Horse Racing

26 Oct 2011: Tizway Out Of Breeder’s Cup & Retired To Stud

Hometown favourite Tizway will not contest the 2011 Breeder’s Cup Classic after sustaining an injury during trackwork on Tuesday.

Unfortunately for his fans he won’t be seen on the race track ever again with connections deciding it would be better for the horse to go straight to stud rather than persisting with a lengthy spell and potentially risking him in the future.

Tizway was fancied as a strong contender in the Breeder’s Cup Classic and was a close fourth in the betting markets with only the likes Uncle Mo, Havre De Grace and So You Think in front of him.

Tizway rose to prominence after winning back to back Group 1′s, first in the Met Mile at Belmont and then the Whitney Invitational at Santa Anita.

Trainer James Bond said he found an elevated temperature in the horses near fore leg following their normal morning session.

The area was scanned and fears confirmed with ligament damage discovered in the leg forcing his withdrawal from the race.

Tizway will go straight to Kentucky where he will stand at Spendthrift Stud.

“He went fine on the track this morning and did his normal exercise,” owner William Clifton said.

“He went on ice as normal afterwards back at the barn, but a groom felt some heat.

“We brought in the vets and they did ultrasound scans and found lesions that preclude us putting pressure on the suspensory again.

“I spoke to [Spendthrift Stud owner] Wayne Hughes this morning and he was as disappointed as we are, but he expressed his appreciation for the work that was done to keep him breeding sound.”

With Tizway out of the 2011 Breeder’s Cup Classic markets have been affected at online bookmaker Bet365.

If anything it only strengthens the position the top three horses have on the race and it’s almost certain the winner will come from there.

Whether it’s Uncle Mo, Havre De Grace or Australian champion So You Think you want to back, make sure you do it at Bet365 to secure yourself the best odds possible.

6 Oct 2010: Breeders’ Cup Classic 2010 – UK Contenders

There’s still one month to go until the Breeders’ Cup Classic is hosted at Churchill Downs Racecourse in Kentucky, but the betting market for the event is already in full swing. As one of the premier horse racing events of the US calendar, the Breeders’ Cup Classic has long demanded international attention and attracts some of the finest thoroughbred runners from around the world. This year a small but outstanding selection of UK-bred and –trained thoroughbreds is hoping to make to journey to Kentucky and leave their mark on this world class horse racing fixture.

Iconic trainer Aidan O’Brien is hoping to send his star pupil Rip Van Winkle to represent in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. The four-year-old colt has proven himself repeatedly as a strong contender, winning five of his thirteen career starts as well as recording three second places. Rip Van Winkle’s most recent win saw him destroying his opponents in the International Stakes at York this August, since this success the colt was runner-up twice; in the Irish Champion Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. O’Brien insists Rip Van Winkle has been doing excellent work in training and could well take on his American rivals, including miracle filly Zenyatta, who is considered a sure starter for the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
Rip Van Winkle is currently priced 14-1 by both Bet365 and 888Sports.

Rip Van Winkle’s stable mate Fame And Glory is also being considered for the trip to Kentucky. The four-year-old has had an outstanding season, including four consecutive victories between May and August, extending his resume to eight victories, two second places and one third place out of thirteen professional starts. Fame And Glory is no stranger to the international circuit. He most recently competed in the Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris, making only a fifth place. O’Brien is hoping to bring his colt up to speed in time for the Breeders’ Cup Classic and is expecting great things from his charge.
Fame And Glory is currently running at odds of 16-1 at Bet365.

Byword, training with Andre Fabre is another contender from our shores who is hoping to compete in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. The colt has only run in six professional races thus far, but only finished outside the money twice. Since August, when Byword was beaten in the International Stakes by Rip Van Winkle and Twice Over, the colt has been in intensive training, getting into top form for the big event at Churchill Downs.
Bet365 is currently offering 16-1 odds on Byword.

Although it is not 100% sure that our boys will be running in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on November 6th, you can still take advantage of the great antepost odds offered by two of our favourite bookmakers. However, if you chose to back one of these extraordinary thoroughbreds in their intercontinental challenge, keep in mind that the odds and line-up can be subject to change as the race date draws closer. Make sure to check Bet365 or 888Sports regularly, or visit Horse Racing UK for frequent updates on the Breeders’ Cup Classic and all other major horse racing fixtures of the season.