Mon, 10/05/2015 - 15:25

Golden Horn, Flintshire might get rematch in BC Turf

Barbara D. Livingston
Flintshire finished second to Golden Horn in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. The pair could meet again in the Breeders' Cup Turf.

A rematch in the Breeders’ Cup Turf between the first two finishers in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is not something American racing fans have gotten to contemplate, but that is very much on the table this year when the Breeders’ Cup comes to Keeneland for the first time.

Sun, 10/04/2015 - 14:10

Longchamp: Make Believe may be headed to Breeders' Cup Mile

The 2-year-old Ultra and 3-year-old Make Believe gave leading French trainer Andre Fabre important wins in Group 1 stakes on the undercard of Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe program at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris.

Make Believe’s win in the $336,000 Prix de la Foret at seven furlongs may lead to a start in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland on Oct. 31.

Sun, 10/04/2015 - 13:20

Golden Horn denies Treve third Arc victory

Treve could not get her historic third win in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, but trainer John Gosden got his first when Golden Horn scored a  two-length victory over Flintshire on Sunday at Longchamp.

Frankie Dettori parked Golden Horn just off the flank of Treve’s pacemaker, Shahah, and stayed there until there was about a quarter-mile left in the Arc. Then he asked Golden Horn for run and the English Derby winner gave it to him, opening daylight on a star-studded field and never giving any of the closers a chance.

Sat, 10/03/2015 - 14:33

Esoterique wins second straight Group 1 in Sun Chariot

Esoterique won her second consecutive Group 1 race Saturday in the $377,000 Sun Chariot Stakes for female turf milers at Newmarket Racecourse in England, a victory that could lead to an appearance in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland on Oct. 31.

Esoterique, the 11-8 favorite, won the Sun Chariot Stakes by a half-length over Integral, the 2014 winner. Esoterique was ridden by Pierre Charles Boudot, who dropped his whip in the final furlong but still guided his mount to the front in the final sixteenth to get by the pacesetting Integral.

Fri, 10/02/2015 - 15:01

Longchamp: Breeders’ Cup berths up for grabs in three Group 1 stakes

There are seven Group 1 races on Sunday’s nine-race program at Longchamp Racecourse, annually the highlight of racing on the French calendar. Three races on the undercard for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe are part of the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In program and may produce runners for Breeders’ Cup races at Keeneland on Oct. 30-31.

Fri, 10/02/2015 - 13:50

Treve goes for Arc hat trick

Barbara D. Livingston
Flintshire wins the Sword Dancer Stakes by 2 1/2 lengths Saturday at Saratoga.

In 2014, Treve looked like a dim shadow of her best self, yet she stormed to a two-length victory in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, winning the biggest prize in European racing for the second year in a row. This fall, Treve, well, is very much Treve again. No talk of sore feet or a misaligned back, no worries about her never being the same again. She won her Arc prep, the Prix Vermeille, by six lengths while absolutely cruising under the wire, and all subsequent reports from the camp of trainer Criquette Head-Maarek point to a horse loving life, itching to race.

Thu, 10/01/2015 - 15:12

Newmarket: Integral, Esoterique meet again in Sun Chariot

The 5-year-old mare Integral will make her third consecutive appearance in the Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes at a mile on turf for fillies and mares at Newmarket Racecourse in England on Saturday, a race she won last year.

Integral will not be favored, a role that will go to the French shipper Esoterique, who won the Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville, France, on Aug. 15.

Wed, 09/30/2015 - 14:31

Treve aims for unprecedented third Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe win

No horse has won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe three times, and in fact, no horse even has tried – not until Sunday, when Treve can etch even more deeply her place in racing history if she wins her third Arc.

Wed, 09/30/2015 - 13:14

Singapore Turf Club discontinues two Group 1 races

ARCADIA, Calif. – The Singapore Turf Club announced this week that two Group 1, seven-figure international turf races that were fixtures on the May calendar have been discontinued.

The Singapore Airlines International Cup at 1 1/4 miles, which was worth $3.95 million this year, and the Krisflyer International Sprint at six furlongs, worth $1.31 million, will no longer be run. The Singapore International Cup was first run in 2000, and the Sprint began a year later.

Sun, 09/27/2015 - 14:20

Ireland: O'Brien ties Beresford Stakes record with win by Port Douglas

Port Douglas, a 14-1 outsider, gave trainer Aidan O’Brien his 15th career win in the $132,732 Beresford Stakes for 2-year-olds at The Curragh in Ireland on Sunday.

The win left O’Brien tied with the late Vincent O’Brien, who is no relation to Aidan, for most wins in the Group 2 race by a trainer. Aidan O’Brien, 45, won his first Beresford Stakes in 1996 with Johan Cruyff.