Cricket West Indies (CWI) selection panel today announced the 14-member squad for the upcoming T20 International (T20I) Series against Ireland Women at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground.
The squad includes three Rising Stars Women's Under 19 players – Zaida James, Ashmini Munisar, and Djenaba Joseph. West Indies will enter the T20I Series on a high having clinched the CG United ODI Series 2-0, with one match being a no result due to rain.
CWI Lead selector Mrs. Ann Browne-John said
“The selection panel decided to retain the players who completed the ODI series. These players have shown form and performance which enabled the team to secure a series win, which the team has been striving for in recent times. As we continue the rebuilding, we believe we have found a competent balance in mix of senior players and the younger players selected. It is in keeping with our ethos of preparing the next batch of West Indies women’s players, by combining the experienced and the newly capped players.”
Match tickets are available online from the Windies Tickets service, presented by Mastercard - Tickets.windiescricket.com - at a discounted price of US$6/EC$16 (USS3/EC$7.50 children and seniors) with tickets available on the day at the box office at a price of US$7.50/EC$20 (US$3.75/EC$10 for children and seniors).
For fans unable to get to the games in St. Lucia, the CG United ODI Series will be exclusively live on RUSH Sports in the Caribbean and on BT Sport in the UK & Ireland. The matches will also be shown around the world on FanCode (India), ESPN+ (USA), Sky NZ (NZ), SuperSport (sub-Saharan Africa) and in all other countries on the Windies Cricket YouTube channel.
FULL SQUAD
T20 International Series:
All matches start at 5pm Eastern Caribbean Time (4pm Jamaica Time)
Tuesday 4 July: 1st T20I
Thursday 6 July: 2nd T20I
Saturday 8 July: 3rd T20I
Frankie Dettori is to sell a selection of his trophies and racing silks, putting 126 items up for auction ahead of his retirement from the sport.
The 52-year-old jockey, who will bow out at end of the current campaign, has been clearing out items from his home near Newmarket as he and his wife Catherine prepare to move house, as he said their children have all “branched out”.
His scales, a saddle, boots and photographs are among the 126 pieces to be sold in an online auction by Cheffins in Cambridge from July 5.
The sale has been described by auctioneers as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own prizes and memorabilia from one of the greatest sports personalities worldwide”.
Among the lots is Dettori’s trophy from last month’s Oaks win aboard Soul Sister, which would be his last success in a British Classic should he not win the St Leger in September.
Dettori said: “We’re going to move away from Newmarket.
“Newmarket’s been my life.
“We’re scaling down and I’ve got so much stuff, we thought we might as well just auction it.
“I didn’t realise because they end up in drawers, in cupboards, in the cellar, I mean they’re all over the place.
“Now we’re clearing up a lot of stuff, we didn’t realise how much accumulated in so many years.”
He said it had been difficult to decide what to sell and what to keep.
“Yes, of course, you know, but then you’ve got to put everything in context,” he said.
“You need a mansion to put the trophies up.
“I tried to keep something what means something to me, some of the important stuff like the Derby and things like that, but the rest is going to go up in auction.”
He continued: “All my kids have branched out, so it’s only myself and Catherine my wife left so we’re planning to rent the house, scale down and move towards London a bit.
“And I’d like to travel the world a bit.”
Dettori said he felt it was the “right time” to retire, and “wanted to stop at the top”.
“I’m going to be 53 and I wanted to stop at the top. I still feel that I’m riding well enough to finish at the top.
“I think it’s the right time.
“My heart doesn’t want to stop but my brain is telling me to stop.
“It’s not going to be easy.”
He said some of the proceeds of the auction will go to the charity Direct Aid For Africa (DAFA), and some will go to his children, adding: “My daughter’s getting married next year but she hasn’t fixed a date yet.”
He said that in his retirement he is “not going to be too far away from racing”.
“Working on TV is an option,” he said.
“I’m in talks at the moment with a few different channels and I think that’s the way that I’m going to head.”
Asked if he would consider an appearance on the reality show I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here, Dettori said: “I haven’t been asked yet but if I do get asked, I’ll have a good think about that.”
He said the reception he has been getting for winners has surprised him.
“The warmth of the people has been amazing,” said Dettori.
