BHA move to stop Group 1 no-hopers
THE British Horseracing Authority this week introduced a minimum official rating to run at the top-level races.
The move is to stop apparent no-hopers running in Group 1 races and was initiated by the pre-Derby controversy this year on whether 500/1 shot Diore Lia should have been allowed run in the classic.
The filly was rated 52 but was free to run, until an injury ruled her out. The BHA had prevented apprentice Gina Mangan from taking the ride.
From next year, no horse rated less than 80 will be able to run in Group 1s in Britain, apart from two-year-old races.
BHA director of international racing and racing development, Ruth Quinn, said: “One of the chief aims will help protect the welfare of the human and equine participants in our major races by reducing the risk that comes with inferior horses competing against far superior opponents.”
Havlin still banned
JOCKEY Robert Havlin failed in his bid to persuade the authorities in Britain not to reciprocate the six-month ban given to him by France Galop for failing a drugs test.
The French authority reported in February that the Newmarket-based jockey had returned a positive sample for cocaine when riding at Saint-Cloud last October.
The rider, attached to John Gosden’s Newmarket stable, remains suspended until October 4th though he continues to maintain his innocence.
Orton Goffs UK MD
GOFFS UK has appointed Michael Orton to the position of Marketing Director.
Orton joined Goffs UK in early 2014 after leaving his marketing role with New Zealand Bloodstock. He took over the marketing of Goffs UK and now works closely with the Goffs team in Ireland to ensure strong cohesion across the entire Goffs Group.
Goffs Orby Sale
THE catalogue is now available online for the two-day Orby select sale that takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 26-27th.
A selection of 468 yearlings will be offered at this year’s Goffs Orby Sale.
It was a good weekend for Orby sale graduates with the Mark Johnston-trained Frankuus winning the Group 3 Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock Park and Washington DC victorious in the Group 3 Phoenix Sprint Stakes at the Curragh.
The €105,000 Orby purchase Ribchester is a winner of five group races in Britain and France and over £2 million in prize money.
The catalogue features some of the finest yearlings by Australia, Dansili, Dark Angel, Dubawi, Frankel, Galileo, Invincible Spirit, Kingman, Nathaniel, Oasis Dream, Scat Daddy, Sea The Stars, and Shamardal.
Tattersalls October
THE catalogues for the 2017 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale are online. Book 1 of Europe’s premier yearling sale, which takes place from Tuesday 3rd October to Thursday 5th October, contains 502 lots, all of which are eligible for the £25,000 Tattersalls October Book 1 Bonus scheme.
The flagship Tattersalls sale has 30 yearlings by Dubawi, 21 by Galileo and 14 yearlings from the third crop of Frankel.
Book 2 features 804 yearlings and will take place during October 9th-11th, while Book 3 has 662 lots catalogued and will take place from October 12th-14th.
The 2017 Book 2 catalogue features relatives to Al Wukair, Brando, Harbour Law and Shakeel.