Nando Parrado, the 150-1 Coventry Stakes winner, takes his name from a survivor of the Andes plane crash of 1972The original Nando Parrado is said to be “thrilled” by the recent success of his namesake at Royal Ascot, where the colt in question was a shock winner of the Coventry Stakes at odds of 150-1. Parrado, one of the survivors of the 1972 plane crash in the Andes whose story was told in the 1993 movie Alive, had given his consent for the horse to be named after him.The two-year-old’s trainer, Clive Cox, was asked on Wednesday whether Parrado knew of the success of the horse, who is now quoted in betting lists for next year’s 2,000 Guineas. “He most...
York racecourse reveals that it has been forced to cut the prize money for the Ebor Festival in August by more than 50%York racecourse said on Monday that it has been forced to cut the prize money for the Ebor Festival in August by more than 50% as it attempts to cope with the loss of more than 80% of its normal annual revenue from attendance at race meetings and other events at the course. The prize funds for the Group One Juddmonte International Stakes and the Ebor Handicap, both of which were £1m races in 2019, will drop to £275,000 and £250,000 respectively, while total prize money over the four-day meeting will be £2.27m, a drop of around 57%...
The exuberant front-runner may prevail in Sandown’s big race, the highlight of seven Sunday races to be shown on ITVAfter the shock of Saturday’s Derby, Sunday brings another big race in which the front-runner may not be caught. In the case of Ghaiyyath (3.35), however, there would be nothing in the least surprising about it.Naturally exuberant, the Godolphin horse has made all to win three of his last four races, the only exception being the Arc, in which he flopped. A very testing surface may have made the difference that day and it is reassuring that this Eclipse Stakes will be run on a drying surface. Related: Derby favourites are reminded that shock results are all part of the game...
If Serpentine goes hard enough to make this a true test, Russian Emperor is fancied to make his powerful finish count at EpsomA strong pace looks likely in Saturday’s Derby, since that would seem essential for the chances of Ballydoyle’s two main contenders, Mogul and Russian Emperor. It would also test the stamina of Kameko, the Guineas winner, who has a handy draw and will be very dangerous if they dawdle through the early stages.On the assumption that Serpentine, a staying type, goes hard enough from the front to make this a true test, Russian Emperor (4.55) is fancied to make his powerful finish count. The step up to this distance looks perfect for him and it also helps that...
The strong-finishing Russian Emperor looks the pick in Saturday’s race, while English King is badly drawn in stall oneRegally bred, he’s a son of Galileo, from the family of New Approach and a brother to the Oaks winner, Was. That, along with his name (the Irish national anthem) are the most impressive things about him so far but he showed promise when fourth in a Leopardstown maiden; the first three were then second, third and fourth in the Irish Derby. Finished weakly that day. If that was down to lack of fitness, he could be placed here. A possible pacemaker, though not brilliantly drawn if that is the plan. Related: Talking Horses: Trailblazer Aidan O'Brien on cusp of Derby history...