Inside international horse racing paddocks with form expert Susan Trevelyan-Syke
News, horse form and race analysis, breeding, tips and racing industry trends.
Harbinger, in a class of his own, is new 7.2 Arc favourite and world's highest-rated horse.
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Calendar
Jim Dandy
Saratoga
July 31
Prix de Psyche
Deauville
July 31
Ramoush
Haskell
Monmouth Park
August 1
Super Saver
Lookin At Lucky
Prix Rothschild
Deauville
August 1
Goldikova
Music Show
Grosser Dallmayr-Preis Bayerisches Zuchtrennen
Munich
August 1
Lady Jane Digby
Clement L Hirsch Stakes
Del Mar
August 7
Zenyatta
Whitney Handicap
Saratoga
August 7
Blame
Quality Road
Mine That Bird
Arqana Yearling Sales
Deauville
August 13-16
Buffard Jacques Le Marois
Deauville
August 15
Ebor Festival
York
August 17-20
Arlington Million
Arlington
August 21
Secretariat Stakes
Arilington
August 21
Paddy O'Prado
Prix Morny
Deauville
August 22
Travers Stakes
Saratoga, NY
August 28
Moyglare Stud Stakes
Curragh
August 29
Memory
Date With Destiny
Personal Ensign
Saratoga
August 29
Rachel Alexandra
St Leger
Doncaster
September 8
Qatar Prix Vermeille
Longchamp
September 12
Plumania
Prix Niel
Longchamp
September 12
Flower Bowl Invitational
Belmont Park
October 1
Arc de Triomphe
Longchamp
October 2-3
Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games
Kentucky 2010
September 25-October 10
Champions Meet
Newmarket
October 15-16
Cox Plate
Australia
October 23
Melbourne Cup
Australia
November 2
Breeders' Cup
Churchill Downs
November 5-6
Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint
December
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Focus
Age Of Aquarius Saved For Stud
Wonderful stayer Age Of Aquarius' injuries to his joint ligaments were serious enough for Ballydoyle to retire him.
After stall rest, the son of Galileo IRE will be put out to pasture for further recovery and then take up his stud career at Coolmore.
Illustrious Blue
What was a thrilling victory for locals when Arundal's handsome seven-year-old Illustrious Blue (Dansili) won the Artemis Goodwood Cup (Group 2), 2m, by 1-1/4 lengths, was spoiled for many.
Favourite Age Of Aquarius IRE (Galileo IRE) led the race in a ferocious pace across the demanding, undulating course until his leg gave way.
I promptly burst into tears (considering how raw my feelings were after the death of Godolphin's three-year-old Film Story on Tuesday).
Age Of Aquarius has ruptured his off-fore (right-front) ligaments and may not race again. Just so he survives.
Tactic (Sadler's Wells USA) also suffered unspecified injuries on the very dry and fast ground.
Borderlescott
Several other winners are the popular Borderlescott (Compton Place) in the Audi King George Stakes (Group 2), 5f, in a brilliantly-timed ride by Kieren Fallon.
Borderlescott, the oldest winner of the Stakes, was injured in the race and will be out for the season.
Eastern Anthem
Stunning beauty Eastern Anthem IRE (Singspiel IRE out of English Oaks winner Kazzia GER) aced the Moet Hennessy Fillies' Stakes, 1m6f, by 2-3/4 lengths in fast time of 1.25s.
The six-year old is trained by Mahmood Al Zarooni for Godolphin and was given a perfect ride by Richard Hills.
Canford Cliffs
Ballydoyle's four-year-old Rip Van Winkle IRE (Galileo IRE) looked fit and in control of the Group 1 £300,000 Sussex Stakes until the close when three-year-old wonder horse Canford Cliffs IRE (Tagula IRE) dug in and overtook last year's winner by a head.
Trainer Richard Hannon said CC is the finest horse he has ever trained.
His star will race in either the Prix Moulin at Longchamp or the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.