“Wherever I go, I was taking a lot of selfies last year but quadrupled the amount of selfies that I’m taking every day.
“People have been so good. I’m enjoying it.
“It’s going to be sad when I get to the end of the season, but at the moment I’m not thinking about it.
“I’m trying to do good and trying to go through my last year in a happy fashion.”
Harriet Lusty, deputy saleroom manager at Cheffins, said: “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own prizes and memorabilia from one of the greatest sports personalities worldwide.
“This one-off sale will take place solely online over a two-week period, and will include some of the most significant prizes Frankie has won to date, such as the trophy for his win in the Epsom Oaks in June 2023.
“This is an incredible opportunity for fans of horseracing, and we expect interest from buyers not only from the UK but also from across Europe, the Middle East and also the US as Frankie Dettori is consistently the most famous name in the sport worldwide.”
Head coach of Trinidad & Tobago’s Soca Warriors, Angus Eve, has described his team as “going through a rebuilding stage” after bowing out of the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup in the USA on Sunday.
The Trinidadians secured a comfortable 4-0 win over St. Kitts and Nevis in their first game of the group stage before suffering a crushing 1-4 defeat to Jamaica then ending their campaign with a 0-6 hammering at the hands of the defending champions and hosts.
Eve, in a post-match press conference, acknowledged a gap in skill between his players and those on the teams they lost to before explaining how that gap can be closed.
“We need to have our players being exposed at the highest level and consistently play football at a high level,” he said.
“Most of the guys don’t get the exposure on the outside and consistently play at a high level, because you have to remember that our league just returned after three years. The CFU used to have competitions. You can see that St. Kitts are in the same boat as us receiving a number of goals,” he added.
Eve also criticized the fitness level of his players, noting that getting the players fit is a job for their clubs rather than the national team.
“A national team coach can’t get the players fit when they come here. They have to come from their clubs with that fitness so your job is now to put them in a formation that will get them to play well.”
“A lot of times, as you can see, we were lacking fitness,” Eve added.
Despite all this, Eve did say he sees progress in some areas, specifically in the standard of the tournament.
“The tournament is improving all the time. We were here in 2021 and we are progressing. When you look at the French-Caribbean teams, they can bring in players who are playing in France and plug those holes,” he said.
We Never Stop broke his maiden in the British Stallion Studs EBF Spindrifter Novice Stakes at Pontefract to highlight a double for Shane Gray.
Placed at York twice previously, the Cotai Glory colt had finished almost three lengths behind John Quinn’s reopposing Twilight Romance most recently but did have a 4lb pull.
Perhaps more in his favour, though, was his draw in stall four of the five runners, which on most days at Pontefract would be a disadvantage but at this meeting the usually favoured inside rail was almost shunned throughout.
Gray was able to get Kevin Ryan’s youngster over to the stands’ rail first and he held off his old foe by half a length to win at 10-1.
Gray said: “We’ve always thought a lot of him but he grew a lot between his last run and this one.
“He’s a fine stamp of a horse and I think he’ll make a fine three-year-old. He’s so big, whatever he does at two he’s only going to improve on it next year.
“He showed some pace at York and travelled very strong. I’d almost say you could come back to five furlongs but he’s only going to get quicker with age, so six is fine for now.
“They came over in the first race, I’d walked the track and you can see by the colour of the grass there’s a difference in the ground, it’s a good advantage today.”
Gray was also on Mick and David Easterby’s So Grateful (15-2) who was winning for the first time on turf in the Napoleons Casino Bradford Handicap and another to take the favoured rail early.
That came after Serena Brotherton had charted an almost solo run up the stands’ side on the Easterbys’ Unplugged (13-8 favourite) in the 21st Wilfred Underwood Memorial Handicap.
It appeared a bold move by the veteran amateur rider, but it proved inspired, especially as only one other followed her, and she revealed a pre-race course walk made the decision much easier.
“I walked the track and I thought the fastest bit of ground was either right on the inside rail, which I didn’t think I could get to because of my draw (10), or the outside rail,” said Brotherton.
“I did have a moment of doubt when we turned in and I could feel him thinking ‘what are you making me do?’ but he was fine.
“He wants top of the ground so it worked out.”
