Covid-19: What do new tier four restrictions mean for elite and grassroots sport in England?
How the government's new tier four restrictions affect elite and grassroots sport in England.
Tag: Horse racing news
Racing will continue behind closed doors in areas under Covid-19 Tier Four restrictions
Owners will be able to attend Kempton's two-day King George VI Chase meeting on December 26 and 27 but only under strict protocols which have put off many from attending in the past.
Maxfield Still Unbeaten After Winning Return In Tenacious At Fair Grounds
A bit of an enigma despite an undefeated record coming in, the Godolphin homebred Maxfield once again answered the immediate question in front of him, taking the Tenacious Stakes in what was just his second start as a 3-year-old to cap the 13-race Santa Super Saturday program at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans, La.
Twice derailed by ankle injuries, the Brendan Walsh trainee returned from his second extended layoff to win for the fourth consecutive time to begin his career.
“I'm relieved,” Walsh said. “It's nice to get him back (to the races) and have him run so well. He was working so well going into it, you're just looking for confirmation. He gave us what we needed to see. Hopefully he comes out of it ok and we move forward from here.”
Away alertly for jockey Florent Geroux, who won four races on the day, the sophomore son of Street Sense put himself in a perfect pressing position just off the flank of the pacesetting Cool Bobby through moderate fractions of 24.63 and 48.39. The .50-1 favorite then engaged the leader on the far turn, took over at the top of the stretch, and won by a comfortable 2 ½ lengths in a final time of 1:42.35 for 1 1/16 miles over a fast track. Sonneman finished well late to be second and it was another 1 ¼ lengths back to Dinar in third.
“This is a horse who is maturing,” Geroux said. “When I worked him out of the gate a few weeks ago, he was very sharp away from there, so I was pretty confident he'd be up closer than he had been in his previous races. He got me in a great position and he was in a nice rhythm. He was comfortable and happy and I loved my spot. Turning for home he gave me another gear and I kept him busy all the way to the wire because I wanted to make sure he got something out of it.”
Off slowly in the career debut over a one turn mile at Churchill and the subsequent start in the Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland, before rattling home late to win both, Maxfield was forced to miss the Breeders' Cup Juvenile with an ankle chip. When the Kentucky Derby was pushed back to the first Saturday in September due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the connections were in a better position to bring their prized colt back slowly.
A return run in the Matt Winn (G3) on May 23 at Churchill proved to be adventurous, but successful. Five-wide and shuffled back while in tight on the first turn and hung seven-wide on the bend for home, Maxfield leveled off in the stretch before running down Ny Traffic late, and with a little in reserve.
“He was immature as a 2-year-old,” Walsh said. “I think he would have been more prominent in the Matt Winn in May if he hadn't been stopped a couple of times.”
Following a June 10 workout at Keeneland which came in preparation for the Blue Grass (G2) Stakes, Maxfield was discovered to have a non-displaced condylar fracture in his right front cannon bone. Following a successful surgery, he resumed serious training in late October, and Walsh thought the Tenacious would be the perfect race to get Maxfield back in the game.
“He was a little fresh tonight, so maybe he was a little more aggressive than normal,” Walsh said. “I don't think he's a deep closer by any means. He's a stronger horse this year and I think we can ride him more prominently.”
When asked about a potential next start for Maxfield, Walsh was non-committal.
“All options are open,” Walsh said. “We will see how he comes out of the race, talk it over with the team at Godolphin and figure out the best plan going forward.”
Maxfield's career bankroll now stands at $489,262.
The post Maxfield Still Unbeaten After Winning Return In Tenacious At Fair Grounds appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
Cool Day Belies Inexperience to Punch BC Ticket in Pellegrini
Making just the fourth start of his career, Cool Day (Arg) (John F Kennedy {Ire}) came with a daring late dash up the rail to upset Saturday’s G1 Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini, earning a spot in the field for the 2021 GI Breeders’ Cup Turf in the process. Pinball Wizard (Arg) (Orpen), the narrow second betting favorite, photoed American-raced Village King (Arg) (Campanologist) to earn place honors.
Guided down to the inside to save ground down the long San Isidro backstretch, Cool Day raced with about three or four behind into the final half-mile. Full of run into the demanding straight, Cool Day was held up for a run with 500 meters to go and again with time ticking away. But, shifted back down to the fence, he knifed through underneath Pinball Wizard and rallied gamely to a narrow score.
Cool Day is one of six winners from the first crop of his sire (Galileo {Ire}–Rumplestiltskin {Ire}), winner of the 2014 G3 Juvenile Turf S. for Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Flaxman Stables and Aidan O’Brien. The winner’s dam is a full-sister to Argentinian champion Cooptado (Arg), winner at home of the G1 Gran Premio Nacional (Argentine Derby) and third in the 2013 Pellegrini and a stakes winner in Singapore, Dubai and in the U.S., where he took the 2017 Tenacious S. under the care of Tom Morley.
Saturday, San Isidro, Argentina
GRAN PREMIO CARLOS PELLEGRINI-INTERNACIONAL-G1, Ar$15,000,080 ($181,227), San Isidro, 12-19, 3yo/up, 2400mT, 2:27.78, gd.
1–COOL DAY (ARG), 118, c, 3, by John F Kennedy (Ire)
1st Dam: Cool Site (Arg), by Equal Stripes (Arg)
2nd Dam: Coordinada (Arg), by Ride the Rails
3rd Dam: Coqueterie (Arg), by Ringaro
1ST STAKES WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Stud Estable C Mariana Eva; B-Haras Abolengo; T-Alfredo Franciso Gaitan Dassie; J-Eduardo Ortega Pavon; Ar$7,500,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-0, $100,619. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: C.
2–Pinball Wizard (Arg), 132, h, 5, Orpen-Pink Pony (Arg), by Pure Prize. O-Stud Don Teodoro; B-Haras Carampangue; T-Jorge Adrian Mayansky Neer; J-Juan Cruz Villagra; Ar$2,250,000.
3–Village King (Arg), 132, h, 6, Campanologist–Villard, by Pleasant Tap. O-Haras El Angel de Venecia; B-Haras Santa Maria de Araras; T-Juan Carlos Etchechoury; J-Brian Rodrigo Enrique; Ar$1,500,000.
Margins: HF, NO, 4. Odds: 8.65, 2.00, 5.70.
Also Ran: Tetaze (Arg), Emotion Orpen (Arg), Rohit Joy (Arg), Quiet Man (Arg), Enfermizo Paradiso (Arg), Last Corredor (Arg), Senor Fancy (Arg), Nunca Digas Never (Arg), Don Ringo (Arg), Negro Dream (Arg). Click for the Hipodromo San Isidro chart. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
WATCH: Cool Day earns a Breeders’ Cup berth in the Carlos Pellegrini
The post Cool Day Belies Inexperience to Punch BC Ticket in Pellegrini appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
