Breeders’ Cup winner Fierceness returns, while Bob Baffert’s horses won’t be switched for the Kentucky Derby – plus more in our weekly round-up of international racing news
Pletcher ‘super-excited’ ahead of Fierceness comeback
USA: Last year’s champion two-year-old Fierceness sets out on the Kentucky Derby trail at Gulfstream Park on Saturday [Feb 3] when he faces seven rivals in the Holy Bull Stakes.
Trainer Todd Pletcher told the Gulfstream media team that he is “super-excited” to get the son of City Of Light back on track after his runaway 6¼-length victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
“By bringing him back in the Holy Bull we get good spacing to the Florida Derby and like the five weeks from the Florida Derby to the Kentucky Derby,” said the trainer. “We were thrilled with his performance in the Breeders’ Cup and happy that he vindicated himself from the Champagne and delivered the performance that we thought he was capable of.” More here
No transfer for Baffert’s Classic contenders
USA: According to multiple reports, Bob Baffert’s potential Triple Crown contenders will not be transferred to other trainers ahead of the Kentucky Derby – which means that, as things stand, they will not be able to run.
Baffert is prohibited from having any runners in his name at venues operated by Churchill Downs Inc. as a result of the penalty imposed following the post-race drugs test failure of Medina Spirit in 2021.
A total of 18 horses representing the trainer have been nominated to the Triple Crown, headed by Breeders’ Cup runner-up Muth and the unbeaten Nysos, set to run on Saturday [Feb 3] at Santa Anita in the Robert B Lewis Stakes. Baffert horses have been switched in the last two years to allow them to run in the Kentucky Derby. More here
According to the BloodHorse, an earlier post-position draw will take place this year ahead of the 150th Kentucky Derby, with both America’s greatest race and the Kentucky Oaks being drawn on Saturday April 27 during the opening-day card for the spring meet at Churchill Downs. More here
Dubai Honour spearheads Haggas’s Sydney team
Australia: William Haggas has outlined plans for his annual assault on the Sydney Autumn Carnival, with Dubai Honour leading the charge as he bids to repeat last year’s victory in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick.
The six-year-old, who also won the Ranvet Stakes in 2023, is set to go into quarantine on Feb 15. He will be joined in Australia by Sydney Cup-bound Post Impressionist, who has been bought by Lloyd Williams, and possibly Mujtaba.
On the other hand, royal runner Desert Hero will be staying at home with the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot as his primary target. Interviewed on Radio TAB Australia, Haggas added that a Melbourne Cup tilt remains in the offing later in the year, however. More here
Purton and Bowman in dominant form
Hong Kong: A couple of leading jockeys have been in prolific form recently – notably six-time champion Zac Purton, who completed a six-timer at Sha Tin on Sunday [Jan 28].
However, Purton was out of luck in the feature event as odds-on favourite Lucky Sweynesse never landed a blow behind shock 38-1 scorer Victor The Winner (Danny Shum/Derek Leung) in the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup. The winner may be on his travels to Japan for the Takamatsunomiya Kinen at Chukyo on March 24. More here
On Wednesday night [Jan 31], Hugh Bowman took the starring role with four winners at Happy Valley. More here
Star filly Regaleira handed Japanese Derby option
Japan: Connections of Regaleira have outlined a bold three-year-old campaign for the star filly, who is set to take on her male counterparts in the Japanese Classics.
Having already beaten the boys in the G1 Hopeful Stakes in December, Sunday Racing’s daughter of Japan Cup winner Suave Richard is set to run in the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2,000 Guineas) without a prep run before being targeted for the Tokyo Yushun (Derby). More here
Crown Prince’s Cup in Bahrain
Bahrain: An international field has been assembled for the 2024 running of the Crown Prince’s Cup, Listed highlight of a showpiece card on Friday [Feb 2] at the Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club also featuring the Bahrain Derby and Bahrain Oaks.
Godolphin field two runners in the $150,000 feature, namely Local Dynasty and Passion And Glory. The card also includes the latest two legs of the Bahrain Turf Series, out of which UK-trained Isle Of Jura and Lucander have graduated to the Crown Prince’s Cup. Full card here
Elsewhere in racing …
USA: Belmont at the Big A stakes schedule released More here
USA: Turf Paradise back in business More here
Australia: Seven-time G1 winner Alligator Blood suffers serious injury More here
Australia: Death of Cox Plate-winning jockey Bill Camer, aged 92 More here
South Africa: Daniel Muscutt claims 33-1 shocker in Cape Town Met More here
Dubai: Dubai Millennium Stakes is G3 feature at Meydan More here
Greece: Racing ceases at Markopoulo Park in Athens More here
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