Latest horse racing news from UK, Ireland, and around the world.

Minnie Hauk charting direct path towards Arc

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Minnie Hauk looks set to chart a direct route to ParisLongchamp next month, with trainer Aidan O’Brien saying the multiple Oaks-winning filly is “on the Arc programme”.

The three-year-old is unbeaten in four starts this term, winning the Listed Cheshire Oaks on her seasonal bow before adding Classic glory at both Epsom and the Curragh, before securing a third Group One success in the Yorkshire Oaks last time out.

Minnie Hauk is as short as 5-1 with Unibet for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and while the filly will have to be supplemented for the October 5 contest, O’Brien has the French contest in his sights.

He said: “We haven’t seen the best of Minnie Hauk at all and you’re not going to see the best of her until the tempo is very strong all the way. Physically she’s getting bigger and stronger.

“We weren’t sure what she was and I thought we’d know this time but we still don’t know, she’s relentless. She’s on the Arc programme.

“The last day was lovely but we didn’t really find out because the second horse (Qilin Queen) pulled back off Wayne  (Lordan, on Garden Of Eden) a little so for half a furlong or a furlong she was in limbo land where we would have preferred if she was behind the pacemaker. But it might have been the best thing in the world because she had a very easy race.

“We think when she goes there she doesn’t do much, that’s the way she is at home. The Arc hopefully will be a strong run race and we’re going to find out. She looks very exiting and is still in the ‘could be anything’ category.”

O’Brien also raised the possibility of the filly’s owners Derrick Smith, John Magnier and Michael Tabor, opting to race on next term if this season finishes on a good note.

He added: “It’s possible she could be kept in training, the lads love racing them if everything is well.”

Lord Allen has far-reaching aims as he takes up BHA chair role

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Lord Allen has outlined his vision of turning British racing into “a modern commercial and cultural powerhouse” as he assumed his position as the new chair of the British Horseracing Authority.

Allen, who also offered his backing for the cancellation of next Wednesday’s racing in protest of proposed betting tax changes, believes that with the “right governance and ambition” the sport can realise its full potential.

In a statement, he said: “I am delighted the industry is coming together on September 10 to say ‘Axe the Racing Tax’. It is an historic step to cancel all racing on this date, but this will help us to explain just how concerned we are for the sport on many levels.

“Horseracing is a sport for everyone, not just for the few. There are 85,000 people dependent directly and indirectly on racing. The proposed changes would not only negatively impact many communities both rural and urban but would reduce our ability to be a world leader and the opportunity to have inward investment in the sector.

“Ensuring sustainable finances is essential if we are to support our participants, our workforce, our horses and our racecourses, and continue to engage our fans, owners, customers and the betting public.

“British racing is admired worldwide for its heritage, its quality, and the standards of integrity and welfare it upholds. My vision is not simply that we work to preserve this, but to develop British racing into a modern commercial and cultural powerhouse: a sport that commands attention on the global stage, attracts new audiences, inspires fans at home, supports its people, and continues to set the gold standard for the care of the horse.

“With the right governance and ambition, I believe this is possible and I look forward to working across the sector to achieve this vision.”

Allen was initially due to take up his role on June 1 but his tenure was delayed as he negotiated changes to make the BHA’s board independent of racecourses and the sport’s participants.

He added: “It is nine months since I was nominated for the role. In that time, I have had over 100 meetings with racing people. As well as industry leaders I met many frontliners for whom the sport is both a matter of professional pride and also a labour of love. I immersed myself in the industry so that I could truly understand the opportunity.

“There was a consistent agreement during my meetings that things needed to change if racing was to prosper, but often those I spoke to held the view that change needs to come from elsewhere in the sport rather than from their own segment of the industry.

“However, I hold the view that there are opportunities and requirements for change across the whole sport, and I believe that overall there is agreement and appetite for this.

“I am sincerely grateful to the Board of the BHA and its stakeholders that they agreed that change should start at the top and that we should have an independent board where everyone is focused on putting horseracing first rather than representing a vested interest.”

Sprint success story Luna A Inbhir Nis searching for seventh strike

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Luna A Inbhir Nis may have come up agonisingly short at York’s Ebor Festival, but trainer Katie Scott is riding the waves of a phenomenal journey with her bargain buy who has defied all expectations.

