Ante-post joint-favourite for next year’s Ladbrokes World Hurdle Kasbah Bliss will be an intriguing runner on the Flat this weekend as he challenges Yeats in the Prix du Cadran.

Francois Doumen’s gelding is regarded by many as the successor to Inglis Drever as Europe’s top staying hurdler and he gave the old master a great fight at Cheltenham in March, only going down by a length.

Doumen has taken a different approach than with his previous great stayer Baracouda and following his post Cheltenham holiday, Kasbah Bliss had a couple of outings at Deauville in August.

By far his most impressive performance was on Arc trials day at Longchamp in the Prix Gladiateur, when he caused an upset as he cruised home by six lengths.

“It reminds me of when I trained Baracouda and I got many letters from the public asking me to run him in the Ascot Gold Cup,” said Doumen.

“After Cheltenham, JP McManus preferred the horse to have a holiday so it was never possible but there are no regrets. Kasbah Bliss is much younger so I could be a bit braver. He’s also a very easy horse to ride, whereas Baracouda was a bit tricky.

“He has run well in Tierce handicaps in France and obviously the way he won last time he can’t be without a chance but it’s a difficult challenge. If the ground goes soft then I will be in trouble and I have seen some rain around today.”

A return to jumping beckons after Saturday, with Doumen adding: “When the ground is OK he will go back and the only target is Cheltenham.

“He would probably not come back until about a month before that.”

Festival sponsors Ladbrokes make Kasbah Bliss and Inglis Drever 3-1 joint-favourites.
(Source: At The Races)

David Wachman’s Bushranger will bid to add to his Group One tally in Friday’s Shadwell Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket.

The speedy juvenile landed the Prix Morny at Deauville on his latest start and will once again have the assistance of Johnny Murtagh in the saddle.

Brian Meehan’s Gallagher, second in France but subsequently beaten by Lord Shanakill in the Mill Reef Stakes, reopposes again and he is joined by stablemate Galpin Junior.

Huntdown, massively impressive when winning a Newbury maiden by seven lengths, will represent John Gosden and Frankie Dettori.

Marcus Tregoning’s Finjaan, a gutsy winner of the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood, steps up to six furlongs for the first time while Richmond Stakes winner Prolific represents the red-hot Richard Hannon yard.

Peter Chapple-Hyam’s Sayif, placed on all four starts but still a maiden, Tom Dascombe’s July Stakes winner Classic Blade and Kevin Ryan’s Jobe complete the line-up.
(Source: RTÉ Racing)

Ross McDonald is resigned to formulating a race plan for one of the few times in Weekend Hussler’s career after racing’s latest superstar was dealt a barrier blow for the Turnbull Stakes on Saturday.

Weekend Hussler drew the outside barrier in the 13-horse Group One field at Flemington.

The Caulfield trainer said he would have to sit down with jockey Brad Rawiller and devise the right tactics to give the reigning Horse of the Year an eighth Group One victory in the 2000m feature.

“All along he’s drawn a decent barrier. It’s about time we got an ordinary one,” McDonald said.

“They’ll be all trying to beat him so we’ve got to come up with something to beat them.

“Brad will be able to have a good look at them when he comes out of the barrier and see what the others do.

“There’s a bit of a straight run before they get to the first corner and he can work it out from there.

“He’s got the ability to go forward and if he got an easy lead it would be great.”

Trainer Mark Kavanagh and jockey Michael Rodd will be going into the Turnbull with a different mind-set with Maldivian, who finished fourth to Weekend Hussler in the Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on September 20.

Maldivian led and kicked two lengths clear on straightening before shortening stride over the last 100m to be beaten just under four lengths.

“Our best chance is to ride him to suit him and not worry about Weekend Hussler,” Rodd said.

“Last time by taking off from the 800 metres we were too focussed on riding him to beat Weekend Hussler.”

Kavanagh said Maldivian, who is a big, gross gelding, was not far off his peak now.

“I’d be looking for a good showing from him on Saturday unless it turns out like last year’s Turnbull.”

Kavanagh won the 2007 Turnbull with Devil Moon but several of the fancied runners failed including El Segundo (sixth), who went on to win the Cox Plate; Efficient (11th), who went on to win the Melbourne Cup; and Marasco who finished second last.

Maldivian drew barrier seven which Rodd was happy with but the mares Tuesday Joy and Zarita didn’t fare as well coming up with 11 and 12 respectively.

Trainer Pat Hyland said he believed Zarita, who finished fifth in the Underwood after being trapped wide, would have finished ahead of the runner-up Pompeii Ruler had she had the run he had.

Owner Lloyd Williams and trainer John Sadler have three runners in Efficient (Steven Arnold), Zipping (Eddie Cassar) and Extend (apprentice Nick Hall).

Williams said Cassar had been riding Zipping in trackwork and he had engaged him in the hope of an improvement on his first-up seventh to Guillotine in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 13.

He said he would be happy if Efficient finished within five lengths of Weekend Hussler.

The Mick Price-trained Pompeii Ruler drew barrier two while the David Hayes-trained pair Guillotine (Craig Williams) and Zagreb (Dwayne Dunn) drew gates five and 10 respectively.
(Source: Racing & Sports)

The first five races of the Global Sprint Challenge has each featured a different winner, the latest being Kanoya Zakura, who won the Centaur Stakes at Hanshin Racecourse on Sept. 14. Whoever tops the Sprinters Stakes this weekend will give Japan a good shot at bringing home its first Global Sprint Challenge title.

The Japanese autumn Grade 1 season is ready for launch with the 42nd Sprinters Stakes on Sunday afternoon at Nakayama Racecourse in Chiba Prefecture, the sixth of eight legs in the Global Sprint Challenge (GSC). The race, unfortunately, will be lacking in international flavor with a pure domestic field of 16, but the Sprinters Stakes will not be short of buzz and excitement with one of the most competitive groups in recent memory set to fill the barriers.

