One-time Derby favourite Reach For The Moon is set to pursue a career over hurdles this winter, having left John and Thady Gosden to join Jamie Snowden.
The son of Sea The Stars looked destined for the top following a brilliant victory in the 2021 Solario Stakes, but was beaten by Bayside Boy on his final juvenile start in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster – his conqueror on Town Moor winning last year’s Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.
Despite that defeat, optimism remained he could claim Derby glory for the late Queen in her Platinum Jubilee year – but ultimately he did not make the trip to Epsom, not reappearing until a promising run in the Heron Stakes at Sandown before finishing second in the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot last season.
Having disappointed on his next start in France, Reach For The Moon was gelded during the winter – but he has again finished well beaten twice in the royal silks this term, most recently finishing down the field in the Royal Hunt Cup, and he is being readied for a change of code.
“He’s not with us yet, but he’s left John Gosden’s and has been down at Henrietta Knight’s learning to jump,” said Snowden.
“He is now back at Sandringham having a bit of a break and will come to us later on.
“It’s really exciting. He’ll have a couple of months at Sandringham I guess and then he’ll come to us and will hopefully be ready to run sometime in the new year.”
With the autumn drawing closer, Snowden is beginning to make running plans for three of his stable stars in Ga Law, Datsalrightgino and You Wear It Well.
Ga Law won last season’s Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham before losing his way in the new year, while Datsalrightgino was last seen landing Grade Two honours in the Jordan Electrics Ltd Future Champion Novices’ Chase at Ayr.
Your Wear It Well provided her trainer with Cheltenham Festival success when landing the Jack De Bromhead Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle in March before finishing fifth against the boys at Aintree.
Snowden added: “They were our big three from last year I suppose and they are all back in and in good order at the moment.
“Your Wear It Well will probably start off in that Listed mares’ race at Wetherby and we’ll work towards hopefully going back to Cheltenham in March.
“Ga Law is going to start off over hurdles in the West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby and then hopefully go for the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury.
“Datsalrightgino we’re hoping to start off in the Old Roan at Aintree and then go to the Paddy Power Gold Cup, perhaps.”
John ‘Shark’ Hanlon has expressed his delight that Cape Gentleman has settled in well to retirement in America.
Owned by Pierre Manigault, the seven-year-old was attempting to follow in the footsteps of Sergeant Murphy, who claimed Grand National glory for Manigault’s great uncle, Stephen ‘Laddie’ Sandford in 1923, when suffering a career-ending injury at Aintree in the spring.
Having struck into himself in between obstacles during the world’s most famous steeplechase, he was immediately transferred to Liverpool Equine Hospital where he began his recuperation, before returning to Hanlon’s County Carlow base to continue his recovery.
He has now headed to South Carolina for what is anticipated will be a long and happy retirement with his owner.
Hanlon said: “It’s brilliant because the man he has gone to in America, a lot of owners wouldn’t have done what he has done. He has minded him like a baby.
“We had him up until about 10 days ago and I want to thank the hospital in Liverpool for the job they did with the horse, they did a great job.
“We got him home about three weeks after the race and myself and all my staff at home, we minded him and have done a great job with him. We’re delighted to get him to America now where he will be retired.
“He’s out enjoying the sun now and that is very important and he’s having a ball. It’s great that Pierre put the money in to save the horse.”
Hanlon has been keen to document Cape Gentleman’s road to recovery via his stable’s social media channels over the past few months, believing it is crucial in combating any negative perceptions of both horse racing and the Grand National itself.
He added: “For that race (Grand National) it is important that these things happen and it is on us to highlight things like this because none of us want the race stopped.”
Last season’s 1000 Guineas heroine Cachet is set to make her eagerly-anticipated return in the Japan Racing Association Sceptre Fillies’ Stakes at Doncaster on Sunday week.
George Boughey’s filly won the Nell Gwyn before returning to the Rowley Mile to claim Classic glory in early May and she was only narrowly denied in the French Guineas a fortnight later.
