Stud plans for Arcangelo, a renovation project at Keeneland and a landmark winner for Corey Lanerie – plus British Champions Day – feature in our weekly digest
Arcangelo set for Lane's End upon retirement
USA: Breeders’ Cup Classic favourite Arcangelo, who leads the US three-year-old division after victories in the Belmont and Travers Stakes, will be retired to Lane’s End at the end of his racing career.
“There's no doubt that Arrogate's brief career at stud has had a major impact on racing, and the opportunity to stand a Classic-winning son of his with such a deep pedigree makes Arcangelo an exciting and unique prospect for Lane's End,” said the farm's Bill Farish. More here
Arcangelo completed what was described by Antonucci as a “serious work” on Sunday [Oct 15] with a five-furlong drill in 1:00.00 at BC venue Santa Anita. ‘I think I’m pretty spot-on with that,” added the trainer. More here
Keeneland announces $93m building project
USA: Keeneland has unveiled plans for a $93m building project – the most extensive renovation in the venue’s history – featuring a new three-storey building overlooking the paddock that will transform the venue’s main entrance.
New dining, seating and viewing areas (including a rooftop patio), plus a new administrative building in the current parking lot. Work will begin in January with a completion target of the September yearling sale and Fall meet of 2025. More here
British Champions Day: Buick claims second jockeys’ title
GB: William Buick will be crowned Britain’s champion jockey for the second successive year as the UK season reaches its climax at the QIPCO British Champions Day meeting on Saturday [Oct 21] at Ascot.
Buick, 35, has established an unassailable lead in the title race, with 134 victories as of Thursday morning [Oct 19]. Oisin Murphy, his closest pursuer, has 104 winners within the parameters of the championship season, which began on May 6; the calendar-year leader is Rossa Ryan with 165 winners. More here
Billy Loughnane, the teenage wonder of British racing, claims the apprentice title with 59 winners. Known as ‘Billy the Kid’, the 17-year-old has a clear lead over defending champ Benoit de la Sayette. More here
Among highlights of the Champions Day card are a clash between Paddington and Tahiyra in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, while Mostahdaf, Bay Bridge and King Of Steel feature in a nine-runner field for the QIPCO Champion Stakes. The going at Ascot was changed to soft on Thursday after more overnight rain. More here
5,000th career winner for Corey Lanerie
USA: Corey Lanerie became the 38th rider to reach 5,000 winners in North America on Wednesday [Oct 18] when he partnered Chris Hartman-trained I Feel The Need to victory in Race 3 at Keeneland, a $52,000 main-track claimer over a mile and sixteenth.
Lanerie, 48, rode his first winner in April 1991 at Evangeline Downs in his native Louisiana. In a 33-year career, he has won 19 riding titles at Churchill Downs and has seven G1 wins to his name.
“I have been waiting a long time and it seems like I got right on it and I could never get over the hump,” said Lanerie after a 3½-length win at Keeneland. “Today we got over the hump and hopefully we keep rolling.” More here
All-time leader in North American wins is Russell Baze, who retired in June 2016 with 12,842 victories; the leading active rider is Perry Ouzts (6,662).
Equinox and Liberty Island heading for Japan Cup clash
Japan: This year’s Japan Cup looks set to host a potentially titanic showdown between world #1 Equinox and star filly Liberty Island, who last weekend completed the fillies’ Triple Crown with a decisive victory in the Shuka Sho (fillies’ St Leger).
Equinox is set to return to action in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) on Sunday week [Oct 29], after which the Japan Cup at Tokyo racecourse on November 26 is his stated target. Liberty Island, who won the Shuka Sho at odds of 1-10, is also in line for the the ¥1.08bn (about $8.2m) contest. “Distance will not be a concern for the Japan Cup,” said Shunsuke Yoshida, manager of owners’ group Sunday Racing. More here
Two European stars also in line for the Japan Cup is Aidan O’Brien-trained Continuous, ruled out of the Qatar Champion Stakes with a temperature, and France’s Iresine, who won the G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris at Longchamp on Sunday [Oct 15]. More here
Justify stud fee doubled to $200,000 for 2024
USA: A number of major US stud operations have announced their revised covering fees for their 2024 stallion roster in the last week or so.
Perhaps the headline-grabbing act is Triple Crown winner Justify – sire of European two-year-old sensation City Of Troy – whose fee has been doubled to $200,000 at Coolmore’s American arm, Ashford. More here
Gun Runner will stand for $250,000 at Three Chimneys, while Curlin’s fee at Hill ’n’ Dale has been increased to the same price. Cody’s Wish and Proxy will join the stallion band at Darley America; fees to be announced after the Breeders’ Cup.
Elsewhere in racing …
GB: King George winner Hukum retired to Darley Japan More here
GB: Breeders’ Cup in jeopardy for Hollie Doyle amid careless riding ban More here
Venezuela: Tragedy as female jockey is killed as horse crashes into rail More here
USA: Turf veteran Channel Maker, four-time G1 winner, retired More here
Hong Kong: Former world #1 Golden Sixty trials at Sha Tin More here
Australia: Death of Winx’s dam Vegas Showgirl, aged 21 More here
GB: G1 winner Dubai Mile retired to Manton Park Stud More here
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