150-1 shot pulls off G1 upset, Ironman breaks rides record, King George to be worth £2m as peace breaks out in UK racing politics – all this and more features in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Field Of Gold lame as pacemaker Qirat pulls off 150-1 shocker
GB: Star three-year-old Field Of Gold was found to be lame after an odds-on flop behind his own pacemaker Qirat, who ran out a shock 150-1 winner of the Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on Wednesday [July 30].
Field Of Gold could finish only a lacklustre fourth in the G1 feature – and broadcaster Nick Luck reported on Thursday [July 31] that co-trainer John Gosden had said the colt was lame on his near hind leg. More here
The Sussex Stakes produced one of the biggest G1 upsets of all-time as Qirat, a handicapper trained by Ralph Beckett, held on under Derby-winning rider Richard Kingscote to score from second favourite Rosallion. The four-year-old had been supplemented for £70,000 only to act as pacemaker for Field Of Gold, who is also owned by Juddmonte. More here
Fatal injury to veteran stayer Trueshan
GB: Scandinavia’s victory in the Goodwood Cup on Tuesday [July 29] was overshadowed by a fatal injury to hugely popular stayer Trueshan, who broke down mid-race at the Sussex venue.
The G1-winning nine-year-old won 16 of 31 career starts for trainer Alan King, including a plethora of Group races, among them three runnings of Ascot’s Long Distance Cup, two Prix du Cadrans and the Goodwood Cup itself four years ago,
Trueshan was pulled up sharply by Hollie Doyle halfway through the race, having broken his left-hind pastern. Doyle said she was “devastated” by the loss of such a “special, special horse”. More here
53,579 rides and counting: Perry ‘Ironman’ Ouzts sets new record
USA: Perry Ouzts, the 71-year-old jockey known as ‘Ironman’, has established a new record for the highest number of career rides in North America with 53,579.
Ouzts, who rode in first winner in April 1973, surpassed the mark set to Russell Baze when he partnered So Far So Good to finish third in the sixth race on Saturday’s card at Belterra Park in Ohio.
With a total of 7,516 wins to his name (as of Wednesday), Ouzts stands in fifth place on the list of winningmost riders in North America. More here
Britain’s richest race: King George prize fund upped to £2m
GB: The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, won at Ascot on Saturday [July 26] by Calandagan, is set to become Britain’s richest-ever race in 2026 with a prize fund increased to £2 million ($2.64m). The midsummer showpiece was worth £1.5m this year for its 75th running.
Ascot CEO Felicity Barnard commented: “We are conscious of ensuring that the race remains internationally relevant in an increasingly competitive global picture. These days, there are plenty of options for connections to run their horses worldwide and year-round, so it’s vital that we find the right balance of prize-money and prestige.” More here
French-trained Calandagan, world #3 according to Thoroughbred Racehorse Commentary’s Global Rankings, ran down Kalpana for a comfortable one-length victory.
Lord Allen finally agrees to take over BHA chair
GB: Peace has broken out – for a time at least – in the murky waters of British racing politics with news that Lord Charles Allen will finally take up his position as chairman of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA).
Allen’s assumption of the head position had been delayed amid months of turmoil as he pushed a radical plan for change. Following a BHA board meeting on Monday [July 28], however, Allen is set to take up his role on Sept. 1 after many of his demands were met.
“I am delighted we have agreed to a process towards a new independent BHA board,” said Allen. “Horse racing has a strong future. There is work to do, but I am in no doubt as to the passion and commitment of the many thousands of people who make up our industry.” More here
Eighth national title for William Pike
Australia: William Pike (right) claimed his eighth Australian national jockeys’ premiership with 167½ winners when the season ended on Thursday [July 31].
Pike held off a strong challenge from Blake Shinn, who won the Melbourne metro premiership with 74 city winners (146 winners altogether to lead Victorian state charts).
The family team of Ben, Will and JD Hayes led the way among trainers in Victoria overall with 240 winners, but the metro premiership winner was Ciaron Maher (113 city winners, compared to 69 for the Hayes team). Maher also topped the national lists with 329½ victories altogether. James McDonald (83 wins) won the Sydney jockeys’ title, with Chris Waller (184) on top among trainers.
Meanwhile, history was made at Doomben on Wednesday [July 30] when Angela Jones (64 wins) became the first woman to win the Brisbane jockeys’ premiership. More here
Elsewhere in racing …
USA: Fierceness, Sierra Leone, White Abarrio clash in Whitney? More here
USA: Death of longtime Frankel assistant Humberto Ascanio More here
USA: Gabby Gaudet (right) joins Keeneland as director of communications More here
USA: Pensioned stallion Congrats dies aged 25 More here
Australia: Angela Jones claims historic Brisbane title More here
Japan: Japan: HK runner-up Prognosis retired through injury More here
New Zealand: 12th trainers’ title for Te Akau team More here
New Zealand: Craig Grylls reflects on jockeys’ premiership title More here
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