Horse Racing Year in Review - 2012

2012 - The Year of Frankel

2012 was well and truly a vintage year for Racing, across both codes we have had some fantastic moments that will live long in the memory even after 2012 is in the rear view mirror.

From the fantastic Frankel on the flat to the monstrous Sprinter Sacre over fences 2012 saw the legacies of some of the best horses in many a year cemented as well as the emergence of a new battalion of potential superstars to take us forward in to 2013.

Here, month by month, we’ll look back at the year that was 2012 and the lows and many highs it brought with it as the sport of kings once again captured the heart and the mind over twelve incredible months.

King George - Grands Crus to Run

Just Crus-in' - Last year's Feltham winner looks outstanding value to follow up in the King George.

David Pipe has today confirmed Grands Crus as a runner in Boxing Day’s showpiece the King George, as the second season chasers look to continue their domination of the season’s big races.

The grey, last seen pulling up in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham, has now had a breathing operation to hopefully cure what seemed to be ailing him on his last two runs.

A hugely impressive winner of the Feltham on the card last year, in which he clocked a faster time than King George winner Kauto Star when handing a comprehensive beating to this season’s Betfair Chase and Hennessy winners Silviniaco Conti and Bobs Worth, Grands Crus looks a huge price on the strength of his best form.

He’s rapidly becoming a cliff horse for me but I can’t shake last year’s Feltham win – and we have seen in recent years how strong a trial that race can be for the King George with ante-post favourite for this year’s race Long Run graduating from winning the Feltham to landing the King George the following year.

Frankie Dettori Banned For Six Months

The worst kept secret in Horse Racing was finally revealed today as the verdict of Frankie Dettori’s France Galop hearing for a failed drugs test back on Arc Trials day in September was announced.

The French authority has issued Dettori with a six month ban that will likely be reciprocated by racing authorities across the globe. France Galop didn’t really have much choice in the matter after issuing Kieren Fallon with the same punishment for a similar offence back in 2006.


On the bright side for Dettori – if there is one – his ban will be backdated to 20th November so will end on 19th May 2013 meaning that although he will miss Guineas weekend and most of the classic trials he will be back for the Derby – if he is able to secure a ride, unlike this year – and his beloved Royal Ascot, so in the grand scheme of things it could have been worse for the newly freelance, three-time champion jockey.

Dettori’s legal representative Christopher Stewart-Moore said in a statement released to the Press Association earlier today: "France Galop have today announced their finding Frankie Dettori has committed a breach of their rules relating to prohibited substances, I have spoken to Frankie since the announcement was made and he has told me he fully accepts France Galop's decision. He also accepts that he has let down the sport he loves and all those associated with it, as well as the wider public. But most of all, and this is his greatest regret, he has let down his wife and children."

France Galop in a statement of their own stated "France Galop stewards have extensively examined the dossier of Lanfranco Dettori on December 4 at France Galop in the presence of his advisor, Mr Christopher Stewart-Moore, and his representative, Mr Herve Naggar. In view of the serious infraction of the rules of racing, the France Galop stewards will allow the jockey to appear before a designated medical commission doctor on April 20, 2013”.

In the wake of his split with Godolphin, Dettori had been well backed to be crowned champion jockey again next year but is now best-priced 66/1 on the back of his likely suspension for the first part of the British flat season.

I had been one of those who had rushed out to back Dettori for the title and though I fully expect him to bounce back and work harder than ever to regain the trust and affection of a sport that not only loves him, but so desperately needs him, the jockeys title is now an almost impossible ask for the 41-year-old.

Weekend Preview - Tingle Creek, Becher, John Durkan

She Sells Sanctuaire - Can the Nicholls bandwagon derail Sprinter Sacre in the Tingle Creek?

With Cheltenham now only ninety-six days away the big weekend’s of racing just keep on coming.

We’ve already seen high class renewals of the Paddy Power Gold Cup, the Betfair Chase and the Hennessy and this weekend allows the 2 mile chasers to strut their stuff in the Tingle Creek at Sandown.

The race doesn’t appeal as much of a betting proposition with the immensely talented Sprinter Sacre a long time, short-priced ante-post favourite for the race, but it does look a race to savour as Nicky Henderson’s unbeaten-over-fences superstar takes on another horse unbeaten over the larger obstacles in Paul Nicholls’ Sanctuaire in what effectively looks a match.

Sanctuaire put up a couple of scintillating performances last season making all to run away with latterly the G2 Celebration Chase at Sandown beating Victor Chandler Chase winner Somersby by 17 lengths.

As good as Somersby is, Sanctuaire has never faced anything like the monster that is Sprinter Sacre but if allowed to go on from the front as he has been before, if his jumping were to hold up round a track notorious for being the ultimate jumping test, he could be the first horse to really trouble Sprinter Sacre over fences; although it looks unlikely with Sprinter Sacre having looked out of this world in his chase career to date.

Betfair Chase 2012 - Big Race Preview

The Full Conti - Rising star Silviniaco Conti locks horns with former Gold Cup winner Long Run in the Betfair Chase.

The 2011 renewal of the Betfair Chase was one of the most emotional afternoons on a race course I’ve witnessed in my admittedly short time as an aficionado of the sport.