The 1,000 guineas purchase has quickly become the pride of Scott’s Galashiels base with her sharp rise through the ranks and although there was some disappointment at not making it win number seven for the campaign on the Knavesmire, the three-year-old left Yorkshire with her growing reputation firmly intact.

“Obviously it was frustrating to see her come so close yet still so far away, but we’ve got to be proud of the run,” said Scott of her third place, beaten just a head, in the IRE-Incentive, It Pays To Buy Irish Fillies’ Handicap.

“The winner (Star Of Mehmas) is a very good horse and she was giving away a lot of weight to the second (Eternal Sunshine). From where she started off at the beginning of the season to where she is now has been a bit of an unbelievable journey really.

“I think we need to race on as sharp a track as we can find as she’s just so fast. They just nabbed her late on and that was her first run against older horses so she’s learning every time, so you have to think it was really good.”

Luna A Inbhir Nis began her season by winning a two-runner affair at Newcastle in March and has risen from an initial mark of 57 in April to her current perch of 89.

“She garners a lot of public interest as she won that two-runner race and got a low mark and then has built her way up and people have followed her along the way, which is fantastic,” continued Scott.

“I think a lot of people have taken note that she only cost 1,000 guineas, which I think keeps the dream alive for a few people who worry you need to spend a fortune for a good horse.

“Every time she has won you think ‘ah great, she’s done well but that will be that’ and she’s kept coming out and doing it again and again which has been amazing.

“We’ve had Gweedore in the yard as well and for us to have two proper Saturday horses is fantastic. We’re always trying to improve the quality and obviously you need a mixture in the yard but it’s always nice to have a couple of good ones in the yard and try to get plenty of winners.”

The quest for Luna A Inbhir Nis’ seventh win of the season now begins and although options may be limited, she could test the waters at Listed level in Ayr’s Arran Scottish Sprint EBF Fillies’ Stakes on September 19.

“We don’t have a firm plan yet,” explained Scott.

“The Listed fillies race at Ayr is over five and a half furlongs which probably isn’t ideal but we might have to give her an entry and see what is in it.

“Ideally we would have run her in a three-year-old only fillies’ Listed race over five furlongs or a fillies-only Listed but there just isn’t one. So it could be another handicap and a holiday or the Ayr race if it was to cut up – but I do think she is better over the bare five furlongs.”

Dancing Gemini set for Prix du Moulin jaunt

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Dancing Gemini is being readied for a second successive trip across the Channel and another tilt at Group One glory in Sunday’s Prix du Moulin at ParisLongchamp.

Roger Teal’s stable star made an excellent start to the season with victories in the Doncaster Mile and the bet365 Mile at Sandown, and he was only narrowly denied a top-level breakthrough when beaten a neck by Lead Artist in the Lockinge at Newbury.

Dancing Gemini failed to fire in a slowly-run Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, but having bounced back to form when finishing a close-up third in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville in mid-August, the four-year-old will return to France with a degree of confidence behind him this weekend.

Teal said: “He seems in good order, so the plan at the moment is to run in the Moulin.

“Deauville was a bit frustrating and a case of so close but yet so far, but it was a good performance and hopefully he can run another big race on Sunday.

“The ground was rock hard at Deauville, I couldn’t believe how quick it was. Looking at the forecast it looks like it’s been wet over there this week and it’s due to dry up later in the week, but hopefully the ground will be a bit easier than what he’s been running on.

“Rossa Ryan will ride him again and we’re looking forward to it.”

Aidan O’Brien eager for Ombudsman rematch with Delacroix

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Aidan O’Brien will leave no stone unturned in his attempt to give Delacroix the best possible chance of winning next week’s Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

Delacroix overcame trouble in running to catch Ombudsman and win a thrilling Eclipse at Sandown but that rival came out on top in the Juddmonte International at York when Ombudsman’s pacemaker Birr Castle shot clear.

O’Brien intends to run his own pacemaker this time and is keen for John and Thady Gosden to bring Ombudsman to Ireland, where home advantage will be with the Ballydoyle runner.

