Berry, Buick, Lemaire and McDonogh receive short-term JRA Jockey's Licenses

The Japan Racing Association (JRA) has announced that short-term riding jockey licenses will be issued to four foreign jockeys.


Francis Berry from Ireland will receive his short-term riding license, effective from January 5 to February 25, 2013. He will be primarily riding for Owner, Kazuko Yoshida and host trainer, Noriyuki Hori, from JRA Miho Training Center.

United Kingdom-based Danish jockey William Buick will receive a short-term riding license, effective from January 5 to March 4, 2013. He will be primarily riding for host trainer, Yasutoshi Ikee, from the JRA Ritto Training Center, and Owner, Katsumi Yoshida.

Christophe Lemaire from France will receive his short-term riding license, effective from January 5 to 27, 2013. He will be primarily riding for Owner, Teruya Yoshida and host trainer, Kojiro Hashiguchi, from JRA Ritto Training Center.

Irish jockey Declan McDonogh will receive a short-term riding license, effective from January 5 to February 4, 2013. He will be primarily riding for host trainer, Shigeyuki Kojima, from the JRA Miho Training Center, and Owner, Hiroshi Umemura.

Mullen Dictates Victory In Meydan Feature Race

Richard Mullen on Bay Willow return to the winners enclosure

Richard Mullen was seen at his tactical best on Bay Willow on whom he made virtually every yard of the running when claiming the featured 2800m handicap by six lengths at Meydan on Thursday evening.

With only seven runners, none of the jockeys wanted to lead so Mullen took the initiative and set a modest gallop before committing for home about 400m out.

At that stage he was being tracked by hot favourite Averroes, winner of the same race last season, who could not go with him and eventually faded into fourth and was found to have bled after the race. Mullen’s mount shot clear and powered all the way to the line with Royaaty finishing well to snatch second, just as he had behind Averroes last year.

The winner is trained by Satish Seemar and stable jockey Mullen explained: “It was not particularly the plan to lead but nobody else wanted to so I was almost forced to. He enjoyed bowling along and then quickened nicely.”

Seemar added: “That was a great ride by Richard and we will aim him at the staying turf races at the Dubai World Cup Racing Carnival.”

Keiren Fallon returns on Forevertheoptimist

Trainer, Mubarak Bin Shafya and stable jockey, Adrie de Vries combined to win the concluding two races. Busker led the way in the 1600m handicap. With 300m to go the pair were behind a wall of horses but De Vries was able to plot a route through to lead close home.

A delighted jockey said: “He was very game and brave to get through those gaps and seemed to enjoy the hurly burly. He seems to go on any surface and is basically a tough and genuine handicapper who tries his best.”

Fallon and trainer Fawzi Nass after their victory look on
as the winner is a bit fractious in the winners circle

He was back in the winner’s enclosure 30 minutes later having delivered Blue Tiger’s Eye to victory in the concluding 1400m handicap. Turning for home, the pair trailed all their 15 rivals but the horse picked up well in the straight to pass them all and win going away.

De Vries added: “I rode him at Sharjah last time on dirt and he showed nothing so we put the visor on and that, combined with the change of surface, seems to have done the trick. It has been a good night for the yard and a great boost before the big races coming up.”

On a night of exciting finishes, the closest was in the first of two 1400m handicaps in which Ted Durcan produced Dan Chillingworth to lead in the final stride, denying Al Razi who himself had led close home.

The winner is trained by Doug Watson who said: “The horse deserves that as he has run some great races without enjoying much luck in the past.”

Racing opened with a 1600m maiden in which the Ali Rashid Al Raihe-trained Blue Sea opened his account at the sixth attempt and third locally with stable jockey Royston Ffrench performing the steering.

Kieren Fallon then drove Forevertheoptimist to victory in a 1200m handicap for Fawzi Nass, the same course and distance the pair combined to win last year’s Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen with Krypton Factor.




Next week, January 10, 2013, marks the first Dubai World Cup Carnival meeting of the year at Meydan.

NIGEL PAYNE RETURNS TO AINTREE

Aintree Racecourse announces today that Nigel Payne, Press Officer from 1976 until 2006, is returning to his former role with immediate effect for a fixed period until the completion of the 2013 John Smith's Grand National.

John Baker, who runs Aintree as North West Regional Director for Jockey Club Racecourses, said: "Nigel and I have been discussing for some time how he might be able to work with us in 2013.

"He will coordinate our media relations with television, radio and press, including managing the media centre and the winner's enclosure during the John Smith's Grand National meeting itself."

Payne commented: "If Aintree and the National are in your blood, you can never stop feeling part of this tremendous event.

"When John asked me to consider the opportunity, I was not long in deciding and very much look forward to being part of the Aintree team in the lead up to and during this year's John Smith's Grand National meeting.

"Aintree and the media need to work very closely together and communicate at all times."

The 2013 John Smith's Grand National meeting takes place at Aintree from Thursday, April 4 to Saturday, April 6.

For further information go to www.aintree.co.uk

 

Lingfield Park Hurdle Races abandoned, Friday 4th January

• Existing Steeple Chases and National Hunt Flat Race permitted to divide
• 6 race card planned

Following an inspection and after consultation with the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) Inspectorate, Lingfield Park Racecourse has been forced to abandon the three Hurdle Races scheduled for Friday, 4th January, due to the Hurdles course being waterlogged in places.

In response, the BHA has permitted the division of two of the existing races to create an all-Chase and National Hunt Flat Race card. Whichever two races receive the most declarations at the overnight declaration stage will be permitted to divide.

The first race will now take place at 1.20pm.

