Wed, 10/17/2012 - 16:56

Australia: Caulfield Cup headed by Glencadam Gold

Americain and Dunaden, two past winners of the Melbourne Cup, are part of the field for Saturday’s Group 1 Caulfield Cup in Caulfield, Australia, but are considered outsiders in an 18-horse field led by the English import Glencadam Gold.

Trained by Gai Waterhouse, Glencadam Gold won his Australian debut in the Group 1 Metropolitan Handicap over 1 1/2 miles on Oct. 6. In his last start in England, Glencadam Gold, a 4-year-old Irish-bred gelding by Refuse to Bend, won the Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup in September.

Sun, 10/14/2012 - 14:57

Japan: Gentildonna completes Triple Crown for fillies

Gentildonna became the fourth filly to capture the Japanese Triple Crown for fillies with her nose victory over Verxina in Sunday’s $2.3 million Shuka Sho at Kyoto Racecourse.

Ridden by Yasunari Iwata for trainer Sei Ishizaka, Gentildonna, the 3-10 favorite, closed from the middle of the field of 18 3-year-old fillies to catch Verxina in the final sixteenth. Aromatico finished third.

The first two finishers are by Deep Impact. Gentildonna became the first filly to win the Japanese Triple Crown since Apapane in 2010.

Sat, 10/13/2012 - 14:11

Newmarket: Reckless Abandon, Dawn Approach win Group 1 stakes

Undefeated favorites won both Group 1 races for 2-year-olds Saturday at Newmarket in England, but Reckless Abandon’s victory in the Middle Park Stakes required far more grit than it took for Dawn Approach to win the Dewhurst Stakes.

Well backed Moohaajim appeared to be slightly in front of Reckless Abandon perhaps 50 yards before the finish of the six-furlong race, and he was clearly in front again not far past the finishing post, but at the wire it was Reckless Abandon by a neck, winning for the fifth time without a defeat.

Fri, 10/12/2012 - 14:32

Camelot doing well after colic surgery

Camelot, the winner of three classic races in England and Ireland earlier this year, was recovering on Friday from a colic operation conducted on Thursday, according to a statement released on Twitter by Coolmore Stud.

Camelot was taken to a veterinary clinic near trainer Aidan O’Brien’s base in Ireland on Thursday for “exploratory colic surgery,” according to Coolmore. Friday, Coolmore updated Camelot’s condition, stating: “Camelot’s colic surgery went well and he is doing great. The veterinary team [is] delighted with his progress.”

Thu, 10/11/2012 - 18:47

Camelot, three-time classic winner, has surgery for colic

Patrick McCann
Camelot won the English 2000 Guineas, the Epsom Derby, and the Irish Derby this year.

Camelot, the winner of three classic races who finished seventh on Oct. 7 in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, underwent colic surgery Thursday night.

Camelot's owners, Coolmore, revealed Camelot's circumstances Thursday on Twitter. Camelot "was admitted to Fethard Veterinary Hospital this evening and underwent exploratory colic surgery," Coolmore's tweet said. "Obviously it's still very early days, but a further bulletin will be released in the morning."

Thu, 10/11/2012 - 17:16

Japan: Gentildonna goes for Japan's filly triple crown

Gentildonna can sweep the Triple Crown for Japan’s 3-year-old fillies with a win in Sunday’s $2.3 million Shuka Sho at Kyoto Racecourse in Japan.

By Deep Impact, Gentildonna has won her last three starts – the Japanese 1000 Guineas in April, the Japanese Oaks in May, and the Rose Stakes on Sept. 16. Trained by Sei Ishizaka, Gentildonna is part of an expected field of 18 in the Shuka Sho, which is run over about 1 1/4 miles on turf on a right-handed course.

Thu, 10/11/2012 - 16:59

Newmarket: Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint berth awaits Middle Park winner

Two-year-olds – principally the undefeated Dawn Approach – are in the spotlight Saturday at Newmarket in England.

Dawn Approach, 5 for 5 to start his career, takes on just five rivals in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes over seven furlongs. The Group 1 Middle Park, a six-furlong dash, drew a field of 10, with Reckless Abandon the likely favorite.

Sun, 10/07/2012 - 15:56

Longchamp: Prix de la Foret winner Gordon Lord Byron likely headed to Hong Kong

[bc_video_id:265001:]Gordon Lord Byron continued his rise through the European sprint division with a career-best performance in Sunday’s Group 1 Prix de la Foret over seven furlongs at Longchamp Racecourse.

Ridden by William Buick, Gordon Lord Byron stalked the pace for the first half-mile, took the lead with a furlong remaining and won by 1 1/2 lengths over 10-1 Pentinent. The 24-1 shot Kendam finished third in the field of 11. Mashoora, the 5-2 favorite, finished fifth.

Sun, 10/07/2012 - 15:41

Longchamp: Ridasiyna earns berth in Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf

[bc_video_id:264999:]Ridasiyna rebounded from her first career defeat at Deauville, France, in August to score a 12-1 upset in Sunday’s Group 1 Prix de l’Opera at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris.

Owned by The Aga Khan, Ridasiyna, 3, won her first three races from May to July, but was fifth in the Group 2 Prix de la Nonette in August. In the Prix de l’Opera over 1 1/4 miles, Ridasiyna closed from the back of the field of 13 fillies and mares to win by 3 1/2 lengths over Izzi Top, the 9-5 favorite. Giofra (9-2) finished third, a short neck behind Izzi Top.

Sun, 10/07/2012 - 11:24

Longchamp: Unheralded filly Solemia scores shocking upset in Arc

APRH
The 4-year-old filly Solemia (right), ridden by Oliver Peslier, outfinishes Japanese star Orfevre in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe was going just the way the connections of Japanese star Orfevre must have dreamt. Moving fluidly from the back of an 18-horse field, Orfevre swept past rival after toiling rival, taking a clear lead into the final furlong of Sunday’s race at Longchamp. The race was his – and then it wasn’t. Solemia, a 40-1 shot Orfevre already had blown by in midstretch, kept staying on, staying on, and the unheralded 4-year-old filly tagged Orfevre in the shadow of the finish to score a shocking neck win.