October, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Obese Horses More Likely To Move Unevenly

In an effort to determine how added weight affects equine fitness and performance, Dr. Anna Jansson and a research team from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Hólar University published a study in Physiological Reports in which horses were fed controlled diets to add or restrict weight gain. The scientists used nine Icelandic horses that they split into two groups. Changes in body weight and fat were induced in the group being fed a high-energy diet for 36 days.

During the last seven days of the study period, researchers recorded body condition score and weight, and percentage of body fat was estimated with an ultrasound. Each horse was then given an exercise test on a treadmill and a field test that mimicked a competition, which was scored by judges. Blood samples were taken, as well as heart rate, temperature and respiratory rate.

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On the treadmill test, the horses that had gained weight had a higher heart rate and temperature, and heavier respiration. Blood tests showed that heavier horses had lower physiological fitness.

The team also found that overweight horses showed a marked gait asymmetry compared with leaner horses, as was shown both by sensors placed on the horses while they moved. The heavier horses moved most asymmetrically on the day after their field test.

Judges overseeing the field test also scored heavier horses lower than their leaner counterparts, suggesting that weight affects performance.

The authors conclude that higher body fat and body weight lowers equine performance, made horses move more unevenly, and delayed their recovery from exercise.

Read the full study here.

Win And You’re In: Baaeed Faces Off With Palace Pier In Queen Elizabeth II

Rising one-mile star Baaeed will face by far the toughest test of his career to date when he bids to stretch his unbeaten run to six in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO), which on the tenth anniversary of Frankel's memorable QIPCO British Champions Day debut in the same race has attracted a line-up worthy of the occasion. The QEII is a “Win and You're In” race for the Breeders' Cup Mile on Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

The William Haggas-trained 3-year-old made his racecourse debut only four months ago but he is already a Group 1 winner in the Prix Du Moulin at ParisLongchamp and is disputing favoritism with last year's champion miler Palace Pier in a line-up which also includes last year's winner The Revenant, this year's QIPCO 2000 Guineas runner-up Master Of The Seas, and top-class fillies Alcohol Free, Lady Bowthorpe, and Mother Earth.

Haggas has been delighted with Baaeed and said: “With the likes of Palace Pier and Alcohol Free in the field it could be the race of the day, but Baaeed's preparation has gone well and he's in good shape. He's a nice horse and he's come a long way in a short space of time.”

John Gosden sounds just as pleased with Palace Pier, who is already a five-time Group 1 winner, including twice at Ascot, but met his only defeat in a ten-race career when third here 12 months ago.

He said: “It was frustrating when Palace Pier had to miss the Sussex Stakes with that blood disorder but he has since won the Prix Jacques Le Marois and it was always the intention after that to wait for this race.

“He's been training well and he'll appreciate what will hopefully be nicer ground than last year. A little over a week ago it was bottomless, and while we don't expect it to dry out to good to firm, it won't be like that.”

The Revenant is peaking at the right time once again judging from his fast-finishing short neck second behind Real World in the Prix Daniel Wildenstein at ParisLongchamp last weekend, when having his first race since May. However, drying ground could be a concern.

In an interview for QIPCO British Champions Series last week, trainer Francis-Henri Graffard said: “Two years ago on his first attempt he ran a fantastic race to finish second to a good horse (King Of Change), and when we went back last year we were very confident because he had come on a lot for his run at Longchamp. He had his ground and he was spot on, and he delivered, which was very good. If he has his ground again he will be ready to defend his title.”

The Coronation Stakes and Qatar Sussex Stakes winner Alcohol Free missed last weekend's Kingdom Of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes to wait for this, and if successful again here the prize money would provide a massive boost to Andrew Balding's hopes of winning a first trainers' title after he lost the lead to Charlie Appleby at Newmarket last weekend during the Dubai Future Champions Festival.

Balding said: “The QEII has always been the aim for Alcohol Free. We sidestepped the Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket as we felt that it might be a bit tight going to Ascot oly two weeks later, and she seems in great form.”

Benbatl will also merit respect. Saeed Bin Suroor's globe-trotting seven-year-old has been a Group 1 winner at racecourses as far afield as Caulfield in Australia, Meydan in the UAE, and a little closer to home in Munich, Germany. His recent Newmarket Group 2 defeat of Pogo suggests his enthusiasm is undimmed.

The ten confirmations for the race are completed by Njord, who has been Group-placed on several occasions since winning the Balmoral Handicap (Sponsored By QIPCO) for Jessica Harrington on last year's card and 2019 Queen Anne Stakes winner Lord Glitters.

Full entries:

Benbatl (GB)
Lord Glitters (FR)
Njord (IRE)
Palace Pier (GB)
The Revenant (GB)
Baaeed (GB)
Lady Bowthorpe (GB)
Master of The Seas (IRE)
Alcohol Free (IRE)
Mother Earth (IRE)

The post Win And You’re In: Baaeed Faces Off With Palace Pier In Queen Elizabeth II appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Addeybb On Course To Bid For Repeat In QIPCO Champion Stakes

Last year's winner Addeybb is firmly on course for a bid to become the second dual winner of the QIPCO Champion Stakes since it was moved to Ascot in 2011 as the centerpiece of QIPCO British Champions Day. The Champion Stakes is a “Win and You're In” for the Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 6.

