Sa Fureur has to work to bring up hat-trick at Thurles

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Sa Fureur was made to pull out all the stops to justify cramped odds in the Markaye Contracts Ltd Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle at Thurles.

The six-year-old was the 5-6 market leader to complete his hat-trick following successive Punchestown wins and provide trainer Gordon Elliott with a third successive victory in this Grade Three contest.

Ridden by Jordan Gainford, Sa Fureur threw down his challenge from the home turn, but 22-1 shot Buddy One proved a willing rival.

There was little to choose between the pair all the way up the run-in, but following a protracted duel the Elliott runner edged it by a short head.

Two came close together on a couple of occasions, prompting a stewards’ inquiry, but the placings remained unaltered.

“I always thought I was getting the better of Jack (Gilligan, on Buddy One) but he pegged me back in the last couple of hundred yards. My horse stuck his head out though and had jumped the last two well, which is very important,” said Gainford.

“He had a nice run the last day in Punchestown and is a horse who doesn’t do a lot when he gets to the front. He is a nice horse for the future and the ground was lovely for him.

“He is a nice big strong horse, will fill out more and get even better.”

Brides Hill after winning at Thurles
Brides Hill after winning at Thurles (Thomas Weekes/PA)

Gavin Cromwell is eyeing a step up to Grade One level for Brides Hill after she opened her account over fences in the Carey Glass Irish EBF Colreevy Mares Novice Chase.

A three-time winner over hurdles, the six-year-old fell on her fencing debut at Fairyhouse in the autumn and had been placed on each of her three starts since.

She faced a far from straightforward task in this two-and-three-quarter-mile Listed contest, with Cheltenham Festival heroine Telmesomethinggirl the marginal favourite at 6-5 as she aimed to confirm her superiority over Instit (13-8) after finishing first and second at Naas last month.

The familiar rivals turned for home vying for the lead, but 7-2 shot Brides Hill was travelling strongly in their slipstream and quickened away smartly once given her head by Luke Dempsey to score by four lengths, with Telmesomethinggirl beating Instit to the runner-up spot.

Cromwell said: “She got an awful fright when she fell at Fairyhouse and it has taken her a long time to get confidence and, in her races since, she has been slow to warm up over the opening fences.

“She came straight into it today and jumped brilliantly. We had given her a pop this morning, when she was very good, and Paul Carberry actually schooled her on Saturday and got a good tune out of her.

“She isn’t a winter ground mare and is a lovely mare going forward for next year. It wouldn’t have been the end of the world if she didn’t win today as she’d have been a novice for next year, but now the Grade One Boylesports Gold Cup at Fairyhouse is a possibility.”

Chantal Sutherland savouring chance to ride against world’s best in Saudi challenge

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Chantal Sutherland is relishing the chance to enjoy the autumn of her career and insists she is “finally in a good place” as she prepares for the International Jockeys Challenge on the first day of the Saudi Cup meeting.

The Canadian-born rider had little time to celebrate turning 47 on Thursday, as she focussed on the four handicap races – worth $400,000 apiece, with a further $100,000 prize fund for the challenge itself – which form part of Friday’s card at the King Abdulaziz Racecourse.

Sutherland is now based in Florida, having decided to resurrect her career after retirement, a painful divorce, injury and an enforced Covid hiatus.

Model, TV personality, pilot and poster girl, she once plied her trade at the Southern California tracks.

Time may have moved on, but her talent still remains. Her riding remains as crisp, efficient and ruthless as ever. More importantly, she is enjoying life again.

Sutherland became the first woman to win the Santa Anita Handicap when Game On Dude struck in 2011 and she led down the stretch on the same colt in that year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, only to be pipped by Drosselmeyer, ridden by her former boyfriend Mike Smith.

Sutherland married businessman Dan Kruse in May 2012, but the marriage broke down in 2016.

“I was second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and I thought that was around the time to maybe have a child,” said Sutherland.

“I stopped racing and took about four years out and didn’t ever get to have a kid. The marriage didn’t work out either, so I went back to racing, got injured, then got back from the injury, then Covid happened.

