Coolmore have thrown their weight behind a petition to keep geldings out of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Their intervention leads Friday’s racing news, as the Future Champions Festival gets under way at Newmarket. A select field of five has been declared for Saturday’s Dewhurst Stakes, and Tattersalls October Book 1 has drawn to a close.
Coolmore back petition against geldings in the Arc
The petition was launched by Henri Bozo, the French breeder of Diamond Necklace, and Coolmore promoted it on Thursday evening under the headline “Protect the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe”. It argues that opening the race to geldings would undermine the Arc’s status as the premier 1m4f test for future stallions and broodmares. It also says it could deter the connections of three-year-olds, and it calls for proper consultation with owners, trainers and breeders. Around 500 people had signed by 8am on Friday.
“One of the world’s most prestigious races, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe has a unique place in the international racing and breeding industry,” read Coolmore’s statement. “We encourage everyone involved in the racing and breeding industry to make their voice heard and sign the petition.”
Coolmore are swimming against the tide, though. France Galop’s board gave “overwhelming approval” in June to president Guillaume de Saint-Seine’s proposal to scrap the restriction, and the European Pattern Committee signed off on the change in September. Geldings will therefore be eligible from next year. The push gathered pace after the Francis Graffard-trained geldings Calandagan and Goliath won the last two runnings of the King George at Ascot but were barred from Longchamp. John Magnier made his feelings clear back in June: “The Arc is one of the real races and it won’t be any more if you include geldings.”
Fillies’ Mile headlines Future Champions Friday
The bet365 Fillies’ Mile at 14:57 is the centrepiece of the opening day on the Rowley Mile, and all eight declared runners remain in the field. Musical Times is unbeaten in three and is long odds-on for Charlie Appleby and William Buick. Edward Bethell’s Rogue Passion is her closest rival in the betting. The going on the Rowley Mile has eased slightly to good.
Three Group races come before the Fillies’ Mile: the Cornwallis Stakes, the Oh So Sharp Stakes and the Challenge Stakes. The Old Rowley Cup, the Pride Stakes and the Boadicea Stakes follow later on. Joe Napier’s Newmarket preview runs through the card, and our Fillies’ Mile runners guide has the full field and draw.
Dewhurst declarations: Desert Castle heads select five
Five of the seven confirmations have been declared for Saturday’s Darley Dewhurst Stakes, the Group 1 over 7f at 15:00. Desert Castle is unbeaten in two and already rated 116. The Frankel colt is the odds-on favourite for Appleby and Buick and is drawn in stall three.
Aidan O’Brien relies on two. Ryan Moore rides Darkness Falls, a son of Camelot who has won his last two and is the clear second favourite. Wayne Lordan partners Great Barrier Reef, who won his first three starts before finishing second last time.
The field is completed by Andrew Balding’s Gentle Hurricane under James Doyle, and Appleby’s second string Jassas under Billy Loughnane. Matthew Sutcliffe’s ranking of the last ten Dewhurst winners shows the standard this field has to live up to.
Tattersalls Book 1 closes with 2.2m gns Night Of Thunder colt
The final session of Tattersalls October Book 1 was topped by a Night Of Thunder colt out of Capture The Heart, who sold to Ace Stud for 2,200,000gns. Fittocks Stud consigned him for South African breeder Nick Jonsson, who admitted he had never really wanted to sell. “I was a very reluctant seller,” Jonsson said. “Winning Group 1s is a way better feeling than buying or selling a horse.”
Ace Stud had already paid 1,600,000gns for a Night Of Thunder colt on Wednesday, and this purchase took them to five Book 1 lots for 4,575,000gns. Godolphin made their ninth and final seven-figure signing of the week on Thursday, going to 2,000,000gns for Longview Stud’s Frankel colt out of Crystal Zvezda. They also paid 1,000,000gns for Forenaghts Stud’s Night Of Thunder filly out of Cadeau Belle.
Across the three days, 352 yearlings sold for 126,516,000gns, only 1% down on last year despite 43 fewer lots changing hands. The average rose 12% to 359,420gns, the median climbed almost 10% to 230,000gns and the clearance rate improved to 85%. Days one and two produced Godolphin’s European record 4.6m gns colt and Coolmore’s 4m gns Frankel brother to Ylang Ylang.
Racing today
Newmarket‘s is the feature meeting on Friday, with the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile headlining a hugely competitive card at HQ.
Newmarket — first race: 13:15 · last race: 17:20
Chepstow — first race: 13:22 · last race: 17:31
York — first race: 13:30 · last race: 17:00
Downpatrick — first race: 14:13 · last race: 17:37
Kempton — first race: 16:05 · last race: 20:15
Dundalk — first race: 16:50 · last race: 20:30
[View today’s racecards] · [Latest non-runners] · [Today’s results]