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Andy Waitt Appointed New Clerk Of The Course For Bahrain Turf Club

Andy Waitt has been named as the new clerk of the course for the Bahrain Turf Club. He replaces Neil Mackenzie Ross.

Yusuf Buheji, CEO of the Bahrain Turf Club said, “We are delighted to welcome Andy to the team at the Rashid Equestrian & Horseracing Club. The Club considers the provision of a first-class racing surface to be fundamental to the growth of horseracing in Bahrain, not only from the perspective of attracting international horses but also in terms of raising the standards of our domestic horse population.

“We have made a significant investment in the facilities, developing two separate turf tracks, as well as our extensive training resources, to ensure we provide the best quality surface for all horses and riders.

“Andy has a lot of experience from his time working in England and shares our ambition for the future. Our thanks to Neil Mackenzie Ross for his significant contribution during his nine years working for the Club.”

Previously based at Chelmsford City Racecourse, Waitt began his career in racing at Sandown Park. Later based at Lingfield Park as head groundsman and estates manager, he qualified for clerk of the course in 2005, and held that role at Great Leighs from 2008-2009. He returned to that track to oversee its re-opening as Chelmsford City in 2015.

Waitt said, “I was attracted to the role by the opportunity to work for a progressive racing jurisdiction with long-term plans. I am very much looking forward to the Bahrain International Trophy in November and then the Bahrain Turf Series, which runs from December through to February. I am also thoroughly enjoying getting to know the friendly and accommodating people of Bahrain.”

The BTC hosts the $1-million G2 Bahrain International Trophy every November, as well as The Listed Crown Prince's Cup and Listed The King's Cup in February and March, respectively.

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“Real Quality” On Offer At Tattersalls December Mares Sale

A quintet of Group 1-winning race fillies anchor the 1,062-strong Tattersalls December Mares Sale from Dec. 4-7, headlined by the Sceptre Sessions on Monday, Dec. 4 and Tuesday, Dec. 5.

Inaugurated last year, the Sceptre Sessions feature 1000 Guineas heroine Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}) (1433); Pretty Polly S. victress Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) (lot 1788); top-level winners Lezoo (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) (lot 1776) and Prosperous Voyage (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) (lot 1811), both trained by Ralph Beckett; and South African Grade 1 winner Vernichey (SAf) (Vercingetorix {SAf}) (lot 1802). Prix Vermeille winner Teona (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) (lot 1786), who is in foal to champion sire Frankel (GB), will also go through the ring.

The sale features 33 group and listed-winning race fillies that will be offered across the two Sceptre Sessions. There are also numerous top-class mares carrying their first foals like Group 3 winner Nazanin (Declaratio Of War) (lot 1810) in foal to Frankel (GB). Other lots of note include Cruella De Vill (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) (lot 1540) who is a half-sister to star broodmare Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}); Galileo Gal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 1789), herself a half-sister to three Classic/Group 1 winners among them Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) carrying to New Bay (GB); and a sextet of Group/Grade 1 producers led by Nigh (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 1823), the dam of Via Sistina, who is in foal to Too Darn Hot (GB).

Large consignments from some of the top owner/breeders are also the order of the sale, with Godolphin's Group 1 winner White Moonstone (Dynaformer) (lot 1398), pregnant to Teofilo (Ire), part of their 46-strong draft. A total of 29 fillies and mares will be offered by Juddmonte, among them the listed-placed Radiator (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) (lot 1511), who is a daughter of Grade I winner Heat Haze (GB) (Green Desert) and a half-sister to top-level winner Mirage Dancer (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in foal to Nathaniel (Ire). A select consignment of eight from Shadwell is highlighted by a full-sister to star filly Taghrooda (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Taqaareed (Ire) (lot 1638), in foal to Pinatubo (Ire). The Castlebridge Consignment will send 105 lots to Park Paddocks for the sale, including Podium (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 1727), a full-sister to G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner Peaceful (Ire) in foal to Wootton Bassett (GB). Barton Sales' 65 lots include a Shamardal half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) (lot 1379), Hidden Gem (GB), in foal to State Of Rest (Ire).

Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony said, “The Sceptre Sessions at the Tattersalls December Sale were introduced last year to widespread international acclaim and made an immediate impact. This year's Sceptre Sessions look set to follow suit with an outstanding array of Classic and Group 1 winning fillies and producers amongst some of the finest fillies and mares to be offered for sale anywhere in the world.

