A Dubai World Cup rematch for Saudi one-two, Hall of Fame ballot finalists, Kentucky Derby latest and a setback for superstar jumps horse Constitution Hill feature in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Dubai World Cup rematch for Saudi Cup one-two
Dubai: Saudi Cup principals Senor Buscador and Ushba Tesoro, separated by a head in the world’s richest race in Riyadh on Saturday [Feb 24], are both set to contest the Dubai World Cup at Meydan on March 30.
Todd Fincher-trained Senor Buscador shipped to Dubai on Monday alongside Saudi Cup third Saudi Crown, who is set to contest the Godolphin Mile on the World Cup card. More here
Forever Young, last-gasp Saudi Derby winner for Japan, has touched down in Dubai for the UAE Derby, after which the unbeaten colt is likely to contest the Kentucky Derby. More here
Triple Crown winner Justify among 17 Hall of Fame finalists
USA: Triple Crown winner Justify will feature on this year’s Hall of Fame ballot among nine horses, six trainers and two jockeys chosen as finalists by the selection committee.
Justify, who retired unbeaten after six stars in 2018, is one of three nominees to make the list in their first year of eligibility alongside 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner and leading rider Joel Rosario. Ballot results will be announced on April 23, with this year’s induction ceremony set for Saratoga Springs on August 2. More here
Santa Anita postpones Big ’Cap card
USA: With storms forecast, Santa Anita’s blockbuster card scheduled for Saturday – likely to feature star three-year-old Nysos – has been postponed until Sunday [March 3]. Sunday’s scheduled card would then go on Monday.
Official highlight of a stakes-laden programme is the G1 Santa Anita Handicap, the storied contest better known as the Big ’Cap. However, the latest appearance of Nysos in the G2 San Felipe is sure to command similar if not greater attention as the Bob Baffert-trained colt bids to extend his unbeaten record to four after winning his previous three starts by an aggregate of nearly 27 lengths. More here
Nysos, like all Baffert trainees, is ineligible for the Kentucky Derby but the son of Nyquist was made favorite in this week’s Preakness Stakes future wager. More here
Kentucky Derby latest: Dornoch and Locked set to clash
USA: Leading Kentucky Derby contenders Dornoch and Locked lock horns in the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park on Saturday [March 2] as they kick off their three-year-old campaigns on a glittering card featuring eight graded stakes.
Dornoch, who beat Kentucky favorite Sierra Leone in the Remsen Stakes on his last start at two, breaks from gate five in a nine-runner field for the G2 contest, the main prep for the Florida Derby four weeks later. “I think he’s a really good horse, so we just went ahead and gave him three or four weeks off and let him grow and mature,” said trainer Danny Gargan.
Chief rival is G1 winner Locked, a late-running third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile after winning the G1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland. He missed his intended seasonal debut at Tampa Bay after spiking a temperature. More here
Also at Gulfstream, last year’s champion juvenile filly Just FYI re-enters the fray in the G2 Davona Dale. More here
US and Japan feature in Epsom Derby entries
GB: A total of 72 entries have been received for the 245th running of the Derby at Epsom on Saturday June 1 – including one each from the US and Japan.
Rebel Stakes runner-up Common Defense could represent Ken McPeek, a regular name among entries for UK Classics and Royal Ascot, while unbeaten G3 winner Justin Milano features on the list for Japan.
Entries for the Betfred-sponsored Classic are headed by last year’s champion two-year-old City Of Troy, one of 17 for world #1 trainer Aidan O’Brien, who holds the Derby record with nine previous winners. Bookmakers Coral make him 2-1 favourite for the £1.5m event.
Full list of Betfred Derby entries
Constitution ill and major doubt for Cheltenham
GB: With all eyes looking ahead to the four-day Cheltenham Festival on March 12-15, jump racing fans were rocked this week by news that the participation of superstar hurdler Constitution Hill is in doubt.
Unbeaten in eight starts, the seven-year-old is the headline attraction at jump racing’s Olympics, where he would be defending his crown in the Champion Hurdle – a race he won by a runaway nine lengths in 2023.
However, Constitution Hill produced a dirty scope after a lacklustre gallop on Tuesday [Feb 27] at Kempton Park. “The intention is to rescope on Friday to monitor which way this is going,” said worried trainer Nicky Henderson. More here
Elsewhere in racing …
GB: Nine-day careless riding ban for Oisin Murphy More here
Dubai: World Cup places up for grabs on Super Saturday More here
Saudi Arabia: Maryline Eon takes International Jockeys Challenge for France More here
USA: Maker assistant Nolan Ramsey to launch training career More here
USA: 1,000 up for trainer Saffie Joseph More here
Hong Kong: Purton lands Happy Valley treble to hit 70-win mark for 12th straight season More here
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