David Easterby, speaking after the win of So Grateful, said of the ploy: “It’s OK having these plans but you’ve got to be able to carry them out and he (Gray) didn’t go too fast. It’s easy to get the fractions wrong but he didn’t do that.
“Unfortunately for me, Serena likes to get to the track nice and early so I walked the track with her. I think the only reason we won today was because of the tactics, so the handicapper should drop him!
“They are running well this summer, so long may it continue.”
The Royal Ascot-winning duo of Tom Clover and Danny Tudhope teamed up to win the Wayne Conway Memorial Handicap with Rogue Tornado, a first success at the track for Clover.
Sent off the 4-5 favourite, he briefly looked in a bit of bother before his stamina kicked in and he went on to win by two and a half lengths.
Simon and Ed Crisford’s Laser Guided (4-1) clearly thrives in the Yorkshire air as having dead-heated at Ripon earlier this season, he won the “89 And Reunited” Memorial Handicap off bottom weight under Oisin Orr.
Orr then doubled up himself on Gannon Glory (13-2) in the Northern Commercials Service, Sales And Parts Handicap, making all for his boss, Richard Fahey.
The region’s best young cricketers will assemble in Trinidad and St Vincent for Cricket West Indies (CWI) Rising Stars Women's Under-19 Championship and the Rising Stars Men’s Under-19 Championship.
The women’s event will be 30-over matches played from 4 to 12 July at the National Cricket Centre (NCC), UWI Sports & Physical Education Centre (UWI SPEC), and Gilbert Park Cricket Ground (GPCG) in Trinidad. This is the second year of the tournament and players will be identified with a view developing talent and participating in international events such as the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2025 to be played in Malaysia and Thailand.
The men’s event will be played in St Vincent from 4 July to 1 August. It will feature five rounds of 50-over white ball matches and four rounds of three-day red ball matches. These will be played at Arnos Vales, Sion Hill, Park Hill and Cumberland.
Following the tournaments, West Indies Rising Stars Under 19 team will be selected for a tour of Sri Lanka where they are due to play a four-day match as well as 50-over matches. This will be part of preparations for the ICC Men’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup scheduled to be played in Sri Lanka early next year.
These tournaments serve as a pivotal platform for showcasing and identifying talent and facilitating their progression. CWI’s strategic plan has committed resources into developing the game at every level and these tournaments therefore play a vital role in the strategy to develop the talent pool and produce the next generation of West Indies players.
During the tournaments LIVE ball-by-ball scoring of matches will be available on the www.windiescricket.com match centre.
MATCH SCHEDULE
Women’s 30-over in Trinidad
Tuesday 4 July
Windward Islands vs Guyana at GPCG
Leeward Islands vs Jamaica at UWI SPEC
Trinidad and Tobago vs Barbados at NCC
Thursday 6 July
Jamaica vs Trinidad and Tobago – GPCG
Guyana vs Barbados – UWI SPEC
Windward Islands vs Leeward Islands – NCC
Sunday 9 July
Trinidad and Tobago vs Windward Islands at GPCG
Jamaica vs Barbados at UWI SPEC
Guyana vs Leeward Islands at NCC
Tuesday 11 July
Jamaica vs Guyana at GPCG
Leeward Islands vs Trinidad and Tobago at UWI SPEC
Barbados vs Windward Islands at NCC
Thursday 13 July
Leeward Islands vs Barbados at GPCG
Trinidad and Tobago vs Guyana at UWI SPEC
Jamaica vs Windward Islands at NCC
Saturday 15 July
5th and 6th play-off at GPCG
3rd and 4th play-off at NCC
FINAL at UWI SPEC
Men’s Under 19 50-over in St Vincent
Tuesday 4 July
Windward Islands v Leeward Islands at Arnos Vale
Trinidad and Tobago v Barbados at Sion Hill
Jamaica v Guyana at Cumberland
Thursday 6 July
Jamaica v Trinidad and Tobago at Arnos Vale
Leeward Islands v Guyana at Cumberland
Windward Islands v Barbados at Sion Hill
Saturday 8 July
Guyana v Barbados at Arnos Vale
Windwards v Trinidad and Tobago at Park Hill
Leeward Islands v Jamaica at Sion Hill
Monday 10 July
Leeward Islands v Barbados at Park Hill
Windward Islands vs Jamaica at Sion Hill
Trinidad and Tobago v Guyana at Arnos Vale
Wednesday 12 July
Windward Islands v Guyana at Park Hill
Leeward Islands v Trinidad and Tobago at Sion Hill
Barbados v Jamaica at Arnos Vale
Men’s Under 19 three-day in St Vincent
15-17 July
Windward Islands v Leeward Islands at Arnos Vale
Barbados v Guyana at Park Hill
Jamaica v Trinidad and Tobago at Sion Hill
20-22 July
Barbados v Trinidad and Tobago at Park Hill
Leeward Islands v Jamaica at Cumberland
Windward Islands v Guyana at Arnos Vale
25-27 July
Trinidad and Tobago v Guyana at Sion Hill
Windward Islands v Jamaica at Arnos Vale
Leeward Islands v Barbados at Park Hill
30 July to 1 August
FINAL at Arnos Vale
3rd and 4th play-off at Park Hill
5th and 6th play-off at Cumberland
When the athletes for the 110m hurdles line up at Jamaica’s National Athletics Championships this coming weekend, noticeably absent will be the 2016 Olympic champion Omar McLeod.