The Highclere Thoroughbred Racing-owned daughter of Aclaim was fifth in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot the following month and has not been seen in competitive action since, but she is closing in on a comeback from her 15-month hiatus.
“Cachet is in full work, she’s going really well and she looks absolutely magnificent,” said Highclere’s managing director Harry Herbert.
“At the moment, touching wood everywhere, she’s on course to reappear in the Sceptre Stakes at Doncaster on the Sunday of the Leger meeting (September 17).
“She’s wonderful and she’s thriving at the moment. She’s had her setbacks, which she’s well and truly over – we haven’t seen her looking as well since she was in the parade ring before the Guineas.
“Now she’s a mature four-year-old she looks even better, so we’re really excited to see her back in action.”
Cachet holds a Group One entry in the Sun Chariot at Newmarket on October 7, but connections are not making any firm plans beyond her intended Doncaster return.
Herbert added: “We’ll take it one step at a time. She’s been off a long time and it’s not easy getting back to full race fitness after that time, but George is doing his best and she’s really pleasing him.”
Tom Marquand brought up his 1,000th winner in Britain aboard Five Towns at Windsor on Monday evening.
The 25-year-old, who has built up a reputation for being one of the best jockeys around, had already reached that figure in Britain and Ireland but has now reached the milestone on home soil having successfully linked up with a filly appropriately trained by his boss, William Haggas.
Marquand began his career with Richard Hannon in 2014 and only a year later was crowned champion apprentice at the tender age of 18.
His first Group-level success came in 2017 when Anna Nerium landed Salisbury’s Dick Poole Stakes, but he would have to wait until 2020 for his first Group One victory which fittingly came in Australia where Marquand spent plenty of his time honing his craft.
He earned the moniker ‘Aussie Tom’ for his exploits in the Southern Hemisphere and partnered the Haggas-trained Addeybb to three big-race victories in Australia before also combining for Champion Stakes glory at Ascot in 2020.
That triumph came shortly after Marquand landed his first Classic success, as he proved an able late deputy aboard Joseph O’Brien’s Galileo Chrome in the St Leger at Doncaster.
Earlier this year he wrote himself into the Royal Ascot history books when steering Haggas’ Desert Hero to win the King George V Stakes. It was the first time the King and Queen’s colours had been carried to victory at the Royal meeting since the death of the late Queen.
Marquand married fellow jockey Hollie Doyle in 2022, with the pair sitting second and third respectively behind William Buick in this season’s jockeys’ championship.
“It’s fantastic,” Marquand told Sky Sports Racing.
“It takes a lot of horses and lot of people to ride 1,000 winners, so I’m very fortunate to have had that support.”
Officials in Hungary have described Frankie Dettori’s appearance at Kincsem Park at the weekend as a “dream come true” after the Italian stole the show with a big-race double.
Dettori’s visit to Budapest was a somewhat unexpected stop on his farewell tour, but he proved a hit with his Hungarian fans as a bumper crowd flocked to the capital and were treated to not only the 52-year-old in winning action but his famous flying dismount celebration.
It was the first time British raiders had graced the Hungarian track during one of its feature weekends, and owner Fitri Hay’s support of the Autumn International Meeting was rewarded by winning both of the day’s features thanks to the assistance of the retiring weighing-room great.
After winning a local Group Two aboard Ian Williams’ Silent Film, Dettori then linked up Paul and Oliver Cole’s Splendent in the feature Kincsem Stakes – a result which delighted the hosts.
“It could not have gone any better and was a real success,” said Botond Kovacs, international liaisons officer at Kincsem Park.
“The Hays are absolutely marvellous people and they of course were delighted with the outcome of the races and also with our hospitality. I am trying to sound modest but we really did our best and of course Frankie was happy.
“He did not win on the four Hungarian horses he rode, but this is racing, and I do hope it is not the last time we host English-trained horses in Budapest.
“Of course we are looking forward to hosting Frankie when he has retired, we will welcome him with open arms at any time.
