Latest Goodwood news, $6,000 fine for Umberto Rispoli, Chris Waller’s new Melbourne base, Shergar Cup lineup – all this and more in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Goodwood latest: William Buick to ride Field Of Gold in Sussex Stakes
GB: With regular jockey Colin Keane missing out through suspension, William Buick has picked up the ride on superstar miler Field Of Gold in the Sussex Stakes on Wednesday [July 30].
Sponsored under the aegis of ‘Visit Qatar’ in 2025, the £1 million contests provides the feature event of the five-day Qatar Goodwood Festival – better known as Glorious Goodwood – which begins on Tuesday [July 30].
“He's in great order, and it’s very much the obvious race to go for,” said co-trainer John Gosden, who also runs fellow Juddmonte representative Lead Artist. “The Sussex is a different test of a horse. If you've ever walked the track, it’s quite a surprise, it runs down into a dip, swings up and around.” More here
Among Field Of Gold’s rivals will be fellow Royal Ascot winner Docklands (Tom Marquand) bidding to follow up his Queen Anne Stakes success over Rosallion, who also runs at Goodwood. More here
• GB: Five-runner field for £1.5m King George More here
Rispoli fined $6,000 for whip on Journalism
USA: Umberto Rispoli has been sanctioned for misuse of the whip aboard Journalism in the Preakness hero’s dramatic last-gasp victory in the Haskell at Monmouth Park on Saturday [July 19].
Spotlight on Saratoga: Now it’s Sovereignty’s turn to lay down the law
Journalism came from off the pace to score by a half-length over Gosger. However, New Jersey stewards judged that Rispoli had used his whip eight times – two above the permitted limit – and issued a $6,000 fine (equivalent to 10% of the jockey’s purse earnings) and one-day suspension. More here
Future plans are undecided for the Haskell winner, though the Pacific Classic at Del Mar on August 30 is a likely target en route to the Breeders’ Cup Classic. More here
• USA:Sovereignty the one to beat in G2 Jim Dandy More here
Met Mile winner Raging Torrent retired through injury
USA: Metropolitan Handicap winner Raging Torrent has been retired owing to a suspensory injury to his near foreleg.
The four-year-old son of Maximus Mischief was in the form of his life, having won the G1 Malibu at Santa Anita and the G2 Godolphin Mile in Dubai before beating Fierceness by 2½ lengths in last month’s Met Mile at Saratoga to complete a high-profile three-race winning streak.
“He’s one of those type of horses that you’re not going to get lucky enough to be around too many times in your career,” said trainer Doug O’Neill, who had been targeting the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. Stud plans are yet to be announced. More here
Katie Davis added to Shergar Cup lineup
GB: Netflix star Katie Davis will take part in next month’s Shergar Cup meeting, which is set to feature jockeys from ten different countries on August 9 at Ascot.
Davis, 33, starred in the hit Netflix series Race for the Crown. With female riders integrated into across the four teams at the popular Dubai Duty Free-sponsored event, she is set to ride alongside Hugh Bowman (Australia) and Karis Teetan (Mauritius) on the Rest of the World team.
Davis said: “It was amazing to be invited and it should be a great buzz to ride on such a big day at Ascot, one of the most famous racecourses in the world.”
Also added to the Shergar Cup lineup are Delphine Santiago (France). who rides on the Europe team, with Joanna Mason (UK) taking the final spot in the Great Britain & Ireland team. More here
Dubai heroine Queen Azteca joins Team Valor
USA: UAE Oaks winner Queen Azteca has joined the Team Valor organisation and will run next in the G1 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga on August 16. John Velazquez has already been booked for the three-year-old.
Representing Norwegian-based trainer Niels Petersen, Queen Azteca left her mark on this year’s Dubai Carnival at Meydan with a pair of victories before coming fifth against males in the UAE Derby. She returned to action with a comfortable success in the Swedish Derby on July 13.
Although Petersen will prepare Queen Azteca for her Saratoga assignment, the daughter of Sharp Azteca will join Rodolphe Brisset in the US afterwards. More here
Beadman joins up as Waller moves to Carbine Lodge
Australia: Former champion jockey Darren Beadman (right) is to join the team of leading Sydney-based trainer Chris Waller (far right), who is also planning an increased presence in Melbourne next season by taking over Carbine Lodge from the Godolphin team.
“Darren is a legendary figure in the world of racing and represents the pinnacle of racing achievement,” said world #6 trainer Waller on social media platform X. “I know he will bring excellence to our team.” More here
Forever associated with the legendary Winx, Waller has operated a satellite stable at Flemington for more than a decade. With Godolphin trainer James Cummings exiting the operation to train in Hong Kong, the Dubai team will disperse its Carbine Lodge team among other trainers – including Waller, who moves into Carbine Lodge on August 1. More here
Elsewhere in racing …
USA: 4,000th winner for Hall of Famer Mark Casse More here
USA: Oaklawn raises purses with $1m Fantasy Stakes More here
USA: Quarantine lifted on Saratoga barn More here
USA: Tiago Pereira out for 10-12 weeks after spill More here
GB: David Probert set for Hong Kong move More here
UAE: Dubai Carnival 2025-26 dates – 30th World Cup on March 28 More here
New Zealand: Centaine Award caps career-best season for sire Per Incanto More here
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