“I’m very happy, everything has gone well since York. York was a bit of a non-event (for him) really but everything has been good since, so I’m very happy,” said O’Brien.

Delacroix parades before the press at Ballydoyle
Delacroix parades before the press at Ballydoyle (PA)

“He’s very fresh so we’re looking forward to Leopardstown.

“He’s a good horse. We had it in our head that what did happen at York could happen and we were going to follow the pacemaker, but when the Japanese horse (Danon Decile) got in front it kind of changed the whole race.

“We’ve always thought he was a good horse and the ground doesn’t matter to him. He’s very happy on quick ground and he seems very happy with an ease in the ground as well, so I don’t think it matters.

“Hopefully (Ombudsman) will come. Sheikh Mohammed (owner) is probably the greatest sportsman we’ve ever seen, so I know our men will be delighted. We’d love him to come and then it will be a proper race.

“We’ll try to run a pacemaker if John doesn’t run a pacemaker and we’ll make it very straightforward. The pacemaker will go on and Delacroix can follow him and Ombudsman can follow Delacroix if he wants!

“We’ll let them turn into the straight and see what happens, it’s very simple really. For the race and for everybody we want it to happen – win, lose or draw we’ll be delighted.”

Whirl was very impressive at Goodwood in the Nassau Stakes
Whirl was very impressive at Goodwood in the Nassau Stakes (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Top-class filly Whirl also holds an entry in the Irish Champion but will only run if something untoward happens to Delacroix, with the Prix Vermeille her chosen race.

“She’s well, she’s a possible. She’s there as kind of a protective in case Delacroix didn’t run,” said O’Brien.

“It’s very possible that she will go to France for the Vermeille and then she’s had her run if she wants to go for the Arc, so we have our eye on the Vermeille first unless something happened to Delacroix.”

Christophe Soumillon in line for Ballydoyle rides with Ryan Moore injured

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Aidan O’Brien will turn to Christophe Soumillon to help fill some of the Ballydoyle riding plans as stable jockey Ryan Moore continues his recovery from a leg injury.

The trainer announced on Saturday that Moore will be sidelined for an indefinite period of time after being diagnosed with a stress fracture in his femur.

Wayne Lordan is the yard’s second rider, but he is currently due to be suspended for 10 days after the Goodwood stewards found him to have used his whip in the incorrect place aboard Prestige Stakes winner Precise.

Lordan has lodged an appeal against that ban, which runs from September 9-18, but with the St Leger meeting at Doncaster and the Irish Champions Festival both taking place next week, O’Brien would still be in need of multiple big-race riders as Delacroix is due to run in the Irish Champion Stakes while Scandinavia is a short-priced Leger favourite.

Asked how plans will change given the news of Moore’s injury, O’Brien said: “Wayne is having his appeal this week and obviously Christophe has ridden a lot for us through the year, all those things are changing at the moment.

“I don’t know how long Ryan is going to be but we will tell him to take as much time as he wants.”

O’Brien has often turned to Soumillon, who was previously retained by the late Aga Khan, for his French runners, with the rider partnering Diego Velazquez to win last month’s Prix Jacques le Marois while he also rode two Group One winners for the team on Arc weekend last year.

The trainer added: “Christophe has always been (part of the plans). He’s not tied down to anybody now.

“He’s a world-class jockey everywhere, he’s been riding for us a lot since he’s been released.”

Racing Bulletin for 01/09/2025

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Shuwari delights Ollie Sangster with ParisLongchamp strike

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Ollie Sangster was thrilled to see Shuwari reward the patience of her connections with victory in the Prix de la Cochere at ParisLongchamp.

The New Bay filly enjoyed an excellent juvenile campaign a couple of years ago, beating the subsequent triple Group One winner Fallen Angel in the Star Stakes at Sandown before filling the runner-up spot in both the Rockfel Stakes and the Fillies’ Mile.

Shuwari missed the entirety of the 2024 season and after finishing sixth on her long-awaited return to action at Kempton in March, she was not seen again until placing third in Haydock’s Dick Hern Stakes three weeks ago.

But ridden confidently at the rear of the field by Mickael Barzalona on her first appearance in France, Sangster’s charge moved menacingly into contention halfway up the home straight and picked up well in the closing stages of the one-mile contest to edge out Zabeel Light in a driving finish.