“The Hays and the four trainers from England were absolutely fantastic. Even the veteran trainer Paul Cole showed up and that was a real privilege for us. He is a real great name in racing and his family are wonderful people.”
Not only did Dettori delight his adoring Hungarian supporters by showcasing his famed talent in the saddle, he also got up close and personal with the locals as the queue for souvenir photographs stretched far across the grandstands.
Kovacs added: “People were enjoying it and Frankie was being stopped every single second.
“It’s different for a superstar to appear in a country he has never been rather than France, Ireland and England and everyone wanted their selfie with Frankie.
“He really is a superstar and was great, he was never fed up and smiling all the time – he is a great person and racing needs people like Frankie.
“The next task for racing is to try to come up with a person who equals Frankie. Frankie is the brand of horse racing.”
Officials hope the visit of Dettori and horses from Britain will help boost the profile of horse racing in Hungary and anticipate welcoming further runners from overseas in the future.
“It was a dream come true and I am really over the moon. It hasn’t really sunk in yet,” said Kovacs.
“We will have a meeting soon with the management of Kincsem Park to draw some conclusions and see where we can improve, but it really was a historic day for Hungarian racing.
“Horse racing is owned by the government and the minister of defence is in charge. He is a great man and loves his racing – he is a fanatic.
“In the last decade it is no secret there has been probably more downs than ups in Hungarian racing but now there is good prospects and we are really really happy.
“We would like to do our best to lift Hungarian racing to the standards we once had. Hungarian racing is almost 200 years old and we are still here after two world wars and every other type of hardship.”
Believing and Mill Stream have been supplemented to take on Shaquille in the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock on Saturday.
A total of 23 speedsters are in contention for the six-furlong Group One, with the Julie Camacho-trained Shaquille very much the star attraction as he looks to add to his previous top-level wins this summer in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and the July Cup at Newmarket.
The George Boughey-trained Believing and Jane Chapple-Hyam’s Mill Stream are two interesting contenders after their respective connections paid the £20,000 required to add them to the field.
Believing has won two Listed races and a Group Three this season and is one of two potential runners for the Highclere Thoroughbred Racing team along with Karl Burke’s Spycatcher, who was beaten a short head by King Gold in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville last month.
However, the latter appears unlikely to make the trip to Merseyside.
Harry Herbert, Highclere’s managing director, said: “Believing was impressive winning last time and the way she has been since leads George to think she’s improving rapidly.
“Certainly looking at her physically that is exactly what she’s doing, so we looked at all the options for her and felt this was an opportunity to have a crack at a Group One race.
“With ground conditions quickening up it’s possible the field will reduce, but it’s more the way she’s coming into the race and the opinion the trainer has of her.
“She’s very smart and with a filly like this that’s improving, the shareholders were keen to give it a go and it’s very exciting.”
Of Spycatcher, Herbert added: “He’s in great form the horse, but we definitely wouldn’t risk him on quick ground.
“This has been the target for a while now, but it’s highly unlikely that he’ll run looking at the forecast. You never know, if a thunderstorm hits or something happens before declaration time then we may reconsider, but we need to protect him.
“He’s in at Ascot on Champions Day and we’ve got to be patient. He’s a wonderful horse who is improving all the time, but at this stage I’d say we’d struggle to run him on Saturday unless something out of the ordinary happened with regards to the weather forecast.”
Mill Stream won a Listed race and a Group Three at the French track in August and fully merits his place in Group One company.
“Mill Stream has come out of his Deauville race in good order, so we have decided to take the opportunity to run him again while he is good form as there are no other options for him until Champions Day,” said Chapple-Hyam.
Ralph Beckett has left in both Kinross and Lezoo after on Sunday suggesting he is likely to rely upon the latter, while Aidan O’Brien could saddle one or both of Aesop’s Fables and The Antarctic.
Other hopefuls include Ed Bethell’s Regional, the William Haggas-trained Sacred and July Cup runner-up Run To Freedom from Henry Candy’s yard.
