Frankie Dettori, Auguste Rodin and Wesley Ward feature in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Frankie Dettori: Royal Ascot ban upheld on appeal – plus a whip ban too
GB: Love him or loathe him, you can’t keep Frankie Dettori out of the news. This week came a couple of stings in the tail after a memorable final Royal Ascot for the world’s best-known jockey, who is planning to retire at the end of the 2023 season.
On Thursday [June 29], Dettori lost his appeal against the nine-day ban imposed at Royal Ascot for careless riding on the King’s runner Saga in the early stages of the Wolferton Stakes. As a result, he will miss the ride in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes on odds-on favourite Emily Upjohn. More here
Earlier in the week, Dettori was also among a slew of jockeys hit by bans after Royal Ascot following a meeting of the BHA’s whip referral committee. Dettori was suspended for eight days for using his whip seven times – only once above the permitted level – on Queen Anne Stakes runner-up Inspiral.
He misses the entire July meeting at Newmarket, meaning he misses one final chance to land the July Cup, the sole G1 event in Britain he has never won.
Also banned for whip infringements were former champion Oisin Murphy (eight days), Danny Muscutt (eight days) and Aussie-based superstar James McDonald (14 days). More here
Dettori extends farewell tour to Melbourne Cup
Australia: On a more positive note, Frankie Dettori will extend his farewell tour beyond this year’s Breeders’ Cup to the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Although Dettori had been expected to bring the curtain down on his incredible career at Santa Anita on November 3-4, on Monday [June 26] he revealed that he intends to ride for three days at Flemington in Melbourne.
Dettori has never won the Melbourne Cup, in which he first rode 29 years ago in 1993 aboard Drum Taps. “I am looking forward to returning to Melbourne to ride at the carnival for one final time,” he said. “Hopefully I can finish my career with a Melbourne Cup win – it’s always been one race I would love to win.”
After Lexus Melbourne Cup day [Nov 7], Dettori is also planning to ride on the Kennedy Oaks card [Nov 9] and TAB Champions Stakes day [Nov 11]. More here
• The SkyBet Ebor Handicap at York on August 25 will offer a win-and-you’re-in ‘golden ticket’ to this year’s Melbourne Cup.
Epsom hero Auguste Rodin returns in Irish Derby
Ireland: Auguste Rodin returns to action four weeks after his Epsom Derby triumph in the Irish version at the Curragh on Sunday [July 2]. White Birch and Sprewell, third and fourth at Epsom, are also set to line up in the Dubai Duty Free-sponsored contest, in which Auguste Rodin’s jockey Ryan Moore is seeking a first success. More here
Big purse boosts as King Charles III honoured in A$5m Randwick race
Australia: Sydney’s ever-growing spring carnival has been boosted yet again with a A$5m ($3.35m/£2.63m) race named in honour of King Charles III.
Formerly the George Main Stakes, the G1 event has been moved to become the main support event on the Everest card at Royal Randwick on October 14.
The Everest itself has also received a A$5m purse boost, which means the 2023 edition will be worth A$20m ($13.35m/£10.5m) – the second-richest race in the world after the Saudi Cup at $20m (A$28m).
The Everest is already the world’s richest turf race. News of Sydney’s latest prize-money increases comes soon after Racing Victoria announced cuts in Melbourne. More here
Wesley Ward sanctioned over post-race positive
USA: After a dismal week at Royal Ascot where none of his four runners made the top ten, Wesley Ward went home to more bad news as he was punished over a positive test.
Under a ruling posted on Tuesday [June 27] by the Association of Racing Commissioners International, Ward was suspended for 15 days and fined $2,000 after Insanity It Seems, a winner at Monmouth Park on July 15, 2022, returned a positive test for naproxen and metformin. Insanity It Seems was disqualified. More here
Kentucky Derby runner-up Two Phil’s retired after injury
USA: Kentucky Derby runner-up Two Phil’s has been retired after suffering a sesamoid fracture following his comeback victory last weekend in the Ohio Derby. The injury emerged after the Larry Rivelli-trained colt won the G3 event at Thistledown by 5¾ lengths on Saturday [June 24]. On his previous outing, Two Phil’s was beaten a length by Mage in the Kentucky Derby. More here
World Pool: Royal Ascot race sets new turnover record
GB: A new record for single race turnover on the World Pool was established at Royal Ascot when HK$66.2 million (£6.6m/$8.45m) was bet on the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.
Commingled pool betting on the Saturday highlight beat the previous record of HK$66.1m on the 2022 Derby. Developed and run by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, World Pool is the globe’s largest commingled horse racing betting pool.
Elsewhere in racing …
USA: Record prize-money for Keeneland fall meet More here
USA: Pioneering female jockey Penny Ann Early dead at 80 More here
Australia: Pancreatic cancer claims G1-winning rider Peter Mertens aged 58 More here
France: Dual Classic winner Blue Rose Cen set for Glorious Goodwood More here
GB: Native Trail, champion 2yo of 2021, is retired More here
Peru: Samay earns Breeders’ Cup spot in GP Pamplona More here
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