Top News Europe | Horse Racing Free Tips

Group 1-Winning Trainer Mick Channon To Retire

Mick Channon, who began training in 1989, will retire at the end of 2022, he announced on Saturday. The former football player will give his training operation to his son Jack. Now 73, Channon has saddled over 2,500 winners on the Flat in Britain, and his Group 1 winners include Piccolo (GB) (Warning {GB}), Zafeen (Fr) (Zafonic), Tobougg (Ire) (Barathea {Ire}) and Queen's Logic (Ire) (Grand Lodge).

Channon said, “The licence will be handed over to Jack as from the start of next year. It's been a great way of life for over 30 years and I can't thank everyone that has helped us enough. I couldn't have got there without them.

“I started with 10 horses in Lambourn where we had a great time, and Jack was born there. We had some good horses and good people work for us.

“When I came in I was a footballer entering the big horrible world of horse racing, but we thought if we bought some sharp 2-year-olds we would have a chance of making it. Everyone does that now, but we had Gill Richardson who was a great judge at the sales and bought us a lot of nice horses. I have to thank her and Gill Hedley, who still runs the show, and also Peter Tain and Patrick Trant.

“We bought a lot of cheap horses for Jaber Abdullah such as Queen's Logic, Flashy Wings (GB) (Zafonic) and Music Show (Ire) (Noverre), as well as Zafeen who was second in the [G1 2000] Guineas and won the [G1] St James's Palace S. Jaber was brilliant.”

Channon also came very close to taking the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe three times with the luckless Youmzain (Ire) (Sinndar {Ire}) (2007-2009).

“Youmzain was a very good older horses who according to French rules should have been awarded his first Arc in the race won by Dylan Thomas (Ire) (Danehill),” Channon reflected. “It was the only time over there I didn't see a result turned around for the interference that occurred. But he went on to win the [G1] Grand Prix de Paris and finish second in three Arcs on the bounce.”

He added, “I wish Jack well, he's ably assisted me for seven seasons and the time is right for him to take over. But I will still be around, helping on the breeding side and not in the wilderness.”

Jack Channon said, “Dad will be more integral than ever and the most important part of my team. He will still do what he enjoys most and if anything he will enjoy it more.

“I spent a year with Graham Motion in the States and another with John O'Shea in Australia. And time with Clive Brittain.

“The plan is to start with around 60 [head]. Certain Lad (GB) (Clodovil {Ire}) is a very decent older horse and there will be the Lincoln and Cambridgeshire winners Johan (GB) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Majestic (Ire) (Conduit {Ire}) as well as some very nice 3-year-olds like Rathgar (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}), Moush (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) and today's runner Caernarfon (GB) (Cityscape {GB}).

“All the owners have been sensational standing by dad and me and I'm blessed to have all their continued support to make training a success. I'm extremely lucky to start in a place like West Ilsley which has so much heritage, notwithstanding the best gallops in the world.”

The post Group 1-Winning Trainer Mick Channon To Retire appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Mishriff And Nashwa Primed For Breeders’ Cup Bids

Multiple Group 1-winning duo Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) and Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {Ire}) pleased co-trainers John and Thady Gosden in their final gallops on Friday ahead of the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland. Racing in the colours of Prince Faisal and Imad Al Sagar, respectively, the pair are part of a 23-strong British contingent that is making the trip to Kentucky on Saturday for the two-day meeting on Nov. 4 and 5.

The 5-year-old entire, who will stand under the Sumbe banner at Haras de Montfort et Preaux in France after his GI Breeders' Cup Turf bid, has won Group 1s is France, the UAE and the UK, as well as the first edition of the $20-million Saudi Cup. From six runs this season, he's placed in the G1 Eclipse S., G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S., and G1 Juddmonte International S. Fourth in the G1 Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown in September, Mishriff was unplaced in very soft ground in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

“You have to have the horse that can travel, that has the mind and the strength for it, and that versatility of distance and surface, and he's certainly managed to do that,” Gosden reflected. “When you have a horse who can handle those variations, it's fine.”

