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Quarantine Exemption Possible for Jockeys Competing on Arc Weekend

British jockeys may yet be exempt from two weeks of self-isolation after competing at ParisLongchamp on Arc Weekend Oct. 3-4. The British Horseracing Authority is making a submission to Public Health England on Tuesday. Currently due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, anyone traveling back from France is required to self-isolate for seven days under the elite sportsperson’s exemption rather than the normal fortnight. If the exemption is allowed, stable staff and trainers would also be included along with jockeys. If the exemption is not granted, many high profile riders would not be eligible to compete on Future Champions Day on Oct. 10.

“Our COVID-19 protocols are kept under constant review,” said a BHA spokesman. “The existing protocols around elite sportspeople and essential support staff–which includes jockeys, trainers and stable staff–travelling to countries with self-isolation restrictions allow for the period of self-isolation to be reduced to a minimum of seven days upon completion of the necessary testing.

“We are currently looking at these protocols with a view to making a submission to Public Health England that they might be adjusted, which may include a full exemption from self-isolation for the purposes of training and competition if a strict testing regime and rigorous travel and separation protocols are adhered to.

“We will look to provide further updates in the next 24 hours.”

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TDN Q & A With Nicolas de Watrigant

With the yearling sales now in full swing TDN quizzes industry figures on past purchases, life during lockdown and gets their perspective on the sales for the next few weeks. Nicolas de Watrigant answers our questions today.

TDN: What was your best yearling purchase over the last few years? And your favourite?

NDW: From the 2014 Arqana August sale, Qemah (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) was definitely one of the very best horses I have purchased. Winning both the Prix Rothschild G1 at Deauville and the G1 Coronation S. during Royal Ascot, in front of Her Majesty The Queen, is one of my fondest racing memories and it was an amazing moment for H.E Sheikh Joaan Al Thani and all of the filly’s connections.

TDN: Is there any positive you have taken from how the sales have been conducted this year?

NDW: Absolutely, I think the different sales companies in the world have managed to adapt really well to the problem, whether with re-arranging sales dates and locations, but also giving more information to the buyers online and the opportunity to buy online. This is a great step for the future. The sales companies who have combined their efforts and worked together, have in my opinion, shown true intelligence in a difficult moment.

TDN: How has your business adapted?

NDW: As we couldn’t move from home during lockdown, it gave me the opportunity to spend time with my family while I was getting news on the phone from the different trainers that we’re working with. It enabled me to continue reporting to our clients. As soon as lockdown was over we got back to a nearly normal life, on mornings going to the various training centers in France to check clients’ horses and sourcing new horses for others clients. We realized that, in France, we were lucky that racing resumed shortly after, even though we weren’t able to attend racing.

TDN: In general what are your thoughts on the 2020 yearling catalogues? And what progeny of new stallions are you most looking forward to?

NDW: The 2020 Arqana Select Sale catalogue appears to be a very good vintage with the offspring of many proven stallions such as Galileo (Ire), Dubawi (Ire), Sea the Stars (Ire), Frankel (GB), Kingman (GB), Lope de Vega (Ire), Invincible Spirit (Ire), Le Havre (Ire), Siyouni (Fr), Kodiac (GB), Wootton Bassett (GB), Dark Angel (Ire), etc. I believe that it really is a year of opportunities, and the chance for owner/breeders to get into big European families from England, Ireland, Germany and Italy at more reasoned prices.

The Arqana Select Sale has proved over the years that it is a great source of top class horses, more recently with G1 horses like Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) who won the French Derby for Peter Brandt, or with Uni (GB) (More Than Ready) who is a Breeders’ Cup Mile & triple Grade I winner in the USA, which I was lucky to purchase in association with Bradley Weisbord for Madaket and their partners.

As for the new stallions, I am naturally looking forward to see the first yearlings of Al Wukair (Ire), whom I purchased as a yearling for Al Shaqab Racing. Al Wukair won the G1 Jacques le Marois as a 3-year-old just like Kingman and Dubawi, and was a close third in the G1 2000 Guineas to another young and talented horse, Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

TDN: Did you develop any new interests or hobbies during lockdown?

