Tag: coronavirus

De Sousa, Marquand Share Longines IJC Title

Coronavirus dictated that it wasn't exactly business at usual at Happy Valley Racecourse for the staging of Wednesday's Longines International Jockeys' Championship. But there was a return to at least some semblance of normalcy, as a crowd of about 11,000 fans filed into the stands and into the beer garden to watch Silvestre de Sousa finish level with Tom Marquand to cause a dead heat for just the third time in the history of the event. The duo shared HK$700,000 (£73,544) in prize money.

COVID-19 had already resulted original IJC invitees Yuga Kawada and Jye McNeil being sidelined for the meeting, and the virus claimed a third would-be participant Wednesday when France's Mickael Barzalona tested positive. Zac Purton was a warm favourite to bag a third IJC, but at the end of the day, he struck out, and the competition saw a different jockey win each of the four legs, forcing a countback to decide the winner–or, in this case, winners.

Vincent Ho, who will team up with Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) for a three-peat attempt in Sunday's G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile, struck in the first leg of the sequence driving the 8-1 chance Handsome Rebel (Aus) (Denman {Aus}) to a narrow victory over Faribault (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}) (video) for trainer Jamie Richards.

Derek Leung took Barzalona's place in the IJC and made the most of the opportunity in the second leg, scoring by a short head astride 135-pound topweight Win Win Fighter (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) after favoured Royal Pride (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) slashed through one off the fence and looked on his way to victory (video) for McNeil's replacement Hugh Bowman. In was another feather in the cap for the homegrown Leung, whose previous crowning moment came aboard Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}) in the 2017 Hong Kong Mile.

Neither Marquand nor De Sousa had pointed heading into the third of the IJC races, but that changed when Marquand's 11-1 chance Winning Dragon (Chi) (Ivan Denisovich) pegged back longshot Red Majesty (NZ) (Ferlax {NZ}), who was well-rated from the front by Lyle Hewitson–subbing for Kawada–but just failed to see it out at nearly 40-1 (video).

With as many as nine chances heading into the finale, it was De Sousa who capitalized from close range on Adios (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}), just holding off a late surge from Red Lion (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) (video), a two-time winner and seventh in the Brittania H. at Royal Ascot this year for trainer Andrew Slattery when racing as Finach McHugh (Ire). Red Lion would have made Australia's Jamie Kah–who took a Class 3 handicap earlier in the evening for Douglas Whyte–the outright winner on the occasion of her 27th birthday, but the event was declared a tie, as both Marquand and De Sousa posted fourths in other legs of the series. Ho's best finish outside of his was a fifth-place effort, while Leung's next best was a sixth.

“To finish joint-top with Silvestre is pretty epic,” said Marquand, who finished tied for second behind Zac Purton here 12 months ago. “He's been champion jockey back home, he works so hard and is someone you look up to in the weighing room. It's a huge honour and sometimes you have to pinch yourself that these things are happening.”

Marquand's wife Hollie Doyle, third in the final IJC race after being under a COVID cloud until she was cleared to participate Tuesday, closed the Happy Valley meeting with a 9-1 upset of the Class 2 United Kingdom H. (1800m) on Spirited Express (Aus) (No Nay Never).

De Sousa, winner of the 2018 IJC, said: “I'm just delighted. It's my second time winning and I finished placed another time. In the last leg I just felt the crowd and although it was a long last half furlong, thank God he got his head down and we gave it everything.”

 

 

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Croke Park Tops Goffs UK Aintree Sale

Back after a two-year COVID-19 hiatus, the 2022 Goffs UK Aintree Sale was topped by the winning point-to-pointer Croke Park (Ire) (Walk In The Park {Ire}) (lot 8) at £400,000. A 4-year-old gelding who ran second at Lingstown on debut in March, the Ballyboy Stables-consigned bay was purchased by Gordon Elliot Racing. His half-brother, Etre Francais (Ire) (Anzillero {Ger}), has placed third in a French listed hurdle. This is the family of the graded-winning chaser Oiseau de Nuit (Fr) (Evening World {Fr}).

