There was a sad postscript to Chasing Fire’s successful chasing debut at Uttoxeter as top-class hurdler I Like To Move It suffered a fatal injury.
A small but select field of three runners went to post for the Andy’s Man Club Novices’ Chase, with last season’s Greatwood Hurdle hero I Like To Move It the 4-5 favourite.
The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained six-year-old, who finished sixth and fifth behind Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle and Aintree Hurdle respectively last season, attempted to make every yard of the running under the trainer’s son Sam.
He made a few jumping errors along the way, but was still in with every chance when suffering an injury on landing after jumping the final fence and he was swiftly pulled up by his rider.
Chasing Fire was an 18-5 shot for Olly Murphy and Sean Bowen, having won his first three races over obstacles last term before finishing down the field in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Making his first appearance since finishing third at Prestbury Park in April, the six-year-old jumped to the lead at the last and saw off the challenge of Pembroke by a length.
Chasing Fire was completing a double on the card for Bowen, Murphy and owner Diana Whateley following the earlier success of Booster Bob in the second division of the maiden hurdle.
Bowen told Sky Sports Racing: “Unfortunately Sam came down in the end, but I was outjumping the whole way and that was the only thing that was keeping me in the race. Sam would gain five lengths on the flat and every time I jumped I’d be gaining it again.
“He’s one to look forward to. At the last he was very, very long and he was good to come up from me there and he was good and hardy from the back of the last.”
Bloodstock agent Aiden Murphy, the trainer’s father, said: “He’d been schooling immaculately at home, so that was the hope today. It’s just a shame with the Twiston-Davies horse as that does put a dampener on the race, but Chasing Fire is a nice horse.
“They were three nice horses, I think Dan (Skelton, trainer of Pembroke) thinks plenty of his, so hopefully the form will work out.”
All roads lead to the Qipco 2000 Guineas for Rosallion after Richard Hannon’s high-class juvenile reignited Classic dreams when roaring back to form at ParisLongchamp.
Held in the highest regard from the earliest point in his career, the Everleigh handler describes the talented son of Blue Point as “right up there with the best we’ve ever had” having taken his tally to three wins from four starts.
Despite suffering an odds-on defeat in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster, Hannon’s confidence never waned and his charge backed up his trainer’s lofty opinion to immediately bounce back in the French capital, claiming the Group One Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere in real style.
Hannon said: “We were absolutely delighted and he showed us what he could do only 15 days after his flop in the Champagne Stakes.
“There were several reasons why (he got beat), he got a smack over the head with a whip and just didn’t operate in that ground at all.
“He had been working great before the Champagne and again before the Lagardere. He never looked like getting beat in the Lagardere, he travelled supremely all the way through, picked up lovely and it’s just nice to be right.”
Rosallion did have the option of racing again this year in either Newmarket’s Dewhurst Stakes or Stateside in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, but connections are keen to keep the Guineas dream alive for as long as possible and the two-year-old will now head into winter quarters with thoughts firmly pointed in the direction of Newmarket in early May.
Currently 10-1 in the ante-post lists for the opening Classic of 2024, it is still to be decided if the strapping bay will tune up for his big-race assignment in one of the traditional trials.
However, Hannon did stress Rosallion is unlikely to be seen in testing conditions again following his disappointment on slow ground at Doncaster in September.
He added: “I think the plan we’ve discussed with Sheikh Mohammed Obaid is we will leave him and keep the dream intact for the Guineas.
“We will let him hopefully do well over the winter and give him every chance.
“Whether we go for a trial or not we will see, but he’s obviously not going to go anywhere where there is soft ground – and if it was soft ground for the Guineas, then that would include that as well.”
Hannon knows all about training leading operators at a mile and produced Night Of Thunder to win the 2000 Guineas in 2014, with Billesdon Brook claiming the fillies’ equivalent four years later.
Added to this, his father Richard Hannon Snr saddled eight Classic winners in Britain and Ireland during his time in the training ranks and also oversaw the career of the top-class miler Canford Cliffs from the family’s Wiltshire base.
And Hannon believes Rosallion has the potential to be the best of them all when he moves up to the mile distance next term.
Hannon added: “He will have no problem getting a mile and he’s right up there with the best we’ve ever had. He’s shown that since the first bit of work he has ever done.
“He’s certainly got as much promise as anything we’ve ever had. A horse like him makes the winter a lot shorter.”
