Racing at York was marred on Sunday by a nasty incident in the feature Sky Bet Starman Garrowby Stakes, with both Jim Crowley and Trevor Whelan taken to hospital with suspected lower-leg injuries.
Crowley was riding the William Haggas-trained big-race favourite Almeraq in the colours of his retainer Shadwell when, short of room just over a furlong out, he clipped heels and came down.
The horse rolled over Crowley but Henry Candy’s Tiger Bay following behind had nowhere to go and was brought down, also sending Whelan into the turf.
Miraculously both horses escaped largely unscathed but Crowley and Whelan were treated on the track for some time before being taken to Leeds General Infirmary. Both jockeys were reportedly conscious and talking.
The race was won by Elmonjed, a stablemate of Almeraq, who was ridden by Cieren Fallon and escaped the trouble in running to score at 5-1.
William Derby, clerk of the course and chief executive at York, said: “Both jockeys were conscious and talking.
“The assessment that I’ve got, although they will need further assessment, is that they have lower limb injuries. Trevor Whelan to his ankle and Jim Crowley to his lower leg. That’s the information I have at this stage.
“Both horses are back in the stables and largely OK with a few bruises.”
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Owners Middleham Park Racing have been left “gutted” after Lazy Griff was cruelly ruled out of the Betfred St Leger following a setback.
The Charlie Johnston-trained colt has been a standout performer for his connections this term and was due to head to Doncaster with leading claims after placed efforts in both the Derby at Epsom and the Irish equivalent.
He was as short as 4-1 second favourite behind Aidan O’Brien’s Scandinavia for the world’s oldest Classic next Saturday, with his team now having to turn their attentions to next season with the injury set to keep Lazy Griff out of action for the rest of the current campaign.
Mike Prince of owners Middleham Park Racing said: “He’s met with a setback. He was due to do his last piece of work before the Leger on Saturday but he’s now out for the rest of the season.
“He should be fine to come back next season but it is a bit gutting to get so close to heading to the Leger, where on paper he looked to have a really great chance.
“The syndicate are really gutted and they were all set to head to Doncaster next Saturday, but these things happen and are set to test us.
“It’s one of those things and hopefully we can get him back for next season. We’ll probably look to campaign him in those long-distance races and cup races, he is certainly of that level. Although everyone is a bit flat and disappointed at the moment.”
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Derby winner Adam Kirby, a Grand National hero in Niall ‘Slippers’ Madden and a former Cheltenham Festival regular in Denis O’Regan are among the names involved in this year’s Leger Legends race at Doncaster next Sunday.
First run in 2010, the likes of Sir Anthony McCoy, Kieren Fallon, Mick Kinane, Julie Krone, Barry Geraghty, Richard Johnson and Richard Hughes have all taken part down the years.
This year Kirby, who won the Derby as recently as 2021 on Adayar, and Madden, successful at Aintree on Numbersixvalverde in 2006, will be part of the proceedings along with the likes of Jimmy Quinn and Franny Norton.
Andrew Thornton, part of the organising committee, said: “We’ve got a Derby winner in Adam Kirby, Jimmy Quinn, Franny Norton – the King of Chester – Greg Cheyne – the South African who has ridden at the Shergar Cup, has been a leading South African jockey and is heavily involved with William Haggas and Adrian Nicholls.
“We’ve then got Gary Bardwell again, Sammy-Jo Bell who will be trying to win it for what seems the 28th time! Shelly Birkett and Gary Bartley who rode Hawkeyethenoo for Jim Goldie.
“Then we have Alan Johns who won his last race, Denis O’Regan, who has ridden a winner on every jumps track in the UK and Ireland, I think he’s the only jockey to have done so, Jimmy McCarthy, (Niall) Slippers Madden who won the Grand National on Numbersixvalverde and Dean Gallagher.
“Dean of course is a work rider for Aidan O’Brien so we’ve had to tell him he won’t be going as fast as he does in a morning!
