Kathleen O’Connell, Yuesheng Zhang and Jamie Kah feature in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Kathleen O’Connell becomes US winningmost female trainer
USA: Kathleen O’Connell became the winningmost female trainer in history in North America when she sent out her 2,386th winner at Tampa Bay Downs on Sunday [March 12].
O’Connell broke a record held by the still-active Kim Hammond when My Eagle Soars crossed the line in front under Antonio Gallardo in a maiden claiming race.
O’Connell, who began training on her own in 1981, trains a string of around 60 between Tampa Bay and Gulfstream Park in Florida. She has won nine graded stakes,including the 2011 G2 Tampa Bay Derby, with Watch Me Go; and back-to-back runnings of the G2 Princess Rooney in 2018 and 2019 with Stormy Embrace.
“It's just been a wonderful ride,” she said. “It's not only about the destination – it's the journey getting there.”
Yuesheng Zhang expansion adds 20 two-year-olds to Karl Burke string
GB: Chinese racehorse owner Yuesheng Zhang, whose international racing interests include Yulong Investments, has expanded his European string for 2023 and will have 20 two-year-olds with Yorkshire trainer Karl Burke, according to Thoroughbred Daily News.
A majority of his team will continue to be based in Ireland with main trainer Jessica Harrington, who delivered the owner’s biggest success to date last year with Irish Oaks winner Magic Lagoon.
She now races in Australia where she has joined the multiple G1 winner Alcohol Free, who was bought by the owner for 5.4 million gns [$6.8m] at the end of last year.
Jamie Kah awake after two days under sedation following race fall
Australia: Leading jockey Jamie Kah was woken from more than two days of sedation after she suffered a head injury in a fall during a G2 race at Flemington on Saturday [March 11].
A statement from her family said: “Jamie is recovering well and is ready to be transferred to one of the RMH wards. She is awake and speaking”
Craig Williams suffered a broken collarbone after coming down in the same incident.
Pegasus winner Art Collector heads to New Orleans for next start
USA: Pegasus World Cup winner Art Collector will drop down in grade for his next start and contest the G2 New Orleans Classic at Fair Grounds on March 25.
Ryan Moore bids for first Golden Slipper success
Australia: Ryan Moore faces a hectic weekend which will start in Sydney where he will partner the Coolmore-owned Shinzo in the A$5m [$3.3m] Golden Slipper, the world’s richest two-year-old race, at Rosehill Gardens [Mar 18].
Moore will also partner the William Haggas-trained Dubai Honour in the G1 Ranvet Stakes before getting on a plane to Hong Kong where among seven rides at Sha Tin on Sunday [Mar 19] are top sprinter Wellington in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup and Tuchel in the Hong Kong Derby.
Adena Springs offered for sale for $55m
USA: Adena Springs Farm, which was part of the Stronach Group's breeding and training empire, has been put up for sale with a price tag of $55 million. The 2,300-acre farm between Lexington and Paris in Kentucky, where Awesome Again, Ghostzapper and Mucho Macho Man have stood, has space for more than 1,000 horses with 20 barns and more than 250 stables.
Elsewhere in racing …
USA: New synthetic surface at Belmont Park More here
USA: T C Stevens, son of Gary Stevens, ready for first ride More here
Ireland: Jessica Harrington reveals cancer battle More here
USA: Training brothers handed six-month suspension after contraband find at Delta Downs More here
New Zealand: Lisa Allpress to miss six months due to shoulder surgery More here
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