Fri, 09/01/2006 - 00:00

Librettist seeks fifth straight

Librettist will put his Breeders' Cup Mile credentials on the line in an intriguing renewal of the Group 1, $385,000 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp on Sunday. Godolphin selected Librettist over its other Breeders' Cup Mile hopeful, Iffraaj, who skipped Saturday's Haydock Park Sprint Cup because of the soft ground, which he would also have encountered in the Moulin.

Thu, 08/31/2006 - 00:00

New bonus in Japan

The Japan Racing Association is offering a bonus of $1.13 million to a horse who wins this year's Japan Cup or Japan Cup Dirt if that horse has already won one of several other major international races.

The bonus for a Japan Cup victory would go to this year's winners of the Dubai World Cup, the Arc, the Breeders' Cup Turf or Classic, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, the English Derby, Irish Derby, French Derby, or Takarazuka Kinen. The Japan Cup Dirt bonus applies to this year's winners of the World Cup, Kentucky Derby, Preakness, or Belmont Stakes.

Thu, 08/31/2006 - 00:00

Sprint Cup loses star

The withdrawal of Iffraaj, Godolphin's Breeders' Cup Mile hopeful, from Saturday's Haydock Park Sprint Cup overshadows the six-furlong Group 1 sprint. Winner of the seven-furlong Group 2 Lennox Stakes at Goodwood on Aug. 1, Iffraaj was taken out of the $570,000 dash because of the soft ground.

In Reverence and Amadeus Wolf, the Sprint Cup has the first two finishers from last Thursday's five-furlong Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York, where they dueled on soft ground until Reverence drew off to win by two lengths. Reverence has failed, though, in all three tries at six furlongs.

Thu, 08/31/2006 - 00:00

Haydock Park Sprint comes down to two

The withdrawal of Iffraaj from Saturday's Group 1, $570,000 Haydock Park Sprint Cup at six furlongs overshadows a strong 11-horse field for the race, which should be dominated by the two favorites, Reverence and Amadeus Wolf.

Mon, 08/28/2006 - 00:00

Caradak upsets in Celebration

Caradak capped a big international weekend for Sheikh Mohammed's racing forces on Sunday as the 5-year-old, owned by Godolphin, surprised both George Washington and Soviet Song in the Group 2, $188,000 Celebration Mile at Goodwood.

Sun, 08/27/2006 - 00:00

Caradak best in Celebration Mile

Caradak capped a big international weekend for Sheikh Mohammed at Goodwood on Sunday as the Godolphin 5-year-old surprised both George Washington and Soviet Song in the $188,000 Group 2 Celebration Mile.

Fri, 08/25/2006 - 00:00

George Washington returns

After a three-month absence, George Washington returns to the wars at Goodwood on Sunday in the Group 2, $190,000 Celebration Mile.

Last year's champion juvenile in Europe, George Washington made his 3-year-old debut a big one when he landed the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 6, but a combination of soft ground and a colt named Araafa denied him a classic mile double three weeks later in the Irish 2000.

Thu, 08/24/2006 - 00:00

Reverence takes Nunthorpe

A strong performance by Reverence on rain-softened ground at York on Thursday landed him the $420,000 Nunthorpe Stakes, as both Dandy Man and Enticing failed to cope with the footing, finishing out of the money.

Reverence prevailed by two lengths over Amadeus Wolf, covering the distance on soft ground in 1:00.68. Dandy Man, the 4-1 favorite, and the 11-1 Enticing, a previously undefeated 2-year-old filly, both faded to finish 12th and 13th in the 14-runner field.

Trained by Eric Alston, Reverence will next head to France for the Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp on Oct. 1.

Thu, 08/24/2006 - 00:00

Reverence prevails in Nunthorpe

A gutty performance by Reverence on rain softened ground at York on Thursday landed him the Group 1, $420,000 Nunthorpe Stakes at five furlongs.

Wed, 08/23/2006 - 00:00

Alexandrova cruises to win

Alexandrova added to her reputation as the best 3-year-old filly in Europe with an easy victory in the $520,000 Yorkshire Oaks at York on Wednesday.