#Sheema Classic

A 5-year-old mare who was a Group 1 winnerlast spring in Hong Kong may be the best hope for a Japan-based horse to breakthrough for the first time ever in the Breeders' Cup. Loves Only You, who has amassed $5453602 inpurse earnings with a record of 14: 6-2-3, is expected to lead seven horsesbeing shipped from Japan to the Nov. 5 and 6 championships…

This content was produced in partnership with Sean Miller. If you are a casual fan of horse racing, you will know the first Saturday in May is for the Kentucky Derby. But that is just the culmination of months worth of qualifying to get into the main race, let alone all the other races on Kentucky Oaks and derby day. That is where we are at now:…

One stride. That was the difference a wide draw made in the last running of the Dubai Sheema Classic in 2019, when Rey De Oro made it across to lead Magic Wand. He took 40 strides to the first bend, she took 39. In isolation this does not prove anything. Horses stride at different lengths and frequencies, but you would expect the much taller horse…

Cheval Grand, shown winning the 2017 Japan Cup, returns seeking a repeat victory in Sunday's renewal. Photo courtesy of Japan Racing Association Nov. 22 (UPI) -- Weekend horse racing action stretches from Tokyo to Bahrain with a stop in England and a quick look at Hong Kong's preparations for its big weekend two weeks down the calendar. The Grade 1…

Tuesday has headed the market for the Irish 1000 Guineas but is not being labelled with the'certainty' tag as her stablemate Concert Hall is also being supported. Concert Hall narrowly won a 1m2f Listed contest on her reappearance and is now dropping back in trip for a tilt at the Irish Classic with the market suggesting she's in with a chance. The…

Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum has died at the age of 75, but his racing legacy will live on after an involvement with the sport spanning over four decades. From Nashwan to Dayjur, some of the greatest names of the Turf have carried Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's colours to victory over the years. There are too many to mention, but here is a very select…

TEMPLEGATE takes on day two of Royal Ascot confident of pulling off his top hat and tails - and banging in a few winners. Read on for our man's best tips and back the horses by clicking their odds. You will find his complete breakdown of every race and runner below. And at the very bottom are his tips for every race taking place today - plus don't…

It might sometimes be difficult to believe with the same stables dominating, but fairytales do still exist on the Flat and the story of Pyledriver is proof. Owners Guy and Hew Edwards had limited success in syndicates before purchasing La Pyle to race over hurdles. She beat just five horses home in her five starts for Philip Hobbs before she was…

Sodashi, shown winning the Sapporo Kinen in her last start Aug. 22, returns in Sunday's Grade 1 Shuka Sho at Hanshin Racecourse. Photo courtesy of Japan Racing Association Oct. 15 (UPI) -- As American horse racing enters its pre-Breeders' Cup "calm before the storm" this weekend, the international contingent ably plugs the gap with the world's…

A Group One winner in Hong Kong and third in the Sheema Classic in Dubai, connections were further rewarded for their globetrotting when she showed a devastating turn of foot to go between War Like Goddess and My Sister Nat. Trained by Yoshito Yahagi and ridden perfectly by Yuga Kawada, who had a brief spell in Britain in 2018, she looked beaten…

Charlie Appleby sends Grade One winner Yibir back to familiar surroundings on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Racing, as he seeks redemption for a shock defeat at Newmarket last month. The Breeders' Cup Turf champion heads back to the USA for the Grade One Man o'War Stakes (9.46pm) at Belmont Park, where the four-year-old was successful en route to…

Good Morning Bloodstock is Martin Stevens' daily morning email and presented online as a sample. Here he reflects on the sudden and way too premature death of the Classic heroine Billesdon Brook, who leaves behind just the one foal - All you need do is click on the link above, sign up and then read at your leisure each weekday morning from…