“In addition to the extraordinary quality showcased in the Sceptre Sessions the Tattersalls December Mares Sale features consignments of real quality from so many of Europe's leading owner/breeders including the much sought after drafts from Godolphin, Juddmonte Farms and Shadwell Estates all of which combine to enhance the reputation of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale as the most influential breeding stock sale in Europe.”

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Inspiral To Avoid Ascot; Paddington To The QEII

Storm Babet has decided the final shape of the fields for Saturday's Qipco Champions Day fixture, with the softening ground ruling Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) out of the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. and making up Aidan O'Brien's mind as to where to point Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}). That four-times group 1 winner takes up his engagement in the QEII, leaving a total of nine to take part in the G1 Qipco Champion S. Heading the list for the 10-furlong highlight is last year's winner Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}), with the improving Horizon Dore (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}) and Derby runner-up King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}) declared alongside Shadwell's G1 Juddmonte International and G1 Prince of Wales's S. hero Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who had been a doubt earlier in the week due to the dire forecast. There are 11 engaged in the QEII, with The Aga Khan's Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) a doubt to tackle Paddington if the ground worsens again, while Imad Al Sagar's Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) has been diverted from the Champion by the Gosdens.

Cheveley Park Stud's managing director Chris Richardson said of Inspiral on Thursday, “We've obviously been monitoring the weather and the rain that's fallen. I know John Gosden walked the track yesterday, there's been a subsequent 12 millimetres and it looks like there's more to come. As we know, when she ran on soft ground in the Sussex at Goodwood in the summer, Frankie looked after her as it wasn't the sort of performance she was enjoying. The decision now is whether the Breeders' Cup [Filly & Mare Turf] is an option. John is going to speak to Mrs Thompson about it and then we'll know more, but it's very much up to her to decide whether she wants the filly to go to America. They're liaising between them and there's decisions to be made on whether she runs again this year and whether she's kept in training next year. She's a wonderful filly, Mrs Thompson is the owner of the horse and will make the decision.”

In other news, the G1 Commonwealth Cup and G1 July Cup hero Shaquille (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) will not run in the G1 Qipco British Champions Sprint. Steve Brown said of the 3-year-old, who was disappointing in the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup, “He wasn't just tracking through as normal behind with his movement. It looks minimal, but given the ground conditions, which are obviously going to be pretty testing, we're just not prepared to take any chances with him. It's as simple as that really.”

Marc Chan's defending Champions Sprint title-holder Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) will face 14 in the six-furlong bonanza, there are 14 declared for a wide-open G1 Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares S., and Ballydoyle's star stayer Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) faces seven in the G2 Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup. The storm has resulted in 13mm of rain falling, with further rain forecast on Friday.

Ascot's clerk of the course Chris Stickels is ready to switch the Long Distance Cup, Filly & Mares and Champion S. to the drier inner hurdles track for the first time since 2019. “If we have heavy ground on any part of the round course, we can move the round course races to the inner track and we have to decide that before 8 a.m. on Saturday,” he explained. “Looking at the forecast for Friday, I would say that is quite likely. I think the rain we will get overnight will turn us back to soft on the round course and maybe even if we get the top end, some heavy places on the round course. It's a shame we are a week later in the calendar this year and even today, John Gosden said if we were racing today the ground would have been perfect.”

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QEII The Pick For Nashwa On Saturday

Multiple Group 1 winner Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) will run in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. at Ascot on QIPCO British Champions Day, owner Blue Diamond Stud announced via X (Twitter) on Wednesday evening.

“Confirmed: Nashwa will run in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Saturday,” Imad Al Sagar's operation tweeted.

Al Sagar's homebred won both the G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Nassau S. as a 3-year-old for John and Thady Gosden. She added her third Group 1 in the Falmouth S. this July, and has three consecutive placings at the highest level later in the campaign. Third defending her title in the Nassau in August, she was a good second in the International S. at York later that month, and was most recently third in the Irish Champion S. in Ireland in September.

The one-mile QEII was not the only race on Champions Day under consideration for the regular mount of Hollie Doyle. The 10-furlong G1 QIPCO Champion S. was also a potential target until Wednesday evening's announcement.

Doyle said earlier this week, “I think she's very versatile and very effective whatever the ground and whatever the trip.

“You need horses like her, she's carried me now for the past two years and she always produces the goods.”

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