DONCASTER RACECOURSE MEDIA RELEASE

for immediate release, Monday, October 22, 2007

GROUP ONE RACING POST TROPHY HAS 19 GOING FORWARD
CHARLTON CONSIDERS LUCRATIVE PRIZE FOR FIFTEEN LOVE
The prestigious £200,000 Group One Racing Post Trophy (3.40pm), run over a mile at Doncaster on Saturday, October 27, has 19 high-class two-year-olds going forward at the five-day stage.

Roger Charlton is eyeing the final Group One prize of the British Flat season for the Khalid Abdulla-owned Fifteen Love, who followed a runner-up finish to Rio De La Plata on his debut at Newmarket in July with a brace of wins, most recently in a seven-furlong novice stakes at Salisbury on October 3.

Charlton revealed today: "Fifteen Love is well and could go to Doncaster but also has the option of the Horris Hill Stakes at Newbury, so we will consider what is in each race.

"The owner also has Confront in the Racing Post Trophy, so we will weigh up the options before making a decision. I would favour the Racing Post Trophy because it is worth about five or six times more than the Horris Hill but we will see what the owner wants to do."

The Point Given colt notched a comfortable victory at Salisbury when drawing a length and a quarter clear of Collection, who subsequently franked the form when easily winning his maiden at Newcastle.

Charlton reported: "Fifteen Love is well and is in good form but he is going from a soft maiden to a soft novice race to a Group race, so he is very unproven.
"I am pleased that the Salisbury runner-up has won nicely since but that makes Fifteen Love a 95-plus horse when really he needs to be a 110-plus horse, so it is unknown really.
"Having said that, I have always liked him and at some stage you have to put your head above the parapet and fire at decent races."

Abdulla has seen his colours carried to victory four times previously in the Racing Post Trophy with Alphabatim (1983), Bakharoff (1985), Armiger (1992) and American Post (2003), and the owner also has the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Confront remaining at the five-day stage.
The Nayef colt landed the Ascot Annual Badgeholders’ Hyperion Conditions Stakes over seven furlongs at Ascot on October 13. Stoute could also run emphatic Nottingham maiden winner Tajaaweed, owned by Hamdan Al Maktoum.

The Racing Post Trophy is a great pointer to Classic success and has been won by three subsequent Epsom Derby winners in the past six years, with High Chaparral (2001) and Motivator (2004) triumphant on Town Moor and last year’s winner Authorized landing the spoils at Newbury as Doncaster Racecourse underwent a stunning redevelopment. The 2002 renewal was won by the following year’s Ladbrokes St Leger hero, Brian Boru.

Aidan O’Brien has five entries, with the Montjeu colts King Of Rome and Frozen Fire the pair most likely to represent the Ballydoyle handler, who is bidding for a fifth win in the Group One contest following the victories of Saratoga Springs (1997), Aristotle (1999), High Chaparral (2001) and Brian Boru (2002).
King of Rome was the impressive winner of an extended seven-furlong Tipperary maiden on October 7, while Frozen Fire won his only start over seven furlongs at Gowran Park on August 8.
O’Brien also has Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes runner-up Achill Island engaged, as well as Alessandro Volta and Washington Irving.

Godolphin has two entries remaining - Ibn Khaldun and Iguazu Falls. The former has won three of four starts this term and completed a hat-trick of wins in fine style when taking the Group Three Deloitte Autumn Stakes over a mile at Ascot on October 13, by a length from Redolent.

Iguazu Falls chased home the Paul Cole-trained River Proud in the Group Three Somerville Tattersall Stakes at Newmarket on October 5.

Declaration Of War has Group One form in the bag having finished runner-up to Rio De La Plata in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp on October 7, and could bid to give Peter Chapple-Hyam his third win in the Racing Post Trophy following Commander Collins in 1998 and Authorized last year.

Brian Meehan has engaged the high-class Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes hero City Leader - a half-brother to Commander Collins - while the John Gosden-trained Ridge Dance could attempt revenge after finishing fourth in that Ascot contest.

The remaining 19 also includes the Jessica Harrington-trained Group Two Beresford Stakes winner Curtain Call, Feared In Flight from the Barry Hills yard, the Sylvester Kirk-trained Art Master, Internationaldebut, trained by Danny Murphy, and Tiger Dream who may represent Kevin Ryan, successful in the race with Palace Episode two years ago.

The Racing Post Trophy is the highlight of a fantastic seven-race card that also features the Listed £28,000 Coral Stakes for two-year-olds over six furlongs.

LATEST GOING
The track at Doncaster is in great condition ahead of the Racing Post Trophy Meeting on Friday, October 26 and Saturday, October 27.

Adam Waterworth, Managing Director at Doncaster Racecourse, said today: "The ground is currently good, good to soft in places. We had drying days over the weekend and it has been the same story today. It is expected to cloud over but no significant rain is forecast this week."

BREEDERS’ CUP ACTION LIVE AT DONCASTER RACECOURSE
Racegoers hoping to see the Breeders’ Cup from Monmouth Park, USA, on Saturday can enjoy the stateside action at Doncaster Racecourse, which will stay open late to screen all the races live.

For further information, please contact:
Jo Mapletoft, Marketing and Sponsorship Manager, Doncaster Racecourse,
The Grandstand, Leger Way, Doncaster, DN2 6BB
Tel: 01302 304202
Fax: 01302 323271
Mobile: 07855 852056
Email: jo.mapletoft@doncaster-racecourse.co.uk

Kate Hills
Head of Marketing and Public Relations, Arena Leisure Racecourse Division
Tel: 01342 834800
Fax: 01342 835874
Mobile: 07813 947201
Email: kate.hills@arenaleisureplc.


ENDS

BHA CHIEF ROY TO PUT RACING'S CASE ON RADIO SHOW

Jeff Randell puts the sport under the microscope on Sunday night in his BBC Radio 5 Live program Weekend Business (8pm)

Racing Post Report by Howard Wright

BHA chairman Paul Roy will put racing's case for receiving more money from the betting industry, rather than the greatly reduced amount being offered next year, when journalist and presenter Jeff Randall puts the sport under the microscope on Sunday night in his BBC Radio 5 Live programme Weekend Business (8pm). Randall will examine various aspects affecting the financial health and future of British racing, including the emergence of TurfTV, the growth of betting-shop products such as FOBTs, returns to owners from prize-money and the sale of the Tote.