“It has been stop-start, but now everything, with the flow, I feel there is an alignment in my life and everything is going well.”

Sutherland’s decision to return to the track was prompted by a move to the Sunshine State.

“I was going to ride just before Covid. I was going to ride Turfway (Park) and that was freezing,” she said.

“I’d frozen for I don’t know how long in my career – in Canada, at Aqueduct. I thought, ‘I’m going to Florida,’ and I just loved it. It felt like home.

“It is pretty close to California-style, if a little more humid. The Hispanic community down there has been outstanding, they have been super awesome. I’m trying to learn Spanish and I’m so grateful to them. I’ve done really well there and I love them. I love the track and Gulfstream Park has been amazing.

“When you are away from the sport for so long, you really find out how much you love it. No matter what happens in the future, I always want to be in racing. It is just an incredible sport and it brings so many people so much happiness.

“I’m very happy in Florida and very happy to be doing what I’m doing again.”

Joanna Mason, who tasted success at the Shergar Cup, is taking part in the Jockeys Challenge
Joanna Mason, who tasted success at the Shergar Cup, is taking part in the Jockeys Challenge (John Walton/PA)

Sutherland will pit her talent against the likes of Frankie Dettori, Joao Moreira, Yuga Kawada and Joanna Mason in the jockeys challenge with the jockeys receiving 15 per cent of prize-money won in each of the four races.

“It has been an honour to be invited to be invited to Saudi. I love it here,” she added.

“It is my first time in Saudi Arabia and I’m actually blown away by the hospitality and the kindness people have shown.

“I’m really looking forward to the jockeys challenge. I’ve already worked out the races, watched all the replays and I’ve spoken to some key handicap people who have put the races together. I feel I am ready, physically, mentally and preparation-wise. I’ve done my homework. It’s going to be exciting.”

Frankie relaxed as farewell tour goes up a significant notch

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Frankie Dettori is saying all the right things. No desert storm over the latest whip rules, no sign of annoyance at the umpteenth question about his retirement.

He is on autopilot in Riyadh. His smile is almost forced. He looks tired, yet somehow leaner as he sits before the waiting press conference ahead of the fourth edition of the Saudi Cup.

Country Grammer will be his partner in the big one. And there are $20million reasons why the latest pit-stop on this long-goodbye tour matters.

The Saudi Cup came calling, of course. They want star power to promote the event and while much of the King Abdulaziz Racecourse still looks like a building site 48 hours before the big race itself, there is no better salesman than Dettori.

On Friday, he will ride in the International Jockeys Challenge – a series of four handicap races, each run for an eye-watering $400,000 – alongside five other international male riders, two locals and seven international female jockeys. All 14 jockeys will ride in each of the dirt and turf races.

“I’m looking forward to it. Tomorrow is the appetiser for the big one,” insists Dettori.

“I’ve been coming here for 30 years. I’m part of the furniture and I know most of the trainers and I’m riding with some great jockeys, so I was honoured to be asked.”

The dirt track, which surrounds the lush, green Riyadh turf course, is considered by many riders to be the best in the world.

“Back in the day we used to race at a track in the city centre and this track has been built about 15 years, and it is very much like the footprint of Belmont in New York,” says the Italian, who will make his 11th seasonal appearance in Saudi Arabia, where he has ridden six winners from 72 rides.

King Abdulaziz Racecourse dirt track/Riyadh
Dettori loves the King Abdulaziz Racecourse dirt track (Simon Milham/PA)

“I’d say this is the best dirt track I have ever ridden. It is kinder than other dirt tracks I’ve ridden throughout the world.

“For example, you saw Mishriff, a turf horse, win the Saudi Cup a few years ago, so it does open things up a bit for turf horses and I really enjoy riding here.

“Basically this (event) is getting bigger and bigger. The Saudi Cup has found a good slot in the international racing calendar.

“It just shows you with the kind of (quality) horses we will ride this weekend.”

