The prosecution ended its case in the Kieren Fallon trial in England on Friday. The jury has been asked to return next Thursday. Fallon has said that he will not return to riding until a verdict is rendered.
Racing has resumed in Sydney, Australia. A ban went into effect in August after an equine flu epidemic. At Randwick Racecourse on Friday, Takeover Target won the $86,000 Arrowfield Stud Sprint. Ridden by Jay Ford, Takeover Target was the 85/100 favourite and rallied late to catch Dance Hero, a four-time Group I winner, in the waning yards. Jockey Nash Rawiller and Dance Hero drew first blood when surging to a three-length lead early in the homestretch. Takeover Target and jockey Jay Ford went in relentless pursuit and gained the edge close home.
Owner-trainer Joe Janiak was delighted. ”It is tremendous. It just does not get any better than that. I knew he would hit the line strongly--he is a great horse.”
Jockey Ford has been Takeover Target’s inseparable partner. “He is a freak. He never ceases to amaze me. He has the will to win and the crowds just love him.”
Jockey Rawiller, Dance Hero’s rider, joined in the praise. “No disgrace to be beaten by a champion. You don’t see many better than him.”
I remember Takeover Target winning the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot (opening Day) in 2006. It was a cavalry charge and Takeover Target, the 6-1 favourite, showed resolve of a rare kind.
There were ten Breeders’ Cup races this year at Monmouth Park. There will be twelve beginning next year when the BC races move to Santa Anita in California. There will be a turf sprint. There will be a race for stayers on the synthetic track. The distances have not been determined.
In the race for top jockey in the world, here are the numbers as of November 30, 2007. Jorge Ricardo, 46, has 9,946 winners. Russell Baze, 49, has 9,926 winners.
Jockey George Moore is gravely ill. The 84 year-old Australian legend is in a Sydney nursing home. He is suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease. There are other complications as well.
Gary Moore, George Moore’s son, made a statement. “We have kept Dad’s condition pretty low key until now. It is time we let the public know. He has accomplished a lot. He has had a great innings.”
George Moore and Scobie Breasley are held in the highest regard. They are considered the top two jockeys from Down Under. Breasley passed away recently.
Moore won the Arc in 1959 with Saint Crespin. He won the English 2000 Guineas and the Derby with Royal Palace in 1967. Moore retired in 1971. He trained in France, Australia and Hong Kong with considerable success.
Four Grade I races will be run at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong on Sunday, December 9. Here are the details:
The Hong Kong Sprint over 1,200 metres with a purse of $1.6 million.
The Hong Kong mile over 1,600 metres with a purse of $2.1 million.
The Hong Kong Cup over 2,000 metres with a purse of $2.6 million.
The Hong Kong Vase over 2,400 metres with a purse of $1.8 million.
These four races have a value of 62 million Hong Kong dollars. In American terms, it is over eight million dollars. In the four races, there are 21 Group I winners from 12 racing jurisdictions.
William A Nader, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Jockey Club spoke about the magnitude of the Hong Kong festival. “We can hardly wait. This is the most prestigious day in Hong Kong sport. Our aim to host these Turf championships gets a boost if you look at the quality of the runners.”
Dylan Thomas heads the Vase field. The Arc champion missed the Japan Cup because of a drug infraction.
Miss Andretti is in the Sprint field. Sacred Kingdom heads the opposition.
Ramonti and Vengeance of Rain are in the Hong Kong Cup field. Viva Pataca, a recent winner in the Hong Kong trial, will be there too.
Excellent Art runs in the Hong Kong Mile. He was second in the Breeders’ Cup Turf in October.
We will have more on Hong Kong races in the days to come.
Source: Racing Post and Australian racing and others
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