Racing's worldwide day of champions

RACING is set for perhaps its most exciting day of 2010, as the titanic jockeys' title tussle between Paul Hanagan and comes down to the final turf meeting of the season, the cream of the world's champions battle it out at the Breeders' Cup in , and one of the most popular horses in training Kauto Star returns to action in Northern Ireland.

And for Scottish racegoers, there's even a Kelso fixture thrown in for good measure, with Kalahari King the star attraction at the Borders course.

The race to be crowned champion jockey has captured the public's imagination over the past week, and although it briefly threatened to be over as a contest yesterday, a hugely eventful double-bill on the sand of Southwell and Wolverhampton, means Hanagan heads into the final day with the same two-winner lead he held 24 hours earlier.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

At the close of play Hanagan's tally is 191 with Hughes just two behind on 189 and both jockeys have seven booked rides at Doncaster as the thrilling battle will come to its conclusion. Paddy Power now make Hanagan a 1-6 chance to be crowned champion jockey on Town Moor, with Hughes 7-2.

Hughes may be seen as being fortunate in some quarters that he is still in touch, as Friday was supposed to be his blank day having reached his quota of nine meetings for the week. However, after encountering travel difficulties in getting from Nottingham to Kempton on Wednesday, Hughes had a meeting spare and thanks to the efforts of his agent Tony Hind he eventually ended up with a full book of rides.

It was a good job too as Hanagan, who began with an advantage of 188-186 winners, was in double form at Southwell's afternoon fixture to stretch his lead to four.

In a nice touch, both were provided by his boss, Richard Fahey, and that was not all he gave to his jockey as the Malton handler also sorted out the helicopter to take him from Southwell to Wolverhampton. Sloop Johnb (6-1) was his first strike in the Bet Asian Handicaps - Betdaq Handicap. It was a narrow victory, a head was the official verdict, but a valuable one. Fahey's Diggeratt (3-1) followed up in the claimer to put Hanagan right back in the driving seat.

The fun and games at Dunstall Park did not really kick off until the fourth race when Hughes partnered Towy Boy (7-2 favourite) to victory. However, Hanagan struck back immediately when partnering Mark Johnston's Home Office (5-2) in the maiden.

It is Hughes who heads into the final day with the momentum, however, as he struck back on Paul Howling's Pipers Piping (3-1). Winning trainer Paul Howling added: "Richard gave him a fabulous ride. The last horse that he rode for me was 15 years ago. I love helping these jockeys and I love these titanic battles."

For once the final race went according to plan as riding the 11-10 favourite, Hughes cruised home on Brian Meehan's Colour Scheme. The Irishman concluded in true understated style: "It's all to play for and I'm not giving up."

Hughes gave up the chance to head to the Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs in Kentucky to throw everything into his domestic title challenge, but his absence does not detract in the slightest from the usual stellar card.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Superstar mare Zenyatta will make a bid for horse racing history in the Breeders' Cup Classic. The unbeaten six-year-old is the 8-5 favourite to defend her title in the Classic and improve to 20-0 in her career.

She'll face a tough test that includes Preakness champion Lookin At Lucky, Quality Road and Blame. One more win could elevate her to the sport's pantheon along the likes of legends such as Secretariat and Spectacular Bid.

Sir Michael Stoute will leave it "as long as we are allowed to" before making a final decision about Workforce's participation in the Breeders' Cup Turf.

Workforce completed his preparation for the race with a canter around the turf course with work rider Paul Grassick on board, watched by Stoute.

Stoute, as upfront as he has been all week about the state of play over Workforce, said: "We are still concerned about the ground and what the weather will do. We will play for time and make a decision in the morning. The deadline is 7am. We will also talk to Ryan (Moore) after he has ridden on the turf course today. Obviously you have to have concerns with a big heavy horse like him and an added problem is that the moisture is evaporating with this wind so we will leave it as late as we are allowed to."

The Breeders' Cup, now a two-day event, started with 5 November fireworks last night as Eldaafer, a five-year-old gelding ridden by John Velazquez, produced a powerful stretch drive to win the Breeders' Cup Marathon.

The Kentucky-bred won by one-and-three-quarter lengths over Prince Will I Am, who was disqualified after jockey Javier Castellano let his horse stray into Romp and A.U. Miner, prompting A.U. Miner's jockey Calvin Borel to throw a punch at Castellano after the race. He had to be led away by security.

Meanwhile, Kauto Star faces six rivals as he bids to start the season on a high in the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal this afternoon.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Kauto Star, successful in this race two years ago, takes on a younger brigade headed by Arkle Trophy hero Sizing Europe. Henry de Bromhead's ace was beaten by China Rock on his reappearance at Punchestown last month and Mouse Morris's runner has the chance to confirm the form. A small but select line-up is completed by Coolcashin, Killyglen, Mossbank and Trafford Lad.

Ruby Walsh will again take the ride on Kauto Star, who is looking to bounce back from his ill-fated Gold Cup bid last year, and he said: He said: "I'm really looking forward to it. He's an incredible horse and has shaped my career. He's a once-in-a-lifetime horse and anything he does now just adds to his illustrious list. Down Royal is a fine track. Paul [Nicholls] has him in great shape and he's been schooling really well. We want to put the Gold Cup and the fall behind us, get a good round of jumping and a good performance."

At Kelso, Ferdy Murphy has warned Kalahari King - third in the Queen Mother Champion Chase last season - could be found wanting in the fitness department when he makes his seasonal reappearance at Kelso on Saturday. The Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon on 9 December is the gelding's major early-season target and he will use this weekend's Mayfield Restaurant Chase, where he concedes 20lb to each of his four rivals, to blow away the cobwebs. "He obviously has to give a lot of weight away and like all of ours, he will come on for the run," said Murphy.