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Box To Box Has Sights Set on Turf Series Bonus Prize

A $40,000 bonus prize is up for grabs when the fifth and final round of the 2023-24 Bahrain Turf Series takes place at the Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club on Friday, February 16.

The bonus is awarded to the leading points scorer in the middle-distance division which is currently the George Scott-trained Isle Of Jura (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) with 25 points, ahead of old rival Lucander (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) on 22 points. However, neither horse is eligible to run in the Vision 2030 race (sponsored by Beyon), the final points-scoring opportunity in the middle-distance division, following rises in their handicap ratings.

Ranked third with 18 points, Box To Box (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) therefore has the potential to leapfrog the two horses above him and secure the bonus if he was to win or finish second in the Vision 2030 race. Likewise, Parlando (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) still has a chance of landing the prize having already amassed 13 points, though only a win would be good enough for him to jump to the top of the standings.

Trainer Hugo Palmer said of Box To Box, “He had five long weeks between his second and third runs and as a consequence of him training on the flat terrain and enjoying the sunshine, he did a little too well in the interim. He definitely needed the run last time out. Indeed, beforehand he was heavier than he has ever been for a race but he's lost all that now and is back to where we want him. Getting him back down to his racing weight and the step back up to 2000m will be in his favour.”

In the sprint division, Brazen Bolt (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}) holds an unassailable lead on 40 points heading into the final round and is guaranteed the $40,000 bonus, worth $25,000 to the owners and $15,000 to the trainer.

The feature race on Friday's card is the His Highness Shaikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup (sponsored by Bapco Energies) in which Isle Of Jura and Lucander are set to go head-to-head for a fourth time this season. Lucander won the 2023 running of the Shaikh Nasser Cup but has found Isla Of Jura too strong in two of their three previous meetings, latterly in the Listed Crown Prince's Cup earlier this month.

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First Reported Foals For Naval Crown

The first reported foals for G1 Platinum Jubilee S. hero Naval Crown (GB) have arrived, Darley Europe announced.

A chestnut colt out of A Touch Of Luck (Ger) (Frankel {GB}) arrived this week. He was bred by Robert Draper. His second dam is G1 Preis der Diana third Aigrette Garzette (Ire) (Peintre Celebre).

Another new arrival was a colt out of Thaleia (Ire) (Tagula {Ire}) from the extended family of multiple group winner Endless Drama (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). David Ryan of Kilfrush Stud said the colt had “size, scope and bone, a really good foal.”

A bay filly was born on Feb. 2 and bred by Gerrardstown House Stud. She is out of Fleur de Lui (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and was described by Donie Fahy as having “good size and scope. Very correct filly with a lovely head.” She is a relative of the Group 1 winner The Revenant (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).

Two other fillies have also been reported so far–a daughter of Golden Angel (Ire) (War Command) who arrived in late January at Hawes Stud and a filly out of Iffa Red (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) bred by Kilweelran, Ltd. Michael Gaffney described the former as “a fine, big foal with good bone. She has loads of quality and great action.”

The son of Dubawi (Ire) stands at Darley's Kildangan Stud in Ireland for €10,000.

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Harris Withdraws Appeal Regarding Licensing Committee’s Ruling

After appealing the British Horseracing Authority (BHA)'s ruling regarding his licence last week, former trainer Milton Harris has now withdrawn that appeal, the BHA confirmed on Wednesday.

Harris had his licence suspended in November and withdrawn in January by the BHA's Licensing Committee. The agency ruled he was not a “fit and proper person” to hold a training licence.

Regarding the BHA's concerns, the Licensing Committee said, they surrounded “the nature and extent of MH's admitted breaches of the conditions which already exist on his licence, which were imposed in 2018 and MH's failure to be candid in his dealings with the BHA in respect of those breaches, particularly when the BHA was seeking to provide opportunities for MH to remedy those breaches”, “misconduct in his dealings with others, including fellow licence holder Mr Simon Earle” and “in respect of safeguarding arising out of MH's conduct with young persons employed at his racing yard”.

Harris began training in 2001 but ceased training from 2011 to 2018 due to financial issues.

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Kendargent Mare Tops Final Arqana Session

Damkena (Fr), a daughter of Kendargent (Fr) in foal to Galiway (GB), took top honours with a bid of €62,000 as the Arqana February Sale drew to a close in Deauville on Wednesday.

Offered by Haras de Grandcamp, the eight-year-old mare is a sister to the Group 3 winner Kendam (Fr) who has already produced a Group 3 winner herself on this same cross in Kenway (Fr). The latter is a new recruit to the stallion ranks in Ireland at Coolagown Stud. Sold at lot 266, the mare was bought by Yellow Agency.

With 241 horses sold over the two days, which was just one fewer than last year, turnover dropped by 24% to €2,853,000, though the clearance rate remained steady at 78%. Following a quieter second session, the average was down by 23% at €11,722 and the median dropped to €5,000 from €6,500 in 2023.

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