Sangster said: “She was obviously a high-class two-year-old who has had her issues since then and I’m very happy for my dad Ben and the whole team at Ballylinch (part-owners) as they have been very patient all along and let us keep trying.

“We were happy with her going into Haydock, but we were very much using that as a comeback run and a springboard for the rest of the season. This was on more suitable ground today, we were cautious about the draw (stall 12), but Mickael gave her a nice, cool ride and I think she performed very well in the circumstances.

“I think she’ll improve again for today and we look forward to getting her back and hopefully having a successful autumn. She’s not in a few of those big autumn Group Ones as they close very early in the year and obviously we’ve had our issues so we were reluctant to make many entries.

“We’ll get her back home and see how she comes out of it and try to go back up to Group company, anyway.”

Afjan is in line for a shot at Group One glory on Arc weekend after narrowly denying Irish raider Havana Anna victory in the Group Three Prix d’Arenberg.

Havana Anna was a warm order to complete her hat-trick for Donnacha O’Brien following back-to-back wins at Naas, most recently impressing in the Listed Marwell Stakes in July.

Ridden by Gavin Ryan, the Havana Grey filly took over the lead from Archie Watson’s Shine On Me approaching the last of five furlongs, but Henri Devin’s Afjan also finished off strongly in the hands of Christophe Soumillon.

The pair passed the winning post almost as one, but the judge confirmed the Al Shaqab Racing-owned Afjan the winner by a nose and the juvenile could now take on his elders in the Prix de l’Abbaye.

Rupert Pritchard-Gordon, Al Shaqab’s French racing consultant, said: “That was brilliant, particularly with him being a homebred colt.

“It’s great that he’s confirmed the promise he showed when winning on his debut. Henri Devin has always had a lot of confidence in the horse and after he finished second in the Prix de Cabourg over six furlongs at Deauville the other day, Christophe felt he had so much natural speed that the very obvious race was today’s.

“It’s very possible he’ll run in the Prix de l’Abbaye, I think – we’ll roll the dice. He’s got a lot of speed and he’ll carry 54 kilos.

“We’re not there yet, but that would be the plan I think as we’ve got very little to lose. He’ll have the weight in his favour and he’s now proved his effectiveness over that quick five furlongs, so why not?”

Espoir Avenir claimed a shock victory in the other Group Three on the card, the Prix Gerald de Geoffre.

Hotheaded was a short-priced favourite to claim a third win from four starts for Andre Fabre, but he folded after being rushed to the front following a slow start and it was Christophe Ferland’s Espoir Avenir who picked up the pieces, with Joseph O’Brien’s Emit beating Hotheaded to the runner-up spot.

Grand Marques the ace in Abergwaun pack

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Grand Marques could make the leap to Group One company on Irish Champions Weekend after a front-running success in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Abergwaun Stakes at Tipperary.

Group Three-placed last year as a juvenile, Fozzy Stack’s charge had fallen short when tried in a grade higher this term but dropped back to Listed level, she was in the front rank throughout in the hands of Seamie Heffernan.

Erosandpsyche proved her main rival in the last of the five furlongs, but Grand Marques had a little extra in reserve and eventually ran out a half-length winner as an 8-1 shot.

Stack is now looking towards the Bar One Racing Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh on September 14.

He said: “She had the right draw (stall 14) today and was able to get to the stands’ side rail, which was a big help. Nothing really bothered her in front and he (Heffernan) was able to sit until a furlong and a half down.

“If they all did what she did, a Listed winner and Group Three-placed, we’d be all right and today’s race was a win-and-you’re-in for the Flying Five Stakes. We have nothing to lose and all those sprinters seem to be beating each other this year.”

Endorsement (evens favourite) built on a debut second by claiming the Camas Park Irish EBF Maiden for Aidan O’Brien and Wayne Lordan.

The Wootton Bassett colt, who hails from the family of Group One winner Johannes Vermeer, briefly looked as though he might have to settle for the runner-up prize again as Limestone made a good battle of it, but Endorsement found the required extra and was pulling away again as he crossed the line a length and three-quarters to the good.

Stablemate Christmas Day finished fifth on his racecourse bow after making the early running.