Dan Skelton plans to have his stable star Protektorat “properly ready” for his defence of the Betfair Chase at Haydock next month.
The eight-year-old ran out an impressive winner of the Merseyside Grade One last season and was last seen finishing fifth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, having placed third in the blue riband in 2022.
And while Skelton is not ruling out a third bid for Gold Cup glory in March, his main focus at this stage is ensuring Protektorat is fully tuned up for his comeback run on November 25.
He said: “We will be going to Haydock fresh and ready for the Betfair Chase. From what I’ve seen, he has not gone backwards in any way. The way we will have him ready for that race is that we will have him properly ready. I think it will take a good one on the day to beat him.
“He will have an entry in the King George at Kempton and we will look at that. We will have to look sensibly at the Gold Cup as we have had two goes at it and it hasn’t happened yet, but we will worry about the spring when we get to it.
“Anything is possible at this point and what happens before March will dictate whether he should be there or not.
“If all of a sudden he found 10lb of improvement then you would have to have another go at the Gold Cup, but if the opposition have perfect seasons you might think you are better doing something else. We will do what is right for the horse.”
My Drogo has not been seen in competitive action bolting up in a novice chase at Cheltenham in December 2021, having missed the entirety of last season through injury.
However, the eight-year-old is on the comeback trail, with Skelton eyeing up some major prizes.
“He is back now and I’m delighted with how he looks,” said the trainer.
“I’d like to try and start him off in the Old Roan (at Aintree). That would be the perfect scenario. It was a shame he missed last season as you don’t want to be missing one of your stars.
“Every time he has stood up over obstacles he is unbeaten. He was improving until his problems, and we would like to pick up from where he left off. If we can go to the Old Roan on really nice ground that will give him the opportunity to step forward.
“He will have an entry in the Paddy Power Gold Cup (at Cheltenham) and Richard and Lizzie Kelvin-Hughes who own him are mad keen to get him to the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day, so we are trying to work him towards that.
“He looks fantastic and is behaving beautifully. He has as much ability as any horse I’ve had, and you have to take that seriously.”
Skelton confirmed Nube Negra is likely to make his return in next month’s Shloer Chase at Cheltenham, which he won last season.
Sacamiro was given a patient ride by Jan Faltejsek to win an eventful 133rd Velka Pardubicka.
Patrick Mullins had gone over to ride last year’s winner Mr Spex – but he was an early casualty at the famous Taxis fence, while Peter Maher’s two runners, Jet Fighter and Alpha Male, ridden by Sean O’Keeffe and Petr Tuma respectively, were both out of luck.
Mullins, who also fell on each of his two previous attempts in the race, said of his latest departure: “The horse in front came right across and took two of us out and refused. There was nowhere to go.”
James Best, riding Lombargini for Stanislav Popelka Jr, had a great thrill by finishing fourth.
Faltejsek, who had a spell riding in the UK and is best remembered for his association with George Charlton’s smart hurdler Knockara Beau, was winning the famous race for a sixth time.
The 10-year-old was kept away from the heat of the battle through much of the gruelling four-and-a-quarter miles but could be spotted travelling ominously well with half a mile to run.
By then Kaiserwalzer, who had cut out much of the running, was beginning to back peddle and it was Star and Talent who looked the main dangers.
Sacamiro had plenty up his sleeve, however, and sprinted clear after the final obstacle to win going away.
Adam West will head to the Breeders’ Cup with renewed confidence after Live In The Dream made an encouraging start to his American adventure at Keeneland on Saturday.
The Nunthorpe hero made an early journey across the Atlantic in preparation for next month’s showpiece meeting in California, travelling to Keeneland to contest the Grade Two Woodford Stakes.
The four-year-old proved the eye-watering speed he displayed at York can be just as effective on US soil, cutting out much of the running under Sean Kirrane and looking the likely winner before being caught late in the piece and passing the post in fourth place.
Far from despondent, West was thrilled with the performance. He said: “We were a small bit frustrated the 80-1 shot (Foxtrotanna) hassled us as I think we could have improved a position or two if that hadn’t happened, but overall we were delighted with what we saw.
“He went above and beyond the early sectionals that are needed to put it up to the best of the Americans. Going into the race I was disappointed Caravel (last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner) wasn’t there, but the numbers don’t lie and I think he’s going to be pretty dangerous on a sharper track.”
Despite the defeat, West feels vindicated in his decision to send Live In The Dream to Kentucky, rather than keeping him at home for a tilt at last weekend’s Prix de l’Abbaye at ParisLongchamp.
