Latest news with #WoodcoteStakes
Gulf Today
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Gulf Today
Maximized bids to maintain unbeaten record in G2 July Stakes at Newmarket
Promising juvenile Maximized looks to confirm some strong form in the G2 July Stakes, with Arabian Crown and El Cordobes also tackling G2 company on the opening day of Newmarket's July Festival, on Thursday. Having made a successful introduction at Haydock Park, Maximized defeated subsequent Royal Ascot victor Havana Hurricane by a length and a half in the Woodcote Stakes at Epsom Downs' Derby Festival. Trainer Charlie Appleby said: 'Maximized is two from two, stepping up from his novice to win nicely at Epsom. We gave him a break afterwards, as the plan was always to miss Royal Ascot, and he goes into this in great shape. He is on an upward curve and hopefully the one they all have to beat.' El Cordobes and Arabian Crown, both impressive winners on Newmarket's Rowley Mile course, step up in class for the G2 Princess Of Wales's Stakes. Following two runner-up finishes at Meydan, El Cordobes stormed to victory in a 12-furlong handicap at Newmarket's Guineas Festival, with runner-up French Master franking the form at Royal Ascot. El Cordobes made the switch to Stakes company soon after his Newmarket triumph, finishing third in both the G3 Aston Park Stakes at Newbury and York's Listed Grand Cup. Arabian Crown looked a leading Classic contender following dominant G3 victories in the Ghaiyyath Zetland Stakes at Newmarket in 2023 and last year's Classic Trial at Sandown Park. Having missed the rest of 2024 through injury, the son of Dubawi has made two appearances so far this year, finishing fourth in Meydan's G2 Dubai City Of Gold and sixth in the G3 Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown Park. Charlie Appleby said: 'El Cordobes is coming back in distance from York, where we feel he did not stay the 14 furlongs. He has a bit to find on the book but, back at this trip, he should be competitive, and the quick ground will be no problem. 'Arabian Crown has been gelded since his last start and stepping back up to a mile and a half will suit. If he can recapture some of his earlier form, he is sure to be a player.' Opera Ballo concedes weight all round as he heads three Godolphin contenders in the Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes. Following a disappointing sixth in the G3 Craven Stakes, the son of Ghaiyyath bounced back in a first-time hood with an authoritative victory in the Listed Heron Stakes at Sandown Park. Charlie Appleby also saddles Newmarket handicap third Spectacular View, while Saeed bin Suroor is represented by Arabian Story, who was a game winner of the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot. Charlie Appleby said: 'We were delighted to get Opera Ballo back on track in the Heron Stakes. He has a penalty to carry, but he has done very well since Sandown and we are hoping to use this as a building block towards a nice campaign in the second half of the season. It suits Spectacular View to be ridden prominently and he won't mind the ground or trip.' Saeed Bin Suroor said: 'Arabian Story came out of Ascot in good form and has been training well. This is another step up in class and I am looking forward to seeing how he gets on.' Meanwhile, Versatile four-year-old Think Big added another string to his bow with a swooping victory in the G3 Kelso Stakes at Saratoga on Saturday. Having seen his perfect streak on turf ended with a slow start in last month's G1 Jaipur Stakes, the Twirling Candy homebred excelled with the step up to a mile as he displayed his customary turn of foot to readily beat Intellect by a length. The Kelso Stakes is a traditional prep for the G1 Fourstardave Handicap over the same course and distance in early August, and victory there would earn Think Big a spot in the G1 Breeders' Cup Mile. Saturday's card at Saratoga also saw three-year-old filly Ragtime maintain her unbeaten record with a routine success in an allowance race. A debut winner at the same course last month, the daughter of Union Rags looks ready to test her credentials in Graded company.
Irish Daily Mirror
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Winning horse dies in Epsom tragedy as Kia Joorabchian suffers heartbreak
The Derby meeting got off to a heartbreaking start for football agent Kia Joorabchian when his winning two-year-old horse Norman's Cay suffered a fatal injury. Amo Racing, known for their big spending in racing, will bid for Derby glory on Saturday when 66-1 chance Tuscan Hill lines up in the £1.5million Epsom Classic. Joorabchian narrowly missed out on winning the race two years ago when King Of Steel claimed second place, and in 2021 when Mojo Star also finished as the runner-up. Norman's Cay had delivered a statement victory for Joorabchian's Amo Racing team in March by winning the Brocklesby Stakes at Doncaster, marking the first two-year-old race of the British Flat Turf season. The promising colt lined up on Friday for the Woodcote Stakes at Epsom, starting as an 11-1 chance with Amo's jockey David Egan aboard. His trainer, Richard Hannon, had been confident that he would run well beforehand, writing in his Unibet blog post: 'We deliberately decided to give him a break after winning the Brocklesby to allow him time to grow and fill out, and he has done really well. 'We were looking at going to Sandown last week, but it was plenty dry enough, and there's a bit of rain forecast on Friday, which we feel will help because he won at Doncaster on Good to Soft. We've won this race with some nice horses down the years, and hopefully this lad is up to that standard, at least.' Unfortunately, the race did not unfold as hoped for Norman's Cay. He was hampered early on in the race and, after recovering for a comeback with two furlongs left, tragically went wrong one furlong from the finish. He was taken to a horse ambulance and removed from the track for further assessment by vets, who discovered he had suffered a severe injury. An Epsom Downs Racecourse spokesperson said: 'Having sustained an injury in the closing stages of the second race on Ladies Day, Norman's Cay was taken back to the racecourse stables for further assessment by our expert veterinary team. 'In their assessment, it was concluded that the best course of action for the horse's welfare was for him to be humanely euthanised. Our heartfelt condolences are with Richard Hannon, his team and all at Amo Racing.' Amo Racing analyst Charlie Sutton shared his own tribute and commented: 'Very sad to lose Norman's Cay at Epsom today. He was very well cared for at Richard Hannon's during his short career and again by the vets at the track. Can talk about what a nice horse he could've been for the team but ability is irrelevant in these circumstances really.'
