Great Hunter and Spring at Last (not to be confused with the 2-year-old sprinter Spring Awakening – one wonders how she has been affected by the Broadway stagehands’ strike) are both back in training with Doug O’Neill and working toward comebacks.
Buzzards Bay is another familiar name absent from the track for some time – he’s set for the All American stakes this weekend. He’ll be taking on McCann’s Mojave and Wanna Runner, among others.
Talented 4-year-old mare Criminologist (again, not to be confused with her pop culture namesake, this time from Rocky Horror) is back and aiming for a fourth straight win in the Cardinal Handicap; on paper, she’s the one to beat and seems to be coming into her own.
Back across the pond, the Cartier Awards (the European equivalent of the Eclipse Awards) were announced yesterday; and most were quite predictable:
Horse of the Year/Older Horse
Dylan ThomasOwners: Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor
Trainer: Aidan O’BrienThree-Year-Old Colt
AuthorizedOwners: Saleh Al Homeizi & Imad Al Sagar
Trainer: Peter Chapple-HyamThree-Year-Old Filly
Peeping FawnOwners: Michael Tabor & Sue Magnier
Trainer: Aidan O’BrienStayer
YeatsOwners: Sue Magnier & Diane Nagle
Trainer: Aidan O’BrienTwo Year Old Colt
New ApproachOwners: Jackie Bolger & Sheikh Mohammed
Trainer: Jim BolgerTwo Year Old Filly
NatagoraOwner: Stefan Friborg
Trainer: Pascal BarySprinter
Red ClubsOwner: Ronnie Arculli
Trainer: Barry HillsAward of Merit The Niarchos Family
It was pointed out that Dylan Thomas ran in Group I races every month from April to October and of course may yet try for the Japan Cup. The Niarchos family was given the Award of Merit (essentially a lifetime achievement recognition) for breeding and racing such greats as Nureyev, Miesque, and Kingmambo among many others. All in all, a good list.
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