Korea joins the Breeders’ Cup Challenge party, a renewed Godolphin focus on the US and Royal Ascot plans from Australia feature in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Korea added to Breeders’ Cup Challenge schedule
USA: Two races in South Korea have been added to the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series for 2024, which will feature a total of 82 races in 12 countries on five continents.
Full Breeders’ Cup Challenge schedule
The Korea Cup and Korea Sprint, a pair of G3 events at Seoul racecourse on September 8, will offer ‘Win and You’re In’ fees-paid berths in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and Sprint respectively at Del Mar on November 1-2.
Three new races in Britain have also been added to the schedule: the G3 Acomb Stakes at York, the G3 Prestige Stakes at Goodwood and the QIPCO British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes at Ascot. The first domestic BC Challenge races for 2024 will take place during the Belmont Stakes Festival, held this year at Saratoga. More here
US satellite barn for Charlie Appleby
USA: Godolphin’s all-conquering trainer Charlie Appleby is to set up a satellite barn in the US for the 2024 season. Appleby, world #2 according to Thoroughbred Racing Commentary’s Global Rankings, saddled Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Master Of The Seas to win the Maker’s Mark Mile on Friday [April 12] at Keeneland, where he runs Bold Act and Silver Knott on Saturday in the Elkhorn.
A string of a dozen horses – later set to include Dubai Sheema Classic winner Rebel’s Romance – will decamp for Saratoga in mid-May.
“When you’re getting up to numbers of 12, you are getting up to something of a satellite yard,” said Appleby, spsaking to the Racing Post. “It’s something that we’ve been doing for a number of years. We’ve had success; the racing suits us and it suits those horses who have been running in Dubai who like fast ground.” More here
No More Time out of Kentucky Derby
USA: No More Time is out of the Kentucky Derby, the Tampa Bay Derby runner-up having sustained an injury during a workout on Sunday [April 14] at the Palm Meadows Training Center. The colt requires surgery for a condylar fracture in his near-fore.
With several intended Derby runners still ‘on the bubble’ hoping for further scratchings to get into the field, No More Time’s defection opens up a spot for last weekend’s Stonestreet Lexington Stakes winner Encino. However, the Godolphin colt may wait for the Preakness. More here
Japanese star Forever Young is settling in at Churchill Downs. “He shipped really well to Saudi and Dubai,” said Churchill Downs Asia representative Kate Hunter, speaking to the BloodHorse. More here
The Churchill Downs Foundation has partnered with 20 Thoroughbred aftercare organisations in what amounts to a $150,000 donation. More here
Aussie sprinter Chain Of Lightning targets Royal Ascot – after sale
Australia: Surprise 20-1 TJ Smith Stakes winner Chain Of Lightning is headed to Royal Ascot – but only after a sale in May.
The five-year-old mare, who scored by a neck in Sydney’s top sprint at Randwick earlier this month, is set to run on Saturday [April 20] in the G1 All Aged Stakes before being prepared for a tilt at the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (formerly Diamoind Jubilee) at the royal meeting in June.
“She’s going to the broodmare sales in May and we’ve accepted an invitation to Ascot, so she’ll be sold under that proviso at the Magic Millions broodmare sale,” said co-trainer Peter Moody. More here
Prize-money boosted at York
GB: York has announced a prize-money increase of approximately £500,000 for the 2024 season, when the track’s showpiece contest, the Juddmonte International, will be worth £1.25m ($1.55m). York will offer a total of £11.2m in purses.
The news comes a week after the Jockey Club, which owns several of Britain’s flagship courses, revealed purse cuts of about £1.5m. More here
Boughey breaks new ground in Hong Kong
Hong Kong: Classic-winning trainer George Boughey will saddle his first-ever runner in Hong Kong with G3 winner Believing in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize on the FWD Champions Day card on April 28.
Newmarket-based Boughey won the 1,000 Guineas two years ago with Cachet. “Having our first winner in Bahrain this winter was another landmark in what we are trying to do and our first runner in Hong Kong is hugely exciting,” he said, speaking to Great British Racing International.
“Travelling horses around the world is what we want to be doing. It’s almost a dream come true and Believing is doing great.”
Brave Emperor (Champions Mile) and Dubai Honour (QEII Cup) will also represent Britain at Sha Tin. More here
Elsewhere in racing …
USA: Leading owner-breeder Marty Wygod dies at 84 More here
USA: Lonesome Glory trainer Bruce Miller dies aged 89 More here
USA: NYRA mourns passing of John Hennegan More here
USA: Ralph Nicks retires from training More here
GB: Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning jcokey Paddy Brennan retires More here
Australia: Panthalassa joins Yulong stallion roster More here
New Zealand: Leading trainer Mike Moroney receiving treatment More here
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