G1 July Cup

The Jockey Club and 1/ST Racing have partnered to increase international participation in several of their respective turf races, the two companies announced on Thursday. The aim of the partnership is to create links between historic races in the UK and high-profile U.S. turf races over two different distances. The winner of the May 4 $200,000 GII Charles Whittingham S. at Santa Anita will gain an automatic berth and travel incentive to run in the £750,000 G1 Coral-Eclipse over the same 10-furlong distance at Sandown Park on July 6. Whichever...

There have been many super-sprinters that have won Newmarket's G1 July Cup, but probably none that have managed to do as much wrong as Shaquille (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}-Magic {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) as he placed himself among the very best in Saturday's renewal. Up in the air as the stalls opened and slowly away again as he had been in Royal Ascot's G1 Commonwealth Cup, Julie Camacho and Steve Brown's freakishly-talented 3-year-old was quickly telling Rossa Ryan that he wanted to assume top dog status. Lesser mortals would have...

First there was Dettori's ban, meaning that the one missing English group 1 on his palmares was going to stay void. Then the setback to Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never). Now, the persistent rain that dogged Friday's action at Newmarket's July Festival and has changed the complexion of Saturday's feature G1 Pertemps Network July Cup. Ironically, every bit of that unexpected wet spell acted further to aid the cause of Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) who would have been Frankie's final ride in his last-chance saloon which is now...

There have been few more wide-open editions of Newmarket's G1 Darley July Cup than takes place on Saturday, with no stand-out among the 14 and nothing too far over its head that a surprise can be safely ruled out. There is an Australian runner, but Artorius (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) was too much in the scrum in the G1 Platinum Jubilee S. to suggest he has an edge over the British and Irish. There are seven re-opposing from that Royal Ascot feature, with the worst-placed Emaraaty Ana (GB) (Shamardal) under...

Flaming Rib (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}), the G1 Commonwealth Cup second, has been supplemented to the G1 Darley July Cup by trainer Hugo Palmer. A listed winner last October, the 3-year-old colt ran sixth in the G3 Greenham S. in April, but returned to form with a 1 1/2-length victory in the May 6 conditions stakes at Chester. Back in action at Haydock later that month, Flaming Rib missed by only a neck when second in the G2 Sandy Lane S., his final start prior to his good run at Royal...

Rohaan (Ire) (Mayson {GB}), winner of the Wokingham S. at Royal Ascot June 19, will be supplemented to the July 10 G1 Darley July Cup at Newmarket. The 3-year-old was precluded from running in the G1 Commonwealth Cup during the Royal meeting since the event precludes geldings from competing. In the Wokingham, the Irish-bred closed from last to defeat 20 rivals. "He was unbelievable in the Wokingham with top-weight [9st 8lb], said trainer David Evans. "Rohaan is fine, he's very well.    The plan is to supplement for the July Cup,...

Group 1 winner Pastoral Pursuits (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}-Star {GB}, by Most Welcome {GB}) passed away after covering a mare at Norton Grove Stud on Tuesday. The 2005 G1 July Cup winner was 20. "It is with great sadness we have to say we lost Pastoral Pursuits yesterday," Christina Pople, daughter of Richard and Maggie Lingwood of Norton Grove Stud, announced via Twitter. "Sadly, he died after covering a mare due to a rupture in a major vessel in his chest, a symptom of his age. We are all deeply...

G1SP Sceptical (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) is likely to return to England in a bid for sprint honours at the top level following his narrow defeat in the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot where he was third to Hello Youmzain (Fr) (Kodiac {GB}) for trainer Denis Hogan. Hogan will look at the G1 Darley July Cup and the G1 Coolmore Nunthorpe S. for his stable star. Sceptical, a winner at listed level in Ireland, is also the highest rated speedster in Ireland, with four wins on the...