The 2012 renewal of the former Lancashire Chase will do well to be even half as epic as last year’s race, but on an afternoon where a statue of the legendary Kauto Star will be unveiled as the four-time winner of the race parades at Haydock a new star could be born from the same yard as King Kauto.

You can see where Kauto Star’s 2011 Betfair Chase ranks among his all-time great performances in my Top 5 Kauto Star Races HERE

The horse that looked like ushering in a new era over jumps when he broke Kauto Star’s heart in the King George and the Gold Cup Long Run makes his eagerly anticipated reappearance in Saturday’s Betfair Chase after somewhat of a lacklustre campaign last season, if you can really call being runner up in this race and the King George, winning the Denman Chase and placing in the Gold Cup ‘lacklustre’ that is.

In spite of Kauto Star’s renaissance last season, Long Run clearly wasn’t quite right and if back to his best this time around he will be very hard to beat on Saturday and is a worthy favourite.

Paddy Power Gold Cup 2012 - Big Race Preview

Lovin' The Crus - Grands Crus looks very well handicapped for Saturday's Paddy Power Gold Cup

In spite of having all but come to an end a couple of weeks ago, the flat season is now officially over for the year, and with that comes a barrage of big Saturday races over obstacles.

The relentless big race run begins on Saturday at Cheltenham’s Open Meeting with the Paddy Power Gold Cup, a race that’s delivered some great moments over the years and has previously been a seasonal starting point for some big names; not least in recent years with subsequent Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander.

This year’s race looks like being another competitive renewal with several big names set to make their seasonal bow in the race.

My Ten To Follow list for the coming jumps season has been going great guns thus far with the first four off it to run all winning first time out, however this Saturday I’ll begrudgingly be hoping that one of my selections off that list doesn’t get the job done in the Paddy Power because Hunt Ball will be taking on my ante-post selection for this race Grands Crus.

Top Ten Performances of the Flat Season

The King - Where does Frankel's Royal Ascot romp rank among the season's best performances?

The curtain is now down on another fantastic flat season, and what a season it has been. Before we turn our attention completely to a National Hunt season that will have a great deal to live up to though, it seemed right to reminisce a little about some of the spectacular performances we have seen on race courses across the globe on the flat over the last seven months.

Here I have compiled a list of my top ten performances from the flat season just gone. The criteria for making the list is somewhat loose, these performances may be worthy of a place due to visual impressiveness, an incredible piece of jockeyship, the strength of the horses that were beaten in attaining victory, it could just be a performance that got to me emotionally or a combination of any or all of the above.

Whichever way, the ten performances from the 2012 flat season listed below will all live long in my memory, and although this is a distinctly personal countdown, I’m sure anyone who bore witness to any of these races also remembers them for their impressiveness, if not quite as vividly as I do.

Top 5 Kauto Star Races

It was mixed emotions yesterday as trainer Paul Nicholls announced the retirement of legendary chaser Kauto Star.

On the one hand it’s a time of sadness as we’ll never again get to see Kauto’s big white face emerge over a fence, but at the same time we have some great memories of his exploits and he can go out a true champion.

Kauto Star’s rise to National Hunt superstardom had almost a direct correlation with my interest in Horse Racing really developing and for that reason he has always held a special place in my heart.

His Boxing Day romps round Kempton in the King George VI Chase became more of a tradition for my family than Christmas lunch itself and the endless joy this horse brought to so many people is a feat rarely seen in Racing.

Kauto’s legend was cemented many years ago but in 2011 he ensured that his name would go down in infamy by bouncing back from the brink of retirement to win a fourth Betfair Chase and an astounding fifth King George, prompting scenes at the Parks of Haydock and Kempton that had to be seen to be believed.

Kauto Star has left a lasting impression on Horse Racing and he’s going to be a nigh-on impossible act to follow, his achievements and exploits will live long in the memory for some time to come though.

Below are, what in my opinion are, Kauto Star’s five greatest races; not necessarily his five greatest performances, because one of the things people loved about Kauto was that he was fallible and had an uncanny ability to bounce back from adversity, but the top five races that left us all with goose bumps as King Kauto thrilled us as he only he could.

Charlie Hall Chase - Big Race Preview

Hi Ho Silviniaco - Silviniaco Conti can land Saturday's Charlie Hall at Wetherby

This weekend is not just about the action Stateside at the Breeder’s Cup, the jumps season also starts to really kick in to gear with some top cards up and down the country.

The Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby is without a doubt the feature race of Saturday and a fantastic renewal looks in prospect with some big names set to take their chance, including last year’s first two home Weird Al and Time For Rupert.

It shows the depth of the potential line-up for this year’s race that those two Gold Cup horses are being usurped for favouritism this time around by the gambled upon Silviniaco Conti from the all-conquering Paul Nicholls yard.

The six-year-old has been well backed all week and the fact that Ruby Walsh has opted to head up to Wetherby for this race rather than heading south for an all round better card at Ascot looks a tip in itself.

Not that you need to read too much in to things in order to be able to back this horse because on the strength of his demolition job of a decent enough field at Aintree in his last start as a novice last season he’s probably deserving of the punt currently being taken on him.

Breeder's Cup 2012 Preview

Wise Move - Wise Dan leads the American charge at the Breeder's Cup this weekend.

