Norwich City striker Barnes given racecourse ban
Ashley Barnes is banned indefinitely from attending British horse racing meetings for failing to co-operate with a BHA investigation.
IHRB Hosts European Horserace Scientific Liaison Committee Conference
Veterinary regulatory and analytical experts gathered this week in Dublin for the biennial European Horserace Scientific Liaison Committee (EHSLC) conference.
Hosted by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, the conference began on Tuesday and concluded on Thursday and consisted of various working parties who held lengthy discussions relating to their expertise within the regulatory framework.
Delegates of racing regulators in Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Finland, Norway and Sweden were present, while members of the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), the Japanese Racing Association (JRA), the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) and the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) were also in attendance in an observatory capacity.
Speaking at the conference, IHRB Chief Veterinary Officer/Head of Anti-Doping, Lynn Hillyer said, “The IHRB is delighted to welcome and host this expert group in Dublin for important scientific veterinary and regulatory discussions. It is a critical part of our work to maintain close engagement with international horseracing bodies, exercising leadership where appropriate, to ensure consistency of regulatory standards as per our commitment to Integrity in our 2024-2027 Statement of Strategy. As Chair of the International Group of Specialist Regulatory Veterinarians (IGSRV), I believe that this meeting of European colleagues provides an invaluable opportunity to share best practice.”
The EHSLC was formed in 1992 following a discussion between the Stewards of France, Great Britain and Ireland on the need for greater co-operation in technical areas and their wish to encourage co-operation in research to successfully counter future challenges concerning the control of prohibited substances in racing.
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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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