March, 2024 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Record Prize-Money Announced for the 2024 Juddmonte International

The G1 Juddmonte International, rated the Longines World's Best Race in 2020, will be run for a record £1.25 million in 2024, York Racecourse and Juddmonte announced on Friday.

In 2023, the Juddmonte International was worth £1 million and produced another high-class winner in Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who ended the year as the joint highest-rated horse in the world outside Japan. The feature event on the opening day of the Sky Bet Ebor Festival also retained its position as one of the top ten races in the world.

The 25 percent increase in prize-money for 2024 cements the Juddmonte International as the richest race ever run on the Knavesmire, as well as being the joint most valuable all-aged contest staged at a racecourse-owned fixture in Britain.

The support of Juddmonte for this flagship contest dates back to 1989. Over those 35 years, it has regularly featured the famous green and pink silks of the late Prince Khalid Abdullah, with them crossing the line in front on two occasions, courtesy of Twice Over (2011) and, most famously, Frankel (2012).

William Derby, chief executive and clerk of the course at York Racecourse, said, “We are delighted to announce this boost to the prize fund of our flagship race, the Juddmonte International, to £1.25m, confirming it as the richest race ever run at York. Juddmonte Day on Wednesday, August 21 is a tremendous way to open the Sky Bet Ebor Festival, on the first of three World Pool racedays.

“The significant increase in prize-money forms part of a wider strategy to ensure the race continues to attract the best horses in the world for racing followers at York and beyond, to enjoy. From Roberto to Sea The Stars, Frankel, to one of his progeny, Mostahdaf, just last year, it is a race that consistently attracts the best in equine talent. Juddmonte have been fantastic partners and curators of this race with York since 1989 and we remain deeply appreciative of their wonderful support of York and wider British racing.”

On behalf of Juddmonte, chief executive offficer, Douglas Erskine Crum, said, “In our 35th year of sponsorship, this 25 percent increase in value demonstrates both York and Juddmonte's commitment to increasing prize-money and further enhancing the Juddmonte International's status as one of the world's very best races. We congratulate York on consistently making prize-money a top priority across all their meetings, thereby taking the lead amongst UK racecourses.”

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Duramente’s Lugal Aiming For Takamatsunomiya Kinen Glory

The consistent Lugal (Jpn), by the much lamented reigning Japanese Champion Sire Duramente (Jpn), has never contested a Group 1 race, but that is all about to change in Sunday's G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen at Chukyo over 1200 metres.

Bearing the burden of favouritism in this fully subscribed 18-strong affair, the 4-year-old will leave from stall six. Never worse than fourth in his past 10 trips to the post, Lugal ran second in the G3 Keihan Hai to Toshin Macau (Jpn) (Big Arthur {Jpn}) in his sophomore finale in November, with that rival returning to add the G3 Ocean S. to his ledger at Nakayama, defeating Big Caesar (Jpn) (Big Arthur {Jpn}) on Mar. 2. The favourite, too, made a winning 2024 bow, taking the G3 Silk Road S. going this trip at Kyoto on Jan. 28.

Trainer Haruki Sugiyama said of Lugal, “He was in great shape for the Silk Road S. and he started well. Two weeks ago, his fast work up the hill was very impressive. Last week, even with the bad ground, his footwork was almost too good. He's still a bit heavy, but I think with one more workout he'll be ready.”

Mama Cocha (Jpn) (Kurofune), winner of the G1 Sprinters S. in October defeating Mad Cool (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the process, finished her year with a fifth-place effort to Win Marvel (Jpn) (I'll Have Another) in the 1400-metre G2 Hanshin Cup in December. That rival, meanwhile, made a winning 2024 start in the G3 Hankyu Hai over the 1400-metre trip and will be cutting back to that distance for the first time since finishing sixth to Mama Cocha in the Sprinters.

Yasutoshi Ikee, trainer of the Mama Cocha, said, “She's heading into the race without a prep mainly due to the fact that I didn't see a race that suited her regarding such things as the weight she'd have to carry or the distance. However, she is a horse that does well with a sharpener, so I brought her back to Ritto early and the work she has been getting should be enough to cover for the lack. I think she's in the same condition as she was for the Sprinters S. As for the race strategy, I'm leaving all the details up to Yuga Kawada. I think she can handle the distance. I'm just hoping the weather will hold.”

The Takamatsunomiya Kinen also features Hong Kong raider Victor The Winner (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}) (Friday's gallop), who leaves from stall 10 under Derek Leung for trainer Danny Shum. Hong Kong's Aerovelocity (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) first scooped the prize in 2015. The 5-year-old, who will be racing left-handed for the first time, claimed the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup at Sha Tin going this trip on Jan. 28.

“He arrived late on Monday after quarantine,” Leung told the Hong Kong Jockey Club notes team. “There was a traffic jam, so he was spent a lot of time on the truck. At first, he was a little bit tired but after that, he was fine. The first time he galloped, he had a look around–same as at Sha Tin, he always looks around. It was a bit exciting for him because it was quite new.

“In the gallop, when I asked him for a little effort, he did it for me. The last 200 [metres], he gave me a good finish–not too tough for him. It was good.”

