Chad Brown takes over Classic-winning filly, Melbourne Cup-winning jockey banned for careless riding, European stud fees announced for 2026 – and Dale Romans is running for a US Senate seat
Breeders’ Cup winner Gezora switched to Chad Brown
USA: Breeders’ Cup winner Gezora is to join Chad Brown’s team for her four-year-old campaign after winning the Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar for top French trainer Francis Graffard.
The filly will join the five-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer at his winter base in Florida. “She’s getting 30 days at Dell Ridge before she rejoins our main stable at Payson,” said Brown, speaking to the Daily Racing Form. “We’re so appreciative to have her coming to our barn. She came in in outstanding condition from the Graffard yard.”
Gezora, who carries the silks of Peter Brant’s White Birch Farm, is a Classic-winning filly in Europe, having landed the Prix de Diane (French Oaks) at Chantilly in June. More here
• Saudi Arabia: BC Sprint winner Bentornato set for Riyadh Dirt Sprint More here
Jamie Melham hit with massive 30-meeting ban
Australia: Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Jamie Melham (right), the world’s leading female rider, has been banned for 30 meetings after being charged with careless riding in an incident that left colleague Blake Shinn with a broken leg.
Melham, 29. became only the second woman to win the Melbourne Cup when partnering Half Yours to a famous success at Flemington on November 4.
However, two races later she was involved in an incident in which Shinn was dislodged after being short of room and taken to hospital. Melham was banned this week at a subsequent inquiry that was adjourned until Shinn was available for interview. More here
• Australia: 29-meeting ban for Chad Schofield More here
European stud fees: Frankel stays at £350,000
Next year’s stud fees are coming in thick and fast for Europe’s leading stallions – headed by the legendary Frankel, the world’s #1 sire according to Thoroughbred Racing Commentary’s Global Rankings, who stays at £350,000 as part of the Juddmonte roster at Banstead Manor in Newmarket. Studmate Kingman stays at £125,000. More here
World #3 Dubawi also stays at £350,000 at Darley’s Dalham Hall base, while the organisation’s champion-elect Night Of Thunder is up to €200,000 at Kildangan Stud in Ireland. Three-time G1 winner Rosallion is a newcomer for Darley in Newmarket at £40,000. More here
Other notable fees include Sea The Stars – up to €300,000 from €250,000 at the Aga Khan Studs after siring Arc winner Daryz – and Lope De Vega, set to stand at a career-high €200,000 at Ballylinch Stud. More here
Trainer Dale Romans enters US Senate race
USA: Leading trainer Dale Romans has announced a campaign to represent his home state of Kentucky in the US Senate.
Louisville-based Romans, 59, has entered the race to succeed Republican Mitch McConnell, standing as an ‘independent Democrat’.
“I’ve traveled around the world, but I also saw the plight of the immigrant workforce we needed back here; the ones that are here working, doing jobs that are necessary in this country,” said Romans, who has trained over 2,250 winners and is president of the Kentucky Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association. “We need those people,” he added. “We don't need a fight – we need a fix.” More here
Calandagan is only European runner for Japan Cup
Japan: European hopes of improving a dismal record in the Japan Cup are set to rest solely with Champion Stakes hero Calandagan after the four-year-old was the only overseas contender to accept an invitation to the ¥1.090bn ($7.05m/£5.37m) contest on November 30.
The JRA have been informed that Francis Graffard-trained stablemate Goliath and the Aidan O’Brien pair of Los Angeles and Queensland will not be travelling to Tokyo, leaving world #2 Calandagan to do the honours in a race not won by a visitor since Luca Cumani-trained Alkaased two decades ago.
No horse trained outside Japan has made the frame in the Japan Cup since dual Breeders’ Cup winner Conduit finished fourth in 2009. More here
• Japan: Royal Ascot winner Docklands set for Mile Championship in Kyoto on Nov 23 More here
Bahrain International Trophy: ‘Royal Champion is the horse to beat’
Bahrain: The international spotlight moves to Bahrain on Friday [Nov 14] with the latest edition of the Bahrain International Trophy (4.40pm GMT).
An eight-runner field for the $1m event features runners from Britain, France, Ireland and the UAE and will be shown in more than 125 countries by a record 28 broadcasters.
Local attention has largely focussed on two of the British-trained runners, namely Royal Champion (Karl Burke/James Doyle) and Pride Of Arras (Ralph Beckett/Rossa Ryan). “Based on his last couple of runs, you have to be very hopeful,” said the former’s trainer Karl Burke. “If he could repeat either of those performances, I would say he is the horse to beat.” More here
Elsewhere in racing …
GB: Brian Rouse, rider of Stanerra and Quick As Lightning, dies aged 85 More here
USA: Mike Repole brands New Owner of the Year award as ‘insult’ More here
USA: Keeneland November Breeeding Stock Sale ends with nearly $246m sales More here
USA: Fair Grounds to open with venue upgrades More here
Japan: Arima Kinen winner Regaleira seeks redemption in QEII Stakes More here
Australia: Trainer disqualified after launching aggressive X-rated rant at official More here
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