Power injured
ROBBIE Power faces up to six weeks on the sidelines after rupturing a disc in his back. He did the damage aboard the unplaced Canadian Steel in the opening maiden hurdle at Gowran on Thursday.
He is expected to be back in action before the Cheltenham Festival, but it means he will miss the ride on Sizing John in Stan James Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown on February 12th.
TV3 sponsor
PADDY Power will be the main sponsor of British racing coverage on TV3 and 3e. The Irish channels will be showing almost 50 days’ racing this year, taking pictures from the ITV network. Meanwhile, Boylesports has renewed its sponsorship of RTE Television’s live Irish racing coverage.
Coneygree for Punchestown
CONEYGREE is likely to begin cantering within a month in anticipation of a return to action in the spring. The 2015 Gold Cup winner will miss the Cheltenham Festival for a second consecutive season as he continues to rehabilitate from a leg injury. The Punchestown Gold Cup on April 26th is his main target though he could be back in time to run at Aintree earlier that month.
On His Own retired
CHELTENHAM Gold Cup runner-up On His Own has been retired due to injury. The Willie Mullins-trained 13-year-old finished second in a hunter chase at Thurles last week. Patrick Mullins reported: “He ran ell in Thurles, but returned with an injury and we’ve had to call it a day.”
Jet Setting to stud
IRISH 1000 Guineas winner Jet Setting has been retired to the paddocks and will be covered by 2009 French Derby winner Le Havre. A 12,000gns purchase out of Richard Hannon’s stable in October 2015, she won her first four starts for Adrian Keatley and went on to beat Minding in the Curragh classic. She was subsequently purchased by the China Horse Club for £1.3 million and carried their colours to success in a Group 3 at Tipperary in October.
First crop Ivawood foals arrive
FOUR first-crop foals by Coolmore stallion Ivawood arrived this week.
John Malone reported that Musical Peace produced a “big, strong bay filly” by the dual Group 2 winner. Musical Peace is a winning half-sister to stakes winners Pugin and Chartres (also dam of Group 2 winner Certerach) and to the dam of Group 2 winner Lilbourne Lad.
Beauthea, owned by Fiona McStay, foaled “a lovely bay colt with plenty of size and bone”. Beauthea, a dual winner and fourth in the Group 2 Debutante Stakes, is from the family of Group 1 winner Simple Verse and Group 2 winner Even Song.
Rainbow Song, owned by Massimo Marchetti of Allevamento Gialloblu, had a colt and Patrick Headon of Wraymount Stud noted that “he’s a very good foal with size and strength, a smashing first foal for the mare”. Rainbow Song is closely related to Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks winner Dublino.
Breeder David Byrne was in touch to say he has “a cracking colt foal” bred by him and Pierce Molony from the Royal Applause mare, Sharp Applause.
Ivawood stands at a fee of €7,500 this year.
ITBA Awards online
TONIGHT’S ITBA Breeding and Racing Awards in The Heritage, Killenard, Co Laois, is sold out but the ceremony is being streamed live through the itba.ie website from 10.15pm.
EHV vaccine here
THE animal health company Zoetis reports that a fresh batch of equine herpes vaccine is about to go on the market. A spokesman for the company said: “”We have received a delivery of Pneumabort K and we expect it to be available from Irish wholesalers from this week.”
Toscanini switch
GODOLPHIN has moved Group 3 winning sprinter Toscanini from Michael Halford to Richard Fahey. Halford, who still trains for Godolphin, commented: “I think the plan is for Toscanini to be a lead horse for Ribchester.” Fahey saddled Ribchester to win the Jersey Stakes and Jacques Le Marois for Godolphin last season. The Iffraaj colt was only beaten by half a length by Minding in the QEII Stakes.