Champion Jockey Pat Eddery Dies Aged 63

Wednesday, 11 November 2015 07:19

Legendary jockey Pat Eddery has died at the age of 63.

Eddery was crowned British champion 11 times, claimed four Prix de l'Arc de Triomphes and won over 4600 races before his retirement in 2003.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Prince Khalid Abdullah in whose silks Eddery had some of his greatest days, said the jockey held his own in a golden era.

"He spanned the greatest era for jockeys ever. Lester Piggott, Steve Cauthen, Willie Carson, all were exceptional yet Pat's ability was unquestioned," Grimthorpe said.

Eddery's achievements put him on record as one of the greatest jockeys of all time.

He won 14 British Classics, including three Derbys aboard Grundy (1975), Golden Fleece (1982) and Quest For Fame (1990).

However, his performance aboard Dancing Brave in the 1986 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is widely regarded as one of the most memorable of his career.

In one of the classiest fields ever assembled, Eddery made his challenge last, down the centre of the track, to snatch victory.

Other famous successes include those of Pebbles at the Breeders' Cup, Silver Patriarch in the St Leger and Zafonic in the 2000 Guineas.

Eddery, who had been suffering from ill health recently, began a training career following his retirement, with the highlight being the victory of Hearts Of Fire in a Group One race in Italy.

Piggott, who also won the championship 11 times, enjoyed an intense, yet satisfying, rivalry with Eddery on the racecourse, and was his friend away it.

"Pat Eddery was as fierce an opponent on the racecourse as he was a loyal and dear friend off it," Piggott said.

"He was a natural horseman. He exuded class and always knew what to do in a race.

"The horses he was associated with speak for themselves, and I doubt you'd find a jockey with a sharper tactical brain or stronger in a finish.

"He was a huge personality in the weighing room, and wasn't slow to keep us all grounded with his wit and sense of humour."

Gleneagles To Join Juddmonte Line-up

Wednesday, 12 August 2015 07:56

Australian horse Criterion will have formidable opposition in the Juddmonte International with Gleneagles to join the line-up which already includes the unbeaten Golden Horn.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien has confirmed dual Guineas winner Gleneagles will miss this weekend's Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville because of the predicted wet ground and instead head to York next Wednesday.

Connections had been keen to stick to a mile (1600m) but O'Brien said with conditions in France against the colt, he would step up to 2000m.

"The chances of him running in the Prix Jacques le Marois on Sunday are unfortunately fading with the forecast," O'Brien said.

"I've always considered Gleneagles a true miler but he needs good fast ground to be seen at his best therefore York will probably be his next race as we are running out of options with him.

"It's a very sporting gesture by his owners."

Criterion is a 33-1 chance with Golden Horn the 4-7 favourite ahead of Gleneagles at 11-4.

A triple Group One winner in Australia, Criterion finished fifth in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot won by Free Eagle who is also set to run in the Juddmonte.

Criterion will return to Australia with the first contingent of international horses heading to the Melbourne spring carnival.

Quest For More Entered For Geelong Cup

Friday, 16 October 2015 06:54

Caulfield Cup first emergency Quest For More is among the 44 entries for the Geelong Cup.

His English trainer Roger Charlton is resigned to Quest For More missing a start in Saturday's $3 million Caulfield Cup, a race he earmarked as the perfect lead-up to the Melbourne Cup.

If, as looks likely, nothing drops out, Charlton will switch his sights to the Geelong Cup the following Wednesday.

"It doesn't sound like he's going to get a run unfortunately," Charlton said.

"We have until 7.30am on Saturday but there's nothing that I've heard that is giving me any encouragement.

"If he doesn't get in he'll run in the Geelong Cup on Wednesday."

European horses Media Puzzle (2002), Americain (2010) and Dunaden (2011) all completed the Geelong Cup-Melbourne Cup double.

Caulfield Cup second and fourth emergencies Complacent and Magic Hurricane are also nominated for Geelong.

Arod Team On French Weather Watch

Monday, 10 August 2015 08:27

The weather in France will determine whether Cox Plate equal favourite Arod runs in the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville.

Trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam is keeping a close eye on the weather ahead of Sunday's Group One race.

The four-year-old was beaten just half a length by Solow in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood last month and connections are eager to have another crack at Group One company before deciding whether he heads to Australia.

The trainer may bide his time and wait for the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp on September 13 if conditions at Deauville do not suit.

"Arod is in the Jacques Le Marois but there is a lot of rain forecast in France and if it is wet he won't run," Chapple-Hyam said.

"If it is wet, he will then wait for the Prix du Moulin. He seems fine following his last run."

Qatar Racing, which owns Arod, is keen to get a Group One under his belt before making a decision on the trip to Australia.