Regular readers will know I have more than keen interest in American racing so this weekend’s 29th Breeder’s Cup is like Christmas come early for me.

On Friday and Saturday the 2nd and 3rd of November the top horses in North America, and some of the best horses from around the world, will descend on the beautiful Santa Anita Park racetrack in California for the annual thoroughbred World Championships.

Over the years the Breeder’s Cup has given some fantastic, unforgettable and iconic moments and the coverage of this spectacular event really is second to none. This year’s Breeder’s Cup looks set to be another incredible instalment with some of the world’s best race horses set to battle it out round the turns of Santa Anita.

The British & Irish challenge is typically strong but with Longchamp’s Arc meeting and Champions Day so close to the American racing showpiece the transatlantic raiding party is no longer quite what it used to be. Although we have some of our best in this year’s raiding party, 2012 looks to me to be a year where the home team will dominate proceedings.

Racing Post Trophy - Kingsbarns Gamble Continues

Kings Ransom? - Supplemented Kingsbarns continues to be well backed for the Racing Post Trophy

The money continued to pour in today for Aidan O’Brien’s supplemented Racing Post Trophy contender Kingsbarns.

Along with Richard Hannon’s Van Der Neer, the once-raced, unbeaten colt was supplemented for the Group 1 contest yesterday at a cost of £17,500 and immediately caused a stir with bookies.

Last night Bet365 had Kingsbarns as low as 3/1 while Coral still had him at 6/1, with several other bookies scattered in between those prices. Today the money has continued to come for the impressive Navan-winner and he is now clear favourite and no bigger than 5/2, with Coral still top-price – the 5/2 is also available with Boylesports at the time of writing.

Kingsbarns is as short as 2/1 with most of the other high street bookies with former favourite Battle Of Marengo now on the drift along with the majority of the rest of the field; although there has been money for Mark Johnston’s tough Steeler and Jim Bolger’s Future Champions Day winner Trading Leather in places.

The Kingsbarns supplementation and subsequent gamble raises a number of intriguing questions, was O’Brien lacking in confidence in his other entries for the race or does he just want to give himself maximum opportunity to take home the £122,494 on offer for the winner given how close the trainer’s championship is at present?

After Kingsbarns’ Navan romp Joseph O’Brien reportedly suggested that although he was still quite green the horse would maybe be put away for the season with any eye on next year – he is currently 20/1 for next year’s Derby.
Thus it is a little surprising to see him supplemented for a race the O’Brien team already have such a strong hand in.

The way the money has piled on the horse in the last twenty four hours though suggests that for most people this will be Aidan O’Brien’s best chance of victory in a race he won last year with a very lightly raced horse called Camelot.

QIPCO British Champions Day - The Big Punt Podcast

Tomorrow is QIPCO British Champions Day, the now traditional curtain call for the British flat season. This year's sophomore instalment of the richest day in British flat racing has the added excitement of a certain horse called Frankel's last ever race.

In the latest edition of The Big Punt podcast we offer tips and analysis for all six races across the Champions Day card including the mighty Frankel's race the Champion Stakes.

You can download the latest edition of The Big Punt podcast HERE

QIPCO Champion’s Day Preview

Heroes - Frankel and Sir Henry Cecil can light up Champion's Day again

The British flat season is drawing to a close after another fantastic summer of racing but domestic racing’s richest day is yet to come, and this year QIPCO Champion’s Day can become even bigger and better than last year’s spectacular curtain-raiser.

Five Group races across one fantastic card plus the world’s greatest race horse’s suspected final run equals an afternoon more than capable of rivalling the greatest racing from around the world.

Frankel lit up Champion’s Day last year with an imperious performance in the QEII and he looks set to do just the same and then some in 2012, before he takes centre stage one last time though there is the small matter of four other Group races, including another Group 1 to get through.

Here, in race order, are the odds, some analysis and betting guidance for the sophomore year of British Champion’s Day.

Future Champion’s Day – Preview

Make it a Double - Unbeaten colts Reckless Abandon and Dawn Approach are the stars of Future Champion's Day

One week before the biggest day in the UK flat racing calendar: QIPCO Champion’s Day at Ascot, some of the horses that may be starring at Champion’s Day in twelve months time get the chance to strut their stuff on Future Champion’s Day at Newmarket.

The highlights of the day, primarily for two-year-olds, are the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes and the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes; but there are four other Group races on the card (2 Group 2s and 2 Group 3s) as well as the Cesarewitch the great staying handicap.

Although the Challenge, the Autumn, the Rockfell and the Darley Stakes all look set to be great races in their own right, as well as the Cesarewitch being as competitive as usual (I like Triumph Hurdle winner Countrywide Flame for that for what it’s worth), it is the two Group 1s I want to focus on here as both feature an unbeaten star two-year-old.

Ten To Follow - Jumps Season 2012-2013

On The Hunt - The highly progressive Hunt Ball looks one to watch this season.

The flat season is by no means over but the return of the jumps season proper is very nearly upon us.

Following the exploits of Frankel, Camelot et al this summer, the jumps stars have a lot to live up to but with us still in the midst of a golden generation of National Hunt horses there is every chance that they can put up a campaign to rival the fireworks we’ve seen on the flat in 2012.

