THURSDAY, 17 MARCH 2016 RAD BOARD: MOODY DID NOT CHEAT SPRINTER SACRE Trainer Peter Moody has been cleared of a charge for RECAPTURES HIS CROWN administering cobalt for the purpose of affecting the performance of his former charge Lidari (Fr) (Acclamation {GB}); however, the champion Victorian trainer still faces charges for presenting the Group 2 winner to race with the substance in his system above the permitted threshold, according to Racing.com. While Moody could still face a suspension for the latter charge, the trainer expressed relief Wednesday, telling Racing.com, “The pleasing aspect of today is that we were found not to have administered cobalt to enhance or change the horse’s performance. I felt, in a way, that I have been vindicated--I have never cheated, I have never had to cheat, we have been a highly successful racing stable. Undoubtedly some of our practises have been called into question and probably rightly so, and that is something that I need to address.” The Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board will give Moody his penalty Thursday. By Emma Berry Many long-held dreams are shattered on Cheltenham’s FULL FIELD FOR OAKLAWN’S REBEL S. hallowed turf during jump racing’s celebrated extravaganza, but A full field of 14 sophomore males will head to the post in occasionally the most audacious hope becomes extraordinary Saturday’s $900,000 feature in Hot Springs. reality. Click or tap here to go straight to TDN America. The recrowning of Sprinter Sacre (Fr) (Network {Ger}) in the G1 Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase three years after he last reigned supreme at Prestbury Park provided just such an occasion and one which, just 24 hours after Annie Power’s Champion Hurdle victory, once again had the packed, tiered backdrop to the winner’s enclosure crackling with emotion. The giant 10-year-old spent several seasons when the only question he raised was how far he’d win by, and he came to Cheltenham this time around as the winner of 16 of his 22 races, but that statistic tells only part of the story. Since his glorious unbeaten season of 2012-13, in which he won five Grade 1 races, the question became whether he would ever return to his best after his diagnosis of an irregular heartbeat on his first uncompleted race in December 2013. “We dared to think that he could do it again but I think we’re all still a bit fazed by this,” said Nicky Henderson, the most successful trainer of all time at the Cheltenham Festival who was nevertheless brought to the verge of tears by his star chaser’s dramatic return. Cont. p2 ❝Heroic Valour is the 23rd Group 1 winner for Fastnet Rock… the champion son of Danehill❞ Tony Arrold, The Australian 14/03/16 Undefeated Gr.1 winning 2yo colt Heroic Valour Leading Australasian Sires (by Stakes winners for 2015-16 season) Rank Stallion SW 1 FASTNET ROCK 11 2 Not a Single Doubt 9 - Street Cry 9 - Redoute’s Choice 9 Tom Magnier, Michael Kirwan, Colm Santry, Shane McGrath, Sebastian Hutch or Paddy Oman Tel: 02 6576 4200. New Zealand: Gordon Calder Tel:+64 218 41612. www.coolmore.com TDN EUROPE/INTERNATIONAL • PAGE 2 of 9 • THETDN.COM THURSDAY, 17 MARCH 2016 Sprinter Sacre Recaptures His Crown cont. from p1 Apparently going easiest of all with Walsh hunched immobile Henderson continued, “There was a time when it all looked so over his withers, Un De Sceaux was still being stalked by the easy for him but this time he had to go out and prove himself former champion, whose rider Nico de Boinville made an again. But I know he wanted to do it. That is part of his whole assured surge for glory with two fences left to jump. Nudged on make-up--he’s a real showman.” to join the leader, Sprinter Sacre quickly overshadowed his rival And what a show he put on for the Cheltenham faithful. to storm the hill out in front once more. Whether or not he is Following two confidence-restoring wins in small-field Grade 2 quite the imperious beast he once was, when he put 19 lengths events this season, on his pursuers in the same race back in 2013, the manner of his Sprinter Sacre triumph in his fifth appearance at the Festival is an irrelevance bounced out from an to those who shouted themselves hoarse in acclamation of his 80-day hiatus to be return to champion status. sent-off second “A split came between Un De Sceaux and Special Tiara and I favourite behind the thought, ‘let’s see what you’ve got’,” said de Boinville, who has young pretender of ridden Sprinter Sacre on a daily basis at Henderson’s