“I’m so pleased we decided to come to Keeneland. I don’t know what we would have learned in the Abbaye. We could have put a bit more into the purse, I suppose, but I think coming here has taught us so much more,” he continued.
“I was quite stressed yesterday, just not knowing whether we were going to be able ride aggressively. In England you get easy leads with a horse with his speed as no one wants to come at you that early, whereas here they were attacking him and he still had enough gate (speed) to go two lengths clear of reasonable horses.
“I think I can go to Santa Anita now a little bit more relaxed and just enjoy it because he’s ticked the boxes that he has and is able to hold his head up high when he contends that race.”
With the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint run over half a furlong shorter than the Woodford Stakes, West is more hopeful than ever that his stable star has what it takes to make his presence felt at Santa Anita on November 4.
He said: “He’ll stay at Keeneland in the quarantine barn until October 25 and then fly down with the other horses that will be going from east to west coast.
“He’ll have a shorter journey (than the other European horses). If we’d come straight from the UK to the Breeders’ Cup he’d have a long flight, then five days (in quarantine) and then straight onto the track, whereas now he has a shorter flight and an extra day, so I’m really pleased with how it’s played out.
“Without being pig-headed about it, I think they’re almost coming into our ballpark and our playpen at Santa Anita. If the Breeders’ Cup was at Keeneland it might be a different story, but the attributes of the track at Santa Anita are going to suit him better.
“With a half decent draw and nothing going seriously one way or the other way with the ground, I think he’s got it all.”
Britain’s Jake Jarman claimed Britain’s first medal of the World Gymnastics Championships with gold in the men’s vault in Antwerp.
The 21-year-old from Peterborough is the first British gymnast ever to claim the vault world title.
Jarman is the only gymnast in the world performing the Yonekura vault and he scored a huge 15.4 for that before being awarded 14.7 for his second vault, giving him an overall score of 15.05.
That was comfortably enough to put him top of the charts ahead of American Khoi Young and Nazar Chepurnyi of Ukraine, with Britain’s Harry Hepworth down in seventh.
“It’s doesn’t feel real yet,” said Jarman. “I just can’t believe it. I was definitely nervous competing, especially for that first vault. As soon as I landed that first vault, instantly I shut all my emotions down.
“I’m just super proud to be able to perform the way I did today under that stress and that pressure. It gives me a huge confidence boost, especially leading up to next year.”
It is Jarman’s first individual medal at world level. Last year he claimed four golds at the Commonwealth Games, took European gold in vault and was also a world bronze medallist in the team event.
The event had been somewhat disappointing for Britain prior to Jarman’s success, with the women’s and men’s teams both missing out on medals while Max Whitlock came off the apparatus during his pommel horse final.
George Boughey will always be grateful to Cachet after his 1000 Guineas heroine brought the curtain down on her career at ParisLongchamp on Arc weekend.
The daughter of Aclaim provided the Saffron House handler with the biggest triumph of his training career to date when making all for Classic glory last May and the Highclere Thoroughbred-owned filly almost added to her big-race haul when agonisingly denied in the French Guineas on her next start.
Injury curtailed her progress after a run at Royal Ascot last year, but having been kept in training and nursed back to full fitness, she returned from 457 days off at Doncaster last month in the Sceptre Stakes.
Sent to the French capital in the hope of building on that encouraging comeback run, things did not go to plan for Cachet in a muddling Prix de la Foret and having finished down the field, she is now set to come under the hammer at Tattersalls in December.
“It didn’t go to plan as she’s a filly who likes to run on the front end, was drawn a bit wide and never really got into a position,” said Boughey.
“She will head to the mares sale at Tattersalls later this year and I have no doubt she will become a super mum. If she could produce something half as good as her then we will all be very proud.”
He went on: “She’s a filly who has been an absolute star for us – she’s my first Group One winner and first Classic winner.
“In this game she was a relatively inexpensive breeze-up purchase (60,000 guineas) who went on to win a Classic. She’s got 20 owners and they have all had an amazing time with her.
“We will keep trying to find another one for them, but it is very hard to do so. She was a real gem and they are very hard to find.”
Although there was disappointment for Cachet at ParisLongchamp, Boughey almost saw the Sally Nicholls-owned Perdika pull off a shock when second in the Prix de l’Abbaye.
