Constitution Hill will skip Windsor on Saturday and wait for the Group 3 September Stakes at Kempton. Nicky Henderson announced the news on the Seven Barrows X account on Tuesday. On the continent, two-time Arc winning trainer Jean-Claude Rouget will call time on his career at the end of September.
Here is today’s racing news round-up for Wednesday.
Constitution Hill misses Windsor for Kempton
Nicky Henderson has announced that Constitution Hill will not contest the Listed August Stakes at Windsor this weekend. The nine-yer-old was among 19 entries for the event in Berkshire. However, Henderson posted on X that “to avoid further uncertainty,” Constitution Hill will “wait for the September Stakes at Kempton a week on Saturday, as opposed to Windsor this weekend.” Enable and Kalpana have won that Group 3 in recent years. (Sporting Life)
Jean-Claude Rouget announces retirement
Two-time Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winning trainer Jean-Claude Rouget has announced his retirement. The 73-year-old will call time on his career at the end of September, four days before this season’s Arc. Rouget has won the race twice, both victories coming this decade. Sottsass won the race for him in 2020, while the unbeaten Ace Impact concluded his fabulous career with a sensational win in the race in 2023. Among his other career successes was a haul of six wins in the French Derby, the Prix du Jockey Club. (Thoroughbred Daily News)
Bellewstown abandoned as Dylan Browne McMonagle hospitalised
Bellewstown’s meeting on Tuesday was abandoned due to incidents in the first two races. Both flat contests saw horses slip up on the turf. Each incident occurred at different parts of the track, the opening race seeing a horse slip one furlong from the finish, the second hosting a faller half-a-mile from home. The remainder of the meeting was abandoned, though racing is slated to go ahead on Wednesday. (The Sun)
The jockey involved in the opening race incident was Dylan Browne McMonagle, who was transported to hospital. McMonagle was aboard Mosel when his mount fell, causing a lengthy stoppage on track. The jockey was conscious upon leaving the track, but will spend “a number of weeks” on the sidelines. McMonagle had ridden a five-timer on Saturday and a Group 2 winner in France on Sunday. (Racing TV)
Daryz gallops in advance of Arc defence
Defending Arc champion Daryz enjoyed a gallop at Deauville on Tuesday. The son of Sea The Stars was last seen on a racetrack at Royal Ascot in June. There, he finished third in the Group 1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes behind Ombudsman over 1m2f. However, he had won his first two races of this season as he builds towards another Arc tilt. Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard reported him in rude health, stating: “Daryz handled himself very well before, during and after the work.” (Racing Post)