Lincoln Kicks Off Turf Action

It's a case of all eyes on Doncaster on Saturday with the wheel set to turn once again as the Town Moor track stages the opening act of the British Flat Turf season. Alongside the traditional curtain-raiser of the Lincoln H. for the hardened older milers is the Brocklesby S. for juveniles, the annual show of precocity where the focus will inevitably be on Royal Ascot. First-season sires represented include Mohaather (GB) and Without Parole (GB), with the former's son Dukes Of Haather (GB) from the Adrian Keatley stable looking primed for a big debut effort. Perhaps the classiest runner on display is in the Listed Doncaster Mile, where Nurlan Bizakov's G1 St James's Palace S. and Sussex S. third Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) looks to provide the Roger Varian stable with a strong start to the campaign.

“He had a good year last year and it was a shame he drew a blank in terms of wins, but he put up some fine performances,” Varian said. “We're looking forward to him this year and he's training nicely. He looks like he's matured a bit more and we're going to get his season started on Saturday.”

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Footballer Ashley Barnes Banned By BHA

Ashley Barnes, a Norwich City striker, was banned for failing to cooperate in an ongoing investigation by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) this month, Sky Sports reported on Friday.

Barnes, 34, was put on the exclusion list maintained by the racing body, alongside his father-in-law John Higgins. The duo are not allowed on an property licensed by the BHA. Previously a registered owner in Britain, Barnes celebrated a winner with Manor Park (GB) (Medicean {GB}) at Newton Abbot in 2021.

“The BHA can confirm that the Ashley Barnes listed as an excluded person on our website is the professional footballer Ashley Barnes,” a BHA spokesperson told the Daily Mirror. “Mr Barnes has been excluded due to a failure to cooperate with a BHA investigation. As that investigation is ongoing, the BHA will make no further comment.”

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Porta Fortuna Has Classic Trial Option at Leopardstown

The G3 Ballylinch Stud 'Priory Belle' 1,000 Guineas Trial S. at Leopardstown on Sunday, April 7, has been identified as a likely starting point for Porta Fortuna (Ire) as she prepares to embark on her three-year-old campaign.

Trained by Donnacha O'Brien, Porta Fortuna proved herself a high-class juvenile in 2023 when her high-profile victories included the G3 Albany S. at Royal Ascot and G1 Cheveley Park S. at Newmarket. She was last seen filling the runner-up spot in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita.

All roads now lead to the G1 Qipco 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket on Sunday, May 4, for the daughter of Caravaggio, with ground conditions at Leopardstown likely to dictate whether she runs there beforehand.

“She was brilliant for us last season,” O'Brien told Attheraces.com. “When they are so good as two-year-olds, you can never be sure how well they'll train on, but she seems to have wintered particularly well and her recent work has been very good.

“I'd like to run her in the 1,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown, but if the ground is bad, I'll be happy enough to give her a racecourse gallop instead and go straight to the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket.”

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Cairo Purchased By Kuwait’s Refai Alghuraban Ahead Of Dubai Turf Bid

Group 3 winner Cairo (Ire) (Quality Road) has been purchased by Refai Alghuraban, a leading owner in Kuwait. The deal was brokered by Avenue Bloodstock's Mark McStay.

Successful in the G3 Killavullan S. in 2022 for the Coolmore partners and trainer Aidan O'Brien, the bay was second in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas to Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) last May. He kick-started his 4-year-old campaign in his 10th lifetime start with a close runner-up effort in the $500,000 Listed Irish Marketing Cup in Doha, Qatar, in February. The son of listed winner Cuff (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and great grandson of blue hen producer Rafha (GB) (Kris {GB}) is pointing to the 1800-metre G1 Dubai Turf on Mar. 30.

“Cairo ran very well on his first start of 2024 in Doha last month and it's intended that he represent his new owner Mr Refai Alghuraban and his family in the Dubai Turf at Meydan on World Cup night,” McStay said. “Cairo is an extremely well-bred horse who has some excellent form, particularly his run behind Paddington (GB) in the Irish 2000 Guineas last season. As always, it's a very strong renewal of the Dubai Turf, but we're very hopeful for a big run in his new owner's colours. Mr Alghuraban is a leading owner in the gulf region.”

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