Equinties - the weekender

Author

BGP Capital
October 07, 2023

Equinties

Gm Equinauts

We have some pretty cool news to send out to all subscribers of the weekender. If you prefer the jumps over the flat and not yet subscribed to this weekender edition - do it, trust us.

That said, it’s a big day of flat racing today so let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

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Lucinda Russell will be fuming. The Grand National winning trainer dropped £100K on a horse at the Cheltenham sale last April only for him to test positive for drugs and remain on the side-lines until August ‘24!

The six-year-old by FLEMENSFIRTH was bought by the Grand National winning trainer at the Tattersalls Cheltenham sale having won at odds of 6/4 in a point-to-point at Knockanohill in March 2023 for former trainer Alan Ahern. Following the win, he tested positive for clenbuterol.

What’s clenbuterol? Well under proper medical supervision it is sometimes administered to treat patients with asthma but when abused and increased quantities are taken, it has an anabolic effect on the body which strips fat.

Ahern obviously has an excuse for the positive sample suggesting the horse was ‘stuffed up and gasping for air’ and was supposed to have been administered one thing, but ‘accidentally’ given something else. Lol.

Alan Ahern has had his permit license suspended for six months alongside his €1,250 fine.

BLUE ROSE SENT ON HOLIDAY

Connections of four-time Group 1 winner BLUE ROSE CEN have called stumps for the season as they are set to prepare for another year on the track in 2024.

Victory in last weekend’s Group 1 Prix de l’Opera meant she had automatic qualification for the Group 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita next month, however, she will skip that race and head off for her winter break.

The Churchill mare is currently at Haras de l’Hotellerie on a vacation but will return to trainer Christopher Head for the 2024 Flat season.

More:

Blue Rose Cen Will Skip The Breeders' Cup In Favour Of A Winter Break Before A 2024 Campaign

Multiple Group 1 winner Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), who won the G1 Prix de l'Opera and booked her ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf as a result, will skip that engagement and is being freshened prior to being prepared for a 4-year-old campaign, Jour de Galop reported on Friday.

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