Archive for April, 2010
Rachel Alexandra beaten again
Apr 30th
Perhaps it is the weight of the accolade that is holding her back but being voted Horse of the Year has clearly not agreed with Rachel Alexandra. Running for the second race since winning that title in January, Rachel Alexandra was beaten again, this time by Unrivalled Belle in a hard-fought finish at Churchill Downs. [...]
Awzaan can win the 2000 Guineas
Apr 30th
An unbeaten colt, with Group One form, a solid pedigree in terms of stamina and all the potential to improve for his three-year-old season. Sound familiar? However, while St Nicholas Abbey may be all the rage in the markets for the stanjames.com 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, it could be Awzaan who gives Mark Johnston his [...]
Borderlescott has penalty claims in Palace House
Apr 30th
The undercard at Newmarket looks interesting, especially the Group Three stanjames.com Palace House Stakes. Total Gallery was one of the finds of last season as he progressed throughout the summer and proved himself a class sprinter when he won the Group One Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp on Arc day. Read the full story [...]
St Nicholas Abbey needs to go the distance
Apr 30th
Nine months ago he was an unknown, in six months’ time he could be a legend but it will take less than 100 seconds on Saturday to determine whether St Nicholas Abbey is potentially the eighth wonder or more one of the five-minute variety. He goes to post at Newmarket for the stanjames.com 2000 Guineas [...]
Rachel Alexandra ready for special duty
Apr 29th
The Kentucky Oaks is meant to be the star of the show but it seems destined to be upstaged by a real diva this year. The Oaks is traditionally the headline race for Friday’s card at Churchill Downs, before the main event of the Derby on Saturday. But the spotlight will surely be diverted, following [...]
Illustrious day for William Knight as Ascot
Apr 28th
Keep the faith is the motto for many a trainer during times of adversity. Since William Knight first took out a trainer’s licence each journey to Ascot has been a return trip with a loser. Then, like buses, two arrived at once. Not just any two, but a big-race double headed by Illustrious Blue’s victory [...]
BHA’s Laura Young ban looks watered down
Apr 28th
A horse failing a drugs test is hardly earth-shattering news. It can happen for a variety of reasons from a contaminated batch of feed to something more nefarious. There was even the case of the horse who took a bite out his lad’s Mars bar a few hours before he won a race. The post-race [...]
Richard Hannon has the x-factor at Ascot
Apr 28th
Few trainers can match Richard Hannon’s enthusiasm for racing and fewer still can keep up with his present form. A 24% strike-rate for April shows the wellbeing of his yard and it can be added to at Ascot today. Blue Angel has not done much for the statistics in her last four runs but she [...]
Todd Pletcher lines up 2010 Kentucky Derby contenders
Apr 27th
Todd Pletcher lines up 2010 Kentucky Derby contenders.Tony McCoy and Todd Pletcher might struggle to recognise each other in the street but both would identify with the striving to win the sport’s most elusive of glittering prizes. McCoy finally won his personal battle for the Grand National three weeks ago, at the 15th attempt, [...]
Kieren Fallon’s grounds for doubt about Seta
Apr 27th
This year’s Guineas meeting at Newmarket appears to be something between a famine and a feast for Kieren Fallon. The former champion jockey is currently without a ride for the stanjames.com 2000 Guineas but had a choice from two of the leading contenders for the 1000 Guineas and now must hope that he has chosen [...]
Recent Comments