Unfortunately, Ballydoyle's Beethoven made sure Premio Loco USA ((Prized USA) could not get closer than 3 lengths to the leaders.
Lord Shanakill
One of my favourite horses, Lord Shanakill USA (Speightstown USA), surprised his owner Maura Gittins by winning the Betfair Cup (Group 2) at 7f for his new trainer Henry Cecil. The four-year old defeated the fast-closing Cat Junior by a neck in a thrilling finish after being hard driven by jockey Tom Queally.
Japanese Horses Targeted For Arc
The winner of Japan's 2000 Guineas, Victoire Pisa, and four-year-old Nakayama Festa are travelling early to France in order to acclimate to the usual heavy ground of the Arc de Triomphe October 3.
Victoire Pisa will compete in the Arc prep Prix Niel on September 12 and will be ridden by jockey Yutaka Take.
Hope they will have better luck with Take than connections of Deep Impact and White Muzzle had.
They would be wise to hire a French jockey.
Japanese Duo For Breeders' Cup
Japan's Red Desire (Manhattan Cafe JPN) will leave Japan mid September to compete in the Grade 1 Flower Bowl Invitational at Belmont Park October 2 as a prep for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf November 5.
Her outstanding record has been marred in her last two races - one in Tokyo and the Dubai World Cup - due to bleeding.
Her trainer Mikio Matsunaga thinks she will overcome her problems in the States.
Espoir City JPN (Gold Allure JPN), winner of six of his eight starts, will compete in the Breeders' Cup Classic November 6 at Churchill Downs.
America's New Turf Star
Paddy O'Prado USA (El Prado IRE), the likeable grey colt who had a good chance in the Kentucky Derby if only the ground was muddy, found his specialty -Turf.
He was third in the Kentucky Derby to Super Saver and never came into his own on Dirt.
Saturday, he was the favourite in a field of seven three-year olds competing in the Grade 2, $600,000 Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs in New Kent, VA, after winning two graded Turf races: the Palm Beach and Colonial Cups.
He easily defeated Interactif after shooting through a rail opening in the 1-1/4 mile race winning by 1-1/2 lengths.
Trainer Dale Romans said "I couldn't think of taking him off it (grass) for now."
He will next race August 21 in the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes on the Arlington Million undercard at Arlington Park.
Gio Ponti now has a three-year-old competitor who, hopefully, will be campaigned internationally.
Gio Ponti Is Back
Gio Ponti USA (Tale Of The Cat USA) won his first race of 2010 in the Grade 1 $600,000 Man o'War Stakes at Belmont Park.
The 1-3/8m race was run on firm Turf.
He turned around his losses from the 2009 Breeders' Cup Classic (second to Zenyatta) and fourth in the Dubai World Cup.
Last year, he was a double Eclipse winner as top older male at five and top grass horse.
His next race could be the Arlington Million or the Pacific Classic.
Wonderful stayer Age Of Aquarius' injuries to his joint ligaments were serious enough for Ballydoyle to retire him.
After stall rest, the son of Galileo IRE will be put out to pasture for further recovery and then take up his stud career at Coolmore.
Illustrious Blue
What was a thrilling victory for locals when Arundal's handsome seven-year-old Illustrious Blue (Dansili) won the Artemis Goodwood Cup (Group 2), 2m, by 1-1/4 lengths, was spoiled for many.
Favourite Age Of Aquarius IRE (Galileo IRE) led the race in a ferocious pace across the demanding, undulating course until his leg gave way.
I promptly burst into tears (considering how raw my feelings were after the death of Godolphin's three-year-old Film Story on Tuesday).
Age Of Aquarius has ruptured his off-fore (right-front) ligaments and may not race again. Just so he survives.
Tactic (Sadler's Wells USA) also suffered unspecified injuries on the very dry and fast ground.
Borderlescott
Several other winners are the popular Borderlescott (Compton Place) in the Audi King George Stakes (Group 2), 5f, in a brilliantly-timed ride by Kieren Fallon.
