Danedream’s double Arc bid dashed

Danedream’s bid for back-to-back wins in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on Sunday appears over after Cologne racecourse, where she is stabled, was dramatically placed into quarantine yesterday afternoon.

The German track has been shut down for three months after a horse tested positive for an equine infection of the blood. All horses based at Cologne cannot leave the racecourse, including the Peter Schiergen-trained Danedream, a brilliant winner of the Longchamp feature 12 months ago.

Colonge racecourse general manager Benedikt Fassbender said: “It’s a nightmare. We are the biggest training centre in Germany and one horse has tested positive for equine infectious anaemia (EIA). For three months we are now in quarantine – no horses can come into the track, and no horses can come out. It is a disaster, especially as Danedream cannot take part in the Arc at the orders of the special vets.

“Danedream has not been infected by the disease, but every horse will be tested for the infection in the next few days.”

Patrick Barbe, racing manager for Danedream’s part-owner, Teruya Yoshida, said he was “very pessimistic” about Danedream being given clearance to compete in the Arc.

He said: “At the moment, Danedream is very well and has not been infected. The only horse who has been infected is on the other side of the racecourse to Danedream. Because the Arc is only now in a few days’ time, I’m very pessimistic she will be allowed to run.”

Meanwhile, eight meetings have been added to the 2013 
fixture list by the British Horseracing Authority.

A total of 1,464 fixtures will be held next year, with the move of Chepstow’s Welsh National meeting to a Saturday to accommodate Channel 4 the most noteworthy change.

BHA chief executive Paul Bittar said: “The BHA’s responsibility is to provide a framework of fixtures that enables British racing to fulfil its commercial potential while driving our international position of delivering high-quality racing of great variety throughout the calendar year. The process by which the 2013 fixture list has been compiled has been more structured and inclusive than previously, and this is seen as a positive within the sport.”

There will be 890 Flat fixtures, compared with 876 this year, and 574 over jumps – a drop of six from 2012.

Other notable additions to the calendar include a twilight fixture on the Tuesday of the Cheltenham Festival and extra afternoon meetings on the Tuesday of Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood.

Coral have supported the Welsh National for nearly 40 years and they back the Saturday switch for one of their flagship sponsorships. Simon Clare, PR director for the firm, said: “We have sponsored the Welsh National since 1973 and for many years it used to take place on the Saturday before Christmas so there is nothing sacred about the December 27 [date]. This move to the Saturday, 28 December makes good commercial sense for the sport and bookmakers as it will deliver a much bigger TV audience and increased betting turnover to the benefit of all concerned.”