ICW Group 1 entries revealed
ENTRIES for four more Group 1 races on Irish Champions Weekend were published this week. There are 47 entries for the Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on September 11th, and 36 engaged in the Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh the following day.
The Curragh card also includes the Moyglare Stud Stakes (72 entries) and the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes (70 entries). Both these races are worth €300,000 this year, and there is no two-year-old race in Ireland worth more. Royal Ascot winners Berkshire Shadow and Port Lonsdale top the entries for the National Stakes. Irish trainers have won the Moyglare Stud Stakes in each of the last six years and Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes winner Velocidad looks to head the entry for the latest renewal.
BHA launches whip review
THE British Horseracing Authority has begun the consultation phase of its review of British racing’s whip rules and penalties. It will run for 10 weeks and includes an online questionnaire which is open to all. The second part of the consultation will involve detailed discussions with relevant parties, and focus groups with volunteers who put themselves forward as part of the consultation.
The data, views and suggestions from all parts of the consultation will be considered by the Whip Consultation Steering Group. Recommendations will then be determined by the Steering Group and undergo further engagement prior to being presented to the BHA Board for consideration and approval in early 2022.
Web: britishhorseracing.com
Hamilton pair recovering
AN upbeat bulletin has been issued by RaceTech on the two camera operators who were injured after falling from an elevated platform at Hamilton on Tuesday. The incident occurred before racing started, with a Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman reporting the pair had fallen on to the roof of a vehicle at the track.
After a lengthy delay to racing while emergency services attended to the two men, the fixture was eventually called off around an hour and 20 minutes after the time scheduled for the first contest.
RaceTech tweeted: “We are pleased to report our two injured camera operators are receiving hospital treatment & early indications are that both are expected to make a full recovery. We will continue to update, thank you for all the good wishes.” An investigation into the incident is under way.
Champion Arazi passes away at 32
ARAZI, the horse who put up an unforgettable performance to win the 1991 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, has died aged 32.
Trained in France by Francois Boutin, Arazi won all seven starts as a two-year-old. After the Breeders’ Cup, owner Allen Paulson sold a half-share to Sheikh Mohammed for a reported $9 million.
The horse had surgery to remove chips from his knees before his three-year-old career and he never achieved Group 1 success again.
He went to stud at Dalham Hall in Newmarket and also stood in America, Japan, Australia and even Switzerland, before being retired in Australia.
His best progeny was multiple the Grade 1 winner Congaree.