Borderlescott, the oldest winner of the Stakes, was injured in the race and will be out for the season.
Eastern Anthem
Stunning beauty Eastern Anthem IRE (Singspiel IRE out of English Oaks winner Kazzia GER) aced the Moet Hennessy Fillies' Stakes, 1m6f, by 2-3/4 lengths in fast time of 1.25s.
The six-year old is trained by Mahmood Al Zarooni for Godolphin and was given a perfect ride by Richard Hills.
Canford Cliffs
Ballydoyle's four-year-old Rip Van Winkle IRE (Galileo IRE) looked fit and in control of the Group 1 £300,000 Sussex Stakes until the close when three-year-old wonder horse Canford Cliffs IRE (Tagula IRE) dug in and overtook last year's winner by a head.
Trainer Richard Hannon said CC is the finest horse he has ever trained.
His star will race in either the Prix Moulin at Longchamp or the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.
Unfortunately, Ballydoyle's Beethoven made sure Premio Loco USA ((Prized USA) could not get closer than 3 lengths to the leaders.
Lord Shanakill
One of my favourite horses, Lord Shanakill USA (Speightstown USA), surprised his owner Maura Gittins by winning the Betfair Cup (Group 2) at 7f for his new trainer Henry Cecil. The four-year old defeated the fast-closing Cat Junior by a neck in a thrilling finish after being hard driven by jockey Tom Queally.
Japanese Horses Targeted For Arc
The winner of Japan's 2000 Guineas, Victoire Pisa, and four-year-old Nakayama Festa are travelling early to France in order to acclimate to the usual heavy ground of the Arc de Triomphe October 3.
Victoire Pisa will compete in the Arc prep Prix Niel on September 12 and will be ridden by jockey Yutaka Take.
Hope they will have better luck with Take than connections of Deep Impact and White Muzzle had.
They would be wise to hire a French jockey.
Japanese Duo For Breeders' Cup
Japan's Red Desire (Manhattan Cafe JPN) will leave Japan mid September to compete in the Grade 1 Flower Bowl Invitational at Belmont Park October 2 as a prep for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf November 5.
Her outstanding record has been marred in her last two races - one in Tokyo and the Dubai World Cup - due to bleeding.
Her trainer Mikio Matsunaga thinks she will overcome her problems in the States.
Espoir City JPN (Gold Allure JPN), winner of six of his eight starts, will compete in the Breeders' Cup Classic November 6 at Churchill Downs.
America's New Turf Star
Paddy O'Prado USA (El Prado IRE), the likeable grey colt who had a good chance in the Kentucky Derby if only the ground was muddy, found his specialty -Turf.
He was third in the Kentucky Derby to Super Saver and never came into his own on Dirt.
Saturday, he was the favourite in a field of seven three-year olds competing in the Grade 2, $600,000 Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs in New Kent, VA, after winning two graded Turf races: the Palm Beach and Colonial Cups.
He easily defeated Interactif after shooting through a rail opening in the 1-1/4 mile race winning by 1-1/2 lengths.
Trainer Dale Romans said "I couldn't think of taking him off it (grass) for now."
He will next race August 21 in the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes on the Arlington Million undercard at Arlington Park.
Gio Ponti now has a three-year-old competitor who, hopefully, will be campaigned internationally.
Gio Ponti Is Back
Gio Ponti USA (Tale Of The Cat USA) won his first race of 2010 in the Grade 1 $600,000 Man o'War Stakes at Belmont Park.
The 1-3/8m race was run on firm Turf.
He turned around his losses from the 2009 Breeders' Cup Classic (second to Zenyatta) and fourth in the Dubai World Cup.
Last year, he was a double Eclipse winner as top older male at five and top grass horse.
His next race could be the Arlington Million or the Pacific Classic.
