Category: News Story

Trueshan’s trainer Alan King was an interested bystander as Stradivarius took his third Yorkshire Cup on Friday and is keeping a wary eye on the opposition ahead of his bid for the Ascot Gold Cup.

John and Thady Gosden seek a fourth Gold Cup with the gallant Stradivarius, who was cut to 3-1 joint-favourite by Coral for the feature two-and-a-half-mile event at the Royal meeting, joining dual Group One winner Trueshan at the head of the market.

Last season’s Prix du Cadran winner was a Knavesmire absentee because of the fast conditions, as eight-year-old entire Stradivarius galloped to into the history books, winning an 18th European Group race and surpassing Cirrus Des Aigles.

Stradivarius was not the only stayer to have piqued King’s interest on Friday, with Adian O’Brien’s Kyprios powering to a 14-length victory in the mile-and-three-quarter Saval Beg Stakes at Leopardstown.

The four-year-old subsequently saw his odds halved and is now 100-30 third-best in the market with the same firm.

Having had just one run this season, taking the Listed Further Flight Stakes at Nottingham early last month, King was hoping to get another run into six-year-old Trueshan before the June 16 Gold Cup, although he admitted he was hoping the current dry spell would break.

King said: “Stradivarius produced a great performance – he was awesome. It was lovely to see.

“We just called it (not going to York) on Wednesday morning, as we thought by Friday the ground was going to be too quick. So, I didn’t really want to send them up there and not run him.

“I’m thrilled for Stradivarius. It was a great, wonderful performance again. We will just regroup and have a quiet couple of days.

“Sandown’s Henry II Stakes is a possibility a week on Thursday, but if we have to wait for Ascot, we will. This weather has got to break sooner or later, hasn’t it?

“It has been so long since we had decent rain. So, we’ll train him for Sandown and if that’s not going to happen, we will train him for Ascot.

“It is not a major issue if he doesn’t go there. I’m a bit more relaxed with it all the way through.”

King was similarly impressed by young pretender Kyprios and added: “It was wonderful to see Stradivarius run so well, but Aidan’s horse did awfully well as well, so it is all building up. And we’re looking forward to it.”

Highclere Thoroughbred Racing have already tasted Classic success this season and managing director Harry Herbert has issued a positive bulletin about their Cazoo Derby hope Lysander, who puts his Epsom aspirations to the test in Goodwood’s Cocked Hat Stakes on Friday.

The New Approach colt was an eyecatching third on his debut at Newbury at the latter end of the 2021 season and created a taking impression on his reappearance when bolting up by eight and a half lengths in a Newcastle novice event in April.

The 120,000 guineas yearling has entries for both Epsom and the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, but Herbert is in no doubt about which race is the prime target provided he comes through his next assignment with flying colours.

“It has always been the likely plan (Goodwood), we had him in the Lingfield Derby Trial, but that would have been quite a quick turnaround. William (Haggas) was always keen to give him a nice gap between Newcastle and Goodwood and then Goodwood will tell us a lot more,” said Herbert.

“Look, we all know how far it is from winning a novice at Newcastle to lining up in a Derby, but he’s a very talented horse from what William has seen at home and Tom Marquand thinks very highly of the horse.

“So let’s see what see what happens at Goodwood and at the moment, if he was to win and win well, the plan would be to go for the Derby. I think he’s a really exciting colt, but it’s just one step at a time.”

Lysander is a best price of 50-1 for the premier Classic.

A total of 21 people were injured in three separate shootings near an entertainment district where thousands gathered for an NBA playoff game in Milwaukee.

Downtown Milwaukee will also be under a limited curfew for the rest of the weekend and a massive watch party scheduled for Sunday has been called off after various incidents on Friday night.

In one of the shootings, 17 people were hurt when two groups started firing at each other. Three people were hurt in another shooting, and one in the third. All of the gunfire happened streets from the arena where the Milwaukee Bucks lost to the Boston Celtics in Game 6 of the NBA’s Eastern Conference Semi-finals.

The Milwaukee Fire Department said authorities took two people to a hospital, a 30-year-old man and a 16-year-old girl, and a third person drove to a hospital. All of the victims are expected to survive.

Police said a 29-year-old man is in custody following the first shooting and charges were pending a review by the Milwaukee County district attorney’s office.

No arrest has been made relating to the second shooting, Assistant Police Chief Nicole Waldner said.

Ten people were taken into custody and nine firearms were recovered from the third shooting, according to police, which described the incident as an exchange of gunfire between two groups of people.

“What makes people think they can just have a shootout on a public street or in an entertainment district, whether police are there or not?” Waldner asked at a Saturday news conference.

