Plans for Belmont Stakes to be run at Saratoga and retirement of Nature Strip also feature in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
German racing in mourning after tragic death of Filip Minarik
Germany: Tributes have been paid to Filip Minarik, the Czech-born four-time champion jockey of Germany, whose death was announced on August 5. He was 48.
Lars-Willhelm Baumgarten, owner of this year’s German Derby winner Fantastic Moon, said: "Legends never die. Yesterday my dear friend and champion jockey Filip Minarik decided to end his life. Filip you are still alive in your hearts.”
Minarik had attended the Baden-Baden races days earlier and was photographed with Arc-winning jockey Luke Morris who posted the picture online. “Very very sad day RIP Filip. Fantastic jockey, even better person. This was only Sunday at Baden,” he wrote.
Minarik rode more than 1,600 winners, 14 at G1 level, but his career ended when he nearly lost his life after a fall at Hanover in July 2020. He was in a coma for four weeks. He had to learn to walk again but admitted struggling to come to terms with life away from the racing scene.
His wife Katja said: “We fought so hard, but in the end we lost the battle against the ever-increasing depression. We need time to realize and process what has happened.”
Two-year plan proposal for Belmont Stakes at Saratoga
USA: The next two runnings of the Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the Triple Crown, look set to be held at Saratoga for two years from next year.
That is the favored solution of the NYRA in order for the extensive rebuilding programme under way at Belmont Park to be mostly completed by 2026.
Not only is the grandstand to be knocked down and replaced, but both turf courses and the main track will undergo renovation and a fourth surface – a one-mile Tapeta track – is being installed inside the inner turf course.
NYRA CEO Dave O’Rourke told the Daily Racing Form: “By not going back to Belmont next spring, it allows Glen [Kozak, vice president of operations/capital projects] to not stop the process of redoing and building. It allows the tracks to get done quicker and allows the grass a lot of time to take hold. From a surfaces position, we’ll be in a great spot.”
A Belmont Stakes at Saratoga would most likely be run over a mile and a quarter but there would be no change to the date.
Nature Strip retired after comeback flop
Australia: Nature Strip, former world #1 in the TRC Global Rankings, has been retired after failing to fire on his return to action at Randwick on Saturday [Sept 2].
“He wasn’t the same horse in the race today,” said trainer Chris Waller after Nature Strip could finish inly sixth in a G3 event. “He’s a sound horse, he’s a happy horse, and that’s how he’ll retire.” Long-time rival Eduardo, who was fourth, has also been retired.
Nature Strip won 22 races, earning over £11 million [$13m], his victories including the Everest in 2021 and the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2022.
Ryan Moore answers call to step in for injured McDonald
Australia:World #1 jockey Ryan Moore will ride in Sydney on September 23 after getting called up to partner Coolmore-owned Shinzo in the G1 Golden Rose after James McDonald was injured in a fall.
McDonald has a fractured left foot which is expected to keep him absent for four weeks. Moore was aboard the Chris Waller-trained Shnzo when he won the Golden Slipper in March. Waller is also hoping Joao Moreira will be available to take up some of his spare mounts over the spring.
There were 15 international horses among the 132 nominations for the Lexus Melbourne Cup, including Desert King, who could run for the King and Queen after he contests the St Leger on September 16.
Hong Kong champion Zac Purton has been enlisted to ride the David Simcock-trained Light Infantry in the Cox Plate [Oct 28].
Lucky Sweynesse in action as new HK season kicks off
Hong Kong: Lucky Sweynesse is the star attraction as the new season in Hong Kong opens at Sha Tin on Sunday [Sept 10] where the three-time G1 winner is set to contest the feature Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap over 6f.
Jockey Andrea Atzeni will make his debut in the race as a Hong Kong Jockey Club-licensed rider on bottomweight Youthful Deal, one of three rides. Fellow newcomer Keagan De Melo has one mount.
Elsewhere in racing …
GB: Horses-in-training auction added to Qipco British Champions Day line-up More here
USA: Antonio Fresu hit with 32 days in whip bans More here
France: Eduard de Rothschild to step down as France Galop president More here
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Derby winner Commissioner King handed Saudi Cup target More here
USA: Aqueduct fall meet to feature 33 stakes More here
Spain: Nanako Fujita to compete in invitational race More here
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