Official: He's The Best In The World
Harbinger, with France's leading jockey Olivier Peslier on board, is led into Ascot's Winner's Circle by jubilent Highclare Thoroughbred Racing manager Harry Herbert (left). Photo David Hastings
For once I am not seething at the Racing Post handicapper Sam Walker (see Goldikova below) who sometimes makes the oddest, convoluted decisions.
He and the British Horseracing Authority agreed to give Harbinger (Dansili) the Top Of The Class rating of 135 for his awesome 11-length victory in Ascot's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Group 1).
It was the same rating I proposed just after the race.
Not only does the RP rate him as Europe's top Turf horse, it rates him as the world's top horse with USA colt Quality Road (Elusive Quality USA) on 130 Dirt.
Workforce retains his Epsom Derby 129 on Turf, Paco Boy gets the 128 Turf credit for the race Goldikova won - the Queen Anne Stakes - and Fame And Glory was dropped a point to 127 on Turf for the Epsom Coronation Cup.
After Canford Cliffs Group 1 Sussex Stakes victory over Rip Van Winkle on Tuesday, one would expect CC to be raised from 126 on Turf.
Kinsale King, Rachel Alexandra, Super Saver and Zenyatta are the next highest US horses at 124.
In complete contrast to the RI and BHA, Timeform has rated Harbinger at 142 - two points higher than Sea The Stars.
No comment. It would not be polite.
Harbinger, with France's leading jockey Olivier Peslier on board, is led into Ascot's Winner's Circle by jubilent Highclare Thoroughbred Racing manager Harry Herbert (left). Photo David Hastings
For once I am not seething at the Racing Post handicapper Sam Walker (see Goldikova below) who sometimes makes the oddest, convoluted decisions.
He and the British Horseracing Authority agreed to give Harbinger (Dansili) the Top Of The Class rating of 135 for his awesome 11-length victory in Ascot's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Group 1).
It was the same rating I proposed just after the race.
Not only does the RP rate him as Europe's top Turf horse, it rates him as the world's top horse with USA colt Quality Road (Elusive Quality USA) on 130 Dirt.
Workforce retains his Epsom Derby 129 on Turf, Paco Boy gets the 128 Turf credit for the race Goldikova won - the Queen Anne Stakes - and Fame And Glory was dropped a point to 127 on Turf for the Epsom Coronation Cup.
After Canford Cliffs Group 1 Sussex Stakes victory over Rip Van Winkle on Tuesday, one would expect CC to be raised from 126 on Turf.
Kinsale King, Rachel Alexandra, Super Saver and Zenyatta are the next highest US horses at 124.
In complete contrast to the RI and BHA, Timeform has rated Harbinger at 142 - two points higher than Sea The Stars.
No comment. It would not be polite.
Rachel's Back
The ease and authority of Rachel Alexandra's three-length victory over a small field of females in the ungraded $400,000 Lady's Secret Stakes, 1-1/8 miles, at Monmouth Park July 24 re-established the filly near the top of US horses.
The Racing Post handicapper rates RA at 124 second to colt Quality Road's 130 on Dirt.
Her great rival Zenyatta is rated 123 for the Apple Blossom on Dirt and 124 on AW for her victory in the Santa Margarita Handicap.
Kinsale King is tied with Zenyatta at 124 for his Golden Shaheen during the Dubai World Cup day.
Rachel looked magnificent and unfazed by the 104-degree heat when it was time for her and jockey Calvin Borel to pass the race leader Queen Martha.
Her unyielding critics took their typical swipes that she did not have the charisma of winning with large margins as she did last year.
Her trainer Steve Asmussen said "I loved her composure, how she acted" and is looking for two more prep races before she tackles Z in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs on Dirt.
The likeliest next race will be the Grade 1 Personal Ensign at Saratoga on August 29.
Dreamers are wishing for Zenyatta to skip the Clement L Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar August 7, where her trainer has concerns over the track conditions, and join Rachel Alexandra at Saratoga.