A couple of months spent in America have appeared to have done him the world of good. The positivity is genuine enough and certainly a far cry from the angst of a public fall-out with John Gosden, whose thinly veiled criticism of the jockey’s work ethic surfaced after a run of bad luck and a smattering of unfortunate rides at Royal Ascot in the summer. Bridges were quickly mended, lessons learned.

Dettori has since been riding out of his magnificently tanned skin, helped by his old friend and ally, trainer Bob Baffert.

Frankie Dettori/Riyadh
Frankie was playing a straight bat at Riyadh (Simon Milham/PA)

His recent stint at Santa Anita has reaped rich rewards and while not exactly fresh from a fabulous four-timer at Santa Anita on Saturday, one gets the feeling that he has surprised himself a touch.

“It has been overwhelming,” Dettori adds. “I didn’t expect to do so well, especially some great rides at Santa Anita and I’ve really enjoyed it. I’ve been getting all sorts of support from a variety of trainers, so it is going well.”

Dettori announced this will be his last season in the saddle in December. Riyadh was the first place the international media had gathered in numbers to get his thoughts. Taken aback, he ticked the boxes, fielded the same questions he has faced – and will certainly continue to bat back – with the courtesy they demanded.

Prodded by a Japanese correspondent about the decision to retire, Dettori replies: “It is only just sinking in, now that I’m stopping, that I have thought about it.

Dettori is looking to the future, but what that entails appears fluid
Dettori is looking to the future, but what that entails appears fluid (Tim Goode/PA)

“Since I announced my retirement, I have been overwhelmed by the warmth of the people in and out of racing. That is the bit I will miss.

“I only started off as a young kid with a dream to be a jockey and I think I’ve pretty much succeeded, and the last few months have been a great journey and everyone has been very nice. That’s all I have to say.”

Another prod to expand, produced another straight bat. ”I gave myself a year to give myself a last farewell.

“I’ve been at Santa Anita because I was asked to – I would usually spend my winters in Dubai.

“I will do the European programme and then Ascot should be my last one in England (British Champions Day) and then possibly the Breeders’ Cup will be my last (meeting), or a Melbourne Cup or something else will materialise, but basically this year is my last. I will be 53 in December and I will finish at the top.

“It’s very hard to choose the right moment. My heart wants to carry on , but I want to have another life after this.”

What that constitutes appears to be more than a little fluid or simply unknown.

For now, he states: “I will keep my eye on working in the media side, in racing obviously.

“That is the road I am thinking of taking, possibly doing other things, buying a few horses, being a bloodstock agent, something like that. At the end of the season, I’ll have a couple of months to sit back and look at the whole picture.”

The irony is that in this land of sand and dust, Dettori’s plans for a future after race-riding are not set in concrete. Father Time is knocking, yet what if a special horse should emerge?

America has served him well. A Kentucky Derby is still missing form the Dettori CV.

There will be a temptation for an encore. For now, he will just keep saying all the right things.

Haddex Des Obeaux will miss Arkle through setback

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Haddex Des Obeaux will miss the Sporting Life Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival, with Gary Moore ruling his progressive novice chaser out for the season.

Since unseating on his chasing debut, the six-year-old has yet to finish outside of the top two and following a handy second to the well-regarded Frere D’Armes at Kempton in November, notched up back-to-back victories at Doncaster and Warwick.

He was sent off the favourite on both of those occasions, but it was at Warwick last month where he earmarked himself as a chaser on the rise – jumping and galloping a useful cast into submission to win the Edward Courage Cup by 19 lengths.

He was due to return to Warwick to take on the mighty Jonbon in the Kingmaker Novices’ Chase earlier this month before being a late defector and it appears the setback that caused him to miss that Grade Two contest will also keep him on the sidelines throughout the spring festivals.

“He missed the Kingmaker and he will miss the rest of the season,” said Moore.

“He’s got an injury – it’s not a serious injury but it’s enough to put him out for the rest of the season.

“By the time I get him back the season will be over and he’s too nice a horse to rush back for one race or something.”

