June, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Alec Head, Patriarch of French Racing, Dies at 97

Alec Head, the legendary breeder, former jockey and trainer, and scion of one of the most notable dynasties in French racing, has died at the age of 97.

The owner of the esteemed Haras du Quesnay in Normandy, Head's father and grandfather were also both trainers and jockeys, and his children Christiane (Criquette) and Freddy, as well as grandson Christopher, all followed the family tradition into the training ranks in France.

Of the many top horses associated with the Head family and Haras du Quesnay, the most recent major star was the dual Arc heroine Treve (Fr) (Motivator {GB}), who was initially trained for her parents by Criquette Head before the filly's sale to Al Shaqab Racing.

This story is being updated.

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Goodwood and York On Agenda For Top-Rated Baaeed

William Haggas has confirmed that Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), the top-rated horse in the world this year on 128, remains on course to reappear in the G1 Qatar Sussex S. followed by a potential step up to ten furlongs for the first time in the G1 Juddmonte International S.

Breaking off from a short holiday to speak to the Nick Luck Daily podcast on Wednesday, Haggas said of Baaeed's future engagements at Goodwood and York, “I think that's the obvious route. We haven't discussed it fully but it seems the obvious thing. He's got to race because he's four years old and there aren't many races left for him.”

Reflecting on last week's victory in the G1 Queen Anne S. on the opening day of Royal Ascot, which took the Shadwell star's unbeaten record to eight, he added, “He won well as he was entitled to do. I was not overwhelmed by his performance, though he never really came off the bridle really. But the handicapper must have seen something because he put him up 3lbs.

“He's just professional. It's like it's automatic for him and it's enough at the moment. He did well and we were really pleased with him.”

Haggas's Somerville Lodge stable celebrated two winners at the royal meeting, with the Barnane Stud 4-year-old homebred Candleford (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) posting an impressive six-length win in the Duke of Edinburgh S. He too could be off to York for the competitive Ebor H.

Haggas told Nick Luck, “He has just in the last few weeks come forward. He has really done well and he looked a really good horse. I couldn't fault his performance and he's gone up 13lbs so he will sneak into the Ebor.”

Posting decent runs in defeat were the Haggas-trained My Prospero (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) and Maljoom (Ire) (Caravaggio), who finished a close third and fourth behind Coroebus (Ire) ((Dubawi {Ire}) in the G1 St James's Palace S.

The performance of Maljoom, who is likely to be seen next in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois in Deauville, was particularly eye-catching, with the colt running home strongly after being blocked in his run.

“The horse made rapid gains in the last furlong and I think most observers thought that he would have won, and I agree with them,” Haggas said.

“I think My Prospero is a good horse but I think he just needs further and it was a risk running him in the St James's Palace because we knew he needed further. But it was the last Group 1 for 3-year-old colts and we felt it was worth a shot and it nearly paid off for him, but he won't run at a mile again. Maljoom will stay at a mile for the time being.”

He added of the Tsui family's My Prospero, “He's a great, big horse and I think he will be better next year. If we can nick a Group 1 somewhere we have a chance of him being a proper horse next year.”

Cheveley Park Stud's 4-year-old filly Sacred (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) was only a length off the winner when finishing fifth in the G1 Platinum Jubilee S. on Saturday, and she could now race in France for the first time in Deauville in August.

“I thought Sacred ran a belter,” said Haggas. “It was just too short for her. She's a seven-furlong filly. We've got another One Master (Ire) situation, but the only difference is that One Master loved cut in the ground and Sacred likes it fast. But she ran a really top race. We're desperately trying to win a Group 1 and I think the Maurice de Gheest will be the one we settle for.”

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Volunteers, Modern Medicine Offer Orphaned Foal Another Mother

A foal that isn't able to nurse from its mother, whether because of lack of milk production or because of rejection, is in a perilous health situation. If he isn't fed soon, and regularly thereafter, his health will rapidly decline.

Oftentimes nurse mares are called in to stand as surrogate mothers to these foals.

A day-old Mustang foal living in the Ochoco National Forest in Prineville, Or., found herself abandoned by her mother and in just such a dire predicament.

After observing the filly alone for a few hours, a concerned citizen flagged down motorists who alerted the U.S. Forest Service to the filly's situation. They then contacted Mustangs To The Rescue, a nonprofit, all-volunteer group that tried to find the filly's mother. Having no luck, volunteers brought the baby to Bend Equine Medical Center in Oregon, reports The Horse.

Though dehydrated, the filly was in good shape; she had clearly nursed at some point. Once stable, the filly, named Quest, was transferred to the Mustangs To The Rescue facility.

A local mare was available to mother the orphan, but she had to be induced to lactate as she had not had a foal of her own. Veterinarians were able to accomplish that goal using a combination of hormones domperidone and estradiol.

Until the mare was lactating, volunteers fed the orphaned foal every two hours.

Once the mare had milk, she was given a high dose of cloprostenol, a drug often used to cause a mare to cycle so she can be bred. At higher doses, the drug induces birth-like cramping, often tricking the mare into thinking she has given birth and thus accepting a foal that is not her own. Once dosed, the drug – and its effects – last for about one hour.

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In a traditional surrogacy, once the mare is experiencing the effects of cloprostenol, the baby is then brought to the mare's head, where she will often start licking and nickering to the baby. Once the pair has bonded, the foal is encouraged to nurse. The foal is then taken out of the mare's sight to see if she becomes anxious or upset; if she does act concerned for the foal, the match is considered a success and the duo are allowed unfettered access to one another. They are watched closely for the next few hours.

“Honey,” the surrogate mare at Mustangs To The Rescue, took to Quest immediately and seems to believe she gave birth to the filly. A month after the two were “grafted,” the filly is thriving. Once weaned, she will be taught basic groundwork by volunteers at Mustangs To The Rescue before she finds her new home.

Sandy Hawley: Overnight Sensation, Lasting Legend

In the sport of horse racing, a great deal of emphasis is placed on winning the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes, the three races that comprise the coveted U.S. Triple Crown. Almost as much attention is paid to the Breeders’ Cup, the 14-race extravaganza that serves as the year-end championship of U.S. horse racing.