Edgar Prado, a historic victory at Royal Ascot and Frankie Dettori feature in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado announces retirement
USA: Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado, best known as the rider of ill-fated 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, has announced his retirement.
With a career total of 7,421 winners worldwide, the 56-year-old stands seventh on the all-time list behind world leader Jorge Ricardo (13,528). Having ridden his first winner in Lima 40 years ago, the Peruvian’s career tally of 7,119 in North America puts him eighth overall in the US.
Prado, who won the Eclipse Award as the nation’s outstanding rider in 2006, announced his retirement on Tuesday [June 20] via Twitter. “It was getting harder and harder,” he told the Blood-Horse, adding that he wants to spend more time with his family. More here
Royal Ascot history as Desert Hero delivers for King Charles III
GB: Racing history was made on Thursday [June 22] at Royal Ascot when King Charles III and Queen Camilla celebrated their first winner in the royal silks at Britain’s most prestigious meeting.
The roof came off the Ascot stands as Desert Hero, a three-year-old trained by William Haggas and Tom Marquand, delivered a historic victory by a head in a thrilling climax to the King George V Stakes, the second race of the day.
Haggas said: “They have been looking forward to Royal Ascot for a long time and they hoped to have as many runners as possible. I think they will be absolutely delighted.
“It's very important for horse racing, but it's also important that the King and Queen enjoy it, which they clearly appear to do. Long may that continue.”
The late Queen Elizabeth II enjoyed 24 Royal Ascot winners, the last of which was Tactical’s Windsor Castle Stakes in 2020.
Frankie Dettori lands farewell Gold Cup
GB: After a topsy-turvy few days, Frankie Dettori’s farewell visit to Royal Ascot hit a glorious high note on Thursday [June 22] when he partnered Courage Mon Ami to win the Gold Cup on his final ride in the historic showpiece.
Set to retire at the end of the season, the 52-year-old was winning his ninth Gold Cup on the 15-2 chance, an unbeaten son of Frankel having only the fourth run of his life for the training partnership of John & Thady Gosden.
Dettori, who also rode Gregory to win the Queen’s Vase on Wednesday, had ridden 79 career winners altogether at the meeting by close of play on Thursday.
However, he hit a serious bump in the road on Tuesday’s opening card, when he was handed a nine-day ban for careless riding on fifth-placed Saga in the King’s silks in the Wolferton Stakes. Dettori, who will miss the ride on favoured Emily Upjohn in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes, is considering an appeal.
Crimson Advocate hits Ascot target for US
GB: There was an American-trained winner at Royal Ascot when Crimson Advocate won the Queen Mary Stakes on Wednesday’s card [June 21] for trainer George Weaver.
John Velazquez rode the daughter of Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, who earned a spot at the royal meeting via Gulfstream Park’s inaugural ‘Road to Royal Ascot’ qualifier, the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies, on May 13.
Crimson Advocate touched off Relief Rally in the G2 Queen Mary to become the 14th US-trained winner in Royal Ascot history after 12 for Wesley Ward and Mark Casse-trained Tepin.
Surprise results across the board in Breeders’ Cup Challenge
GB: All four Breeders’ Cup Challenge ‘Win and You’re In’ races at this week’s Royal Ascot meeting threw up surprise results – but none more so than Thursday’s Norfolk Stakes, won by 150-1 shot Valiant Force (Adrian Murray/Rossa Ryan).
George Weaver-trained No Nay Mets was only tenth, while well-fancied American Rascal was only 13th of 14 for Wesley Ward; all four of his runners at the meeting failed to trouble the scorers.
Dual Breeders’ Cup winner Modern Games could finish only fourth behind 33-1 chance Triple Time (Kevin Ryan/Neil Callan) in Tuesday’s opener, the G1 Queen Anne Stakes, while 70 minutes later 14-1 shot Bradsell (Archie Watson/Hollie Doyle) held on from favourite Highfield Princess in the King’s Stand Stakes.
Mostahdaf (John & Thady Gosden/Jim Crowley) produced a sensational display for a four-length victory in the Wednesday highlight, the £1m Prince of Wales’ Stakes, where US-trained Classic Causeway was last of six. Connections have already mentioned the Breeders’ Cup Turf as a possible end-of-season target.
Blue Rose Cen 8-1 for Arc after French Classic double
France: Star filly Blue Rose Cen catapulted herself into the reckoning for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with her third G1 triumph on Sunday [June 18] in the Prix de Diane (French Oaks).
Making light of supposed stamina concerns, the Christopher Head-trained daughter of Churchill stormed home to score by four lengths under jockey Aurelien Lemaitre in the Chantilly Classic. World #20 (from #73, +169pt) according to TRC Global Rankings, Blue Rose Cen is now as short as 8-1 for the Arc with European bookmakers. More here
Elsewhere in racing …
Australia: Jamie Kah ‘back to normal’ after injury layoff More here
USA: Kentucky Derby runner-up Two Phil’s returns in Ohio Derby More here
Brazil: Raptor’s earns Breeders’ Cup spot in Grande Premio Brasil More here
New Zealand: 1,000 winners in Australia for Daniel Stackhouse More here
Turkey: Death of dual G1 winner Lion Heart, aged 22 More here
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