The well-travelled three-year-old made a bold bid from the front in the hands of Mickael Barzalona and was only reeled in by an on-song Highfield Princess deep inside the final furlong.
She could now head back out to Dubai before attentions turn to her off-track career as a broodmare later in the winter.
“She’s gone from strength to strength and been a big traveller,” said Boughey.
“She went to Dubai and has been back and forth to France all year and it didn’t surprise me that she ran as well as she did. She was very well drawn and got a fantastic ride from Mickael.
“She’s a filly who has exceeded our expectations and she could end up back out in Dubai before she goes to the breeding sheds at the end of winter.
“She’s been a great servant for us this season and full credit to Sally Nicholls for breeding such a tough filly on a very inexpensive cross.”
Aidan O’Brien’s star juvenile City Of Troy is firmly on course for next weekend’s Native Trail’s Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.
The Justify colt shot to the head of ante-post lists for next year’s 2000 Guineas with a brilliant display in the Superlative Stakes in July and he has not been seen in competitive action since, having sidestepped a clash with stablemate Henry Longfellow in last month’s National Stakes at the Curragh.
City Of Troy will now bid to sign off an unbeaten two-year-old campaign by providing his trainer with an eighth Dewhurst success on Saturday.
“That’s the plan, absolutely – that’s always been his target. When he didn’t run in the National Stakes that is where we said he was going,” O’Brien said on Racing TV’s Luck On Sunday programme.
“He’s done well and he’s heavier and bigger now than he was (during the summer) – he’s maturing all the time. Everyone is very happy with him so far.”
Henry Longfellow, second in the 2000 Guineas market behind City Of Troy, also holds a Dewhurst entry – but he looks set to be put away for the winter.
O’Brien added: “I wouldn’t imagine they’ll run together, definitely not this year – I couldn’t see it happening.
“Speaking to the lads the other day they were saying he (Henry Longfellow) has had his three runs and has won his maiden, his Group race and his Group One.
“He’s still in full work and they can decide to do whatever they want to do, but listening to them he might not run any more this year.”
The master of Ballydoyle is also beginning to finalise plans for Qipco Champions Day at Ascot on October 21, with Queen Elizabeth II Stakes favourite Paddington poised to lead the team.
“Paddington looks like he’s going to go to the mile (QEII), Luxembourg could go to the Champion Stakes, the filly that got beat in France (Jackie Oh) could go to the fillies’ race (Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes) and Kyprios could go to the two-mile (Long Distance Cup). That would be the guts of it at the moment,” said O’Brien.
The trainer also confirmed the newly-named Kameko Futurity Trophy at Doncaster on October 28 as an intended target for Diego Velazquez, while Opera Singer – ante-post favourite for the 1000 Guineas off the back of her dominant success in last weekend’s Prix Marcel Boussac – could be bound for the Breeders’ Cup.
He added: “The lads (owners) are thinking about America. She (Opera Singer) did one piece of work at the weekend and we were very happy with her.”
The West Indies Women's cricket team suffered an embarrassing eight-wicket defeat to Australia in the first One Day International (ODI) at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane.
The Caribbean women were ignominiously bowled out for 83 runs in 27.3 overs, one of their lowest-ever ODI scores. Amidst the carnage, Aaliyah Alleyne showed promise, standing tall amidst the falling wickets.
She managed to score an impressive 35 runs from just 39 deliveries, including seven boundaries. Her innings was a lone bright spot in what was otherwise a gloomy day for the West Indies Women.
The Australians, however, were on top of their game with Kim Garth leading the bowling attack. Her outstanding figures of 5.3-2-8-3 made her a major headache for the West Indies batting line-up. Not far behind, Ash Gardner also showcased her talent by taking two wickets for just 17 runs in her 5 overs.
Chasing a low score, the Australian team made quick work of the target.
Player of the Match, Captain Alyssa Healy, took charge and scored a brisk 38 off 36 balls, inclusive of seven boundaries. Veteran player Ellyse Perry provided a steady hand with 20 not out, while Beth Mooney added six runs not out to the tally.
The West Indies bowlers found little success, but Karishma Ramharack managed to shine with figures of 3-0-13-1, followed closely by Cherry-Ann Fraser who claimed a wicket at the expense of 28 runs in her 5 overs.
Head Coach Shane Deitz acknowledged the team's shortcomings, but he emphasized the learning curve the youngsters are on.
