ENGLISH TEXTS a run of top-level victories with horses trained by the Coolmore operation and its partners.“ For me, it was an extraordinary collaboration. For him, he is used to working with great jockeys and winning big races in a short period,” the rider commented. But the Belgian jockey has more than one card up his sleeve. Having collaborated for several years with Francis-Henri Graffard, the pair enjoyed the pleasure of sharing three Group 1 victories this season, including the Prix de Diane Longines, a third Chantilly triumph for the jockey after Zarkava in 2008 and Latice in 2004. At 44 years of age and holder of 10 Cravaches d’ Or, the superstar jockey now prioritises quality over quantity while keeping a close eye on the SIPA( Soumillon International Pony Academy), which he founded two years ago.
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BY MÉLODIE JANVIER
AL GHADEER: CITIUS, ALTIUS, FORTIUS
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Photo caption( to determine whether one or several are used): Higher, further, stronger— always! The legend Al Ghadeer( Al Mourtajez) produced yet another XXL performance by winning the Qatar Arabian World Cup( Gr. 1) for the third consecutive time, adding yet another chapter to the history of Purebred Arabian racing. For his final career outing, the champion will aim for an unprecedented feat: capturing a third Triple Crown in the H. H. The Amir Sword( Gr. 1) in Doha on 14 February.
VIDEO Sometimes, images say more than words when it comes to conveying the emotion of a historic victory.
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BY MÉLODIE JANVIER
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KA YING RISING CLIMBS EVEREST
Located on the border between Nepal and Tibet, it should come as no surprise to see a horse from Sha Tin— especially one trained and ridden by Australians— climb Everest. Not the highest mountain in the world, but the richest horse race on the planet, worth 20 million Australian dollars. This extraordinary feat was achieved by the five-yearold Hong Kong sprinter Ka Ying Rising, who travelled to challenge the Australians on their own turf, despite being unbeatable on his. He boasts 14 wins from his last 14 starts, including his most recent triumph on 23 November in the BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint( Gr. 2).
VIDEO Slip in among the 50,000 spectators and relive the phenomenal feat of Ka Ying Rising.
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BY MÉLODIE JANVIER
TWO OUTSIDERS CROWNED AT ASCOT
CAPTIONS( 1) Returning to the scene of his recent exploits and sent off a red-hot favourite for this Qipco British Champion Sprint Stakes( Gr. 1), Lazzat was narrowly denied, leaving victory to Powerful Glory, a 200 / 1 outsider! Trained by Richard Fahey, he becomes the biggest outsider in history to win a Group 1 in England, this, after finishing only fifth last time out in a Class 2 at Beverley.( 2) A little less than 90 minutes later, in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes( Gr. 1), the John & Thady Gosden-trained Field Of Gold was expected to win with ease, but once again the upset was huge when Cicero’ s Gift, a 100 / 1 shot, came home an easy winner. A Qipco British Champions Day that will go down in the history books.
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BY MÉLODIE JANVIER
VIA SISTINA IN WINX’ S FOOTSTEPS
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By winning the Cox Plate( Gr. 1) for the second consecutive year, the Australian champion Via Sistina continues to follow in the footsteps of the great Winx. Victorious in 2024 in a record
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