Sport / Horse racing

Top-rated Harbinger sold to Japan in multi-million deal to race as a stallion

www.dailymail.co.uk - Harbinger, rated the best horse in the world after his stunning 11-length victory in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July, has been sold to stand as a stallion in Japan. More... (Horse racing)

Hotspots: All the best bets and tips for Friday, September 3

www.dailymail.co.uk - Don't miss a trick from the day's racecards as award-winning tipster Sam Turner - assisted by Racemail's stable of speculators - imparts his sage-like knowledge. More... (Horse racing)

Ryan Moore returns to action but accepts that title chance has gone

www.guardian.co.uk - The champion jockey was unplaced on two rides as he came back from a three-week absenceNo one expected Ryan Moore to celebrate his return to race-riding after three weeks on the sidelines by high-fiving a long line of punters as he left the weighing room but, even by his standards, his afternoon here was distinctly low-key. The one bright moment came as he walked into the paddock for his first ride of the day."Don't smile, Ryan," Frankie Dettori called out breezily as they trotted past the press corps and, just for once, the champion jockey found it difficult to do anything but.For any punters still clinging forlornly to short-priced bets on Moore for the jockeys' title, though, this was the day when all hope seemed to evaporate. Moore's two rides on the card were both unfancied in the market and both failed to trouble the judge.Caraboss, an 8-1 chance owned by the Queen, did at least make it into fourth place in division two of the fillies' maiden, but Tale Untold, at 20-1, was only fifth of eight in the Dick Poole Fillies' Stakes half an hour later.Despite his three previous titles, the championship has never been an over- riding priority for Moore, who was struggling to keep up with Paul Hanagan even before he suffered a wrist injury in a post-race fall at Windsor on 9 August.With his services likely to be required in America for the Breeders' Cup in the final week of the turf season, he would need to build a secure lead by the end of October and, even if Sir Michael Stoute's stable explodes into form, just bridging the 33-winner gap to Hanagan would be an immense task.But Caraboss did not hint at a sudden spate of winners from Freemason Lodge - indeed Stoute, for all the lucrative heroics of Workforce and Harbinger, has saddled saddled just 17 winners since the end of June.Moore, who spoke briefly to reporters afterwards, has apparently accepted that his title race is run. "It appears that way," he said. "It's not that I don't rate championships, I wouldn't say that, but I guess I'll just keep doing what I usually do."Moore tried to reduce the swelling on his injured wrist and accelerate his recovery using a cryogenic chamber at a specialist centre in Tring."I was down in Tring for about 10 days," he said. "The treatment helps to keep your fitness up because you do a bit of training afterwards and it gives you a bit of a boost, so it's easier to work after you've had the treatment. I've been riding out for the last week and a half now. It's good to be back."Moore would not be drawn, though, on who he expects to succeed him as champion in what looks like a straight race between Hanagan and Richard Hughes. "It's two months away," he said, "and anything can happen in racing."It felt like high summer at Salisbury, but the results did not match the fine weather, with 33-1 chances successful in both divisions of the maiden and Margot Did, the hot favourite for the Dick Poole, edged out by a nose and a neck behind Brevity in a race that never quite unfolded as Hayley Turner, Margot Did's rider, would have liked.Dettori later failed to deliver on an even-money chance as Khawlah, whose relatives include Sea The Stars, started slowly and finished fast but too late in division two of the maiden.Both Shim Sham and Brevity are trained by Brian Meehan, who could be a man to follow closely over the next few weeks. "The spring was tough, but they're coming through now," Meehan said. "I think my two-year-olds are very special. I thought we had a hell of a bunch last year but they're even better this year."Horse racingRyan MooreGreg Woodguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Horse racing)

DAVID MILNES' GALLOPS BLOG: Midday looking impressive ahead of Longchamp high noon with old foe Sariska

www.dailymail.co.uk - Midday tuned up for a fifth head-to-head with old foe Sariska at Longchamp on Sunday week when impressing in her first exercise since success in the Yorkshire Oaks. More... (Horse racing)

Hereford winner Am I Blue to be investigated by BHA

www.dailymail.co.uk - The BHA have launched an investigation into the monster gamble on Hereford winner Am I Blue. The four-year-old filly landed the Wyvern Ices Handicap Hurdle by 19 lengths after being backed down from 25-1 to 5-1. More... (Horse racing)

Hotspots: All the best bets and tips for Thursday, September 2

www.dailymail.co.uk - Don't miss a trick from the day's racecards as award-winning tipster Sam Turner - assisted by Racemail's stable of speculators - imparts his sage-like knowledge. More... (Horse racing)