With the more household names of recent years coming to the twilight of their careers or retired already, a new wave of jumping superstars are ascending to the throne and I’ve decided to highlight ten of them.

These are by no means under the radar horses and aren’t exactly radical or original choices, but they are perhaps not quite as well known as some of their peers yet still look set for a huge 2012-2013 campaign.

So in no particular order let’s take a look at ten to follow for the upcoming jumps season:-

Prix De L'Arc De Triomphe - Big Race Preview

Arc of the Coveted - Can Shareta go one better than last year in the Arc?

It’s a shame that last year’s impressive winner Danedream will miss the chance to defend her Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe crown this Sunday due a freak twist of fate that will keep her from travelling.

One reason for that being that one can argue that this year’s Arc looks somewhat lacklustre in some respects and she would have been a big story going in to the race and thus adding an extra dimension to proceedings. The other reason being that with Danedream in the field disputing favouritism, some pretty juicy prices were available on some of the other contenders.

With my ante-post pick Snow Fairy also already ruled out, it’s been back to the drawing board in recent days in trying to find the winner of this year’s Longchamp spectacular.

It’s been a difficult market to weigh up for some time, with high-profile defectors and a huge question mark still hanging over Camelot’s participation; even now despite being left in the race at the forfeit stage whether the 2000 Guineas and Derby winner will take his chance remains up in the air.

Chantal Sutherland Jocked Off Game On Dude

Game Over - Chantal Sutherland has lost the ride on Game On Dude

In a bit of a sad, but not all that surprising announcement it’s been revealed that America’s golden girl of Racing Chantal Sutherland has lost the ride on Breeder’s Cup Classic favourite Game On Dude.

Bob Baffert’s star horse will now be ridden by Rafael Bejarano as the Baffert team bid to go one better than last year and land the Classic in their own backyard.

Sutherland was widely criticised for her ride on Game On Dude in last month’s Pacific Classic as she dropped a rein in the closing moments of the race and ended up getting collared by Dullahan.

There were many commenting in the aftermath of that race that she’d lose the ride as a result and those views have been proven correct now.

Baffert is quoted as saying "Rafael is our main rider and we wanted to have our number one rider on our number one horses. With the big fall races coming up, we just felt comfortable having Rafael on Game On Dude” as a way of explanation for the change.

Sutherland has already tweeted “I am sad I have lost the opportunity to ride the "Dude"...I'm sure he will continue to be the champion I know him to be” so is clearly disappointed to have lost the ride on her flagship mount.

Game On Dude is unbeaten in four starts at Santa Anita, home to this year’s Breeder’s Cup, and looks to hold an outstanding chance in an open year of atoning for his narrow second to Drosselmeyer last year, even more so now with one of North America’s top jockeys on board.

St. Leger - The Big Punt Podcast

The latest edition of The Big Punt podcast is now available for download.

This installment is a 'St. Leger Special' and features extensive coverage of the St. Leger as Camelot bids for an historic Triple Crown success; there's also analysis of the Irish St. Leger which takes place at The Curragh later in the day.

In addition to the Racing chat, there is also my annual ante-post Strictly Come Dancing preview and we finish by cleaning up the sequins and having a look at the price for the re-election of US President Barack Obama with the election looming later in the year.

Racing, Dancing and Politics - what's not to like!?

You can download the latest edition of The Big Punt podcast HERE 

St. Leger 2012 - Big Race Preview

Date With Destiny - The Legend of Camelot can be cemented in the St. Leger

The final classic of the season takes place at Town Moor on Saturday and the stage is set for history to be made as Camelot bids to become the first Triple Crown winner since the legendary Nijinksy 42 years ago.

In all honesty the classic generation across the globe this year looks to have been a somewhat weak one and Camelot has stood head and shoulders above most of his peers.

How good he is we won’t quite know until he takes on the older horses for the first time but here back in against his fellow three-year-olds once again he looks impossible to oppose.

Given the prices opposing him is what the punters are going to have to do; all the while sentimentally hoping he can make history.

In taking Camelot on though we’ll have to clutch at the factors that could feasibly conspire to get the wonder-horse beaten; and above all else it’s the distance that is an unknown with him.

He certainly looks as though he can stay a bit further than he’s raced to date, given that he hardly looked like he was coming to the end of his rope when winning the Derby but his breeding doesn’t scream stayer (although Fame And Glory has proved Montjeu’s do stay long distances).

If the ground slows up at all, which it could given the forecast in the North over the coming days, as he showed in the Irish Derby when toiling a little on bottomless ground he’s hardly invincible if the ground is softer than ideal and ground combined with trip could see his stamina pushed to the limit.

All told though he should win against, what in my opinion looks a weak field from a weak generation, and it’d be astounding if Ballydoyle hadn’t prepared him for every ground eventuality that could occur.

Nothing is for certain though and with him taking a huge chunk out of the market and enough runners to pay three places there is a great deal of each way value to plunder.

Snow Fairy Wins Irish Champion Stakes

Fairy-Tale - Snow Fairy's incredible story continued as she won the Irish Champion Stakes

The remarkable Snow Fairy went one better than last year by landing the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday evening.

Ridden to Group 1 success for the first time by a jockey other than Ryan Moore, she travelled in to the race supremely well under Frankie Dettori and accounted for the brave Nathaniel by 1 ¼ lengths.

