Welcome to 2022 Kentucky Oaks Prospect Snapshots, where periodically we’ll profile a contender for the May 6 Longines Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, the female equivalent of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve.
Month: February 2022
Full Examination For Mishriff After Saudi Cup No Show
Prince Faisal's globetrotting multiple Group 1 winner Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) will undergo a thorough examination once he returns to the UK, according to co-trainer Thady Gosden, who trains with his father John. The 2021 G1 Juddmonte International and G1 Dubai Sheema Classic hero was attempting to become the world's richest racehorse with a title defence of the $20-million Saudi Cup, which was elevated to Group 1 status this term. However, the 2020 G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero failed to fire in Riyadh on Sunday and trailed home last of 14. After his International win last summer, he was fourth in the G1 QIPCO Champion S. at Ascot on Oct. 16.
Gosden said on Monday, “He was hard up on the pace early and he just stopped coming round the bend. He's flying back to the UK today so he'll have full check-up with the vet when he gets home.”
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National Steeplechase Association Has 16 Meets On Tap For Spring Calendar
In a positive sign that the sporting life is one step closer to a return to normalcy, the National Steeplechase Association has a full slate of 16 race meets scheduled for this spring, the most since the pre-pandemic 2019 season.
Overall, 82 races, worth $2.33 million in purses, have been carded across seven states.
The season begins on March 26 at Aiken's brand new course and location in South Carolina, and ends at another new course, the redeveloped Fair Hill Races in Elkton, Md., on May 28. All but two of the meets will be run on a Saturday; Cheshire and Winterthur will take place on a Sunday.
Meets will share a race date on four occasions: My Lady's Manor and Tryon Block House (April 16); Grand National and Middleburg (April 23); Foxfield, Maryland Hunt Cup, and Queen's Cup (April 30); and Iroquois and Willowdale (May 14). Two meets feature purses topping $300,000 – the Virginia Gold Cup ($390,000) and the Iroquois ($360,000).
The season's stellar event remains the $150,000 Iroquois in Nashville, the only Grade 1 of the spring, a target for the sport's two marquee names, the recently crowned Eclipse-Award winner, The Mean Queen, and her rival Snap Decision.
Other highlights include the Temple Gwathmey at Middleburg and David Semmes Memorial at Great Meadow, both Grade 2 open hurdle stakes each worth $75,000. For 2022, the Carolina Cup has been restored to stakes status, too, this year a $50,000 contest for novice hurdlers. The return of the Fair Hill Races also marks the return of the Valentine Memorial, which will be run as an open hurdle stake with a $50,000 purse.
Timber stars have eight opportunities to grab stakes glory. The two richest events, the historic Maryland Hunt Cup on April 30, and the Virginia Gold Cup on May 7, are worth $100,000. That reflects a substantial bump up from 2021, when purses were slashed due to economic hardships wrought by Covid.
The complete condition book can be downloaded by clicking HERE.
The post National Steeplechase Association Has 16 Meets On Tap For Spring Calendar appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
First Four Mares In Foal To Lope Y Fernandez
Group winner Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) has had his first quartet of mares pronounced in foal, The National Stud announced on Monday. Happy Holly (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), a half-sister to Group 1 winners Lily Of The Valley (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}) and Mubtaahij (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is one of the foursome. Other mares in foal to the G3 Round Tower S. hero are Seven Empires (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), herself a half-sister to four black-type winners; and Spain Blues (Fr) (Anabaa Blue {GB}), the dam of G2 Rockfel S. winner Spain Burg (Fr) (Sageburg {Ire}). The five-time Group 1 placed stallion stands for £8,500 in 2022.
“Lope Y Fernandez has taken to his new job very well and the support he has received from breeders has been fantastic,” said Lord Grimthorpe. “He was a talented racehorse who is an excellent physical type, and given the quality of mares visiting him this year we are optimistic about his future.”
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