Latest news with #Coolmore
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Globetrotter' Cairo Brings Alice Haynes Back To U.S. For Arlington Million
'Globetrotter' Cairo Brings Alice Haynes Back To U.S. For Arlington Million originally appeared on Paulick Report. Newmarket trainer Alice Haynes will aim to advance her international record this summer with Cairo, who is set to compete in the Grade 1 Arlington Million on Aug. 9 at Colonial Downs in New Kent, Va., and the $2,000,000 Grade 3 Mint Millions Stakes on Sept. 6 at Kentucky Downs in Franklin, who started training in 2021, has already won Group or Listed races in Britain, France, Ireland, and Italy. She has also hit the crossbar in the UAE, with Cairo and Mr Professor both finishing second at the Dubai Racing will be the second runner in the States for the young trainer, who saddled Lady Hollywood at the Breeders' Cup in 2022. The filly finished fifth at Keeneland in the Juvenile Turf was purchased privately from the Coolmore partners by Kuawaiti owner Refai Alghraiban and joined the Newmarket yard in April 2024. The 5-year-old raced at the Dubai Racing Carnival for Haynes earlier this year, finishing second at Group level twice. He was last seen at Royal Ascot when he finished third in the Group 1 Queen Anne talked to Great British Racing International about Cairo and his effort at Ascot: 'I feel the horse has taken a massive step forward this year. He spent some time in quarantine in Dubai last year before joining us and that probably shook him a bit. His confidence seems up and he is versatile in the way he is ridden. He can sit prominently and can come from behind like he did at Ascot.'His race at Royal Ascot was massive. It was a thrill for the team at home and the owner [Refai Alghraiban], who took a punt in buying the horse and he is now getting the reward from it. He has been placed at Royal Ascot, the Qatar Goodwood Festival, the Dubai Racing Carnival and now we go to the States!' On the decision to target the G1 Arlington Million, the trainer said:'The trip was first discussed before Royal Ascot and then the team from Colonial Downs came to meet the owner in the paddock at Ascot and the deal was sealed. Obviously, he needed to run well and he did. America should suit him as a fast track and a turn is what he likes.'He flies mid-week and seems in really good order. I am very pleased with his form. He is a bit of a globetrotter and travels well so that's good. I think he will run a great race.'Cairo's regular work rider Abel O'Gorman added:'He's a gentleman and at the same time he likes to play around, but he never means any harm. He always does what you ask him at home but would never do more than that until he gets to the track.'He has been working well since Royal Ascot and seems happy. He loves a bit of sun on his back so he has been well in himself lately and this should also be the case in America.' This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Jul 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish racing in mourning as legendary trainer Edward O'Grady dies
Legendary Irish trainer Edward O'Grady has died aged 75. Based in Co Tipperary, O'Grady was champion jumps trainer in Ireland for four consecutive years between 1977 and 1980. He trained almost 1,700 career winners, the first of which came in 1972 and the most recent in a handicap hurdle at Bellewstown earlier this month. O'Grady was also a formidable force at Cheltenham and trained 18 Festival winners, including 1978 Supreme Novices Hurdle winner Golden Cygnet. Golden Cygnet was fatally injured in the Scottish Champion Hurdle the following month but O'Grady hailed the horse as the "most talented he had ever trained". More recent Festival winners for O'Grady include Pizarro, who landed the 2002 Champion Bumper in the hands of top Flat jockey Jamie Spencer, and the 2003 Supreme scorer Back In Front. Away from Cheltenham, O'Grady saddled Sound Man to win successive runnings of the Tingle Creek at Sandown in 1995 and 1996. His final Grade One winner was Cash And Go in the Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown's Christmas Festival in 2011. Other top-class horses he trained include 2002 Irish Champion Hurdle winner Ned Kelly and Nick Dundee, who both carried the colours of Coolmore's John Magnier. The O'Grady family issued a statement today that read: 'It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of Edward O'Grady, who passed away peacefully yesterday evening at St James's Hospital, surrounded by his family. 'Edward was a cherished husband, father and grandfather and also one of the most respected and successful racehorse trainers of his generation. 'Over the course of an extraordinary career that spanned more than five decades, Edward trained just shy of 1,700 winners under rules. 'His name became synonymous with Irish National Hunt racing, and he was a formidable force at Cheltenham and across the racing world. Beyond the winners and the headlines, Edward was a man of deep intelligence, sharp wit, and remarkable warmth. 'He had friends on every continent, a story for every occasion, and a lifelong passion for the sport, the hunting field and everything equestrian. Funeral details will be announced in due course via Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts.
