Plans for White Abarrio, the Melbourne Cup and Frankel’s stud fee feature in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Saudi target for Breeders’ Cup winner White Abarrio
USA: Breeders’ Cup Classic winner White Abarrio will stay in training as a five-year-old in 2024 when the world’s richest race, the Saudi Cup, will provide his initial target.
Trainer Rick Dutrow outlined a four-race campaign after White Abarrio held Japan’s late-running Derma Sotogake by a length to claim the $6m Classic at Santa Anita on Saturday [Nov 4].
After the $20m Saudi Cup, the Dubai World Cup and the Whitney are on the agenda ahead of next year’s Breeders’ Cup. “From all the horses we've seen run, I think that it's going to take a big effort for a good horse to beat him in his next start,” said Dutrow, who only recently returned from a ten-year ban for multiple medication violations. More here
Melbourne Cup: Zahra chooses right on Without A Fight
Australia: Jockey Mark Zahra completed back-to-back victories in the Lexus Melbourne Cup on Tuesday [Nov 7] as he partnered Caulfield Cup hero Without A Fight to a decisive 2¼-length success in the famous Flemington two-miler.
Zahra jumped off the 2022 winner Gold Trip to ride Without A Fight, formerly trained in the UK by Simon & Ed Crisford before joining another father-and-son team, Anthony & Sam Freedman, in Australia.
"He's got an electric turn of foot and he pulled me all the way to the line,” commented Zahra. Gold Trip was only 17th in the A$8m (£4.5m/$5.12m) contest, where well-backed Irish-trained favourite Vauban dropped away tamely. More here
Frankel fees increased to world-leading £350,000
GB: World #1 sire Frankel will stand for an increased fee of £350,000 for the covering season of 2024 at Juddmonte’s Banstead Manor base. The 15-year-old son of Galileo, sure to retain his British and Irish sires’ title, stood for £275,000 in 2023, during which he has been responsible for 11 individual G1 winners.
Darley flagship Dubawi also stood for a world-leading £350,000 in 2023. Frankel will be joined on the Juddmonte roster by his own son, the 2000 Guineas winner Chaldean, who stands at an initial fee of £25,000. More here
Coolmore have increased Wootton Bassett’s fee to €200,000 (from £150,000). Paddington stands his first season at €55,000. More here
Ryan Moore fined for Auguste Rodin ride
USA: Ryan Moore sustained a one-day ban and a $20,800 fine (10% of his winning fee) for what was generally acclaimed as a brilliant ride to score on Auguste Rodin in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita.
Moore hit the dual Derby winner seven times – one over the six-strike limit under HISA rules. His fine is said to be the biggest ever meted out for a riding infringement in California.
Four-time Eclipse Award-winning rider Irad Ortiz received a three-day ban for careless riding on Filly & Mare Sprint winner Goodnight Olive. More here
Breeders’ Cup heroine Goodnight Olive sold for $6m
USA: After successfully defending her Breeders’ Cup crown in the Filly & Mare Sprint at Santa Anita, Goodnight Olive was sold for a sale-topping $6m when she went through the ring at Fasig-Tipton’s November Sale on Tuesday [Nov 7].
Gavin O’Connor, agent for John Stewart, signed the ticket for the five-year-old daughter of Ghostzapper, who is now set to bid for a Breeders’ Cup hat-trick next year at Del Mar.
Champion filly Nest also hit the $6m mark as owner Mike Repole bought out his partners in the four-year-old. Overall, a total of 154 horses made in excess of $101m altogether. More here
Dubai Racing Carnival opener
UAE: The new-look Dubai Racing Carnival kicks off on Friday [Nov 10] with an all-dirt card at Meydan, the first of 14 designated carnival meetings this term ahead of the Dubai World Cup card on March 30.
Among the more interesting runners among seven Thoroughbred races are veteran sprinter Gladiator King, twice a Group winner at Meydan, and G1 winner Ajuste Fiscal. Julio Olascoaga trains both. More here
Elsewhere in racing …
USA: Del Mar to host back-to-back Breeders’ Cups in 2024-25 More here
USA: Darley America announces fees for new stallion Cody’s Wish and Proxy More here
USA: Tamara sidelined with hind leg injury after Breeders’ Cup flop More here
Japan: Ushba Tesoro stays in training for Dubai defence More here
Australia: Zaaki chases Champions Stakes hat-trick at Flemington More here
Hong Kong: Record results for World Pool with 24% increase More here
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