Silvestre de Sousa

A full and eclectic field of 18 older gallopers is set to face the starter for Thursday's SAR1.5-million (£295,933/€354,288/US$400,000) Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup (King's Cup) going the metric 10 furlongs at King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh, offering the winner a guaranteed spot in the field for the US$20-million G1 Saudi Cup Feb. 26. The King's Cup marks the Saudi debut for American-bred Saiydabad (Blame), a close fourth behind St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) in last year's G1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club and winner of the...

Friday's G1 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe S. was always going to be about raw speed and the 3-year-old filly Winter Power (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) qualified more than most in that regard having displayed it in abundance in the May 13 Listed Westow S. and July 10 Listed City Walls S. over this flat York five. In front of all bar the furiously-fast Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) until the two-furlong pole, King Power's 9-1 shot left that US raider for dead there and hit the line under Silvestre de Sousa...

Former champion jockey Silvestre de Sousa will be back in the saddle on Wednesday when he rides the Richard Hannon-trained Always Fearless (Ire) (Camacho {GB}) for his retained owner King Power Racing in a Lingfield handicap. De Sousa hasn't been seen on raceday for three months-a planned shoulder operation in December was delayed after the Brazilian contracted Covid-19. "I'm really looking forward to getting back at it--it's been a while," De Sousa said. "At the time I was supposed to have my operation I caught Covid, and by the time...

Stepping out of nursery company having won a competitive affair at Doncaster Sept. 12, Ballylinch Stud and Aquis Farm's Lone Eagle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) made most of the running to land Saturday's 10-furlong G3 Godolphin Flying Start Zetland S. at Newmarket. Ridden from the break by Silvestre de Sousa to race on the front end, the 16-5 shot was joined by Fabilis (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and shared the lead with that rival throughout the early stages. Seeing him off before coping with Recovery Run (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) on the run...

With vital course-and-distance experience to call upon, Mark Johnston's Gear Up (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) proved toughest in a war of attrition to land York's G3 Tattersalls Acomb S. on Wednesday. Successful over this seven-furlong trip on debut July 25, the 9-1 shot was placed prominently by Silvestre de Sousa from the outset and battled gamely to overhaul Spycatcher (Ire) (Vadamos {Fr}) close home. At the line, there was half a length between them, with the long-time leader Broxi (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) three lengths away in third having forced a...

For a window on the diversity of the British Turf, you've probably come to the right place. White, male, middle-aged, straight: all boxes checked there, I think. But if that is very much the stereotype, then at least the authorities here have acknowledged as much; and there is a corporate determination to do something about it. Nor is this merely some perfunctory response to the incendiary confluence, around the world, of a looming economic recession and the protests triggered by the killing of George Floyd. Even in 2017, admittedly, action...