PJA hits out at ERA Cosgrave case
The Professional Jockeys Association has issued its concerns over the judicial processes of the Emirates Racing Authority after its handling of the Pat Cosgrave affair.
A British Horseracing Authority disciplinary panel decided not to reciprocate Cosgrave's four-month suspension, which he received for improper riding in the Group One Jebel Hatta, in Britain.
His mount Anaerobio drifted off the rail as Mike de Kock-trained stablemate Vercingetorix came through to win. The ban was initially six months, but reduced to four on appeal, and the BHA panel's reasons were released on Monday.
The panel's reasoning centred upon whether Cosgrave's case had been applied with "the laws of natural justice".
It attempted to diffuse complaints from the Cosgrave camp over interpretation of the rules of racing in Dubai and the behaviour of ERA chairman John Zucal, and instead concentrated on the nature of his appeal hearing.
This was, in particular, whether it was a review process or a rehearing, and whether Cosgrave should have been allowed to review old evidence, or bring in new evidence.
It felt Cosgrave "was not given a sufficient chance to present evidence to the appeal panel which could have had an effect on their conclusions".
PJA chief executive Paul Struthers said: "We welcome the finding of the BHA's disciplinary panel that Pat Cosgrave was denied natural justice at his appeal in Dubai.
"However, our concerns about the rules and processes of the Emirates Racing Authority, or at least the current interpretation of them, goes deeper than the issue raised by the BHA disciplinary panel.
"The cause of the denial of natural justice was the discrepancy between the appeal board ruling on the day of the appeal that it was by way of review but then concluding in their reasons that they had ruled it was exceptional circumstances and was a re-hearing.
"The discrepancy between what was said on the day of the appeal hearing and the appeal panel's reasons is extraordinary, particularly given the appeal panel had the benefit of the transcript when producing their reasons.
"However, of equal concern was a further extraordinary conclusion reached in the appeal panel's reasons that Mike de Kock thought Anaerobio could have won.
"Bearing in mind the transcript of the stewards enquiry finds Mr De Kock stating that, "I will give up the game if that horse could have won", and the matter was further clarified at the ERA appeal panel hearing, it is a quite staggering conclusion for them to have reached."
Struthers said the ERA are still trying to collect costs of around £35,000 from Cosgrave, and said: "We are not aware of any other jurisdiction that awards such punitive and unreasonable costs for failed, let alone successful, first stage appeals when those appeals have merit.
"The ERA's approach to appeal panel costs goes against the principles of fairness and reasonableness, and appears to be against common UAE legal practice. We have therefore written to the ERA requesting that they withdraw the costs order against Mr Cosgrave.
"We believe the only way that jockeys can be assured of being subjected to a fair process, and for the ERA to repair the inadvertent damage inflicted upon it by its stewards and appeal panel, is by undertaking a thorough review of its rules and processes to ensure that they are not acting in an unfair and unreasonable manner.
"If the status quo is allowed to continue, the threat of punitive and unreasonable costs means that, in reality, there is no route of appeal whatsoever for jockeys racing under the ERA's jurisdiction."
Zucal said the BHA's published reasons were "very interesting" but the ERA will not comment further until after the Eid al-Fitr holiday, a feast which marks the end of the month-long fast of Ramadan.
He told Press Association Sport: "It is currently Eid, which is a celebration of Ramadan, over here, which means everything is closed down, so I have no authority to make a statement just yet. I've been in contact with our board members and we will be making a statement in due course.
"The BHA's reasons were very interesting, especially in relation to the stewards, but it would be inappropriate to comment any further."
==========================================
Time out for Carpenter
Master Carpenter is likely to have a rest through the end of the summer after a busy and productive spell for the Rod Millman yard.
After running behind Kingman in the Greenham Stakes, the chestnut has appeared five more times and took a Listed race at Sandown before making the leap to Group Three level at Chantilly.
A few days ago, Millman took Master Carpenter back to France for the Group Two Prix Eugene Adam at Maisons-Laffitte, where he was third behind John Gosden's Western Hymn.
"He came out of the race grand but he's had a few quick races now so he's going to have a bit of a break," said the Devon handler.
