Murtagh completes Guineas Double With Again |
| The Douglas story is rocking the Chicago racing establishment. As jockey Rene Douglas is being treated in intensive care, word has come from Arlington that Born To Be has been euthanized. James Theriot, who tried to steer Sky Mom through a non-existing gap and caused Born To Be to clip the heels of another runner, was suspended by the Illinois Stewards for 26 days. Sky Mom finished fifth and was disqualified and placed last. The Stewards gave the reason for the punishment. “For permittong his mount, Sky Mom, to jostle another horse during the running of the Arlington Matron and cause the jostled horse to clip heels and fall, injuring both jockey and horse.” Jockey Theriot expressed his sadness in an interview. Tearful as he spoke, Theriot said, “I really, truly feel horrible about what happened. I feel for Rene’s wife, his kids and himself. Every time we put these boots on, all of us, don’t know what is in store, but I never thought I would be part of something like this.” Dave Zenner, Head of Public Relations at Arlington Park, issued a terse statement. “All our thoughts and prayers are with Rene and his family. We are hoping for the best.” Here is a related development. American trainer Wesley Ward is sending a contingent to race at Royal Ascot. Rene Douglas was booked to ride. Now, it is being reported that John Velasquez will replace jockey Douglas. Trainer Ward let his Ascot-bound runners exercise on the grass course at River Downs in Cincinnati. The Japanese Oaks was run at Tokyo Racecourse on Sunday. The Japanese name for the Oaks is Yushun Himba. The race was on a left handed grass course. It was over 2400 metres. Seventeen three year-old fillies went postward and coming away victorious in a photo was Buena Vista, the 4-10 favourite. Red Desire was the bridesmaid. Three lengths back in third was Germinal. The time was 2.26.1 seconds. The attendance on Oaks day was 76,023. Buena Vista, with jockey K Ando, was second last until the final turn. Given her head, Buena Vista, who has already won the Japanese 1000 Guineas, covered ground in a hurry down the lane to run down Red Desire who was shaping like a winner. The latter hit the front in the stretch and was caught in the last jump. H Matsuda trains Buena Vista. Special Week is Buena Vista’s sire. The dam is Biwa Heidi. It was John Murtagh day at the Curragh on Sunday. Jockey Murtagh, who was aboard Master Craftsman when winning the Irish 2000 Guineas on Saturday, completed a Guineas double by riding Again to victory in the 1000 Guineas. The Coolmore camp has now won ten Irish Classics in a row. There was one big difference in the 1000 Guineas win. The winning trainer was David Wachman who was winning his first Group I race in his career. Again was off the bridle when it mattered but rose to the occasion when responding to Murtagh’s entreaties. Murtagh took Again to the middle of the track and despite being not able to keep a straight course, the 5-2 favourite, managed to spare a neck to Lahaleeb, ridden by Declan McDonough. Again ran the 1600 metres on soft grass in 1 46.3 seconds. The disappointment of the race was Cuis Ghaire who was eased up after trailing early. Sixteen ran in the 1000 Guineas. Again, winner of the Moyglare Stakes as a freshman, was making her sophomore debut in the 1000 Guineas. She is by Danehill Dancer who had also sired the winner of the 2000 Guineas. The bookmakers in Ireland cut Again to 7-1 for the Epsom Oaks though there was no firm commitment from the filly’s connections. Trainer Wachman spoke about plans for Again. “She has come out of her race fine and we’re happy with her. We will see how she is over the next couple of days before we make any hard and fast decisions.” John Murtagh had another winner in the next race. Sesenta, the 2-1 favourite, came through for Murtagh in the Best Price Guaranteed Handicap. Murtagh’s Sunday haul did not end there. A 7-1 chance, Grand Ducal won the next race in a thriller, the Airlie Stud Gallinule Stakes, a Grade III event. John Murtagh made it a hat trick. Joseph O’Brien, Aidan’s 16 year-old son, finished 12th with Coat of Arms in a handicap race. Joseph O’Brien claims a ten-pound allowance. Sariska continues to head the market for the Oaks at Epsom on June 5. Sea The Stars, hero of Newmarket’s 2000 Guineas, is at the head of the betting for the Derby on June 6. Sea The Stars is now 3-1. Fame And Glory, unbeaten in four races, continues to attract a lot of support. Rip Van Winkle, widely touted as Murtagh’s ride, is dropping. Sir Michael Stoute has a busy day on Thursday. Sir Michael saddies Conduit, the double Group I winner last year, in the Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown Park. Winner of the St Leger at Doncaster in September 2008, Conduit went to Santa Anita and won the BC Turf. Ryan Moore has the call. Another Stoute runner is Patkai who takes his chances in the Henry II Stakes in the same card at Sandown. Patkai is being targeted for the Ascot Gold Cup over 3000 metres. Patkai is favoured over Geordieland, second in last year’s Gold Cup. Recent Newbury winner, Tastahil will be in the field. The Aidan O’Brien-trained Yeats will be attempting to make it four in a row in the Gold Cup. The Gold Cup is traditionally run on the third day at Royal Ascot, also known as Ladies’ Day. Free Agent, Queen Elizabeth’s Derby hope, ran a poor race in Goodwood’s Cocked Hat Stakes last week. There was some consolation for the Queen on Monday. Her Kingdom of Fife, a Michael Stoute trainee, made it all in the 2000-metre Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar. Kingdom of Fife, the 9-4 favourite, was Ryan Moore’s only ride at Redcar on Monday. The talented Moore spoke about his winner. “He had it his own way in front. He has done it very well. He’ll stay further but he is pretty good at this trip, isn’t he?” |
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