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April Pride Illustrates Parallel Pattern

PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter

A globetrotting sire and an all-American dam have strikingly similar pedigrees that combined to produce recent graded winner April Pride. Breeding analyst Alan Porter discusses how his "parallel pattern" theory is evident in the filly's pedigree.

Gomez Guides April Pride to First Graded Win

April Pride overcame her outside post and some heavy traffic in the homestretch to post an impressive upset win in Oak Tree's $100,000 Harold C. Ramser Sr. Handicap (gr. IIIT), her American graded stakes debut for trainer James Cassidy Saturday on the Santa Anita grass.

Monday Yearling Auction Kicks Off Three Days of Selling in Japan

Monday marks the first time since 1998 that the Japan Race Horse Association (JRHA) has conducted a yearling auction, and breeders in the Land of the Rising Sun are anxious to see whether the organization's second attempt will go over better than its first at the Northern Horse Park.

European Champion Falbrav to Shuttle to Arrowfield in Australia

European champion Falbrav, who will enter stud at the Yoshida family's Shadai Stallion Station in Japan, will shuttle to John Messara's Arrowfield Stud in Australia for the 2004 Southern Hemisphere season.

Falbrav Says Farewell with Hong Kong Cup Romp

International star Falbrav bid an end to his race career Sunday afternoon before a cheering throng of 59,000 at Sha Tin Racecourse. The reason for the cheers was an impressive two-length victory in the HK$18 million Hong Kong Cup (HK-I) at 2,000 meters (1 1/4 miles).

Dettori, Falbrav Get Friday Morning Workout

International star jockey Frankie Dettori, who incurred a twisted ankle during the first leg of the International Jockeys' Championship at Happy Valley Racecourse Wednesday night, was on track at Sha Tin Racecourse Friday morning to put Hong Kong Cup (HK-I) favorite Falbrav through a leg-stretching gallop.

Falbrav Draws Post 5 for Hong Kong Cup

Falbrav, who figures to be the even-money favorite for Sunday's Hong Kong Cup (HK-I), drew post 5 in the 14-horse field Thursday morning at the barrier draw held at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong. The HK$18 million (approximately $2.3 million U.S.) Hong Kong Cup is the star attraction of the Hong Kong International Races, which also includes the Hong Kong Vase, Sprint, and Mile (all HK-I).

Falbrav, Johar Slated to Star in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Jockey Club has announced their selected horses for the Hong Kong International Races. Offering approximately $7.28 million (U.S.) in purses, the four-race series will take place at Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday, Dec. 14. The star of the Hong Kong Cup (HK-I) will be the globe-trotting Falbrav, a seven-time group I winner who will be making his final start.

Cartier Awards: Dalakhani is European Horse of the Year

The Aga Khan's Dalakhani, winner of the Grand Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) and French Derby (Fr-I), was named Europe's Horse of the Year when the Cartier Awards were presented in London on Wednesday. The ceremony was held at London's Four Seasons Hotel.

Turf Has First Breeders' Cup Dead-Heat

For the first time in Breeders' Cup history, a race ended in a dead-heat. In a thrilling three-horse stretch drive, High Chaparral and Johar finished on even terms, with Falbrav just a nod behind those two in the John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. I).

Talented Falbrav Faces Challenges In Breeders' Cup Turf

How talented is Falbrav, a European invader who is one of the favorites in the John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT)? He's so talented that his jockey, Darryll Holland, isn't worried about being a first-time rider in the World Thoroughbred Championships.

Euros Adjust Odds After Post Draws

The English bookmaking operations were busy updating their odds Wednesday morning after the post-position draw was held for Saturday's Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships at Santa Anita.

Easy Morning For European Contingent

Only a few of the European runners in the Oct. 25 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships left the quarantine area Tuesday morning, but among them were some big names.

Falbrav's Connections Opt for Breeders' Cup Turf

The owners of multiple group I winner Falbrav have opted for the John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) rather than the Breeders' Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge (gr. I) for the Italian champion's next start.

'Chaparral's Irish Champion Victory Confirmed

Following a three-hour hearing, Irish racing officials Monday confirmed High Chaparral as the winner of the The Food Island Irish Champion Stakes (Ire-I) at Leopardstown Sept. 7, dismissing an appeal to the original stewards' decision brought by the connections of Falbrav.

Last Planes Carrying European BC Starters Arrive Sunday

By late Sunday afternoon, all of the European horses scheduled to compete in the Oct. 25 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships had arrived in Southern California. As they arrive, they are finding the weather much warmer than where their flights originated.

Santos to Ride Volponi in Classic; Krone May Get Mount on Funny Cide

Because of a prior commitment, Jose Santos will ride Volponi in the Breeders' Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge (gr. I) instead of Funny Cide, whom he guided to victory in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and Preakness (gr. I).

British Star Falbrav May Run in BC Classic

Although trainer Luca Cumani is still leaning toward the Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT), he is taking a long, hard look at the Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge (gr. I) after the defections of some of the leading contenders.

Falbrav Wins Ascot's QE II; Breeders' Cup Next

Falbrav, a horse with something to prove after his controversial loss to High Chaparral in the Irish Champion Stakes (Ire-I), swept to a two-length victory over Russian Rhythm in the $535,000 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Eng-I) at Ascot on Saturday.

'Chaparral Nips Falbrav in Champion Stakes

Michael Tabor's standout High Chaparral survived a stewards' inquiry to win the Ireland The Food Island Champion Stakes (Ire-I) by a neck over an unfortunate Falbrav Saturday at Leopardstown.

Falbrav Scores Two-Length Win in Juddmonte International

The well-traveled Falbrav scored an impressive two-length win in Tuesday's Juddmonte International Stakes (Eng-I) at York. Two American-bred runners Magistretti and Nayef were second and third, respectively.

Falbrav Flies to Prix d'Ispahan Victory

Expertly guided by jockey Kieren Fallon, Falbrav won his first race since joining Newmarket-based trainer Luca Cumani, taking the about Prix d'Ispahan (Fr-I) at Longchamp Sunday .

Humble Fair Mix Wins Group I Prix Ganay

Fair Mix, a 5-year-old bought out of a claiming race, shrugged off his humble background to win Sunday's Group I Prix Ganay at Longchamp.

Japan Cup Race Report: Dettori Double

Jockey Frankie Dettori wins both the Japan Cup and Japan Cup Dirt with Falbrav and Eagle Cafe, respectively.

Sunstrach Splashes to Premio Roma Victory

Sunstrach, with Frankie Dettori riding, cruised to an emphatic six-length victory in the Italian Group I Premio Roma at Rome's Capannele on Sunday.

Falbrav Catches Narrative to Win Gran Premio di Milano

Scuderia Rencati's Falbrav stormed by Godolphin's Narrative in the stretch to win Sunday's Gran Premio di Milano (Ity-I) at San Siro in Milan, Italy.

Morshdi Wins Italian Derby

Sheikh Ahmed al Maktoum's Morshdi took the lead with just over a furlong to run and pulled away to a 2 3/4-length victory over Falbrav in Sunday's Derby Italiano (Ity-I) at the Capannelle. Iberus came home third, three lengths farther back, with Vinnie Roe fourth of the 19 runners.