Former Sprinters Stakes champion Takeover Target currently leads the three-year-old GSC series with 16 points, three points ahead of Kingsgate Native and five points ahead of Marchand d’Or. Three horses - Apache Cat, Equiano and Kanoya Zakura - are tied on 10 points. Further down the standings is Symboli Gran on five points, the other runner from the Japan Racing Association (JRA).

Kanoya Zakura can overtake Takeover Target with a victory on Sunday; a runner-up finish would bring her within a point of the leader with two races to go. Symboli Gran would jump to second with a win, and any other champion will immediately come into play with the 10-point reward.

But whoever wins will have to overcome a tough 1,200 meters at Nakayama. The race opens with a downhill of 200 meters to the first turn, which bends for 400 meters before reaching the sharper final turn heading into the 310-meter home stretch - famous for its shortness and the steep uphill over the last 200 meters.

The Sprinters Stakes wasn’t always associated with fame. It was founded in 1967 as the only graded race at 1,200 meters for 3-year-olds and up, and was originally assigned Grade 3 status in 1984. The race was bumped up to Grade 2 in 1987, to serve as a stepping stone to the Yasuda Kinen.

The Sprinters Stakes finally became a Grade 1 race in 1990, when it was fixed a week ahead of the Arima Kinen in December as the finale to the sprint season. It was opened to international entries in 1994, and moved to its current date six years later as the first race of the autumn Grade 1 season.

The following are the early favorites for this year’s Sprinters Stakes:

SUZUKA PHOENIX: With Yutaka Take away in France for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the 2007 Takamatsunomiya Kinen winner will have a new partner in the saddle: Norihiro Yokoyama. Yokoyama may not have record numbers like Take, but the veteran is no less a big-race jockey than the superstar. Trainer Mitsuru Hashida could not have found a better pinch-hitter in the popular Yokoyama, and come post time, Suzuka Phoenix could very well be the top choice despite an eighth-place finish in the Centaur Stakes. The 6-year-old son of Sunday Silence has never won at Nakayama, but there’s a first time for everything; as long as the horse leaves his barrier smoothly, Suzuka Phoenix could add another Grade 1 title to his trophy case.

FINE GRAIN: The 5-year-old son of Fuji Kiseki was the talk of the spring sprint circuit, winning the Takamatsunomiya Kinen on March 30, his third straight victory - all at 1,200 meters. Fine Grain was the second choice in the Centaur Stakes because of his outstanding spring but flopped to ninth, his first career defeat over six furlongs. But with one race under his belt - and an impost of 57 kilograms, 2 kilograms lighter than what he ran with in the Centaur Stakes - the horse is almost certain to improve on his last outing. Expect Hideaki Miyuki’s mount to bounce back in a big way.

KANOYA ZAKURA: One of two entries from Kojiro Hashiguchi’s stable - and both are expected to challenge for honors - this 4-year-old filly is picking up steam at the right time. She won JRA’s Summer Sprint series after winning back-to-back graded races, and there was nothing fluky about her victory in the Grade 2 Centaur Stakes. With in-form jockey Futoshi Komaki up, Kanoya Zakura, daughter of legendary sprinter Sakura Bakushin O, could make her father very proud this weekend.

KINSHASA NO KISEKI: A narrow second to Fine Grain in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen, the 5-year-old Kinshasa no Kiseki may have finally found his groove at 1,200 meters. He has spent most of his career disappointing despite constant hype surrounding this son of Fuji Kiseki. The turnaround began in the spring when he reached the board in the 1,400-meter Hankyu Hai before finishing runner-up in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen. After a three-month break, Kinshasa no Kiseki posted his first graded win in July in the 1,200-meter Hakodate Sprint Stakes before taking third in the Keeneland Cup at the end of August. Yasunari Iwata, who has ridden the horse the last three times out, has the reins once again and the time could be now for Kinshasa no Kiseki to come full circle.

SLEEPLESS NIGHT: Trainer Kojiro Hashiguchi’s other 4-year-old filly is on an absolute tear, having won four straight all at 1,200 meters, two of the races on dirt. It appears everything is falling into place for the daughter of Japan Cup Dirt winner Kurofune, and the only knock on the young starlet is her lack of experience on the big stage. She also has never tasted the turf at Nakayama, but given her present form, it’s looking very difficult to bet against Sleepless Night.

SYMBOLI GRAN: The 6-year-old veteran came home second behind Kanoya Zakura in the Centaur Stakes to collect five points in the Global Sprint Challenge. He’s experienced in big races, and has fared well at Nakayama in the past, placing three times in seven starts. With Yuichi Fukunaga, who has a knack as a scene stealer, in the driver’s seat, Symboli Gran could turn some heads on Sunday.
(Source: JRA)

The all-weather barrier trials were blessed with a liberal splash of class yesterday when Tony Cruz sent out his brilliant chestnut Floral Pegasus, who made easy work of the opener in scoring by five lengths.

Brett Prebble was having his first ride on Floral Pegasus, and the son of 2000 Kentucky Derby hero Fusaichi Pegasus got straight to work, coasting across the face of the field from barrier seven to take up the running.

It was something like the Floral Pegasus of old as Prebble opened him up from the 600m and the handsome colt responded instantly. He was six or seven lengths in front at the 200m, with his rider taking it easy in the final 200m, otherwise the margin might have been almost doubled.

Floral Pegasus was the best four-year-old in early 2007. He won the New Year’s Day Cup (Gr 3), the Mercedes-Benz Classic Mile (Gr 1) and the Derby Trial (Gr 2), before being nosed out of the Hong Kong Derby in the final stride by Vital King.