However, Roy said on Saturday that he was anxious to focus on the role of the BHA in racing generally and the need to improve the return from betting in particular. He said: “I want to talk about the importance of racing, how much it matters to a wide group of constituents and how it impacts several billions of pounds on the economy. “It has a breadth and variety that's unrivalled in the world, especially in terms of quality, and appeals to a broad spectrum of people, which is its unique attraction. “Racing is important for everybody, not just those who follow it or are engaged in it, but also the British bookmaking industry. “But the sport needs a higher level of funding than it's achieving at the moment.

It's a matter of growing the cake and deciding how best it should be sliced up.” Roy said the main points he wanted to get across on the programme were the short-term issue of reaching agreement through the statutory levysystem, and the longer-term challenge of funding. He added: “We want to bring the racing industry together with the bookmakers, but they have made a levy submission that is greatly at variance with ours and their capacity to pay. “The BHA was formed as part of a process of the industry and the government coming together to modernise both the way racing is run and the levy process.

“I want to reflect on that, because the issue is not just about the amount of money but also the process, which needs renovating. “I will say that in the longer term we need to look to a commercial alternative to the levy. It didn't work before, because of the European Court of Justice ruling, so there's no reason not to go back to it.”

Other contributors to the programme will include trainer John Gosden, Racing UK executive chairman Simon Bazalgette and Racing Post chief executive Alan Byrne. Although the programme compilers were hoping to involve representatives of the major bookmakers and the Tote, it is understood that none will be available.


ENDS

CHAMPIONS DAY NEWMARKET SATURDAY OCTOBER 20, 2007

NEWMARKET, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2007

"PULSATING"
Michael Prosser, Director of Racing and Clerk of the Course, was in triumphant mood at the end of Champions’ Day.

He said: "It has been a totally pulsating day’s racing.
"The Darley Dewhurst Stakes lived up to expectations, the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes was won by a good, improving horse, while the £2.5 Million totescoop6 Cesarewitch as usual captured the public’s imagination.

"Today our big races were won by representatives from Ireland and France and the level of international competition generated with the best horses coming to Newmarket has made the meeting particularly special.

"That in a nutshell is exactly what the Home of Racing is striving for - a level of international competition that is second to none."

HANCOCK’S SWANSONG SET TO BE A DAY TO REMEMBER
Champions’ Day marks the last big raceday for Newmarket managing director Lisa Hancock, who is stepping down after seven seasons at the helm.

"I’ll be here to the last for our final meeting of the year on November 2 & 3 when everyone else is at Wetherby," joked Hancock.
"Seriously though, I’ve really, really been looking forward to this day and it has built up and built up and the Darley Dewhurst field is absolutely phenomenal. I thought when the National Stakes was run at the Curragh that they’d stolen our thunder from us but they haven’t - they’ve actually set the scene for us.
"It’s incredible, the weather is magical and I’m just really buzzing. I was buzzing yesterday and that was a standard day. I’m really excited but I think that probably tells the story that underneath I’m thinking to myself, ‘this is my last big one’."
She added: "It’s the racedays that have made my job. That’s what it’s all about. Newmarket has 38 racedays but the big ones like this are just what makes the job so very special."
The facilities at both the NatWest Rowley Mile and the July Course have been significantly improved under Hancock’s tenure, with the redevelopment of the much-loved July Course unveiled earlier this season.
Hancock said: "The completion of the July Course re-build is something I’m very proud of and honoured to have been involved with because it’s something that is going to be there for a long, long time. It has met with unanimous approval and that is something of a miracle. It has worked extremely well."
She continued: "I’m generally proud of that we’ve done here, too, because the Rowley Mile is not easy. It’s very exposed and open and could easily be a cold, sterile environment but little things, like turning the winner’s enclosure round so it feeds the balconies, means the grandstand does work now."

After the concluding two-day meeting on the first weekend of November, Hancock will pass the baton to Stephen Wallis, who has been managing director of Epsom Downs, who has been a regular raceday visitor to Newmarket of late.

She said: "It’s been a fantastic seven years and I really have enjoyed my time. It is great to be handing over to Stephen; he’s very experienced and will hit the ground running. He’s passionate about racing which, at Newmarket, you need to be.
"Newmarket is incredibly sound and has a fantastic team - it’s certainly not just me - and I think a new style and a new emphasis will be good. It’s exciting times all round really."

FIRST RACE QUOTES
VC bet CHALLENGE STAKES

MISS LUCIFER DEVILISHLY GOOD IN CHALLENGE STAKES
Three-year-old Miss Lucifer, who had been backed into 20/1 from 40/1 with Challenge Stakes sponsor VC Bet, showed she’s a filly on the upgrade with a convincing length-and-a-quarter win in the opening race on Champions’ Day.

Trainer Barry Hills, who has won this race twice previously with fellow 20/1 shots Last Resort in 2000 and Munir a year later, said : She’s a good, tough filly with a real turn of foot. She’s off to Godolphin after this."

John Ferguson, representing owner Gainsborough Stud, added: "I would think that’s likely and she’ll either go to race in Dubai or race for Godolphin in America.

"The thing about it is that Barry has managed to keep her improving throughout the year and it’s great testament to him the way she has improved.

"For a filly to be at the top of her game in the third week of October is remarkable. She’s a homebred and being by Noverre obviously we’re thrilled. It’s a great start to what will hopefully be a good day."

Winning jockey and son of the trainer, Michael Hills, said: "Dad said to me ‘when you get a filly thriving at this time of the year it’s amazing how far they can go’.
"She’s in the form of her life. She’s tough and I always thought I was clear of any trouble."

