Latest news with #SpicyMarg
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
HK racing off-season update: Harry Bentley gets Group One call up, Karis Teetan heads to Japan
Harry Bentley will bid for Group One glory at York this week. Photos: Kenneth Chan Alexis Badel will also compete in the World All-StarJockeys at Sapporo Racecourse this weekend Harry Bentley will press pause on his holiday to ride Spicy Marg in Friday's Group One Nunthorpe Stakes (1,000m) at York. The 33-year-old was back in the UK after a 31-winner campaign in Hong Kong last season but has received an unexpected call-up for one of the feature races of this week's Ebor Festival at York. The Nunthorpe commonly sees the younger horses take on their elders and Spicy Marg, just a two-year-old, will carry a tiny weight as she bids to become the first two-year-old since Kingsgate Native in 2007 to win the prize. Bentley will have to get down to just 8st 2lb to take the ride, but he did not need too much convincing by trainer Michael Bell to take the ride. Spicy Marg working at @NewmarketRace this morning under @HarryBentley_ ahead of the @coolmorestud Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes at @yorkracecourse next week 🚀 — Sporting Life Racing (@SportingLife) August 15, 2025 'It was a very pleasant surprise, it was a bit of divine intervention to get the ride,' Bentley told Luck On Sunday. 'I just happened to be in the right place at the right time, seeing Michael Bell in the owner's room, and a couple of days later he rang me and asked if I was able to do the weight, would it be of interest to ride Spicy Marg. 'Obviously I was very happy to take the ride. I wouldn't say it's comfortable [riding at 8st 2lb] but I can certainly do it. I'm doing light weights very often in Hong Kong, so getting down to this sort of weight is fairly routine for me.' With the ride secured, Bentley is also hunting around for further opportunities at York this week before his return to Hong Kong. 'I'm certainly trying to get some more opportunities – I'm hoping to ride on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and I've got my agent Paul Clarke on the case to try and further bolster my book of rides,' added Bentley. Badel and Teetan join All-Star line-up in Japan Alexis Badel and Karis Teetan will compete at the World All-Star Jockeys (WASJ) at Sapporo Racecourse in Japan this weekend. Badel, who has been based out in Japan during the off season, will also be joined by Craig Williams, who rode Cap Ferrat to Group One glory in Hong Kong this season. It will be another competition for Teetan this off season, with the Mauritian also forming part of the Rest of the World team at the Shergar Cup meeting at Ascot earlier this month alongside Hugh Bowman. Joao Moreira won the event 12 months ago, with Teetan finishing fifth and Vincent Ho Chak-yiu finishing eighth. Bowman and Teetan fall foul of Ascot stewards The enormous difference between the whip rules in Hong Kong and the UK was highlighted last week when Hugh Bowman and Karis Teetan were banned for a combined 20 days for breaching the rules. Bowman, who won the Silver Saddle after being the leading rider at the meeting, was hit with 12 days for using his whip once above the permitted level, in the incorrect place and without giving one of his horses enough time to respond. Teetan was slapped with an eight-day ban for using his whip once above the permitted level.
Glasgow Times
11-08-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Spicy Marg all set to take on her elders in Nunthorpe
An impressive winner on her Newmarket debut in early June, Michael Bell's charge subsequently disappointed in the Queen Mary and the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes, but bounced back to form in some style over five furlongs at Goodwood two weeks ago. As a juvenile filly Spicy Marg will carry just eight stone if she steps up to take on her elders at Group One level on the Knavesmire and Bell is keen to roll the dice. He said: 'The plan is to give it a go. All the speed analysts seem to think she should be having a crack at it – her figures are very, very good – and she clearly is in very good form. 'I think it's very relevant her dam (Main Desire) won two Listed races over five furlongs on the Knavesmire, so it's in her genes she should like the track and I strongly think she will. 'We're very happy with her and very much looking forward to it.' Connections are ready to pay the £40,000 supplementary fee to add Spicy Marg to the Nunthorpe field at the weekend, with Hong Kong-based rider Harry Bentley booked for the ride. 'Harry is waiting for his licence to be rubber-stamped by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, he tells me that's a formality, so the intention is for him to ride,' said Bell, who won the Nunthorpe in 2011 with Margot Did. 'She wants good, fast ground. We'll wait until Saturday to confirm it, but the intention is very much to supplement her at this stage.' Another filly bound for the Nunthorpe is the William Knight-trained Frost at Dawn, who was a neck second to American Affair in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot before finishing fourth in the King George at Goodwood. Knight said: 'She doesn't need to do much between now and then, she's put her weight back on already. 'I just hope and pray the rain stays away at York and if it's good to firm ground there I think she could run a massive race. 'I think she's in the form of her life at the moment, she just looks so much stronger this year, and I think York will really suit her as a track. 'I just think it's key that rain stays away and we get a good preparation from now into York. If she can repeat the form from her Ascot run, that puts her bang there.'
