The John Gosden-trained colt has won all four of his races and it is hard to see past him in the final Classic at DoncasterClarehaven Stables in Newmarket now houses an impressive number of horses who seem extremely hard to beat and Logician (3.35) is just the latest of them. The roan colt has won all four of his races and it is hard to see past him at Doncaster in Saturday’s final Classic, the St Leger.The son of Frankel did not have much of a public profile until his Great Voltigeur success at Glorious Goodwood last month but he has started favourite every time and it seems John Gosden and his team had a good idea that he would...
He rarely got top billing but the doughty veteran played a vital part in many big races and made them memorableCrystal Ocean, whose career has been ended by a leg injury, will not be remembered as one of the greats but anyone who cares about horse racing should pray every night for more horses like him, excellent, top-class animals who are not quite the best around. If you’re not persuaded, let’s consider how much less interesting recent Flat racing in Britain would have been without him. Related: Justify drug test cover-up deals immense blow to US horse racing Chester 1.50 Cognac 2.25 Powertrain 3.00 Trinity Lake 3.30 Sir Maximilian 4.05 Mayne 4.40 Hereby 5.15 Salam Zayed (nb)Doncaster 2.10 Servalan 2.40 Saroog 3.10...
Oisin Murphy, who is on his way to becoming Britain’s champion jockey, has turned down the chance to win his first Classic in favour of a rare return home for the Irish ChampionOisin Murphy, who is on his way to becoming Britain’s champion jockey, has turned down the chance to win his first Classic on Saturday in favour of a rare return home for the Irish Champion Stakes. The Killarney man could have been on Dashing Willoughby in the St Leger at Doncaster but will instead continue his association with Deirdre, who will be cheered on by a TV audience in her native Japan.When it became clear last week that the two races would clash, there was really no decision...
The British Horseracing Authority has issued an unapologetic defence of its policy of taking pre-race blood samples from horses, following a complaint by the trainer Jessica HarringtonRacing’s ruling body has issued an unapologetic defence of its policy of taking pre-race blood samples from horses, following a complaint by the trainer Jessica Harrington. After her Millisle was narrowly beaten in a Group Three race at Salisbury last week, Harrington used her column in the Irish Field to complain that a vet with the British Horseracing Authority had taken a blood sample just 35 minutes before the race.The County Kildare trainer, who has won the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Irish Grand National as well as top-class races on the Flat, said...
The promising young rider Rossa Ryan won a valuable pot at Ascot on Saturday after getting his weight as low as he couldIf you made money from the narrow 8-1 success of Apparate at Ascot on Saturday, you should be giving thanks to the dedication of jockey Rossa Ryan, whose entire intake of food in the previous two days amounted to a boiled egg. The 19-year-old told me about the deprivation he put himself through, having learned days before that he was to ride the Roger Varian-trained horse in the Lavazza Stakes, worth £62,000 to the winner. Related: Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore face Longchamp victory being thrown out Related: Haydock Sprint Cup victory hands Kevin Ryan a career highlight...