First Race 2.05 THE VC Bet CHALLENGE STAKES
Placed Quotes
GROUND AFTER THE FIRST
Michael Hills, jockey of the winner Miss Lucifer, said: "Good to soft, perfect."
Jamie Spencer, rider of Cesare, said: "Soft."
Johnny Murtagh, rider of Arabian Gleam, reported: "Good to soft."
Ryan Moore, rider of Asset, said: "Good to soft."
Jimmy Fortune, jockey of Balthazaar’s Gift, thought the ground: "Good to soft."
Frankie Dettori, rider of Candidato Roy, said of the going: "Good to soft."
Declan McDonogh, rider of Duff, said: "Good to soft."
Nelson de Souza,,jockey of Eisteddfod, said: "Soft side of good."
Eddie Ahern, on board Mac Love, thought the ground was: "Soft."
Christophe Lemaire, on Pride of Nation, said: "Good to soft."
Kevin Manning, rider of Caldra, said: "Slow ground, very loose."
Darryll Holland, jockey of Captain Marvelous, said: "Slow side of good, but lovely ground as we are racing on the fresh strip."
Royston Ffrench, rider of Lovelace, described the going as: "Slow."


Second Race 2.40 THE DARLEY DEWHURST STAKES
Win Quotes
NEW APPROACH
Jim Bolger, who was winning the Darley Dewhurst Stakes for the second year running following Teofilo’s success last year, was far from despondent about the workmanlike manner of winner New Approach, who held off Fast Company by half a length.
The Irish trainer said: "New Approach is very talented, tough and hardy. We overdid the settling today and that nearly cost us the race, but we know how to solve that problem for the Guineas. I was never really worried.
"We overdid it because we have had Derbys in mind in the last two weeks. We have been making the running with him and we wanted to get him to settle. It was only 10 days ago that we decided to go for the Dewhurst. Since then he’s done no fast work except a half speed which was a scintillating bit of work.
"That was the reason for his tardiness and this was only a half speed for him and he was asleep most of the way - we have the complete formula now. We thought that settling him would be a problem but it turned out to be a walk in the park.
"We ponied him to the start today because he went a bit free to the start before we introduced a pony. It worked a dream last time when we ponied him before the National Stakes in Ireland.
"The ground was a bit holding but this fellah is a machine. He shouldn’t have any difficulty staying a mile and a half."
Totesport, Cashmans and Paddy Power all cut the winner to 2-1 for next year’s Stan James 2000 Guineas, from 5/2, 4/1 and 7/2 respectively, while the sponsor of the first British classic was less impressed, leaving the Galileo colt unchanged at 100/30.

FIRST FOUR JOCKEYS AFTER THE DARLEY DEWHURST
Kevin Manning, on the unbeaten winner New Approach, said: "He did it very well. He stayed well and has plenty of class.
"I don’t like going from year to year. Teofilo and New Approach are two very good horses and have done everything they have been asked."

KEVIN MANNING
Kevin Manning was found guilty of improper riding by the stewards in that he used his whip with excessive frequency on New Approach, who won the Darley Dewhurst Stakes. The Irishman was suspended for five days from Wednesday, October 31 to Sunday, November 4.

Ted Durcan, who partnered the second Fast Company, declared: "He has run very well. There are no excuses. He will be a lovely horse next year. He was the second most inexperienced horse in the race.
"I though we going to go pass the winner 100 yards out but the other horse picked up again."

Jimmy Fortune, on the third Raven’s Pass, commented: "He absolutely hated the ground.
"He was the winner two out - you can never really tell how they will go on soft ground until you start getting serious.
"Raven’s Pass just could not pick up on this ground - he is fast ground horse."

Frankie Dettori, partner of the fourth Rio De La Plata, said: "It may have been a race too many.
"He came there to win but just emptied out. The ground is not ideal but his win in France two weeks ago may have just taken the edge off him."

Second Race THE DARLEY DEWHURST STAKES
Placed Quotes
PROGRESSIVE COMPANY NOT QUITE FAST ENOUGH
14/1 shot Fast Company, who was bought by Sheikh Mohammed for one of his sons earlier this season, battled winner New Approach all the way to the line to be beaten only half a length in a thrilling finish.
The colt’s trainer Brian Meehan said: "Maybe a little bit of lack of experience told going into the dip. They want him for next year anyway and the horse is obviously progressive, as I’ve said all along, and I think he’s perfectly set up for the new programme.
"He looks to me like a serious 2000 Guineas contender. If he’s not in the first two betting-wise after that then I’ll be very surprised. It’s been an absolute pleasure to have him."

Fears over rain-softened ground proved justified for second-favourite Raven’s Pass, according to trainer John Gosden. The colt finished a further two and a half lengths back in third.
Gosden said: "Jimmy (Fortune) said he was the last one off the bridle but he just can’t go in that ground.
"He said he hated it but the horse has run a blinder. He’s got a ton of speed and he sees the seven (furlongs) out - we know that from Sandown. I just wish we hadn’t had that rain in mid-week.
"But you can see from the pace you’ve got a Middle Park winner making the running and that’s a different gear altogether and the favourite was under pressure but his class saw him through.
"We’re thrilled with him and we’ll come back for the 2000 Guineas. I just hope it isn’t soft ground in the Guineas. The boys say the ground on this side is softer today than where we were yesterday on the old Cambridgeshire meeting ground because that had been opened up. This is very lush and it’s slow ground."


Third Race 3.15 The Emirates Airline Champion Stakes
Win Quotes

ROUGET THRILLED WITH HIS ‘COURAGEOUS HORSE’
Just like Pascal Bary a fortnight ago, French trainer Jean-Claude Rouget’s first win in England was at the highest level, thanks to Literato’s thrilling short-head victory over Eagle Mountain in the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes.

Rouget, who had previously worked in England for Ian Balding and Paul Cole, said: " He has the biggest heart, he’s a courageous horse. You will see physically he’s a little thing but he’s a big mover.
"I thought today would be very tough for him as he’s never met the older horses and he’s never run on a straight course. We were confident more for a place than a win."
Asked whether the three-year-old colt would remain in training next season, he said: "We’ll discuss that.
"I’d like him to but when you have a campaign like this sometimes it’s hard to do another one. We’ll see, we can’t say today."
Literato’s owner, Herve Morin, who is the French Minister of Defence, said: "He’s a very courageous horse and he likes a battle.
"We would have liked to run him in the Arc de Triomphe but Jean-Cluade said ‘no, we will win the Champion Stakes’."
The French have an excellent record in the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes, with this being their 21st win since 1945.
Christophe Lemaire, the jockey, was winning his second successive Emirates Airline Champion Stakes, having succeeded on Pride last year.
He said: "It was a great race. Literato travelled very well. My horse is a fighter and Johnny’s (Murtagh) horse was very tough.
"I thought I was going to win but my horse had to give his best to prevail. He is a really great horse."


