Melbourne Cup

Last out G3 Ballyroan S. winner Nickajack Cave (Ire) (Kendargent {Fr}) has run his last race for trainer Ger Lyons and will be transferred to Peter Moody in Australia with the G1 Melbourne Cup in November his key aim. Nickajack Cave was previously campaigned by David Spratt, Sean Jones and Lynne Lyons, and the deal for his sale was done prior to the Ballyroan. Moody told Racing.com that the new ownership group-which includes some of the owners of Moody's former sprint sensation Black Caviar (Aus) (Bel Esprit {Aus})-briefly considered keeping...

In ordinary times, this week would mark the revving up of the European bloodstock charabanc: standing room only, destination Deauville. As the threat of a second quarantine hangs over visitors or returnees from France to the UK like the Sword of Damocles, it's probably just as well that the traditional start to the yearling season has been delayed. This coming weekend, there will be no short shuffle between racecourse and sales ground for the Prix Jacques Le Marois and other delights ahead of a frenetic evening of activity in the...

Godolphin's Newmarket-based trainers Charlie Appleby and Saeed bin Suroor have informed Racing Victoria that they will not send horses to this year's Melbourne spring carnival amid the coronavirus pandemic. Both trainers have enjoyed success at the carnival as of late; Charlie Appleby won the 2018 G1 Melbourne Cup with Cross Counter (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}), while bin Suroor has saddled three runners up in the great race while Benbatl (GB) won the G1 Ladbrokes S. in 2018 and was second to Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) in the G1 Cox Plate....

Deja (Fr) (Youmzain {Ire}), recent winner of the Old Newton Cup for Phoenix Thoroughbreds, could be heading to Australia later this year after being given entries for the G1 Caulfield Cup and G1 Melbourne Cup. The winner of five of his eight starts to date, the 5-year-old, who is trained by Peter Chapple-Hyam, has been raised seven pounds for his most recent victory and looks likely to carry top weight in the Ebor H. at York on Saturday, Aug. 22. "We have had it on our mind all year to...

Over the last week Australasian studs have begun to release their stallion fees for 2020, including for a number of shuttle stallions from Europe. The skies, however, have been notably light on air traffic since the coronavirus pandemic sent many nations into lockdown, and that has included a vast reduction in flights carrying horses. The breeding side of the racing business has thankfully been able to carry on largely unaffected. Under strict sanitary rules, broodmares have still been able to be transported for covering, and there is some reassurance of...

The 2017 Melbourne Cup winner Rekindling (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}) has returned from Australia to his former trainer Joseph O'Brien. Now six, the stallion was originally retired from racing last August and his owner Lloyd Williams announced at the time that he would stand at stud in Europe. Rekindling did not reappear in action until 16 months after his most famous victory, and he finished last of 15 runners in the G1 Australian Cup at Flemington in March 2019 when trained by Liam Howley. Now back at O'Brien's stable at...