The stallion did not win last preparation, although he did run well in several majors, gaining second place in the Stewards’ Cup (behind Good Ba Ba) and Hong Kong Gold Cup (Viva Pataca) as well as a respectable seventh in the US$5 million Dubai Duty Free at his first overseas excursion.

Being an entire, Floral Pegasus has a very strong, masculine appearance, and his trial performance is a good pointer because he’s not yet right in the coat and should continue to improve.

The sectional times for the final three furlongs show Floral Pegasus clocked 34.31, 22.3 and 11.55 seconds - further proof of the quality of his performance.

Floral Pegasus boasts the superior career figures of nine wins and 10 minor placings from 26 starts, for earnings of HK$21,312,800.

At the opposite end of the field, veteran Bullish Luck may be headed towards retirement after another lacklustre trial.

With Eric Saint-Martin in the saddle, Bullish Luck settled at the tail of the field and failed to pass a runner.

Runner-up in this opening heat over 1,050m was the Australian-bred sprinter Grand Commands, indicating what a talent he may have been if 100 per cent sound.

The black gelding by Commands has been beset with recurring problems, but looks in relatively good order and should soon be ready for his debut for new handler Manfred Man Ka-leung.

Fingers Crossed worked home nicely to get third for trainer Paul O’Sullivan and apprentice Derek Leung Ka-chun, while recent winner Eyshal was always under a good hold from Darren Beadman in finishing fifth.

Unusually, the fastest trial of the morning was the last of the four. Glenealy Elite, another Prebble mount, quickened up handsomely off a good pace to win by 1 3/4 lengths from Able Standard (Zac Purton).

Just behind them in fourth place, and only three lengths from the winner, Champion Lad (Darren Beadman) made good ground in the final stages without ever coming off the bridle.
(Source: SCMP)

A gray and rainy Tuesday morning greeted the European shippers who trained for the first time since arriving here at Woodbine early Sunday evening.

Doctor Dino, Lucarno, and Mourilyan all jogged on the main track as they continued their preparations for the Grade 1, $2 million Canadian International, the 1 1/2-mile race for 3-year-olds and upward that is the showpiece of Saturday’s Woodbine program.

Joining the Canadian International will be the Grade 1, $1 million E.P. Taylor, a 1 1/4-mile race for fillies and mares; the Grade 2, $500,000 Nearctic, a six-furlong race for 3-year-olds and upward; and the Grade 3, $300,000 Summer, a one-mile race for 2-year-olds.

All four races will be run over the turf and will grant automatic Breeders’ Cup berths under the Win and You’re In program. ESPN will include the Woodbine features in a two-hour telecast, which will be simulcast locally on The Score.

Folk Opera and Toque de Queda, the European shippers for the E.P. Taylor, also took some light exercise over the main track Tuesday morning.

The German contingent, consisting of Quijano and Lauro for the Canadian International and Santiago Atitlan for the Nearctic, had a quiet morning.

First-time Lasix for some foreigners

Lucarno, who is based in England with trainer John Gosden but made his last start in Germany, and Mourilyan, who was with the Dubai division of trainer Herman Brown but made his last start in England for trainer Gary Moore, both will race with Lasix for the first time in the Canadian International.

John Egan, who was aboard for Thursday’s exercise, will ride Mourilyan for the first time in the Canadian International, while regular Jimmy Fortune will be flying in for the mount on Lucarno.

Folk Opera, owned by Godolphin and trained by Saeed bin Suroor, will be first-time Lasix for the E.P. Taylor.

Her regular rider, Frankie Dettori, also will be jetting in from Europe.

As of Tuesday morning, 10 horses were expected for the Canadian International and 10 for the E.P. Taylor.

w Starticus, one of the leading local candidates for the Nearctic, galloped over the turf course on Tuesday morning, at which time there were 14 possible Nearctic entrants. The Summer, on the other hand, was struggling, with only the locally based Utterly Cool, Grand Adventure, and Skipadate being confirmed participants.

Graded stakes winners Sky Mom and Golden Doc A, whose best performances came on synthetic surfaces, will try to prove they can be equally effective on dirt when they face nine other 3-year-old fillies in Friday night’s Grade 2, $400,000 Indiana Oaks at Hoosier Park.

Sky Mom, who has not raced since winning the Grade 3 Arlington Oaks on Aug. 2, drew post 3, one slot outside Golden Doc A, who has lost five straight since capturing the Grade 1 Las Virgenes at Santa Anita in early February.

The Oaks, which will go as race 10 on an 11-race card that begins at 3 p.m. Central, also attracted Whirlie Bertie, the third-place finisher in the Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks last time out; Color Me Up, who nearly stole the Grade 2 Fitz Dixon Cotillion at 60-1 less than two weeks ago; and Shining Image, who stretches out from six furlongs to 1 1/16 miles after earning the best last-out Beyer Speed Figure in the Oaks field while just missing in the Miss Woodford at Monmouth Park.
(Source: NTRA)

SUCCESSFUL with the highly-regarded Sea The Stars at the Curragh last Sunday, John Oxx struck with another promising two-year-old at headquarters yesterday.

Favourite Vitruvian Man was supported into 8/11 ahead of the Keatley Curragh Equine Groundcare Maiden and this imposing colt cruised home for Mick Kinane by four and a half-lengths.

Almass (5/1) showed her appreciation for having her sights lowered by landing first prize in the seven-furlong conditions race.

Flame Of Ireland put two disappointing runs firmly behind her by landing the opening two-year-old maiden.

Toasted Special (25/1) was another to make recent disappointments seem a distant memory when outbattling Willoughby Bay in the six-furlong handicap.

Dermot Weld’s Grace O’Malley (12/1) made it a successful debut when finishing best of all under Pat Smullen to land the fillies maiden by a head from Kiyra Wells.
(Source: Irish Independent)

After running a game second to Curlin in the Woodward Stakes (G1), Past the Point will take a shot at his first stakes win in the Meadowlands Cup Handicap (G2) on Friday night.