Third Race 3.15 THE EMIRATES AIRLINE CHAMPION STAKES
Placed Quotes
EAGLE MOUNTAIN JUST FAILS TO REACH SUMMIT
Connections of Eagle Mountain were delighted with their charge as he found only Literato a short-head too powerful in the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes on what could be his last run for owners Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier and Michael Tabor.

The runner-up’s trainer Aidan O’Brien said: "Eagle Mountain ran a stormer and has improved for the break [since winning the Group 2 Royal Whip Stakes at the Curragh 69 days’ ago]. That was his first run back and I would imagine that there will be more improvement.
"He stays in training, but I think that he might be leaving us - you’ll have to confirm that - and that Mike De Kock has bought him."

The Irish champion trainer has a busy week ahead with the Breeders’ Cup approaching.
"George Washington is fine so far and all my team are fine so far," he added. "Achill Island runs in the Juvenile Turf and my horses arrive in the States on Tuesday, while I arrive on Wednesday."

Richard Gibson, trainer of third-placed Doctor Dino, a further three lengths away, said: "The horse ran a great race and congratulations to the two horses in front of him.
"There are no excuses and I’m not prepared to make any. It was another solid performance and he’ll be off to Hong Kong with a bit of luck. We’ll see about which race."

Should Eagle Mountain have prevailed, he would have been the sixth Irish-trained horse to taste success in the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes since 1945, and the first since 1973.

Fourth Race 3.55 THE £2.5 MILLION totescoop6 Cesarewitch STAKES
Win Quotes
HOWZAT?
Leg Spinner landed the the £2.5 Million totescoop6 Cesarewitch for Irish trainer Tony Martin and in the process won the totescoop6 for a player in Stretford, Manchester.
The punter staked £3,600 and won £1,519,301 with an opportunity to pick up a £955,968 bonus next Saturday.
The winning trainer said: "I couldn’t have been happier during the race and he had a wonderful jockey [Johnny Murtagh] who knows the horse. I got excited three furlongs out but luckily Johnny didn’t and he kept hold of him.
"It’s not too bad for a horse to win at Royal Ascot as well [Ascot Stakes 2005]. He came back with a problem after that and for a small, little horse, he’s had lots of problems. But we’ve got him right and on the day, he wasn’t too bad!
"This has always been the plan since he came back from injury and in the last 10 days, I knew that he was definitely on track and he’s really been telling us. Everything was on his side today including the ground drying up.
"As for the future, he won’t go on soft ground and we will have to be very careful
what we do. He’s won his few hurdles and I’m definitely not against going jumping with him. He’s a bit small for fences although he does jump very well, but we’ll leave him to hurdles for the time being."

Jumps trainers have an absolutely superb record in the £2.5 Million totescoop6 Cesarewitch. In the last decade, Martin Pipe won it in 2000 and 2002 with Heros Fatal and Miss Fara respectively, Nicky Henderson, trainer of today’s runner-up Caracciola, landed it courtesy of Landing Light (2003), while Philip Hobbs, who was successful with Detroit City last year, saddled Fair Along into third today.

Fourth Race 3.55 The 2.5 Million totescoop6 Cesarewitch
Place Quotes
JUMPERS ACQUIT THEMSELVES WELL TO FILL PLACES
Nicky Henderson, who sent out crack hurdler Landing Light to win the Cesarewitch in 2003, came close again with Caracciola, who chased home Leg Spinner.
Henderson said : "I said to Piers (Pottinger) the owner, ‘I don’t know what we can do with this horse’. He’s ten, he’s not mad about fences, he’s too high in the handicap over hurdles so what do you do? But he won a valuable race at Bath and he’s won a prize here.
"I just thought the rain went against us whereas I thought that would help (the stable’s other runner) Afrad, who has run a great race as well but it was too big a field for him."
He added: "He (Caracciola) and the winner must have run to within a pound of each other if you take the Shergar Cup race. We went and got a 4lb penalty which was probably a bit daft but he won a £20,000 race so how could you not go there?"

Fair Along’s owner Alan Peterson was thrilled with another game effort from his diminutive dual-purpose star, who has this year been second in the Arkle Chase and the Chester Cup and has plenty of big jumps race targets in his sights this national hunt season.
Peterson said: "He’s ever so brave and he deserves to win a race. He got a bit hampered on the rail and then got stuck on the rail so Jamie (Spencer) had to bring him wide and that lost us a few lengths but he’s run really well, as always."

Outlining his proposed jumps season, he said: "He’s heading for the Haldon Cup at Exeter next and if he runs well in that he’ll go for the Tingle Creek Chase. The perfect world would be Exeter, Tingle Creek and then Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham."

Fifth Race The Seriousquitters.co.uk Rockfel Stakes
Win Quotes
REGALLY-BRED KITTY MATCHAM HINTS AT FURTHER CLASSIC SUCCESS FOR HER FAMILY
Kitty Matcham improved on her recent six-furlong Naas win with a hard-fought victory.
By Stan James 2000 Guineas winner Rock Of Gibraltar out of Oaks winner Imagine, her recent improvement has trainer Aidan O’Brien looking ahead to her own Classic season.
He said: " She’s a little bit like her dad, and her mum was like it too, they just come late.
She has some pedigree and she’s really starting to get it together now. She’s going to be some filly next year - she could be anything. Her parents both improved from two to three."
Asked if she was the star juvenile filly at Ballydoyle, O’Brien said: "She’s lovely but we’ve plenty of horses to run still.
"But a filly with the pedigree that she has and the way she’s improving - she’s coming hand over fist and she’s really something to look forward to."

Winning jockey Johnny Murtagh was celebrating a 164/1 double after also landing the £2.5 Million totescoop6 Cesarewitch on Leg Spinner.

