Sun, 05/20/2012 - 19:13

Japan: Gentildonna moves one step closer to Japanese Triple Crown for fillies

I’ll Have Another is not the only 3-year-old in the world with a chance to win a Triple Crown.

The Japanese filly Gentildonna has won the first two stakes in that country’s lucrative series for 3-year-old fillies. Sunday at Tokyo Racecourse, Gentildonna won the $2.52 million Japanese Oaks by five lengths in stakes-record time.

Gentildonna won the first leg of the filly Triple Crown in the Japanese 1000 Guineas at Hanshin Racecourse on April 8. The third and final race in the series is the Group 1 Shuka Sho over about 1 1/4 miles on turf at Kyoto Racecourse on Oct. 14.

Sun, 05/20/2012 - 19:09

Royal Ascot's Queen Anne next target for Frankel

Frankel, the unbeaten European superstar, is expected to make his next start in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot in England on June 19, trainer Henry Cecil announced on his website on Sunday.

The 4-year-old Frankel won his 2012 debut in Saturday’s Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury Racecourse in England by five lengths.

Frankel is unbeaten in 10 starts.

The Queen Anne Stakes is the top race for older milers at the Royal Ascot meeting.

Sun, 05/20/2012 - 15:40

Italy: German-bred Feuerblitz wins Italian Derby

Feuerblitz, a German-bred colt by Big Shuffle, won the first stakes of his career in Sunday’s Group 2 Italian Derby at Capannelle Racecourse.

Real Solution, bred and owners by Americans Ken and Sarah Ramsey, could only finish sixth as the favorite in the field of 11, the first loss of his four-race career.

Sat, 05/19/2012 - 11:13

England: Frankel crushes in Lockinge at Newbury

When an elite racehorse suffers any kind of injury, one immediately wonders if he has raced for the last time, a situation doubly true when a horse has never lost. So, when news came that Frankel had rapped the tendon on a foreleg while training in April toward his 2012 debut, it was fair to consider the chance the colt would never start again.

But 4-year-old Frankel has made it back, and from the look of the J.T. Lockinge Stakes on Saturday at Newbury in England, he is just as good as ever.

Fri, 05/18/2012 - 12:34

Italy: Real Solution, a Ramsey homebred, favored in Italian Derby

Real Solution, an undefeated colt owned by American breeders Ken and Sarah Ramsey, risks a three-race unbeaten streak in Sunday’s Group 2 Italian Derby at Capannelle Racecourse.

Real Solution, a Pennsylvania-bred by Kitten’s Joy, will be ridden for the first time by Frankie Dettori in the Italian Derby, which is run over a mile and three furlongs.

Thu, 05/17/2012 - 14:11

Frankel makes 2012 debut in Newbury's Lockinge

Frankel, easily the top-rated horse in the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities World Thoroughbred Rankings, makes his 4-year-old debut Saturday at Newbury in the Group 1 J.T. Lockinge Stakes, with no more than six foes set to oppose him.

Wed, 05/16/2012 - 16:34

England: Frankel on track to run in Lockinge at Newbury

Press Association Images
Frankel figures to make his 2012 debut at Newbury on Saturday.

Undefeated two-time champion Frankel remains on track to make his 4-year-old debut on Saturday at Newbury in the J.T. Lockinge Stakes.

Final entries for the Group 1 Lockinge will be determined Thursday, but Frankel will have no more than eight rivals, since only nine horses were left in the Lockinge at the race’s most recent entry stage.

Tue, 05/15/2012 - 16:13

York: Bonfire favored in Dante Stakes

Bonfire, unraced since finishing third in the Group 1 Criterium International in France last year, will be favored to win his 3-year-old debut in Thursday’s Group 2 Dante Stakes at York, England.

Trained by Andrew Balding, Bonfire is considered a leading contender for the English Derby at Epsom Downs on June 2, a position he can solidify in the Dante Stakes, which is run over about 1 1/4 miles and has drawn a field of seven.

Mon, 05/14/2012 - 14:10

England: The Fugue preps for English Oaks in Musidora at York

The Fugue, a Dansili filly who was fourth in the English 1000 Guineas on May 6, starts in Wednesday’s Group 3 Musidora Stakes at York Racecourse, a prep for the English Oaks at Epsom Downs on June 1.

Trained by John Gosden, The Fugue was 12-1 in future-book betting for the English Oaks over the weekend. The filly has made two starts, having won a maiden race in her debut last fall.

Sun, 05/13/2012 - 18:31

France: Lucayan surprises in French 2000 Guineas

Lucayan, untested in group stakes competition, upset the Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas) on Sunday at Longchamp in Paris.

Fast-closing third-place finisher Furner’s Green, trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Joseph O’Brien, broke a foreleg after the finish and had to be euthanized. The horse’s rider fell but was reportedly uninjured.