After several tardy breaks this season, the Clarehaven team had worked with Mishriff on the issue and Gosden said, “He broke well in his last start, he was very good, and the one before, the Juddmonte International. So he has been much better at that and we actually jumped him out yesterday and he was very much on the ball and broke well, so hopefully he's put that well behind him.”

Nashwa has yet to be off the board in seven starts under Hollie Doyle, and sports victories in the G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Nassau S. after running third in the G1 Oaks this term. She was a narrow second in the G1 Prix de l'Opera at ParisLongchamp on Oct. 2 when last seen. She holds an entry for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

John Gosden said, “She's a very strong filly for a 3-year-old. Three-years'-old often is early enough to be going to a Breeders' Cup, but as you saw today, she's up for it, she's strong, a very purposeful filly.

“We've planned since the Nassau S. at Goodwood to go for the Opera and then the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. It's a mile and three sixteenths this year, we would prefer it if it were a mile and a quarter but that's the layout of the track. If she breaks well and gets a nice position, she'll run a big race.”

If either of the Gosdens' pair prevail, it would be the elder's fifth Breeders' Cup victory, and his son's first.

The post Mishriff And Nashwa Primed For Breeders’ Cup Bids appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Trio Of Stakes Winners Added To Arqana’s Vente D’Elevage

Dual listed winner Burgarita (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), and group winners Oscula (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}) and Waldbiene (Fr) (Intello {Ger}) have been added to Arqana's Vente d'Elevage from Dec. 3-6. The trio will sell during Part I of the catalogue, which is available in its entirety on Monday, Oct. 31.

Besides taking the Listed Prix de la Seine and Listed Prix Casimir Delamarre, the Andre Fabre-trained Burgarita also placed in the G1 Prix de Diane, as well as three more group races from just 12 starts. She is a half-sister to G3 Prix Allez France heroin Aquamarine (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), already the dam of stakes winner and multiple group placed Ultramarine (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). Her dam, the Alzao mare Angelita (Ire), is a sister to two-time Grade I winner Angara (GB) (Alzao). In the extended family are Group 1 winners Arcangues (Sagace {Fr}), Agathe (Manila), Aquarelliste (Fr) (Danehill), and Artiste Royal (Ire) (Danehill).

A winner of the G3 Prix Six Perfections and third in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac as a juvenile, Oscula added to her black-type laurels this term with victories in the G3 Oak Tree S. and G3 Prix de Lieurey for trainer George Boughey and Nick Bradley Racing. She is rated 107, and hails from the family of G2 Mill Reef S. winner Galeota (Ire) (Mujadil), and fellow group winners Brown Sugar (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), Burnt Sugar (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Wings Of War (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), and Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}).

Rounding out the trio is the Intello 4-year-old Waldbiene, who took the G2 T von Zastrow Stutenpreis and was also runner-up in the G3 Grosser Preis des Gestuts Auenquelle und Torquator Tasso. Rated 100, she will be offered by Ronald Rauscher and is out of the group-placed Waldjagd (GB) (Observatory). Her second dam is group winner Wurftaube (Ger) (Acatenango {Ger), and she is kin to top-level winners Masked Marvel (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}), Walgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and Wake Forest (Ger) (Sir Percy {GB}).

The post Trio Of Stakes Winners Added To Arqana’s Vente D’Elevage appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Septet Of Wildcards Announced For Arqana’s Autumn Sale

Seven wildcards, led by the group-placed Make Me King (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) (lot 345), have been added to the Arqana Autumn Sale, which begins on Monday, Nov. 14 and ends on Nov. 17. Other late Flat additions include the 95-rated Corcovado (Fr) (Kheleyf) (lot 362), Weston (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) (lot 363), and the listed winner Niagaro (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) (lot 376).

Over jumps, a trio of winning wildcards have signed on in Les Yeux Noirs (Fr) (Doctor Dino {Fr}) (lot 387), Umfolozi (Fr) (Spanish Moon) (lot 397), and lot 398, the AQPS Joyeuse (Fr) (No Risk At All {Fr}) from the family of multiple Grade 1 winner Epatante (Fr) (No Risk At All {Fr}).

The post Septet Of Wildcards Announced For Arqana’s Autumn Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post