McLeod, the 2017 world champion, is not among the 19 men who will contend for one of three spots up for grabs as the hurdlers vie for places at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary in August.
There has been no official word from the athlete or his representatives over his absence. He has raced sparingly this season, running twice indoors and once outdoors. On April 29, he ran 13.67 for a second place finish at the LSU Invitational in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The 29-year-old McLeod has not had the best of fortune at Jamaica’s national championships in recent years. In 2021, he finished at eighth in the final at Kingston’s National Stadium and then infamously blamed the Jamaican authorities for mistreating him.
“I don’t think I was given or granted a fair opportunity to make the team with this ridiculous schedule that I have never seen in my years in track and field where they have semi-finals late in the evening and then, without recovery and the country was in complete lockdown so we were unable to go back to the hotel and get food,” he told media at a press conference in the United Kingdom days later.
“So, my team and I, we did the best we could and we went to a little lounge at the hotel and drank some soup and had a salad because that was all they had, trying to go back to the track and five in the morning for a final at eight, I mean, that’s stupid."
Then in 2022, he finished at the back of the pack once again after hitting a hurdle early into the race and failed in his effort to qualify for an attempt to win a shot at another world title.
Meanwhile, the event which is expected to be keenly contested, will feature a stacked that includes reigning Olympic champion Hansle Parchment, Olympic bronze medalist Ronald Levy and Commonwealth Games champion Rasheed Broadbell, who are expected to be in the running for places on the Jamaican team to Budapest.
However, the battle for places will have to be earned as the likes of Phillip Lemonious the 2023 NCAA Outdoor champion and a resurgent Tyler Mason will also be targeting breakthroughs to the international scene.
Tokyo Olympic semi-finalist Damion Thomas and the talented LaFranz Campbell are also down to compete for spots.
Orlando Bennett, the 2022 NACAC bronze medallist, is also among the 19 as well as collegiate standouts Jaheem Hayles, Sharvis Simmonds, Michael Buchannan, Jordani Woodley, and Andre Douglas.
The multi-talented Dejour Russell will also be keen to get a look in on a team to a major senior championship.
Co-trainers Martyn and Freddie Meade will drop Dubai Mile back in distance and wait for soft ground in the autumn as they bid to secure his future as a stallion.
Having purchased a half-share in last year’s Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner from owner Ahmad Al Shaikh, the horse has left Charlie Johnston’s care to join the Meades’ Manton Park roster.
“He is here and the idea is clearly he has to do a bit more to be a stallion yet,” Martyn Meade confirmed.
Bought for €20,000 as a yearling by the Johnston team, he made swift progress as a juvenile and finished second in the Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes before taking a top-level victory in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud.
Fifth in the 2000 Guineas on his three-year-old bow, he did not appear to stay a mile and a half in the Derby, finishing ninth of 14 to Auguste Rodin.
He again flattered to deceive over the same trip in the King Edward VII at Royal Ascot, when beaten eight lengths by King Of Steel.