O’Brien’s representative Chris Armstrong said: “It looked to be a lovely maiden and some of them were coming in with good runs previously. Both our horses had good runs so it was a difficult decision for Wayne to make and he said he had a messy trip the whole way, as he was wide.

“In fairness once he got him straightened up and balanced, his last furlong was his best part and he really hit the line well.

“He will now go into all those nice staying races towards the backend, although the Beresford might come too soon. He is still babyish, so will come on mentally and physically and could run next in the Zetland Stakes in Newmarket, and maybe then on to the Group Ones in France.”

The Ballydoyle team doubled up with Mississippi River (6-4 favourite) in the Glenvale Stud Race, edging out Bravais by a head.

Armstrong added: “He is in a handicap at Leopardstown (Sovereign Path Handicap, Champions Weekend), where he would carry a winner’s penalty, so we’ll see how he comes out of it. He has good form around Leopardstown and it is a good pot.”

Princess Child edges Fairy Bridge thriller at Tipperary

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Princess Child just got the better of Queen Of Thunder in a thrilling finish to the Coolmore Stud No Nay Never Fairy Bridge Stakes at Tipperary.

Trained by Joseph O’Brien and ridden by Dylan Browne McMonagle, Princess Child was sent off a 3-1 shot for the Group Three prize as a five-time runner-up at Listed level and winner of the Ahonoora Handicap at the Galway Festival at the start of the month.

Settled in mid division, McMonagle managed to avoid the worst of the trouble as the field tightened up turning into the straight, with Mataariki swinging across the track to the nearside rail and appearing to impede Chantez and 11-4 favourite Fingerpaint in particular.

Switched to challenge down the middle, Princess Child reeled in Queen Of Thunder who had set sail for home, eventually edging a short head in front on the line, with Fingerpaint making late gains to be beaten a further three and a half lengths in third.

O’Brien said: “If any horse every deserved to win a stakes race it was her, although you don’t always get what you deserve. She met a bit of trouble in running but hit the line strong and while it was a head-bobber, she had previously come out the wrong side of a few tight finishes in her career.

“We had been campaigning her aggressively to try to win a stakes race and while she has a load of black type, to win a Group race is great. I’d say it will be a career-best on the figures and I thought she won the hard way.

“She is a Group winner now so it is job done, although we might look to win another one now.”

The stewards inquired into Mataariki’s move across the track, with her rider Declan McDonogh banned for seven days after being found to have ridden carelessly.

Isle Of Jura pencilled in for late September comeback

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Long-term absentee Isle Of Jura has had his comeback date put back slightly, but trainer George Scott remains delighted with his progress.

A Royal Ascot winner in the Hardwicke Stakes last summer having already won the Bahrain Triple Crown, he is likely to be a flag bearer for his connections, the new amalgamation Victorious Forever.

Isle Of Jura was being aimed at the September Stakes on September 6, but that race will come too soon.

“We’ve bumped him back a bit. There’s a Listed race at Newmarket (Godolphin Stakes, September 26) or a race at Goodwood (Foundation Stakes, September 24), but I couldn’t be more pleased with his progress,” said Scott.

“His issue hasn’t raised its head whatsoever and he’s using one of those races, hopefully, as a stepping stone to the Bahrain International at the beginning of November. I’m very excited about him.”

Another heading to Bahrain eventually is prolific winner and Chester Cup and Royal Ascot second Caballo De Mar.

“He goes to Haydock next Saturday for the Old Borough Cup,” said Scott.

“He’s a funny horse at home, he wouldn’t beat the lowest-rated horse in the yard on the gallops but he’s got a really good record on the track.

“He was bought by Victorious with the winter season in Bahrain in mind and then hopefully look at Dubai.”

Bay City Roller was an unbeaten juvenile for the team winning the Champagne Stakes last year but has had his opportunities limited this term due to unsuitable going, while he was slow to start when most recently seen in the York Stakes.

“The season has been so frustrating for Bay City Roller and I really do believe he’s a top-class horse, he just needs a pattern of races to get into the season,” said Scott.

“We missed the break at York by six lengths, which was a shame as we blotted our copybook. We wouldn’t have beaten the first two but we’d have beaten the other two three-year-olds and everyone would have been very positive about him. He just needs a bit of cut.”