“Jody McGarvey, a dual Grade One-winning rider is coming over and Andrew Tinkler, who is another now associated with William Haggas, is also having a go.
“We’ll be having the usual lunch when everybody gets together and there’s also going to be an online auction selling memorabilia.
“We’re raising money for some equipment called Arca-Ex which is a non-invasive treatment of the spinal cord via electrical stimulation to help improve hand and arm movement.
“It hasn’t been patented over here yet, it has been in America, but it will hopefully give people hope who have had spinal injuries. If we can be a leading force behind this in something for jockeys, it might give them some hope. Anything is worth a try.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2.69181917-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2025-09-07 16:01:282025-09-07 16:01:28Leger Legends riders to this year include Derby and Aintree heroes
Cualificar snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with a thrilling finishing flourish in the Qatar Prix Niel to deny George Scot’s Bay City Roller.
Andre Fabre’s French Derby runner-up slightly disappointed last time when only third in the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano and looked like having to settle for a minor role once again at ParisLongchamp as William Buick saw his passage halted by significant travel problems as the race began to unfold.
However, Buick held his nerve and once finding a gap and meeting clean air, flew home to deny Bay City Roller in the shadow of the winning post.
Paddy Power make the winner a 14-1 shot from 66s for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, with the master trainer confirming the October 5 showpiece as the target.
Fabre told Sky Sports Racing: “It’s an impressive win for sure, but this is just a prep race for the Arc and it was what I was hoping and expecting with the extra two furlongs and softer ground.
“I took this route with Trempolino a long time ago and he became quite heavy this summer so I thought he would need the extra race (at Deauville last month).”
On his Arc hand, which includes Prix Foy runner-up Sosie, Fabre added: “They are two serious horses.”
Buick was impressed with his mount and concurs with Fabre that he has improved for moving up in distance.
He added: “I was in that position from pretty much the get-go and I knew all the way through the race I was going to have to try and find an out at some stage.
“In these races the horses are often closely matched and you don’t often get the gap. I didn’t get any room down the inside so had to come back to come out and he still finished the way he did to win the race.
“It always takes a bit of doing and he’s a horse who is improving. I was impressed with him when I rode him in the Prix du Jockey Club and I think he’s only getting better. It was his first time going a mile and a half and he was very happy going the distance so you would have to be happy with what he did.”
George Scott was delighted with Bay City Roller and said: “I am obviously very pleased with how he ran. We have always believed in him, and we were disappointed at York, but he had his excuses that day and he showed his true level again today.
“A horse like him has his whole future ahead of him. I am delighted for Sheikh Nasser (owner). He has a very good horse here with great potential. Bay City Roller has a big future, so this is enjoyable and very exciting.
“I think he will have another race, so we’ll discuss it with Sheikh Nasser and see what he thinks. But yes, he will have another run, so we will see. We desperately need soft ground! Everywhere we go, it dries up! I promise you, he will be a much better horse with some ease in the ground, so we will wait.
“Today was a test over a mile and a half, and he showed he stays it without any problem. He was bred for it, he had won a Group Two over 1,400 metres (seven furlongs) at two, so he has speed and now he stays. He has a lot of quality, and I’m happy to train him.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2.80741008-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2025-09-07 15:44:232025-09-07 16:40:16Cualificar denies Bay City Roller in Niel thriller
Aventure went one better than 12 months ago to seal top honours for the first time in the Qatar Prix Vermeille at ParisLongchamp in which Whirl was a bitter disappointment.
Second to Ralph Beckett’s Bluestocking in 2024, the Group One event proved an exceptional trial for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, with the duo filling the same positions in the French capital a month later.
It was Aidan O’Brien’s Oaks runner-up and dual Group One-scorer Whirl who was expected to lay down her Arc claims, but having been kept wide initially by Christophe Soumillon before tacking over to lead the field into the home straight, she checked out tamely in the closing stages to finish last.