Meade said: “The idea is we will campaign him for the rest of the season and maybe even next season if we need to, because he preferably needs to win a couple more, at least one and maybe two Group Ones.
“That’s what we will be targeting him for, but at the moment we will be giving him a break.
“He’s had quite a tough sort of campaign, with three races at the top level and inevitably that takes it out of them. You can’t race in those Group Ones all the way through.”
Meade feels autumn targets may be ideal for Dubai Mile, who won his Group One on deep ground.
“The little I know about him, he will be pretty good on soft ground, as he showed in France,” he said.
“If we can campaign him towards the back end of the season, I think that would be our preference.
“It is all to do with distance. I don’t think he proved himself as well as he might have done over a mile and a half and our thoughts will be to drop him back.
“On the face of it, while we have to assess him, we are thinking of changing his trip, shortening it up. A mile and a quarter will be his trip.
“Hopefully we can get a bit of soft ground at the end of the year and find a suitable race for him.”
Manton Park Stud currently stands Aclaim and Advertise, both of whom were Group One winners for Meade, with the trainer well aware Dubai Mile needs to enhance his page before embarking on a breeding career.
“It is lovely to have him, we’re very pleased,” added Meade. “He looks a nice horse.
“It is a strategic move as far as we are concerned and let’s see how we go, but he needs to put a bit more on his CV before we can stamp him.”
Charlie Johnston will train Subjectivist towards the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup, providing he shows the right signs after his exertions at Royal Ascot.
Having raced keenly, the six-year-old finished a fine third in the Gold Cup on his first British start since winning the race in spectacular fashion two years ago.
Subjectivist was subsequently sidelined for 618 days with a career-threatening leg injury and on his return raced very keenly in a Group Three handicap in Saudi Arabia in February.
He moved on to Meydan in a bid to win a second Dubai Gold Cup and ran a pleasing race to finish third, beaten five lengths behind Broome, before his excellent effort at Ascot, when going down by four and a half lengths to Courage Mon Ami.
“He was a little bit fresh in some ways, because he is not doing any galloping at home because of his injury,” said Johnston.
“Every day is a judgement call as to how the legs feel and how much work he does. He hadn’t really had a real good blow into him at home, so I think that would have contributed to him being a little bit keen at Ascot.
“I thought this was very different to Saudi. He was manageable, whereas in Saudi, he was running away with Joe (Fanning), he wasn’t listening to him at all.
“It’s funny, when he came back in, Joe felt Ralph Beckett’s horse (Lone Eagle) had come to him quite early and got him racing early. As I watched it, coming out of Swinley Bottom, I was urging him just to send him.
“I’m sure Joe knows everything we’re going through at home and he was riding him with that in his mind a little bit.”
The Middleham handler is taking it gently, as not to over-exert Dr Jim Walker’s fragile warrior before deciding whether to race on following the horse’s tendon injury.
“It was a run of immense pride in the horse and the team for having got him there,” added Johnston.
“You couldn’t help but feel a little bit of what could have been. If this horse is able to finish third in an Ascot Gold Cup on three legs, then how many of these would we have won if we hadn’t had the setback we had? It was a good run, for sure.
“The plan is to go to Goodwood. He hasn’t been sat on yet, he’s just been swimming and on the water walker.
“The idea is for him to go back ridden on Tuesday, then trot for a week, then go back cantering the week after. To be honest, it is only at that point we will really find out what scars, if any, this run has left.
“He was sound in the legs post-race, but given his history, you don’t run two and a half miles at that level without some consequence.
“Hopefully he’ll be fine and we will do all we can to get him to Goodwood.”
George Boughey will target the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket with Via Sistina following her Group One breakthrough at the Curragh on Saturday.
Stepping up to the highest level for the first time following a brilliant display in the Dahlia Stakes in May, Via Sistina ran out an authoritative winner of the Pretty Polly Stakes to provide her trainer with a first ever success on Irish soil in the hands of Jamie Spencer.
Boughey feels his stable star deserves even more praise given the underfoot conditions were not as testing as connections had hoped.
“She was very good and confirmed what we hoped,” said Boughey.
“When the rain didn’t come it was in the balance whether she was going to start and huge credit to the owner Steve Hillen for making the call and wanting to run, because she will be better on slower ground.