Dismissed at odds of 40.50-to-1 in the Woodward, Past the Point set the pace into the stretch under jockey Edgar Prado, before Curlin chased him down in the final sixteenth to win by 1 1/4 lengths.

Prior to the Woodward, Tte Indian Charlie ridgling won a 1 1/8-mile allowance/optional claiming race on August 3 at Saratoga Race Course for trainer Eoin Harty and owner Darley Stable. A strong performance in the Meadowlands Cup could lead to a start in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) for Past the Point.

John Velazquez rode Past the Point in the victory and will be back aboard on Friday, with Prado switching to Grade 2 winner Arson Squad, who will make his first start since joining trainer Richard Dutrow Jr.’s barn.

Previously based with Bruce Headley in Southern California, Arson Squad finished seventh in the Pat O’Brien Handicap (G2) on August 24 in his most recent start. Dutrow won the Meadowlands Cup last year with Diamond Stripes.

Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Da’ Tara and Pennsylvania Derby (G2) winner Anak Nakal will face older horses for the first time for Racing Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito.

The last three-year-old to win the Meadowlands Cup was Peaks and Valleys in 1995.

Da’ Tara finished fifth in the Travers Stakes Presented by Shadwell Farm (G1) on August 23 at Saratoga. Anak Nakal snapped a six-race losing streak in the Pennsylvania Derby on September 1 at Philadelphia Park.

Timber Reserve, last year’s Pennsylvania Derby winner, will switch targets after being scratched from the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) on September 27 because of a sloppy track at Belmont Park.

The field, in post-position order, with (sire), jockey, weight, and trainer:

1. Da’ Tara (Tiznow), Alan Garcia, 120, Nicholas P. Zito;

2. Timber Reserve (Forest Camp), Kent J. Desormeaux, 119, John C. Kimmel;

3. P V Lightening (Sultry Song), Travis L. Dunkelberger, 119, Gary Capuano;

4. Anak Nakal (Victory Gallop), Joe Bravo, 120, Nicholas P. Zito;

5. Past the Point (Indian Charlie), John R. Velazquez, 119, Eoin G. Harty;

6. Actin Good (Yes It’s True), Cornelio H. Velasquez, 123, Bobby S. Dibona;

7. True Resurgence (Yes It’s True), Jeffrey Sanchez, 119, John P. Terranova, II; and

8. Arson Squad (Brahms), Edgar S. Prado, 119, Richard E. Dutrow, Jr.
(Source: Thoroughbred Times)

Seven of the eight fillies and mares signed up for the Oct. 3 First Lady Stakes (gr. IT) at Keeneland will be trying to get back on the winning track in the $400,00 one-mile turf contest.

The cast is headed by the speedy juvenile filly champion of 2006, Dreaming of Anna, a $2-million earner seeking to rebound from a pacesetting fourth-place finish in August’s Beverly D. Stakes (gr. IT) at her Arlington Park home base. The Wayne Catalano trainee has scored in a trio of grade III events this season, and has finished one-two in 11 of 12 lifetime turf starts, including eight victories.

Owned by Frank Calabrese, Dreaming of Anna last appeared at Keeneland a year ago, when she ran second after setting all the fractions in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (gr. IT) to Bit of Whimsy. The cutback to a mile should help the speedy daughter of Rahy, who certainly figures to be out on the early pace once again.

Another Beverly D. graduate, Precious Kitten, hopes to improve on her fifth-place finish at Arlington after tracking Dreaming of Anna most of the way. The Bobby Frankel pupil has lacked her usual consistency this season, winning the Gamely Stakes (gr. IT) at Hollywood Park in between fifth-place efforts, including last April’s Jenny Wiley (gr. IIT) at Keeneland. Precious Kitten has earned better than $1.6 million racing initially for Ken and Sarah Ramsey and now for Lael Stables.

The winner of that running of the Jenny Wiley, Rutherienne, is also a top-class entrant for trainer Christophe Clement. However, she has rolled a quartet of third-place finishes since the Wiley, all in graded stakes, and most recently behind the ultra-tough Wait a While in the Ballston Spa Handicap (gr. IIT) at Saratoga. Rutherienne runs as a homebred in the colors of Virginia Kraft Payson.

The only winner of her last race in this field is Roshani, who took the Galorette Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Pimlico last May. Todd Pletcher sends her out for her first try in grade I company off the layoff for owner Ben McElroy. Roshani finished fourth in the previously-mentioned Jenny Wiley, only a half-length off Rutherienne at the wire. Both she and Rosinka, sent out by trainer Graham Motion, will have to step up and run the race of their life to make an impact on this ultra-tough field. Rosinka ran ninth in the Beverly D. in her first foray into grade I company.

Forever Together won the grade I Diana Stakes over soft going at Saratoga two races back for Jonathan Sheppard. The off-the-pace runner will be hoping for hot fractions up front to set up her late charge.

Stormy West, who won the Caress Stakes at Belmont Park in June, will need to have a career-best day to defeat this cast for Bill Mott. Bayou’s Lassie could provide pace pressure for Dreaming of Anna, but she has faded markedly in her last four efforts this year.

The field for The First Lady, in post position order with riders (all will carry 123 pounds):

1) Precious Kitten (Rafael Bejarano)
2) Dreaming of Anna (Rene Douglas)
3) Rutherienne (Garrett Gomez)
4) Roshani (John Velazquez)
5) Bayou’s Lassie (Robby Albarado)
6) Forever Together (Julien Leparoux)
7) Rosinka (Jeremy Rose)
Stormy West (Kent Desormeaux)
(Source: The Blood-Horse)

Unbeaten Grade 1 winner Mani Bhavan will stretch out to 1 1/16 miles and make her first start on a synthetic surface in the $500,000 Darley Alcibiades Stakes (G1) on Friday, opening day of Keeneland Race Course’s 17-day fall meeting.