Fifth Race 4.30 THE SERIOUSQUITTERS.CO.UK ROCKFEL STAKES
Placed Quotes
MISSIT SECOND
Mick Channon won the SeriousQuitters.co.uk Rockfel Stakes with Cairns four years’ ago and the West Ilsley trainer just missed out on a follow-up courtesy of Missit, who went down by a neck to Irish raider Kitty Matcham.
Missit’s owner Tim Corby said: "That was a good run and I’m pleased with that from another TC purchase. She’s out of a Shirley Heights mare [High Spot] and we thought that she might be better over seven furlongs than six. They took her off her feet in the dip in the Cheveley Park Stakes here last time. We thought that it was worth giving her another spin.
"She’s got no pedigree but I just picked her out and did a Checkit.
"She may well be even better over a mile and we’ll have a genuine look at the Guineas. This was seven furlongs and the other horse came and mugged her and then she stayed on again."

Charlie Hills, son and assistant to Barry Hills, trainer of third-placed Royal Confidence, who was a further three-quarters of a length away, said: "She ran a cracker and ideally she would prefer faster ground as she has a daisy-cutting action. We’ll blame the ground."

Sixth Race 5.05 The Jockey Club Cup
Win Quotes
ROYAL AND REGAL REIGNS
Sport can be a great leveller and just when success over the French in the ongoing Rugby World Cup had the nation crowing over our European friends, they retaliate with two big race successes on Champions’ Day courtesy of Literato in the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes and Royal And Regal in the Jockey Club Cup.

Royal And Regal was one and a quarter lengths too powerful for Balkan Knight, the winner pulling out extra when it looked like the runner-up could be a big danger in the closing stages.
Winning jockey Stephane Pasquier said: "It looks like the horse is improving and I was never worried about the horse out in front - I just let him go by myself.
"I am so happy with him and he kept digging deep. He is a real trier.
"It is lovely to be here. Obviously we had Manduro, who won the Earl Of Sefton Stakes, and it is nice to be back with a winner."

Sixth race placed quotes
Jockey Club Cup
HOLIDAYS BECKON FOR PLACED HORSES IN JOCKEY CLUB CUP

David Elsworth’s name is intrinsically linked with success in the Jockey Club Cup thanks to the exploits of treble winner Persian Punch. Seven-year-old Balkan Knight battled hard to give his trainer a fourth win in the race, just failing to peg back French raider Royal And Regal.
Elsworth said: "He’s run consistently well all season but he’s a tricky old boy. He needs to come very late.
"Jimmy timed it perfectly but maybe his limitations have just been exposed. I think he’s a 1m 6f horse but he gets the two miles if you hang onto him. He’s just got that one run.
"He’s had a long, strenuous season and we’re looking forward to giving him a holiday. He’ll make a good 10-year-old!"

Ed Vaughan, trainer of third-placed Veenwouden, was delighted to gain some more black type for the filly’s owner/breeder Wood Hall Stud.
He said: "We’ve got more black type on her which was always the idea. She’s a three-year-old and it’s a good performance in this ground. We’ll put her away and might think about some Cup races for her next season."

Seventh race The Igloos Bentinck Stakes (Group 3)
Win Quotes
GREEK CONTINUES GODOLPHIN RENAISSANCE
Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin stable has been in great form of late and Greek Renaissance built on his recent Yarmouth win to land his first Group victory in the Igloos Bentinck Stakes.
Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said: "We’re really pleased with him. It was a nice race for him to win and we’ll put him away for the winter. He likes to get his toe in so he won’t race in Dubai this winter but he’ll be a nice horse for next year."

Winning jockey Ted Durcan, who rode a four-timer at Newmarket yesterday and came within half a length of winning the Darley Dewhurst Stakes on Fast Company, said: " Everything panned out well. He had a nice prep run a month ago at Yarmouth which he won easily so that probably helped him mentally.
"They went hard today but he likes the ground and he’s a hold-up horse anyway so everything worked out well."
He added: "It’s been an excellent weekend. Yesterday afternoon was one of those days that comes once in a blue moon and it’s great to finish the meeting with a winner."

TODAY’S GOING
The current going at Newmarket is Good to Soft, Soft in places following a dry night. This compares to the going yesterday which was Soft, Good to Soft in places.
Michael Prosser, Director of Racing and Clerk of the Course, said: "We had a light frost on the ground this morning with temperatures dipping to 1 degree Celsius. The mist cleared readily by 9am.
"The forecast is for dry, sunny spells and temperatures of between 13 and 14 degrees Celsius."
Approximately 18 metres of fresh ground on the stands’ side, not raced on since May, has been kept for Champions’ Day.
"The ground on the stands’ side is in fantastic shape and will provide excellent ground for our best day’s racing of the year," added Prosser.
"Though I say it myself, I doubt you will find a better strip of racing ground anywhere in the country at this time of year."

SCOOP6 BONANZA
Today’s racing at Newmarket already features two Group One races, the Darley Dewhurst Stakes and the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes (3.15pm), as well as the £2.5 Million totescoop6 Cesarewitch (3.55pm), but the card has added significance in that three of the seven races are in the totescoop6 bet.

The VC Bet Challenge Stakes (2.05pm) is the first leg of the totescoop6, in which a single winner can expect to bank £1.5 million and a place in the record books, with the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes being the fourth leg and the £2.5 Million totescoop6 Cesarewitch the sixth and final leg.

Tote spokesman Damian Walker said: "This is a special day in our sponsorship year anyway because of the £2.5 Million totescoop6 Cesarewitch, one of the highlights of our sponsorship portfolio, a fantastic betting race, and the final leg in the totescoop6. The excitement surrounding this week’s totescoop6 is the icing on the cake.
"We are expecting the win and place pools in the totescoop6 to top £2.5 million.
"We have seen already this year Agnes Haddock win £688,620, Archie Evans land £695,911, and Adam Phillips scoop £610,620 and they all put on single £2 lines.
"The Scoop6 has really produced this year and could be on the verge of creating a Scoop6 millionaire for just £2."