Whirl’s poor performance enabled Christophe Ferland’s four-year-old to take full advantage with Maxime Guyon always having the daughter of Sea The Stars in the perfect position close to the pace.
She quickened smartly when asked to win her race to come home comfortably clear of Francis-Henri Graffard’s French Oaks heroine Gezora in second and inspire dreams of going one better in Paris next month.
William Hill make Aventure their 4-1 joint-favourite for the Arc alongside O’Brien’s Minnie Hauk, while she heads the market with Paddy Power at the same price.
Ferland told Sky Sports Racing: “She won very well, we did not know about the Irish fillies but she did very well today. Maxime was very confident on her and when she came out in the straight she accelerated well so I’m very pleased.
“My mission was to win a Group One with her and that is done and now we have to go for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. She will be better in four weeks time I think and she’s coming along now.
“I don’t think she really enjoys herself before June or July and she’s better at this time of year. It was good ground today so if it’s good ground in the Arc that is fine and if it is heavy she will still go as fast as she did today, even better probably.
“She’s got a big heart, she’s calm with a good mind, she’s the perfect filly to train. We have four weeks to go and it’s going to be a long four weeks. The Arc would be a big bonus, but something hopefully achievable too.”
Graffard said of Gezora: “That was a very good performance from her on her return. She was beaten by a very good filly.
“Mickaël Barzalona said he couldn’t go past Aventure, but she finished strongly. The pace slowed down significantly at one stage, but Gezora is very straightforward and clearly stays the mile and a half.
“We’ll see with the owners, but she’ll be out again in four weeks, either in the Prix de l’Opéra or in the Arc. Personally, I would prefer the Arc. It will be quite an open race, and she’s the Prix de Diane winner… we have nothing to lose!”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/b612ef9a-557c-4e59-a9e1-0d3f94102ba9.jpg10082016Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2025-09-07 15:00:542025-09-07 15:50:55Aventure claims first Group One as Whirl disappoints
Rosallion’s wait for a first victory of the season continues, as Francis-Henri Graffard’s Sahlan produced a career best to win the Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp.
It has been a trying summer for Richard Hannon’s stable star who has had made the podium in the Lockinge, Queen Anne and Sussex Stakes before finishing a close-up fourth in the City of York last month.
Sent to ParisLongchamp, the scene of his Group One triumph as a juvenile, his luck was fancied to change and he finishing strongly in the hands of Sean Levey.
However, this time he had to give way to one of the home contingent, as Francis-Henri Graffard’s contender – who was down the field in the French 2000 Guineas earlier in the summer and was supplemented earlier in the week – stepped up markedly on his Group Three victory at Deauville last month to strike.
Sahlan held a narrow advantage over Rosallion on the line, with The Lion In Winter filling the third position for Aidan O’Brien. The winner could now head to the Breeders’ Cup.
Graffard, who is enjoying a dream season in his homeland, told Sky Sports Racing: “You have to thank the owners for respecting my opinion and trusting me to take on a big challenge.
“I said to Sheikh Joaan (of Al Shaqab Racing) I didn’t have many options for the horse, I think he’s in very good form, he can quicken, it’s a big gamble, but if we’re in the first five, we have nothing to lose.
“He believed in me and it’s paid off nicely. I always liked this horse, he’s been beaten but in the Poule d’Essai we had a lot of excuses and I couldn’t blame the horse. He was sick when he was beaten in the Listed race and then he won a Group Three comfortably.
“I had the support, and I’m very happy. I don’t think I will run him again on soft ground here. If he’s well, we might look to the Breeders’ Cup Mile but he’s a horse we will likely keep as a four-year-old. That’s the softest ground we would look to run him on.”
Hannon could not hide his frustration that his pride and joy had been touched off once more.
“It’s extremely disappointing and hard to take,” he said.
“Really, Rosallion is tough. He’s the best horse in the race. Nobody did anything wrong. He will end up winning one, everybody agrees on that. In fact, he hasn’t really been beaten, has he?”
