Our weekly digest of recent international racing news
USA: Zandon is 3-1 morning-line favorite for Kentucky Derby
Chad Brown-trained Zandon (Flavien Prat) was installed at the head of the market for the 148th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday after drawing post-position ten.
The Blue Grass Stakes winner heads a full field of 20 including two overseas challengers, namely the UAE Deby one-two, Crown Pride (Christophe Lemaire) from Japan and Dubai’s Summer Is Tomorrow (Mickael Barzalona).
Second favorite is Louisiana Derby winner Epicenter (Joel Rosario), who bids to give Steve Asmussen a first victory in the $3m contest from post three. Rich Strike and Rattle N Roll are on the also-eligible list and can draw into the field in the event of a scratch before 9am on Friday.
GB: Queen’s Reach For The Moon out of Derby
Racing's involvement in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations was dealt a significant blow when Reach For the Moon, a leading Classic fancy owned by Her Majesty, was ruled out of the Cazoo Derby by co-trainer John Gosden.
Gosden told the Racing Post that he had run out of time to get the G2-winning son of Sea The Stars ready for a Derby trial and would now train the colt instead for a race at Royal Ascot.
The Queen’s two other Derby entries were also been taken out of the race at the latest scratching stage, where 43 horses remained for the June 4 contest. These are headed by ante-post favouite Luxembourg, one of ten horses trained by Aidan O’Brien still in the field.
Meanwhile. O’Brien-trained Changingoftheguard staked his claim to be included in the Ballydoyle team with a 6½-length victory in the Chester Vase, while stablemate Star Of India landed the Dee Stakes at the same venue.
Derby betting (Ladbrokes): 2 Luxembourg, 8 Changingoftheguard, 10 Piz Badile, Walk Of Stars, 12 Desert Crown, Star Of India, 16 Buckaroo, Eydon, New London, Point Lonsdale, Westover, 20 bar.
GB: 2,000 Guineas hero Coroebus to Royal Ascot; Native Trail to the Curragh
Charlie Appleby intends to keep 2,000 Guineas one-two Coroebus and Native Trail apart for their next starts with both colts set to stick to a mile.
The Godolphin trainer said Coroebus would have his next start in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot while Native Trail will head to the Curragh for the Irish 2,000 Guineas on May 21.
1,000 Guineas heroine Cachet, a first Classic winner for trainer George Boughey, is being considered for the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches at ParisLongchamp (May 15).
USA: Fixed-odds betting offered for first time in US at Monmouth Park
Fixed-odds wagering, which allows bettors to strike bets on runners at a pre-determined price, will be offered for the first time in the US when the Monmouth Park meet opens on Saturday (May 7). The track has introduced the new betting format, popular in Europe and Australia, while continuing to offer pari-mutuel wagering.
Japan: Titleholder up to world #11 after Tenno Sho success
Titleholder has risen to #11 in Thoroughbred Racing Commentary’s Global Rankings after the Japanese St Leger winner opened his account for the year with a seven-length victory in the Tenno Sho (Spring) over two miles on Sunday (May 1).
In France the same day, Cox Plate winner State Of Rest (world #25) took his international haul to three G1s on three different continents when capturing the Prix Ganay on his first start since his purchase by a group of leading Australasian breeders.
USA: Champion two-year-old Corniche leaves Baffert for Pletcher
Last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Corniche has been moved to the barn of Todd Pletcher from trainer Bob Baffert, who is serving a suspension until July. “He should be ready to race in June, as a prep for the Haskell and then the Travers,” said Peter Fluor, a partner in owners Speedway Stable.
“Bob can’t train until early July so it’s appropriate to send him to Todd Pletcher,” he added, speaking to the Daily Racing Form.
Elsewhere in racing …
USA: Exercise rider Callie Witt, 20, dies in fall at Keeneland More here
USA: Dubai World Cup winner Mystic Guide retired More here
USA: HISA contracts Drug Free Sport International to carry out testing More here
GB: Death of celebrated broodmare More here
France: Fabrice Vermeulen fails to overturn six-month ban More here
South Korea: Death of US G1 winner and stallion Dortmund More here
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