“She’s come out of the race in great shape and I couldn’t be happier with her really. She showed a real turn of foot on ground that was possibly too fast for her.
“I’m delighted for Steve and Becky. Steve bought her and has nurtured her all the way along. Joe Tuite (former trainer) had a massive part to play and I’ve just been the lucky recipient that’s got her when she’s coming to her peak.
“To go over there and beat them in one of their top fillies-only Group One races was a huge thrill.”
While the ground will remain a key a factor in future plans for his stable star, Boughey views the Falmouth on July 14 as a logical next port of call.
He added: “I haven’t trained a horse who is quite so trip-versatile of any quality really. I wouldn’t mind bringing her back to a mile, but Jamie said she stays well and you could almost go up in trip.
“The options are very open for her, but we are going to work towards the Falmouth – that’s the plan at the moment – because it can come up soft the week of the July meeting.
“It’s drying ground in Newmarket at the moment, but we’re going to work with that in mind. If we were to get rain and she was in good form, we’d love to turn up for Newmarket.
“We’ll just continue to do what’s right for her really. If there’s any firm in the description she certainly won’t be running, but at least we know she’s a Group One winner on good ground now.”
In a thrilling CONCACAF Gold Cup match between Jamaica and St Kitts and Nevis at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California on Sunday, the Reggae Boyz secured a resounding 5-0 victory, with defender Di'Shon Bernard shining brightly on the field.
In addition to his solid defensive play, the young former Manchester United centre-back scored his first-ever goal for the national team, leaving the coach, Heimir Hallgrimsson, heaping praise upon the promising talent.
"I think he will get maybe more recognized in the upcoming years. This one is helping him a lot in that," Coach Hallgrimsson said, acknowledging the potential that Bernard possesses.
During the match, Bernard's skills stood out, and his versatility surprised the coaching staff.
"In that area, you can see his physical strength is good, his speed is good. Aerially, he's very strong. But I haven't seen this attacking skill like he showed in the opponents today," the coach noted with admiration.
"I asked him, 'Have you ever done that before?' He replied, 'Yeah, coach, yeah, coach,' after the game. So now he is a young player, still has some things to learn, and he's going to grow for sure."
Bernard's performance on the pitch has been impressive, especially considering his relatively recent addition to the national squad. He, along with fellow newcomers (Demarai) Gray and (Joel) Latibeaudiere, has quickly integrated into the team, understanding their roles and responsibilities seamlessly.
"I give him a lot of credit. He's new to the squad, but he has done really well since he came in. Like I said before, you give someone a chance, and he takes it," Coach Hallgrimsson added, expressing his delight with the player's dedication and skill.
Bernard's impactful performance has left the coaching staff with a pleasant dilemma of deciding on the starting lineup for future matches. "That is pleasing for coaches when players put you in a spot now, I mean in a dilemma, who I will pick for the next game. So really good," the coach admitted.
An own goal from St Kitts goalkeeper Julani Archibald, Corey Burke, Daniel Johnson and Corey Burke completed the scoring for Jamaica who finished on seven points for second place in Group A. The Reggae Boyz advanced to the quarter-final round of the Gold Cup.
John and Thady Gosden will give Nashwa more time before plotting a course with the Classic-winning filly, following her surprise defeat at Newcastle on Friday evening.
The dual Group One winner has not got her head in front since landing the Nassau at Goodwood last year and two runs this term in lesser company have failed to see her add a fifth career success.
Third in the Oaks last year, the Frankel filly was half a length adrift of Al Husn over 10 furlongs in her latest run on the all-weather surface at the Gosforth Park track.
“I wasn’t too unhappy with her. She will be fine. She is taking her time to come to herself. A lot of fillies can take time,” said John Gosden of the four-year-old, who gained a first top-level success under Hollie Doyle when taking the Prix de Diane at Chantilly.
“We’ll give her a bit of time and see how she is, but she is OK and has taken it well enough.”
Emily Upjohn and Paddington feature among a small but select field of six horses still in contention for the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on Saturday.
John and Thady Gosden’s Emily Upjohn made a tremendous start to her campaign in the Coronation Cup at Epsom last month and looks set to step back from a mile and a half to a mile and a quarter, with William Buick taking over in the saddle from the suspended Frankie Dettori.