since the the two-mile chasing start of the gelding’s career. The 26-year-old jockey first came to division and last wider prominence this time last year when partnering the year’s G1 Arkle novice Coneygree (GB) (Karinga Bay {GB}) to a sensational Sprinter Sacre and jockey Chase winner, Un De victory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Nico de Boinville | Racing Post Sceaux (Fr) (Denham He continued, “When he got to the other horse’s girth he just Red {Fr}). With Special Tiara (GB) (Kayf Tara {GB}) taking up the found another gear. Half the time with him it’s about keeping a early running and ensuring a fierce pace from the off, Sprinter lid on his exuberance.” Sacre tucked in behind as Un De Sceaux fought Ruby Walsh for The modestly eloquent de Boinville, who won Tuesday’s his head and took advantage of a mistake by Special Tiara to G1 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle for his boss Henderson aboard grab the lead for himself at the fourth fence. Altior (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) but has only taken over as TDN EUROPE/INTERNATIONAL • PAGE 3 of 9 • THETDN.COM THURSDAY, 17 MARCH 2016 regular race-partner of Sprinter Sacre since Barry Geraghty The trainer, whose stable is just a few miles from jump racing’s signed a retainer with major owner JP McManus, rides with an headquarters, snared a Grade 1 brace of his own courtesy of the icy calm which belies his relative inexperience in the major RSA Chase triumph of Blaklion (GB), followed by the races. Weatherbys Champion Bumper win of Ballyandy (GB). “I’m in turmoil inside,” he confessed, savouring the emotional Both geldings are by Overbury Stud resident Kayf Tara (GB), high the sport can bring just weeks after the tragic personal low Godolphin’s former of his mother’s death. “I wasn’t confident three out but when flat staying star who we got to the back of Un De Sceaux I started to think we had a has been Britain’s chance and after that he just took off. I’m very aware that Barry leading National [Geraghty] is back in the weighing room and he’s done so much Hunt sire for six to help me along the way. I’m very grateful to him.” seasons and is flying Henderson, however, was quick to emphasise de Boinville’s high in third place in role in Sprinter Sacre’s success, saying, “Nico has been the combined British important in the horse's whole life not just today but also in the and Irish early days when he schooled him and he deserves every championship for accolade he gets.” 2015/16. Winning owners John & Lee Westwood (former world #1 golfer) after Ballyaltons Referring to Blaklion and won The Close Brothers Novices´ Sprinter Sacre’s Ballyandy became Handicap Chase | Racing Post victory as “a the seventh and resurrection,” the eighth Grade 1 winners for the 22-year-old son of Sadler’s Wells, trainer added, “This who has also been represented by top-level victors Thistlecrack horse has got that (GB), Identity Thief (GB) and Tea For Two (GB) in a breakthrough charisma which season. makes what has With the number of purpose-bred jumps foals in Ireland happened so special. standing at 2,689 compared to 596 in Britain in 2015, the An emotional Nicky Henderson after Sprinter He built his own British-based National Hunt sires are up against it when it comes Sacre’s Champion Chase win | Racing Post atmosphere here to attracting a decent number of mares each year. Kayf Tara, today. It was Sprinter's own way of saying thank you. I must say who has remained in Sheikh Mohammed’s ownership in England thank you to a very special horse, as he is just brilliant. To have despite some tempting offers from Irish studs, has steadily those two golden years when he was unbeaten was incredible. I bucked this trend and is now regularly patronised by breeders always said I didn't think he'd get back there but maybe he has.” on both sides of the Irish Sea. For lovers of jump racing, the chance to worship their equine heroes season after season is one of the major draws of the Thistlecrack’s Sister in Festival Sale... winter game. Few steeplechasers of the modern era have been Thursday’s action at Cheltenham will be followed by the third so adored as Sprinter Sacre, the poster boy of the French AQPS edition of the Festival Sale, hosted for the first time by breeding ranks with the looks and swagger to match his Tattersalls Ireland since its takeover of Brightwells. abundant talent. The natural showman is back where he Twenty-four lots will go under the hammer from 6.15 p.m.