Letter To The Editor: White Turf Dispatch From The Cashmere Club

Operation Cashmere Club's assault on the White Turf of St. Moritz under the leadership of Generals Bromagen, Restrepo and Scherer began with a two-pronged attack, the primary force descending from Zurich in the North and a secondary force coming up from Milano in the South. The combined force of 70 plus Americans, Canadians, Irish, English and French converged upon the Hotel Kempinski Bar at 18:30 hours Thursday.

In the face of such overwhelming odds the Kempinski Bar offered no resistance. The pattern continued Friday with a daytime assault on The Paradiso completely depleting its stores of champagne, rose' and lobster. Activities were renewed Friday evening with Kings Social Club at Badrutt's Palace subjugated until 04:30 Saturday.

The White Turf race | Davant Latham

The disappointing news of racing being canceled due to unsafe surface conditions did not lessen the esprit d'corp of this expeditionary force, however it did call for a change of tactics. The force was divided into smaller groups and successful forays continued on the slopes, among the tents on the racecourse, in the shopping district and at the Segantini Museum. Saturday evening a White Turf Reception for racing owners was held, where our forces were welcomed and invited to return. Our force has vowed to return in our pursuit of the ultimate goal, the Grosser Preis St. Moritz.

–The Cashmere Club

P.S. Although an initial effort led by General Restrepo against the Dracula Club was repulsed, a later commando effort was successful in breaching its high security and infiltrating the objective. The secrets of the Dracula Club are now known but highly classified and not available to the general public.

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Final Day Of The White Turf Meeting Cancelled At St Moritz On Sunday

The final day of the White Turf meeting at St. Moritz has been cancelled, the Rennverein St. Moritz announced on Friday.

The statement read, “Due to the current weather conditions and the resulting condition of the racecourse, the Rennverein St. Moritz has decided with a heavy heart to cancel all races this coming Sunday, 18 of February. This decision was taken by the board of the Rennverein St. Moritz in close consultation with See-Infra AG as well as partners and sponsors. The event site will remain open on both days and admission is free of charge.”

There was a track inspection on Friday via drone that revealed various cracks and damp patches that had not frozen overnight. As a result, racing on Sunday–featuring the crown jewel of St. Moritz, the Grosser Preis von St. Moritz, was cancelled and Saturday's Family Day was held with a reduced programme. For more information, please visit the White Turf website.

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Baker Aims for St Moritz Success With American Ownership Group

George Baker is set to saddle two runners in the Grosser Preis von St Moritz–the feature race on the final day of the White Turf meeting at St Moritz on Sunday, Feb. 18–including Cumulonimbus (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), who will be having just his second start for the trainer and a new American ownership group which includes Kentucky Derby-winning owner Ramiro Restrepo.

The jet-setting Baker will fly to Switzerland from Bahrain after supervising his team of runners at Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club on Friday, Feb. 16, headed by recent Turf Series winner Lucander (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) when he lines up in the His Highness Shaikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup.

Baker, who memorably won the 2020 running of the Grosser Preis von St Moritz with Wargrave (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), is excited to return to the White Turf meeting on Sunday when Cemhaan (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) joins Cumulonimbus in a two-pronged attack on the race.

“St Moritz has been a part of our racing plans for many years,” said Baker. “We won with a horse called Ancient Greece around 10 years ago. He won at all three race meetings on the White Turf which was the first time any horse had ever done that.

“We then went back a few years ago with Wargrave who managed to win the Grosser Preis von St Moritz, which was a great thrill. It's always been on our radar and going back with two horses is exciting.”

Going on to talk about the ownership group involved in Cumulonimbus, Baker said, “Cumulonimbus is a new addition to the team. He is a horse that my wife Candida and I loved when we saw him at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale in October but he went for 150,000gns so we thought he was gone on to other pastures.

“But we were called that night by Ramiro Restrepo, who is involved in the syndicate that won the Kentucky Derby last year with Mage. Ramiro had noted our exploits on the frozen lake at St Moritz and the call was a lovely one to get as it was to ask us to train the horse and prepare him for St Moritz if we were interested.

“It's a great thrill to have owners like this on board. The syndicate that Ramiro and his other partners have put together comprises of big names in American racing including trainers, bloodstock agents and farm owners across Kentucky and elsewhere in the USA.

“It is a wonderful contingent of racing minds and there is going to be over 80 of them flying over to make the most of the White Turf experience.”

Restrepo, who is new to ownership in Britain, added, “We are very excited for this new adventure. This has been the plan since Martin Buick bought him for us at Tattersalls in October. The Grosser Preis von St Moritz is a unique race and George Baker knows how to win it. We just can't wait to get there now and see Cumulonimbus do his thing. We'd love to win it!

“After his race in St Moritz, we are looking forward to an action-packed campaign in the UK. He has a rating that could see him line up at Royal Ascot, so it should be a fun year!”

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2022 White Turf Programme Announced

After the 114th General Assembly of the St Moritz Racing Club at Badrutt's Palace Hotel in St. Moritz last week, the 2022 White Turf dates were announced.

Racing will be held over three White Turf Race Days–on Feb. 6, 13 and 20, and the White Turf site will be open to the public throughout that three-week period around race Sundays. There will also be free White Turf Family Days on the three Saturdays adjacent to the race days-Feb. 5, 12, and 19, where kids will be allowed to practice their skijoring and there will be other family-oriented activities on offer. In addition, on weekdays from Jan. 31 to Feb 4, Feb. 7 to 11 and Feb. 14-18, the White Turf Experience Days will be open to the public at the White Turf site. Linked with the municipality of St. Moritz, these “Amusements on the Lake”, which debuted in 2021, will provide opportunities for skijoring, ice skating, cross-country skiing and hiking on the lake.

During the meeting of the club, the annual accounts were also adopted. Manuel Weber will take over as cashier from Maya Sonderegger, who had served in that role since 2020. For more information on the White Turf meeting, please visit https://www.whiteturf.ch/.

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