Frankie Dettori had a spring in his step in spite of the heavens opening after he touched down at Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport on Tuesday morning.

Resplendent in a bright blue riding jacket and multicoloured cap, Dettori made an unplanned visit to the Keeneland training centre to take an adoring look at his Breeders’ Cup Turf mount Golden Horn.

Joking to the drenched press corps at the Polytrack training facility, the Italian looked forward to Saturday’s mile-and-a-half race that will be a swansong for the Investec Derby, Coral-Eclipse, Irish Champion Stakes and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner.

He is mindful both of his gate position on the rail and the importance of fending off as much unnecessary pressure as he can, with his week in Kentucky in its infancy.

“Hey, you guys, don’t put any pressure on me I’m just off the plane,” he said while watching Golden Horn engage in a routine spin on the Polytrack.

“I came in this morning and didn’t feel jet-lagged so I couldn’t resist changing my mind and visiting the track to see Golden Horn.

“I’ll be riding him in some work. Let’s see what happens but he looks amazing and everyone is very pleased with him.”

When questioned about Golden Horn being in stall one and the inclement weather, he said: “The weather is what it is.

“There’s nothing we can do to change it. They say it will carry on raining Wednesday but then maybe it will dry out.

“I suppose I might have to use my horse from that post but it’s still early days to be talking tactics, I’m just delighted to be here and I feel great.

“In one week it will be all over and I’m going to take a holiday with my wife who hasn’t seen that much of me this year and greatly deserves to have a nice break.”

Dettori has five rides for Wesley Ward, spread over three days, and partnered one of the trainer’s horses on the Polytrack.

He said: “I ride two for Wesley on Thursday and three more at the Breeders’ Cup, including his filly (Undrafted) in the Turf Sprint, and I know he was pleased to get the wide gate with her.”

– Sportinglife.com

Picture: Golden Horn and Frankie Dettori

Triple Crown winner American Pharoah has been installed as the early 12-10 favorite and will break from the fourth post for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic in Kentucky on Saturday in his hugely anticipated racing farewell.

The Bob Baffert-trained 3-year-old will be looking to cap his stellar career with a ninth win in 11 starts, having finished a shocking second in his most recent outing — in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga in August.

“We were 50-50 as to whether or not we were going to run in that race,” Baffert told reporters about the Travers Stakes. “Unfortunately, he didn’t really run his race and coming out of it, I could tell everything … had kind of taken its toll.

“He needed the 60 days (preparing for this week’s Classic). This horse, he runs well fresh.”

According to Baffert, American Pharoah has displayed very impressive form in recent weeks while working out at his home track in California before being shipped to Kentucky on Tuesday.

“Sometimes I get a bit excited, the way he does things so easily. He looked fantastic (in training) and I really feel good about the way he’s coming into this race,” said Baffert.

American Pharoah entered the pantheon of U.S. thoroughbred racing’s all-time greats by winning the Belmont Stakes wire-to-wire in June to become the first horse to capture the coveted ‘Triple Crown’ in nearly four decades.

In winning a seventh straight race, American Pharoah became the 12th horse and first since Affirmed in 1978 to sweep the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.

With jockey Victor Espinoza in the saddle, American Pharoah will arrive at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington as the favorite for the showpiece Classic but is expected to face a strong challenge from Beholder.

The 5-year-old mare, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies in 2012 and the Distaff in 2013, has won all of her five starts this season, including the Pacific Classic at Del Mar against male rivals over the Classic distance.

With Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens on board, Beholder will start the Classic from the 10 hole as a 3-1 choice.

Tonalist, the 4-year-old who dashed California Chrome’s Triple Crown bid in 2014 with a thrilling victory at the Belmont Stakes, is at 6-1 for the Classic — along with exciting stretch-runner Honor Code.

British raider Golden Horn, a rare winner of the Epsom Derby and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe for trainer John Gosden, will break from the rail in a field of 10 for the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf, the penultimate race on Saturday.

With his regular jockey Frankie Dettori aboard, Golden Horn is the 4-5 favorite as he aims to improve his outstanding career record to eight wins in nine starts.

The Breeders’ Cup, a 13-race meeting worth a total of more than $26 million, will be run on Friday and Saturday (DSTV 239).

– Reuters.com (Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Frank Pingue)

Picture: American Pharoah (by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Gerrit Schlechter is bracing himself for a lengthy spell on the sidelines as his back injury has proved worse than originally thought.

He said yesterday: “Other problems have crept in and it doesn’t look too good. I am waiting on the doctors but I am off for quite a while.”

Schlechter, 50, was found to have a prolapsed disc when he could hardly get off Beyond Limits after winning on him at Kenilworth at the beginning of June. When he returned three months later the injury struck again on only his second ride back. This time he struggled to even get to the start.

