More Gold for Rainbow Bridge
The Eric Sands-trained Rainbow Bridge (SAF) (Ideal World {USA}) claimed back-to-back successes in the G1 Hollywood Bets Gold Challenge at Greyville in South Africa.
The 6-year-old half-brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Hawwaam (SAF) (Silvano {Ger}) defeated Catch Twenty Two (SAF) (Elusive Fort {SAF}) and Chimchiri Run (SAF) (Trippi {USA}) to claim a fifth career Grade 1 win.
Owned by Michael and Norma Rattray, Rainbow Bridge has now won 11 of his 23 starts.
He was initially a 300,000 rand (AU$28,386) purchase from his breeders at Wilgerbosdrift Stud at the 2016 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale.
He is the first foal from Champion South African Broodmare, Halfway To Heaven (SAF) (Jet Master {SAF}), who has also produced the Mike de Kock-trained star Hawwaam (SAF) (Silvano {Ger}) and the G1 Cape Derby and Champions Cup winner Golden Ducat (SAF) (Philanthropist {USA}), who is also prepared by Sands.
Cable Bay's Atalis Bay's stakes success
Paying a timely compliment to the G1 King's Stand S.- bound Winter Power (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}), who beat him by three lengths in York's Listed Westow S. over this trip on May 13, Atalis Bay (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) who had won a brace of nurseries at Kempton and Haydock last term and a competitive conditions event at Nottingham on April 7, was able to get out in front and stay there for a black-type breakthrough in the Listed Coral Scurry S. at Sandown.
He became the sixth sakes winner for one-time Woodside Park shuttler Cable Bay (Ire), following on from Uncommon James' first Australian black-type success for the stallion at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Pressured the whole way, the bay was game as the threats loomed and stayed on strongly late as Warrior Brave (GB) (Twilight Son {GB}) threw in the final challenge.
"He has got tons of speed. He has got faster and faster since he was a 2-year-old," trainer Marco Botti said. "I thought in the last furlong, when the other horses came to challenge him, he picked up again and ran strongly to the line. This is his trip, five furlongs on fast ground.
"Last year, he was a nice horse but not at this level and this year I just think he has got stronger and turned into a proper sprinter.
"Botti could be looking at coming back for the course and distance G3 Coral Charge on July 3, or taking on Battaash at Goodwood.
"He obviously has to take on the older horses now, or perhaps we go to Goodwood (for the G2 King George S. on July 30) and take that route. He will have to improve again taking on the older horses, but he seems to be going that way. There would be enough time to take in both races, but he is a horse that likes being freshened up after a run. We will see how he comes out of it and keep an eye on the ground, but it is good to have options."
Empress Josephine into Coronation
G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner Empress Josephine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has been supplemented to Friday's G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot. The Coolmore partners' full sister to seven-time Group 1 winner Minding (Ire) is among 15 fillies remaining in the mile event; those also include her favoured stablemate, the G1 1000 Guineas winner Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), and last year's champion 2-year-old filly Pretty Gorgeous (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}).
Empress Josephine is a daughter of Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who won the Coronation herself for the Coolmore partners in 2010 en route to taking the G1 Matron S. later that season. Empress Josephine did not race at two but has been busy this spring, having run four times beginning with a debut victory on March 28.
Dr. Jerry Hill Awarded MBE
Dr. Jerry Hill, Chief Medical Adviser for the British Horseracing Authority, has been awarded an MBE for services to horse racing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following racing's suspension on March 18, 2020, Dr. Hill worked tirelessly with colleagues across racing and medical professionals to develop protocols to help the sport chart a safe course through the pandemic and facilitate its resumption.
Dr. Hill's expertise was recognised by the DCMS when he was invited to agree guidance on the resumption of elite sports in the UK, and he took the lead on drafting stage three of the return, which was quickly agreed by the public health authorities and allowed the return of all elite sport in the UK from June 1, 2020.
Dr. Hill has compiled a noteworthy body of work on medical provision in British racing over the last six years, which has also included expansion of physiotherapy provision to all British race meetings; facilitating academic research into jockey nutrition and mental health and concussion protocols.
Annamarie Phelps, chair of the BHA, said, “This award recognises Dr Hill's remarkable achievements on behalf of the racing industry. Jerry's priority throughout the COVID crisis has always been to put the health of racing's participants, racegoers and the general population first. This has similarly been the case throughout his six years as BHA Chief Medical Adviser, during which the sport has made significant progress in the field of participant health and wellbeing.”
Hill said, “I am genuinely humbled by this award. British Racing's response to the coronavirus pandemic has been a truly collaborative one, and the industry has shown what it can achieve when it pulls together. I believe that this award reflects the hard work and commitment of many people across the sport.”