The Alcibiades is one of nine stakes races worth a combined $3.4-million that will be contested during the Lexington track’s FallStars weekend. The Alcibiades winner earns an automatic starting spot in the $2-million Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) on October 24 at Santa Anita Park as part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” series.

Two-year-old Mani Bhavan is unbeaten in three main-track starts and will make her synthetic surface debut on Keeneland’s Polytrack surface. The Storm Boot filly earned her previous two wins in graded stakes races at Saratoga Race Course. She enters off a victory in the seven-furlong Spinaway Stakes (G1) on August 31.

Trained by Steve Klesaris for owners Puglisi Racing and TYB Stable, Mani Bhavan won the 6 1/2-furlong Adirondack Stakes (G2) on August 13 at Saratoga. The dark bay or brown filly posted a 9 1/4-length debut win against runner-up and Darley Alcibiades foe Bon Jovi Girl in a five-furlong maiden special weight race on July 12 at Delaware Park.

Bon Jovi Girl also will make her first start on a synthetic surface in the Alcibiades. The Malibu Moon filly made each of her four previous starts on the main track at Delaware Park and enters off a win in the Fairway Stakes on September 13.

Tim Ritchey trains Bon Jovi Girl and co-owns the Malibu Moon filly along with Blaze of Glory Stable.

Bon Jovi Girl and Mani Bhavan are the only stakes winners in a field of seven entered in the Alcibiades, which also includes maiden winners Be Smart, Devotee, August Rush, and Dream Empress.

The field, in post-position order, with (sire), jockey, weight, and trainer:

1. Be Smart (Smarty Jones), Garrett K. Gomez, 118, D. Wayne Lukas;

2. Devotee (Elusive Quality), Eibar Coa, 118, Thomas Albertrani;

3. Bon Jovi Girl (Malibu Moon), Jose C. Caraballo, 118, Timothy F. Ritchey;

4. August Rush (Milwaukee Brew), Julio A. Garcia, 118, Wesley A. Ward;

5. Mani Bhavan (Storm Boot), Alan Garcia, 118, Steve Klesaris;

6. Dream Empress (Bernstein), Robby Albarado, 118, Kenneth G. McPeek; and

7. Amanwella (Fusaichi Pegasus), Jeremy Rose, 118, H. Graham Motion.
(Source: Thoroughbred Times)

Big Brown breezed Sept. 30 for the first time since winning the Monmouth Stakes on the grass Sept. 13. The work was in preparation for the $5-million Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park Oct. 25.

In the first of what will probably number four works before the Classic, Big Brown breezed over Aqueduct’s main track shortly before 9 a.m., following the harrowing break. With regular exercise rider Michelle Nevin aboard, the 3-year-old son of Boundary out of the Nureyev mare Mien, completed five furlongs in 1:04.21. The move ranked 24th from 32 works at the distance. The track was listed as “fast.”

Big Brown’s splits were :12.52, :25.46, :38.27, :51:09, with a gallop-out time for six furlongs in 1:19.66.

Big Brown, owned by IEAH Stables, Paul Pompa Jr., and Pegasus Holdings Group, was wearing run-down bandages on all four legs. The colt has a propensity to burn his heels when running on the dirt. When he works on the grass, Big Brown does not wear run-down bandages. Big Brown’s last several works have come on the turf, and Dutrow had planned on a grass work Sept. 30.

“They wouldn’t let me breeze on the grass,” Dutrow said in reference to the New York Racing Association. “I asked on (Sept. 28); they never called me back.”

About 15 minutes after Big Brown’s work, Dutrow said, “It looks like they are opening (the turf) up now.”

Then Dutrow called an audible with Salute the Count, who was getting ready to breeze on the dirt, and sent him to the turf instead. Salute the Count is a possible candidate for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. According to NYRA’s clocker at Aqueduct, the turf was “good to soft,” and still boggy from three days of heavy rain (Sept. 26-28). Salute the Count was timed in 1:07 for five furlongs. The cones were positioned about 15-feet wide off the inside rail.

“I thought it was fine,” Dutrow said in reference to Big Brown’s work. “I don’t know what kind of condition (the turf) would have been in.”

When Dutrow was asked if he wished he had waited to see if the turf would be opened for Big Brown and last year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile (gr. IT) winner Kip Deville, he said: “Kip and Big Brown went good. They’re good.”

Kip Deville worked five furlongs in 1:00.45, the third-fastest of 32 works on the main track. He will run next in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (gr. IT) Oct. 25 at Santa Anita.

Dutrow said he would like to keep Big Brown on a work schedule of every “six to seven days” leading up to the Breeders’ Cup. He said if the turf is available, that is the surface the colt would work over. Dutrow is planning on shipping Big Brown to Southern California on either Oct. 20 or Oct. 21. Big Brown would likely have his last work for the Classic at Aqueduct before shipping.

Regarding the possible match-up between reigning Horse of the Year Curlin and Big Brown in the Classic, Dutrow said, “Well, I would hope that we could beat (Curlin).”

Asked if he thought Big Brown was up for the challenge, he said: “Well, I’m not going to scratch. Our horse is good. I was happy that (Curlin) won the (Sept. 27 Jockey Club Gold Cup, gr. I) because it makes things a whole lot more interesting; it keeps it going. If Curlin got beat it wouldn’t be as exciting coming up to the next race.”

Curlin shipped to Santa Anita Sept. 28, the day after winning the Gold Cup at Belmont Park, and setting the all-time earnings record for a North American-based horse. Curlin has earnings of $10,246,800.