Aidan O’Brien said last week that a step up in distance was under consideration for his Irish 2,000 Guineas and brilliant St James’s Palace Stakes hero Paddington and he was left in at Monday’s confirmation stage alongside his stablemate Luxembourg.
The latter notched his third Group One win in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh in May, since when he has finished second to Mostahdaf in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The Owen Burrows-trained Anmaat is in line to bid for back-to-back top-level wins after landing the Prix d’Ispahan on his latest appearance, while Dubai Honour may return from a short break after winning two Group Ones in Australia and finishing third in the QEII Cup in Hong Kong earlier in the year.
The potential line-up is completed by Simon and Ed Crisford’s West Wind Blows, who produced a career-best when second to Pyledriver in the Hardwicke Stakes at the Royal meeting.
There will be no repeat Coral-Eclipse bid from Jean-Claude Rouget this year as his latest impressive Prix du Jockey Club champion Ace Impact is currently enjoying a quiet time ahead of a return in the autumn.
Last year, the crack French handler saddled Vadeni to strike at Sandown on the back of a taking success in the French Derby.
However, with the unbeaten Ace Impact having run three times in the early part of the season, connection have resisted the temptation of another raiding mission for their Chantilly hero and will instead focus on targets towards the back-end of the season.
“He’s quiet at the moment and waiting for the autumn now, you will see him in August or September,” said Rouget.
It appears likely that autumn campaign will be centred around peaking for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on October 1 and when asked if Europe’s richest middle-distance prize will be on the agenda for Ace Impact, Rouget added: “Of course, yes.”
Likely to join Ace Impact at ParisLongchamp for the 12-furlong Group One is Vadeni, who could attempt to go one better than last year’s half-length second to Alpinista providing he comes through his intended next outing at Deauville with flying colours.
The son of Churchill is also having an easy time following his below-par showing in the Tattersalls Gold Cup, but is pencilled in to return on August 13 in a race Rouget has won for the past two seasons with Wally.
Rouget said: “Up to now we will run at Deauville in August in the Gontaut-Biron, Group Three. If he is then OK, he will then perhaps run in the Arc.”
Jesus Ferreira notched another hat trick as the United States topped Trinidad and Tobago 6-0 in Charlotte, North Carolina on Sunday night in their Group A finale, securing a first-place finish in the group and a spot in the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinals.
Ferreira is the first player to score hat tricks in two different Gold Cup games in the same tournament and is also the first U.S. player to score hat tricks in back-to-back games.
The U.S. opened the scoring in the 14th minute. US defender DeJuan Jones pushed forward from his left back position and found midfielder Cristian Roldan near the edge of the area.
Roldan’s attempted a cross that fell back into Jones’ path, and he crossed for Ferreira. Ferreira took one touch and hit the ball past Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Marvin Phillip on the half-volley.
The defending champions doubled their lead in the 38th minute when Djordje Mihailovic set up Alejandro Zendejas to cross. Ferreira’s first shot was deflected by Phillip, but Ferreira put a shot back on goal that was deflected and went over the line.
Ferreira then completed his hat trick right before halftime with a penalty conversion and a 3-0 lead.
Trinidad and Tobago thought it had its opener after the hour mark, when Shannon Gomez thumped a shot from distance but saw his effort bounce off the post.
Instead, it was the U.S. adding a fourth next. Cade Cowell ran onto a wayward pass from a Trinidad and Tobago player and was one-on-one with Phillip.
After shifting past the goalkeeper with a cut back to his right foot in the box, Cowell finished for his first career Gold Cup goal.
It was 5-0 in the 79th minute when DeAndre Yedlin combined with Julian Gressel, whose pass found Gianluca Busio, who scored with a right-footed shot for his first-ever goal for the United States.
The final goal came in stoppage time, with Brandon Vazquez scoring off the bench, running onto a pass into the box from Cowell and finishing the move.
With the result and Jamaica’s 5-0 victory over St Kitts and Nevis, the USA finishes first in Group A and moves to the quarterfinals awaiting the runner-up of Group D.
Trinidad and Tobago turns its attention to Concacaf Nations League League A play, which begins in September.
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