Snow Fairy had given us an epic battle in the race twelve months earlier when she just failed to reel in globe-trotting superstar So You Think but there was no such trouble this year. Nathaniel went on from Ballydoyle pacemaker Daddy Long Legs on the turn for home but looked in trouble pushed along in front.

Frankie and Snow Fairy soon cruised up alongside William Buick’s mount though and although for a brief moment it looked like the gutsy Nathaniel may battle back she soon got to the front hitting top gear and landing her seventh Group 1, taking her career earnings past the £4 million mark in the process.

St. Nicholas Abbey was ¾ of a length back in third having finished with a flurry and losing nothing in another defeat at the top level. Nathaniel also lost nothing in defeat having tried to force the issue on ground less than ideal and over arguably not his optimum trip.

John Gosden had been keen to point out this was a prep for an Arc tilt next month and was reportedly delighted with his charge’s performance.

Nathaniel is now best-priced 8/1 for the Arc while Snow Fairy, incredibly, can still be backed at 10/1, which I still think is cracking value in spite of having put her up when she was available at 20/1 for the Arc following her Romanet win last month.

Irish Champion Stakes - Big Race Preview

Dream Team - Can Gosden, Buick and Nathaniel land more Group 1 Glory?

The Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock (the preview for which you can read here) is not the only Group 1 action in the UK and Ireland this Saturday as later in the day there is also the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

Won last year by the superstar So You Think after an epic battle with Snow Fairy, the Irish version of the Champion Stakes never quite attracts the calibre of field that our equivalent does but this year’s renewal has the hallmarks of being a fascinating affair.

Currently heading the market, and rightly so, is Eclipse winner and narrow King George second Nathaniel, who has ducked a showdown with Frankel in favour of crossing the Irish Sea for his next shot at Group 1 glory.

Ultra-consistent at this level and better than ever this season it’s hard to see past John Gosden’s stable star. He was beaten only a whisker by one of the world’s leading fillies Danedream in the King George and once again showed all the heart that we’ve come to expect from him even in defeat.

Until his Eclipse win I’d always thought him to be better at 1m4f than at 1m2f but like Frankel I now believe he can operate at the highest level over both distances.

Super-fast ground could potentially be a problem on Saturday, especially as one or two of the others perhaps possess more speed than Nathaniel but I would expect at least a bit of give in the ground and any sort of stamina test is only going to play in to Nathaniel’s hands.

William Buick’s dashing over from Haydock to take the ride on his old partner and the stars look to be aligned for another Gosden-Buick Group 1 victory in a landmark season that seems to be showing no signs of slowing down as we build towards a final showdown with Frankel on Champion’s Day.

If Nathaniel is to be beaten on Saturday Ed Dunlop’s super-mare Snow Fairy looks to be the one with the best chance of claiming his notable scalp.

Betfred Sprint Cup - Big Race Preview

Waiting with Bated Breath - Can last year's 2nd go one better in the Sprint Cup?

Before Betfred’s purchase of the Tote, the Sprint Cup used to be their showpiece sponsorship event.

Although no longer Betfred’s top race the Sprint Cup at Haydock remains a highlight of the flat season and one of the premier sprint races in the world.

Normally a thoroughly competitive affair – look no further than last year’s controversial three-way photo finish for proof of that – this year’s renewal looks a lot easier to solve due to the presence of Aussie super-mare Ortensia who is dangerously close to stealing the mighty Black Caviar’s limelight on these shores.

She had looked back to somewhere near her best when winning at Glorious Goodwood and was definitely back to her best when coming from almost last to first showing an incredible turn of foot when winning the Nunthorpe at York last month.

Although now stepping up to 6f if she’s in anything like that sort of form she should win again. Worries could be the ground if too soft, but it’s been drier lately and she proved she can cope with cut in the ground – in spite of her trainer’s protestations – when winning the Nunthorpe.

Akeed Mofeed Sold to Hong Kong

Far East Movement - Akeed Mofeed will continue his Racing career in Hong Kong.

Leading three-year-old Akeed Mofeed has been sold to race in the Far East by owner-breeder Jaber Abdullah; the Irish Derby fourth has been bought by a patron of trainer Richard Gibson according to At The Races and will now do his racing in Hong Kong.

Akeed Mofeed was at one time a lot of people’s (including me) idea of a Classic contender. Trained by John Oxx, he impressed when winning by five lengths at Leopardstown last September but was then undone by unsuitable ground when second to Aidan O’Brien’s David Livingston Gp2 Beresford Stakes at The Curragh.

A number of small injuries delayed his Classic campaign by a few months before he finally returned to the track in the Irish Derby where he looked in need of a run as he trailed in behind Camelot.

Earlier this month he looked back to somewhere near his best though when he scooted home by five lengths in a Cork Listed race, that’s probably the last we’ll see of him on these shores though.

The ATR website quotes Abdullah’s Racing Manager Bruce Raymond as saying "We've sold him to race in Hong Kong. He's been bought by trainer Richard Gibson for one of his owners… It was a good offer and Jaber has the mare… Akeed Mofeed was home bred, he's got a lot of horses and this is the time to sell…I think he'll be a very good horse in Hong Kong at a mile and a mile and a quarter. He's got a lot of speed and fast ground will suit him out there."