Big Brown has won seven of eight career starts and has earned $3.6 million while winning the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands, Preakness, Haskell Invitiational Stakes, and Florida Derby (all gr. I).

Jess Jackson of Stonestreet Stables, the owner of Curlin, has not committed the 4-year-old son of Smart Strike to the Classic, a race he won last year in the slop at Monmouth Park. Jackson and trainer Steve Asmussen wishes to evaluate the newly installed Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita, and see how Curlin trains over the synthetic track.

Dutrow’s train of thought is to keep Big Brown, who is also untested over an artificial surface, at his home base for as long as possible before shipping to California.

“I have the opportunity to send Big Brown out there right now, and I don’t want to do it,” Dutrow said. “I want to do what we are doing. We can rent a plane anytime we want. But we are doing what we want to do. I want to stay right (at Aqueduct) because I will be able to know if our horses are on top of their game or not. If I take them out there (early), I’m not going to know. I can know what is happening right here.

“I’ve just been under the impression it’s not good to go out to California two or three weeks ahead of time. It’s not what most top horsemen have done throughout the years—just go right on top of the race.”
Michael Iavarone of IEAH Stable was at Aqueduct to watch Big Brown work. Iavarone said he hopes Curlin runs in the Classic.

“Curlin ran big; very impressive,” Iavarone said of the Gold Cup. “I hope he (runs); he should. There is no reason why he shouldn’t. We want him to go. It adds to the excitement of the race.

“You have to put your best foot forward when it counts, and good horses have to get over all types of surfaces. We certainly aren’t going to make an excuse if we get beat; that’s the way the game is.”
(Source: The Blood-Horse)

After a disappointing main track experiment in the Goodwood Stakes (G1), Spirit One (Fr) will return to France on Wednesday and not compete in the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

The Arlington Million Stakes (G1) winner finished fifth in the Goodwood on September 27 at Santa Anita Park, in what his connections hoped would be a springboard to the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).

“I think [the pace] may have been too fast for him,” said Francoise Dupuis, a California bloodstock agent who represents trainer Philippe Demercastel and owners Kamel and Boualem Chehboub. “He’ll go to back to France, and they’ll reevaluate their plans for him. They may stick to the grass with him.”

Spirit One switched from the turf in the Goodwood after winning the Arlington Million at odds of 13.70-to-1 on August 9. He was shipped from France to California on September 19.

Spirit One is not nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program, so the Chehboubs faced a $150,000 nomination fee or $450,000 supplementary fee to make him eligible for the Classic.
(Source: Thoroughbred Times)

RELEASE

126 forfeits were registered on Tuesday morning at the headquarters of France Galop, leaving a total of 23 candidates in the line-up for the 87th Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, worth 4 million Euros.

The main protagonists were all confirmed, starting with the favourite, HH Aga Khan’s three-year-old filly Zarkava trained at Chantilly by Alain de Royer Dupré. Also attempting to remain unbeaten is the three-year-old Vision d’Etat who took the Gr.1 Prix du Jockey-Club in June for Sarthe-based trainer Eric Libaud and the colours of Jacques Détré. Second in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 2007 and winner since then of the Gr.1 Grand Prix de Saint Cloud, the English Youmzain will try to go one better this time. Japan will be represented by Meisho Samson, the richest horse in the race with 3.5 million Euros in allocations to his name. The protégé of Shigetada Takahashi has been installed in Chantilly for several weeks, but he will set foot on Longchamp racecourse for the first time on Sunday. The trainers’ record-holder in the race is André Fabre, who counts seven wins in the race. The Chantilly handler is represented by Getaway, who finished fourth in the contest last year before winning the Gr.2 Grand Prix de Deauville at the end August.

Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien has left seven of his charges in the race, but it is possible that his delegation will be reduced to three or four horses on Friday morning when the final declaration are made, followed by the post position draw. Duke of Marmalade, unbeaten this season in five outings at Group 1 level, and Soldier of Fortune, 5th in the 2007 Arc won by his stable companion Dylan Thomas, are among the Aidan O’Brien team. The master of Ballydoyle saddled four horses for the last running of the race.

The American champion Curlin has just set a new world record in earnings by breaking the ten million dollar barrier. He is in training in California and will not take part in this second richest race in the world.

On the other hand, some more unexpected contenders are still in the line-up. Among these is Blue Brésil, trained at la Teste (South West France) by Lionel Larrigade. He finished third in the Prix Noailles (Gr.2) and Prix Hocquart (Gr.2) in the spring and took the same place in the Listed Derby du Languedoc. His latest outing was a fifth place in the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano (Gr.2) on 25th August at Deauville.

La Boum, trained in Chantilly by Robert Collet, is also engaged on Saturday in the Prix de Royallieu (Gr.2) fillies’ contest over 2500m.

Also entered on Saturday in the Qatar Prix Dollar (Gr.2), the Brasilian thoroughbred Gloria de Campeao could be confirmed for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Patrick Barbe, racing manager for Swedish owner Stefan Friborg whose colours are carried by the five-year-old, explains, “It’s 50-50. We will have look at the next forfeits before making a decision. He’s a very tough horse, who likes to race among the leaders, and if we think he is capable of finishing in a place, we could be tempted to run. He should have contested the Istanbul Grand Prix earlier in the month but he was prevented from doing so by a technical problem. He has continued training since then. It is however more likely that he will run in the Prix Dollar.”

Gloria de Campeao’s trainer Pascal Bary is also represented by four-year-old Zambezi Sun, hero of the Grand Prix de Paris in 2007 and recently of the Prix Foy over the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe course and distance.

Second in the Czech Derby in 2006, the 5 year-old Normen should be confirmed as a runner in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe by his trainer Zdeno Koplik, as should the German It’s Gino, recent third in the Gr.1 Grosser Preis von Baden.