"We sent some youngsters out to give them the opportunity and they did their best," said Deitz, "They’re learning international cricket, but they’ve got a lot to learn. I'm confident that with time and exposure against world-class teams like Australia, they'll mature into formidable players."
Deitz also touched upon the team's strategy and expressed satisfaction with some aspects of their game. He appreciated how the players "moved into the ball and attacked it."
The absence of star player Hayley Matthews was felt during the match, but Deitz reassured fans, saying, "We decided to give her the time to heal and be ready for the next game. We'll monitor her closely."
With this game in the rearview, the focus now shifts to Melbourne's Junction Oval, which is all set to host the remaining two ODIs on Thursday, October 12, and Saturday, October 14.
Frankie Dettori insists he has no plans to perform a retirement U-turn as he prepares to bring the curtain down on his glittering riding career in Britain on Qipco Champions Day at Ascot on October 21.
The legendary Italian has enjoyed a sensational final year in the saddle, with victories aboard Chaldean in the 2000 Guineas, Soul Sister in the Oaks and Courage Mon Ami in the Gold Cup just a few of the many highlights of his farewell tour.
His latest Group One success aboard Inspiral in Saturday’s Sun Chariot Stakes – his 500th winner at Newmarket – led to further speculation that Dettori might delay hanging up his saddle.
But while the 53-year-old admitted to being emotional both prior to and after Inspiral’s success, speaking on Racing TV’s Luck On Sunday programme, he reaffirmed his intention to call it a day before the end of 2023.
“It goes without saying I had a knot in my stomach yesterday, maybe because I was riding a short-priced favourite in Inspiral and maybe I was overthinking the tactics a bit,” he said.
“Then obviously I realised I was one short of 500 winners at Newmarket and there was only 14 days to go before I ride my last race in England, so all of that played on my mind a bit and I wasn’t myself.
“I wouldn’t be human if I didn’t feel like this. After 36 years doing what I love, it’s very hard to come to terms with the fact it’s going to finish soon.
“I’ve been swept off my feet for the last six months, to be honest. When I said I was going to retire I thought it was going to become easy, but actually I’ve had twice as much workload as I’ve ever done!”
Before Champions Day Dettori is readying himself for one final appearance at Newmarket at this week’s Dubai Future Champions Festival, while beyond Ascot he has a number of international plans, with a the Melbourne Cup or an appearance in Hong Kong expected to be his swansong.
He added: “We’ve got Newmarket coming up this weekend, it’s going to be my last Newmarket and I think Newmarket are doing a bit of a drinks party for me after racing, which is good, as I can invite a lot of people that I’ve been working with.
“I’ll then be flying to Milan for my last ride in Milan, which is where it all started. My mum and dad and my sister are going and all my school friends, so that’s going to be pretty emotional, and then straight back into what is going to be my last week (in Britain). It’s going to be flat out as I have a million interviews to do and then we go to Ascot.
“I know I’m retiring, but I don’t want to take the gloss off Champions Day, because it’s all about coronating the best horses in every category – and lucky me, I’ve got some absolute weapons to ride that day, on top of my retirement.
“I’ve got to keep my eye on the ball because I’ve got some massive pressure rides, possibly Inspiral, King Of Steel, Kinross and Courage Mon Ami, so I’ve got to make sure I’m completely focussed.”
He continued: “I’m sure I will cry as it’s my last day. Then, of course, it doesn’t stop there because I’m flying to the States for the Breeders’ Cup, then to Melbourne and then I promised Marc Chan (owner) that I’d delay my retirement because he’s very keen to run Kinross in Hong Kong. If he doesn’t make it, Melbourne could be my last one (ride).
“I haven’t thought beyond Melbourne or Hong Kong. I’ve said I’ve retired and at the moment I’ve got every right to carry on with that. I’m looking forward to a good, decent meal and a nice holiday!
“Because I’m riding a few winners everybody is saying ‘you should be doing this’ or ‘you should be doing that’, but I’m 53 and for a jockey I’ve had a pretty long career.
“The time has come and I’m glad that I can finish like this. I didn’t expect to have a year like this, but I can’t predict the future.
“I will miss it, but at the other end I have enjoyed it. It would have been sad if I’d have been retiring not riding in the big races and just floating around at secondary meetings and not winning. It’s turned out to be quite a good send-off.”
For now Dettori is fully focussed on going out on a high at Ascot on what is sure to be an emotionally charged afternoon.
He said: “It’s a massive day and no one more than myself wants to do well and be calm and do the right things for every horse – that’s the challenge.
