The week was framed by Sunday's Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, where the draw shuffled Ballydoyle's riding plans and left Daryz holding favouritism. Closer to home, Melbourne Cup jockey bookings firmed up and Queensland said goodbye to Rothfire, while Epsom Handicap day loomed at Royal Randwick.
Marathon specialist Next officially retired
Multiple graded stakes winner Next, an eight-year-old gelding by Not This Time, has been retired after a planned comeback was shelved. Trainer Doug Cowans noticed inflammation in a knee following a breeze on 5 August and, with owner Michael Foster, decided against pressing on to the Birdstone Stakes or Greenwood Cup. Next won nine of his 10 starts at 1 3/8 miles or further by a combined 116 1/4 lengths, set track records at Delaware Park and Churchill Downs, and retires with a record of 13-0-1 from 24 starts and earnings of $1,336,361. He has gone to Bridle Run Farm in Ohio to be prepared for a show horse career.
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Moore takes Benvenuto Cellini as Diamond Necklace draws 16
Ryan Moore will ride Irish Derby winner Benvenuto Cellini in Sunday's Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe after stablemate Diamond Necklace drew stall 16 of 16, with Christophe Soumillon taking the ride on the filly, who drifted to 12-1 from 7. Benvenuto Cellini drew stall one and shortened to a general 14-1, while last year's runner-up Minnie Hauk comes from stall ten with William Buick aboard. Defending winner Daryz drew stall five and remains favourite at 7-4, with Mickael Barzalona saying he was "pretty confident". All 16 entries stood their ground, with Kalpana in six, Maltese Cross 11, Thundering On three and Varandir four.
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Constitution Hill bound for Milan Group 2
Nicky Henderson has confirmed Constitution Hill will be prepared for the Group 2 Gran Premio del Jockey Club – S.I.R.E. Trofeo Pio Bruni over 1m4f at San Siro on 25 October, a race worth €506,000 and won last year by Eydon. The nine-year-old was not entered for Saturday's Group 3 Cumberland Lodge Stakes at Ascot because of the expected quick ground, with Henderson hopeful of finding suitable going in Italy. His unbeaten Flat run ended in the Group 3 September Stakes at Kempton. Henderson said the Milan trip would not be a farewell, with the horse set to race again next year as a ten-year-old.
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Lemaire booked for Stinger Glass in Melbourne Cup
Christophe Lemaire will ride the Yasuo Tomomichi-trained Stinger Glass in this year's Melbourne Cup, 15 years after he won the race on Dunaden. Stinger Glass won the G3 Diamond Stakes at Tokyo in February and was unplaced in the G1 Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin in June. He is one of 71 horses remaining in contention and is a $15 chance.
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Rothfire retired after long career
Queensland favourite Rothfire, known as the Thriller From Chinchilla, has run his final race. Trainer Robert Heathcote described the horse's career as "an incredible journey".
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McDonald nominates best ride for Epsom day
James McDonald has an elite book of rides at Royal Randwick on Epsom Handicap day and, in his weekly Racenet column, singles out one as standing above the rest. He describes it as "hands down, my best ride on Saturday".
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