Today’s racing
Kempton’s all-weather meeting today features a 1m3f novice stakes where Godolphin will unveil Kingswear, a three-year-old Dubawi brother to dual Group 2 scorer Dartmouth.
A homebred, Kingswear is out of the Galileo mare Galatee and is also a half-brother to Group 2 winner Manatee and the Listed-winning mare Gaterie.
His six opponents include the Al Asayl Bloodstock homebred Ispahan, by Ballylinch Stud’s outstanding sire Lope De Vega, and a three-parts brother to Al Asayl Bloodstock’s King Edward VII Stakes winner Balios. He is also a half-brother to last year’s Triumph Hurdle scorer, Pentland Hills.
Also making his debut is the Queen’s homebred Punctuation, a son of Dansili trained by Andrew Balding.
Lingfield also race on the all-weather today while there are jumps fixtures at Catterick and Warwick.
Arm injury for Johnson
Champion jockey Richard Johnson was taken to hospital on Tuesday after being unseated from Westend Story in the novice handicap chase at Exeter.
After coming down at the sixth obstacle, Johnson was trampled on by Fox Pro and was seen to be clutching his arm. Treated by doctors at the track, he was taken to hospital for further assessment and an x-ray.
Daniel Cooper, Exeter’s Clerk of the Course, said: “Richard was sent to Exeter General Hospital in an ambulance. He walked into it and is just going for further assessment.
“We’ve spoken and there’s definitely no reason for people to worry, it is just a case of let’s go and check this out. He’s holding his forearm so is going to get that x-rayed.
“At this stage he’s showing pain in his arm, I’ve asked a doctor for a statement, but they won’t be more specific than that. We will know more later on.”
Not A Single Doubt retired from covering duty
One of Australia’s leading stallions, Arrowfield Stud’s Not A Single Doubt, has been retired from covering duty having been diagnosed with pulmonary disease.
Arrowfield’s Chairman John Messara said: “He suffers respiratory compromise at rest and even short periods of hand walking exacerbate this.
“Our head vet has advised that Not A Single Doubt is incapable of performing his breeding duties and accordingly, he has been retired from active service.”