Starspangledbanner ready for Haydock after passing gallops test

www.guardian.co.uk - Chestnut declared likely runner by trainer Aidan O'Brien Fame And Glory misses Irish Champion in favour of Prix FoyStarspangledbanner is likely to take his chance in Saturday's Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock after pleasing his trainer, Aidan O'Brien, in a gallop yesterday morning. The chestnut's chances appeared to be improved by the news that Paco Boy will not be among his rivals this weekend.A cautious O'Brien insisted his plans had not yet been finalised, but conditions will suit his runner and he is understandably keen to add to the two Group Ones the horse has already won in Britain this year. "At the moment, we're looking at coming," O'Brien said. "If everything's OK in the morning, he'll be there."The trainer added that Rip Van Winkle, Cape Blanco and Beethoven are likely to represent him in the Irish Champion Stakes on Saturday. Fame And Glory is likely to be saved for the Prix Foy the following weekend.Meanwhile, connections of Paco Boy have decided against tackling top-class sprinters at Haydock with a horse who normally races over a mile. "It now looks almost certain that we are going to give the Sprint Cup a miss and wait for the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp on Sunday," said his trainer, Richard Hannon.Hannon pointed out that the field for the Moulin will probably be limited to single figures and will not include the crack French miler Goldikova, who is being saved for next month's Prix de la Forêt. Makfi, who beat Paco Boy at Deauville last month, may line up but Hannon feels his horse could turn the form around on a sounder surface.There was positive news of the Derby winner, Workforce, who has not raced since flopping in the King George in July. The colt, who has done little on the gallops since then, did a steady piece of work yesterday and there is now "a reasonable chance" that he will run again this year."It was nothing searching but he moved nicely and was stretching out well over the ground," said a spokesman for his owner, Khalid Abdulla. "If he were to go for the Arc, I would think he would have a racecourse gallop beforehand."Ryan Moore, Workforce's regular rider, is finally expected to return to the saddle at Salisbury today, having been sidelined for three weeks by a badly bruised wrist.There will be no repeat of the stunt by Irish bookmakers Paddy Power which saw a giant sign bearing their name dominate the Cheltenham skyline during the March Festival. The firm has agreed with the course not to do it again and has extended its sponsorship at the track's November meeting until 2012.Horse racingAidan O'BrienChris Cookguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Horse racing)

Amazing Hereford gamble on Am I Blue demands full investigation | Will Hayler

www.guardian.co.uk - Officials must have a close look at the three woeful runs which preceded the horse's easy successThose planning gambles such as today's success of Am I Blue (backed from 25-1 down to 5-1) might in future consider asking the successful connections of the winning horse to remain out of sight after the race.After a similar gamble was landed in a Flat handicap on a minor track a few years ago I approached the young groom who was with the horse in the winner's enclosure and offered my congratulations, only to be met with the response: "I'm sorry but Sir Mark has told me not to say anything to anyone." That's the way to do it.Delyth Thomas, the owner and trainer of Am I Blue, gave what can only be described as an unconvincing performance when interviewed on At The Races after today's race. "She's had a bad shoulder, so I had her shoulder done. She's such a lovely mare," said Thomas, having already denied any knowledge of or participation in the gamble.That gamble had already taken the horse down to 8-1 when it was announced that Am I Blue would be ridden by Richard Johnson, rather than the much less experienced Dean Coleman, who had been booked but was said by Thomas to be unwell.Interestingly Johnson had clearly done his homework on the horse, despite the late call-up, as Thomas reported: "Richard said she could be made more use of and it worked."The late jockey change is obviously unsatisfactory, particularly if the racecourse commentator was correct in asserting that Coleman was in the paddock before the race. But it is of less importance than the dramatic improvement shown by Am I Blue in making all to win by 19 lengths.In her three previous starts she had been beaten by 22 lengths, 75 lengths and 88 lengths. The form book comments for those races record her as having been "always in rear", "always struggling in rear" and "in rear throughout, tailed off".Investigators at the British Horseracing Authority need to have a close look at those three runs since Am I Blue joined Mrs Thomas's Bridgend yard. Previously she was trained by Tim Vaughan - who, incidentally, is Coleman's boss and trains less than 10 miles from Thomas in Aberthin.A BHA statement tonight promised an investigation but the omens are not favourable as the Hereford stewards failed even to call an official inquiry, instead only "noting the explanations" of the trainer that the filly had benefited from having had a course of "spinal therapy".Should the BHA decide to investigate more thoroughly, a good starting point might be the race at Hexham last October in which Chapel Flowers, making its debut for Katie Stephens, finished second to Ballynure, having been the subject of considerable market support. Chapel Flowers, who was recorded as having been bought by Vaughan at the sales 10 months before that, was then switched back to the care of Vaughan for her next start and has run only for that trainer since.Horse racingSport bettingWill Haylerguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Horse racing)

Win VIP tickets to the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup

www.guardian.co.uk - Answer a simple question and you could be on your way to a top day out at the races More... (Horse racing)