New Paper
21-07-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Calandagan can do it again
French trainer Francis-Henri Graffard is aiming to double the score in the £1.5 million (S$2.58 million) Group 1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2,400m) at Ascot on July 26. The desire to cross the English Channel and plunder one of UK's better-known riches is the same, but not quite the stress levels. Last year, the Chantilly handler had walked into the Ascot paddock, happy to fly under the radar with his charge Goliath, but quietly confident the 25-1 roughie could - unlike his namesake - turn giant-killer. However, Graffard was not so sure when he stood in the parade ring and glanced up at the market. "I was on my own, and Lisa my wife didn't come. I think I was 30-1 and I was like 'oh my god, I will probably look like a fool'," he said. However, the German-bred fooled pundits by upstaging a star-studded field that included the eventual Arc winner Bluestocking, 2023 Epsom Derby winner Auguste Rodin and Godolphin star Rebel's Romance, among others. "When he entered the straight, he was cruising, that was a really good thrill," said Graffard. "The way he won was fantastic and I want to go back there and win that race again." With Calandagan this time, the odds will be a lot shorter for the recent Group 1 first-time scorer. Four consecutive times bridesmaid at elite level, the Aga Khan-owned four-year-old gelding finally broke his duck at his last start, in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (2,400m) on June 29. The five-time winner by Gleneagles is the 7-4 favourite in ante-post betting, a well-deserved status even if he will be up against a stronger band of performers than the ones he met in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. Coolmore's Jan Brueghel was his nemesis in the last of that frustrating run of four Group 1 misses, the Coronation Cup (2,400m) at Epsom on June 6. Also entered are Epsom Derby-Irish Derby double winner Lambourn, Rebel's Romance who snapped a long run of outs for Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby at Royal Ascot in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes (2,400m) on June 21, and interestingly, defending champion Goliath himself. Graffard has, however, indicated that Goliath's new American owner, John Stewart of the world's latest big-spending player Resolute Racing, would rather aim for the Grade 1 Arlington Million (2,000m) at Colonial Downs, US, on Aug 9 instead. Putting all his eggs in the one Calandagan basket does not seem to faze Graffard. In his eyes, the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud win has put him up there with the big boys. "It was a real pleasure to see him winning the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. But it's really the way he did it that pleased me," he said. "The horse was very impressive that day. We got the job done and in a very good manner." The bullishness also stems from Calandagan already having a proven track record at Ascot, and over the same course and distance. In 2024, he won the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes (2,400m) at the Royal Ascot meeting, bolting up by six lengths. "He was so impressive that day. That was really nice to watch," recalled Graffard. The late Aga Khan's racing manager Nemone Routh shared the same enthusiasm. "He's a very consistent horse. Things probably do have to just fall a little bit right for him to get his head in front," she said. "But he's a very classy horse, consistent and genuine. So, we're looking forward to a good race at Ascot." A win would not only continue the legacy of the famous green and red epaulettes, but also its breeding arm. "We were really looking for that Group 1 win. So he's got that under his belt now," added Routh. "It is important to run internationally, for the Aga Khan studs, for the brand, for our stallions, for bloodstock." While such lofty expectations can weigh heavily on some trainers, they seem to strike a chord with Graffard. "When you do this sport, you want to be competitive and be seen on the bigger stage. There is no point winning small races," he said. "But when they asked me to train at Aiglemont (Aga Khan's stables), that's my way, I'm very competitive, I want to win big races. So, that was part of the deal." manyan@
Irish Times
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Minnie Hauk's Irish Oaks success extends Aidan O'Brien's stunning Group One winning streak
Minnie Hauk's Juddmonte Irish Oaks success at the Curragh on Saturday means that Aidan O'Brien has saddled the winners of 33 per cent of Group One races run in Ireland, Britain and France so far this season. The remarkable tally of 11 top-flight contests before even halfway through the campaign puts the Irish trainer in contention to break his own world record haul of 28 Group/Grade One races in a single season set in 2017. One bookmaker makes O'Brien a 9-2 shot to do just that in what is fast turning into, even by his own stellar standards, a rare display of elite domination. Minnie Hauk was his seventh Classic victory in 2025. The 2-11 favourite became the 16th filly to complete the Epsom-Curragh Oaks double and is a 10-1 favourite for October's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. READ MORE Afterwards, the Coolmore brains trust led by supremo John Magnier debated