It’s a shame we won’t get to see Akeed Mofeed achieve his true potential domestically but hopefully he’ll live up to what he looked like achieving at two in pastures new.

Breeder’s Cup Classic 2012 Odds

Game On - Breeder's Cup Classic prices are out and Pacific Classic 1-2 Dullahan and Game On Dude are both prominent in the market.

William Hill have become the first bookie to price up the 2012 Breeder’s Cup Classic this afternoon; and they deserve praise for doing so.

The race has lost some of it’s strength this year with so many of this year’s top US three-year-olds already in retirement and the world’s greatest horse Frankel snubbing it; but while The Breeder’s Cup may have lost some of its appeal in some quarters on these shores, especially with the introduction of Champion’s Day, it remains one of the highlights of the season for me and this year’s renewal looks like being a cracking, and open, race.

My fancy for the race has been Game On Dude for quite some time and that hasn’t wavered in spite of his ½ length loss to Dullahan in last weekend’s Pacific Classic at Del Mar.

Last year’s second must have a great chance of gaining compensation for his narrow defeat twelve months ago with the Breeder’s Cup now switched back to his backyard of Santa Anita.

Hills obviously share those sentiments as they have put him in as the 7/1 favourite, with Triple Crown chasing Camelot in just behind at 8/1 – will Ballydoyle risk their star across the Atlantic once the Triple Crown bid is put to bed? You’d have to think they’d fancy their chances in an open year but with or without the added interest of a UK or Irish runner the Breeder’s Cup Classic looks like being another great race.

Breeder’s Cup Classic 2012 – Selected Odds (William Hill):

Game On Dude 7/1

Camelot 8/1

Fort Larned 8/1

Ron The Greek 8/1

Dullahan 10/1

Wise Dan 10/1

Mucho Macho Man 12/1

Alpha 16/1

Imperial Monarch 16/1

Richards Kid 20/1

Flat Out 25/1

To Honor And Serve 25/1

St. Leger Confirmations – Camelot Still on Course for Triple Crown

Lot of History - Camelot remains on course to make history in the St. Leger

Camelot’s historic Triple Crown remains on course as he tops the list of sixteen remaining entries for the St Leger at Doncaster in two and a half weeks following today’s confirmation stage.

The unbeaten Aidan O'Brien colt is bidding to become the first horse since Nijinsky in 1970 to complete the Triple Crown following his victories in the 2000 Guineas and the Derby.

The odds on ante-post favourite heads a particularly strong team still in the race from Ballydoyle, with six of the remaining horses coming from the O’Brien yard, they are: Grand Prix de Paris winner Imperial Monarch, Chamonix, David Livingston, Father Of Science and Offer.

I personally think they’d be mad to run Imperial Monarch as he is better than being a back-up to Camelot and has another big race win in him elsewhere before the season is through, but any one or more of the remainder could be sacrificed as pacemaker(s) for Camelot.

Travers Dead-Heat

Too Close to Call - Alpha and Golden Ticket dead-heated in the Travers

Alpha failed to step up to the plate and establish himself as the leading American three-year-old still in training last night in the $1 million Travers Stakes, in spite of technically winning the race.

The reason being that 33/1 outsider Golden Ticket managed to hang on in the straight to force the G1 contest’s first ever official dead heat.

With Triple Crown race winners I’ll Have Another and Union Rags now in the breeding sheds as well the highly thought of Bodemeister and last year’s champion Hansen there is a huge gap in the three-year-old ranks across the Atlantic now and this was supposed to be Alpha’s time to shine.

Having landed the Jim Dandy at the same track at the end of last month Alpha was supposed to confirm he was the last leading three-year-old standing in the Travers; and although he showed heart to reel in his shock co-winner Golden Ticket having looked like he’d left it too late, it was still disappointing he was unable to win the race in more dominant and definitive style.

A 50/50 share of the $800,000 winner’s prize money will surely feel like a win for both sets of connections and it probably was a fair result in the end, although a yard or so further 2/1 favourite Alpha would have won.

Tradition dictates that a canoe is painted in the colours of the Travers winners silks and floated in the pond in the middle of the track, for the first time two canoes will be there but we are still without one truly stand-out three-year-old in America.

Ortensia Wins the Nunthorpe

Aussie Rules - Ortensia won the Nunthorpe for Australia

Australian mare Ortensia finally landed a big Group 1 sprint in the UK earlier when she flew home to win the Nunthorpe on day three of York’s Ebor Festival under William Buick.

Ortensia had been in Britain since her impressive win in the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan at the end of March to contest all the big summer sprint prizes.

She first headed to Royal Ascot for the King’s Stand as many people’s idea of the winner only to lose the race before the off by getting worked up in the preliminaries. It was the July Cup next, where she ran well but was undone by the bog-like ground that day and finished fourth.

Ortensia bounced back to form last time out though winning the Group 2 King George Stakes at Glorious Goodwood with an impressive display, and in spite of much doom and gloom from her trainer Paul Messara about the ground for today’s race she has now gone one better than Goodwood by landing a Group 1 prize in the UK.

Sent off the joint 7/2 favourite with Bated Breath – who once again didn’t get his ground – Ortensia looked like she had a mountain to climb some ten lengths off a blistering pace at the half way point.