“I have 40 people coming, all my family and all my friends. There’s even more pressure to deliver, but I love it. I like the big days, I like to be nervous – I think I need that to get me to tick.
“Maybe I’m spoilt, but the mundane Mondays don’t excite me any more.”
William Buick will partner Time Lock for the first time this season in the Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot.
Narrowly beaten by fellow Juddmonte-owned filly Haskoy in the Galtres Stakes at York last year, the daughter of Frankel was beaten on her first four starts of the current campaign before registering a confidence-boosting Listed success in France last month.
That teed Time Lock up for the Group Three Princess Royal Stakes at Newmarket two weeks ago and she again impressed under Ryan Moore, to leave connections eyeing up a tilt at Group One glory on Qipco British Champions Day.
Harry Charlton, who trains the four-year-old in partnership with his father, Roger, said: “Time Lock is in good form and the Ascot race looks the obvious race for her to run in.
“As long as the Juddmonte team are happy and the filly is in good form then we’ll look to run her there and William Buick will ride her.
“William rode her twice last year, he rode her at Haydock and was second on her in the Galtres, and he’s been saying all year if there was ever a chance he’d love to ride her again.
“Charlie (Appleby) hasn’t got a runner in the Ascot race and Ryan Moore, who rode Time Lock last time, will ride one of Aidan O’Brien’s, I assume, so that’s really the reasoning.”
Charlton feels a combination of boosted confidence and the prevailing ground conditions at Newmarket contributed to her uplift in form.
He added: “The race she won in France was not a strong one, but she won it well and it might have just given her a little bit of confidence.
“More than anything, we ran on very quick ground at Haydock twice earlier in the year and then very soft ground at Goodwood. I think in the middle ground, like she got at Newmarket the other day, probably suited her on a nice, galloping track like that.”
Last weekend the Charlton team came mighty close to landing the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket, with ante-post favourite Greek Order beaten half a length by Astro King in the prestigious handicap.
The three-year-old son of Kingman could return to the Rowley Mile next month in a bid to go one better.
“He’s come out of the race great. He didn’t win, but he ran a super race and we couldn’t be happier with him really,” said Charlton.
“We were under no illusions that because he went off such a short price (5-2) it was sort of assumed that he would win, but we all know winning 35-runner handicaps is not that easy and there are plenty of variables at play.
“We would have loved some rain and it didn’t come, but we’re proud of him and it’s onwards and upwards from here.
“If he’s OK and as long as Prince Khalid’s family are happy, we’ll have a look at running him in the James Seymour Stakes at Newmarket on November 4. It’s a Listed race over 10 furlongs, which is probably more his trip, and the ground might be a little softer by then as well.
“It was the quickest ground he’s run on in the Cambridgeshire and he obviously handled it, but we think he might be a little bit better with some cut.”
Wayne Rooney is leaving DC United after their hopes of making the Major League Soccer play-offs ended.
The former England captain had been in charge at the Washington club since last summer but a 2-0 victory over New York City FC proved to be his final match.
CEO and co-chairman Jason Levien said on dcunited.com: “We have spoken with Wayne and agreed it is best for us to part ways at this time.
“This decision creates the avenue for our next general manager to have the full opportunity to impart a new philosophy and structure onto our sporting operations, which begins with the critical identification of a head coach who will best align with this.
“We are grateful to Wayne Rooney for all he has done for our club and for soccer in the nation’s capital, first as a DC United player and captain and most recently as our coach. He remains an important part of the DC United family and a valued and cherished friend.”
Rooney first moved to the MLS in 2018, spending 15 months in Washington as a player, and returned last summer after cutting his managerial teeth at Derby.
The 37-year-old improved DC United’s points tally but is heading back to England after their play-off hopes ended.
“It’s just the right time,” said Rooney in quotes reported by the Washington Post.
“I think I’ve done everything I can to try and get the club into (the) play-offs. It’s not one single thing which has happened, it’s about timing in your career. I have really enjoyed my time here. But I just feel it’s the right time to go back to England. What lies ahead, I don’t know.”
Richard Azan’s Perfect Brew produced one of his most polished performances in recent times to topple rivals in a three-year-old and upward Open Allowance contest for the I’m satisfied Trophy over six furlongs (1,200m) at Caymanas Park on Saturday.
With Jason DaCosta’s ante-post favorite Is That A Fact scratched from the event, Azan’s four-year-old bay gelding, partnered with Tevin Foster, proved too good in the $1.4 million feature, registering an eighth career win, and third of the season.