Winner of the Gr.1 Italian Derby in May, Teruya Yoshida’s Cima de Triomphe has been prepared by Bruno Grizetti for a tilt at this race since the beginning of the summer. The international raiders are completed by the two representatives of English trainer Sir Michael Stoute, Papal Bull and Ask, while Schiaparelli, winner of the German Derby in 2006 and a trio of Group 1 victories in Germany and Italy, has just accomplished a pleasing return to competition by finishing second in the Prix Foy (Gr.2) for the Godolphin stable of Dubai.

The second forfeit is programmed tomorrow (Wednesday) at 10 am.
www.france-galop.com

Alain de Royer-Dupre will bid to claim the latest in a treasure trove of big-race triumphs with hot favourite Zarkava in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

The brilliant three-year-old boosted her claims with a devastating success in the Prix Vermeille three weeks ago, extending her unbeaten run to six races, including four at the highest level.

Royer-Dupre said: “She did it so smoothly after losing ground at the start in the Vermeille, and has delighted me since.”

The handler believes Zarkava had shown signs of her brilliance from an early age.

He added: “As a two-year-old she really surprised me when winning the Boussac because she had no room two furlongs out. After her debut I decided it would be wrong to run her in an intermediary race as she’s so highly-strung.

“The seed was sown on that first ever race, and as early as that I knew she was out of the ordinary.

“She won so easily, and I knew there was a lot of improvement to come.”

Her 2008 triumphs have included the French 1000 Guineas and the French Oaks, making her the hottest property filly-wise the Arc has seen in recent years.

You have to go back to 1993 to find the last distaffer to prevail in the race, in the form of Urban Sea.

And of his uncanny success with top-class fillies, the trainer concludes: “Zarkava is a fifth-generation descendant of Petite Etoile. Maybe the success I have with fillies is down to my training regime, which is less focussed on speed.”
(Source: At The Races)

Yeats could clash with Francois Doumen’s smart dual-purpose performer Kasbah Bliss in Saturday’s Prix du Cadran at Longchamp.

Aidan O’Brien’s star stayer won an historic third Ascot Gold Cup in June and followed up in more impressive style at Goodwood.
However, his last defeat came in the corresponding race 12 months ago when he could finish only third.

O’Brien has also left in his Melbourne Cup possibles Septimus and Honolulu in the two-and-a-half-mile event.

Kasbah Bliss, who finished second in the World Hurdle, appears to have had his jumping career postponed for the time being after an emphatic six-length success at Group Three level last time.

Last year’s German winner Le Miracle is entered again along with John Queally’s smart hurdler Al Eile.
(Source: RTÉ Racing)

Aidan O’Brien says Duke Of Marmalade and Soldier Of Fortune are both on target for Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp.

The Duke - a five-time Group One winner this season - has an alternative engagement at Dundalk on Friday night.

But if the weather holds it looks like he’s set to join his stablemate in the Paris showpiece on Sunday.

O’Brien told The Racing Post: “The plan remains the same. Soldier Of Fortune and Duke Of Marmalade are being aimed at the Arc.

“We entered Duke Of Marmalade for the Dundalk race just in case the ground comes up soft at Longchamp later this week.”

O’Brien also has a strong team for the other big races on a mouthwatering weeekend of action in France.

He added: “Halfway To Heaven and You’resothrilling are likely to go for the Prix de l’Opera, Yeats will run in the Prix du Cadran while either Mastercraftsman or Rip Van Winkle will go for the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.

“Astronomer Royal and US Ranger may go for the Prix de la Foret, while Abraham Lincoln is a possible for the Prix de l’Abbaye.”
(Source: Sporting Life)

If recent history is against Zarkava, the weather gods are on her side. They also abetted Akiyda, the last three-year-old filly to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe 26 years ago. The common link between them is their owner-breeder, the Aga Khan.

Just as heavy ground complemented Akiyda’s stamina, quick going at Longchamp will play to Zarkava’s strengths. To see her tackle her elders for the first time on Sunday is a prospect fraught with emotion. Victory is imperative. Conditions dictate that there can be no excuse for the imperious, unbeaten filly.

It will not be easy. It never is in the Arc, a race that devours reputations. Yet Zarkava does not trade on reputation alone. Her hallmark acceleration has swept aside allcomers, none of which has managed to stay within two lengths of her at the finish. A similar denouement on Sunday would leave a legacy unmatched by any other filly to this observer of 30 years.

John Gosden made a fair point after Raven’s Pass’s Queen Elizabeth II Stakes victory when he described the three-year-old milers as a vintage collection. They have won every all-aged mile race in Europe, although none has been dominant. As proud as he was on Saturday, even Gosden might concede that Zarkava would have ruled that roost. She has instead ruled all roosts between eight and 12 furlongs. And she has done so for fun.

Now she must do it once again, against the strongest opposition she has faced. The irony is that the recent dry spell renders the Arc harder to win for the presence of Duke Of Marmalade. But that’s just as it should be. Duke Of Marmalade has his own agenda: a sixth successive group one triumph that would demand his own inclusion in the hall of fame.

Somehow, however, victory for him would be more rump steak than fillet. Fulfilling but not mouth-watering. Duke Of Marmalade is a fearsome galloper propelled by giant lungs. The difference is in the twin towers of greatness: Zarkava was born with what Duke Of Marmalade has acquired along the way.

Duke Of Marmalade is by some distance the main threat to Zarkava. His stablemate, Soldier Of Fortune, has not run for more than three months, having by accident or design missed a couple of mooted prep races. He would also fare better on easy ground, a remark that applies to Getaway, Vision D’Etat and Youmzain. Then you are into the rags.

Among their number are Meisho Samson, the Japanese challenger, who has not won for 11 months, and Papal Bull, for whom victory, despite his undeniable ability, would mock the concept of the Arc as a championship decider. No, the outcome rests between Duke Of Marmalade and Zarkava. Anything less would be hard to swallow.

