Drug shame Godolphin yard back with a bang

The Newmarket yard was closed for investigation by Godolphin principal Sheikh Mohammed after trainer Al Zarooni was found guilty of administering anabolic steroids to horses in his care.

With Al Zarooni banned for eight years, Moulton Paddocks is now supervised by Godolphin’s other trainer, Saeed bin Suroor, after the move was ratified by the British Horseracing Authority.

Air Of Glory, who cost 500,000 guineas as a two-year-old, was backed into 7-4 favourite for division one of the Follow Us On Twitter @LingfieldPark Maiden Stakes. The chestnut was quite lazy and needed to be pushed along by jockey Mickael Barzalona for much of the way on his debut but got going approaching the home straight and had enough left to repel the late challenge of Circus Turn by three-quarters of a length.

Al Zarooni, 37, last week withdrew his appeal against his eight-year disqualification from training. He was officially charged with rule breaches related to prohibited substances, a trainer’s duty to keep medication records, and conduct prejudicial to racing. The case has widely regarded to be the most serious doping scandal in recent British racing history. Sheikh Mohammed said he was “appalled and angered” by Al Zarooni’s actions.

Meanwhile, Ayr stages its opening flat fixture of 2013 this afternoon, The Employment Enterprise Ten Years in Business Race Day.

The seven-race card begins at 2.10pm with the Employment Enterprise Ten Years In Business Maiden Stakes over one mile six furlongs in which Jim Goldie, who launches his Johnnie Delta Racing Club at the meeting, has three runners.

Feature race is The Employment Enterprise Ten Years In Business Handicap over one mile two furlongs with £12,000 in prize money and which has attracted a field of nine runners, including last-time-out winner Cosmic Halo from the Richard Fahey yard.

The final race is The Enterprise Screen Video Production Scotland Apprentice Handicap over one mile one furlong.

The flat fixture is being run on the jumps track because an area of ground on the flat course where drainage work was carried out earlier in the year has failed to recover in time. Clerk of the Course Emma Marley described the going as good.

SELECTIONS

Ayr

2.10 Khotan

2.40 Grand Diamond

3.10 Twelve Strings

3.40 Spavento

4.10 Schmooze

4.40 Awake My Soul

5.10 Music Festival

Newton Abbot

2.20 The Bay Bandit

2.50 Chestnut Ben

3.20 Otto The Great

3.50 Baby Mix

4.20 First Morning

4.50 Papradon

5.20 Ladyvie

Southwell

2.00 Tobrata

2.30 Speed Date

3.00 Mystic Angellina

3.30 Harbour Captain

4.00 Street Artist

4.30 Outbid

5.00 Rose Of May

5.30 Amelia Jay

Kempton

6.00 Stellarta

6.30 Plover

7.00 Almost Gemini

7.30 Kilburn

8.00 Miss Fortywinks

8.30 Extrasolar

9.00 Limit Up

Ripon

6.45 Howz The Family

7.15 Torero

7.45 Tumblewind (nap)

8.15 Yeeoow

8.45 Elusive Band

9.15 Filatore

Double

Tumblewind

7:45 Ripon

Plover

6:30 Kempton