Though well backed at odds of 5-2, Perfect Brew was expected to have a difficult task of getting back to his more fleet-footed competitors Rojorn Di Pilot (Omar Walker), Lure of Lucy (Jerome Innis), Jordon Reign’s (Dane Dawkins) and I’ve Got Magic (Bebeto Harvey) in the dash.
The predictions seemed likely to play out when Perfect Brew, drawn post position four, broke behind rivals and was quickly switched to the inside rails by Foster.
This, as Rojorn Di Pilot assumed pole ahead of Lure of Lucy (Jerome Innis), I’ve Got Magic (Bebeto Harvey), and God of Love (Anthony Allen), before Jordon Reign's swept by all to dictate terms in the early exchanges.
As the frontrunners continued to jostle for the headlines to try and steal a march on the field, Perfect Brew and Foster soon got into stride and moved within striking distance by the time they flashed past the half-mile mark.
Though still under a fairly tight hold by Foster, Perfect Brew was full of running which he unleashed in the stretch run. While Jordon Reign's and I've Got Magic engaged in a bumping duel on the inside rail, Foster took the Bern Identity-Moonlight Brew progeny three wide.
And with quick change of his hold, followed by a show of the left-hand whip, the in-form jockey and Perfect Brew briskly swept by their rivals and powered away at the furlong pole to complete a four-and-a-half length victory.
They stopped the clock in 1:12.1, behind splits of 23.0 and 46.1 seconds.
I’ve Got Magic, Jordon Reign’s and Rojorn Di Pilot, completed the frame.
Meanwhile, DaCosta, along with jockeys Phillip Parchment and Dane Dawkins secured two winners each on the 10-race card.
Dawkins won the seventh and 10th events for the Princess Popstar and Reggae Roots Rocking Trophies, aboard DaCosta’s Digital One, and Errol Burke’s Nakamura.
DaCosta’s other winner was Parchment-partnered Phenomenal One in the eighth, ran for the Reggae Legend Trophy. Parchment earlier won the sixth event aboard Andrew McDonald’s War Horse, copping the Reggae Skanking Trophy.
Racing continues on Sunday.
As the battle for top spot in the highly competitive Group A continues, Hydel High positioned themselves well for an ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup second round berth, after coming from behind to edge Calabar High 2-1 at Red Hills Road on Saturday.
Not only did the win propel Hydel ahead of Calabar on goal difference, with both sitting on 12 points behind leaders Kingston College (18 points), but the manner in which it came, added impetus to their ambitions that they can challenge for the title.
Omario Henry (29th) and D’Sean Henry (73rd), with his fifth goal of the season, saw the Ferry-based team –which ended with 10 players after Kailand Smith picked up a second yellow in the 56th minute –to the points. Isaac Clarke (15th) gave Calabar an early lead.
Winning coach Devon Anderson was delighted by the grit and character demonstrated by his team.
“It was a hard-fought game, we went down to 10 players, but we didn’t panic because I know the ability of the kids and I know we could have pulled it off. We started the season with a goal to win the Manning Cup and no matter how difficult it seems that goal hasn’t changed, but we take it one game at a time,” Anderson said in a post-match interview.
Despite falling behind when Clarke’s shot from a distance somehow eluded the goalkeeper, Hydel continued to show purpose and eventually found the equalizer when D’Sean Henry broke down the right channel and played a cross in for Omario Henry to finish.
The score remained unchanged at the break and Calabar, like they did at the start, were more spirited on the resumption and seemed well poised for victory when Smith was given marching orders.
However, the Red Hills Road boys failed to make the numerical advantage count on home soil and later paid the price when D’Sean Henry on the break, lobbed a left-footed effort over the head of the advancing keeper, who left his line and was caught in no man’s land.
Try as they did, Calabar couldn’t find the elusive equalizer which left their Head coach Andrew Price, somewhat disappointed.
“I think we gave up an opportunity to collect all three points, the game was decided on a goalkeeping error, but these are young players so they will learn. We are not going burden them with too much pressure we just have the get it right the next time. I think we gave as much as we got from this Hydel team so, all in all, it was a good game and it will serve us well for the rest of the season,” Price shared.
Saturday’s results
Calabar 1, Hydel 2
Jose Marti 0, Campion College 1
Waterford 0, St George’s College 3
Ascot High 0, St Jago 4
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