The Tote has seen two movers this morning in the Cesarewitch. David Pipe, who is attempting to emulate father Martin who won the race twice courtesy of Heros Fatal (2000) and Miss Fara two years’ later, runs Raslan and the four-year-old is now 20/1 (from 25). The other shaker is the Tom Tate-trained Dr Sharp, now 11/1 (from 14), who has the assistance of leading apprentice William Buick, having such a marvellous campaign, in the saddle.
"Our ante-post biggest loser in the Cesarewitch is easily Samurai Way, although the draw [2] and ground has not been as kind as connections would have liked," added Walker.
"He was a 12/1 shot when we opened betting on the race on September 5 and is now 13/2 favourite, having been as short as 9/2 favourite."

Samurai Way, trained locally by Luca Cumani, the handicap wizard who has yet to land a Cesarewitch, has already won twice this season, including on his last start when going away at the finish to score in a handicap at Ascot last month.

UNCERTAINTY SPELLS QUIET MARKET FOR DARLEY DEWHURST
Early trading has been relatively slow ahead of Newmarket’s Champions’ Day with little movement in the two Group One races on the card.

Coral’s David Stephens said: "Uncertainty over the ground for the major contenders is probably putting punters off in the Darley Dewhurst. It’s pretty quiet at the moment and I think everyone has got one eye on the rugby and the Scoop6."

Neal Wilkins of V C Bet, sponsors of the first race on the card, the Group Two Challenge Stakes, said: "New Approach has been popular with us at 6/4, including a single bet of £30,000 to £20,000. I think everyone’s waiting to see what the decision over Rio De La Plata will be after the first race."

Irish bookmaker Cashmans also has New Approach at 6/4 from 13/8, while Coral goes 13/8 from 7/4. Blue Square has seen money for Godolphin’s Rio De La Plata, whom they quote at 4/1, in from 5/1.

In the opening race, sponsor V C Bet has shortened Cesare to 4/1 from 5/1, as has Blue Square, while totesport has the James Fanshawe-trained six-year-old at 9/2 in from 11/2. Ladbrokes has Cesare at 9/2 from 5/1 and report him to be the best-backed horse of the day so far.
Coral reports interest in surprise Prix de la Foret winner Toylsome, who is ,making his first appearance in Britain and is now 6/1 from 7/1. Among the less-fancied runners, Cashmans’ representative Joe Burke reports a move for Caldra, who is now 28/1 in from 40/1, while V C Bet has cut Miss Lucifer to 25/1 from 40/1. The three-year-old filly has also been popular with Skybet, now at 20/1 from 33/1.

The Emirates Airline Champion Stakes is the second Group One event of the day and Notnowcato is now 3/1 (from 10/3) with Cashmans. Literato is in to 9/2 from 11/2 with both VC Bet and Skybet, which has shortened Mount Nelson to 12/1 from 16/1. Mullins Bay has been cut by VC Bet to 50/1 from 100/1.

In the £2.5 Million totescoop6 Cesarewitch at 3.55, consistent dual-purpose performer Fair Along is now 11/2 from 7/1 with Coral to give Philip Hobbs and Jamie Spencer back-to-back wins in the race after Detroit City’s victory last year. Coral also has Dr Sharp at 12/1 from 14/1 and Enjoy The Moment into 14/1 from 16/1. Blue Square and Skybet have both trimmed Dr Sharp to 11/1 (from 14/1) and Paddy Power’s two main market movers in the race are Enjoy The Moment, who is 12/1 from 16/1, and Afrad, now at 25/1 from 33/1. Skybet has shortened 100/1 shot Indonesia to 66/1.

Interest in the SERIOUSQUITTERS.co.uk Rockfel Stakes centres around Makaaseb, into 11/8 from 6/4 with Blue Square. Paddy Power has outsider Casablanca at 33/1 from 66/1.
Recent Listed winner Distinction has attracted interest in the Jockey Club Cup at 5.05pm, now trading at 5/2 (from 11/4) with Cashmans.

Zidane is the main mover in the last, the Igloos Bentinck Stakes, backed to 9/2 from 5/1 with Ladbrokes, 4/1 from 9/2 with Paddy Power and 4/1 from 5/1 with Skybet. The five-year-old is out to 9/2 from 4/1 with Blue Square.


ENDS

SOFT GROUND AT NEWMARKET

NEWMARKET RACECOURSES MEDIA RELEASE

After 35mm (just over 1 1/2 inches) of rain in Newmarket this week, the going on the NatWest Rowley Mile ahead of the two-day fixture on Friday and Saturday is SOFT.

Michael Prosser, Director of Racing, said: "We had double the amount of rain last night than the highest prediction I was given by the meteorologists, but the track has taken it incredibly well. I changed the going to Soft this morning and I have left it at that having walked the track this afternoon on what is a glorious sunny day.

"High pressure is now set to dominate until beyond the weekend, so we are forecast dry weather and plenty more sunshine. The ground will start to dry out, though only relatively slowly at this time of year, so I would hope for predominantly Good-to-Soft going by the time we start racing on Friday.

For Champions' Day on Saturday we will be on virgin ground, not used since May, which will help to ensure the best possible surface at this time of year for what promises to be a feast of world-class racing."

For more information, please contact Alistair Haggis, Newmarket's Press Officer, on 01638 675553 or 07884 026487, or Michael Prosser, Director of Racing & Clerk of the Course, on 01638 675504 or 07802 844578

RAVEN'S PASS tunes up for Saturday's Darley Dewhurst one of the highlights of' CHAMPIONS DAY at Newmarket

NEWMARKET RACECOURSES MEDIA RELEASE

for immediate release, Saturday, October 13, 2007

RAVEN’S PASS TUNES UP FOR DARLEY DEWHURST

The John Gosden-trained Raven’s Pass, unbeaten in three races, will tune up for his assault on the £250,000 Darley Dewhurst Stakes, one of the highlights of Champions’ Day at Newmarket next Saturday (20th October), by working over six furlongs with a galloping companion on the NatWest Rowley Mile tomorrow (Sunday). He will start from the pre-parade ring at about 7.30am.

The Darley Dewhurst is boiling up into the two-year-old race of the season, with the brilliant Jim Bolger-trained star New Approach, Brian Meehan’s Fast Company and the David Myerscough-trained Bruges also set to put their unbeaten records on the line. Ultra-tough opposition could come from Godolphin’s Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner, Rio De La Plata, who would be renewing rivalry with his National Stakes conqueror, New Approach, as well as the very impressive Mark Johnston-trained colt McCartney, and the Paul Cole-trained pair, Luck Money and Moynahan, the latter due to be supplemented for the race on Monday.