Ancient Rome could be set for further adventures overseas having scooped almost £1million when victorious at Kentucky Downs on Saturday.
A four-time winner and fourth behind Modern Games in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains when trained in France by Andre Fabre, the son of War Front is two from two since switched to Charlie Hills for new owner Fitri Hay.
His class came to the fore when landing the Chesterfield Cup at the Qatar Goodwood Festival and he further advertised his qualities when making a successful raid on the Grade Three Mint Millions Stakes.
“It was fantastic and he’s done very little wrong since he has joined us,” said Hills.
“He’s got his good form back again and he had such good form as a two-and three-year-old. He seems to be enjoying himself and travelled over there great.
“It’s great when you have a horse who you know can travel well and it hopefully gives us a few nice races to go for in the future.”
Ancient Rome could now go in search of further riches Stateside, with international outings in both France and Bahrain also possibly on the agenda.
Hills continued: “You have to give full credit to Fitri Hay and her team for finding that race over there and he’s Kentucky-bred so it made sense with that amount of prize-money for a Grade Three to go for it.
“We’ve had a brief chat this morning and we really need to get him home first, but there should be some nice races to go for.
“We could look at the Coolmore Turf Mile at Keeneland or we could go to France for the Prix Dollar and maybe the Bahrain Trophy a little bit later on.
“I’m sure he will get a bit further as well. I don’t see a mile and a quarter being a problem and he’s a really exciting horse to have in the yard, it’s great.”
The only Jamaican junior athlete to ever run under 10 seconds, Bouwahjgie Nkrumie, has signed a professional contract with sports apparel giants Adidas.
Nkrumie, who took silver in the 100m at the 2022 World U20 Championships in Colombia, sent shockwaves through the track & field world when he sped to a national junior record 9.99 to take the Class One Boys 100m title at the ISSA Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls Championships in March.
Unfortunately, the 19-year-old’s season was then interrupted by a hamstring injury he sustained as the Carifta Games just over a week later.
The former Kingston College standout recovered from his injury in time for the National Championships but was, understandably, far from his best.
He ran 10.21 in the heats but failed to get to the final after a 10.39 effort for sixth in his semi-final.
Nkrumie closed out his season with a silver medal at the Pan Am U20 Championships in Puerto Rico in on August 4. His time in the final was 10.31.
Michael Dods will target Qipco British Champions Day with his star filly Azure Blue after ruling her out of a potential outing this weekend.
The four-year-old made a flying start to her campaign, with a comeback victory in Listed company at Newmarket followed by a narrow defeat of Highfield Princess in the Duke of York Stakes.
She was sixth when stepped up to Group One level for the July Cup and subsequently missed an intended tilt at the Nunthorpe at York after suffering a minor foot problem.
Azure Blue could have returned this weekend in either Saturday’s Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock or the Flying Five at the Curragh on Sunday, but Dods has again had to put plans on hold.
“We’ve had a bit of an issue. She seems all right now, but we just didn’t think she’d be ready,” said the Darlington-based trainer.
“She had the foot problem before York and then she had a bit of an ulcer problem and we just had to deal with it.
“We’re happy enough with her, she just wouldn’t have been ready to run this weekend.”
Azure Blue will now either contest the British Champions Sprint on October 21 or be roughed off until next season.
Dods added: “If we didn’t have her for Ascot we probably wouldn’t be bothering, I’d probably leave her and have her ready for the start of next season. That would be the plan.
“It’s disappointing, but there’s always another day and we’ll just have to wait until we see her at 100 per cent.”
Brian Meehan has his eye on the Breeders’ Cup for Inishfallen after his brave second in the Solaria Stakes at Sandown.
The son of Exceed and Excel had won just one of his previous four starts and was sent off at 22-1 for the seven-furlong Group Three event.
However, he took his form to another level under a fine ride from Sean Levey, with the colt enjoying himself on the front-end and then knuckling down to force Charlie Appleby’s Aablan to pull out all the stops when prevailing by a neck.
Encouraged by the career-best performance, his handler is keen to take the youngster to Santa Anita for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in early November, but before that he could appear at Newmarket in the Tattersalls Stakes (September 28) won by Modern Games and Nostrum in the past two seasons.
“I was delighted with him and I thought Sean gave him a great, intelligent ride,” said Meehan.
“He reported after that the ground was dead and that was the beating of him – if the ground had been faster he would have won.
“We might look at the Somerville or ultimately I would say the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. That’s the thoughts at the moment.
“He’s looking good after not too many runs and has a nice profile.”
Christopher Head was left feeling frustrated having seen Big Rock collect another big-race silver medal in the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp.
The talented son of Rock Of Gibralter strung together a four-race winning sequence earlier in the campaign that included a five-length defeat of Champion Stakes-bound Horizon Dore at Chantilly in May.
However, the colt’s successful run came to an end when second to Arc favourite Ace Impact in the Prix du Jockey Club.
He has since dropped back down to a mile, but has again had to settle for the runner-up spot, firstly when bumping into an in-form Inspiral in the Jacques le Marois and then when passed late on by the fast-finishing Sauterne at ParisLongchamp on Sunday.
“He’s very consistent with his performance and is always improving a little bit,” said Head.
“But we have a hard time of course against a horse with a certain turn of foot being on our back and we are always vulnerable to that kind of strategy.
“It is a bit frustrating because he is really worthy of getting a Group One win but he is just missing out for now.”
If connections continue to persevere at the mile distance, Big Rock could be seen at Ascot on Qipco British Champions Day where he holds an entry for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.
However, Head stressed the team are in no rush to make their next move, with the colt’s versatility meaning all options remain on the table.
“I need to speak with Yeguada Centurion (owners) and we will go wherever they want me to go,” continued Head.
“I think he’s pretty versatile and can do pretty much whatever we want and we can adjust strategy accordingly.
“It’s still an option (Ascot) of course and we are considering all options, but it is a bit early to say right now. We would be more than honoured to go there as they are really important races for not just horses but also trainers and owners, it’s a pretty impressive place.”
There is another big weekend on the horizon for both Head and owners Yeguada Centurion as Blue Rose Cen heads to the Prix Vermeille to put her Arc aspirations to the test.
The three-year-old has been the star of Head’s rise up the training ranks, while he also has another high-class proposition waiting in the wings in Ramatuelle.
The daughter of Justify, whose owners include former NBA star Tony Parker, has won three of her five career starts and having been narrowly denied by Vandeek in the Prix Morny has options in both England and America for her next outing.
Head continued: “She is doing fine and everything is OK. We still have both options available for the end of the season – there is the Cheveley Park Stakes and the Breeders’ Cup too – and we are just waiting a little bit to be sure what the owner is wanting to do.”
A trip to Newmarket on September 30 would see Ramatuelle continue to ply her trade over six furlongs.
However, a tilt at the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in Santa Anita would see the precocious youngster step up to a mile, with her handler intrigued to see how she gets on when they stretch the elastic of her stamina.
He added: “There is always the possibility that the filly will stay at three so at some point there will be probably be progression to the distances she is likely to encounter.
“It is very interesting and we can’t wait to try this and see what her limits are.”
Believing and Mill Stream have been supplemented to take on Shaquille in the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock on Saturday.
A total of 23 speedsters are in contention for the six-furlong Group One, with the Julie Camacho-trained Shaquille very much the star attraction as he looks to add to his previous top-level wins this summer in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and the July Cup at Newmarket.
The George Boughey-trained Believing and Jane Chapple-Hyam’s Mill Stream are two interesting contenders after their respective connections paid the £20,000 required to add them to the field.
Believing has won two Listed races and a Group Three this season and is one of two potential runners for the Highclere Thoroughbred Racing team along with Karl Burke’s Spycatcher, who was beaten a short head by King Gold in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville last month.
Mill Stream won a Listed race and a Group Three at the French track in August and fully merits his place in Group One company.
“Mill Stream has come out of his Deauville race in good order, so we have decided to take the opportunity to run him again while he is good form as there are no other options for him until Champions Day,” said Chapple-Hyam.
Ralph Beckett has left in both Kinross and Lezoo after on Sunday suggesting he is likely to rely upon the latter, while Aidan O’Brien could saddle one or both of Aesop’s Fables and The Antarctic.
Other hopefuls include Ed Bethell’s Regional, the William Haggas-trained Sacred and July Cup runner-up Run To Freedom from Henry Candy’s yard.
Patrick Neville is considering options at Down Royal and Newbury for stable star The Real Whacker’s seasonal reappearance.
The seven-year-old enjoyed an excellent novice campaign over fences last term, winning each of his three starts at Cheltenham including a popular Festival success in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.
North Yorkshire-based Neville is confident his pride and joy has returned from a summer break better than ever and is looking forward to seeing him return to competitive action in the autumn.
“He’s done really well over the summer. He came back in around mid-July and he’s back cantering away now and is in great form,” he said.
“He looks well and has developed into a nice horse over the summer. He’s only really a horse now to be honest. He was always lightly-framed but he’s filled into his frame now and is looking fierce well.
“I’ve had Sam Twiston-Davies ringing me up to see how he is and he is looking forward to riding him for the season, all going well.”
Neville is planning to give The Real Whacker just two runs before a return to the Cotswolds in March for a tilt at Cheltenham Gold Cup glory.
He added: “There’s Coral Gold Cup at Newbury (December 2) or Down Royal on early November is another option. There’s a second-season novice chase there that we’ll have a look at.
“You’ve got the King George at Christmas and Cheltenham in January, so we’ll see. We’d be thinking two runs and then the Gold Cup – that’s the plan.”
Rahkeem Cornwall bludgeoned his way to the first CPL ton this season as the Barbados Royals successfully chased 221 runs to complete a remarkable eight-wicket win over the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the 2023 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) on Sunday.
St Kitts and Nevis Patriots won the toss and chose to bat first, and they reaped the rewards as Andre Fletcher and Will Smeed put together the highest opening partnership of this year’s tournament so far, 115 runs, to galvanize their team. A rapid half-century from captain Sherfane Rutherford, from just 24 balls, would then propel the total to 220-4 after 20 overs.
However, Barbados Royals would produce a sensational chase in response, Rahkeem Cornwall leading the way with a 45-ball century to ensure they achieved a stunning eight-wicket victory in front of a home crowd.
It was a sublime batting performance from the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, with Andre Fletcher and Will Smeed guiding their team to 70-0 in the PowerPlay. Their partnership would reach 115 before Rahkeem Cornwall would dismiss them both with his off-spin.
The Patriots continued to try to accelerate the score, and in a tactical move, batter Jyd Goolie was retired out in the 17th over, having scored 22 off 16 balls. Captain Sherfane Rutherford would showcase his destructive abilities, scoring 65 runs in just 27 balls, his innings including five sixes, to allow the Patriots to reach a formidable 220-4 after 20 overs.
Barbados Royals would themselves have an effective PowerPlay; despite losing the wicket of Kyle Mayers, they scored 67 runs in the first six overs of their chase.
Rahkeem Cornwall would launch his way to a 23-ball half century, as the Royals continued to find the boundary after the fielding restrictions were lifted.
Cornwall continued to unleash the big shots as he reached a century in just 45 balls, his first CPL century. Cornwall would retire hurt after reaching 102 runs, but Rovman Powell and Alick Athanaze would see the Royals home, ensuring they won by eight wickets, as they finished on 223-2.
The next leg of the 2023 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) will continue on Tuesday evening as the action reaches Trinidad & Tobago.
Scores: Barbados Royals 223-2 (Cornwall 102, Powell 49*; Bosch 1-29, Drakes 1-34) beat St Kitts and Nevis Patriots 220-4 (Rutherford 65, Smeed 63, Cornwall 2-27, Brathwaite 1-66) by eight wickets.
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