The Strikin Viking scores in Germany

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The Strikin Viking secured his first success since his racecourse debut as he blazed a trail in the Group Three Casino Baden-Baden Goldene Peitsche in Germany.

The three-year-old – named in honour of Manchester City striker Erling Haaland – made a splash when first appearing on the track at York in June 2024, making all for a comfortable maiden success before being beaten just half a length by subsequent Classic winner Henri Matisse when upped to Group Two company in the Railway Stakes.

Following that run, Wathnan Racing bought the son of Inns Of Court from Middleham Park Racing for an undisclosed sum and switched him from Kevin Ryan to Hamad Al Jehani – but after an initial second in the Richmond Stakes, The Strikin Viking was beaten in two further juvenile runs before being gelded over the winter.

Down the field on his first two starts this term, The Strikin Viking was only a neck off victory at Chester last time and he built on that with a determined effort over six furlongs at Baden-Baden.

Racing prominently for Faleh Bughanaim, The Strikin Viking kept finding for pressure to hold off the challenge of War Bride by three-quarters of a length, with fellow British raiders Kylian and Arabie finishing fourth and eighth respectively.

Wathnan’s racing adviser Richard Brown said: “It was absolutely fantastic, delighted. It’s Wathnan’s first winner in Germany and how apt that it should be achieved by a Qatari trainer and a Qatari jockey.

“All credit to Hamad and his team as he hasn’t been straightforward. Things didn’t go to plan last year at Goodwood (in the Richmond) and we sort of lost him a bit after that, but everyone has been very patient with him, we’ve obviously gelded him now and all credit to them for getting him back.

“He ran very well at Chester last time and it was a good performance today. I’m just delighted for Hamad and his team and Faleh as well, who I thought gave him a very good ride.

“Today was the plan, so we’ll enjoy that and wait until Hamad and Faleh get back and have a debrief with them. I’ll talk to all the team and see if we can come up with a plan.”

Leicester and Doncaster options under consideration for Zanthos

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Connections are considering the options with the exciting Zanthos after the prospect of soft ground scuppered a tilt at the Solario Stakes.

The €1million breeze-up buy lit up the July course with a dazzling display on debut, with trainers Simon and Ed Crisford open to taking on the colts in the Sandown Group Three.

However, put off by forecast rain and keen to ensure the daughter of Sioux Nation banks further experience on a sound surface, they will now consider a new route to high-ranking events at the end of the season.

Zanthos holds an entry for both the Rockfel Stakes (September 26) and Fillies’ Mile (October 10) on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile, with the youngster’s team now weighing up a Leicester novice event on September 9 or Doncaster’s Betfred May Hill Stakes two days later as potential stepping stones.

Chris Wall, racing manager for owners Victorious Forever, said: “The plan was to run in the Solario, but we ducked out of that with the forecast and possibility of soft ground which it looked like being.

“The target is the Rockfel and it’s just how we get there as we feel she needs to have another run for experience and it’s then a question of where we do that.

“We could go for the May Hill over a mile which I suppose if she ran well in that, we could then bin the Rockfel idea and head straight to the Fillies’ Mile. Or there is also a fillies’ novice race at Leicester the same week.

“As much as anything, and obviously her well-being at the time is also paramount, but wherever she goes could be dictated a little bit by the ground as she’s a good-actioned filly. I’m not saying she won’t cope with slowish ground but she wouldn’t want very soft ground.

“We’re all looking forward to her next run and it’s disappointing we couldn’t go to the Solario as it would have let us know where we stood and we could confidently make plans for the autumn, but we can’t help the weather and we take that on the chin and move on.”

Arizona Blaze handed French target after York disappointment

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Adrian Murray has outlined plans for some of his stable stars, with Arizona Blaze set to be freshened up after Nunthorpe disappointment for a crack at the Prix de l’Abbaye, while Group One hero Power Blue is also being saved for a trans-Atlantic mission to the Breeders’ Cup later in the year.

Arizona Blaze was sent off the 9-2 favourite for York’s Group One sprint but struggled to make an impression in finishing 11th, some six lengths adrift of Australian-trained winner Asfoora.

