Ryan Moore, Ka Ying Rising and Ombudsman feature in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Ryan Moore on the sidelines with fractured femur
GB: Ryan Moore could miss a vital stage of the season after sustaining a fractured femur in his right leg.
The initial prognoses from Aidan O’Brien was that he is likely to be without his stable number one for a number of big meetings, beginning with Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown and the Curragh [September 13 & 14}.
With second choice Wayne Lordan set to miss the same weekend, which also covers the St Leger Festival at Doncaster, unless he is successful in an appeal against a 10-day whip ban, O’Brien has enlisted ten-time French champion jockey Christophe Soumillon to fill the gap.
O'Brien told the Racing Post that Moore would be "very lucky to ride again this season but the #1 jockey on the Global Rankings, told the Sunday Telegraph, “I’m not sure it’s a big deal. Doctors have a habit of making it out to be worse than it is and I’ll be back as soon as it’s right.” More here
Ka Ying Rising returns on first day of Hong Kong season
Nation: Ka Ying Rising, the #1 racehorse on the Global Rankings, will be the star turn on the opening card of the new Hong Kong season when he tries to extend his winning streak to 13 races.
Hong Kong’s reigning Horse of the Year tackles the HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap at Sha Tin [Sept 7], a race he captured a year ago, under regular rider Zac Purton at the start of a campaign geared towards a tilt at the Everest [Oct 18].
His trainer David Hayes said: “Last year it poured and he won with a big weight and a wide gate (barrier seven), so this year he’s got a good gate (barrier four) and he’s probably going to be 15 to 20 pounds heavier but that’s strength, not fitness.” More here
Ombudsman given Champion Stakes, Breeders’ Cup and Japan Cup targets
GB: Juddmonte International winner Ombudsman’s next race will be the Champion Stakes at Ascot [Oct 18] as John and Thady Gosden opted to skip a third showdown with Eclipse Stakes winner Delacroix in the Irish Champion Stakes [Sept 13].
Delacroix’s trainer Aidan O’Brien had talked up a rematch between the pair promising to come up with a new strategy, after Ombudsman pacemaker stretched into a 30 length lead at York in a race the Ballydoyle trainer dismissed as a ‘bit of a non-event’.
Ombudsman has been in full training since February and Gosden Sr told the Racing Post: “He will now be freshened up for an autumn campaign targeting the Champion Stakes at Ascot, the Breeders’ Cup and the Japan Cup.” More here
Kendrick Carmouche suspended after Irad Ortiz comes off in wild Jockey Club Gold Cup
USA: Kendrick Carmouche was banned for five days after his riding of Phileas Fogg was blamed for the incident which left Mindframe’s jockey Irad Ortiz on the track and significantly impacted Sierra Leone.
Ortiz, who avoided serious injury, was due to return on mounts at Kentucky Downs [Sept 4] after taking days off following the incident in a race won by Mindframe’s stablemate Antiquarian. Sierra Leone, forced to dodge around Ortiz, finished second.
Antiquarian, Sierra Leone and Mindframe were given clean bills of health and are scheduled to meet again in the Breeders’ Cup Classic [Nov 1].
Sierra Leone won the Classic last year and trainer Chad Brown said: “It was a very challenging trip but I’m very proud of the horse that he persevered, stayed with it and still ran a pretty remarkable race. He got his final prep in for the Breeders’ Cup Classic and hopefully he has an uninterrupted, healthy couple of months leading up." More here
Rebel’s Romance bids for eighth G1 in Baden-Baden
Germany: Godolphin globetrotter Rebel’s Romance has a chance to land for his eighth G1 success when he tackles the Grosser Preis von Baden at Baden-Baden [Sept 7].
The seven-year-old winner of over £11 million [$14.7m] will meet Goliath, who beat him in last year’s the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and fellow international traveller Dubai Honour, making his first appearance since finishing fourth behind Voyage Bubble in Hong Kong in May. The local team is headed by German Derby winner Hochkönig. More here
Hong Kong Jockey Club announces whip rule changes
Hong Kong: Hong Kong has moved closer to other jurisdictions with the introduction of whip restrictions for the first time this season. White there remains no specific strike limit, there will be a requirement that prior to the 100 metre mark jockeys must not use the whip in consecutive strides. More here
Elsewhere in racing …
Australia: Via Sistina heads 120 entries for Melbourne Cup More here
USA: Jockeys boycotting Remington Park over pay dispute More here
France: Mickaelle Michel issued with short term licence by NAR in Japan More here
USA: Whitney Stakes winner Arthur’s Ride to be sold as stallion prospect More here
Japan: Yoshio Matsumoto, who had 2,000 winners as owner, dies aged 87 More here
Japan: Invincible Papa set to contest Breeders’ Cup Sprint More here
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