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Big Sprint Targets For Acklam Express

The Nigel Tinkler-trained 3-year-old Acklam Express (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) will stay in Dubai and target the key five-furlong sprints at the end of the carnival after finishing second to the elder Equilateral (GB) (Equiano {Fr}) in the G2 Meydan Sprint last week.

Acklam Express could resurface in the G3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint on Super Saturday Mar. 6, or wait for the G1 Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night on Mar. 27.

“He ran a marvellous race,” Tinkler said. “He's very well, came out of the race absolutely fine. He's entered for Super Saturday. He might run there. We'll know in a few days if we've got an invite for World Cup night. If he gets an invite for that, he might just go straight there.”

Tinkler provided an update on another speedy 3-year-old in his North Yorkshire yard, Martin Webb's G2 Flying Childers S. winner and G2 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint third Ubettabelieveit (GB) (Kodiac {GB}).

“He went to Mark Dwyer's for the winter,” Tinkler said. “He's been back three weeks, and we're very happy with him. We don't know what races there are, because we've only got the programme book until April. The next one doesn't come out for a fortnight, so I can't say anything concrete. In a normal year we'd look at the something like the [G2] Temple S. or a race at York at the May meeting, before going to Royal Ascot. I don't think he's going to go beyond five furlongs.”

Tinkler reflected on the situation of having two exciting pattern-level 3-year-olds in the yard, saying, “It's just amazing to think one of them is rated 110 and the other is rated 109–and they live next door to each other,” he said. “They were two of the fastest 2-year-olds in the UK last season–over five furlongs there won't be many rated higher, and they are next-door neighbours. It's unbelievable, it's just fortune.”

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Goffs Weanlings Online As Irish Restrictions Continue

The second part of the Goffs February Sale, which had been delayed until March 11 in the hope that it could be held as normal, will now be conducted as a live online sale in light of ongoing Covid restrictions in Ireland.

This section of the sale is for weanlings only, with broodmares and horses in training having been auctioned online during the sale's original dates of Feb. 9 and 10.

On Tuesday, Ireland's Taoiseach Micheál Martin announced that the country would remain in lockdown under Level 5 restrictions until April 5, a move which precludes people attending sales grounds.

“Whilst this is not our first choice, an online option offers an opportunity to trade and several vendors implored us not to simply cancel the sale,” said Goffs Group Chief Executive, Henry Beeby.

“We recognise it will not suit some and that buyers would prefer a physical sale, as would we, but we must react and adapt to the latest Government directives. At this stage we simply cannot say with any degree of certainty when we could hold a physical sale that is both safe and compliant in the short term, and vendors need certainty as they plan their year rather than yet more delays”.

As at previous online sales conducted last autumn for yearlings and more recently for mixed stock, vendors will be asked to upload conformation films and veterinary information to the Goffs website as an aid to potential purchasers.

The weanlings, or short yearlings, will be presented with veterinary certificates against which purchasers can re-examine within 48 hours of the fall of hammer to give added confidence to bidders. Online details for each lot will include a farm location where applicable for potential local buyers to arrange a socially-distanced inspection if required.

Three online sales have been held by Goffs since the start of the pandemic, and its live bidding platform, which has also been in use to support regular sales which have been relocated, has been utilised by bidders in 22 countries, with over €7.6 million of business conducted during that time.

Also in light of ongoing lockdown measures, Tattersalls Ireland has rescheduled its February National Hunt Sale. It will take place at Fairyhouse on Apr. 7.

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Beck Edmunds Named Employee of the Year at the 2021 GSSS Awards

Rebecca 'Beck' Edmunds of Bryan Smart Racing was named the 2021 Employee of the Year at the virtual Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards on Monday evening. The free-to-air broadcast was hosted by ITV Racing's Ed Chamberlin on Racing TV, while the GSSS Awards were organised by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) in conjunction with the Racing Post and Racing TV.

Edmunds, Head Girl of Bryan Smart Racing and married to Smart's assistant trainer Kevin Edmunds, has worked at the yard for 17 years. She will receive £10,000 for herself and a further £10,000 will be shared among her colleagues at Bryan Smart racing. She also won the Leadership Award, which is another £5,000 for herself and £5,000 split between her fellow employees. Edmunds was viewed as a mentor and role model by her peers. Her ability to think outside the box and her empathy for her equine charges has made her a superb ambassador both inside her yard and for the sport as a whole.

The other category winners on the night were:

Newcomer: Alice Price – Ben Pauling
Leadership: Rebecca 'Beck' Edmunds – Bryan Smart
Rider/Groom: Joanna Lacisz – Sir Michael Stoute
Stud Staff: Elody Swann – Newsells Park Stud
Dedication: Joline Saunders – Richard Phillips

There was also a special Community Award which was presented to Richard Phillips in recognition of the wonderful work Rory MacDonald achieved at The British Racing School. All told, £128,500 was awarded to the dedicated stud and stable staff of British racing. A celebratory event is being planned for the summer of 2021 to honour the evening's winners and nominees. For the full results, please visit: www.studandstablestaffawards.co.uk.

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Princess Zoe Headed to Alleged

Group 1 winner Princess Zoe (Ger) (Jukebox Jury {Ire}) is targeting the G3 Alleged S. at The Curragh in April for her seasonal return according to trainer Tony Mullins. A winner of the G1 Prix du Cadran, the charismatic grey mare was last seen in action finishing fourth in the G1 Prix Royal-Oak at ParisLongchamp in October.

“We're looking at the Alleged S.,” the Gowran trainer tweeted. “It's only a mile and a quarter. I don't know if it's a winnable distance for her at that level, but we're going to try it.

“I have always been adamant that she's as good at a mile and a half as she is at two and a half–so we're going to set about proving it. If we're wrong we'll switch back and use distance races, but her work has shown me she is a group filly at a mile and a half–and we intend to prove it to the public.”

He added, “She's done loads of slow work in very soft ground and will probably go away now. Jim Bolger very kindly lets us work in his place so she might go there or up the Old Vic on The Curragh and then we'll decide the next move after the first piece of work.”

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