Mage, Forte and Frankie Dettori feature in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Mage resumes training ahead of Preakness
USA: Kentucky Derby winner Mage has resumed training at Churchill Downs ahead of a potential start in the Preakness Stakes [May 20], the second leg of the Triple Crown.
Gustavo Delgado Jr, the son and assistant of trainer Gustavo Delgado, said “so far, so good” while reiterating that final plans have not been made.
“I think we’re going to go day-by-day,” he said. “I appreciate patience on that. We really don’t want to feel any pressure about going or not going to the Preakness. We’ll let the horse tell us.”
A rematch with runner-up Two Phil’s at Pimlico has already been ruled out with trainer Larry Rivelli saying the race will come too soon but described the Belmont on June 10 as “a possibility”.
Forte faces Hopeful Stakes DQ after positive test
USA: Todd Pletcher appeared before stewards in New York on Wedneday [May 10] at a hearing into a yet-to-be-adjudicated positive drug test returned by Forte after his victory in the G1 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga last September.
The delayed case only became public when it was reported by theNew York Times on Tuesday [May 9] that Forte tested positive for a pain and inflammation reducing substance unallowed on raceday.
The report was the latest in a succession of negative headlines around this year’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs where there were five horse fatalities in the lead-up and two more deaths of horses that racing on the Derby undercard.
Forte, winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and Florida Derby, had been the Kentucky Derby morning-line favourite but was scratched by state vets on the day of the race due to concerns about a bruised front foot.
As a result Forte will be ineligible to contest Preakness after he was placed on a mandatory 14-day veterinary list by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission following his scratching due to soundness issues on the morning of the race. After 14 days he must complete a satisfactory workout in front of a state vet and produce a negative blood sample before his name is removed.
Dettori finds Epsom Derby mount in Arrest
GB: Frankie Dettori found a live contender for his last attempt on the Betfred Derby after winning the Chester Vase on the John & Thady Gosden-trained Arrest [May 10].
The son of Frankel was cut to 6-1 second favourite after a 6½-length triumph under Dettori, a dual winner of the Epsom Classic who has already won the 2,000 Guineas and Italian 2,000 Guineas in his final year in the saddle.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Savethelastdance, a daughter of Galileo out of Daddys Lil Darling, is hot favourite for the Betfred Oaks after recording a 22-length win in the Cheshire Oaks on Wednesday [May 10].
Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe field size increased to 24
France: France Galop has increased the maximum field size for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe to 24 from 20 in the wake of last year’s eliminations, of which Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant was the highest-profile casualty.
Europe’s richest race has attracted 74 entries which feature three horses from Japan headed by UAE Derby runner-up Dura Erede plus Through Seven Seas and Saliera. The entries confirmed that world #1 Equinox will not run.
James McDonald to ride Coolangatta at Royal Ascot
Australia: James McDonald will bid to follow up last year’s King’s Stand Stakes success on Nature Strip aboard the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Coolangatta. He takes over from the injured Jamie Kah, who has ridden the filly to her two G1 victories.
The Platinum Jubilee Stakes, the G1 sprint on the final day of Royal Ascot [June 24], has been renamed the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes in honour of the late monarch.
Isaac Shelby sold ahead of French Guineas weekend
France: Greenham Stakes winner Isaac Shelby has been bought by Qatar’s Wathnan Racing ahead of his appearance in the Poule d’Essai des Poulians at Paris-Longchamp on Sunday [May 14].
G1 winner Blue Rose Cen, a first Classic runner for Freddy Head's son Christopher, heads the field for the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches.
Elsewhere in racing …
USA: Kentucky Derby watched by 14.8m More here
Hong Kong: HKIR meeting prize-money to be worth record HK$118m [$15m] More here
USA: Breeders’ Cup Challenge to feature 80 qualifying races More here
USA: Injured jockey Cedillo set to make full recovery More here
USA: Rick Dutrow sends out first winner after ten year suspension More here
Japan: Lucky Sweynesse taken out of Yasuda Kinen More here
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