Vale Lester Piggott
Lester Piggott, widely considered to be the greatest flat jockey of all time, died in the early hours of Sunday morning, he was 86.
A legendary figure and Champion jockey on 11 occasions, Piggott won the Derby nine times, having ridden his first winner at the age of just 12, in 1948. He retired with 4493 victories to his name.
Born in Oxfordshire in 1935 to a family steeped in centuries of racing history, Piggott's riding career spanned more four decades. In that time he rode the winners of 30 British Classics, with his numerous international successes including three wins in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Lester Piggott | Image courtesy of Sportpix
He initially retired from race-riding in 1985 and trained for a time from Eve Lodge Stables in Newmarket before making a sensational comeback to the saddle in 1990.
Ten days after his resumption he won the Breeders' Cup Mile on Royal Academy (USA) for Vincent O'Brien, with whom he had a lengthy and highly successful association.
Piggott had recently been hospitalised in Switzerland, where he has lived for a number of years.
Zayydani retired
Group 2 winner Zayydani (NZ) (Savabeel) has been retired following her fourth-placing in the G3 Lord Mayor’s Cup at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
The Ben and JD Hayes-trained daughter of Savabeel suffered a tendon injury and owner-breeders Brent and Cherry Taylor of Trelawney Stud made the decision to retire the 5-year-old mare.
Zayydani is a half-sister to Group 1 winner turned Yulong stallion Grunt (NZ).
Brereton JJ Atkins bound
Brereton (Zoustar) is all but certain to contest next fortnight’s G1 JJ Atkins S. at Eagle Farm after a bold third-placing behind Sheeza Belter (Gold Standard) in Saturday’s G2 BRC Sires’ Produce S.
Brereton is all but certain to contest the G1 JJ Atkins S. at Eagle Farm | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
The Victorian Alliance-owned colt has pulled up in good order and will be improved by the run, according to trainer Peter Moody.
Capitalist can’t be contained
The Francis and Christine Cooked-owned Inequality marked Capitalist’s 63rd winner for the season when breaking his maiden status at Wellington on Sunday.
The Lee and Cherie Curtis-trained juvenile justified his odds-on status and finished ahead of The Big Seal (Your Song) and Scarzel (Snitzel) in the 900-metre dash.
Capitalist, who stands at Newgate Farm, is currently 19 wins clear atop the second-season sires’ standings albeit with 51 more runners than his nearest rival Shalaa (Ire).
Xtravagant gelding salutes
Xtravagant (NZ) gelding Hilton brought up the third win of his career when saluting in a BM58 H. at Kalgoorlie on Sunday.
The Nicholas Thomas-trained 3-year-old beat home Shadow Boom (Spirit Of Boom) and Sweet Strawberry (Playing God) in the 1200-metre contest.
The Newhaven Park-based Xtravagant, who is responsible for R. Listed Inglis Millenium heroine Xtravagant Star, has sired 25 winners this season and is currently sixth on the second-season sires’ standing by earnings.
All systems go towards the Stradbroke
Desleigh Forster has confirmed that G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup hero Apache Chase (Better Than Ready) has bounced through his maiden top-tier success and will now be set for a tilt at Saturday week’s G1 Stradbroke H.
The Eagle Farm-based horsewoman, who claimed her first Group 1 by the way of Apache Chase’s victory, told RSN that the gelding will prove equally as effective over the 1400-metre Stradbroke H. trip.
Maurice marching
Maurice (Jpn) is now striking at exactly 50 per cent runners to winners in 2021/22 after bringing up his 34th winner of the season on Sunday.
Maurice (Jpn) | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
The Chris Munce-trained Maurice's Star outclassed her rivals in a 1350-metre maiden at Ipswich to breakthrough for connections at start number five.
Maurice currently leads the second-season sires' standings by earnings due to the deeds of Group 1-winning 3-year-olds Hitosu and Mazu.
Another winner for Alpine Eagle
Second-season Armidale Stud stallion Alpine Eagle brought up his 18th winner of the season by the way of Alpine Aviator’s breakthrough maiden victory at Devonport on Sunday.
Ridden by Bulent Muchu, Alpine Eagle proved too good for Eight Margaritas (Eurozone) and Moves Like Jagger (Choisir) in the 1350-metre maiden.
Payne and Egan make Mildura their own
Patrick Payne and Billy Egan were rewarded for venturing to Mildura after the trainer and jockey duo booted home four winners at the meeting on Sunday.
The Plumpton-based trainer saddled up the first three winners' on the program before taking out the sixth event with Our Modena (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).
Freedmans seek assistance for Artorius
Anthony and Sam Freedman have lodged an application for Artorius (Flying Artie) to be loaded into the barriers late before the G1 Platinum Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot on June 18.
The request is in line with British racing rules, however, the standard loading practice in England is odd barriers first followed by the evens, bar exemptions.
Artorius | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“We think going in late and keeping him moving behind the gates keeps him active,” Sam Freedman told Racenet.
“Hopefully it’s granted, I think the less time he spends in the gates the better he seems to begin, so that’s something we’re hoping for.”
Stratum starting to Star
Young Widden Stud stallion Stratum Star featured in the winner’s list on Sunday via the third win of consistent juvenile Go Getaboy’s career at Cairns.
Stratum Star, whose oldest crop are 3-year-olds has sired 17 winners this season.
Sunday double for Under The Louvre
Grandview Stud stallion Under The Louvre brought up his eighth winner of the season on Sunday as a result of Taken By Theft’s and The Love Of Mary’s breakthrough maiden victories at Cairns and Ispwich respectively.
The G1 Stradbroke H. hero’s oldest progeny are currently 3-year-olds.
Under The Louvre | Standing at Grandview Stud
Innes content with retirement call
Leith Innes is 100 per cent content with his decision to hang up the saddle following Saturday’s G1 Queensland Derby success aboard Pinarello (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).
The 44-year-old New Zealand-based hoop said he had been considering the move in the weeks leading up to the race and once he had fulfilled a successful mission for his major supporters in Brendan and Jo Lindsay, who own Pinarello, he knew the time was right to announce his decision.
“It was a pretty huge day and just good to go out on a good note,” Innes said.
“I had been thinking about it all for a while now and as far as I am concerned it was 100 per cent the right thing to do.”