Wayne Lordan rode The Lion In Winter and said: “He enjoyed getting a lead today and he enjoyed (being) on the turn. I thought he ran a very good race and I’m very pleased with him.”
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Goliath returned to something like his best form in the Grosser Preis von Baden to provide part-owner John Stewart with the perfect wedding present.
Returned to positive tactics – as he was when claiming the La Coupe at ParisLongchamp earlier in the summer – Francis-Henri Graffard’s five-year-old was making a welcome return to the Group One winner’s enclosure having last won at the highest level in Ascot’s King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes last year.
With usual pilot Christophe Soumillon required in France, Clement Lecoeuvre got the chance to deputise aboard Goliath and his enterprising ride paid dividend when able to pinch the stands-side rail entering the home straight before galloping clear of William Haggas’ Dubai Honour.
Goliath’s victory represented a triumphant homecoming for the German-bred son of Adlerflug who was carrying the colours of his part-owner Philip Baron Von Ullmann – who retained a stake in the gelding when Resolute Racing’s John Stewart got involved last year.
Stewart said: “We are very pleased with the win and it’s great to see him back in top form. We are especially happy for our partner Philip Baron Von Ullman to get this win in Germany’s most prestigious race.
“We will talk with Francis and consider the Breeders’ Cup or Japan Cup as potential options next.
“Chelsey and I would have been there but we had our wedding yesterday in Kentucky. This is the best wedding gift!”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2.76967404-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2025-09-07 13:59:502025-09-07 14:20:12Goliath defeats Dubai Honour in Germany
Byzantine Dream strengthened Japan’s hand for the the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with a convincing win in the hands of Oisin Murphy in the Qatar Prix Foy.
Japanese contenders are famously yet to conquer Europe’s richest middle-distance prize with Orfevre’s near miss in 2012 the closest the raiders from the Far East have come to getting their hands on the trophy at ParisLongchamp.
However, compatriot Alohi Alii has already stated his claims when blitzing the field in the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano last month, while Japanese Derby winner Croix Du Nord is also on course for the French capital on October 5.
Now Byzantine Dream can also add his name to the mix after being shortened to 12-1 for the Arc by Paddy Power, with Coral going even shorter at 8-1 after his dress rehearsal in Paris.
Second in the Tenno Sho when last seen, the Tomoyasu Sakaguchi-trained four-year-old was successfully ridden by Murphy when winning the Red Sea Turf in Saudi Arabia in February, and his proven stamina came to the fore here to finish strongly and edge out Andre Fabre’s Sosie.
Murphy told Sky Sports Racing: “He broke well but the one beside him stumbled and I actually clipped a heel for a stride, but he relaxed immediately and the pace wasn’t super fast and I was able to get on the back of Maxime Guyon (on Sosie).
“He doesn’t do an awful lot in front and in Saudi Arabia he ran around, so I just thought I would hopefully get there hands and heels and if he wasn’t winning today it would set him up perfectly for the big race (Arc).”
He went on: “I wasn’t concerned about dropping back in distance as I think he is a weak stayer over extended distances and has a very good turn of foot. He beat a high-class field today but he does want fast ground.
“He was a lot heavier today and you would notice the crest in his neck is much thicker. He obviously hasn’t run since May and he just did two kind of nice bits of work without anything being difficult in the build-up to this.
“He’s probably quite a light-framed horse who doesn’t need graft and I would hope he could be an even better horse come Arc weekend provided he gets his preferred conditions.”
Sakaguchi said: “The horse was in very good condition. The jockey rode a perfect race. It’s a beautiful victory. He still has room for improvement. He will be at the peak of his condition for the Arc.
“Today was just a prep race, and he still has something in hand. The question will be the ground, but the main goal is to have the horse ready for the Arc, and then we’ll see how the ground turns out on the day.”
