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South China Morning Post
a day ago
- South China Morning Post
Al-Hilal sanctioned for skipping Hong Kong-hosted Saudi Super Cup, blaming Club World Cup
Al-Hilal will be banned from next year's Saudi Super Cup if they qualify, after their recent withdrawal from this month's four-team competition in Hong Kong. The Saudi Arabia Football Federation's (SAFF) disciplinary and ethics committee announced the decision on Tuesday. It came after holders Al-Hilal pulled out of the Super Cup, scheduled to be played in Hong Kong from August 19 to 23, citing player fatigue following their Club World Cup campaign. They lost 2-1 to Fluminense in the quarter-finals on July 4. 'Al-Hilal refused to participate in the Saudi Super Cup for the 2025-2026 season after the official schedule for the competition was issued,' the disciplinary committee said in a statement. Al-Hilal's Marcos Leonardo scores against Manchester City at the Club World Cup. Photo: Reuters 'As a result, the committee ruled that Al-Hilal had violated Article (59-3) of the Disciplinary and Ethics Regulations and fined the club 500,000 Saudi Riyals (US$133,000) to be paid to the SAFF,' the statement added.
South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- South China Morning Post
Master trainer Aidan O'Brien holds aces in France and Germany's simulcast Group Ones on Sunday
Aidan O'Brien is one again one of the main players in a European Group One. Photo: Kenneth Chan Aidan O'Brien is hunting down his third Group One Prix Rothschild (1,600m) at Deauville on Sunday and looks to hold the aces with his progressive three-year-old January. The top trainer is a force wherever he sends runners in Europe and January, who has been threatening to break her Group One duck, will be ridden by French ace Christophe Soumillon. She has shown improved form this season, building on a modest reappearance by finishing second in the Group One Coronation Stakes (1,600m) at Royal Ascot before filling the same position in the Group One Falmouth Stakes (1,600m) at Newmarket. Like many of O'Brien's horses, she has improved steadily with age and experience, and O'Brien is hoping for further progress. 🔵 Cinderella's Dream - back in business with @Tattersalls1766 Falmouth Stakes glory — Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 11, 2025 'A mile is really her trip. We're getting closer step by step. It's always a little frustrating to come so close, but she ran very well. She's improving, and we're on the right path,' said O'Brien after her Falmouth run. The French challenge is a strong one too, with the now Francis-Henri Graffard-trained Matilda leading the charge under Maxime Guyon. She was previously trained by Yasmin Almenrader in Germany and was building into a really smart operator, most recently winning the Group Two German 2,000 Guineas at Cologne against the boys by six and a half lengths. The Graffard team also runs Mandanaba, who was last seen finishing second in the Group One Prix de Diane (2,000m) and is set to be suited by the drop back to the mile. HK Racing News Get updates direct to your inbox Sign up Best Bets Racing News By registering you agree to our T&Cs & Privacy Policy Error: Please enter a valid email. The email address is already in use. Please login to subscribe. Error, please try again later. THANK YOU You are one the list. The British raiding party is led by the Karl Burke-trained Fallen Angel, who was a Group One winner in Ireland last year. A fine performance from the British runner Fallen Angel in the Group 1 @MoyglareStud Stakes, earning a second winner of a memorable weekend for @karl_burke, Danny Tudhope and @ClipperPlc #IrishChampionsFestival — The Curragh Racecourse (@curraghrace) September 10, 2023 Her most recent run saw her finish third in the Group Two Duke Of Cambridge Stakes (1,600m) at Royal Ascot and her trainer is optimistic a big run. 'Even though we're keen to try her over 2,000 metres, we know that on softer ground, she has enough speed to run very well over the mile,' Burke said. There is also simulcast action in Germany from Düsseldorf, with the feature being the Group One Preis der Diana (2,200m). O'Brien once again has a big chance with the improving Group Two Ribblesdale Stakes (2,400m) winner Garden Of Eden, though she has drawn wide under Ryan Moore. Other big chances include the Charlie Appleby-trained Spirited Style, a Listed winner last time out, and the home team's Lady Charlotte, who was unbeaten before her fair run in the Group One Deutsches Derby (2,400m) last month.
South China Morning Post
6 days ago
- South China Morning Post
Whirl powers through Goodwood thunderstorm to ease away with the Nassau Stakes
Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien teamed up for more Group One glory. Photo: Reuters Aidan O'Brien's rising star made light work of difficult conditions on the third day of the elite festival Whirl made quick work of torrential conditions at Glorious Goodwood to win the Group One Nassau Stakes (2,000m) in impressive fashion on Wednesday. Biblical rain, thanks to a heavy thunderstorm, saw racegoers cowering indoors before the race, and the Nassau itself was delayed for 10 minutes with lightning in the area. None of that – including a flag start due to safety concerns – fazed Aidan O'Brien's $1.7 favourite, who went straight to the lead under Ryan Moore and was never seriously challenged. A filly ON A ROLL 🟦🟧 𝑾𝒉𝒊𝒓𝒍 bags a second Group 1 as she runs away with the @Qatar_Racing Nassau Stakes.@WorldPool | @Goodwood_Races — Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 31, 2025 Moore bagged the coveted stand's rail as he led the field into the straight and powered through the mud to record back-to-back Group One wins, leaving Cercene trailing five lengths behind in second for trainer Joseph Murphy. The race was billed as a clash between Whirl and the Andrew Balding-trained See The Fire, but that battle never materialised after the latter blew the flag start and could only finish third. 'She's understated – that's just her nature. She's been coming along in the shadows and nothing seems to bother her,' O'Brien told Racing Post. 'She's hardy and keeps turning up. She's pretty unusual and has an unbelievable mind. She didn't even know she'd had a race.' He started in the sunshine but finished in a storm 🌧️ Coventry Stakes 3rd Coppull stays on strongly up the stands' rail to land the G2 Richmond Stakes 🟥⬜️@davidprobert9 | @Qatar_Racing | @Goodwood_Races — Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 31, 2025 On the same card, Coppull also braved the conditions for a convincing win in the Group Two Richmond Stakes (1,400m). Clive Cox's debut winner ran a brilliant race to finish third in the Group Two Coventry Stakes (1,400m) at Royal Ascot and took another step forward to record a facile all-the-way two-length success up the stand's rail. 'I was worried about soft ground because he's got such a beautiful action on a nice surface. He's very quick and did that really well,' Cox told Racing TV. 'I think he's very gifted and he's a proper six-furlong horse so usual plans from here, Middle Park will be the end goal.'
