Emblem Road, Tommy Berry and William Haggas feature in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Saudi Cup hero Emblem Road wins on local comeback
Saudi Arabia: Emblem Road, the locally trained horse who stunned a top-class international field to win the $20 million Saudi Cup in 2022, has won his first race since his historic success.
The five-year-old son of Quality Road won an Open race over 1m at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on Saturday [Jan 14] under Panamanian jockey Alexis Moreno, coming from the back to circle the 20-runner field and score comfortably by four lengths.
At odds of 80-1 Emblem Road, trained by Mitab Almulawah and ridden by Wigberto Ramos, defeated Country Grammer and Midnight Bourbon to triumph last year. He spent the summer in France but on his only start finished fifth of six in a G3 event on turf at Vichy.
Tommy Berry banned for more than a year over links with punter
Australia: Leading Sydney jockey Tommy Berry has been banned from riding until January 2024 after he was found guilty of “accepting or agreeing to accept considerations” – a reward for providing winning tips to a punter.
The 31-year-old was disqualified for a total of 11 months and two weeks for those offences, and also received a four-week suspension for having a mobile phone in the jockeys’ room. He has lodged an appeal and applied for a stay of sentence.
It was disclosed during a Racing NSW inquiry that a sum of A$15,000 ($10,400) was paid into the bank account of Berry’s mother by gambler Zaid Miller after he had received three winning tips.
The jockey’s solicitor’s argued that Berry had not broken the rules as the money was not paid to him but stewards took the view that Berry would benefit as he owned the house his parents lived in and some of the money was being used for home improvements.
Death of young jockey Avery Whisman puts spotlight on mental and physical struggles
USA: Avery Whisman, a 23-year-old jockey who had been riding at Presque Isle Downs until August last year, has died after what family described as a “sudden and unexpected event” following a “prolonged illness".
Whisman, who grew up in an eventing family, rode 90 winners altogether, 53 of them coming in 2019. He learned his trade in California, where he worked for trainer Carla Gaines and found a mentor in Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, who gifted him the saddle and boots he used to win the 2005 Kentucky Derby, having received them himself from Laffit Pincay on the latter’s retirement.
Whisman’s sister Emma told the Bloodhorse: “We are not ashamed of what happened; we hope this tragedy can help someone else. ." We never want anyone to go through the pain we are suffering."
Haggas hoping to repeat Addeybb success at Sydney Autumn Carnival
GB: William Haggas is preparing a team of four horses to travel to New South Wales to pursue some of the lucrative prizes on offer during the Sydney Autumn Carnival in March and April.
During a rewarding trip In 2020 and 2021, the Newmarket trainer saw Addeybb win three of his four starts, in the process defeating star mare Verry Elleegant in back-to-back editions of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, G1 showpiece of The Championships at Randwick.
G2 winners Dubai Honour and Purplepay will be joined on the plane by handicappers Earl Of Tyrone and Protagonist, who have been bought by Melbourne Cup-winning syndicate Australian Bloodstock. The horses will go into quarantine on February 9; Tom Marquand will also travel over to ride.
Hollie Doyle out of action with broken elbow
GB: Top jockey Hollie Doyle expects to be out of action for at least the rest of January after scans confirmed she had broken her left elbow and damaged ligaments in a race fall at Wolverhampton on Monday [Jan 16] when her mount suffered a fatal injury.
Racing Victoria considering later date for Cox Plate
Australia: Racing Victoria is considering moving the Cox Plate by four weeks from October to late November with the host track Moonee Valley seeking a purse hike to A$8m ($5.5m) to put the G1 race on a par with the Melbourne Cup.
Elsewhere in racing …
Japan: Top dirt horse T O Keynes nominated for Dubai World Cup More here
GB: Arc winner Luke Morris reaches 2,000-winner landmark More here
Saudi Arabia: Crown prince launches new fund for investment including in horse racing More here
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