Addeybb is set to face stellar opposition, with Cazoo Derby and King George VI & Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes winner Adayar still a possible runner, alongside Juddmonte International winner Mishriff and the winners of many more of the world's top middle-distance races.

William Haggas, who also plans to run the talented but frustrating Al Aasy and the supplemented three-year-old Dubai Honour, reports the popular 7-year-old “in as good shape as we could possibly have him”. If successful he would become the Champion Stakes' oldest winner since 1887, when Bendigo won a Newmarket running of the race at the same age.

Addeybb, who was also second to Magical two years ago, is among 14 possibles for the race, 10 of whom are already winners at Group 1 level.

Haggas said: “We are very pleased with Addeybb's condition. We'd like rain for him, and the more the better, but it doesn't look as if we are going to get it. I'd be surprised if it was quick ground though, as it was so wet there at the last meeting, and he'll run.

“I'd have loved him to have had a run, as it's a top, top race, but he goes well fresh and he can win off a lay-off. His last two weeks have been really good.”

He added: “Dubai Honour is a nice young horse who has won two Group 2s. He's doing very well physically and he's a pretty useful horse. This will be a big rise in class for him but we've got nothing to lose. I'm running Al Aasy too, and he's not without hope, dropping back in trip. Everyone questions him bar me, but he's a very, very talented horse.''

Mishriff was down the field 12 months ago but has had a massive year, taking his earnings past the £11m mark with wins in the Saudi Cup, the Dubai Sheema Classic and the Juddmonte International as well as places behind St Mark's Basilica in the Coral-Eclipse and Adayar in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes.

John Gosden, who is now in partnership with son Thady and is looking to add to his two runaway wins with Cracksman, has freshened Mishriff up since his stunning six-length defeat of Alenquer and Love in the Juddmonte International at York and is pleased to see the ground drying up.

Gosden said: “We've been happy with Mishriff since York and we are looking forward to running him again. It's always one race at a time, but we wanted to space his races in case we go on to run later in the year, possibly at the Breeders' Cup.

“It looks like being a good race and we should get better ground than last year, when he really didn't like it. He can handle soft, but last year it became specialists' ground. Full marks to all of the winners that day, but it's hard to quicken on that stuff.”

A decision upon the participation of Adayar is unlikely to be made until later in the week, but the Charlie Appleby-trained Qatar Prix De L'Arc De Triomphe fourth would be a fascinating contender for Godolphin, who were last successful with Farhh in 2013. Only Sir Ivor (1968) and New Approach (2008) have won both the Derby and the Champion Stakes in more than 50 years.

Aidan O'Brien, who won with Magical two years ago, can choose between two outstanding fillies in Love and Snowfall, both of whom are dual Classic winners, but they have also been confirmed for the QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes. O'Brien has also confirmed his Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes winner Bolshoi Ballet.

Other possibles include the Irish 2000 Guineas winner Mac Swiney and the high-class French three-year-old Sealiway, who was one place behind Adayar in the Arc, having won a Group 1 on the same weekend 12 months previously, plus Qatar Nassau Stakes winner Lady Bowthorpe, who has also been confirmed for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO).

Full Entries

Addeybb (IRE)
Al Aasy (IRE)
Euchen Glen (GB)
Helvic Dream (IRE)
Mishriff (IRE)
Lady Bowthorpe (GB)
Love (IRE)
Adayar (IRE)
Bolshoi Ballet (IRE)
Dubai Honour (IRE)
Foxes Tales (IRE)
Mac Swiney (IRE)
Sealiway (FR)
Snowfall (JPN)

The post Addeybb On Course To Bid For Repeat In QIPCO Champion Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Run for the Ribbons Hosting Chili Food Fight Fundraiser

Run for the Ribbons will hold the first annual Food Fight Fundraiser at Cedar Lock Farm Oct. 23 at 5 p.m., featuring a chili cook-off, live music, raffles, and door prizes. All proceeds go to the charitable organization RFTR to fund off-track Thoroughbred retraining and rehoming programs.

Taster Tickets can be purchased online at runfortheribbons.org for $10 each and include a sample cup of each chili, one vote card, bread, one beverage, and access to raffles, including a 50/50 cash raffle. Tasters will vote for the Food Fight Champion after sampling each recipe and the winner will be crowned first ever Food Fight Champion. Chefs can also enter online for $25 per recipe for the chance to win $100 and an award. Vendors may purchase a 10×10 setup space for $25. Chefs may purchase a combo ticket, which includes a vendor space and recipe entry for $40. General admission tickets with no taster option are free of charge. There will be other food items for purchase on site.

Guests can expect to enjoy an early evening of food, fun and live music, provided by 2019 Levy County Fair Battle of the Bands winners Still Lit, who will be performing a family friendly Halloween-inspired set. Costumes are also encouraged and a prize will be awarded to the best costume of the event. Raffles will include cash prizes and also items donated by local businesses and memorabilia from famous racehorses. This event is BYOB and encourages bringing your own lawn seating.

Run for the Ribbons, Inc. is a charitable organization focusing on Thoroughbred aftercare, raising awareness of the talents of Thoroughbreds as sport horses, and creating a widespread demand for these exceptional athletes by hosting Thoroughbred-centric events in Florida. Run for the Ribbons also retrains, rehabilitates, and rehomes OTTBs, ensuring a smooth transition from the racetrack to their next career.

The post Run for the Ribbons Hosting Chili Food Fight Fundraiser appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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