Witnesses told local television they saw a fight outside a bar following the basketball game. Police are investigating what led to the shooting.

It happened just outside the boundaries of the Deer District, a 30-acre entertainment district that was developed after Fiserv Forum opened in 2018. It features numerous bars and restaurants where large crowds often assemble to watch major sporting events or to attend festivals.

The watch party for the Sunday afternoon game likely would have drawn well over 10,000 people. The Bucks said 11,000 attended a Game 6 watch party, even as more than 19,000 others were inside the arena.

“The shootings that happened in downtown Milwaukee last night were horrific and we condemn this devastating violence,” the Bucks said in a statement. It said the watch party was called off “to allow law enforcement to devote needed resources to the continued investigation of last night’s events,” but noted Deer District businesses will remain open.

Mayor Cavalier Johnson said the city imposed a curfew for the downtown area requiring everyone aged 20 or younger to be off the street by 11 pm for Saturday as well as Sunday – when the Bucks play at Boston in the decisive Game 7.

Meanwhile, a Game 7 outdoor watch party that had been planned in the Deer District entertainment area just outside the arena was called off. Jeff Fleming, a spokesman for Johnson, said in a text the team decided to cancel the event “after consultation with the city and public safety agencies.”

Johnson said those responsible for the shootings will be held accountable.

“We cannot have that in this city, nor anywhere else in this state, nor anywhere else in this country,” he said.

Waldner said three people, including a 16-year-old girl, were injured in the first shooting at 9.10pm, which was roughly five minutes before the game ended. One man was taken into custody.

Bill Reinemann, a parking attendant at a lot adjacent to Deer District, said he heard gunshots, then saw scores of people running away.

“It sounded like six to eight gunshots,” he said. “It was close.”

At 10.30pm, a second shooting left one person injured then dozens of shots rang out at 11.09pm, in the third shooting that left 17 people hurt. Five of the injured were armed and were among the 10 people taken into custody, Waldner said. Police have not yet determined what set it off.

“There were a couple of groups exchanging gunfire despite the incredible amount of police presence that was downtown,” Waldner said. “District 1 officers reported bullets whizzing past their heads.”

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported broken glass, empty alcohol bottles, single shoes and two bloody shirts littered the streets in the chaotic aftermath.

Milwaukee was among several US cities that saw record numbers of killings in 2021, most of them involving guns.

Of Milwaukee’s 193 killings in 2021, 180 were by firearms. Another 873 people were wounded in shootings, according to police data.

This year, the pace is even worse. Milwaukee has already recorded 77 killings, a 40 per cent increase from the same time in 2021. The number of nonfatal shootings this year is 264, two less than from the same time a year ago.

A total of 21 people were injured in three separate shootings near an entertainment district where thousands gathered for an NBA playoff game in Milwaukee.

Downtown Milwaukee will also be under a limited curfew for the rest of the weekend and a massive watch party scheduled for Sunday has been called off after various incidents on Friday night.

In one of the shootings, 17 people were hurt when two groups started firing at each other. Three people were hurt in another shooting, and one in the third. All of the gunfire happened streets from the arena where the Milwaukee Bucks lost to the Boston Celtics in Game 6 of the NBA’s Eastern Conference Semi-finals.

The Milwaukee Fire Department said authorities took two people to a hospital, a 30-year-old man and a 16-year-old girl, and a third person drove to a hospital. All of the victims are expected to survive.

Police said a 29-year-old man is in custody following the first shooting and charges were pending a review by the Milwaukee County district attorney’s office.

No arrest has been made relating to the second shooting, Assistant Police Chief Nicole Waldner said.

Ten people were taken into custody and nine firearms were recovered from the third shooting, according to police, which described the incident as an exchange of gunfire between two groups of people.

“What makes people think they can just have a shootout on a public street or in an entertainment district, whether police are there or not?” Waldner asked at a Saturday news conference.

Witnesses told local television they saw a fight outside a bar following the basketball game. Police are investigating what led to the shooting.

It happened just outside the boundaries of the Deer District, a 30-acre entertainment district that was developed after Fiserv Forum opened in 2018. It features numerous bars and restaurants where large crowds often assemble to watch major sporting events or to attend festivals.

The watch party for the Sunday afternoon game likely would have drawn well over 10,000 people. The Bucks said 11,000 attended a Game 6 watch party, even as more than 19,000 others were inside the arena.

“The shootings that happened in downtown Milwaukee last night were horrific and we condemn this devastating violence,” the Bucks said in a statement. It said the watch party was called off “to allow law enforcement to devote needed resources to the continued investigation of last night’s events,” but noted Deer District businesses will remain open.

Mayor Cavalier Johnson said the city imposed a curfew for the downtown area requiring everyone aged 20 or younger to be off the street by 11 pm for Saturday as well as Sunday – when the Bucks play at Boston in the decisive Game 7.

Meanwhile, a Game 7 outdoor watch party that had been planned in the Deer District entertainment area just outside the arena was called off. Jeff Fleming, a spokesman for Johnson, said in a text the team decided to cancel the event “after consultation with the city and public safety agencies.”

Johnson said those responsible for the shootings will be held accountable.

“We cannot have that in this city, nor anywhere else in this state, nor anywhere else in this country,” he said.

Waldner said three people, including a 16-year-old girl, were injured in the first shooting at 9.10pm, which was roughly five minutes before the game ended. One man was taken into custody.

Bill Reinemann, a parking attendant at a lot adjacent to Deer District, said he heard gunshots, then saw scores of people running away.

“It sounded like six to eight gunshots,” he said. “It was close.”

At 10.30pm, a second shooting left one person injured then dozens of shots rang out at 11.09pm, in the third shooting that left 17 people hurt. Five of the injured were armed and were among the 10 people taken into custody, Waldner said. Police have not yet determined what set it off.

“There were a couple of groups exchanging gunfire despite the incredible amount of police presence that was downtown,” Waldner said. “District 1 officers reported bullets whizzing past their heads.”

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported broken glass, empty alcohol bottles, single shoes and two bloody shirts littered the streets in the chaotic aftermath.

Milwaukee was among several US cities that saw record numbers of killings in 2021, most of them involving guns.

Of Milwaukee’s 193 killings in 2021, 180 were by firearms. Another 873 people were wounded in shootings, according to police data.

This year, the pace is even worse. Milwaukee has already recorded 77 killings, a 40 per cent increase from the same time in 2021. The number of nonfatal shootings this year is 264, two less than from the same time a year ago.

The baby-faced assassin George Boughey will be hoping Cachet can strike again and complete the Guineas double at ParisLongchamp in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (2:15) on Sunday, live on Sky Sports Racing.

She faces tough opposition in the shape of Aiden O’Brien’s improving filly Toy as well as the exciting Stephane Wattel trained Rosacea, but these aren’t the only dangers with a number of other unexposed French fillies stepping up in grade.

She’ll have to overcome a wider than ideal draw (stall 10) with eight of the last 10 winners drawn 7 or lower, a stat supporters of Rosacea (stall 1) and Toy (stall 5) will welcome.

British contenders Modern Games and Claymore clash

The French 2000 Guineas takes place at 2:55pm, with Jane Chapple-Hyam’s exciting colt Claymore hoping to go one better than when second to the brilliant Native Trail at Newmarket last time in the Craven Stakes.

He takes on the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Modern Games who makes his seasonal reappearance in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains.

The Chapple-Hyam team will be hoping for luck in running, having been drawn out in stall 16 with nine of the last 10 winners coming from stall 6 or lower, a stat connections of Modern Games (stall 4) will be delighted with.

Leclerc looking for pole position in Paris

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc currently leads the Formula 1 Driver Standings and will be hoping for similar success this weekend at ParisLongchamp with his three-year-old colt Lassaut.

The 24-year-old Formula 1 driver has purchased a small share in the Jean-Claude Rouget Classic contender who also runs in the French 2000 Guineas.

Already a winner at Longchamp this season, the Monégasque-born star will be hoping his colt can hit the accelerator at the right time and be first past the post this afternoon.

A clash of course favourites at Ripon

The Ripon feature (3:40) sees previous course winners Copper And Five, Fishable, Briardale and Benadalid all go head to head in the ten-furlong Class Three handicap.

Tim Easterby’s Fishable – now 1lb below his last winning mark – will be hoping the step back in trip sees the five-year-old get his head back in front under jockey David Allan.

Outside of the course winners, Godolphin will be hoping Brilliant Light can get back to winning ways – the beautifully bred son of Sea The Stars should find this easier than the handicaps he was contesting earlier on in the year at Meydan.

Also at Ripon, Firebolt, a nicely bred filly out of Galileo, makes her racecourse debut at 4:40 in the Titanium Racing Club Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.

With a few nicely-bred fillies in opposition, Michael Bell will be hoping his three-year-old is streetwise enough to get off the mark at the first time of asking.

Watch the French 1000 and 2000 Guineas from ParisLongchamp and all the action at Ripon live on Sky Sports Racing (Sky 415 | Virgin 535) on Sunday May 15.

The baby-faced assassin George Boughey will be hoping Cachet can strike again and complete the Guineas double at ParisLongchamp in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (2:15) on Sunday, live on Sky Sports Racing.

She faces tough opposition in the shape of Aiden O’Brien’s improving filly Toy as well as the exciting Stephane Wattel trained Rosacea, but these aren’t the only dangers with a number of other unexposed French fillies stepping up in grade.

She’ll have to overcome a wider than ideal draw (stall 10) with eight of the last 10 winners drawn 7 or lower, a stat supporters of Rosacea (stall 1) and Toy (stall 5) will welcome.

British contenders Modern Games and Claymore clash

The French 2000 Guineas takes place at 2:55pm, with Jane Chapple-Hyam’s exciting colt Claymore hoping to go one better than when second to the brilliant Native Trail at Newmarket last time in the Craven Stakes.

He takes on the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Modern Games who makes his seasonal reappearance in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains.

The Chapple-Hyam team will be hoping for luck in running, having been drawn out in stall 16 with nine of the last 10 winners coming from stall 6 or lower, a stat connections of Modern Games (stall 4) will be delighted with.

Leclerc looking for pole position in Paris

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc currently leads the Formula 1 Driver Standings and will be hoping for similar success this weekend at ParisLongchamp with his three-year-old colt Lassaut.

The 24-year-old Formula 1 driver has purchased a small share in the Jean-Claude Rouget Classic contender who also runs in the French 2000 Guineas.

Already a winner at Longchamp this season, the Monégasque-born star will be hoping his colt can hit the accelerator at the right time and be first past the post this afternoon.

A clash of course favourites at Ripon

The Ripon feature (3:40) sees previous course winners Copper And Five, Fishable, Briardale and Benadalid all go head to head in the ten-furlong Class Three handicap.

Tim Easterby’s Fishable – now 1lb below his last winning mark – will be hoping the step back in trip sees the five-year-old get his head back in front under jockey David Allan.

Outside of the course winners, Godolphin will be hoping Brilliant Light can get back to winning ways – the beautifully bred son of Sea The Stars should find this easier than the handicaps he was contesting earlier on in the year at Meydan.

Also at Ripon, Firebolt, a nicely bred filly out of Galileo, makes her racecourse debut at 4:40 in the Titanium Racing Club Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.

With a few nicely-bred fillies in opposition, Michael Bell will be hoping his three-year-old is streetwise enough to get off the mark at the first time of asking.

Watch the French 1000 and 2000 Guineas from ParisLongchamp and all the action at Ripon live on Sky Sports Racing (Sky 415 | Virgin 535) on Sunday May 15.

Josh Taylor has been stripped of his WBA super-lightweight title, the governing body announced on Saturday, with the Scottish fighter since claiming he decided to vacate the belt.

Taylor’s most recent defence came during February against Jack Catterall, when he was awarded a controversial points win in Glasgow.

The WBA had ordered a mandatory fight between Taylor, 31, and the first-ranked challenger Alberto Puello of the Dominican Republic.

However, the governing body said “due to the lack of response from Taylor’s team” the decision was made to strip the Scottish boxer of his title.

A statement from the organisation read: “The World Boxing Association (WBA) championships committee, in accordance with the organisation’s rules, has decided that the super lightweight title, which was held by the Scottish Josh Taylor, is vacant as of May 13.”

In response to the announcement, Taylor, 31, took to social media to insist he had made the decision himself.

In a post on Twitter, Taylor wrote: “FYI, I vacated it the belt I want (sic) stripped.”

Taylor has an undefeated record through 19 fights and remains the IBF, WBO and WBC champion.

Josh Taylor has been stripped of his WBA super-lightweight title, the governing body announced on Saturday, with the Scottish fighter since claiming he decided to vacate the belt.

Taylor’s most recent defence came during February against Jack Catterall, when he was awarded a controversial points win in Glasgow.

The WBA had ordered a mandatory fight between Taylor, 31, and the first-ranked challenger Alberto Puello of the Dominican Republic.

However, the governing body said “due to the lack of response from Taylor’s team” the decision was made to strip the Scottish boxer of his title.

A statement from the organisation read: “The World Boxing Association (WBA) championships committee, in accordance with the organisation’s rules, has decided that the super lightweight title, which was held by the Scottish Josh Taylor, is vacant as of May 13.”

In response to the announcement, Taylor, 31, took to social media to insist he had made the decision himself.

In a post on Twitter, Taylor wrote: “FYI, I vacated it the belt I want (sic) stripped.”

Taylor has an undefeated record through 19 fights and remains the IBF, WBO and WBC champion.