The G3 Kyoto Himba S. one-two of So Dazzling (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) and Namura Clair (Jpn) (Mikki Isle {Jpn}), who ran second in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen and third in Mama Cocha's Sprinters S. both in 2023, will leave from gates eight and three, respectively. Last year's G1 NHK Mile Cup heroine Champagne Color (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) will be trying the shortest trip of her career on Sunday, and is to the immediate outside of So Dazzling.

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Horse of the Year Honours for Fantastic Moon

Fantastic Moon (Ger) has emulated his sire Sea The Moon (Ger) not just by winning the G1 Deutsches Derby but now also in being crowned German Horse of Year for 2023.

The colt, owned by Liberty Racing, won the oldest public vote in the history of German sport, which took place on his fourth birthday, March 21.

“We are very proud of this title. Fantastic Moon absolutely deserves it,” said Lars-Wilhelm Baumgarten, the co-founder of the colt's ownership syndicate Liberty Racing.

“His magnificent victory in the 2023 German Derby and his superior victory as the first German horse in the Prix Niel in Paris have clearly shown that he is currently Germany's best horse, and the fans have now confirmed this with their vote for the Sea The Moon colt.”

Sea The Moon was himself made Horse of the Year following his 11-length Derby win in 2014. The Lanwades Stud resident had an emphatic influence on the German Classics last season and was also responsible for the first three home in the G1 Preis der Diana, led by Muskoka (Ger), who was bred by Baumgarten.

Fantastic Moon remains in training with Sarah Steinberg in Munich with the aim being for him to make his seasonal debut at Hoppegarten in the Listed Preis von Dahlwitz on Easter Sunday. His runner-up in the Derby, Mr Hollywood (Ire) (Iquitos {Ger}), is also entered for the race. After Berlin, the Prix Ganay at ParisLongchamp at the end of April is also under consideration for Fantastic Moon.

Baumgarten added, “He is only the second Derby winner in the past 23 years to win this award, likely because he has built up a large fanbase. We thank everyone who voted for him and of course his team around trainer Sarah Steinberg and jockey Rene Piechulek for the outstanding work with our hero.”

His co-founder in Liberty Racing, Nadine Siepmann, said, “As a child, I was impressed every year watching the Horse of the Year vote on TV, and now our horse has won the vote, which is so great.”

There are 22 members in the ownership group for Fantastic Moon, and this represents the first time that the German Horse of the Year has been owned by a syndicate. Liberty Racing was set up in 2020 and now has seven active syndicates with 16 horses in training for more than 100 shareholders.

Siepmann added, “Owner syndicates are enormously important for horse racing in order to introduce the great thoroughbred horses to new people. That's why it's all the more wonderful that these communities also win big races and own great horses, that's the best advertising.”

Fantastic Moon was bred by Philipp and Marion Stauffenberg from the Jukebox Jury (Ire) mare Frangipani (Ger). Now 10, the mare is due to foal to Sea The Stars (Ire) and she will return to Sea The Moon (Ger) this season.

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Sands Of Mali to Remain at Ballyhane Stud

It has been confirmed that Sands Of Mali (Fr) will remain at Ballyhane Stud, where he has stood since his retirement in 2021. This is contrary to a statement released on Tuesday by Steve Parkin's Dullingham Park.

The Group 1-winning sprinter has his first runners this season. His former stud-mates at Ballyhane, Asymmetric (Ire) and Space Traveller (GB), have moved to Micheal Orlandi's Starfield Stud in Co Westmeath.

A statement released by Ballyhane Stud on Friday morning cited “a breakdown in the business relationship between Clipper principal Steve Parkin and Ballyhane Stud owner Joe Foley.”

It read, “It was agreed that stallions wholly owned by the Clipper operation would not stand at the Carlow farm in the future and, as a consequence, Asymmetric and Space Traveller moved to Starfield stud near Mullingar on Wednesday.”

The G2 Richmond S. winner Asymmetric recently commenced covering his first book of mares, while Space Traveller (GB), who won the Clipper-sponsored G2 Boomerang S. at Leopardstown, is in his second season at stud.

“We both thought this was the best way forward and I wish the team at Starfield all the best with the two horses,” said Joe Foley.

“As Sands of Mali is a partnership horse, he will remain at Ballyhane where his book has been increasing significantly due to highly encouraging reports of his first crop of two-year-olds.”

He added, “It has been a great adventure helping Steve and his family build his racing and breeding operation into what it has become today and I'm proud of the top horses that I've sourced for them over the years. I wish them all the best into the future, especially on the racetrack this year where the Clipper and Bronte teams have an exciting string of horses preparing for the season ahead.”

Parkin's homebred Group 1 winner Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) is currently second-favourite in the betting for the Qipco 1,000 Guineas, while her stable-mate at Karl Burke's Spigot Lodge, Night Raider (Ire) (Dark Angel {GB}), shortened significantly in the Qipco 2,000 Guineas market following his 'TDN Rising Star'-worthy wide-margin win at Southwell on Wednesday. Bred by Linden Bloodstock, he was bought for Parkin by Foley as a foal.

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