High-profile farewells dominate our weekly digest of recent international news – led by world #1 Equinox, who is set for stud duties after his sensational Japan Cup victory
World #1 Equinox retired after Japan Cup triumph
Japan: The world’s leading racehorse Equinox has been retired to stud following his emphatic victory in his nation’s biggest race, the Japan Cup, at Tokyo racecourse on Sunday [Nov 26].
On Thursday [Nov 30] it was announced that the four-year-old will join his sire Kitasan Black at Shadai Stallion Station on Hokkaido.
The Japanese superstar stands unchallenged at the #1 spot on Thoroughbred Racing Commentary’s Global Rankings after his consummate four-length victory over fillies’ Triple Crown winner Liberty Island in Sunday’s ¥1.085bn yen ($7.25m/£5.8m) contest.
Trained by Tetsuya Kimura for owners Silk Racing, Equinox has been at the top for 36 weeks since his commanding victory in the Dubai Sheema Classic. He won eight of ten career starts – finishing second in the other two – and took his G1 winning streak to six under Christophe Lemaire in the Japan Cup. More here
Kentucky Derby winner Mage retired to stud
USA: Kentucky Derby winner Mage has been retired and will take up stallion duties at Airdrie Stud for the 2024 covering season.
According to trainer Gustavo Delgado, a routine end-of-season scan revealed “the beginnings of a small issue” and plans to run the colt in the Pegasus World Cup were aborted.
“Mage has been a great blessing in our family's life,” said Delgado in a statement issued on Monday [Nov 27]. “He was special for so many reasons and he gave all of us that were blessed to be associated with him the greatest days you could ever have in racing. He has been so good to us and owes us nothing.” More here
Alpine Star and Alpha Centauri sell for record €6m
Ireland: A historic night’s trade ensued in the Goffs sales ring last Friday [Nov 24] when Ireland’s record public-auction sales price of €6m was equalled twice within a single session.
A star-studded draft from the Niarchos outfit was the highlight of the Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale, and Coolmore went to €6m for the G1-winning half-sisters Alpine Star (in-foal to Frankel) and Alpha Centauri (in-foal to Sea The Stars).
Coolmore had set the record price ten years ago for Chicquita; the operation spent a total of €19m at the sale, with Albigna, a third Niarchos G1 winner, fetching €3.7m. More here
Saudi Cup hero Panthalassa heads to stud
Japan: Saudi Cup hero Panthalassa ran his last race in the Japan Cup on Sunday [Nov 26] and has been retired to stud on Hokkaido.
Trained by international pioneer Yoshito Tahagi, the six-year-old dead-heated with Lord North in the 2022 Dubai Turf at Meydan before switching to dirt for his finest hour in the world’s richest race in Riyadh in February.
A noted front-runner, Panthalassa made all in typical fashion to win the $20m Saudi Cup; he also left his mark on his final outing, establishing an 18-length lead on Sunday in Tokyo before being overwhelmed and finishing 12th behind world #1 Equinox. More here
Fierceness and Locked bound for Florida with Pletcher string
USA: Star two-year-olds Fierceness and Locked – first and third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile – are heading to Florida for their winter sojourn as part of trainer Todd Pletcher’s army being readied for action at Gulfstream Park’s Championship Meet, which begins on Friday [Dec 1].
Pletcher habitually uses the Florida programme for his Triple Crown contenders, as evinced by his record number of wins in both the Florida Derby, Gulfstream’s signature race, and its prep, the Fountain of Youth.
“Gulfstream has always been a good program for us, for our later-developing two-year-olds slash three-year-olds,” Pletcher said. “It obviously has a very good Triple Crown prep program, and we’ve been fortunate to have some success over the years.”
Pletcher’s primary winter base is South Florida, with strings at both Palm Beach Downs and Gulfstream, where he won 18 consecutive Championship Meet training titles starting in 2004. More here
Howden announce fresh sponsorships in Bahrain and Australia
GB: Leading global insurance group Howden have announced two new racing sponsorships with the Bahrain Turf Club and Victoria Racing Club (VRC) in Australia. More here
Elsewhere in racing …
GB: Jump racing superstar Constitution Hill returns to action More here
Japan: White colt Amante Bianco wins first 'Japan Road to Kentucky Derby' contest More here
Japan: Death of European champion sprinter Stravinsky, aged 27 More here
USA: Edgard Zayas runs away with Sunshine Meet title at Gulfstream More here
USA: Keeneland pledges $100,000 to Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation More here
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