Two-Day Ban For Dettori After Stradivarius Ride In The Gold Cup

Frankie Dettori was given a two-day riding ban by the stewards at Ascot on Friday, following an inquiry into his use of the whip on Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the Gold Cup.
The stewards were unable to interview Dettori on Thursday, so the hearing was carried forward 24 hours.
The officials ruled Dettori had used his whip above the permitted level in the closing stages of the race, one which prompted much discussion afterwards and left trainer John Gosden wondering out loud why Dettori had opted to take the three-time winner back from his early position.
“I was a bit surprised that being in the box seat we dropped back so far,” Gosden said on Thursday. “It would have been nice to be a touch handier, to say the least.”
Stradivarius had to be switched widest of all for a run, and despite finishing with a flourish could only manage third behind Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

The post Two-Day Ban For Dettori After Stradivarius Ride In The Gold Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Dual Cheltenham Gold Cup Winner Al Boum Photo Retired

Dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo (Fr) (Buck's Boum {Fr}) has been retired and will embark on a new career in eventing.

The Willie Mullins-trained 10-year-old was last seen running in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris at Auteuil, where he made no impact and was eventually pulled up by Paul Townend.

He will forever be remembered as the first horse since Best Mate (Ire) (Un Desperado {Fr}) to win back-to-back Gold Cups at Cheltenham in 2019 and 2020.

Melon (GB) (Medicean {GB}), also 10 and like Al Boum Photo owned by Joe and Marie Donnelly, was retired on Tuesday. 

Mullins tweeted, “Al Boum Photo and Melon retired today. Fantastic horses for Marie and Joe Donnelly and our yard. Al Boum Photo gave us two Cheltenham Gold Cups which was very special and Melon was such a consistent performer. We wish them all the best in their new eventing careers.”

The post Dual Cheltenham Gold Cup Winner Al Boum Photo Retired appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Princess Zoe To Bypass Dubai

Group 1-winning stayer Princess Zoe (Ger) (Jukebox Jury {Ire}) will bypass the Dubai World Cup meeting at the end of March, with the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot earmarked as her next major target.

Princess Zoe, who rapidly rose through the ranks in 2020 to win the G1 Prix du Cadran for trainer Tony Mullins, was second to Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) in last year's Gold Cup. The 7-year-old mare finished 10th in last weekend's G3 Red Sea Turf H. on Saudi Cup day. Mullins said of that effort, “The ground was too fast for her and she was on top of her head early, but we were afraid if we didn't have her up handy we might not be able to close,” he said. “The ground was just too fast for her and she didn't get into her comfort zone. She was in great form and it was such a pity it didn't work out.

“She's grand. She was very tired when she got home, but there's not a bother on her.”

Princess Zoe is likely to have her Ascot warmup in the G3 Vintage Crop S. at Navan on Apr. 23.

“She won't go to Dubai,” Mullins said. “I would imagine the plan at the moment is the Vintage Crop at Navan at the end of April and train her then for the Ascot Gold Cup. It won't be ideal for her, but it's the only race to suit to give her a run and have her in fine form for Ascot.”

The post Princess Zoe To Bypass Dubai appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Rematch? Both Subjectivist, Stradivarius On Target For Goodwood Cup

Gold Cup hero Subjectivist and four-time Goodwood Cup winner Stradivarius are on course for an eagerly awaited rematch in the G1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup (27 entries) on Tuesday, July 27.

Entries were revealed Wednesday for seven races during the Qatar Goodwood Festival, including the two-mile highlight and the G1 Qatar Nassau Stakes.

The Qatar Goodwood Festival runs from Tuesday, July 27 to Saturday, July 31, with the first three days forming part of the Tote World Pool series.

All eyes were on the John & Thady Gosden-trained Stradivarius at Royal Ascot as he attempted to emulate Yeats' record of four Gold Cups, but it was Subjectivist who powered to an emphatic five-length victory as Stradivarius met trouble in running to finish fourth.

Mark Johnston's stable star is building quite a CV, with last week's success coming on the back of equally dominant victories in the G1 Prix Royal-Oak at Longchamp in October and the G2 Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan, UAE, in March.

Johnston has sent out five winners of the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup, including Double Trigger, who captured the race three times between 1995 and 1998 – a feat surpassed by Stradivarius last year.

Johnston said: “Subjectivist has had a very easy time of it since his run in the Gold Cup. He will have a gradual return back to full work, with the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup being the next target.

“Looking back at the Gold Cup, it was a very exciting performance. Whichever way you look at it, whether it be the form, the time, the sectional times, the distance he won by, it all points to it being an absolutely top-draw performance.

“In fairness, his win before that in Dubai was very good, but I suppose everybody is generally slightly sceptical of the Dubai form. But at Ascot he has confirmed it by running a very similar race in terms of style. I don't think there are any doubts about the horse now.

“It is well-documented that I love the stayers, and it means a huge amount to me personally to have a horse like this. With horses who run in these big two-mile plus races, the big concern is can you keep them sound, but barring any injuries or problems, he is an extremely exciting horse to have.”

Regarding a rematch with Stradivarius, Johnston added: “I think if you read my blog, you will see that I said, 'Subjectivist was bred by Susan Hearn, Barry Hearn's wife, and if this was another sport, Barry Hearn would be promoting the rematch and we'd all be making a lot of money out of it!' But seriously, a big clash between these two horses at Goodwood will be very good for racing.”

Stradivarius has made the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup his own since landing the spoils for the first time as a three-year-old in 2017. Bjorn Nielsen's homebred is chasing an unprecedented fifth straight victory, a feat unlikely to be repeated in a race that dates back to 1812.

Other high-profile entries include G2 Yorkshire Cup victor Spanish Mission (Andrew Balding), who was third behind Subjectivist at Royal Ascot, and 2019 St Leger victor Logician (John & Thady Gosden).

Irish trainer Joseph O'Brien has three entries, including Melbourne Cup victor Twilight Payment and prolific G2 Belmont Gold Cup winner Baron Samedi.

The Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup is part of the British Champions Series.

The post Rematch? Both Subjectivist, Stradivarius On Target For Goodwood Cup appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights