Derby-winning jockey Martin Dwyer has admitted he will not be fit to ride Pyledriver in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes as he continues his recover from a knee injury that has seen him sidelined for 15 months.
The Liverpool-born jockey, who turns 48 on Wednesday, partnered Sir Percy to Epsom Classic glory in 2006 for Marcus Tregoning and was preparing to ride Pyledriver in last year’s Dubai Sheema Classic when hurt riding out for Brian Meehan.
Dwyer severely twisted his knee when a leather iron broke and he suffered a torn ACL in March 2022.
A length recovery process has still not been completed and Dwyer said it was “tough” watching the William Muir and Chris Grassick-trained Pyledriver’s victory in Saturday’s Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.
“I had an operation to remove scar tissue about six weeks ago. It has helped, I’m moving forward. I’m going back to see the surgeon this week and get a bit more of an update,” said Dwyer.
“I got on a rowing machine last week, which was a massive step forward, then my knee swelled up.
“The surgeons are happy and mechanically it is working. He has kind of fixed it, but it is a bit like when you have a horse with an injury. You think, ‘he’s so much better now, we’ll give him a canter,’ but when you canter him he’s lame the next day. That’s where I am, to sum it up.”
Pyledriver was having his first run since his King George success under PJ McDonald last July.
The six-year-old, who had been off the track for 336 days with injury, took his earnings to just shy of £2 million in beating West Wind Blows in Saturday’s Group Two contest.
He has taken his race well, according to Muir, who said: “He’s grand this morning. He’s really good, come out of it like a gazelle. He went up there as good as he did yesterday morning, so I’ve got no bothers there at all.
“He trotted out well, looked a picture and it’s brilliant.”
He now looks set to defend his title on July 29, with McDonald again likely to deputise for Muir’s son-in-law.
“I would love to be fit for the King George, but that’s long odds-against to happen,” said Dwyer.
“It was tough watching again yesterday. I was delighted for the team.
“It was brilliant and great to see him bounce back like that. William has done a great job, as it was touch and go there for a while that the horse would ever run again.
“It was mixed emotions, watching him run, but delighted for everyone.”
Dwyer, who has split his time between providing his expertise as a TV pundit and Lambourn’s Oaksey House rehabilitation centre, is not openly entertaining thoughts of retirement and praised the care he has received.
“Even just to get back to normal life, being able to run for a bus – I’ve been throwing the kitchen sink at it in rehab,” added Dwyer.
“I just have to focus on that and just get back to normal life and walk the dog.
“They are great at Oaksey House. The physios have been superb. Jerry Hill, the BHA doctor, speaks personally to my surgeon, they communicate and try different things, so I could not be better looked after.
“The physio at Oaksey House even came with me to see the surgeon. We are leaving no stone unturned, trying everything and let’s hope it works.”
Connections of Derby third White Birch are eager for another crack at Auguste Rodin in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby next Sunday.
And should all go well at the Curragh, a possible Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe bid may be on the cards.
Trainer John Murphy has floated the idea of a trip to ParisLongchamp in October after seeing plenty of improvement in three runs this term.
The grey landed the Group Three Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown to start his Classic campaign, before a slow-starting, fast-finishing runner-up spot in York’s Dante Stakes.
White Birch tackled a mile and a half for the first time at Epsom where, despite again being slowly away, he made up plenty of ground under Colin Keane to stay on behind Auguste Rodin and King Of Steel in the Betfred Derby.
Murphy is keen to take on the Aidan O’Brien-trained Derby winner again and is a general 5-1 chance to lift the Irish Classic.
“He is in great shape,” said the County Cork-based handler. “I think we are happy enough to have another crack at him. It is going in the right direction.
“I think we fancy our chances. He’s going the right way, definitely. We are going to be looking forward to a very nice run.
“The ground is heading as though there might be some juice in it, which won’t bother him either. He’ll have no bother with ground – he’s very versatile ground-wise.
“I think that would inconvenience others more than him, because in the trial (Ballysax) it was heavy.”
Owned by Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez, the strapping son of Ulysses is expected to improve as he matures and a possible tilt at the Arc could be in the offing at the end of the season.
“He has been a bit unlucky in the Dante and the Derby,” Murphy added. “He could do with winning a big one, which would be lovely for us all.
“It would just completely turn around our profile maybe. It would put a smile on everybody’s face for sure and a pep in the step.
“And I’ve no doubt he will improve with age, given his physique. He is a big horse, he’s getting stronger. I’ve not any doubt he will improve.
“He is in the Champion Stakes and I think he is going to be put into the Arc. We’ll see how he progresses. We will discuss it with the owners and we’ll see what they want to do, but we’re really looking forward to next weekend first.”
Ollie Sangster could look to York’s Ebor Festival in August with Royal Ascot third Inquisitively.
The Ten Sovereigns colt was beaten just under four lengths by Big Evs in Wednesday’s Windsor Castle Stakes, having previously finished a narrow second on his only other start at Windsor last month.
While the Group Three Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood on August 2 could come into the equation, Sangster is also eyeing a Listed contest at York on August 26 with a maiden stop-off another possibility along the way.
“We were very happy and delighted (with his Ascot run),” said Sangster.
“You never know what to expect, but the horse was in really good form, so we were hopeful of a positive run first time there. To finish third was great, we were delighted with that.
“He’s come out of the race in good form and we’ll hopefully now just work back from nice targets.
“The Molecomb is an obvious one but I think the winner is going there and he looks like a good horse and there’s a race at York called the Julia Graves (Roses Stakes) which is a Listed race over five. Further down the line there is races like the Flying Childers, but for now that is a way off.
“He’s still a maiden so we’ll work it out and we might just tick that off in the meantime, but there will be a couple of nice targets for him hopefully.
“It’s nice not just for me but also for the team, we don’t have a huge amount of horses but it’s nice to hopefully have a half-decent one.”
George Baker is eyeing up a tilt at the Sky Bet Ebor with Cemhaan following his gallant effort in the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot.
The six-year-old has been somewhat of a stable star for Baker, winning five of his 18 starts since joining the the Robins Farm handler from John Gosden in 2020 and this year competing at the Royal meeting for the second successive season.
He bettered last year’s seventh in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes, with a fine effort to finish third in the opening day’s concluding contest – a run which can be marked up given the impressive nature of the winner Vauban and the fact Cemhaan only lost second in the dying strides when pipped to the runner-up spot by another Willie Mullins-trained runner, Absurde.
“It was a wonderful run,” said Baker.
“I thought a leg had fallen off because he drifted so much. I genuinely thought he was around a 20-1 chance and to see him on the boards at 66-1, you do wonder if a leg has actually fallen off.
“He ran a hell of a race and he has been a star for us. He’s been in great form recently and Pat Cosgrave gave him a lovely ride. Pat said he would have been second if he hadn’t had to commit to chase the mighty Vauban which just paid in the last 20 yards and we got done for second, but it was a huge run and we were clear of rest.
“Take out the annoying Mr Mullins – who luckily is a mate of mine – and we have won the race really nicely.”
Delighted with his charge’s performance, Baker now feels the £500,000 Ebor on August 26 is the obvious long-term target for his ever-improving son of Muhaarar and options ahead of the valuable York contest include possible trips to Germany and France next month, or even an early sighter of the Knavesmire in the John Smith’s Cup on July 15.
He continued: “We’ve got much to look forward to and the Ebor would be the obvious plan. We’ll revolve the season around that.
“He’s in a Group race in Germany in July and he’s in the John Smith’s Cup which is back to a mile and a quarter, but I think this horse is pretty flexible and a mile and a quarter up to one-mile-six and maybe even further is fine for him.
“For now, all roads lead to the Ebor and if we have a run in July, we may sneak over to Germany or France for a Group race. That may make sense as some of those sometimes do cut up between festivals.
“He’s an exciting horse and we’re lucky to have him.”
Jelena Ostapenko won her second title on grass with victory over Barbora Krejcikova in the final of the Rothesay Classic in Birmingham.
In a battle of the top two seeds, it was the second seed who came out on top, with Ostapenko triumphing 7-6 (8) 6-4.
It was the Latvian’s first title since Dubai last February and her first on grass since Eastbourne in 2021.
Ostapenko clinched a very tight first set on her fourth set point in the tie-break after saving one chance for Krejcikova and moved to the brink of victory at 5-1 in the second set.
Czech Krejcikova, who will return to the top 10 on Monday, threatened a comeback, winning three games in a row, but Ostapenko made it across the line.
“She’s a really great player and congrats to her and her team,” said the 26-year-old, who has survived several close battles this week.
“I was really close from 5-1 to 5-4 but then I managed somehow and I’m really, really happy about it. I was fighting every match. I played five great matches, this was the only match in two sets. It’s a great preparation for Wimbledon and there’s still a couple of things I can do better.”
Krejcikova, who was playing her first final on grass, did not drop a set until the final and felt losing the first-set tie-break was crucial to the outcome.
“She’s playing well,” said the top seed. “I’m disappointed but that’s tennis. (The tie-break) was maybe the key to the match because when you play the first set that long and you are up, down, up, down all the time – I was very unfortunate.
“I definitely had a great week. It was really nice to be here, I really enjoyed it. It’s special to play on a centre court and to enjoy the support. I’m definitely looking forward to coming back.”
Carlos Alcaraz secured his first grass-court title and top billing at Wimbledon with victory over Alex De Minaur in the final of the cinch Championships.
The 20-year-old Spaniard overtook Novak Djokovic as world number one, and confirmed he will be a major contender to take the Serbian’s crown at SW19 next month, with a commanding 6-4 6-4 win at Queen’s Club.
Alcaraz was playing only his third ever grass-court tournament, and his first outside of two underwhelming visits to Wimbledon.
In his first match he needed a third-set tie-break to get past French journeyman Arthur Rinderknech, but as the week wore on he grew in confidence on the surface and by Sunday looked to the manor born.
Alcaraz will now be top seed at Wimbledon and, on this evidence, has a genuine chance to emulate compatriot Rafael Nadal, who won at Queen’s in 2008 and went on to claim the big one three weeks later.
A break of serve in each set proved enough to overcome Australian number one De Minaur, who competed well but had no answer to the pace and power of the favourite.
For example when De Minaur, 24, created the match’s first break point, at 4-3 in the opener, Alcaraz simply rolled out a 137mph ace.
A high-quality first set swung the way of the top seed when De Minaur sent a backhand wide, and then a forehand long, to gift Alcaraz the break.
The youngster from Murcia wrapped up the 49-minute set with an ace before taking a medical time-out for treatment on his right thigh.
Whatever the issue was, it did not seem to bother Alcaraz too much as he forced another break point at 2-2 in the second – and De Minaur picked the worst possible time to throw in a first double fault.
Victory was confirmed when De Minaur’s return floated long and Alcaraz celebrated an 11th career title, and surely the first of many on the lawns of London.
Alcaraz said: “It means a lot to have my name on the trophy. It was special to play here where so many legends have won. To see my name surrounded by the great champions is amazing.
“I started the tournament not very well, especially my movement on the grass, but it’s been an amazing week.”
De Minaur had been hoping to match his British girlfriend Katie Boulter, who won a first career title in Nottingham last weekend, but he just came up short.
He said: “It’s been a great week for me. We were close but I wasn’t quite able to get it done. Too good from Carlos.”
Classic-winning filly Mawj will remain sidelined for the time being after missing her intended clash with Tahiyra in the Coronation Stakes due to a dirty scope.
The Saeed bin Suroor-trained three-year-old defeated Tahirya in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, before Dermot Weld’s star took the Irish equivalent at the Curragh.
Tahiyra landed Friday’s Coronation Stakes with a comfortable length to spare over Remarquee at Royal Ascot, with Bin Suroor an interested bystander.
He said: “It was a good performance from the winner. She did it impressively.
“It was a shame Mawj could not run, but we are not going to force her to run when she is not well.
“She will take a break now and have some time to recover.
“She has a bad infection in her chest and once she is ready, we will start her work again. Once she starts her work, then we will have a look at the options.”
Mawj wintered in Dubai and the daughter of Exceed And Excel won both the seven-furlong Jumeirah Fillies Classic and mile Fillies Guineas before taking the Newmarket Classic by half a length on her return to Britain, her fifth win in eight starts.
The popular Godolphin handler says she is likely to return to Dubai at the end of her Classic season, but added: “We will have a race for her before she leaves for Dubai. Once she starts work, then we will find a race for her. It could be in the UK or abroad.”
Though Bin Suroor saddled Live Your Dream to finish third in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes, he was not too disappointed after missing the target at this year’s Royal meeting.
He said: “Ascot was good. It is the best meeting in the world. The horses that run there over the five days, they are the best.
“There are millions and millions of people worldwide watching these races. It is royal racing – it is great. There is no other meeting like it in the world.”
Bin Suroor hopes that he will make his mark at Newmarket’s July meeting and added: “We have some for that meeting, but I hope the ground won’t be too firm.”
Hukum, who bypassed Royal Ascot because of the fast ground, will now be aimed at the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Trainer Owen Burrows decided to withdraw Sandown’s Brigadier Gerard winner from the Hardwicke Stakes, after the ground tightened up throughout the week.
Hukum beat last season’s Derby winner Desert Crown in his scintillating return to action following a year off, having sustained a potentially career-ending hind-leg fracture during his victory in last year’s Coronation Cup at Epsom.
Connections felt they did not want to risk him in the race won by last year’s King George hero Pyledriver.
However, Shadwell’s longstanding racing manager Angus Gold is keen to take on the Hardwicke winner in the 12-furlong highlight on July 29.
“Hukum will run if and when we get some rain,” said Gold. “It was a touch and go situation yesterday.
“We were longing to run him, but Owen just felt in the end that while we could run him and he could win it, he might come back a bit sore after it and we’d all look silly.
“We kept him in training and spent a lot of time getting him right again after his injury last year and he just felt it was too big a risk. It is frustrating but sensible.
“Very much the idea is the King George. If the ground was good or even if it was good to firm, we might have to take a chance. That’s the big day. We will see how we are going nearer the time.”
Meanwhile, Burrows’ Prix d’Ispahan winner Anmaat is being primed for the Coral-Eclipse on Saturday week, although Prince of Wales’s Stakes hero Mostahdaf will swerve the race.
Gold said: “We had a winner which was a very important winner. Touch wood, Mostahdaf has come out of it very good. I spoke to John Gosden yesterday and he says he is bouncing.
“John is absolutely right and said that we know this horse is good fresh. He has run plenty of horses back two weeks later, thinking you have had plenty of time, and they come out and run flat.
“Particularly as we have done that with Al Asifah, I think we will be sitting still with Mostahdaf and hopefully get him to York in the same form in August.”
He added: “The Eclipse is off the cards for Mostahdaf. We still have Anmaat in, ground permitting. If he’s in good form and conditions look suitable, hopefully we will go there with him.”
Promising three-year-old filly Al Asifah, who won her first two starts, including a runaway success in a Listed 10-furlong contest at Goodwood earlier this month, will be held back after a disappointing sixth to Warm Heart when odds-on for the Ribblesdale Stakes on Thursday.
Supplemented for the Group Two contest for her first try over 12 furlongs, just 11 days after her second start, she raced wide but did not pick up when jockey Jim Crowley asked the question.
Gold said: “Everyone has different opinions on Al Asifah, but to me she was just flat.
“Jim said he was never really happy with her, never really comfortable. I see all the experts saying she didn’t stay – she wouldn’t have won at a mile and a quarter.
“I don’t care what anybody says, at Goodwood she ran right through the line and here she was struggling from two out.
“She had only had two runs before, but she was just a bit more on her toes before. It was only 11 days after her previous run and everything has happened quite quickly for her. It could be a combination of things, but for me, she didn’t run her race.
“When you see how she picked up and ran through the line at Goodwood, she didn’t pick up and run anywhere at Ascot. It was fairly obvious it wasn’t the same run.
“We’ll give her a break now and get her back in the autumn. I still think she will be a very nice filly. We haven’t even discussed targets. We will give her some gentle downtime, three weeks or so, then bring her back and take it from there.”
Similarly, Mutasaabeq, who won the Group Two bet365 Mile at Newmarket on his return to action before a three-length defeat in the Lockinge at Newbury, will be given more time after finishing with just one behind him in the Queen Anne Stakes on Tuesday.
“Mutasaabeq is a funny horse,” Gold said of the Charlie Hills-trained five-year-old. “He runs well fresh.
“We tried to hang on to him this time to see if that helped, but it almost seemed he sulked and just went nowhere.
“We’ll see what there is for him, but we will just give him a bit of time now. He’s had three runs relatively quickly, but he’s the sort of horse who could easily come out and win another Group Two later in the year.”
Adrian Murray is targeting further big-race success having got on the Royal Ascot scoreboard with Valiant Force in the Norfolk Stakes.
The Irish handler saddled only three runners at the Royal meeting and as well as Valiant Force’s shock 150-1 Norfolk triumph, Murray also saw Bucanero Fuerte run with real credit in the opening day’s Coventry Stakes to finish third.
Both two-year-olds are owned by Amo Racing and are now set to be campaigned at the highest level, with the Breeders’ Cup highlighted as the long-term aim for Valiant Force having provided Kia Joorabchian’s racing operation with their long-awaited first winner at the summer’s big meeting.
“I couldn’t believe he was 150-1,” said Murray. “I was drawing a line completely through his last run as he ran no race at all that day and with his form with His Majesty before that, I felt he had a right chance.
“He’s probably going to be aimed at the Breeders’ Cup now in November. He will more than likely run before then but having talked to the owner he is keen to go there, so that will be our big target for him.
“He’s a horse with a lot of speed, so I would say we will stick to five furlongs for the time being.”
With Valiant Force being pointed towards America, it could be left to Bucanero Fuerte to fly the flag on home soil with the son of Wootton Bassett set to continue plying his trade in Group company.
Although the GAIN Railway Stakes on July 2 may come too soon for the improving colt, a trip to the Curragh could be on the cards for the Group One Keeneland Phoenix Stakes later in the summer on August 12.
“He’s a really nice horse and I think he’s going to be a really good horse down the road, there’s lots of improvement to come from him yet,” continued Murray.
“He might go for a Group One at the Curragh, but we will need to sit down and have a discussion. He’s entered for a couple of Group Ones but it might be the Phoenix Stakes for him. He’s entered in all the good races anyway, but we’re not going to rush him though.”
Reflecting on Bucanero Fuerte’s Coventry run when third to Aidan O’Brien’s River Tiber, he added: “I would say if he was able to have got a tow into the race longer, he might have got closer the other day.
“I don’t know if he would have beaten the winner or not, but it would have been more helpful for him. It was just the way the race went for him, he was in front and went idle a bit, he was a bit green. But there should be lots more improvement to come from him.”
As well as providing his big-name owner with a Royal Ascot victory, it was the biggest success of Murray’s training career in its own right – something that the Westmeath-based trainer is still coming to terms with.
“It’s been fabulous and I can’t complain, it’s been a great week,” he said.
“It still hasn’t sunk in. You go there with great chances and you can still get beat, it’s a tough game. But we were delighted with the week.”
His close friend John Gosden put it best – Frankie Dettori has taken the blows and still come out on top.
The Newmarket trainer will be in his corner for the duration of the Italian’s long farewell season, as he has been throughout.
Bookmakers may have dodged a few body blows at Ascot, yet the lush green strip of Berkshire turf, the scene of his 1996 ‘Magnificent Seven’, has always been Dettori’s favourite area.
A Gold Cup and three further winners made it 81 career victories at Royal Ascot, the most prestigious of meetings.
Gosden knows exactly what the week meant to the 52-year-old.
He said: “It was a huge week for him. He was very, very keen to go out at the top, not to become suddenly this sad, unwanted figure.”
Epsom and Royal Ascot are the only Flat events that really matter to those with an idle interest in the sport. Victory in the Coronation Cup and the Oaks had given the Italian the spotlight he thrives upon.
Ascot Gold Cup glory aboard inexperienced partner Courage Mon Ami ticked the second box and will surely have been enough to secure him a BBC Sports Personality of the Year nomination at the very least.
Dettori’s career, the highs and lows, the ecstasy, showmanship and mood swings, is well documented.
What is not, is the important part he has played behind the scenes for Gosden and his son Thady, who will some day take over at Clarehaven.
“We have had a lot of fun together, from 1993-94 onwards, we’ve had a lot of fun,” said Gosden senior.
“When he arrived on my doorstep during the first year and he’d shaved his head, I thought he’d sent his cousin!
“Three years champion jockey, then the Godolphin job, then that ended. He was knocking around a bit.
“In 2008 he won a Breeders’ Cup Classic (with Raven’s Pass) for me – that is not easily forgotten, between the end of Godolphin and the beginning of our run.
“William (Buick) went to Godolphin and then we’ve had an absolute ball since then, from Golden Horn (winning the Derby) on through with Enable and all those fabulous horses.”
Gosden was there for him when things went sour at Godolphin, when he was handed a six-month suspension after a failed a drug test in France, when he was at his lowest.
“If you check the stats, he had a terrible year with 16 winners,” added the trainer, referring to his annus horribilis in 2013, after which he renewed his partnership. “He knows what it’s like to be shoved into the twilight zone.”
Every low point, the omnipresent Gosden was the father figure, sometimes stern, sometimes frustrated, always adoring, unwavering in the belief that Dettori’s ability could overcome any pitfalls.
They have had their ups and down, of course. Just 12 months ago, all was not well during a terrible Ascot, capped by Stradivarius’ defeat in the Gold Cup.
Arguably, he received a thinly-veiled kick up the backside from Gosden for his work ethic, though the trainer refutes that.
“After his lean spell, he just came to me and had nice horses to ride and we worked together as a team. He never ever needed that (kick up the backside). Every marriage has its ebbs and flows and last year was no different. It was quickly forgotten.”
The last two Royal meetings could arguably be a microcosm of Dettori’s career.
There is another six months of the final chapter to write, yet the Gold Cup – his ninth – could be the crowning moment, two days after picking up a nine-day careless riding ban aboard the King and Queen’s Saga in the Wolferton Stakes.
The story of this year’s renewal? To some, it will be this – has a Gold Cup winner ever been given a cooler or more stylish ride? Until a few strides before the final furlong, Dettori did not visibly move a muscle.
He kidded the free-going Courage Mon Ami round the final turn, saving ground, and while for a split second it looked as if the bird – Coltrane – had flown, the imperious Dettori waited, daringly switching left under two furlongs out.
Such was his ease of success in the end, it seemed as if the first time he took his hands off the reins was to thrust a right-hand skywards in a triumphant salute. That was not the case, of course. It took plenty of guile and muscle for the rider to redress the deficit.
If Gosden was surprised the four-year-old, with just three previous runs, had won, his emotions were the polar opposite for the ride, a gift honed on those oft-cold winter mornings on the gallops.
“You give him nice horses, have him come in the morning, discuss the horses, he is a fabulous judge as a work-rider. Not all jockeys are like that,” revealed Gosden.
“Great judge, Frankie. Gives you a very good idea of where you are going, where you are not going. He’s quick to feel that.
“It is one of his great assets is as a jockey in the morning. The afternoon is one thing, but the morning is fantastic. It is the intuition, feel and experience he has with horses. The feel, the instinctive feel – he has that.
“His father was champion jockey, his mother came from an amazing circus family, he was bred to be a phenomenal athlete. It’s great, it was just that time before he joined me again in 2015 when it wasn’t pleasant to witness.
“But now he’s through, we’ve had a wonderful run. We’ve had some great fun. He’s had a great Ascot and it’s great to go out and walk away carrying all the belts, not being on the bottom of the canvas.”
Equinox made a blistering return to action, coming with a scything run to land the Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin racecourse on Sunday.
The Japanese star was sent off a hot favourite on his first start since romping to a wide-margin success in the Dubai Sheema Classic in March.
That three-and-a-half-length victory over Westover at Meydan established the Tetsuya Kimura-trained Equinox as the top horse on the planet according to the Longines World Best Racehorse standings.
On his return, Christophe Lemaire was patient towards the rear of the 17-strong field in the 11-furlong Grade One contest and was still at the back of the pack turning for home, having suffered a wide trip.
Yet the son of Kitasan Black always travelled sweetly and cruised into the lead approaching the final furlong.
Though he had just a neck to spare from outsider Through Seven Seas, the official margin was no reflection of the dominant performance, with his French rider having to pose few questions of the colt.
“Though we were unable get a good position toward the front due to the fast pace at the beginning, the horse was relaxed in the rear and I wasn’t worried at all,” said Lemaire.
“As the inner track condition was not so good, we made bid from the outside early and turned wide to the straight, where he stretched really well.
“Hanshin’s inner course is tricky and (the) Takarazuka Kinen is a difficult race to win, even for champion horses, so I’m very happy that I was able to win the race with the number one horse in the World’s Best Racehorse Rankings. I realised again how strong he is. I hope to win more big races with him in the autumn.”
Equinox was completing his fourth successive top-class success, having previously taken the Tenno Sho and Arima Kinen last year before his Sheema Classic success.
Victory gives the four-year-old automatic entry to both the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley later this year, and the Breeders’ Cup Turf. It is unlikely that Equinox will be seen by British racegoers, however.
Nick Smith, Ascot’s director of racing and public affairs, poured cold water any thoughts of the possibility he could turn up the Berkshire track.
He said: “Sadly, the Japanese do not appear that interested in coming over. It is a shame, but we will still continue to strive to attract the best international runners to Ascot.”
Chicago Cubs pitcher Marcus Stroman is confident Major League Baseball has the right ingredients to go global with more marquee international events like this weekend’s London Series against the St Louis Cardinals.
Stroman will start Sunday’s second contest of the two-game series at London Stadium, with the Cubs targeting a sweep of their bitter National League Central rivals after Justin Steele picked up a 9-1 win in Saturday’s opener.
The 32-year-old is one of the sport’s most dynamic and expressive personalities both on and off the mound, resulting in the alliterative moniker ‘the Stro Show’ for his starts – the last seven of which have ended in wins.
Stroman, who on Saturday was described by manager David Ross as “the MVP of our team” who “loves the spotlight”, had never visited the English capital before this trip and said it has opened his eyes to Major League Baseball’s international reach.
Asked if MLB could be embraced globally, Stroman told the PA news agency: “Absolutely I think we can. It’s just a matter of marketing our players and putting us on this stage so that the world can kind of see.
“Yeah, I would love to continue playing in all the cities around the world. I think it’s pretty special. I think you also realise how many fans we have worldwide, whereas when we stay in America you kind of lose sight of that.”
Stroman made his big-league debut in May 2014 for the Toronto Blue Jays, the only MLB franchise outside the United States.
An anterior cruciate ligament tear sustained in spring training the following year denied him a coveted hometown opening-day start at Yankee Stadium, with many assuming he would miss the entire season.
But Stroman saw an opportunity in the rehab stint, using it to do something he had long been determined to accomplish: finish his undergraduate degree in sociology at Duke university, sandwiching four to five hours of classes between training sessions.
That September Stroman made his avowed miracle comeback, returning just in time to help Toronto secure a first trip to the post-season in 22 years.
At 5ft 8in, ‘Stro’, whose personal motto is ‘height doesn’t measure heart’ stands below the MLB average of about 6ft and, from an early age was fuelled to disprove the coaches, peers and pundits who wrote him off because of his stature.
Stroman’s success combined with an eternally optimistic, heart-on-his-sleeve personality has endeared the pitcher to fans in Chicago since he signed a three-year deal worth a reported USD 71million in 2021.
Supporters want the Cubs to sign Stroman to an extension – a point they made abundantly clear at a rally in London by chanting his name at chairman Tom Ricketts.
Stroman is aware of his seven-game streak, but insisted he will not approach Sunday’s start differently, saying: “I just prepare really well and I go out there at the end of the day whatever happens happens, so I do all I can to prepare and then go out there and compete and have fun.”
Ross does not underestimate the potentially valuable impact his equally talented and entertaining Sunday starter could have as MLB tries to convert curious Britons into to bona-fide fans.
He said: “Come out and see the Stro Show. It’s going to be fun. He’s one of the best pitchers in the league. He’s carried us. He’s been our ace. He loves the moment.
“He’s going to be a star on the big stage, you’re definitely going to get that. He’s a guy that loves the spotlight and rises to the occasion when things matter.
“He’s been our MVP of our team, I would say. If the fans want entertainment, definitely show up. They’re going to get a good show.”
Joey Barton was stripped of the QPR captaincy on this day in 2012.
The midfielder was sent off during Manchester City’s dramatic final-day 3-2 win over QPR in May – which saw them win the title with Sergio Aguero’s last-gasp goal.
He was sent off by referee Mike Dean after elbowing Carlos Tevez and, as he left the pitch, Barton kicked Sergio Aguero before aiming a headbutt at Vincent Kompany.
He was fined six weeks’ wages, on top of a £75,000 fine from the Football Association and was given a 12-match ban from the FA.
Barton said: “My behaviour was wrong and I accept the punishment that has been imposed upon me as a result. I apologise to the manager, my team-mates and of course the QPR fans for my actions. I also apologise to the Manchester City players, staff and supporters.”
The current Bristol Rovers manager was loaned out to Marseille the following season but stayed at Loftus Road until 2015, making 99 appearances, before joining Burnley.
He also played for Rangers and returned to Burnley to finish his playing career in 2017.
In 2018, he was named Fleetwood manager before becoming Rovers boss in 2021.
Mike Trout, Brandon Drury and Matt Thaiss hit home runs on consecutive pitches to open a 13-run third inning and the Los Angeles Angels pounded out a franchise-record 28 hits in a 25-1 drubbing of the Colorado Rockies.
Hunter Renfroe and Mickey Moniak each went 5 for 5 with four RBIs and David Fletcher had four hits and five RBIs as part of the biggest scoring output in Angels history.
The Angels scored 24 runs in a win over the Toronto Blue Jays on August 25, 1979.
Every Angels' starter had at least two hits except major league home run leader Shohei Ohtani, who went 1 for 7.
After Trout, Drury and Thaiss went deep off starter Chase Anderson, the Angels went on to score 10 more runs in the inning on seven more hits, capped by Moniak’s two-run homer.
The Angels piled on eight more runs in the fourth inning to become the only major league team in the modern era (since 1900) to score 20 or more runs over a span of two innings.
Drury and Thaiss singled home runs and Renfroe had an RBI double before Moniak delivered a two-run double. Fletcher’s three-run homer made it 23-0.
The Rockies avoided the shutout on Brenton Doyle’s home run in the eighth inning.
Braves hold on to end Reds’ 12-game winning streak
Travis d’Arnaud homered for one of his four hits and the Atlanta Braves held on for a 7-6 victory, ending the Cincinnati Reds’ 12-game winning streak on Saturday.
Ozzie Albies, Matt Olson and Marcell Ozuna also went deep for the National League-best Braves, who rebounded from Friday’s loss to win for the ninth time in 10 games and improve to 16-4 in June.
The Reds’ 12-game streak tied for the longest in the franchise’s modern era and was one shy of matching the 1890 team’s 13-game run. The 1899 Reds won 14 straight.
Cincinnati also hit four home runs, the final two coming in the bottom of the ninth inning. Jake Fraley and Will Benson took Raisel Iglesias deep to make it a one-run game but the Atlanta closer regrouped and struck out Matt McLain and Jonathan India – both on changeups - to end it.
Cubs rout Cardinals in London
Ian Happ hit two home runs, Justin Steele struck out eight in six strong innings and the Chicago Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 9-1 to open the teams’ two-game set in London.
With a crowd of 54,662 filling London Stadium, the Cubs improved to 9-1 over their last 10 games and moved to within a game of .500 (37-38).
Happ hit solo home runs in the second and third innings, and Dansby Swanson hit a two-run shot in the ninth to provide insurance.
The combination of title-chasing jockey, Reyan Lewis and champion trainer, Jason DaCosta was once again the dominant force, as they accounted for the most wins on Saturday's 10-race card, including fleet-footed filly She's My Destiny in the Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL) 22nd Anniversary Trophy feature.
Lewis, who started the day on 50 wins, extended his lead atop the jockeys' standings with a dazzling four-timer that pushed him 16 wins ahead of closest pursuer Tevin Foster, three of those winners were saddled by DaCosta, who surpassed 200-career wins at Caymanas Park.
After DaCosta secured the milestone when Lewis piloted Tekapunt to five and a half-length victory over six-and-a-half furlong (1,300m) in the fifth event, the duo made it a quick two-in-two with three-year-old bay filly MPRS Links, who won by a head in a maiden condition race over seven furlongs (1,400m).
The natural hat-trick was completed in fine style by She’s My Destiny, who romped the three-year-olds and upwards Graded Stakes/Open Allowance contest over five-and-a-half furlongs (1,100m) by three and a quarter length.
She's My Destiny, a five-year-old chestnut mare made amends for a dismal fifth place behind stablemates I Am Fred, King Arthur, and Miniature Man in the Distinctly Irish Trophy on June 3, after being stretched out to nine furlongs and 25 yards (1,820m).
Though she was uncharacteristically slow out of the gates on this occasion, Lewis quickly got the filly into her running in the small six-horse field, and before long she was breathing down the neck of leader Yellowstone (Jordan Barrett).
However, it wasn't until the straightened in the homestretch that S&A Syndicate-owned She’s My Destiny hit top stride and easily swept by Yellowstone before pulling away for a comfortable win in the end. She stopped the clock in a decent 1:06.2, behind splits of 23.2 and 46.2 seconds.
King Arthur (Javaniel Patterson) and Miniature Man (Abigail Able), also from DaCosta's stables, were second and third respectively, with Yellowstone fading into fourth.
Lewis then added another to his tally when he booted home the Gregg Fennell-conditioned Ras Emanuel in the eighth event. Fennell, who was registering his second career win as a trainer, previously worked with DaCosta as his assistant.
Meanwhile, former champion jockey Anthony Thomas had a double, winning the last two events aboard Joyful for Patrick Lynch and Essential Quality for Oral Hayden. Lynch earlier won the first event with Traditional Lady ridden by Patterson.
Racing continues on Sunday with another 10-race card. First post is at 11:45 am.
Chicago Cubs pitcher Justin Steele heaped praise on the 54,662 supporters who packed London Stadium to see his side cruise to a 9-1 victory over bitter division rivals the St Louis Cardinals.
The Cubs’ bats handed starter Steele, who struck out eight and gave up one run across six innings, a comfortable lead and were up 7-0 after four innings on a humid evening that also saw outfielder Ian Happ hit two home runs.
Saturday’s attendance exceeded the capacity of most Major League Baseball stadia, and Steele delighted in how strongly the fans – or in some cases the baseball-curious wearing blue – got behind his team.
He said: “It’s something I’ll never forget. Truly special. It felt like everybody was on the mound there with me, really exciting energy. It was really cool to cap it off like that, punch out the side, it was really cool, and I just can’t say enough about the atmosphere.”
Steele’s comments will be music to the ears of MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, who on Friday said positive player experiences in series like these will be central to whether or not the league returns to places like London following their final scheduled contest on these shores in 2026.
That is the same year the MLB’s current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) expires, with international series once again set to be one of the topics on the table with the players’ association.
The pace of this London Series opener was likely a relief to fans and organisers alike after the first-ever MLB game in London, 2019’s 17-13 slugfest between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, lasted a near record-breaking four hours and 42 minutes.
Outfield fences were pushed further back for this contest, which ended after a comparatively brief two hours and 40 minutes, capped off for the Cubs by shortstop Dansby Swanson’s two-run homer in the top of the ninth.
Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt made history in London by becoming the first player in MLB history to play in five different countries, and also ended the evening the lone Card to have picked up a run batted in (RBI) in England.
Cubs manager David Ross admitted there was uncertainty about how the effects of crossing the pond would affect his team, and was delighted by their efforts on unfamiliar turf.
He said: “I think some of the nerves are gone from the group, especially from my seat where you’re not sure how guys are going to feel with all the travel and everything.
“They go out there and the bats did what they did, I thought it was a really nice performance top to bottom from our line-up, they did a phenomenal job. Happer getting us started off with a homer just kind of lets everybody relax a little bit and still be great.”
Ross’ side remain in third place in the division, so they will be eagerly eyeing up a chance to sweep the division’s bottom-dwelling Cardinals when the series concludes on Sunday.
He is also looking forward to the unique experience of hearing ‘go Cubs go’ chanted in England for a second successive day.
“That sounded good,” he enthusiastically agreed. “That’s the first thing that stood out to me. It was nice and loud. I hope someday I’ll get to watch that on video somewhere tonight or tomorrow. Hopefully we’ll hear it again tomorrow.”
Aaron Judge’s return to the New York Yankees’ lineup may be further away than previously thought.
Just two days after the Yankees said the reigning American League MVP would be resuming baseball activities this weekend, Judge tempered expectations of an imminent return and said he is dealing with a torn ligament in his right great toe.
“I'm not giving you any timeline,” Judge said before Saturday’s game against the Texas Rangers. “There's no need. I've just got to get better and then I'll be out there.”
Judge told reporters Saturday that the uncommon nature of the injury makes it difficult to predict when he will be back on the field.
“I don’t think too many people have torn a ligament in their toe,” Judge said. “If it was a quad we’d have a better answer. If it’s an oblique or hamstring we got timelines for that. With how unique this injury is and it being my back foot which I push off of and run off of, it’s a tough spot.”
Judge injured his toe on June 3 while crashing into the outfield wall at Dodger Stadium after catching a fly ball.
The AL home run king worked out in a pool this week and had inquired about on-field work, leading to the club’s optimism.
“It’s something I mentioned to the training staff: I want to test it out a little bit,” Judge said. “Maybe play catch, maybe take some dry swings. I just kind of see where it’s at.
“I really wouldn’t say it’s me running on the field and or doing a lot of baseball activity. It’s more me being passive saying, `We’ve done a lot of stuff in here. We’re making some great progress. Let’s test with what I’m going to be actually doing on the field.'”
Judge slugged an American League-record 62 home runs in 2022, the first season of a nine-year, $360million contract. His 19 home runs this season were one short of the major league lead when he was injured.
Judge, a four-time All-Star, leads baseball with 235 home runs since his first full season in the majors in 2017.
New York is 16-26 over the last two seasons when Judge is on the injured list.
Jamaica has turned heads early of the 2023 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship, starting 2-0 in Pool C with a disciplined approach that has worn its opponents down.
