World #1 Equinox, the Melbourne Cup and a new Breeders’ Cup charity program feature in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
World #1 Equinox to have Japan Cup prep in Tenno Sho
Japan: World #1 racehorse Equinox will have his next start in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) over 2,000 metres on October 29 at Tokyo racecourse prior to a crack at the Japan Cup four weeks later at the same venue.
The Silk Horse Club this week announced plans for their brilliant four-year-old, last seen when completing a G1 four-timer in the Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin in June.
Equinox has has spent a total of 26 weeks at the top of the Thoroughbred Racing Commentary’s Global Rankings since his exhilarating success in the Dubai Sheema Classic. He is set to face a rematch with Do Deuce, who beat him by a neck in last year’s Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) in the Tenno Sho. More here
Titleholder makes his long-awaited return to action after injury in the Sankei Sho All Comers, a G2 event at Nakayama on Sunday [Sept 24]. More here
Melbourne Cup weights released
Australia: Ante-post favourite Vauban has been allotted 55kg for the Lexus Melbourne Cup – with trainer Willie Mullins hoping Ryan Moore is available – following the release of weights on Tuesday [Sept 17] for the famous Flemington two-miler.
Trainer Willie Mullins told Nick Luck’s Daily Podcast that he is looking for a jockey for Vauban’s stablemate Absurde, who won the Ebor under Frankie Dettori on his most recent outing.
A total of 133 horses are engaged in the A$8.54m ($5.53m/£4.48m) contest on November 7, with last year’s winner Gold Trip topping the weights on 58.5kg. Both Vauban (16th in the weights) and Absurde (qualified via ‘win and you’re in’) are guaranteed a place in the field, which has a 24-runner maximum. More here
• Full list of Melbourne Cup weights plus order of entry
Breeders’ Cup launches ‘40 Days of Giving’ charity fundraising program
USA: Breeders’ Cup Limited has announced the launch of 40 Days of Giving, a fundraising program that puts key Thoroughbred industry charities in the spotlight as the countdown continues to the 40th anniversary event on November 3-4 at Santa Anita.
Throughout the program, designated charities and their selected donors – who will show support for each cause by offering a match of up to $1,000 on their dedicated day – will be featured at Breederscup.com/Giving. Funds raised on each of the beneficiaries’ dedicated days will go directly to the designated charity. More here
St Leger winner Continuous looks set for Arc
Ireland: Continuous, comfortable winner of the St Leger at Doncaster on Saturday [Sept 16] looks set to be supplemented for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on October 1.
World #1 trainer Aidan O’Brien told the Racing Post that the son of Japanese sire Heart’s Cry could be the sole Ballydoyle runner in the storied €5m contest at ParisLongchamp. “We won’t make a final decision on the Arc until next week,” said O’Brien. “We’ll see how he is and how he’s come out of the Leger first. We’ll give him every chance.”
Continuous is generally rated a 7-1 chance for the Arc behind favourite Ace Impact, the French Derby winner, and King George hero Hukum. More here
Turf Paradise set to cease operations
USA: The future of racing at Turf Paradise in Arizona is in severe jeopardy after a proposed sale of the 67-year-old racetrack fell through last week,
As a result, the Phoenix-based venue will cease operations at the end of the month – and it will be shut down permanently unless a rescue plan can be put together. “Of all the things you can say about racing, it is built on hope springs eternal, so yes, there is hope,” said general manager Vince Francia, speaking to Phoenix TV station KNXV. More here
Mr Brightside enters world top ten
Australia: Mr Brightside has entered the world top ten after completing back-to-back G1 wins with a dominant performance in the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington on Saturday [Sept 16].
Trained by the Hayes partnership, the six-year-old scored by a length and a quarter over multiple G1 winner Alligator Blood to jump to #10 (from #18, +99pt) on Thoroughbred Racing Commentary’s Global Rankings, where he is the highest-ranked Australian-trained horse.
Having also landed the All-Star Mile, Doncaster Mile and Memsie Stakes during a five-race winning streak, Mr Brightside is set to run next in the A$5m King Charles III Stakes (former George Main) at Randwick on October 14.
Elsewhere in racing …
USA: Death of former Kentucky governor Brereton Jones, founder of Airdrie Stud, aged 84 More here
USA: Mandella Breeders’ Cup plans for Geaux Rocket Ride and Tamara More here
USA: Three-time G1 winner Taiba retired to Spendthrift More here
Canada: Veteran jockey Gary Boulanger retires aged 55 after 3,685 wins More here
France: Focus on welfare at 59th IFHA Conference in Paris on Oct 2 More here
GB: Newmarket stables welcome public at Henry Cecil Open Weekend More here
Japan: Ovemburumai heading to Sydney for Golden Eagle More here
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