Down On Da Bayou blitzes her rivals in Thursday's UAE Oaks at Meydan, and now is headed for the Saudi Derby. Photo by Erika Rasmussen, courtesy of Dubai Racing Club Feb. 21 (UPI) Weekend horse racing features a dash of Kentucky Derby, Saudi Derby, Hong Kong Derby, Qatar Derby and even the Winter Derby with action from the Far East to the Middle…

Curren Bouquetd'or, Kiseki and Miss Mamma Mia placed fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively. Chrono Genesis, the runner-up at the Dubai Sheema Classic on March 27, was in contention throughout this race, as were pace-setters Unicorn Lion and Lei Papale. Wipe Tears faded in the latter stages of the race, slipping from third to 10th. Chrono Genesis,…

From Florence, Kentucky to Hallandale Beach, Florida to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, a blockbuster day of racing is on tap Saturday, allowing fans and handicappers to tune in and show off their wagering acumen. The $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) is the richest race of the day, featuring an international 14-horse field with four U.S.-based…

Not even a pixel could separate Lord North and Panthalassa as the Group 1 Dubai Turf was shared after the stewards pored over a photograph for what was an agonising amount of time. The John and Thady Gosden-trained Lord North strolled to a three-length success in the race last season but needed to fight with every sinew as Frankie Dettori delivered…

Frankie Dettori believes favourite Life Is Good will be a "very tough nut to crack" in the Dubai World Cup. The top jockey has f our rides on the Meydan card, including one of market leader's opponents Country Grammer. Dettori has won the $12 million race on Dubai Millennium (2000), Moon Ballad (2003) and Electrocutionist (2006). "The favourite,…

LUXEMBOURG can win the QIPCO 2000 Guineas Stakes (British Champions Series) (Colts & Fillies) (3.40pm) at Newmarket on Saturday afternoon. While TUESDAY may bring up a Classic double for Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas Stakes (British Champions Series) (Fillies) (3.40pm) back at Headquarters on Sunday. Trainer Charlie…

Danon Beluga (right), one of Heart's Cry's offspring, competes in the G3 Kyodo News Hai (Tokinominoru Kinen) at Tokyo Racecourse on February 13. (ⒸSANKEI) This article first appeared on SportsLook, JAPAN Forward's dedicated sports website. It's easy to forget most horse race results due to the bevy of activity and busy year-round schedules at…

American Revolution, shown winning the Grade I Cigar Mile in December, is among the likely ones in Saturday's Blame Stakes at Churchill Downs. Photo by Joe Labozzetta, courtesy of New York Racing Association June 3 (UPI) -- Weekend racing is all about the doings on Epsom Downs southwest of London, where the Oaks on Friday and the Derby on Saturday…

A combination of historic amounts of money and high quality horses quickly made the Dubai World Cup a staple on the international horse racing calendar. The world's richest day of racing will take place Saturday at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates, and it has once again attracted some of the most talented runners from around the…

The 2000-meter Dubai World Cup concluded the day's festivities at Meydan Racecourse, with American trainer Bob Baffert's Country Grammer, ridden by Italian Frankie Dettori, securing a 1¾-length victory over Hot Rod Charlie in 2 minutes, 4.97 seconds. Country Grammer returned to competition after a nine-month layoff following the Saudi Cup in…

All eyes will be on the Arc as the best middle-distance horses in the world compete at Longchamp. Adayar, Tarnawa, Snowfall and Chrono Genesis are key contenders It's nearly 20 years since a horse running in Godolphin's royal blue silks won the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe but the owners have two leading candidates with Adayar and Hurricane…

Rich Strike, seen posing the morning after his Kentucky Derby win, returns in Saturday's Grade I Clark Stakes with a chance to stake a claim for year-end honors. Photo courtesy of Churchill Downs Nov. 25 (UPI) -- It's getting to be crunch time for horses who seek year-end honors, and this weekend's Clark Stakes at Churchill Downs provides one of…

White Abarrio, seen winning the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park, is among the Kentucky Derby contenders returning to action in Saturday's Ohio Derby at Thistledown. Photo courtesy of Gulfstream Park June 24 (UPI) -- Derby contenders from Louisville and Epsom Downs return to action in weekend horse racing and "Win and You're In" spots for…