Haddex Des Obeaux ridden by Jamie Moore goes on to win The Wigley Support Fund Edward Courage Cup Handicap Chase at Warwick
Haddex Des Obeaux ridden by Jamie Moore goes on to win The Wigley Support Fund Edward Courage Cup Handicap Chase at Warwick (Nigel French/PA)

By the same sire as Moore’s Champion Chase contender Editeur Du Gite, the Lower Beeding-based handler is now looking forward to Haddex Des Obeaux returning next season where he could become the next Cisswood Stables resident to make his mark in the two-mile chase division.

He continued: “It’s a division I love and hopefully when he comes back he will be able to get up there among the better ones.”

Cheltenham ruled out for leading French juvenile St Donats

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Top French juvenile St Donats has been scratched from the Triumph Hurdle with Hugo Merienne preferring to complete the four-year-old’s preparations for the Prix Alain du Breil closer to home.

That Grade One contest at Auteuil has always been his main target for the spring, but he was given a speculative entry into the Triumph Hurdle in case the race became a suitable tune-up option in the build up one of France’s premier four-year-old contests.

Second to Emmet Mullins’ McTigue in a Grade Two in October, he turned the tables on his conqueror in style when last seen – taking the Grade One Prix Cambaceres by an impressive 11 lengths under James Reveley, who has ridden him in all his races to date.

That ready victory saw him priced up around the 10-1 mark for a Cheltenham Festival bid, but the Chantilly-based handler has decided to bypass Gloucestershire’s showpiece as he builds up St Donats’ fitness for his spring objective in the French capital.

“The horse is not ready, we had to give him a bit of a quiet week so the Triumph is not an option any more,” said Merienne.

“With how his preparations are going we have decided to stay in France. He will go for the Prix d’Indy (March 19) or the Prix de Pepinvast (April 8). It will probably be the Pepinvast. His target is the Grade One Alain du Breil.

“We entered him (in the Triumph) in case the horse was flying and everything was going well and you never know, it may have been looking a poor Triumph. But he is the best horse in Auteuil and you don’t want to take chances anywhere if you have the best in Auteuil.”

St Donats is arguably the best juvenile in France and Merienne, who experienced Prestbury Park success while working for Willie Mullins during the halcyon days of Vautour and Faugheen, went on to explain some of the qualities the son of Saint Des Saints has.

He continued: “He has a good mentality and is a tough horse. He has been improving every time and has learned from race to race and I think we still haven’t seen his limits.

“We will see this spring if he can be as good as a four-year-old as he was as a three-year-old, but there is no reason why he can’t be as good.”

No overseas raids for Rohaan but summer campaign beckons

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David Evans will give crack sprinter Rohaan plenty of time before unleashing him in the summer following a setback.

Bought for 20,000 guineas at the 2020 Tattersalls Autumn horses-in-training sale, the Mayson gelding has proven to be a real money-spinner, winning nine times for Evans.

He has climbed from basement-level handicaps on the all-weather to securing back-to-back success in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot and a Group Two victory at Haydock.

Plans were hatched to head to both Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia, but those had to be shelved by the Monmouthshire handler.

Evans said: “We have had a little setback, so we won’t be going anywhere at the moment.

“Hopefully he’ll be OK. We probably haven’t missed a lot going aboard. It would probably have done him more good staying at home.

“It is just a little setback. It was nothing drastic. It was just enough to stop and we’ll start again.”

Winner of over £400,000 from his 28 starts, Rohaan was almost retired before striking late at Royal Ascot under Ryan Moore, having previously suffered a dip in form.

In the end, the Kieran McCabe-owned gelding had a fruitful campaign last season, adding the Group Three Bengough Stakes at Ascot to his Wokingham triumph.

He was also placed in the Sprint Cup at Haydock and signed off in October with a close-up fourth to Kinross in the British Champions Sprint.

Though starting last term in the 1895 Duke of York Stakes, Evans is keen to swerve the Knavesmire this term.

He said: “He doesn’t like going to York, so he won’t be going there. It is too fast a track for him.

“It would be nice if we can get a run into him and then go to Ascot.