Buick remained cool as ever though and pushed her along and the mare responded in fantastic style to sprout wings and get home by a neck from Spirit Quartz (14/1) and Frankie Dettori.

Yorkshire-trained Hamish McGonagall (14/1) was third and outsider Humidor (50/1) nabbed fourth.

Of the other fancied runners Bated Breath was sixth, Sole Power seventh and the previously unbeaten Pearl Secret was a perhaps disappointing ninth of the nineteen runners; you could pretty much have thrown a blanket over everything from fifth down to twelfth though.

Frankel Arc Run - Pros and Cons

Internationally Known - After his Juddmonte demolition job could Frankel go for the Arc?

On the back of his effortless victory in the Juddmonte International talk has swirled of a potential extra date on the Frankel retirement tour – a tilt at the Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe at Longchamp on 7th October.

In the wake of his destruction of the Juddmonte field Frankel wasn’t trending on twitter but the word Arc was, just showing how desperate people are to see the world’s greatest racehorse take on the cream of Europe, and the world’s middle distance horses.

If Frankel were to run – he’s currently put in for the race at ridiculously short prices – it would be a drastic departure from a very strategic plan that was laid out for his four-year-old campaign right from the start of the season.

Some would argue that would be a great move as it would show people that Frankel can win at any distance at any time but Sir Henry Cecil is a master of his craft and surely any deviation from what was obviously a well-thought out battle plan for 2012 would not be taken lightly.

I have compiled a list of 5 pros and 5 cons for and against a Frankel run in this year’s Arc, and strong arguments can be made on both sides...

Juddmonte International - Frankel Wins

Moves Like Frankel - Frankel took his winning run to 13 with victory in the Juddmonte International

Earlier this afternoon Frankel took his winning streak to a very lucky 13 out of 13 as he took the step up to 1m2f in his impressive stride to land the race sponsored by his owners the Juddmonte International on the first day of York's Ebor Festival.

For many the outcome was never in doubt but a few had cast doubt over whether he would stay the extra distance or whether he would fall foul of Balydoyle's most sustained attempt yet to get him beat.

There were a number of pacemaking angles in the race and the Ballydoyle two Windsor Palace and Robin Hood went to the front early with Frankel's pacemaker Bullet Train in behind. Frankel's main challengers Farhh and St. Nicholas Abbey sat a couple of lengths behind them with Frankel held up near the back.

On the turn Frankel tracked St. Nicholas Abbey and soon strode clear though with the chasing pack following in vain, eventually running clear by seven lengths to return the red-hot 1/10 favourite, with Farhh (10/1) in second and St. Nic (5/1) in third.

If reports are to be believed this was Frankel's penultimate race, with only the Champion Stakes on Champion's Day left for the world's greatest racehorse before retirement at the end of the season.

If that is the case then although his campaign has been a bit safer than some would have liked, he owes us nothing as he has gained mainstream media coverage for Racing that the Racing For Change lot could only have dreamed of.

He truly is the greatest flat horse we will probably see in this lifetime and it's been a privilege to be able to enjoy him.

Earlier on the card old stalwart Tax Free landed a deserved win in the opening 5f handicap before Dundonnell carried the Frankel colours to victory in the Acomb. William Buick then nicked the Great Voltigeur with a brilliant ride to steer rank outsider Thought Worthy to victory to further muddy the waters in the battle for minor honours behind Camelot in the St. Leger. 

This day belonged to one horse though and his name is Frankel.   

Bodemeister Retired

Bode Farewell - Dual US classic placed Bodemeister has been retired

Kentucky Derby and Preakness second Bodemeister has been retired to stud it has been announced today.

The Bob Baffert-trained colt has an injury to his left shoulder thought to be “peripheral nerve damage which caused atrophy of the infraspinatus muscle” according to Dr. Larry Bramlage from Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital.

Bodemeister has begun treatment and a full recovery is expected, but not before the end of the season, so the decision has been made to retire him to stud as an exciting stallion prospect.

The Arkansas Derby winner was narrowly beaten at the wire by I’ll Have Another in the first two American classics of the season, and like his conqueror in those two epic races it appears that duel has now got the better of him.

The same trainer-jockey-owner combo have the quite auspicious record of filling second place in all three American classics this season as Paynter too was narrowly pipped by the now also retired Union Rags in the Belmont later in the year.

It’s a great shame that the three top three-year-old colts from 2012 are already in early-retirement, but all three should prove popular commodities in the breeding sheds; Bodemeister in particular will be especially sought after given his incredible speed.

It may only have been a short career but Bodemeister was partly responsible for two of the most exciting classic races in recent memory and retires with over $1.3 million in prize money to his name.

Snow Fairy - Prix De L'Arc De Triomphe - Ante-Post Focus

Snow Joke - Snow Fairy looks a good bet for this year's Arc

With Camelot a relatively strong favourite for the race and thus taking quite a large chunk out of the market but with enough reasonable doubt to suggest he’s by no means a definite starter, there is certainly value to be had in the betting for this year’s Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe at present.

Obviously the Longchamp showpiece would be an obvious target for Aidan O’Brien’s all-conquering three-year-old but if he was to win the Leger would Ballydoyle risk defeat in such a competitive race when they have several other arrows to fire in October the 7th race?

