Swallow Flight won the Group 2 Sandown Mile on Saturday as the 2-1 favorite. Close last year in a pair of Group 2 mile races, the Lockinge Stakes and the Queen Anne Stakes, Swallow Flight bounced back from a poor sixth in the listed Doncaster Mile, his seasonal debut on March 21.
Trained by Geoff Wragg, Swallow Flight, a 6-year-old son of Bluebird, won by 1 1/4 lengths over Cape Town in 1:45.50 on a track labeled good to soft.
French Oaks winner Aquarelliste and French Derby champ Anabaa Blue will be challenged by Johannesburg's Gladness Stakes conqueror Rebelline in the 1 5/16-mile Prix Ganay at Longchamp on Sunday.
The Group 1 Prix Ganay has also attracted last year's Arc third-place finisher, Sagacity, but the focus will be on Aquarelliste, who is expected to be a major player against colts this year, and another female, the Irish invader Rebelline.
French Oaks winner Aquarelliste and French Derby champ Anabaa Blue will be challenged by Johannesburg's Gladness Stakes conqueror Rebelline in an outstanding renewal of the 1-5/16-mile Prix Ganay at Longchamp on Sunday.
The first Group 1 contest of the European season has also attracted last year's Arc third Sagacity as well as recent group race winners Execute and Jomana. But the focus will be on Aquarelliste, who is expected to be a major player against colts this year, and her fellow distaffer, the Irish invader Rebelline.
Olden Times must defy top weight of 132 pounds if he is to win the Group 2 Sandown Mile at Sandown Park in England on Saturday.
He will be spotting his rivals six to nine pounds because of the penalty he carries for having won the 1 1/8-mile Group 1 Prix Jean Prat last June. Trained by John Dunlop, Olden Times has since finished third or fourth in three Group 1 miles. The testing Sandown mile, with its four-furlong uphill stretch, should be right up his alley.
Olden Times must defy top weight of 132 pounds if he is to win the Group 2 Sandown Mile at Sandown Park on Saturday.
The highest-rated horse in the field will be spotting his rivals six to nine pounds because of the penalty he carries for having won the 1 1/8-mile Group 1 Prix Jean Prat last June. A son of Darshaan trained by John Dunlop, Olden Times has since finished third or fourth in three Group 1 miles, but the testing Sandown mile, with its four-furlong uphill stretch, should be right up his alley. Pat Eddery has the ride.
The British road to the English Derby begins at Sandown Park on Friday with the 1 1/4-mile Group 3 Classic Trial Stakes.
Trainer Michael Stoute could have two runners in a race that was won two years ago by Sakhee. Right Approach, whom rider Keiren Fallon has called possibly the best horse he has ever sat on, has much to prove, showing just a single allowance win from two starts at 2. Stoute's other possibility, Hathaal, a half-brother to three-time Group 1 winner Petrushka, is a maiden winner from two starts and stands an equal chance with his stablemate.
Michael Kinane has appealed the seven-day suspension that threatens his customary place aboard Johannesburg in the Kentucky Derby.
The appeal was lodged with the Disciplinary Committee of the English Jockey Club on Monday. John Maxce, the Club's press officer, said that the hearing will be held on Friday morning at the Jockey Club's headquarters in Portman Square in London.
Queen's Logic is being quoted at odds as low as 13-8 (1.625-1) for the 1000 Guineas after her convincing win in the Group 3 Fred Darling Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.
The Mick Channon-trained daughter of Grand Lodge maintained her undefeated record with a 1-3/4-length victory over Roundtree. Sent off as the prohibitive 1-3 favorite with regular rider Stephen Drowne aboard, Queen's Logic covered the seven furlongs in 1:24.74 on good to firm ground.
Queen's Logic, Europe's top 2-year-old filly last year, won the Group 3 Dubai Duty Free (Fred Darling) Stakes over a straight seven furlongs at Newbury on Saturday. Queen's Logic and jockey Steve Drowne tracked the front-running Lady Dominatrix, took over about 350 yards from home, and scored by 1 3/4 lengths over Roundtree. She was timed in 1:24.74.
NEW YORK - The abbreviated preparations with which Johannesburg and Castle Gandolfo will arrive at Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby were not arrived at entirely by design.
The late-starting flat racing seasons in Ireland and England are hardly conducive to the development of horses for important early spring races, whether the Derby or the 2000 Guineas, the one-mile Newmarket classic that is run on the same day as the Derby.