The remarkable Rebel’s Romance won for the 22nd time in his career on Thursday. The eight-year-old gamely won the Group 2 Princess Of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket’s July meeting. At the track that day, John Gosden ripped into the Gambling Commission’s decision to unroll affordability checks.
Hers is today’s racing news round-up ahead of the weekend.
Rebel’s Romance roars again at Newmarket
Rebel’s Romance provided the Newmarket crows with a feel-good triumph on Thursday. The eight-year-old veteran has enjoyed a storied career in which the Princess Of Wales’s Stakes would rank low among his achievements. Nevertheless, he is still going strong enough to win at Group 2 level, gutsily seeing off stablemate Arabian Crown to deliver for favourite backers. It was a 22nd career victory for Charlie Appleby’s globetrotting star. (Guardian)
John Gosden speaks out against Gambling Commission
John Gosden has spoken on the roll out of affordability checks, labelling the Gambling Commission as “an unqualified quango.” The commission announced that a small percentage of punters who spend above certain thresholds will be subject to the first set of checks. These will also be dependent on the age of the bettor in question. Gosden, in an interview during racing at Newmarket, described the decision as “terrible for the industry, terrible for government” and a “ridiculous policy driven by a quango.” (Sporting Life)
Trawlerman likely to skip Goodwood Cup
At the same time, Gosden confirmed that Trawlerman is unlikely to contest the Goodwood Cup. Glorious Goodwood kicks off at the end of July, with the Group 1 Goodwood Cup the top level staying prize at the meeting. Gosden suggested that “two miles at Goodwood is a little on the sharp side for him,” but did confirm he has come out of Ascot in rude health. Trawlerman was narrowly beaten by Scandinavia in the Gold Cup after a long layoff. (Sporting Life)
Godolphin among owners investing in Horse Racing League
Sheikh Mohammed and Godolphin are to invest in a newly-formed Horse Racing League (HRL). The league will take place in the United States, with one of the figures behind Formula 1s growth, Greg Maffei, involved in the project. Godolphin are set to fund the project with $6 million. The format will involve ten teams consisting of eight trainers, jockeys and horses each. Further details of the meetings are unknown, though Gulfstream Park, Keeneland and Santa Anita are tracks to have signed up. (Racing Post)
Cieren Fallon receives four-day ban
Cieren Fallon has received a four-day ban after an incident at Doncaster. Fallon and fellow rider Connor Planas got into a verbal altercation in the weighing room. The incident which caused the argument happened after the finish line of the Champagne Trial on Thursday. Fallon eased up aboard Bulletsnap, with Planas having ridden the winner Quest For Stars, who was forced to drift close to the outside rail. (Racing Post)