Jamaica finished 13th in the 2018 Men’s Championship in Israel, and is one of the fastest growing teams in the game, with the U21 men’s team finishing in the top 10 in the junior championship in Limerick, Ireland in 2022.
This team had to earn its spot in San Diego through Pan-American Lacrosse Association Qualifying, but it passed that test with ease and has been assembling a squad designed to keep pace with many of the rising powers in men’s lacrosse.
Now, the pieces are starting to come together at the right time with a team featuring eight returners from 2018, six players from the U21 team, and a coaching staff helmed by Mark Wilson, who was an assistant in 2018 and in the PALA qualifier.
It showed in the opening game, a 5-3 slugfest against Germany, which finished ninth in 2018. Jamaica’s defense was physical and forced Germany into uncomfortable shots.
“A lot of it is trust,” said defender Tony Diallo, who plays collegiately in the United States in the NCAA Division I at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
Jamaica’s defense is bolstered by Goran Murray, an All-American at the University of Maryland in 2014, Channing Thomas an NAIA All-American at Keiser University in 2019 and goalkeeper Nate McPeak, who played at Syracuse University.
The defense allowed just 14 shots against Germany and six shots on goal. In the next game against Switzerland, Jamaica saw its opponents commit 16 turnovers. Jamaica is tied for third among all teams so far in goals-against-average after the first three days of the tournament and is tied for second with 12 caused turnovers.
“We have a great goalie in the cage and a great defensive coach too. Everyone has each other’s back and we’re able to work together seamlessly.”
Offensively, Jamaica has been methodical and intentional about its pace, playing matchups and letting different players take over when necessary.
“We balance our fast pace and slowing the ball down when we need to,” said Diallo. “Making sure we’re set up, everyone is in order and attacking the cage. We’re also switching up the lines well; all of us work great together so the more we can switch up matchups, the better for us.”
In the first game, Isaac Newland scored four of the team’s five goals against a strong defensive team in Germany. In game two, Khairi Sears stepped up and poured in five goals. Both players have Division I experience – Newland at High Point University and Sears at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.
The talent across the field has coalesced when it matters and Jamaica’s hard-nosed approach is attracting admiration from around the lacrosse community. The 2-0 start means Jamaica is on its way to an appearance in the playoffs if it can continue to impose its style on its opponents.
“I think our start speaks to the level we want to play at,” said Diallo. “Jamaica isn’t a country to mess around with and this is a hardworking team. We have a lot more to prove and we’re a very hungry group.”
Jamaica faces Poland on Saturday before a final pool match against New Zealand on Monday.
“Our chemistry is big for us, and we don’t get complacent,” concluded Diallo. “We’re 2-0 now but the first message is that we have more to do and the job’s not finished.”
Ian Happ hit two home runs as the Chicago Cubs cruised to a 9-1 win over rivals the St Louis Cardinals on Major League Baseball’s return to the London Stadium.
Happ twice tested out the dimensions of West Ham’s home ground, where a full-scale conversion for two games this weekend saw blowing bubbles and beer replaced by hot dogs and peanuts for the first time since 2019, and Dansby Swanson added a late two-run shot to underline the Cubs’ dominance.
The manner in which the Cubs powered their way to an early lead, up 7-0 after four innings, took the jeopardy out of the game but did not dampen the enthusiasm of 54,662 paying punters keen to see American’s pastime back on British shores.
Four years on from two sold-out contests between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, and three years behind schedule following the pandemic, the Cubs and Cardinals played out their fierce National League Central rivalry in east London.
But, given the Cardinals’ deficiencies this season, it quickly turned into one-way traffic.
Much has changed in baseball since 2019 with the introduction of the pitch clock designed to speed up play, and both teams got down to business much more efficiently than New York and Boston four years ago.
Back then, the opening inning of what turned into an epic 17-13 scoring fest, won by the Yankees, took two minutes short of an hour.
But this entire contest would be over in less than three as the Cubs continued the hot run of form which has made them relevant again in a poor division, this their ninth win in 10 as they improved to 37-38, the Cardinals slumping at 31-45 as the 162-game regular season approaches the midway point.
The scoring started at the top of the second inning as the Cubs wasted little time in getting to the Cardinals’ veteran starting pitcher Adam Wainwright.
Cubs outfielder Happ hit a solo home run straight over the centrefield wall, some 392 feet from the home plate, and they doubled their lead when third baseman Nick Madrigal’s single brought Cody Bellinger home.
It got worse for St Louis in the third. With two out and two strikes against Happ, Wainwright was one pitch away from getting out of the inning but Happ again went deep with a shot to right that landed in the Cardinals’ bullpen.
The Cubs made Wainwright pay as they extended the inning. Swanson and Bellinger hit singles before Christopher Morel’s line drive to centre field allowed Swanson to score and Bellinger came home on another line drive from catcher Yan Gomes.
Back-to-back doubles from Madrigal and Mike Tauchman at the top of the fourth saw the Cubs pad their lead even further and chased Wainwright from the game.
While Wainwright took an early shower, Cubs starter Justin Steele cruised through four innings without giving up a hit.
St Louis finally found a crack in the bottom of the sixth as Tommy Edman scored on a Paul Goldschmidt ground ball into right to give the Cardinals fans something to cheer, but it was too little, too late.
Parks and Recreation actor Nick Offerman was on hand to lead the crowd in a rendition of ‘Take Me Out To The Ball Game’ during the seventh-inning stretch before another famous Cubs fan, Bill Murray, took an ovation from fans.
Murray and the rest of the Cubs on hand would have more to celebrate in the top of the ninth when Swanson launched a two-run homer over the right-field wall to put an exclamation point on their win.
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