“He won’t qualify for the Wokingham at the moment (too high in the handicap). Let’s see what happens and then play it by ear. We’ve got time with him, that’s the main thing.

“These things happen and it’s best to lay off rather than keep going. It has to be done sometime.”

Connell readying novice pair for Cheltenham mission

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Barry Connell has seen his yellow and blue silks carried to Cheltenham Festival glory before but should either Marine Nationale or Good Land win in the Cotswolds next month it will be extra special.

Martello Tower was trained by Mags Mullins when winning the Albert Bartlett in 2015, while Pedrobob was prepared by Tony Mullins to win the County Hurdle in 2007.

Now, of course, Connell is training his horses himself – and making great waves whilst doing it.

He has had two runners in Grade One races this season and won them both. Marine Nationale overcame a mistake at the last to win the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse, while Good Land oozed class in winning the Nathaniel Lacy at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Both horses are now leading contenders to strike Festival gold, with Marine Nationale in line for the curtain-raising Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Good Land bound for the Ballymore.

“They are both good. We have one last piece of work to do with them before they go but we couldn’t be happier with them,” said Connell.

Good Land was impressive at Leopardstown
Good Land was impressive at Leopardstown (Donall Farmer/PA)

“They are both on course, unless something untoward happens. It’s three weeks from now and won’t be long coming in. We’re very happy with them. Once we get them on the ferry all the hard work is done.

“They have the ability to go over there and win, the two of them. They are both Grade One winners, we are not going over there winging it with something that has won a maiden hurdle. The two of them are entitled to be there on merit.

“It’s a pleasure to be travelling with two fantastic horses like that and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Aintree on Wadham’s mind for Hurricane Bay

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Hurricane Bay could head to the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree’s Grand National Festival having returned to winning ways at Doncaster on Wednesday.

Lucy Wadham’s seven-year-old shed his maiden tag on Town Moor in November and was making his third appearance at the South Yorkshire track having also finished a gallant third in the Grade Two River Don Novices’ Hurdle last month.

Sent off the 4-9 for the Virgin Bet EBF ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle, he had just three other rivals to beat and although the winning margin of 47 lengths suggests victory was a formality, John Quinn’s Imperial Merlin was determined to make a real race of it before coming down at the final flight.

Hurricane Bay ridden by Bryony Frost on their way to winning the Virgin Bet EBF ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle at Doncaster Racecourse
Hurricane Bay ridden by Bryony Frost on their way to winning the Virgin Bet EBF ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle at Doncaster Racecourse (Mike Egerton/PA)

“It was a bit of a shame that Imperial Merlin came down at the last as it would have been interesting to see what would have happened. Although I did feel we did have him covered,” said Wadham.

“We wanted to find something a bit easier for him as he has had some quite tough races, obviously it has worked out well and we’re delighted.

“Although he’s qualified for Sandown, I think we will go to Aintree for the three-mile novice hurdle. He will probably have an entry in the three-mile handicap as well but I suspect we will end up in the novice.

“He obviously ran very well in the River Don and presumably we will have to meet the winner and the second again. I do think Aintree, the track and the ground, will suit him and it’s worth a go – he’s rated 133 now and I think he’s entitled to have a go.”

Harry Derham is hoping Shared (4-1) has done enough to earn a spot in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival following his win in the Virgin Bet Daily Money Back Novices’ Hurdle.

“Paul (O’Brien, jockey) produced the tactics perfectly,” said the former assistant to Paul Nicholls.

Shared ridden by Paul O’Brien (right) goes on to win the Virgin Bet Daily Money Back Novices’ Hurdle at Doncaster Racecourse
Shared ridden by Paul O’Brien (right) goes on to win the Virgin Bet Daily Money Back Novices’ Hurdle at Doncaster Racecourse (Mike Egerton/PA)

“He ran pretty well at Musselburgh last time, he just didn’t handle the last track, but we needed to get three runs into him. A big, galloping track, going left-handed was always going to suit him much better and he’s done it really nicely, he’s progressive.

