Scotia update on great horses.

Well lets see what Stacelita can do?

Stacelita and Dar Re Mi set to clash in Vermeille


STACELITA is among 14 runners remaining in the Qatar Prix Vermeille on Arc Trials day at Longchamp on Sunday.

The unbeaten winner of the Prix Saint-Alary and Prix de Diane is likely to be opposed by the John Gosden-trained dual Group 1 winner Dar Re Mi.



Trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, Stacelita will be ridden by Christophe Lemaire who will also ride the Aga Khan's Beheshtam in the Prix Niel,replacing the injured Christophe Soumillon.

Seven runners were declared for the Prix Niel, including Godolphin's Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris winner Cavalryman, while six runners will line up in the Prix Foy.

These include Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Spanish Moon for trainer Sir Michael Stotue, Prince Of Wales's Stakes winner Vision D'Etat and the Andre Fabre-trained Crossharbour.

Breeders' Cup board fail to lure Rachel Alexandra

A BOLD attempt by Breeders' Cup organisers to lure leading filly Rachel Alexandra to the Breeders' Cup Classic has failed despite officials offering to add $1 million to the winner's purse.

The Breeders' Cup board offered to inject the substantial sum into the prize-money provided Rachel Alexandra, the Preakness Stakes winner who is on a nine-race winning streak, took on unbeaten mare Zenyatta in the Classic, a move which would make the win prize the richest in the world.

But the offer was swiftly turned down by majority owner Jess Jackson, who has been opposed to racing the horse on a synthetic track like Cup host Santa Anita, where his Curlin was beaten in last year's Classic.

Jackson said that Rachel Alexandra would not race again this year after she completed her latest victory in last Saturday's Woodward Stakes against older horses at Saratoga.

In a statement he said: "My concerns are well known about the tracks in California. These false tracks create potential for injury, a risk that I am not willing to take with Rachel. Bottom line, despite an increase in purses, she will not race at the Breeders' Cup this year. Rachel has already completed a brilliant and long campaign. And as I said after the Woodward, she deserves a rest."

Breeders' Cup officials acknowledged they faced an uphill task in attracting the two stars to the same race.

"While we respect that the race has not been under consideration by Rachel Alexandra's connections, we wanted to make sure that the Breeders' Cup did everything in its power to make the prospect of competing at Santa Anita in November as attractive as possible," said Greg Avioli, the organisation's president, in a statement.

The connections of Zenyatta, who has won all 12 of her starts, have said that the mare will either defend her title in the Ladies' Classic on November 6 or contest the Classic a day later if she continues to train and race well.

Was tipped at 13/1 on my first "great horses" post and now 15/10!!

Sea The Stars hot Arc favourite after trials day


THE main message coming from bookmakers after Arc trials day seems to be that the most likely winner of this year's race was tucked up safely in his box at John Oxx's stable on Sunday afternoon.


Sea The Stars was the main beneficiary from an inconclusive afternoon at Longchamp with several bookmakers cutting his odds for Arc glory.

Ladbrokes make him their even-money favourite (from 6-4f) while Victor Chandler and William Hill shortened him to 5-4f (from 7-4f).

Fame And Glory, another horse not on show, saw his reputation enhanced as well with William Hill clipping him to 4-1 (from 5) for the 1m4f Group 1 on October 4.

The Qatar Prix Niel has proved to be the most influential Arc trial in recent years with five of the last ten winners completing the double and this year's winner Cavalryman has seen his Arc price shortened despite not featuring in the entries.

He is 7-1 (from 12) with Coral, 8-1 (from 10) with Paddy Power and Victor Chandler, 9-1 (from 10) with Stan James and 10-1 (from 12) with Ladbrokes and Totesport.

Prix Niel runner-up Beheshtam was also cut for the Arc with William Hill going 14-1 (from 25) and Victor Chandler going 16-1 (from 25).

Dar Re Mi was controversially disqualified from the Group 1 Qatar Prix Vermeille but William Hill were impressed enough to introduce her into the Arc market at 10-1, while Paddy Power pushed Stacelita, promoted to the Vermeille winner, out to 8-1 (from 9-2). The unbeaten filly will need to be supplemented for the race at a cost of €100,000.

William Hill also cut the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Qatar Prix Foy winner Spanish Moon to 16-1 (from 33) for the same race.

Goldikova to tackle Foret before defence of Mile


BREEDERS' CUP Mile winner Goldikova will contest the Group 1 Prix de la Foret at Longchamp in October before defending her crown in the $2 million race at Santa Anita in November, according to trainer Freddie Head.

The four-year-old put in an impressive performance to beat subsequent Group 1 winner Aqlaam by six lengths in the Group 1 Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois at Deauville in August, her sixth success in Group or Grade 1 company.

Goldikova also holds entries in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot and the Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket, but Head has opted to keep the filly in France for the 7f contest before heading to America.

"Goldikova will be running in the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp and then, providing she runs well, she will be heading to Santa Anita," said Head.

"She is very well at the moment and I am very pleased with her. We decided that the best way to target her at the Breeders' Cup would be to run her at Longchamp rather than going to Newmarket or Ascot.

"She could still return to Britain next season if all goes well on her next two starts."

Freddie head said today in an interview on UK tv that he thought that Goldikova was better than superstar Miesque and definately an easier horse to ride..

Cavalryman lacks class of Sea The Stars - Fabre

PUNTERS trying to find something to beat Sea The Stars in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe are being advised by the most successful trainer in the race not to consider Cavalryman, with Andre Fabre admitting his contender “does not have the class” of the red-hot favourite.

A record seven victories in Europe’s premier Flat prize have enhanced the legendary status of Fabre, six of whose Arc winners had previously contested the Prix Niel, the trial captured by Cavalryman at Longchamp eight days ago.


However, stats nuts keen to support the winner of the Arc’s most influential prep race – nine of the last 13 Arc winners ran in the three-year-old colts’ test – were warned on Sunday against that course of action by Fabre, whose big-race hopeful was ridden by Frankie Dettori to a workmanlike defeat of Beheshtam in the Niel.

That performance prompted Coral and Betfred to slash Cavalryman’s Arc odds to as short as 7-1, but Fabre is less enthusiastic about the son of Halling’s prospects.

“Cavalryman is a nice horse, but I think he is more likely to finish in a place than to win,” said Fabre. “He obviously does not have the class of Sea The Stars. I am sometimes optimistic, but I am realistic as well. I would be satisfied with second.

“He will improve from the Niel to the Arc, but every horse improves from race to race – he will not suddenly change into a different horse.”

Beheshtam, who finished only half a length behind Cavalryman in the Niel, is just 10-1 for the Arc with Boylesports, but the Aga Khan’s entry is not yet a certain runner according to Alain De Royer-Dupre, who captured the race 12 months ago with Zarkava.

The trainer said: “There is no decision yet about Beheshtam’s next race but the Arc is not excluded. The horse is in very good form.”

Best price on offer for Sea The Stars for the ARC is 16/10

Goldikova by passes QE11 to run in the Total Prix de la Foret.

Godolphin to rely on Delegator in QEII


GODOLPHIN will rely on Delegator in the Sony Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Saturday, with Donativum and Gladiatorus not among the 11 confirmed for the Group 1 at Monday's forfeit stage.



Five remain for Aidan O'Brien, including Rip Van Winkle and Mastercraftsman, while Ireland could also be represented bythe Dermot Weld-trained Famous Name.

Ghanaati, winner of the Coronation Stakes at the royal meeting in June over course and distance, is the sole filly remaining.

Of the other four withdrawn at the five-day stage, Goldikova, who will contest the Total Prix de la Foret on October 3, was the most notable.

Sea the Stars won`t be 16/10 if he lines up,biggest danger is traffic trouble or the French Stipes..

Stacelita 'squealing' but needs rain for Arc bid

CONNECTIONS of star filly Stacelita said on Tuesday it was all systems go for her participation in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe but warned unless there was rain she was running for second place behind Sea The Stars.

Owner Martin Schwartz bought 50 per cent of Stacelita before the Prix de Diane, which she won in brilliant style.

She was then given a three-month rest before going under by a short neck to Dar Re Mi in the Prix Vermeille. However, she was controversially promoted to first following the demotion of Dar Re Mi, although this is pending an appeal on Thursday.

Schwartz's racing manager, Michel Zerolo, said that Stacelita was in good form but admitted that she faces a mammoth task in trying to beat Sea The Stars.

He said: "Stacelita is squealing and jumping out of her skin and ready to line up for the Arc de Triomphe.

"Unless the rains come she is basically running for second place. If it doesn't, the Arc looks in the bag for John Oxx and Sea The Stars."

The Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner Elusive Wave, like Stacelita trained by Jean-Claude Rouget and owned by Schwartz, will again come up against the scintillating Goldikova in the Foret. They last met in the Prix Rothschild at Deauville and Goldikova coasted past the post a length and a half clear of Elusive Wave.

Elusive Wave was highly fancied for the Prix du Moulin but went to sleep in the stalls, knocked her head and refused to race. She has since passed a stalls test at Longchamp.

Zerolo added: "It is all systems go for both Elusive Wave and Stacelita. They are both very well and down at Deauville, where they will stay until after the Arc weekend.

"Everything went according to plan for Elusive Wave after her stalls test and gallop at Longchamp last Saturday and she will run in the Prix de la Foret. "

Sariska team prays for rain after pleasing gallop


SARISKA, the dual Oaks winner and a general 14-1 chance for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, pleased connections when working on the watered gallop in Newmarket on Wednesday, although trainer Michael Bell is keeping his fingers crossed for rain as Longchamp looms.


Sariska would have to be supplemented at a cost of €100,000 on Friday week, but the main concern for connections would be fast ground, and it is that prospect which could lesson the chances of her taking on Sea The Stars and co.

There was a minor hiccup in Wednesday's workout over 7f, when her normal lead horse uncharacteristically jinked off the gallop, but once all had regrouped the work continued, with Jamie Spencer locked in behind until easing Sariska to the front in the closing stages.

Bell said: "Jamie was very happy with her, and I am doing a rain dance for her now. It was nice to see her cover the ground so easily on the grass again. She's fit and ready to run, and we need only a bit of rain to help.

"She might do a little next week, but is fit and raring to go. She has been cantering up Warren Hill every day and it was nice to give her a change of scenery."

Bell added: "She hasn't missed a day and is ready to run if the opportunity is right. We've not got to supplement until October 1, so we'll know a lot better then."

Mr Piggott says,

"Sea The Stars is one of the best I've seen. He is comparable to Nijinsky, as he has it all, speed, stamina and lots of class."