the correct route to Longchamp for her, either through the Yorkshire Oaks next month or a test over the Arc course and distance in the Prix Vermeille in September. Both contests figure in the 46 top-class races still up for grabs in Europe's three major racing jurisdictions this season. With global options also expanding in the autumn, including at the Breeders' Cup, a new record tally could be on O'Brien's radar. What's certain is that his current mark is equal at the same point as during his momentous 2017 campaign and that the resources he has available to him are unparalleled. Over the weekend O'Brien revealed that his most exciting two-year-old Albert Einstein probably won't race again this season. There are also doubts about the future of the Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Lake Victoria who may be retired. Despite that, if anything, his hold on this season's top races appears to be only tightening. He has indicated the Coronation Cup winner Jan Brueghel will renew Epsom rivalry with the top French horse Calandagan in this Saturday's King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. That will allow him keep in reserve the dual-Derby hero Lambourn for a potential tilt at more Classic glory in September's St Leger at Doncaster rather than take on holder horses in British racing's midsummer highlight. 'At the moment I'd say Jan Brueghel is most likely to go to the King George, with Continuous. Lambourn is still on the boiling pot for it, but I don't think he'll be forced into it by any means, and he is a three-year-old,' O'Brien said. 'Jan Brueghel seems to be in very good form and everyone seems to be very happy with him. I'd imagine the lads might let him go there. 'That would mean Lambourn would have a couple of easy weeks and he might go to the Great Voltigeur, even though he's a Group One winner, and kind of set him up for the Leger. They haven't really decided yet, but reading between the lines that's what could happen,' he added. Almost immediately after the King George is the start of the Goodwood festival, where O'Brien horses are favourites for two of the three Group One contests up for grabs there. Illinois is odds-on for the Goodwood Cup, while the Pretty Polly heroine Whirl tops lists for the Nassau Stakes. In between, Henri Matisse is set to again take on his St James's Palace Stakes conqueror Field Of Gold. There are a handful of Group One prizes up for grabs in Deauville. One horse out of the King George equation is the King Edward VII Stakes winner Amiloc. He hasn't recovered from his Royal Ascot exertions in time to satisfy his trainer Ralph Beckett. 'It's a training decision and Ralph felt he could just do with a little bit more time having had a hard race at Royal Ascot,' said a spokesman for Amiloc's ownership. 'The real racing for this horse will be in the autumn time and Ralph thinks it's a little too quick after his last race. It's nothing more than that and nothing untoward.' Monday evening's domestic action in Ballinrobe is more ordinary fare, but the transformed handicapper Deuteronomy gets a shot at completing four wins in a row. Nicola Burns's mount keeps winning by half a length but has been upped 9lbs for winning at Limerick and has to overcome a wide draw.
North Wales Chronicle
19-07-2025
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
True Love powers home for Railway Stakes demolition
Aidan O'Brien had saddled 14 previous winners of the Group Two contest, with Rock Of Gibraltar (2001), George Washington (2005) and last year's victor Henri Matisse (2024) among them, and it was significant his chief hope this time around was the sole filly in a field of four. Having filled the runner-up spot on her first two starts, True Love (1-2 favourite) was an impressive winner of the Queen Mary Stakes and followed up in fine style, travelling strongly under Ryan Moore before quickening five lengths clear of stable Puerto Rico with the minimum of fuss. 👀 Queen Mary heroine 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 – a rare filly to even run in the @GAINEquine Railway Stakes @curraghrace – follows in the estimable hoofprints of stablemate and last year's winner Henri Matisse 💕@Ballydoyle | @coolmorestud — Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 19, 2025 O'Brien said: 'Obviously she's fast so we weren't sure she'd get six (furlongs). I suppose we were finding out a little bit about her really. 'She was a Queen Mary winner so it was very hard for Ryan not to ride her. We couldn't be happier with her really. 'Obviously the Phoenix Stakes would be there for her as well as the Prix Morny and the Cheveley Park. It was a Group Two today and she'd be ready for one of those Group Ones now.' Coolmore supremo John Magnier was making a rare appearance on track and said: 'She's a good individual and she's very well bred, it's the Galileo family. 'Somebody told me that this is the first time in 30 years that a filly has won this race. 'There is a real pedigree there and a pedigree like that is like a road map, anything can happen.' When asked whether he felt True Love could be a contender for next year's 1000 Guineas, for which she was cut to 16-1 from 25-1 by Paddy Power, Magnier added: 'Fingers crossed. It's no mean feat to win the Queen Mary, either. 'The old breeders used to really think a lot of that race, it started a lot of families.'
