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.

Sat, 09/26/2015 - 11:57

Shalaa wins fifth straight in Group 1 Middle Park Stakes

The brilliant 2-year-old Shalaa captured his fifth straight race by holding off Buratino to win the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes by a half-length on Saturday at Newmarket in England.

Fri, 09/25/2015 - 14:02

Promising Run pointed to Fillies' Mile following Rockfel triumph

Promising Run, a Kentucky-bred filly by Hard Spun, won her stakes debut Friday in the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Newmarket Racecourse in England.

Owned by Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin Racing, Promising Run earned a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland on Oct. 30 with the win in the seven-furlong Rockfel. Of more immediate interest to trainer Saeed Bin Suroor is a start Oct. 9 in the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket.

Thu, 09/24/2015 - 18:25

Newmarket: Breeders' Cup berths for 2-year-olds up for grabs

Saturday is 2-year-old day at Newmarket in England, with three group stakes – two Group 1’s and a Groups 2 – carded for the juvenile set.

It’s the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes that’s a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Win and You’re In race, offering an automatic fees-paid berth in the BC Juvenile Turf as well as travel expenses to the race at Keeneland. Wrote, who was third in the 2011 Royal Lodge, came back to win the BC Juvenile Turf in 2011 at Churchill Downs.

Sun, 09/13/2015 - 13:27

O'Brien, Coolmore sweep Group 1 stakes for 2-year-olds at The Curragh

Aidan O’Brien and Coolmore won both Group 1 races for 2-year-olds Sunday at The Curragh, including a sweep of the first three places in the Moyglare Stud Stakes for fillies.

But the Moyglare Stud winner came as a surprise, as Minding, an 8-1 shot in North American betting, pushed past heavily favored Ballydoyle to win by three-quarters of a length.  Alice Springs finished another half-length back in third.