Not everyone is disappointed with Rachel. She has moved into third place in the latest NTRA National Thoroughbred Poll after her Monmouth victory behind Quality Road and leader Zenyatta.
Females Just Cannot Win
The magnificent French-trained mare Goldikova was left off the early RP 2010 ratings' lists.
Despite correcting their error, she is only rated at 126 on Turf.
Byword, the colt she beat in the Prix D'Ispahan, is credited with the win in the list and is rated 126 for it.
She beat Paco Boy in Royal Ascot's Queen Anne Stakes yet he is credited with the victory and rated at 128 for it.
She beat both of the boys with a tail flick.
Is she being penalised for the fillies' allowance?
So much for the ratings!
Harbinger: World's Top Horse
Harbinger won the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II Group 1 at Ascot by 11 awesome lengths. Photo David Hastings
Harbinger (Dansili) showed great promise last year at three until he sustained a niggling injury at the end of the season.
Fortunately, he was in the patient and gentle hands of England's leading trainer Sir Michael Stoute who has earned the trust of the horse's owners Highclare Thoroughbred Racing owners.
His stunning victory in Royal Ascot's Hardwicke Stakes indicated that the colt was on his way to the big career his talent had promised. See Royal Ascot
Yet no one could have anticipated his blowout in his first Group 1 race, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, 1m 4f, on Turf.
Sir Michael's seven-length Investec Derby winner Workforce (King's Best USA) was favourite with a strong supporting cast of Ballydoyle's Irish Derby winner Cape Blanco IRE (Galileo IRE), Youmzain IRE (Sinndar IRE) and chestnut filly Daryakana FR (Selkirk USA) for HH Aga Khan.
For most of the race on fast ground, Colm O'Donoghue kept control of the race for second favourite Cape Blanco from the front.
Workforce, with Stoute stable jockey Ryan Moore on board, was well positioned to challenge at any time.
Both Youmzain and Daryakana dawdled in the rear leaving them with too much ground to make up at the finish.
French master jockey, Olivier Peslier, was thrilled that Moore chose Workforce; he kept his mount Harbinger handy throughout.
Both Cape Blanco and Harbinger travelled better than the others all through the race.
Harbinger just seemed to be waiting for a signal and, when Peslier moved forward in the saddle, the horse raised his knees, dug in and took off.
In one of those mind-blowing hands-and-heels performances, Harbinger outdistanced Cape Blanco by 11 lengths and broke the course time record at 2'26"78s.
Youmzain was 3/4 lengths behind impressive Cape Blanco, Daryakana a length behind and finally Workforce another length behind.
Workforce was in trouble early on and did well to be so close to the others.
His connections have found nothing wrong with him so far, but are convinced something was wrong with the colt.
He did not look as strong as he did at Epsom in June. It is possible that the big colt is going through a growing stage leaving him a bit weaker than usual.
The world's "perennial critics" took advantage of his flop to insist that his Derby victory in record time was a fluke or one-off.
They said the same of Harbinger last year and, bless them, they are suggesting that he cannot duplicate his King George form again.
Meanwhile Harbinger is 2.1 or 7.4 favourite for the Arc de Triomphe overtaking the very worthy Fame And Glory (Montjeu IRE).
Harbinger is the best horse in Europe and any rating less than 135 would be an insult.
Is he another Sea The Stars? No, but he is damn good and has not peaked yet.
The ease and authority of Rachel Alexandra's three-length victory over a small field of females in the ungraded $400,000 Lady's Secret Stakes, 1-1/8 miles, at Monmouth Park July 24 re-established the filly near the top of US horses.
The Racing Post handicapper rates RA at 124 second to colt Quality Road's 130 on Dirt.
Her great rival Zenyatta is rated 123 for the Apple Blossom on Dirt and 124 on AW for her victory in the Santa Margarita Handicap.
Kinsale King is tied with Zenyatta at 124 for his Golden Shaheen during the Dubai World Cup day.