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Bay Bridge takes on Japan's runner Shahryar in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Ascot on Wednesday, live on ITV. The weather looks warm for the rest of the week Royal Ascot's international theme continues when Shahryar goes for gold in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes. Day one of the meeting saw crack Australian sprinter…

March 18 (UPI) -- Oaklawn Park steps to the fore in weekend horse racing with a pair of competitive races on the Saturday program while the BMW Hong Kong Derby and the Golden Slipper in Australia headline the international action. Otherwise, there's no getting around the fact it's a relatively slow weekend. So we'll have a week-ahead look at…

Kentucky Derby winner Mandaloun works out at Churchill Downs in preparation for Saturday's Stephen Foster Stakes. Photo courtesy of Churchill Downs July 1 (UPI) -- The Fourth of July weekend kicks off the second half of the horse racing year with a bang as Mandaloun, Life Is Good, Ce Ce and other notables return from layoffs. Adding to the…

David Egan: bids for more big-race success on Mishriff in the Dubai Sheema Classic Ten days of hotel quarantine await David Egan after riding on Dubai World Cup night on Saturday, but the sacrifice will be more than worth it should his Saudi Cup hero Mishriff strike in the $5m Longines Dubai Sheema Classic. Egan, champion apprentice in 2017, seeks…

Meydan: hosts the Dubai World Cup meeting this month There were punting pointers aplenty at Meydan on Super Saturday, the big trials day ahead of the Dubai World Cup card on March 30, and here are a few things we learned Drafted and Comicas are Golden Shaheen players On first viewing the Mahab Al Shimaal didn't look much of a Golden Shaheen trial…

Cast your mind back to a sunny Sandown on the first Saturday in July. Things were looking bright for the middle-distance division in the immediate aftermath of the Eclipse, which had fulfilled its role as the first battleground in the clash of the generations. In a thrilling contest, impressive French Derby winner Vadeni (Timeform rating 127p) made…

With Japan's top international race taking place at the weekend, Nicholas Godfrey looks at the task facing overseas runners in Tokyo - and traces the nation's emergence as a racing superpower One of the world's foremost international races takes place on Sunday [Nov 27] with the 42nd edition of the Japan Cup at Tokyo racecourse, the Japan Racing…

The Japan Cup takes centre stage internationally next Sunday and while the race - worth a cool £2.5 million to the winner - has not gone to a horse trained outside Japan since 2005, that hasn't deterred connections of four European runners from making the journey, the biggest contingent in a decade. And there are reasons for hope of a breakthrough,…

Cieren Fallon with Armando Duarte (left) after Alenquer's Winter Derby win at Lingfield Alenquer, who smashed the track record at Lingfield last Saturday when winning the Winter Derby, is set for his first start outside Europe when he tackles the $6 million Dubai Sheema Classic on the Dubai World Cup card at Meydan on March 26. The four-year-old…

End-of-season Timeform ratings: 79 (2yo), 104p (3yo), 129 (4yo), 134 (5yo) Pilsudski won only three of his first 10 races, but he progressed into a top-class performer, as tough and genuine a racehorse one could find, winning six Group One races and twice finishing second in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp. After registering his first…

Crack chaser Oju Chosan and the legendary Yutaka Take will tackle the Arima Kinen In 2017 Japanese punters placed more than ¥44 billion - around £312 million/€346m - on the outcome of the Arima Kinen, once again making it by some way the world's biggest betting race. To put that into context, turnover for the most popular contest with punters in…

In 2019, Master Fencer became the first Japanese bred horse to run in the Kentucky Derby. Since then Japanese horse racing has quickly seen massive success. Horse racing in Japan has been around since the mid 1800s. The racing as as we know it today was brought in by Europeans. The primary purpose of the races was to be an attraction for out of…