“That (the Boodles) is the ambition and dream and you would like to think after winning two and only beaten four lengths in a Listed race, you would get in now. He’s the type of horse that is tough and hardy, jumps slick and you would like to think he would run a nice race.”

All eyes were on Beep Beep Burrow in the concluding Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Open National Hunt Flat Race, but the 2-1 favourite was swiftly pulled up way before Neil Mulholland’s Inoui Machin (11-4) got the better of Cuban Court in a pulsating finish.

Dettori’s mount Grammer handed high draw for Saudi Cup assignment

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Country Grammer and Frankie Dettori will break from stall 10 in an attempt to go one better than last year in the Saudi Cup.

The Bob Baffert-trained six-year-old finished behind shock winner Emblem Road 12 months ago, with that rival drawn in stall eight this time.

Country Grammer went on to win the Dubai World Cup under Dettori and he is back on board having ridden Baffert’s charge to victory on the first day of his current stint in America.

Baffert also runs Taiba, a four-year-old with two Grade Ones to his credit already, who will be in stall two under Mike Smith.

Baffert said: “He (Country Grammer) had the rail last year, it didn’t bother him at all. Frankie Dettori knows the horse really well, I’m lucky to have two Hall of Fame jockeys.

“I think it’s good to have a speed horse inside of him (Taiba). He likes company, to run with another horse to get him into the race.”

Panthalassa, who dead-heated with Lord North in the Dubai Turf last year, breaks from stall one.

Queens Brook gets the better of Brandy Love at Punchestown

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Queens Brook justified strong market support and lowered the colours of Brandy Love in the process when winning the Racing TV Quevega Mares Hurdle at Punchestown.

The Willie Mullins-trained Brandy Love was the overnight favourite to return to action with a win as the only horse to beat Harry Fry’s Love Envoi to date.

However, the mare much prefers to go left-handed and she found conceding 9lb and race fitness to Gordon Elliott’s Queens Brook a step too far.

As race time approached, Queens Brook’s price contracted until eventually she was sent off the 11-8 favourite and having jumped economically throughout, when she took up the running before turning for home, Brandy Love could not bridge the gap.

Jordan Gainford did not have to get too serious and just kept his mount up to her work to win by four and a half lengths, with Anna Bunina staying on to pip Brandy Love for second.

“She’s very good, her form is rock solid. She enjoyed it around there and I thought from the bend to the last that she picked up very well. It’s nice to see her doing that,” said Gainford.

“That inside track is riding very tight today to be honest. She’s a mare that is consistent and she’s there every day.”

Brandy Love was pushed out to 10-1 from 7-2 for the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham by Betfair with the winner trimmed into 8s from 10s.

There was drama in the I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle which went the way of 66-1 chance Connors Cross.

Noel Meade’s 11-8 favourite Faulty still held every chance on the final bend when slipping up, causing jockey Bryan Cooper to give up his remaining mounts.

“I thought he’d run a lot better in Naas but he actually struck into himself, either going to the start or during the race,” said winning trainer James Fahey.

“I’m delighted for the boys that it worked out. I think they had a few quid on him, he was 100-1 this morning.”

The opening Racing TV Maiden Hurdle was also eventful as Elliott’s 6-4 favourite I Am Fortunata was in front at halfway before running out.

The race went the way of Pat Flynn’s Soldier Solid.

Barry Connell’s good recent run continued when Nine Graces (11-4) won the Racing TV Mares Maiden Hurdle under Michael O’Sullivan.

“We bought her out of a schooling hurdle in Tipperary about two years ago after she ran well in that,” said Connell.

“I ran her in three bumpers, she ran OK the first time, but ran worse the next time and worse the time after. She hated bumpers so we said we’d go back to square on and put her over an obstacle.

“We were getting 8lb from the second and we also had Mikey’s 5lb, so we’re not getting carried away.

“We’ll probably get a handicap mark and see where we are. If she improves a bit further, the mares’ program is there for her.

“The way she attacks the hurdles, I think she could be a graded mare over fences in time.”