BHA investigates Faugheen betting
THE British Horseracing Authority is investigating suspicious betting activity around Faugheen’s withdrawal from last season’s Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, with some punters having laid the ante-post favourite to lose before news of his injury defection was made public.
Trainer Willie Mullins said: “I wasn’t given specific details by the BHA but they were looking for certain dates and times and I did that. I’m as anxious to know what happened, if anything happened, as quickly as possible.” BHA media manager Robin Mounsey noted: “It is BHA policy not to comment on investigations or speculation surrounding potential investigations.”
Air Force retired
LAST season’s champion European two-year-old Air Force Blue has been retired and will stand at Coolmore America’s Ashford Stud in Kentucky.
The son of War Front had an outstanding first season winning three Group 1 races, culminating in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.
He was sent off at odds-on for the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket but was well-beaten and he also proved disappointing in his three subsequent starts.
New Ascot sale
TATTERSALLS Ireland has added a new yearling sale at Ascot to its 2017 schedule. The sale will take place on Tuesday, September 12th, a day before the St Leger meeting begins at Doncaster. There is no Goffs UK sale scheduled for that week. The Tattersalls Ireland calendar remains broadly similar to this year except that Part II of the September Yearling Sale reverts to one day.
Last week’s Part II Sale was extended to two days and both the average and median prices dipped sharply.
Equine anatomy course at RACE
THE Racing Academy & Centre of Education (RACE) in Kildare will host a series of evening classes on equine anatomy and physiology starting on October 12th.
A limited number spaces (€150 per person) are available on the course and can be secured by contacting Kathleen on 045 522468.
Munster National renamed for J.T.
THE Ladbrokes Munster National, to be run at Limerick Racecourse on Sunday week, October 9th, has been renamed to honour the memory of John Thomas McNamara. The €100,000 event will be run to commemorate the legendary local amateur rider, who partnered 602 winners on the point-to-point circuit as well as many high-profile wins on the racecourse.
Arqana Arc Sale
THE two-year-old fillies Spain Burg and Toulifaut look likely to top tonight’s Arqana Arc Sale at Saint-Cloud. Spain Burg won the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket last week, while the unbeaten Toulifaut is favourite to win Sunday’s Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac at Chantilly.
Mango Tango, well fancied for today’s Group 2 Prix Royallieu, is also in the catalogue, along with recent Group 3 winners Sans Equivoque and Banzari, A total of 45 horses are expected to be offered for sale.
Top mare dies
ZIVANIA, a foundation mare for Kildaragh Stud in Monasterevin when bought as a yearling at Goffs 25 years ago, died this week. Trained by Jim Bolger, she ran seven times as a two-year-old, winning four races in 24 days and was placed on her other three starts. At stud she produced 13 foals and 10 winners.