"It looks like it’s going to be a sensational contest, better than we could possibly have dreamed of," said Newmarket’s Director of Racing, Michael Prosser. "With the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes also looking like being a top class renewal, with the likes of George Washington, Notnowcato, Passage of Time, Multidimensional and Literato all apparently on course for it, plus four other Group races and the totesport.com Cesarewitch Handicap, next Saturday is going to be corker!

"I’ll be giving a going report and full weather update tomorrow, but at the moment it looks like we could get rain on Tuesday before it dries up for the remainder of the week. If that forecast is right, one would expect good ground for Champions’ Day when we’ll be racing on the stands’ side strip of ground, not used since May. If we don’t get all the rain they’re predicting for Tuesday, it could be on the quicker side of good, but either way the track will be in fantastic shape.

"Friday’s card, which features the Group 3 Georgia House Stud Darley Stakes, will be run on the far side course which we used utilised for last weekend’s Cambridgeshire Meeting."

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Michael Prosser, 07802 844 578
Alistair Haggis, 07884 026 487

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum's most generous gift to racing following the sale of the Racing Post

Spokespersons for the Injured Jockeys' Fund on learning that, thanks to Sheikh Mohammed, the following charities will each receive £2.5m

• Racing Welfare will receive £2.5m
  
• Injured Jockeys' Fund will receive £2.5m
  
• Retraining of Racehorses will receive £2.5m

The Full Text of the Speech by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Racing Post Sale - Trinity Mirror sells the UK's premiere racing newspaper to an Irish investment firm for £170m

FLYING START - Darley International Student Programme founded by Sheikh Mohammed


Barney Curley, a licenced British trainer, on hearing this wonderful news said "I'm never stuck for words but this time I am. I've been floating on air since hearing the news. What this will do for people is unbelieveable".

Turfcall wishes to express sincere thanks to Sheikh Mohammed for his generosity given in so many ways to the industry.

John Gosden Interviews

To see the interview on YouTube click one of the links below.


Part One

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr-BCpE9z5I

Part Two

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRDDUP2nL2U

Part Three

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn1freBcqxo

RACING POST SALE Trinity Mirror sells the UK's premier racing newspaper to an Irish investment firm for £170m

Racing Post under new ownership after £170m deal by Andrew Scutts

THE Racing Post has a new owner. The newspaper and associated businesses were bought on Monday for £170 million by FL Partners, a Dublin-based private equity investment firm.

The purchase from Trinity-Mirror includes racingpost.co.uk, three weekly titles (Racing & Football Outlook, Raceform Update and Racing Post Weekender), plus the Betting Shop Display, and publications under the Raceform banner.

In a meeting with staff on Monday at a hotel near the company's Canary Wharf, London, headquarters, the new owners unveiled plans to "invest significant resources" in developing the business, focusing on additional online and multimedia services, and expansion into new markets.

Alan Byrne, former editor of the Racing Post, has been appointed chief executive and editor-in-chief with immediate effect.

Peter Crowley and Neill Hughes, the principals of FL Partners, will be joint-chairmen of the Racing Post.

Crowley said: "This is a great day for the Racing Post, its readers and staff, because we are passionate about racing and have a real commitment to maximising the potential of this business.

"We are particularly delighted to have secured Alan's involvement, and his appointment is the clearest sign that FL Partners is a serious, long-term builder of this business, determined to add value for readers, advertisers and, ultimately, our investor base."

Byrne, 45, edited the Racing Post from November 1993 to January 2002, and in 1998 supervised the merger of the newspaper with The Sporting Life.

He said: "It's a great thrill to return. Everyone in the racing, bloodstock and betting industries relies on the Racing Post as the definitive source of data and quality editorial coverage. It is our job now to ensure that it meets and exceeds their expectations."

Brough Scott, who helped found the Racing Post in 1986, added: "This is a day all of us at the Racing Post have been waiting for.

"We are going to have an independent paper focused on serving the racing industry, and a business that can be developed for the multimedia era."

ENDS

SLA accept pay offer 'reluctantly'

Howard Wright reports in the Racing Post

NEW Stable Lads' Association chief executive Jim Cornelius said that he and his national committee had accepted a pay offer from the National Trainers' Federation that came into force on Monday "reluctantly".

Turmoil in the SLA, since an interim settlement in February, meant that Cornelius had less than a month from taking up the job to put together and argue his members' case for the negotiations.

Both sides said on Monday that the sequence of events had been "unfortunate" after the weekly minimum wage for racing's most experienced stable staff has gone up by two per cent, while the equivalent standard for the rest has risen in line with the national minimum wage, which for employees aged 22 and above has been increased by 3.17 per cent, to £5.52 an hour.

A statement from the national committee said: "Our negotiators were in a difficult situation, but we felt we had no alternative but to accept a pay increase which we think does not meet the needs and aspirations of our members."

The consolidated wage, including five hours' overtime, for Grade A stable staff - those with seven years' continuous service or five years' service and NVQ level 3 status - is now £280.35, from £274.69. At the other end of the scale, the equivalent for Grade D staff - 16- to 17-year-olds with NVQ1 or no qualifications is £151.30, from £146.85.

An agreement reached by the SLA and NTF has also increased the daily subsistence allowance for time worked away from the yard for up to six hours and between six and eight hours by £1 in each case, to £7 and £9 respectively.

The overnight allowance has gone up from £13 to £15, but subsistence for more than eight hours away, the Sunday racing payment and the daily allowance for racing abroad remain unchanged.

The SLA statement added: "We don't accept that this is enough to see our members through to next October, and have instructed Jim Cornelius to prepare a new claim to be presented to the NTF in the New Year, based on the old anniversary pay date of February 1.

"We will launch a campaign around this claim, and will organise members' meeting to back it up.'

Cornelius added: "This is a holding agreement, in view of this year's changes to the SLA structure. It's a fresh start for the SLA and I'm determined to go into the future armed with the best documentation and well supported by the membership.'