32Red Levy Board Dipper Novices' Steeple Chase transferred to Sandown on 5th January 2013

• Grade 2 Chase to form part of a seven race card

• Race reopened and closes at noon on Thursday
• Race staged in the event of four or more overnight declarations

Following the abandonment of racing at Cheltenham on Tuesday, January 1st, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) is pleased to confirm that the 32Red Levy Board Dipper Novices’ Steeple Chase (Class 1) (Grade 2) will be transferred to Sandown on Saturday, January 5th, 2013. This is an additional race which now forms part of a seven race card.

Original entries will not stand and trainers wishing to make an entry must do so by noon on Thursday, January 3rd. Should the race receive fewer than four overnight declarations it may potentially be cancelled.

The BHA would like to express its thanks to the Levy Board, Sandown Racecourse and 32Red for their help in staging this race.

A revised running order and race conditions are as follows:

Running Order:

12:15 00127 The 32Red Levy Board Dipper Novices’ Steeple Chase (Class 1) (Grade 2)12:45 00125 The 32Red.com Mares' Hurdle Race (Class 1) (Listed Race)
01:15 00126 The £32 Bonus At 32Red Casino Juvenile Hurdle Race (Class 4)
01:50 00123 The 32Red Casino Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 2)
02:25 00122 The 32Red Hurdle Race (A Novices' Hurdle Race) (Class 1) (Registered as the Tolworth Hurdle Race) (Grade 1)
03:00 00124 The 32Red Handicap Hurdle Race (Class 2)
03:40 00121 The 32Red.com HBLB Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 2) 

Stayers Take To The Track At Meydan Racecourse

Averroes is back to defend his crown in tomorrow’s Racing at Meydan highlight, a 2800m handicap.

The meeting, a six-race card sponsored by Al Basti Equiworld, is being staged exactly one week before the eagerly awaited opening fixture of the 2013 Dubai World Cup Carnival, held on January 10.

The most valuable race on a card has attracted a select field of seven with last year’s winner set to concede weight to his six rivals. Trained near Abu Dhabi by Ernst Oertel for HE Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Averroes will be ridden by Tadhg O’Shea who is clearly looking forward to the race.

“He ran a good race on his comeback over a trip short of his best and these are his ideal conditions but the weight has to be an issue,” said the jockey. “He is conceding a lot of weight to some decent horses but on the positive side he worked very well the other day and the yard are bang in form.

“I won on Almiqdaad last year and he could be the main danger.”

Royaaty chased Averroes home last term and will try and gain his revenge with Xavier Ziani in the saddle for trainer, Mubarak bin Shafya. The pair won a 2200m handicap on the Abu Dhabi turf last time and Xiani said: “The horse is a real favourite of mine and it was great to win on him again last time. He handles the all-weather well and is a strong stayer so I hope we can go close.”

Paul Hanagan rides Almiqdaad for his main employer HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum and he would be a big threat if able to reproduce his best form on this, his second start after a long absence. He failed to beat a rival on his comeback but is held in some regard by his trainer, Erwan Charpy who said: “He is a big horse and needed that first run probably more than we thought. The step up in trip should suit him and he seems to handle the Tapeta well enough in his work.”

Maximum fields are set to face the starter in four of the other five races with the exception being a 1200m handicap which looks ultra competitive even though only 11 have been declared. Forevertheoptimist represents the same connections as last year’s Dubai Golden Shaheen winner Krypton Factor and should appreciate this drop in grade having contested conditions races on both his previous starts this season. Kieren Fallon rides for owner/trainer Fawzi Nass.

Innocuous, to be ridden for Champion Trainer Ali Rashid Al Raihe by stable jockey Royston Ffrench looks a big danger.

Sixteen are set to go to post in the penultimate race, a 1600m handicap, which appears particularly competitive. Champion Jockey O’Shea has the mount on the Doug Watson-trained Mark To Market and is not fazed by his draw in 10, saying: “His running style is to settle off the speed so a wider draw is not an issue and the big field may actually work in his favour on this occasion.”

Al Basti Equiworld To Kick Off New Year At Meydan

Al Basti Equiworld is to sponsor the first Racing at Meydan meeting of the New Year when racing returns to Meydan Racecourse on January 3, 2013.

One of the most prominent supporters of equine sport in the UAE, Al Basti Equiworld is putting their name behind an evening of racing at Meydan for the second time this season.

This meeting, the fifth in the Racing at Meydan series, marks the halfway point in the domestic season and comes exactly one week before the first Dubai World Carnival meeting on January 10.

Arun Menon, General Manager, Al Basti Equiworld, said: “We at Al Basti Equiworld are honored to associate with Meydan yet again by sponsoring a race day at the prestigious Meydan Racecourse for the second time this season.

“It is all the more special as the New Year starts with an Al Basti sponsored race day. Al Basti Equiworld is keen to acknowledge and give back the support and cooperation received from the patrons of this equine industry by promoting equestrianism and sponsoring races and equine events.

“As always we continue to sponsor the Best Turned Out horse awards for the whole season. We assure our support to the equine industry in the future also. We wish Meydan and the entire equine industry a prosperous and fruitful New Year ahead.”

Since its launch in 1998, Al Basti Equiworld has pioneered the introduction and distribution of a number of internationally-renowned equine products to the UAE from leading horse feeds and shavings to pharmaceuticals and hay.
Saeed H Al Tayer, Chairman, Meydan Group, said: “Once again we are delighted to host another Al Basti Equiworld-sponsored card at Meydan Racecourse. The level of support that Al Basti Equiworld provides to the equine industry is hugely appreciated by all who work with horses and points to a real passion for the industry from a truly local company with a visionary global mindset.”