Arod is at $11 alongside Group One winners Contributer, Criterion and Pornichet in first markets for the Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 24.

Litigant Lays Down The Law In Ebor

Sunday, 23 August 2015 08:31

Litigant has caused an upset in the famous Ebor Handicap at York, beating possible Melbourne Cup contender Wicklow Brave.

The seven-year-old Litigant was having his first start for trainer Joe Tuite and was ridden by Oisin Murphy in the 2800m event.

Since spending two months in Melbourne as an apprentice in the summer of 2013/14, Murphy has risen through the ranks to become a retained rider for Qatar Racing.

For the lesser-known Tuite, it was a dream come true.

"That was superb. I'm speechless. It's a marvellous team performance," Tuite said.

"I've got 20 horses in training and six members of staff. We wanted rain. It didn't come, but it's perfect ground.

"They've worked unbelievably hard to get this horse back to the track. He's very delicate.

"We've had a few quid on and we've dreamed it. We know he's very good when he comes right."

The 33-1 winner had a length-and-a-half in hand over the Willie Mullins-trained Wicklow Brave.

Tuite said he would now look at the two-mile (3200m) race at Ascot on Champions Day for Litigant while Mullins said he was unsure what Wicklow Brave would do next.

"Wicklow Brave ran a cracker," Mullins said.

"I don't know what we'll do next. We'll go home and think about it."

William Buick To Ride 'thriving' Criterion

Wednesday, 05 August 2015 08:42

William Buick is set to team up with Australian star Criterion in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York later this month.

The David Hayes-trained five-year-old finished a creditable fifth behind Free Eagle in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes on his British debut at Royal Ascot back in June, beaten just under four lengths in the Group One feature.

He was ridden by Chad Schofield on that occasion but after partnering Criterion in a mile gallop at Newmarket racecourse on Wednesday morning, Buick confirmed he expects to ride the son of Sebring on the Knavesmire.

"At this stage it looks like I'm riding him," Buick said.

"I rode him last week for the first time. He's a good horse and he's thriving at the minute.

"He felt good today and he needed that. Coming to the racecourse and having a good blow will have done him the world of good.

"The first time I rode him was a routine piece of work on the Al Bahathri but working on the racecourse today, you could really let him stretch his legs and he felt pretty good."

Hayes' son Ben has been overseeing Criterion's training regime since he arrived in Britain back in May, with the horse stabled at John Gosden's yard where he is a currently a pupil assistant.

Ben Hayes was also full of confidence that Criterion had improved.

"I was very happy with that. He needed to get a good blow in as there's only two weeks before the race and it's now full steam ahead," Ben Hayes said.

"When he first came over he had a bit of travel sickness for 10 days and was struggling a bit. He's been here since May and has had plenty of time to acclimatise and he's better than he was before Ascot. He's doing well and eating well.

"It's a very tough race and, being realistic, we'll ride him to finish in the top three. This race is a stepping stone towards the Cox Plate, which I think we will have a good chance in."

Hayes is hoping Criterion will see a track with some cut out of the ground at York.

"If its good ground we'll be happy, but if it is wet it will be a big curveball for us as he's won his Group Ones on heavy. It would give him a realistic chance of being up there.

"I thought he was pretty good (at Ascot) and he didn't let himself down at all and wasn't beaten far. It was a hard (good to firm) track and he's not got good form on a hard track.

"York is a much fairer track and is a bit more like the Australian tracks as it's less undulating and he will handle that better.

Red Cadeaux Third At Newbury

Sunday, 16 August 2015 08:35

Three-time Melbourne Cup runner-up Red Cadeaux has shown it is all-systems-go for his next trip to Australia with a fine third in the Group Three Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury.

The winner, Agent Murphy, is likely to head to the Irish St Leger while Red Cadeaux will make his sixth trip to the southern hemisphere.

On his most recent visit he finished second to Criterion in Sydney's richest race, the $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes, in April.

He will once again be accompanied by trainer Ed Dunlop's travelling foreman Robin Trevor-Jones said he was happy with his performance in Saturday's 2700m race.

"We're over the moon with his run. He's not 100 per cent race fit," Trevor-Jones said.

"It would have been perfect if he had won but we've not shown our hand again to the Australian handicapper, who might be a bit more lenient now.

"We'll take him back to Chelmsford for a gallop around and then put him in quarantine in Newmarket in September before going back Down Under."

Dunlop is hoping Red Cadeaux will have a travelling companion with Trip To Paris set to run in the Lonsdale Cup at York on Friday.

Trip To Paris won the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot before his third under a big weight behind another Melbourne Cup hopeful Big Orange in the Goodwood Cup.