Bay Bridge looked a bit special when winning on his return at Sandown last month but whether he warrants being a general 5-4 for the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot on Wednesday is another matter. He's up against better opposition and is unproven on faster ground, plus a messy renewal is on the cards with none of the five runners being…

Royal Ascot is not just a celebration of the best of British and Irish racing, it attracts talent from across the world like wasps to a discarded champagne glass. With plenty of top class breeding and training operations spread over the globe, Planet Sport have taken a look at the best overseas raiders at Royal Ascot 2022 so you don't underestimate…

Yibir, shown winning the 2022 Breeders' Cup Turf, preps for another American invasion with a start Friday at Newmarket in England. Photo by Carolyn Simancik/Eclipsesportswire, courtesy of Breeders' Cup April 29 (UPI) -- With a week to go before the Kentucky Derby, there's plenty of racing action to keep fan interest alive with Breeders' Cup runners…

Steve Chambers profiles Takashi Saito's Chrono Genesis, who is bidding to become the first Japanese-trained horse to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Sunday afternoon at Longchamp... Age: 5 Races: 13 Wins: 6 Trainer: Takashi Saito Jockey: Oisin Murphy Owner: Sunday Racing Co Ltd Notable Race Wins: G1Shuka Sho (2019), G1 Takarazuka Kinen (2020,…

July 8 (UPI) -- Three-year-olds from Ireland, England and France will see what they can do with American rivals this weekend at Belmont Park in the $1 million Caesar's Belmont Derby and $750000 Belmont Oaks. The weekend also includes the Indiana Derby, Iowa Derby and Los Alamitos Derby in California, where trainer Bob Baffert returns from…

Irish Derby and Grand Prix de Paris winner Hurricane Lane faces nine rivals in the Cazoo St Leger (3.35) at Doncaster on Saturday. The Charlie Appleby-trained colt, whose sole defeat came when third in the Derby, seeks a hat-trick of Group 1 wins and is an odds-on favourite to land British racing's oldest Classic. Hurricane Lane is ridden by…

A roll of honour which includes the likes of Nijinsky, Mill Reef, Brigadier Gerard, Dancing Brave, Montjeu, Galileo, Harbinger, Enable and 12 months ago Adayar, six runners go to post for this year's renewal which gets underway at 3.35pm. We have previewed the race and the pick of the racing action with our guide below and you can find the best…

Messier wins Sunday's Bob Hope Stakes at Del Mar for trainer Bob Baffert. Benoit photo, courtesy of Del Mar Turf Club Nov. 15, 2021 Trainer Bob Baffert saddled the winners of both 2-year-old races at Del Mar, Bell's the One was a popular winner at Churchill Downs, while Mandate scored a big upset at Aqueduct in highlights of weekend horse…

Charlie Appleby saddled his third winner from the last four editions of the Craven Stakes when last season's unbeaten champion two-year-old Native Trail convincingly landed very short odds to strengthen his position as ante-post favourite for the 2000 Guineas. Earlier the same day, promising stablemate Coroebus was put through his paces in a gallop…

Dubai World Cup day is Saturday, March 25, and it's an event that racing fans from around the globe look forward to each spring, with $29 million up for grabs across eight races that attract some of the best Thoroughbreds worldwide. Like the Breeders' Cup World Championships, Dubai World Cup races have varied distances, surfaces and purse value.…

State Of Rest brought his A game to Ascot to brush aside Prince Of Wales's Stakes favourite Bay Bridge. Joseph O'Brien's stayer was given a fine front-running ride and kept finding more for Shane Crosse up the straight. The 5-1 shot, who has now scored in England, Ireland, Australia, America and France, finished a length ahead of the 10-11 market…

for all the Coral Brigadier Gerard Stakes runners and riders, form, Timeform comments and latest betting. William Haggas may be in a rich vein of form at present, yet that has not stopped him warning punters about the fitness of Addeybb as he makes his seasonal debut in the Coral Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown on Thursday evening. The Pivotal…