NTF chief executive Rupert Arnold said: "When combined with the Grade A increases earlier this year, the agreement provides a six per cent increase over 18 months, which we believe is a reasonable settlement. Recent research tells us that over 78 per cent of trainers pay above the minimum rates, and of those, at least two-thirds apply the agreed percentage increase to all their pay rates."

ENDS

MEDIA RELEASE
for immediate release, September 2007

JULY CUP AND THE AGE CLASSIC JOIN GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE

The Darley July Cup, centrepiece of Newmarket’s Ritz Club July Festival, and The Age Classic Weight For Age (WFA), run at Australia’s internationally renowned Spring Racing Carnival in November, have been added to the Global Sprint Challenge in 2008, creating a series of eight races in 2008.

The Age Classic replaces the Australia Stakes (which is run in February), creating a second opportunity for horses to travel to Australia, after the European and Japanese legs have been run. The Coolmore Lightning Stakes at Flemington in February remains the opening leg of the Series.

The bonus structure for the series remains unchanged. A US$1 million bonus is still available to any horse that can win a Global Sprint Challenge Group One race in three different countries as well as competing in a qualifying race in the fourth country. However, the new structure, with the second opportunity in Australia in November, allows for horses to begin their bonus chase not just in Australia in February, but also at Royal Ascot and Newmarket in June and July.

The four partners in the Global Sprint Challenge – Ascot Racecourse Limited, Hong Kong Jockey Club, Japan Racing Association and Racing Victoria Limited – believe the changes to the structure will strengthen the series and encourage more European-trained horses to be actively campaigned within the Challenge.

Ascot’s Head of Public Relations, Nick Smith, said: “The inclusion of the Darley July Cup is a welcome and natural extension to the existing series.

“The Global Sprint Challenge has quickly established itself and has added a new dimension to the Royal Meeting, with Miss Andretti becoming the third horse trained outside Europe to win at Royal Ascot in as many years.

“The record of the Australian-trained horses in the King's Stand Stakes, especially this year when they filled three of the top four places, has been a significant contributory factor in the increase in quality of that race. We’re delighted to be able to announce that the King’s Stand Stakes will be run for £250,000 next year (from £200,000) and the Golden Jubilee Stakes will be run for £375,000 (from £350,000).”

Newmarket Managing Director, Lisa Hancock, added: “The Darley July Cup has a great heritage as Europe’s midsummer championship sprint and it is a natural follow-on from the two high profile races at Royal Ascot. The race has been increased in value by £25,000 for 2008, to £400,000. This increase, coupled with those at Royal Ascot, means that we can collectively offer more than £1,000,000 (US$2,000,000) prize money over the three UK legs.

“It will be a pleasure working with Ascot to try to bring more and more of the world’s best sprinters to compete in Britain and at the same time, hopefully Europe's best can be tempted to go to Australia, Japan and Hong Kong for their Global Sprint Challenge races as we move towards what could be the most genuinely international series in the history of our sport."

Victoria Racing Club’s Group 1 handicap, run at Flemington on Derby Day, will now be run as the new Weight-For-Age Sprint on Emirates Stakes Day in November 2008.

Leigh Jordon, Director of Racing Operations for Racing Victoria, said: “To have a leg of the Global Sprint Challenge run during Victoria’s prestigious Spring Racing Carnival is further proof of the growing status of the series and shows that the Spring Racing Carnival is a truly international event, which is growing every year. The addition of the famous July Cup to the schedule is also further evidence of the series’ standing on the world racing stage.

“February’s Coolmore Lightning Stakes remains the lead-off race, having launched Choisir’s, Miss Andretti’s and Takeover Target’s Royal Ascot bids in recent years, and the eight-race series culminates with the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint in December.”

Sam Takizawa, Secretary General, JRA, added: “We believe that it is most important for the Global Sprint Challenge structure to be able to promote as many overseas ventures to the four partner countries as possible, to further establish the prestige of the series. We welcome the Darley July Cup and The Age Classic to the Challenge.”

William A Nader, Executive Director of Racing at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, also endorsed the new format for 2008.

“Any move that encourages and strengthens top class international competition will always receive full backing in Hong Kong. Adding these prestigious British and Australian legs not only consolidates the Global Sprint Challenge, but also adds flexibility as far as the US$1 million bonus is concerned,” he said.

“The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint has a tradition of producing champions – Silent Witness and Absolute Champion are recent examples – and it will continue as an essential component in identifying the world’s best sprinters. We look forward to attracting even stronger fields to our signature sprint event on the second Sunday in December.”


COUNTRY
DATE
RACE
Venue
Prizemoney US$^
Australia
Sat 2 Feb
Group 1 Coolmore Lightning Stakes
Flemington
$430,400

UK
Tue 17 Jun
Group 2 King’s Stand Stakes
Royal Ascot
$501,300

UK
Sat 21 Jun
Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes
Royal Ascot
$752,000

UK
Fri 11 Jul
Group 1 Darley July Cup
Newmarket
$802,000

Japan
Sun 14 Sep *
Group 2 Centaur Stakes
Hanshin
$1,111,300

Japan
Sun 5 Oct *
Group 1 Sprinters Stakes
Nakayama
$1,759,570

Australia
Sat 8 Nov
Group 1 The Age Classic (WFA)
Flemington
$430,400

HKJC
Sun 14 Dec
Group 1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint
Sha Tin
$1,500,600
* dates subject to change
^ subject to exchange rates

Global Sprint Challenge Committee Members & Regional Media Contacts:

AustraliaLeigh Jordon Director Racing OperationsRacing Victoria Limited +61 (0) 411 646 187 l.jordon@racingvictoria.net.au

United KingdomNick SmithHead of Public RelationsAscot Racecourse Ltd +44 (0) 7771 791 449 nick.smith@ascot.co.uk

JapanSam Takizawa Secretary General, International Strategy Planning CommitteeJapan Racing Association +81 3 5785 7373mailto:7373inter@jra.go.jp

Hong Kong Mark Player Manager, International Races, Sale & Development The Hong Kong Jockey Club +852 9038 8952 mark.j.player@hkjc.org.hk

Additional Racecourse Contact:NewmarketMichael ProsserDirector of RacingNewmarket+44 7802 844578 Michael.Prosser@jockeyclubracecourses.com

ENDS