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.

Wed, 08/23/2006 - 00:00

Alexandrova cruises in Yorkshire Oaks

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

Tue, 08/22/2006 - 00:00

Enticing, 2, up against her elders

Roy and Gretchen Jackson's exciting 2-year-old filly Enticing will venture boldly into the realm of older horses when she challenges 16 much more experienced foes in the Group 1, $475,000 Nunthorpe Stakes at York on Thursday.

Mon, 08/21/2006 - 00:00

Alexandrova steps up in Yorkshire Oaks

Europe's leading 3-year-old filly, Alexandrova, should make her first start against older fillies and mares a winning one at York on Wednesday, when she tackles five rivals in the Group 1, $450,000 Yorkshire Oaks.

At 1 1/2 miles, the Yorkshire Oaks is a perfect fit for Alexandrova, who scored impressive victories in both the English Oaks and the Irish Oaks at that distance. An Aidan O'Brien-trained daughter of Sadler's Wells, Alexandrova will be ridden by Michael Kinane and rates the odds-on choice against some accomplished challengers.

Sun, 08/20/2006 - 00:00

Dutch Art triumphs in Prix Morny

Dutch Art maintained his unbeaten record at Deauville on Sunday, overcoming a very soft turf course to win the Group 1, $448,000 Prix Morny.

Fri, 08/18/2006 - 00:00

Sandwaki a Morny threat

Holy Roman Emperor's attempt to score Group 1 victories on successive Sundays may be derailed if the ground for Deauville's Prix Morny remains soft through the weekend.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien has warned that Holy Roman Emperor, winner last Sunday of the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh, might not even travel from his home base at Ballydoyle in Ireland for the six-furlong, $450,000 Morny unless the ground, listed as soft on Friday morning, firms up.

Fri, 08/18/2006 - 00:00

Dependence on drugs begets lesser talents

Benoit & Associates
Soldier Hollow was the only horse in the Million to race without Lasix.

The performance of Soldier Hollow in last Saturday's Arlington Million should hearten anyone who still believes that horses can be trained on hay, oats, and water without recourse to race-day medication.

In finishing third despite being the only horse in the Million running without the aid of Lasix, Soldier Hollow, a German-trained 6-year-old, duplicated the form that had brought him three lesser Group 1 victories in Germany and Italy.