The owners of 160 stallions based outside the U.S. and Canada have paid fees that make all of the stallions’ progeny eligible to run in the 14 Breeders’ Cup races, the Breeders’ Cup announced on Monday, seven days after nominations opened under a new structure for international stallions.
The Dubai Racing Carnival kicks off the stakes race season at Meydan Racecourse on Thursday. The Emirates Racing Authority will present 28 black-type races on 13 evenings of racing at Meydan between then and Saturday, March 26, the date of the 16th running of the Dubai World Cup, the world’s richest race at $10 million.
Buena Vista was named Horse of the Year by the Japan Racing Association on Friday despite having lost her last two starts.
Baron Thierry van Zuylen, the Dutch banker who was part owner of Perrault, winner of the 1982 Eclipse Award as best turf horse, died in London on Sunday at the age of 78. Van Zuylen, who owned the Charlie Whittingham-trained Perrault in partnership with Serge Fradkoff, had been a leading figure on the French racing scene for more than 50 years.
At $10 million, the Dubai World Cup was once again the world's richest race. The Melbourne Cup was second at $5.9 million.
Grand Prix Boss came with a late rush to win Japan’s premier juvenile contest, the $1.6 million Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes at Nakayama on Sunday, as he ran down a pair highly regarded colts from the first crop of Deep Impact.
Two colts from the first crop of Deep Impact, Real Impact and Libertas, should feature prominently at Nakayama on Sunday in the $1.6 million Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes, Japan’s definitive juvenile event.
The road from Hong Kong apparently leads directly to Dubai. Two of Sunday’s big winners on Hong Kong International Raceday at Sha Tin, Snow Fairy and Mastery, are under serious consideration for races on the $26 million Dubai World Cup card at Meydan on March 26. Snow Fairy is looking at the Dubai World Cup, while Godolphin is taking dead aim at the Dubai Sheema Classic with Mastery.
now Fairy was dubbed the “Queen of the Orient” as she scored her second Group 1 triumph in the Far East at Sha Tin on Sunday when her bold run in traffic resulted in victory in the $2.5 million Hong Kong Cup. Meanwhile, Mastery gave British-trained horses a second triumph on Hong Kong International Raceday as he landed the $2 million Hong Kong Vase in which the Christophe Clement-trained Winchester backed up to finish 11th of 13.
Winchester faces a power-packed lineup in the $1.8 million Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin on Sunday. The 1 1/2-mile turf contest will be the first of four Group 1 races on Hong Kong International Raceday, an event that has attracted 24 international Group or Grade 1 winners.
