned off a seven-month layoff to win the Dec. 19 Tenacious Stakes at the Fair Grounds, returned to regular training on Monday. Trainer Brendan Walsh expects the 4-year-old to be ready for racing in early to mid-February.
“Some horse came down with something when the temperature dropped here,” Walsh told DRF. “The only remedy is to back off on them. He showed some early signs, so we backed off. It's curtailed any aspirations of going for a race like the Pegasus. The good news is he's fine.”
Mystic Guide, trained by Mike Stidham, finished second last out in the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup behind Happy Saver. Stidham said the colt is still coughing, but is back to tack walking in the shed row and will likely be pointed to a stakes race at the Fair Grounds or at Oaklawn in the coming months.
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