Preakness latest, Aidan O’Brien’s Derby plans, a Japanese Breeders’ Cup contender and a landmark win for Yutaka Take – all in our in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Muth misses Preakness with fever
USA: Preakness Stakes favorite Muth has been ruled out after spiking a temperature following his arrival at Pimlico on Tuesday night [May 14] for the second leg of the Triple Crown.
“We are sick about this – the horse had been doing really well,” said trainer Bob Baffert. “But we have to do what’s right by the horse.”
Arkansas Derby winner Muth was denied a Kentucky Derby run owing to the ongoing ban on Baffert, who is still represented in Saturday’s Preakness by Santa Anita Derby runner-up Imagination.
In Muth’s absence, Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan is likely to start favorite to follow up against seven remaining rivals. “Oh, my goodness. I guess it puts added pressure on us, but he’s ready,” said trainer Kenny McPeek. More here
Aidan O’Brien keeps faith in City Of Troy
Ireland: Aidan O’Brien has issued a statement of faith in his leading Derby contender City Of Troy following his recent flop in the 2,000 Guineas.
Despite his dismal showing at Newmarket, the son of Triple Crown winner Justify is 3-1 favourite for the Epsom Classic on June 1. “I’m not sure we’ve ever sent a horse to the Derby with as much ability as this,” said O’Brien, speaking during a media visit to his Ballydoyle stable on Monday [May 13].
“The Guineas just wasn’t meant to be. I feel like, myself, I hadn’t got him prepared properly, so what we would have learned in the Guineas will hopefully help us to prepare him properly for the Derby.”
O’Brien has 13 of the remaining 41 Derby possibles, also including recent Leopardstown Derby Trial winner Los Angeles and Capulet, who landed the Dee Stakes. More here
208-1 winner Ten Happy Rose set for Breeders’ Cup
Japan: Ten Happy Rose, shock 208-1 winner of the Victoria Mile at Tokyo racecourse on Sunday [May 12], is set to run at the Breeders’ Cup.
But although the G1 event is linked to the Filly & Mare Turf as part of the Breeders’ Cup ‘Win and You’re In’ challenge, trainer Daisuke Takayanagi is also considering the BC Mile for the six-year-old. Takayanagi saddled T O Password to a creditable fifth in the Kentucky Derby. More here
Japan is also responsible for three of the 73 entries for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp in the shape of Do Deuce, Regaleira and Shin Emperor, who is a full-brother to 2020 winner Sottsass. Aidan O’Brien dominates the list with ten entries for the €5m European showpiece on October 6. More here
Injury setback for King Of Steel
GB: Champion Stakes winner King Of Steel will miss Royal Ascot and the rest of the summer after a training setback. Amo Racing’s four-year-old, who was also runner-up in last year’s Derby, sustained an undisclosed injury during a workout in Newmarket on Wednesday [May 15].
“He’s had a training setback which is going to rule him out for the main part of the season and it is disappointing,” said Classic-winning trainer Roger Varian. More here
Yutaka Take hits 4,500-win career milestone
Japan: Yutaka Take became the first jockey to win 4,500 races on the JRA (Japan Racing Association) circuit on Sunday [May 12] when he partnered Wet Season to win the second race on the card at Tokyo racecourse.
Take, 55, rode his first winner in March 1987; he has been the JRA champion in races won 18 times.
“When I first started, I never imagined I could win this many races,” said the six-time Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby winner). “I am just happy to have been able to continue as a jockey for this long – but it is still not enough! There are always more races I want to win.” More here
George Weaver to fight metformin suspension
USA: Royal Ascot-winning trainer George Weaver (left) is facing a suspension after the ‘B sample’ in a post-race test showed the presence of a banned substance in one of his horses.
According to Weaver’s attorney, Andrew Mollica, a second set of results confirm a positive test for metformin – a human diabetes drug banned by HIWU – in Anna’s Wish, third in a stakes race at Aqueduct in March. Weaver, who saddled Crimson Advocate to win the Queen Mary Stakes last year’s Royal Ascot, has vowed to fight the findings.
“This is turn-out-the-light stuff – this isn't Navarro or Servis,” said Mollica, speaking to the BloodHorse. “Here's the reality: the groom is on metformin. I provided (HIWU) his prescriptions; he's the source of this contamination.” More here
Elsewhere in racing …
Japan: Almond Eye in-foal to Equinox More here
USA: NYRA launches charitable foundation More here
USA: Gulfstream 2yo winners eyeing Royal Ascot More here
USA: Nolan Ramsey saddles first winner at Gulfstream More here
GB: Death of ‘handicap king’ Reg Akehurst, aged 94 More here
South Africa: dual G1 winner Gimme A Nother heads for US More here
New Zealand: King Charles III new patron for NZTBA More here
Hong Kong: Ricky Yiu joins HK racing’s 1,000-win club with treble More here
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