This polar scenario - think Denman and Kauto Star - projects racing at its best. It can prompt a switch of allegiance in the blink of an eye, and can ruthlessly break hearts. One acquaintance, a staunch Raven’s Pass fan at the start of the season, grew to love his nemesis, Henrythenavigator. Consequently, the former’s defeat of the latter on Saturday prompted very mixed feelings.

As for the Arc itself, a similar interest must be declared. Throughout last season, and for some intangible reason, it seemed to this eye that Duke Of Marmadale was a far better racehorse than the sum of his parts. Vindication arrived with a vengeance this season: the Duke was simply mustard.

Then Zarkava came sweeping down the outside in that magical Prix Vermeille, her jockey unexerted, her flanks yet to feel the urgent sting of the whip. And in that moment, allegiance transferred. It was utter and total seduction. So go, Duke, run your heart out one more time. Give it your best shot yet; but don’t you dare defeat Zarkava.
(Source: Times)

Singapore Derby winner Top Spin pulled-up in good order despite posting the worst run of his career at Kranji last Friday night.

Having his first outing since winning the Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby over 2000m on July 13, Top Spin, ridden by in form jockey Saimee Jumaat, was beaten more than 10 lengths in beating just one runner to the line behind Capablanca in the $125,000 Kranji A Stakes over 1200m.

It was by far the gelding’s worst performance of his career that now stands at 22 starts for 13 wins and a further seven placings.

It was the first time the now five-year-old has finished further back than fourth.

Top Spin – who has the habit of laying-in during his races – showed that trait on Friday night and weakened over the concluding stages of the race.

“He’s pulled-up fine,” said trainer Laurie Laxon. “I wanted Saimee to ride him with the whip in the left hand.

“It was only after he ducked in and hit the rail early in the straight on a couple of occasions did Saimee actually put the whip through to his left hand.”

Top Spin raced very keen in the early stages of the race and was running in fourth position as the field settled down, a couple of lengths behind winner Capablanca.

But his trademark finish was missing. He was outsprinted in the early stages of the straight and wanted to lay-in and over the final stages he just coasted to the line.

Laxon said he would step-up Top Spin’s work load before he contests his next assignment – the Group 1 $500,000 Kranji Mile over 1600m on October 19 which will be followed by the Group 1 $500,000 Raffles Cup over 1800m three weeks later.

Top Spin has also been nominated for the Group 1 Cathay Pacific International Mile in Hong Kong in December.

“The Raffles Cup is his main target and then we’ll decide about Hong Kong after that,” said Laxon.

Meanwhile impressive winner of Friday night’s Kranji Stakes A – Capablanca - has pulled-up in fine order but trainer Don Baertschiger said the gelding will probably not race again until November.

“I want to keep him as fresh as possible,” said Baertschiger. “There is another Kranji Stakes A in about three weeks time but I think I’ll keep him for an Open Sprint in November.

“That should work out just right for him. Then we can decide whether we’ll go to Hong Kong with him.”

Baertschiger has nominated Capablanca for the Group 1 Cathay Pacific Sprint over 1200m in Hong Kong in December and has earmarked the $125,000 Open Handicap over 1200m on November 14 as Capablanca’s next outing.
(Source: Singapore Turf Club)

One of the most frustrating features of holding down a job as first jockey to a leading stable is the inevitable pressure associated with the process of selecting the right mount in the big races.

Just ask Johnny Murtagh and Ryan Moore, who both have their own tales to tell on the subject this season.

Moore ended up on Doctor Fremantle in the St Leger, missing out on stablemate Conduit’s triumph, while Murtagh has found himself on the wrong one in three Classics, most notably passing over Frozen Fire in the Irish Derby, in which he was aboard third-placed Alessandro Volta.

With reports of impressive home work turned in by Soldier Of Fortune at the weekend, it is becoming very clear that Murtagh is again going to find himself in the hot seat in the next few days, having to choose between King George winner Duke Of Marmalade and the lightly-raced Soldier Of Fortune in Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

This unavoidable dilemma has occurred because the forecast is for relatively mild weather in Paris. Yesterday, the ground at Longchamp was reportedly ‘good to soft’ (penetrometer reading 3.3) and though some rain is expected later in the week, there will be no deluge, according to the weathermen.

In those circumstances, both Duke Of Marmalade and Soldier Of Fortune will take their chance in the Arc, though trainer Aidan O’Brien would surely think again with ‘The Duke’ if the heavens unexpectedly opened.

After choosing the wrong horse in the Derby (King Of Rome, who finished 12th) and Irish 1,000 Guineas (Kitty Matcham, 10th), Murtagh will be eager not to make the another mistake.

Sir Michael Stoute said yesterday that both Papal Bull and Ask will be left in the Arc at today’s forfeit stage, but that Ask’s participation is ground-dependant (he needs it on the soft side). Jockey bookings have yet to be finalised. Olivier Peslier, who rode Papal Bull when he was beaten half-a-length into second place behind Duke of Marmalade in the King George, has already been snapped up for Getaway.

There were 67 horses left in Saturday’s Cambrideshire at Newmarket, although Luca Cumani, as expected, withdrew the impressive Newbury winner Presvis. Cumani will instead rely on Ask The Butler and Swop. Lush Lashes heads a star-studded line-up of 21 for the Sun Chariot Stakes on the same card.

Trainer Rae Guest has supplemented the unbeaten Serious Attitude for Friday’s Group One Cheveley Park Stakes, at a cost of £15,000, and the filly has been installed as 4-1 favourite for the Group One contest by Blue Square. She is a 20-1 chance for next year’s 1,000 Guineas. “She’s in very good form,” said Guest yesterday.
(Source: Telegraph)