Big Orange is also scheduled to run at York with trainer Michael Bell keen to come to Australia.

"I have been pleased with him since Goodwood and he goes to York in good shape," Bell said.

"We are keeping one eye on the ground as he doesn't want it soft, but I think it is settling down so he should get his conditions come Friday."

American Pharoah Wins Haskell Invitational

Monday, 03 August 2015 09:19

American Pharoah turned on the speed in the stretch and easily won the $US1.75 million ($A2.39 million) Haskell Invitational on Sunday in his first race since sweeping the Triple Crown.

With a record crowd of 60,983 cheering him at Monmouth Park, American Pharoah came out of the final turn with a clear lead and cruised to a 2-1/4 length victory without urging from jockey Victor Espinoza.

American Pharoah won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes to become the 12th Triple Crown winner, and first in 37 years.

After a 57-day break after the Belmont, the three-year-old colt looked better than ever in winning his eighth consecutive race.

Sent off at odds of 1-10, American Pharoah became the shortest price in Haskell history.

Keen Ice rallied for second followed by Upstart.

American Pharoah's next start is now the biggest question in racing. There's no answer yet, but options include the Travers at Saratoga on August 29, the Pennsylvania Derby on September 19 and the Awesome Again at Santa Anita on September 26.

"No clue," American Pharoah owner Ahmed Zayat said when asked about his colt's next race. "We're going to enjoy this moment."

If all goes according to plan, American Pharoah will run his final race in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky on October 31. And then, he's headed down the road to the breeding shed at Coolmore's Ashford Stud.

American Pharoah broke well from gate four but it was Competitive Edge who took the early lead.

Espinoza kept his horse in second until midway on the far turn. And then, with one overpowering surge he seized control and was alone in the stretch as the crowd roared.

"He ran like a champ," Espinoza said.

The final margin was deceptive since Espinoza never asked American Pharoah to run any harder than necessary.

"The horse, he just keeps bringing it," Bob Baffert said after his eighth win in the Haskell, five more than any other trainer.

Of the 12 Crown winners, eight have now won in their first race after the Belmont. One, Count Fleet, was retired after the 1943 Belmont with an injury.

American Pharoah opened his career with a loss, but has won eight in a row since - seven of them Grade One races.

Highland Reel Wins Secretariat Stakes

Sunday, 16 August 2015 08:35

Cox Plate entry Highland Reel has run out a brilliant all-the-way winner of the Secretariat Stakes at Arlington for champion Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien and Seamie Heffernan.

The Australian Bloodstock-owned Goldstream finished fourth for Sydney jockey Brenton Avdulla but was no match for Highland Reel who emulated the O'Brien-trained Adelaide who won the American race before taking out the Cox Plate.

"He's a star," Heffernan said. "It was like home when it started raining! I was never in any doubt, I didn't see much pace and this horse gallops and stays and he's genuine.

"He won easily. You're always confident when Aidan tells you he likes one."

Second in the French Derby to New Bay, Highland Reel went to the United Stakes off a win in the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood.

Geoffrey Freer Next For Red Cadeaux

Wednesday, 15 July 2015 08:24

Trainer Ed Dunlop will wait to see how Red Cadeaux performs in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury before deciding whether to have a fifth crack at the Melbourne Cup.

The nine-year-old has lined up in the past four Cups, finishing second in 2011, 2013 and 2014 and eighth in 2012.

He also finished second in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in Sydney during the autumn.

His regular attendance in Melbourne has made him a favourite in Australia and he has a barn named in his honour at the Werribee quarantine centre.

Last seen when seventh of seven in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, Red Cadeaux is now enjoying a mid-season holiday before the Geoffrey Freer Stakes on August 15 in which he second in 2013 and fourth last year.

He's having a break in preparation for the Geoffrey Freer and how he does there will tell us if he goes back to Melbourne again," Dunlop said.

"The ground was too firm for him at Ascot.

"He is very fresh and still looks like he has got all his old enthusiasm."

Stablemate Trip To Paris, another Melbourne Cup hopeful, is on course to make his next appearance in the Goodwood Cup on July 30.

The winner of the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot pleased Dunlop in a work-out on Tuesday morning and is now set for the Group Two contest over the Melbourne Cup distance of two miles (3200m).

"He worked this morning and I was very happy with the way he went. All went well," said Dunlop.

"We'll aim him towards the Goodwood Cup, with all the usual caveats, but we're more than happy."

Dunlop believes the Trip To Paris story in progressing from handicaps to Group One winner is one that gives hope to every racehorse owner.

"The story is not about me, it's about a STG20,000 ($A41,959) breeze-up purchase that wins Ascot's coveted prize. It means that it's possible for every owner and that I think is really the story," he said.