With stablemate Bucanero Fuerte pencilled in to represent Murray and owners Amo Racing in the Curragh’s Flying Five Stakes, Arizona Blue will make the journey to France in early October.

That could pave the way for further travel and another visit to the Breeders’ Cup having gone close in the Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar last November.

Adrian Murray (right) is eyeing a trip to France with Arizona Blue
Adrian Murray (right) is eyeing a trip to France with Arizona Blue (Brian Lawless/PA)

Murray said: “We were a little bit disappointed with Arizona Blaze, he was slow out the stalls and got on the back foot and just never got into it, he wasn’t able to travel in his comfort zone.

“He’s come out of the race great though and we’re looking at going to Longchamp now for the sprint on Arc weekend. Bucanero Fuerte is going to go for the Flying Five, so we’ll freshen Arizona Blaze up and hopefully look at France.

“The ground could have been a little quick for him at York as well, so if there’s a bit of dig in the ground in France it could be to his advantage.

“He will probably go for the Breeders’ Cup as well towards the back end.”

Also with a trip to California on his agenda is Phoenix Stakes scorer Power Blue, who will now swerve stepping up in distance for the National Stakes to head Stateside in top form, where his intended target is still to be decided.

“We took him out of the National Stakes and he’s had a tough enough campaign, so we’re just going to freshen him up and look at the Breeders’ Cup for him as well,” continued Murray.

“We haven’t really decided which race yet, but he probably will be going up in trip.”

Murray has also welcomed last year’s Irish Oaks winner You Got To Me to his Rathowen base, with the headline-making 4.8million guineas buy switched from trainer Ralph Beckett by Amo supremo Kia Joorabchian.

You Got To Me heads to post at Epsom
You Got To Me heads to post at Epsom (John Walton/PA)

Seen just the once this season when disappointing at Epsom in the Coronation Cup, there are no immediate plans, but her new handler is hoping the change of scenery inspires a revival.

“It’s great to have her and she’s on a little bit of a break to freshen her up,” said Murray.

“She has an entry in the Arc, but we would have to wait and see and she will tell us where we are at with her.

“At the moment she’s enjoying her break and we’ll just be hoping that the change of scenery will bring her back to something like her best.”

Wimbledon Hawkeye is Nashville hit for Frankie Dettori

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Frankie Dettori steered British raider Wimbledon Hawkeye to a thrilling victory in the DK Horse Nashville Derby on Saturday.

Although James Owen’s charge had not managed to get his head in front since landing last season’s Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket, he has run creditably defeat on a number of occasions this term, filling the runner-up spot in the Craven, the Princess of Wales’s Stakes and Gordon Stakes.

Wimbledon Hawkeye, owned by Dettori’s former neighbours the Gredley Family, headed Stateside as a leading contender for Saturday’s $2million feature at Kentucky Downs and after rocketing to the front early in the home straight, the Kameko colt knuckled down to see off the persistent challenge of Burnham Square by a head.

Dettori told TwinSpires Racing: “We know he’s proven on grass and proven on the distance, so when we got to the top of the hill I thought ‘come and catch me if you can’.

“Brian (Hernandez Jr, riding Burnham Square) came to me with a wet sail and I thought he was going to pass me, but in fairness Wimbledon Hawkeye put his head down and battled for me. I wasn’t sure at the line, but we got there first.

“The only thing I was afraid of was he’s danced every dance this year – he’s run a Guineas trial, the Guineas (finished fifth), Derby trials and Royal Ascot. He ran at Goodwood on deep ground, it’s a long journey for a three-year-old and sometimes we ask horses too much, but the team have done a great job.

“He was bucking and kicking like a yearling and he showed that he was full of energy, well done to the team.”

Trainer James Owen was delighted to strike gold in America with Wimbledon Hawkeye
Trainer James Owen was delighted to strike gold in America with Wimbledon Hawkeye (Mike Egerton/PA)

Quoted on www.bloodhorse.com, Owen added: “The horse is improving. He’s not the biggest, but he’s getting stronger all the time, and he’s a very consistent horse.

“I’m privileged to train him. I haven’t been training long. It’s my third season training and to win this prize is unreal.”

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