Assessment Started on UK Racing’s Environmental Sustainability

An initial assessment of British racing's progress on environmental sustainability, initiated and funded by the Racing Foundation, has been commissioned by British racing's leaders. The aim is to build a clearer overall picture of current environmental activities and expertise across racing and breeding-establishing what's already being done, where there's potential to go further, and how this could be achieved. It will also identify the key sustainability issues, risks, and opportunities for racing. The scoping assessment is likely to cover several areas of environmental sustainability, including CO2 emissions, decarbonisation and renewable energy, management of key resources such as water and plastics, and potential for positive contributions through biodiversity.

Lasting three months, the project will begin immediately and will be delivered by sustainability consultancy White Griffin. Working closely with industry representatives from the BHA, Horsemen's Group and RCA, White Griffin will actively engage with racing's businesses, employers, and participants, particularly those with interest or specialist expertise in environmental sustainability.

Brant Dunshea, BHA Chief Regulatory Officer and Project Executive Sponsor, said, “Climate change and sustainability are major challenges for our sport, given how dependent we are on the environment, transportation, and the use of essential resources.

“There is a real opportunity here for British racing to lead progress in this area, taking positive action to find effective solutions to the challenges we face–and crucially grasp some of the opportunities.

“This foundation research will help us do this by measuring where we are now, plus where there's scope to go further, either as individual organisations and businesses, or collectively through an industry-wide strategy.”

Rob Hezel, Chief Executive of the Racing Foundation, said, “We believe that environmental sustainability is crucial to British racing's long-term future and prosperity, which is why it is key pillar of the Racing Foundation's strategy.

“We are pleased to fund this initial package of work, which it is hoped will inform the next steps in terms of determining the need for an industry-wide approach to sustainability.

The post Assessment Started on UK Racing’s Environmental Sustainability appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Gold Cup Defence For Subjectivist as Sir Ron Priestley Retired

Dual Group 1 winner Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}), who was injured in training in July, is aiming for a title defence of the G1 Gold Cup in June. The 4-year-old won the G1 Prix Royal-Oak, G2 Dubai Gold Cup and Gold Cup in succession before his plans were derailed for the season.

“Subjectivist is still here at Kingsley Park and there are no immediate plans for retirement,” said trainer Mark Johnston. “It is well publicised that an injury came to light soon after he won this year's Ascot Gold Cup and there is no doubt that that injury is career threatening but, in the absence of a suitable job at stud, we will make an attempt to bring him back for the Royal meeting next year.

“As the clock ticks by towards the 2022 covering season it looks likely that he will still be here in the New Year and returning to training.”

Regarding Sir Ron Priestley (GB) (Australia {GB}–Reckoning {GB}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who won both the G2 Princess of Wales's S. and G2 Jockey Club S. this year besides running second in the 2019 G1 St. Leger and third in the 2021 G1 Goodwood Cup S., Johnston added, “His three-parts brother, Sir Ron Priestley, on the other hand, will definitely be retired. He is also currently still with us but it is hoped that he will shortly be departing for France where he will take up stud duties.”

The post Gold Cup Defence For Subjectivist as Sir Ron Priestley Retired appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Blackmore Favoured to Win World Sport Star Title

Jumps jockey Rachael Blackmore has been nominated in the World Sport Star category at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards. Blackmore will be competing against tennis superstar Novak Djokovic and American football quarterback Tom Brady, boxer Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, Formula One star Max Verstappen and Jamaican sprinter Elaine Thompson-Herah.

The first woman to win the Cheltenham Champion Jockey title on the back of six wins during the festival including Honeysuckle (GB) (Sulamani {Ire})'s G1 Champion Hurdle victory, Blackmore also was the first female jockey to win the G3 Grand National aboard Minella Times (Ire) (Oscar {Ire}) in April.

Nicola McGeady of Ladbrokes said, “Rachael Blackmore goes up against a list of global superstars in a bid to become the BBC World Sports Star of the Year. Her rivals have all achieved incredible things, but we think Blackmore comes out on top after she became the first female to win the Grand National.”

Voting has opening for the award and will close at 1 p.m. on Dec. 14, with the winner announced live on Dec. 19.

The post Blackmore Favoured to Win World Sport Star Title appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Fastnet Foal The Star of Arqana

A colt foal by Fastnet Rock (Aus) (lot 675) starred at Deauville as trade wound down a notch during the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale on Monday. Consigned by Haras de Castillon, who had also offered eventual €2.5-million buy and Group 1 winner Grand Glory (GB) (Olympic Glory {Ire}), the bay is out of the winning Purple Magic (GB) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}). He was purchased by Benoit Jeffroy on behalf of Manister House Stud for €60,000.

Besides the top lot, race fillies and broodmares were the most sought after, especially those in foal to promising young sire Zarak (Fr). Zarak already has a pair of Group 1-placed horses and two black-type winners to his credit. One of the former, G1 Criterium International runner-up Purplepay (Fr) brought €2 million during Saturday's session.

Haras de Cercy's Anjella (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) (lot 782), sold in foal to the son of Dubawi (Ire), made €45,000 from Jeffroy's Ecurie Castillon Bloodstock on behalf of Magic Dream. A full-sister to German listed heroine Ambria (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), the chestnut 15-year-old has produced Stable Genius (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), who ran third in the G3 Prix la Force. This is also the family of G1 Preis der Diana heroine Amarette (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}).

Joining Anjella at €45,000 is the 3-year-old Siyouni (Fr) filly Dariyla (Fr) from His Highness The Aga Khan's Studs. Also in foal to the Aga Khan's Zarak, lot 832 caught the eye of BBA Ireland. She is a descendant of French champion G1 Prix de Diane victress Daryaba (Ire) (Night Shift), who also landed the G1 Prix Vermeille.

Yet another carrying to the Haras de Bonneval resident, Seemingly (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) hammered at €36,000 to Guy Pariente. From the Haras du Quesnay draft, lot 658 is out of Listed Prix Vulcain heroine Oh Beautiful (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and is from the same family as outstanding bluehen Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}).

Haras du Buff sent Geneva Spur (Distorted Humor) (lot 644), in foal to first-year covering sire Persian King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), through the ring and the 5-year-old was purchased by Six of Us for €42,000. Group winners Silk and Scarlet (GB) (Sadler's Wells) and Danger Over (GB) (Warning {GB}) are full- and half-sisters to her dam, My Dark Rosaleen (GB) (Sadler's Wells). Silk and Scarlet foaled subsequent Group 1 winners Eishin Apollon (Giant's Causeway) (Japan), Master of Hounds (Kingmambo) (Dubai) and Minorett (Smart Strike) (United States).

The Aga Khan's Studs' Deriyana (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB}) (lot 835) was knocked down to Crispin de Moubray for €36,000 near the end of Monday's session. Although unraced, the 3-year-old is well-bred, being a daughter of the dual listed-placed Deremah (More Than Ready), herself a half-sister to French listed winner Dariyma (Fr) (City Zip), who would also place third in the G2 Prix Dollar. Under the group-placed third dam is the 2006 G1 Prix du Jockey Club winner Darsi (Fr) (Polish Precedent).

At the close of business on Monday, the gross was well up on 2020's at €2,119,500 for 205 sold from 276 offered (74.3%), from an admittedly bigger catalogue. The average and median were slightly off the 2020 marks as well at €10,339 and €7,000, respectively.

The fourth and final session of the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale begins at 11 a.m. local time on Tuesday.

The post Fastnet Foal The Star of Arqana appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights