Tributes have been paid to noted owner-breeder the Duke of Roxburghe, who has passed away aged 64.
A landowner in the Scottish borders whose fortune was estimated at £132 million, Guy Roxburghe bred racehorses under the name of Floors Farming – his stately home was Floors Castle – with brilliant filly Attraction by far the best.
Attraction (Efisio x Flirtation), trained by Mark Johnston, won the 1,000 Guineas, Irish 1,000 Guineas, Coronation Stakes and Sun Chariot Stakes in 2004 and won her fifth Group 1 in the following year’s Matron Stakes.
From eight runners produced so far, Attraction’s most talented progeny is Elarqam (by Frankel), a Group 2 winner who was last seen finishing a close third in the Juddmonte International.
In 2009 the Duke was diagnosed with oesophagael cancer. He subsequently raised over £1 million for medical research by walking 190 miles coast-to-coast with Sotheby’s Chairman, Henry Wyndham. His last runner was Mystic Meg, runner-up at Salisbury in June.
Curragh action
There are three Group 3 contests at the Curragh this evening including the Round Tower Stakes for two-year-olds. Archie Watson and Richard Fahey send over Guildsman (Qatar Racing) and Ventura Lightning (Middleham Park Racing) for the six-furlong contest.
Aidan O’Brien saddles Fort Myers, Lope Y Fernandez and Mount Fuji as he tries to claim the prize for the fourth year in a row. Ten Sovereigns, this year’s July Cup hero, scored 12 months ago.
The home of the Irish Derby has announced that it will stage fewer Friday night fixtures in 2020 after disappointing attendances this year.
Fewer than 3,000 people turned up for this year’s Group 1 card on August 9 and Curragh manager Pat Keogh will try and engage with the local Kildare community in a bid to boost numbers.
The Curragh will race on two Friday nights in August 2020 – down from four this year – and will also try and improve its music offering after racing in a bid to attract more paying punters.
Sandown’s two-day meeting
Sandown’s two-day late August meeting starts today, with two Group 3 contests, the Atlanta Stakes and Solario Stakes, the highlights on Saturday’s card.
This afternoon’s programme features six races and there are a host of top-notch pedigrees on show in the Betway British EBF Maiden Stakes at 3.15pm. Kingman, perhaps the most exciting young stallion in Britain, is responsible for three debutants from the Roger Varian and John Gosden stables.
There is also racing today at Thirsk, Wolverhampton (aw), Newcastle (aw) and Hamilton (evening), while Bangor holds an afternoon of jumps action.