"He might not have stayed on the ground (at Maisons-Laffitte).
"He looked like he'd stay the mile and a quarter when he won over nine furlongs at Chantilly in the Group Three, but the rain came and it ended up being very heavy ground the other day so it was hard work.
"Western Hymn looked a lot more professional than he was in the Derby, and he looks a good horse anyway.
"He's been on the go a good while, so I'd imagine he'll probably be back for races in the autumn."
On the home front, Millman's juveniles are serving him well and Bonny Grey was third to smart prospect Alonsoa in last week's Listed Star Stakes at Sandown.
"We'd love to get her to win a Listed race at some point," the trainer said.
"We've actually only run six two-year-olds, five have won and the other one has shown some good form, too."
======================================
Lion could roar in Champion Stakes
Trainer Andreas Lowe is to consider the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot for Sunday's German Group One winner Lucky Lion.
The High Chaparral colt made a swift start to 2014, winning his first three races, including the German Guineas.
But he bumped into the nation's potential superstar, Sea The Moon, in the German Derby and was beaten a remarkable 11 lengths into second place.
Lucky Lion was dropped back to a mile and a quarter for the Grosser Dallmayr-Preis at Munich, and he stayed on well late to pull past Lady Cecil's odds-on favourite and Tattersalls Gold Cup winner Noble Mission.
"It was great, and I'm very happy with him after the race," said Lowe.
"I have him in a Group Two at Deauville in three weeks (Prix Guillaume d'Ornano) but I don't know if we'll do that.
"I'm looking at engagements at the moment. I have just received a brochure for Champions Day at Ascot, and I think I will give him an engagement."
Of Sea The Moon, who is now a live contender for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, the experienced Lowe said: "He's exceptional."
==========================================
Quick picks off Galway rivals
Quick Jack gave trainer Tony Martin and jockey Steven Clements consecutive victories in the feature race on the first day of the Galway Festival, the Connacht Hotel (Q.R.) Handicap.
Clements and Martin combined to win the valuable two-mile contest for amateur riders 12 months ago with Edeymi and repeated the dose with this talented five-year-old.
The 5lb claiming jockey only joined the party at the top of the home straight, after Grecian Tiger had surged into a commanding lead once Fosters Cross and Dalasiri faded out of contention. Grecian Tiger continued to fight the good fight, but he was readily outmuscled by 4-1 favourite Quick Jack, who showed a neat burst of pace inside the final 150 yards to collect by three lengths.
Fire Fighter and Spacious Sky, a stablemate of the winner, finished third and fourth respectively.
Martin said: "He might not get into the Galway Hurdle but he's in a mile-and-a-half handicap and he's also in a hurdle race on Friday. We'll see how he is on Thursday morning and we'll give him plenty of time between now and then.
"He's done his job so he's under no pressure to pull out again. After Punchestown, we decided to put him away for Galway and, fortunately, it's worked out.
"After finishing second in the November Handicap, we thought he'd have a nice weight for this. He's improving all the time and hopefully there'll be some more left after this. He's a right little horse and never lets us down."
Jamaica had earlier ended Dermot Weld's dominance in the claregalwayhotel.ie EBF Maiden when he landed a sizeable punt for the Ballydoyle operation. The Galileo colt was backed into 4-9 favouritism and was not too hard pressed in landing the odds.
Joseph O'Brien's partner was fourth behind Vocaliser for much of the race, but he took closer order three furlongs out before gaining a slight lead at the top of the straight.
Jamaica responded gamely to his rider's urgings by haring three and a quarter lengths clear of Weld's runner Postulation, whose trainer had won this race five times in the last six years.
Trainer Aidan O'Brien said: "He had a nice first run and came forward well from it. You'd have to be very happy with that - he seems to have learnt plenty. He won't mind the step up and could go for the Futurity (Curragh, August 24) now. He should get a mile."
Bookmakers Racebets were suitably impressed, with Jamaica cut to 25-1 for the 2015 Epsom Derby.
Willie Mullins had earlier got off to a fine start to the meeting when Mckinley claimed the opening Radissonhotelgalway.com & Galwaybayhotel.com Novice Hurdle. G iven an astute ride by Paul Townend, the 7-1 chance was driven home along the stands side to defeat Ridestan by two and a quarter lengths.
Mullins said: "He's improving and his jumping is improving. He's getting more confidence. He handled the ground fairly well. I thought it was a very hot race beforehand. I'm very happy he has improved from his maiden."
Henry de Bromhead then hit the target when (12-1) Beckwith Star charged three and a quarter lengths clear of Eric The Grey in the Easyfix Rubber Products Handicap Hurdle.
De Bromhead said: "He could run over hurdles or fences later in the week, he's very adaptable. Now that we know he goes on good ground we might run him more on it."
Winning jockey Brian Hayes said: "It's nice to have a good winner in Galway to keep the ball rolling. He's a straightforward horse."
Dermot Weld had to wait until his sixth runner of the 2014 Galway Festival but the king of Ballybrit got on the scoresheet when 3-1 shot Timiyan landed the Pillo Hotel Handicap by five lengths.
=================================================
Beckett considers Gesture gameplan
Ralph Beckett is weighing up the next plan of attack with Secret Gesture following another excellent effort in defeat at York on Saturday.
Runner-up behind stable companion Talent in last year's Investec Oaks at Epsom, Secret Gesture went on to be placed in the German Oaks and the Yorkshire Oaks before the end of her three-year-old campaign.
She has continued in a similarly consistent vein of form this season, filling the runner-up spot in the Middleton Stakes and winning a Listed prize at Nottingham before her neck defeat in the Skybet York Stakes at the weekend.
Beckett said: "She has come out of the race better than I could have hoped. It was a really brave effort and she didn't leave anything behind. I thought she showed huge tenacity, she put it all in and it was a great run.
"We'll see how things work out from here. She has plenty of entries and we haven't made any definite plans.
"You'd like to think her turn will come, but it doesn't always work out like that."
Beckett also confirmed Talent is likely to be in action at Glorious Goodwood on Thursday, although her target has not yet been decided.
The four-year-old, who was last seen finishing third in the Lancashire Oaks, could run in either the Artemis Goodwood Cup or the Sterling Insurance Lillie Langtry Stakes.
Beckett said: "She's in good form and she'll run in one of the races, all being well.
"We'll see how the races are shaping up at declaration time and make a decision."
==========================================
Bird in full flight for Nassau
Thistle Bird remains on course to bid for a second successive Group One victory and features amongst 10 fillies and mares confirmed for the Markel Insurance Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on Saturday.
Having claimed the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom for a second time, Roger Charlton's six-year-old landed her first success at the highest level with a brilliant display under George Baker in last month's Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh.
John Gosden has won the last two renewals of the Nassau with The Fugue and Winsili and has two representatives in contention this time in Sultanina and Eastern Belle.
Sultanina found only stable companion Pomology too strong in the Lancashire Oaks earlier this month, while the three-year-old Eastern Belle was last seen claiming a Listed prize at Newbury.
Aidan O'Brien has entered Pretty Polly runner-up Venus De Milo, as well as Palace.
Mango Diva, Amazing Maria, Lustrous and Madame Chiang are also in contention.
There is also a potential French challenger in Narniyn, who won four races on the spin before finishing fourth against the boys in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.
Georges Rimaud, French racing manager for Narniyn's owner, the Aga Khan, said : "As far as I am aware, the plan is to run and she's in good form.
"I think she'll enjoy the better ground and we are looking forward to seeing her run. I think this is where she belongs."
===========================================
Pitt ponders Sir Stewards' run
Tim Pitt has a few factors to take into account before deciding if recent Curragh winner Sir Maximilian takes in Saturday's 32Red Cup at Goodwood.
After missing the cut for the Wokingham at Royal Ascot, Shropshire-based Pitt tried his sprinter without success at Newcastle and Hamilton but he returned to form in the Rockingham Handicap.
"He came out of the Curragh in really good form," said Pitt.
"I've also entered him in a Listed race at Chester on Sunday and we're going to have to sit down and think.
"On the one hand, I'd be of the opinion that there's only one Stewards' Cup, and he liked strong pace. He'll get that at Goodwood but not necessarily at Chester.
"But on the other hand, Chester's on the doorstep and Goodwood is five hours away.
"Before he won at the Curragh, everyone was of the opinion that he has to have soft ground, but I think he just wants a safe surface. I'm sure that's what (clerk of the course) Seamus Buckley would provide at Goodwood."
Twenty-eight horses can face the starter for the huge betting race, long known as the Stewards' Cup, and hot favourite Muthmir has been confirmed under a penalty.
The odds for William Haggas' gelding collapsed when he took the Skybet Dash at York last Saturday with some authority, while the trainer could also still run last year's winner Rex Imperator.
Most of the leading names in the market remain in the mix, like Alben Star, Robert Cowell's in-form Intrinsic and Mike Murphy's valuable Ascot handicap winner Discussiontofollow.
============================================
Beacon leads Hannon trio
Beacon bids to get the Richard Hannon yard off to another flying start at Glorious Goodwood as he heads a strong two-year-old challenge in Tuesday's bet365 Molecomb Stakes.
The Group Three sprint was won by Hannon's father three times in the previous five renewals through Monsieur Chevalier, Zebedee and 12 months ago when Brown Sugar just held off his better-fancied stable companion Anticipated.
Beacon did not go to Royal Ascot, staying lower-key at Bath and Salisbury, but would have the beating of both Mukhmal and Union Rose on the result of the Dragon Stakes at Sandown, where the Highclere-owned colt won by a handy four lengths.
Julie Wood's Dougal had looked progressive in his first three starts but was blown away by another of Hannon's classy sorts, Ivawood, in the July Stakes at Newmarket. Spirit Of Xian completes the trio, having failed to really build on a debut Newmarket win in stakes races at Naas and Chantilly.
"We call Beacon 'Baby Paco' as he is the spitting image of Paco Boy," said Hannon.
"He has been impressive in winning his last three races and, though he will stay six furlongs, he has the speed to hang on in there over this fast five, and he'll be hard to beat."
Of his other pair, the trainer told
"Dougal had to miss Royal Ascot with a bad scope and then the July Stakes probably came up a bit quick for him as he had been off games for a while. He is a sharp sort, and we are pleased to have got Ryan (Moore).
"Dad tells me that he won this race with a filly in 1993 (Risky), so we have decided to roll the dice with Spirit of Xian. She tired late on in France last time, so we are trying her in blinkers, and Pat Dobbs gets on well with her."
Union Rose was last of the four in the Dragon Stakes but Ron Harris is not dwelling on that effort, as his experienced colt had earlier finished closest to the American raider Hootenanny in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot.
"I was disappointed not with the run at Sandown, but with the race. It was a very messy race, there was no pace and it was a two-furlong sprint, which didn't help us at all. I think more runners should mean there'll be a better proper-run race, and we'll be making sure of that," said the Chepstow-based trainer.
"Beacon is the one to beat, he has looked impressive in all his runs, but outside of him, there might not be a lot between them."
Charlie Hills runs his Bath maiden winner Cotai Glory, who was beaten by the smart-looking Limato in the Rose Bowl Stakes at Newbury just over a week ago.
"Our main concern with him is him handling the preliminaries as everything is very on top of the horses at Goodwood. He's behaved perfectly during the race in his last two starts and could be hard to catch if he goes clear down the hill," the trainer told
www.charleshills.com.
Mark Johnston's Mukhmal was second to Beacon at Sandown, while Fast Act finished third to yet another Hannon star, Tiggy Wiggy, in the Super Sprint at Newbury.
=====================================
Toormore on Goodwood mission
Toormore is reported to be "back to his best" as he aims to bounce back to form in the bet365 Lennox Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
Richard Hannon's colt ended an unbeaten juvenile season as champion two-year-old after clinching Group One glory in the National Stakes at the Curragh and he looked every inch a Classic contender when making a winning return in Newmarket's Craven Stakes in mid-April.
However, he could finish only seventh in the 2000 Guineas and was similarly disappointing when sixth in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Toormore has his sights lowered for Tuesday's seven-furlong Group Two and Tim Palin, racing manager for owners Middleham Park Racing, has been told to expect a big improvement on the Sussex Downs.
Palin said: "The reports are he's back to his best. He's moved from Everleigh to Herridge and the words of Richard Hannon snr last were 'you'll see a different Toormore at Glorious Goodwood'. He looks a million dollars.
"He obviously won the Craven and we don't really know what happened for the next three months. Nothing really came to light, but he lost weight, he was dull in his coat and wasn't working as well as he can.
"We ran him in the Guineas and then the vibes weren't great going into Royal Ascot, but there is only one St James's Palace and we gave it a go. Maybe we shouldn't have run him.
"He doesn't carry his Group One penalty as it's past the cut-off point now and he's a course and distance winner having won the Vintage Stakes last year, so he's going back to the scene of the crime.
"He won his Group One over seven furlongs and you could argue he might be even better over that trip than he is at a mile.
"The Hannon horses are always in peak condition at this time of year, he's drawn OK and I like the 7lb weight-for-age allowance. There really aren't any negatives.
"The Hannons used this race as a confidence booster for Strong Suit a few years ago and it was a similar story with Garswood of Richard Fahey's last year. We're hoping that Toormore will be the latest one to get his confidence boosted.
"We'd like to think if he wins we'll be looking at Group Ones again, races like the Prix du Moulin and the Prix de la Foret. If he doesn't win and maybe finishes a close second, we might look for another Group Two, something like the Celebration Mile. What we don't want to see is a bland, never-threatening fourth.
"Hughesie (Richard Hughes) knows the place like the back of his hand and put him up as one of his best bets of the week recently. I hope he's right."
Toormore is the spearhead of a three-pronged assault on the race by the Hannon team, with Professor and Anjaal also among a 10-strong field.
The trainer told
"Anjaal has found it difficult with his penalty this season, but he ran OK in the Jersey and Sheikh Hamdan (Al Maktoum, owner) is in such terrific form so who knows.
"Professor was only beaten three lengths in this race last year, having been locked up on the far rails all the way up the straight. He won well at Haydock last time and he will be even better on this drier ground."
Defending champion Garswood has failed to get his head in front since his victory 12 months ago, but ran his best race of the season so far when narrowly held by the reopposing Gregorian in last month's Criterion Stakes at Newmarket.
Garswood wore blinkers on his most recent appearance, but Fahey has decided to fit him with a visor, and said: "We're happy with him and he's in good form. He ran well at Newmarket and I just don't think he saw the winner coming with the blinkers on. Hopefully he will with the visor. It would be nice to see him bounce back with a win, but we'll see how we go.
"I'm sure the ground will be fine. They usually do a great job with the ground at Goodwood. If it's firm we won't run, but I'd be surprised if it was."
Es Que Love was only narrowly beaten into third in Newbury's Hackwood Stakes a week and a half ago and steps up to seven furlongs for the first time since joining trainer Clive Cox at the start of the season.
Cox said: "He ran a blinder in the Hackwood and is versatile over six or seven furlongs. I'm delighted with him at home. He seems in great form and hopefully he'll run well. He's Group Two- and Group Three-placed already this year and I think he probably prefers drier ground to wetter ground, so I'm hoping they don't get too much rain."
Peter Schiergen's German raider Amarillo and course favourite Boom And Bust also feature in a competitive field.
===========================================
Star duo head Sussex field
Kingman and Toronado are among a field of just five runners in the Qipco Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on Wednesday.
Since his narrow defeat in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in early May, the John Gosden-trained Kingman has claimed hugely impressive victories in the Irish Guineas and the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot to confirm himself the leading three-year-old miler in the country.
Toronado, last year's Sussex Stakes hero, made a winning return to action in the Queen Anne at the Royal meeting but as he is a year older than his major rival, he must concede 8lb in the latest edition of the 'duel on the Downs'.
Aidan O'Brien sends two challengers on the trip from Ireland in Darwin and War Command.
Darwin looks to have his work cut out having been beaten in the Group Three Minstrel Stakes at the Curragh less than a fortnight ago, while War Command won the Dewhurst as a juvenile, but has been well beaten in three starts this year.
The field is completed by another three-year-old in Charlie Appleby's Godolphin runner Outstrip
