New Hall of Fame inductees California Chrome and Arrogate plus Golden Sixty and Javier Castellano feature in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
California Chrome and Arrogate head Hall of Fame inductees
USA: California Chrome and Arrogate, who were rivals on the track, have entered the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame at the same time as 2023 inductees along with the outstanding filly Songbird.
California Chrome was voted Horse of the Year in 2014 and 2016 and recorded G1 wins in the 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes and 2016 Dubai World Cup. Arrogate began a seven-race win streak in 2016, smashing the Saratoga track record when landing the Travers Stakes before capturing the Breeders’ Cup Classic – beating California Chrome in a celebrated head-to-head – Pegasus World Cup and 2017 Dubai World Cup.
The eight new members of the Hall of Fame also include jockey Corey Nakatani, who rode nearly 4,000 winners, including ten at Breeders’ Cups.
The 82-year-old Fernando Toro, who won the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Mile on Royal Heroine, was chosen for inclusion by the Historic Review Committee. The other new members are John W. Hanes II, Leonard W. Jerome, and Stella F. Thayer.
Golden Sixty and Dubai Honour feature on star-studded Sha Tin card
Hong Kong: Five of the current top ten on Thoroughbred Racing Commentary's Global Rankings are in action on a star-studded Champions Day card at Sha Tin on Sunday [Apr 30] – led by world #2 Golden Sixty, who bids for an unprecedented third straight victory in the FWD Champions Mile .
The winner of 24 of his 28 starts, the seven-year-old meets local rival California Spangle, who defeated him in the Hong Kong Mile in December.
British-trained Dubai Honour, current world #5, beat a field including Australian superstar Anamoe when winning the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in Sydney. He lines up in the FWD QEII Cup against Hong Kong Cup winner Romantic Warrior and three runners from Japan led by Danon The Kid.
Top HK sprinter Lucky Sweynesse, world #6, will seek his seventh win from nine starts this campaign in the Champions Sprint.
Kentucky Derby: Castellano switches to Mage from Raise Cain
USA: Javier Castellano has given up the Kentucky Derby mount on Gotham Stakes winner Raise Cain to ride Mage, who finished second to big-race favourite Forte last time ou tin the Florida Derby.
The Brad Cox stable is set to have four runners in the race after Louisiana Derby third Jace’s Road got into the 20-runner field following the withdrawal of Blazing Sevens.
Racing suspended at Laurel over safety of track surface
USA: Racing is set to resume at Laurel Park on Saturday [Apr 29], subject to approval from the state commission, after fixtures were cancelled last week due to concerns about the dirt surface following the deaths of five horses during April as a result of injuries.
The circuit has been reopend for training after 1/ST Racing CEO Aidan Butler announced that an examination by an indepedent inspector had "affirmed the safety of Laurel Park’s dirt surface".
Brett Prebble to ride Cannonball at Royal Ascot
Australia: Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Brett Prebble has been picked to ride Australian sprinter Cannonball in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot. The G3 winner, trained by Peter & Paul Snowden, finished third in the G1 Galaxy on his latest start.
World #1 rider James McDonald, who rode three winners at last year's royal meeting, has been booked for Artorius in the Platinum Jubilee Stakes. The four-year-old was third in 2022.
Shahryar to be trained for Breeders’ Cup Turf
Japan:The 2021 Japanese Derby winner Shahryar is being aimed at the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita after finishing fifth in the Dubai Sheema Classic on his latest start.
Elsewhere in racing …
USA: New York stalwart Jimmy Jerkens to train in Saudi Arabia More here
India: Champion jockey suspended for one year More here
Hong Kong: Brenton Avdulla granted jockey licence More here
Japan: Kyoto reopens after 2½-year renovation More here
New Zealand: McNab becomes first jockey to hit NZ$4m in earnings in a season More here
• View all previous editions of Seven Days In Racing
View the latest TRC Global Rankings for horses / jockeys / trainers / sires