He is one of a select group of the current riders to have won both the Durban July (Eyeofthetiger in 2006) and the J & B Met (Past Master in 2011) and seemingly  the present near-five month absence is hard to bear– “I really miss it,” he said feelingly.

However Karl Neisius is optimistic that he will be given the all-clear to resume no later than the beginning of December.

He said: “I am signed off until November 14 but I will probably know about the 10^th and then it will take about three weeks’ riding work before I return to race-riding.”

Inflammation in his lower back has meant that Neisius has not ridden since September 12 when he won on Exploracy for Shane Humby at Durbanville.

Devin Ashby, who had two pins inserted into the ankle he broke when a horse came over on top of him riding work at Milnerton, will have to wear his surgical boot for a further month “but I hope to be back by the end of December or early in January.”

Fareed Anthony resumed last Saturday after being off for six months and he rides again at Kenilworth today.

He said: “I injured my neck and my back, and I now have to go for an evaluation of my spine. But the rest has done me a lot of good and I’m feeling much better.”

By Michael Clower

Picture: Karl Neisius

Dennis Drier can get off the mark for the Cape season with Ante Omnia in the opening maiden at Kenilworth tomorrow.

This R3 million purchase made a promising debut at Scottsville last month, starting second favourite and beating all except the more experienced Apollo’s Gift. “He has done nicely since but he is looking for further,” cautions Drier.

Sean Cormack’s (pictured) mount opened 16-10 favourite with Betting World yesterday and he was also favourite, but at 22-10, with World Sports Betting which is to sponsor the Cape Fillies Guineas.

Flying Ryan (7-1 with BW but only 5-1 with WSB) has similar credentials to Ante Omnia in that he was second on his only start in a good Kenilworth maiden, albeit he went off at 50-1 and cost only R80 000. “He has come on since then but he had ten days off after his innoculations and deworming so he could be fitter,” says Glen Puller.

Whisky Baron (best priced 4-1) was only inches behind him that day so he should also not be left out of consideration while Psycho Syd (also 4-1) has gone close in his last two.

The Best Of Me, who ran way below his best at Durbanville last time, drops in trip and that looks significant. “He didn’t like the course and he didn’t see out the distance,” says Mike Robinson of the 12-1 shot.

Drier sends out Supreme Dynasty for the All To Come Handicap and Cormack’s mount has won the last three of her four starts. They were on the Greyville polytrack and the most recent was seven months ago. “She wintered badly,” says Drier, explaining the reason for her absence and adding that she is likely to need the run. Her 15-10 price doesn’t really take that into account

Hot Affair (8-1) has a lot of ability but she was most disappointing last time. “She was very sick afterwards – she had a virus,” says Robinson. “She is well now but I haven’t given her a grass gallop so she just might need it.”

In the circumstances Sunset Tripp at 6-1 is taken to beat her shorter-priced stable companion Acaciawood (4-1) while Justin Snaith has a lot of confidence in the once-raced Black Arthur in the Soccer 6 Maiden. “We think he is a very good horse and we are expecting big things from him,” says the season’s leading trainer. “Of course he has got to prove it in a race but he has come on since his first run.”

Black Arthur, who finished with only two behind him first time out, opened at 16-10 with Betting World and 33-10 with World Sports Betting.

Snaith’s Secret Seven had Arabian Winter four lengths behind at Durbanville when both were hampered. Taking into account their respective draws Arabian Winter may be able to reverse the placings in the Rugby 5 Maiden.

There is precious little to choose between Arctic Blast and Shenyang in the Soccer 10 Maiden and Bernard Fayd’Herbe’s mount gets only marginal preference. But he is a better price – 5-2 against the 14-10 available about Arctic Blast.
– Michael Clower

The date of the 155th running of the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate (LQP) – South Africa’s premier horseracing day – has been confirmed for Saturday, January 9, 2016, at Kenilworth Racecourse, guaranteeing a magnificent start to the year’s social calendar.

LQP is once more set to be an exhilarating day of horse racing – the day’s 12-race card will set South Africa’s finest thoroughbreds against each other as they pursue the coveted trophy and R1 million purse.

The Peninsula Stakes, sponsored by England’s Goodwood Racecourse, meanwhile, will run for a third year, bringing international flavour to the day’s line up. Additionally, the Breeder’s Cup, the biggest annual race day held in the United States, will again grant the LQP winner automatic entrance to its Mile Division, cementing the race’s global status.

Beyond the track, the elegance of LQP will again be exhibited by guests dressed in the LQP colours of blue and white as they mingle and enjoy world-class music, entertainment and culinary offerings across a variety of hospitality marquees including the Stud Club and Style Lounge.

“The L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate has a rich history and is a defining moment in the international horseracing calendar.

Every year we strive to maintain strict standards of elegance and leisure while building on the successes of the past. LQP 2016 will deliver everything people have come to expect, plus a few surprises,” said Katherine Gray, co-ordinator of LQP 2016.

–  Phumulela