Rhyl Journal
11-08-2025
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Spicy Marg all set to take on her elders in Nunthorpe
An impressive winner on her Newmarket debut in early June, Michael Bell's charge subsequently disappointed in the Queen Mary and the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes, but bounced back to form in some style over five furlongs at Goodwood two weeks ago. As a juvenile filly Spicy Marg will carry just eight stone if she steps up to take on her elders at Group One level on the Knavesmire and Bell is keen to roll the dice. He said: 'The plan is to give it a go. All the speed analysts seem to think she should be having a crack at it – her figures are very, very good – and she clearly is in very good form. 'I think it's very relevant her dam (Main Desire) won two Listed races over five furlongs on the Knavesmire, so it's in her genes she should like the track and I strongly think she will. 'We're very happy with her and very much looking forward to it.' Connections are ready to pay the £40,000 supplementary fee to add Spicy Marg to the Nunthorpe field at the weekend, with Hong Kong-based rider Harry Bentley booked for the ride. 'Harry is waiting for his licence to be rubber-stamped by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, he tells me that's a formality, so the intention is for him to ride,' said Bell, who won the Nunthorpe in 2011 with Margot Did. 'She wants good, fast ground. We'll wait until Saturday to confirm it, but the intention is very much to supplement her at this stage.' Another filly bound for the Nunthorpe is the William Knight-trained Frost at Dawn, who was a neck second to American Affair in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot before finishing fourth in the King George at Goodwood. Knight said: 'She doesn't need to do much between now and then, she's put her weight back on already. 'I just hope and pray the rain stays away at York and if it's good to firm ground there I think she could run a massive race. 'I think she's in the form of her life at the moment, she just looks so much stronger this year, and I think York will really suit her as a track. 'I just think it's key that rain stays away and we get a good preparation from now into York. If she can repeat the form from her Ascot run, that puts her bang there.'
South Wales Argus
11-08-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Spicy Marg all set to take on her elders in Nunthorpe
An impressive winner on her Newmarket debut in early June, Michael Bell's charge subsequently disappointed in the Queen Mary and the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes, but bounced back to form in some style over five furlongs at Goodwood two weeks ago. As a juvenile filly Spicy Marg will carry just eight stone if she steps up to take on her elders at Group One level on the Knavesmire and Bell is keen to roll the dice. He said: 'The plan is to give it a go. All the speed analysts seem to think she should be having a crack at it – her figures are very, very good – and she clearly is in very good form. 'I think it's very relevant her dam (Main Desire) won two Listed races over five furlongs on the Knavesmire, so it's in her genes she should like the track and I strongly think she will. 'We're very happy with her and very much looking forward to it.' Connections are ready to pay the £40,000 supplementary fee to add Spicy Marg to the Nunthorpe field at the weekend, with Hong Kong-based rider Harry Bentley booked for the ride. 'Harry is waiting for his licence to be rubber-stamped by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, he tells me that's a formality, so the intention is for him to ride,' said Bell, who won the Nunthorpe in 2011 with Margot Did. 'She wants good, fast ground. We'll wait until Saturday to confirm it, but the intention is very much to supplement her at this stage.' Another filly bound for the Nunthorpe is the William Knight-trained Frost at Dawn, who was a neck second to American Affair in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot before finishing fourth in the King George at Goodwood. Knight said: 'She doesn't need to do much between now and then, she's put her weight back on already. 'I just hope and pray the rain stays away at York and if it's good to firm ground there I think she could run a massive race. 'I think she's in the form of her life at the moment, she just looks so much stronger this year, and I think York will really suit her as a track. 'I just think it's key that rain stays away and we get a good preparation from now into York. If she can repeat the form from her Ascot run, that puts her bang there.'
Leader Live
11-08-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Spicy Marg all set to take on her elders in Nunthorpe
An impressive winner on her Newmarket debut in early June, Michael Bell's charge subsequently disappointed in the Queen Mary and the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes, but bounced back to form in some style over five furlongs at Goodwood two weeks ago. As a juvenile filly Spicy Marg will carry just eight stone if she steps up to take on her elders at Group One level on the Knavesmire and Bell is keen to roll the dice. He said: 'The plan is to give it a go. All the speed analysts seem to think she should be having a crack at it – her figures are very, very good – and she clearly is in very good form. 'I think it's very relevant her dam (Main Desire) won two Listed races over five furlongs on the Knavesmire, so it's in her genes she should like the track and I strongly think she will. 'We're very happy with her and very much looking forward to it.' Connections are ready to pay the £40,000 supplementary fee to add Spicy Marg to the Nunthorpe field at the weekend, with Hong Kong-based rider Harry Bentley booked for the ride. 'Harry is waiting for his licence to be rubber-stamped by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, he tells me that's a formality, so the intention is for him to ride,' said Bell, who won the Nunthorpe in 2011 with Margot Did. 'She wants good, fast ground. We'll wait until Saturday to confirm it, but the intention is very much to supplement her at this stage.' Another filly bound for the Nunthorpe is the William Knight-trained Frost at Dawn, who was a neck second to American Affair in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot before finishing fourth in the King George at Goodwood. Knight said: 'She doesn't need to do much between now and then, she's put her weight back on already. 'I just hope and pray the rain stays away at York and if it's good to firm ground there I think she could run a massive race. 'I think she's in the form of her life at the moment, she just looks so much stronger this year, and I think York will really suit her as a track. 'I just think it's key that rain stays away and we get a good preparation from now into York. If she can repeat the form from her Ascot run, that puts her bang there.'