Second on the buyers' sheet was lot 1, the high class Put The Kettle On (Ire) (Stowaway {GB}), who is the only mare to win the Cheltenham Festival G1 Champion Chase. Offered by Henry De Bromhead's Knockeen Racing, she was purchased by Highflyer Bloodstock on behalf of Simon Davies for £380,000. Broodmare duty is next for the 8-year-old and she will visit Davies's stallion Planteur (Ire) at Chapel Stud.

Deep Cave (Ire) (Court Cave {Ire}) (lot 17) changed hands for £235,000. Part of the Charlestown Racing draft, the 4-year-old gelding caught the eye of Henry De Bromhead. The grandson of listed hurdle winner Soupinette (Fr) (Presenting {GB}) won a maiden point-to-point at Belclare by six lengths at first asking on Mar. 20.

Of the 32 horses catalogued, 31 went through the ring and 27 sold (87%) for a gross of £3,656,000. The new record average was £135,407 (+6%) and the median dipped to £95,000 (-10%). A baker's dozen (13) of lots made six figures, with seven of those reaching £200,000 or more.

Goffs UK Managing Director Tim Kent commented, “It's great to be back. That was how we marketed this sale in the build-up as we have missed it over the last two years and to see it produce new records on what was a very important return this year is a wonderful feeling. Of the 13 six-figure lots, seven made £200,000 or more, clearly demonstrating the quality that was on offer and the demand for these top-class horses.

“We are in debt to our vendors for their support once again. Aintree is a proven world-class venue and the sale's two-year absence had no impact on their desire to send their best. We would also like to extend our thanks to the Aintree Racecourse executives for their continued partnership and support. Today has been a great day and we are looking forward to our next major NH Sale–the Spring Sale–in Doncaster in May.”

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Capacity Crowds Expected For DWC Night

The Mar. 26 Dubai World Cup night, which features $30.5 million in purses spread across nine races, is expected to attract a full house of fans for the 26th edition. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, race meetings have been conducted with restrictions placed on the number of people allowed to attend, but for the first time since 2019, there are no restrictions at a Meydan race day. Meydan Racecourse can hold up to 80,000 spectators.

Sheikh Rashid bin Dalmook Al Maktoum, the Chairman of Dubai Racing Club, said, “We are so happy to have everyone back here for what will be a fantastic 26th running of the Dubai World Cup meeting. The atmosphere will be absolutely electrifying.

“The quality of the horses, trainers, owners and jockeys who have assembled is better than ever and we are looking forward to a superb day of racing with our guests from all over the world.

“I would like to thank our partners for their support and also the team at Dubai Racing Club, who have worked so hard to bring this meeting together.”

For the first time, the Goffs Dubai Breeze-Up Sale will be held on Mar. 23 leading up to Dubai World Cup night. The sale will be held at Meydan Racecourse, with the breezes conducted over the Tapeta track.

He added, “The first-ever Dubai Breeze-Up Sale is something we are all looking forward to eagerly as well, as it gives owners and connections in the region the chance to view and purchase some of the best bred 2-year-old horses in their backyard. It is something that will further cement Dubai's position as one of the main centres for racing, not just in the region, but globally too.”

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Gradguide New Feature Race Sponsor on Student Race Day at Leopardstown

Beginning on Friday, Mar. 11, the first 1,000 students to sign up to Gradguide's free platform will receive access to purchase their Apr. 6 Student Race Day ticket for Leopardstown at a discounted price of €20. Gradguide, which connects students and graduates with fast-growing companies across Ireland, the UK, Germany, France, Netherlands and the U.S.A., is also the new sponsor of the Listed Heritage S. at Leopardstown on Apr. 6. To sign up to Gradguide, please click here.

Mark Hughes, CEO & Founder of Gradguide, said, “Gradguide is excited to partner with Leopardstown Racecourse the return of their Student Race Day on Wednesday, Apr. 6. This is the first Student Race Day to be held since 2019 and we can't wait to celebrate the day in style with thousands of students at the home of Irish Racing.”

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