Rachel looked magnificent and unfazed by the 104-degree heat when it was time for her and jockey Calvin Borel to pass the race leader Queen Martha.
Her unyielding critics took their typical swipes that she did not have the charisma of winning with large margins as she did last year.
Her trainer Steve Asmussen said "I loved her composure, how she acted" and is looking for two more prep races before she tackles Z in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs on Dirt.
The likeliest next race will be the Grade 1 Personal Ensign at Saratoga on August 29.
Dreamers are wishing for Zenyatta to skip the Clement L Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar August 7, where her trainer has concerns over the track conditions, and join Rachel Alexandra at Saratoga.
Not everyone is disappointed with Rachel. She has moved into third place in the latest NTRA National Thoroughbred Poll after her Monmouth victory behind Quality Road and leader Zenyatta.
Females Just Cannot Win
The magnificent French-trained mare Goldikova was left off the early RP 2010 ratings' lists.
Despite correcting their error, she is only rated at 126 on Turf.
Byword, the colt she beat in the Prix D'Ispahan, is credited with the win in the list and is rated 126 for it.
She beat Paco Boy in Royal Ascot's Queen Anne Stakes yet he is credited with the victory and rated at 128 for it.
She beat both of the boys with a tail flick.
Is she being penalised for the fillies' allowance?
So much for the ratings!
Harbinger: World's Top Horse
Harbinger won the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II Group 1 at Ascot by 11 awesome lengths. Photo David Hastings
Harbinger (Dansili) showed great promise last year at three until he sustained a niggling injury at the end of the season.
Fortunately, he was in the patient and gentle hands of England's leading trainer Sir Michael Stoute who has earned the trust of the horse's owners Highclare Thoroughbred Racing owners.
His stunning victory in Royal Ascot's Hardwicke Stakes indicated that the colt was on his way to the big career his talent had promised. See Royal Ascot
Yet no one could have anticipated his blowout in his first Group 1 race, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, 1m 4f, on Turf.
Sir Michael's seven-length Investec Derby winner Workforce (King's Best USA) was favourite with a strong supporting cast of Ballydoyle's Irish Derby winner Cape Blanco IRE (Galileo IRE), Youmzain IRE (Sinndar IRE) and chestnut filly Daryakana FR (Selkirk USA) for HH Aga Khan.
For most of the race on fast ground, Colm O'Donoghue kept control of the race for second favourite Cape Blanco from the front.
Workforce, with Stoute stable jockey Ryan Moore on board, was well positioned to challenge at any time.
Both Youmzain and Daryakana dawdled in the rear leaving them with too much ground to make up at the finish.
French master jockey, Olivier Peslier, was thrilled that Moore chose Workforce; he kept his mount Harbinger handy throughout.
Both Cape Blanco and Harbinger travelled better than the others all through the race.
Harbinger just seemed to be waiting for a signal and, when Peslier moved forward in the saddle, the horse raised his knees, dug in and took off.
In one of those mind-blowing hands-and-heels performances, Harbinger outdistanced Cape Blanco by 11 lengths and broke the course time record at 2'26"78s.
Youmzain was 3/4 lengths behind impressive Cape Blanco, Daryakana a length behind and finally Workforce another length behind.
Workforce was in trouble early on and did well to be so close to the others.
His connections have found nothing wrong with him so far, but are convinced something was wrong with the colt.
He did not look as strong as he did at Epsom in June. It is possible that the big colt is going through a growing stage leaving him a bit weaker than usual.
The world's "perennial critics" took advantage of his flop to insist that his Derby victory in record time was a fluke or one-off.
They said the same of Harbinger last year and, bless them, they are suggesting that he cannot duplicate his King George form again.
Meanwhile Harbinger is 2.1 or 7.4 favourite for the Arc de Triomphe overtaking the very worthy Fame And Glory (Montjeu IRE).
Harbinger is the best horse in Europe and any rating less than 135 would be an insult.
Is he another Sea The Stars? No, but he is damn good and has not peaked yet.