O’Brien and Coolmore have never been afraid of running their best horses in the Arc but in a sport that is putting more and more of an unnecessary emphasis on undefeated streaks I can’t help but feel Camelot’s participation in this year’s Arc is less nailed on than people may think, and given that he’s currently 3/1 ante-post favourite for the race that means there is massive value to be found in the ante-post market for the race as things stand.

And my idea of the best bet at the current prices?

On the strength of last weekend’s hugely impressive comeback performance, step forward last year’s third in the race SNOW FAIRY.

Ebor Festival - Day One Declarations

Frankel My Dear - Frankel will face eight in the Juddmonte

The declarations have been confirmed for day one of York’s Ebor Festival on Wednesday and the three Group races on the card look to be small but select fields.

In the Group 3 Acomb Stakes at 2.30pm five will go to post, Aidan O’Brien’s Alfonso De Sousa, American Impact, Dundonnell for the Roger Charlton team, Ebn Arab and Steeler for Mark Johnston.

The Group 2 Great Voltigeur – viewed by many as the predominant St. Leger trial will see six very talented three-year-olds go to post; they are: Royal Ascot winner Thomas Chippendale and Frankel’s brother Noble Mission – both for Sir Henry Cecil, Thought Worthy for John Gosden and William Buick, Derby second Main Sequence (currently favourite for the race) and Encke and the supplemented Energizer for the Godolphin team.

The day’s feature the Juddmonte International will see eight horses taking on the all-conquering Frankel as he tackles 1m2f for the first time. They include Frankel’s pacemaker Bullet Train and stable mate Twice Over (last year’s winner), Planteur – who will want rain, Sri Putra, Farhh – who Frankel destroyed over a mile in the Sussex Stakes and three from Ballydoyle, headed by St. Nicholas Abbey who is capable of giving Frankel his sternest test to date if on song. O’Brien also runs Windsor Palace and Robin Hood who are both no doubt in there to try and make things as difficult for Frankel as possible by challenging Bullet Train for pace-making duties.

Wednesday’s card is completed by three ultra-competitive handicaps, Roger Charlton holding a particularly strong hand in the opener with Rex Imperator and Zero Money, Triumph Hurdle winner Countrywide Flame could be an interesting contender in the staying handicap that follows the Juddmonte off a very lenient flat mark and in the lucky last Sir Michael Stoute’s Sir John Hawkwood looks to hold a great chance and could go off favourite.

You can read my ante-post preview of the Ebor Festival from last week here

Ebor Festival Preview - The Big Punt

The Big Punt Podcast is back and bigger than ever! You can now download the latest installment which focuses on next week's Ebor Festival from York.

All the big races are covered from an ante-post perspective:- The Juddmonte International featuring the mighty Frankel, St. Leger trial the Great Voltigeur, the Nunthorpe and the week's feature the Ebor.

There is also further ante-post analysis of the market for the season's final classic the St. Leger, as well as some season long bets for the new football season.

Download The Big Punt - Ebor Festival Preview HERE

Hayley Turner Wins Beverly D Stakes on I’m A Dreamer

Dream Performance - I'm A Dreamer and Hayley Turner winning the Beverly D last night

Hayley Turner became the first female jockey to land the G1 $750,000 Beverly D Stakes last night as she partnered David Simcock’s I’m A Dreamer to victory in the sister race to the Arlington Million.

Turner made history last season by landing not one but two Group 1 races over the summer and she’s at it again this year, proving herself to be one of the top jockeys in the world and boosting her international reputation in the process; given how important she is to the sport off the track that can only be a good thing.

Turner had I’m A Dreamer in mid-field for most of the 1m1½f race before sending her to the front on the home turn, I’m A Dreamer battled on well to hold of the late thrust of Marketing Mix to record the historic win. Joviality, another British raider, was third for William Buick and John Gosden.

Later on the Chicago card a strong European raiding party were wired by a domestic horse as Little Mike made all to take home the feature race. Luca Cumani’s Afsare was second while Colombian for Buick and Gosden again dead-heated for third.

Earlier on the card Jakkalberry won the inaugural running of the American St. Leger for Marco Botti with Colm O’Donoghue on board and French raider Bayrir took the Secretariat Stakes under Christophe Lemaire.

Last night also saw a little bit of history made as Lingfield’s feature – reduced to a match after a non-runner – ended in a dead-heat between Godolphin’s Snowboarder (Frankie Dettori) and Mick Channon’s Ayaar (Martin Harley), surely the first time a match has produced a dead-heat.

All this after another top Saturday of domestic action, which included Melbourne Cup favourite Mount Athos cementing himself at the head of that market with a runaway win in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury.

Poor jockey judgement from the likes of Ryan Moore led to a huge upset in the Hungerford Stakes on the same card as Clive Cox’s 25/1 outsider Lethal Force was given too much rope at the front and hung on to win by a neck from the fast-finishing Strong Suit under Moore. Strong Suit at least looked close to being back to his best but it was a result that never should’ve been allowed to happen.

Up at Yorkshire’s Garden Racecourse Ripon meanwhile, Pepper Lane notched back to back wins in the Great St. Wilfrid holding off the veteran Tax Free to win at 20/1.