Paddington, Frankie Dettori and Churchill Downs feature in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Sussex Stakes hero Paddington heading for Juddmonte International
GB: Paddington is set to bid for his fifth G1 success of the season in the Juddmonte International at York’s Ebor meeting on August 23.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained three-year-old earned comparisons with Giant’s Causeway, the original ‘Iron Horse’, after landing his fourth top-level success of 2023 with a dominant display in the Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood on Wednesday [August 2].
“Paddington is a very special horse,” said O’Brien after the horse had extended his winning streak to seven. “Paddington is much quicker than the Giant was; he’s tactically quick but he can quicken as well.
“York is a massive big festival as well,” the trainer added. “We will definitely look at it and consider it very seriously.” More here
Frankie Dettori’s farewell tour extended to Hong Kong
Hong Kong: Frankie Dettori’s farewell tour has been extended yet again, with the world’s most famous jockey now set to ride at the Hong Kong International Races in December.
Initially, Dettori had been expected to stop riding after Ascot’s Champions Day meeting [Oct 21] before moving onto the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita [Nov 4-5]. Then he added the Melbourne Cup [Nov 7] to his schedule – and now he’s going to Hong Kong to ride Kinross for his friend, owner Marc Chan.
Dettori revealed the news after partnering the six-year-old to win the G2 Lennox Stakes at Goodwood on Tuesday [August 1]. More here
Crowley hit with 20-day whip ban for Hukum ride
GB: Former champion jockey Jim Crowley was handed a 20-day whip ban for his winning ride on Hukum in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes at Ascot on Saturday [July 29].
The six-year-old got the better of Westover by a head after a pulsating finish to the midsummer showpiece. Crowley used his whip nine times – three over the limit under Britain’s controversial whip rules – to trigger an automatic ten-day ban, which was doubled as his transgression came in a Class 1 race.
The jockey, who was also hit with a £10,000 fine, misses York’s Ebor meeting as a result of the suspension, meted out at a meeting of the BHA’s Whip Review Committee on Tuesday [August 1].
“The rules are the rules,” said Crowley. “Does the punishment fit the crime? I don’t think so, but I would say that. It’s going to be a tough pill to swallow.” More here
Racing set to return to Churchill Downs
USA: Racing is set to resume at Churchill Downs in September – nearly two months after the track was suddenly shut down amid a spate of equine fatalities.
The Kentucky Derby venue will reopen its doors for its regular fall meet beginning on September 14. The latter portion of the spring-summer meet at the home of the Kentucky Derby was moved to Ellis Park in June. More here
Richard Mullen breaks collarbone in Rebel’s Romance fall
USA: Dual UAE champion jockey Richard Mullen suffered multiple injuries in his fall from Breeders’ Cup winner Rebel’s Romance last weekend at Saratoga.
Mullen, 47, was riding the 11-20 favourite in the Bowling Green when his mount clipped heels and came down in the G2 contest, won by veteran Channel Maker.
The jockey was transported to Albany Medical Center. Speaking to Britain’s Daily Mirror from his hospital bed, he said: “I am very sore with a broken collarbone, three broken vertebrae, a couple of broken ribs, a broken thumb and little bleeding on my lungs. But apart from that I’m okay!” More here
Breeders’ Cup target for Dubai runner-up Algiers
GB: Dubai World Cup runner-up Algiers has the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile as an end-of-season target – with a prep race in the US on the cards beforehand.
“He’s just moved back into proper training – he hasn’t done any fast work but he’s moving really well,” said Simon Crisford, who trains the six-year-old in partnership with his son Ed, speaking on ITV Racing. “He might have a prep in America – we’ll never run him on grass again.”
Algiers shot to prominence at this year’s Dubai Carnival, where he recorded wide-margin victories in the first two legs of the Al Maktoum Challenge before a fine effort in the Dubai World Cup where he was 2¾ lengths behind Ushba Tesoro.
Meanwhile, globetrotting Bathrat Leon, already winner of big-money races in Dubai and Saudi Arabia, is set to join the Japanese team for the Breeders’ Cup. More here
Elsewhere in racing …
USA: Saratoga send-off for fan favorite Funny Cide More here
USA: West Will Power retired after injury More here
USA: Uncertainty over future of Turf Paradise More here
GB: Stradivarius wins public vote for Hall of Fame More here
Australia: Death of Melbourne Cup-winning jockey John Duggan More here
Australia: Eight UK-based horses set to join Ciaron Maher & David Eustace More here
India: Breeders’ Cup winner Order of Australia sold to Manjri Stud More here
• View all previous editions of Seven Days In Racing
View the latest TRC Global Rankings for horses / jockeys / trainers / sires