The Sandown Park Finale meeting kicked off with a card on flat racing on Friday afternoon. The ground was Good, Good to Soft in places. The feature was the Group 2 Sandown Mile and this saw DANCING GEMINI continue his advance through the older mile division with a convincing success. He was always just off the pace and quickened well from 400m down to win by a length and three quarters. TAMFANA ran a huge race on her return with a 5 lb Group 1 penalty for her win in the Sun Chariot last autumn.  With this run under her belt and absent the penalty, you'd fancy her chances of reversing the places with DANCING GEMINI. CICERO'S GIFT, a confirmed soft ground performer, kept on well for third just in front of ALCANTOR. HAATEM raced well with the pace but tired in the slow ground and I'm sure he will come on a lot but LEAD ARTIST hated the slow ground and post race connections confirmed he will only run on quick turf in the future (America perhaps?). DANCING GEMINI is 7/2 and TAMFANA 7s for the Lockinge but both sets of conncections after the race suggested the Ispahan at Longchamp over 1800m at the end of May as a more likely target. DANCING GEMINI ran really well in the Poulains last year and we know TAMFANA gets 2000m so this throws Lockinge calculations into the air a little. The Group 3 Gordon Richards over 2000m went to the 8-y-o AL AASY who was finessed into the race under a canny Jim Crowley ride and mugged them all in the final 100m. He's a proven Group 3 performer but hasn't shown up on his first outing but the Haggas yard are in tremendous form. ANCIENT WISDOM, the choice of William Buick and a 12/1 shot, ran a fine re-appearance in second. He was second in last year's Dante and eighth in the Derby after which his season was disappointing. The one to take from the race, however, was ALMAQAM from the Ed Walker, who, as they often say of me, was carrying plenty of condition but ran on really well for third. He's another who will improve a lot for the run as will SEA OF FIRE. The Classic Trial over 2000m saw a rare April winner in the UK for Aidan O'Brien as SWAGMAN cut down favourite WINDLORD in the final 100m. The eyecatcher was the Gosden trained DAMYSUS who was a close third. I doubt we've seen the Derby winner in all honesty but it wouldn't surprise me if we've seen three nice types for races like the Jockey Club or the King Edward VII at the Royal Ascot meeting. More success at Perth on Friday for Dan Skelton who extended his lead over Willie Mullins to nearly £60k but with Mullins bringing a huge raiding party of 21 runners to Sandown for the Saturday Jumps Finale meeting, it might have bene too little to stop the Clonsutton juggernaut.

Tenma, Anna's Promise, Ballerina d'Oro, and Fondly breezed April 26 at Churchill Downs in preparation for the May 2 Kentucky Oaks (G1).View the full article

Although Burnham Square covered his five-furlong breeze a bit faster (:59 1/5) than trainer Ian Wilkes was looking for April 26, the trainer was pleased and believes the gelding is ready for the May 3 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs.View the full article

With a damp track at Churchill Downs April 26, several Kentucky Derby (G1) contenders postponed their final breezes. However, five Kentucky Derby hopefuls stuck to the Saturday game plan, led by Burnham Square and Final Gambit.View the full article

Florida Derby (G1) winner Tappan Street is out of the May 3 Kentucky Derby after exiting an April 26 workout at Churchill Downs with a condylar fracture to his right front leg. The injury is not life-threatening, according to Brad Cox.View the full article

Tenma, Anna's Promise, Ballerina d'Oro, and Fondly breezed April 26 at Churchill Downs in preparation for the May 2 Kentucky Oaks (G1), the most prestigious race in North America for 3-year-old fillies.View the full article

23 S Tomorrow at Hainan island after the leaders posted low rounds, Wu came from 4 back last week with leaders more capable than these, Smylie looks ok and Chacara with similar untapped pedigree around ABERG. WOULDNT BE SURPRISED TO SEE A 3 WAY PLAYOFF.

DO YOU REALLY THINK ONE MAN HAS ALL THAT POWER? NEXT YOU WILL SAYING BIDEN EXERCISED THE SAME....CONVICTED CRIMINAL🤣

Of course, the Lying, crooked convicted criminal, Trump would claim bias. 

The dam to 2023 Kentucky Derby (G1) victor Mage and 2024 participant Dornoch would get another shot at immortality if her McKinzie colt Baeza finds his way into the field for the first leg of the Triple Crown May 3 at Churchill Downs.View the full article

What  terrible news.    Have lost too many friends the same way, just go to sleep and never wake up.   Hard to get your head around such events  and often seems no reason why it happens to those in the prime of their lives.

Sometimes it's just impossible to understand or believe these stories, even when they're true. With the amount of driving he's done at Addington and Alexandra Park over the past two summers, as well as Kaikoura and Methven, he was almost an honorary Kiwi. RIP Greg. 

Owner apparently 

It is really hard to explain how these things work to some people. It is also worth remembering that about 27% of the pool is taken out in various deductions. So as soon as the race starts the total pool available for payout is about 27% less than the original investment. With the winner only paying just over $3 it meant many people were still alive.  If you had only taken one horse in each leg for a dollar you would have tripled your money.

had no luck but yes he dropped out quickly...fingers crossed he is OK.

Had a bad day did we mule...its just got worse....🤣

I will do the same Insider send me the details....congrats to our Members we went damn close...👏

Such sad news, top bloke 

Interesting.  Because it highlights another inconsistency that (I think it was you) brought up a few weeks back.  Lily fined $400 more for whip use in consecutive strides than Mcnab gets for that ride.  Stakes were mostly like for like.  Doesnt seem right.  

Hope he's OK. Gone before the turn.