NDW: I think my wife, Meryl, was hoping for me to improve my cooking skills during that time, but it didn’t happen. I love gardening, during lockdown it was a great excuse for me to exercise this passion with my kids.

TDN: Who’s the most interesting person you know?

NDW: Without hesitation I would say Mrs. Tsui, the owner of Sea The Stars, who I am lucky to work with. I have a lot of admiration for what she has achieved in her life. Mrs. Tsui won the Arc twice with both the incredible mare Urban Sea (Miswaki) and her son Sea The Stars, nearly three times with Sea Of Class (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) beaten a nose by Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). She is a women who is very knowledgeable in many sectors of many industries.

TDN: What’s one mistake (if any) you made in your career, and what did you learn from it?

NDW: I am always following my instinct to make the right decision but not listening to my wife was my mistake in the past, as she is great adviser. I now make sure I listen to her.

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Ryan Moore Called Up for Irish Champions Weekend

Ryan Moore, who rides first call for Ballydoyle trainer Aidan O’Brien, has entered quarantine in Ireland as of last Saturday and will be riding in Ireland at Irish Champions Weekend on Sept. 12-13. These will be Moore’s first rides in Ireland in 2020, as COVID-19 has kept him in the UK earlier in the season.

“As people travelling from the UK to Ireland currently have to quarantine on arrival for 14 days, I flew over immediately after racing at Goodwood last Saturday afternoon so that I could ride at the Irish Champions Weekend, starting on Sept. 12 at Leopardstown and moving on to The Curragh the following day,” Moore told Betfair. “It means that I am stuck in a house on my own for a fortnight, but it is well worth that small hardship. It has obviously been a touch frustrating on a personal level, watching so many of our stars winning in Ireland this season, while I have had to stay at home.

“It is just not missing out on the likes of the Classic winners like Santiago (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}) in the Irish Derby and Peaceful (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the Irish 1000 Guineas, but it is getting to know the youngsters and other horses, too.

“There is no substitute for getting a first-hand feel for all of the horses, as I always say. There is only so much a form book, or a video, can tell you. Not that I can even ride out while I am over here, but hopefully Aidan has lined up a strong team for the meeting.

“Irish Champions Weekend is so important that it made total sense for me to come over. It is a major meeting that you always want to be part of. It is a shame that there will be no one on track, but it is a fantastic programme of racing with top-class horses.”

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Spectatorless Racing to Continue in UK

In the latest resumption of racing update, racing behind closed doors is set to continue for the foreseeable future, the British Horseracing Authority announced on Thursday. The BHA thanked participants for their continued support and cooperation in following the behind closed doors protocols, but stressed that with both government and public health concerns about a rise in cases and a potential ‘second wave’ of COVID-19 cases, that it is vital everyone in racing continues to follow the proper protocols so that progress can be resumed towards re-introduction of spectators at the earliest available opportunity through the rescheduling of pilot events.

BHA Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jerry Hill has requested all participants and racecourse attendees to follow the following three steps to help keep everyone safe:

Follow all the social distancing requirements when you attend racing, whether you’re in the ‘green zone’ for participants or the owners’ area.
Do not cross from one zone to another, as this weakens the controls and could lead to many more people being quarantined if there is a positive case, as well as risking people’s health.
Please let the BHA’s Medical Team (medical@britishhorseracing.com) know if there’s a positive case so they can liaise with the public health authorities to manage the NHS Test & Trace process with the minimum impact. Dr. Hill can offer advice to employers, which can limit the effects on their business whilst keeping staff safe.

The BHA also reminded all racing personnel that the reason restrictions have not been further eased, is that the specific government guidance for elite sport applies to racing, whereas these same restrictions would not be applied to local businesses, like the local pub. Public health authorities have also made it clear to the BHA that they will consider a 14-day quarantine period for all racecourse attendees in the same zone as someone who tests positive for COVID-19.

For more information on the latest resumption of racing update, go to www.britishhorseracing.com.

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