Sosie ram a fine trial for the Arc (Steven Paston/PA)
Pierre-Yves Bureau, racing manager for Wertheimer and Frère, owners of Sosie, said: “That was a very good return! He hadn’t run since early July, and the idea was to prepare him for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
“We were beaten by the horse we knew the least about, but against the other runners, he clearly showed his quality. If all goes well, we’ll be at the start of the Arc in four weeks’ time. We are satisfied.”
Ed Walker was pleased enough with the run of Almaqam back in third.
“That’s a very good performance, I’m very pleased with Almaqam,” he said.
“All week, I was worried about where to run him. I think we made exactly the right choice in coming here. He definitely stays the trip. We learned a lot today. Almaqam wasn’t beaten by much. I think he will be better on softer ground.
“He’s had a light campaign this year, and today’s race opens up more options for him going forward. Disappointed to be beaten, but very pleased nonetheless, I believe he’s a great horse.
“This is probably the best year to run in the Arc. William (Buick) told me: ‘If you’re going to take your chance, do it this year!’ As an option, we had the Champion Stakes, which will be a red-hot race. But I think he really enjoys the mile-and-a-half. So why not try? If the boss (Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum) agrees to take the chance, then I think we should go for it.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2.81197268-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2025-09-07 13:11:102025-09-07 14:20:24Dream result for Byzantine followers in Foy
Doncaster’s St Leger meeting will always spark memories of Double Trigger, despite him just coming up short in the Classic.
The achievements of Mark Johnston’s exceptional stayer are still lauded to this day on Town Moor, with the triple Doncaster Cup hero immortalised in statue form overlooking the parade ring around which he would once swagger.
And 30 years on from capping a phenomenal year by winning his first of three staying prizes in South Yorkshire, Johnston remembers fondly one of the undoubted greats of his era.
Double Trigger was a star for Mark Johnston (John Giles/PA)
“In 1995 we felt there was nothing that could touch him over those trips in the UK so we went there full of confidence,” said Johnston of his first Doncaster Cup success, which came in a season he had already claimed the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and its Goodwood equivalent.
“The ironic thing was he wasn’t champion stayer that year which was down to the way it was calculated and Strategic Choice was actually given it.
“Nowadays he would have been comfortably champion stayer as he had won all the Cup races that year and all the British two-mile and above Group races that season. It was very much his heyday.”
It was always going to be a difficult task for Double Trigger to recreate the halcyon summer of 1995 in the subsequent years, but the popular North Yorkshire-trained gelding with the famous white blaze would always reserve his best for his beloved Goodwood and the faithful on Town Moor.
He would win both events three times in total, bowing out in style when following up a final Goodwood Cup triumph with a fitting farewell in front of a vociferous home crowd who urged their hero on to one last victory and a day Johnston will never forget.
The statue of Double Trigger at Doncaster (Nigel French/PA)
Johnston said: “His very last run was in the Doncaster Cup and we had started to have the odd soundness niggle so we had decided beforehand that might be his last run. It was great to bow out on top.
“I remember they had two different paddock sheets ready, one in case he won and one in case something else won and it was sponsored by the train company (GNER) who went and named a train after him.
“It was great times and of course Doncaster built a statue of him which is obviously still there.
“He won the Goodwood Cup and the Doncaster Cup in his last two starts and that was pretty special.”
Double Trigger would appear five times at Doncaster in his career and it was a year before establishing himself as a member of the staying elite that he would attempt to end Johnston’s quest for a victory in the St Leger.
Trainer Mark Johnston hopes to see son Charlie win the St Leger (Mike Egerton/PA)
He would ultimately finish third to Moonax in his Classic tilt, with Johnston also going on to end his career without holding the world’s oldest Classic trophy aloft, and the family curse in the Leger has struck again with son Charlie being forced to rule out Lazy Griff this year.
“I suppose one of the things that is often forgotten about Double Trigger is he finished third in the St Leger and people often think of him as a two-mile horse and an older horse but he was top-class as a three-year-old as well,” explained Johnston.
“I never won the Leger and it is a race that I would loved to have won and it will always be a frustration to me that I never managed it.”
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