Top Invitees to Watch Out For At The 2024 Pegasus World Cup

Top Invitees to Watch Out For At The 2024 Pegasus World Cup

The upcoming Pegasus World Cup 2024 is quickly approaching! This highly respected horse race in South Florida will once again be held at Gulfstream Park on Sunday, January 27th. With a total of $14.875 million in purses, there’s a lot of anticipation and excitement surrounding this prestigious event.

As racing enthusiasts gear up for the event, all eyes will be on the top invitees. In this article, we’ll round up the top contenders who will vie for supremacy and aim to etch their names in the annals of Pegasus World Cup history. Check them out here:

Master of Seas

One of the top Pegasus World Cup contenders is Master of the Seas. This Irish-bred horse has established an impressive record with eight victories in 16 lifetime starts, accumulating earnings exceeding $2.2 million.

This exceptional equine athlete recently showcased its prowess by making a remarkable comeback from a trailing position to secure a significant win in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) on the grass at Santa Anita last November.

Known for its speed, stamina, and strategic racing acumen, Master of the Seas has proven to be a formidable competitor on the turf. The horse’s ability to navigate challenging courses and emerge victorious in prestigious events underscores its status as a top-tier racehorse.

Atone

The next primary contender anticipated in the Pegasus Turf is the defending race champion, Atone. This seasoned 7-year-old gelding boasts seven wins and $1.3 million in earnings from a total of 29 career starts.

Atone’s achievements extend beyond his Pegasus Turf success. He also had great placements in four other graded stakes races. Notable among these are his second-place finishes in the 2021 Fort Lauderdale (G2) at Gulfstream and the 2022 Forbidden Apple (G3) and Mint Million (G3).

However, it’s noteworthy that Atone has yet to secure a victory in any of his six starts since his triumphant performance in the previous race edition. Despite being the reigning titleholder, Atone faces the challenge of breaking a winless streak, adding an element of intrigue and uncertainty to his bid for success in the upcoming Pegasus Turf event.

Therapist

Atone’s stablemate Therapist is also on the list of invitees for the 2024 Pegasus World Cup. He was pushed by Trainer Mike Maker, who secured his initial triumph in the Pegasus Turf with Zulu Alpha in 2020.

Owned by Michael Dubb, Therapist boasts an impressive record as a 14-time winner, accumulating over $1.3 million in purse earnings. The seasoned horse has claimed victory in nine stakes races, achieving Grade 1 status with a notable win in the United Nations on July 22. Additionally, Therapist displayed prowess by securing the 2018 Cutler Bay at Gulfstream, further enhancing his credentials as a formidable contender in high-profile turf competitions.

Warm Heart

Another invitee from Europe besides Master of Seas is the Irish-bred 4-year-old filly Warm Heart. This talented equine athlete ventured to North America for her only start in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) on November 4, narrowly finishing second by a neck to the favored Inspiral.

Prior to her impressive performance in the United States, Warm Heart won the Qatar Prix Vermeille (G1) at Longchamp and Yorkshire Oaks (G1). Her international racing resume further extends to her commendable third-place finish in the Hong Kong Vase (G1) just last month.

Saudi Crown

Saudi Crown, the offspring of Always Dreaming, has earned its Grade 1 credentials through a noteworthy victory in the $1-million Pennsylvania Derby (G1) at Parx. Despite facing a formidable field, the horse demonstrated both speed and stamina, securing a Grade 1 title.

The early chapters of Saudi Crown’s racing career featured consecutive victories, establishing the horse as a rising star. Following its initial success, the 4-year-old runner delivered strong performances, finishing second in both the Dwyer (G3) at Belmont and the Jim Dandy (G2) at Saratoga.

However, it faced a challenging moment in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Santa Anita, where it finished off the board, representing its only performance falling below the second-place mark. This setback, however, serves as a testament to the competitive nature of top-tier horse racing.

Adhamo

Adhamo, owned by Madaket Stables, Louis Lazzinnaro, Michael Caruso, and Michael Dubb, is under the tutelage of renowned trainer Chad Brown. Notably, Brown secured victory in the inaugural Pegasus Turf in 2019 with the eventual Horse of the Year, Bricks and Mortar.

This 6-year-old Irish-bred horse is considered a Group 3 winner in France. Apart from Europe, this promising horse has participated in nine races in North America, the last eight being Grade 1 events. Among his notable accomplishments is a triumph in the 2022 United Nations. It has also clinched victories in the Hollywood Derby (G1) and the Saratoga Derby Invitational (G1) in 2023.

Final Thoughts

All these horses have top-tier talent and impressive track records and achievements, making them top contenders for the Pegasus World Cup. Note that this list is not exhaustive, and the dynamic nature of horse racing can introduce new contenders and developments. Make sure to keep yourself informed about the newest updates and entries in order to fully enjoy the unfolding events of the Pegasus World Cup.

Who was John Porter?

Who was John Porter? Born in Rugeley, Staffordshire in 1838, John Porter was a hugely successful trainer of the Victorian and Edwardian eras. All told, he saddled 1,063 winners, including 23 Classic winners, and won the Triple Crown on three separate occasions, with Ormonde (1886), Common (1891) and Flying Fox (1899).

Porter began his training career when recruited by Sir Joseph Henry Hawley, a.k.a. the ‘Lucky Baronet’, to replace George Manning as private trainer at Cannon Heath, near Kingsclere, Hampshire in 1863. Four years later, Hawley built a new yard at Kingsclere and when he died in 1875, offered Porter, in his will, the opportunity to buy the estate at half its original price. Unsurprisingly, Porter did so and wasted little time in transforming Kingsclere into a state-of-the-art training establishment.

Porter also co-founded Newbury Racecourse and served as managing director of Newbury Racecourse Company, which was formed in April, 1904, after his proposals for a new venue were finally accepted by the Jockey Club. Porter is commemorated at the Berkshire course by the John Porter Stakes, which was inaugurated in 1928 and, in its current guise, is a Group Three contest for four-year-olds and upwards over 1 mile 4 furlongs, run in April. Ironically, for all his success as a trainer, Porter only ever saddled one winner at Newbury, retiring from the training ranks within a month or two of the course staging its first meeting in September, 1905.

Will David Eustace be Successful in Hong Kong?

Will David Eustace be Successful in Hong Kong? David Eustace’s decision to leave Australian horse racing to start a training career in Hong Kong was no real surprise to anyone familiar with his family.

Eustace is the nephew of former Hong Kong-based horseman David Oughton, and he has long dreamt about following in his footsteps at some point in his life.

The Englishman has spent the past five years as a co-trainer with Ciaron Maher, during which time the operation rattled home more than 1,600 winners.

That tally included 30 Group 1 successes including the 2022 Melbourne Cup with Gold Trip – a victory which cemented their legacy as big-hitters in Australian horse racing.

The pair were the scourge of online bookmakers last season, recording 347 wins on their way to claiming the Australian trainers’ title.

They have continued their quest to hit international horse racing betting sites this term, further highlighting how devasting their partnership has become.

Their use of data analysis and sports science put them at the forefront of Australian racing and is a methodology Eustace will replicate in Hong Kong.

“I hope to bring a varied style of training with experiences from the United Kingdom, experiences from Australia and with an emphasis on using sports science and data to enhance a horse’s training, longevity and careers in Hong Kong,” Eustace said.

“Communication, whether it be with Jockey Club itself, or with owners, is very important and I intend for it to be absolutely first-class. That’s what I hope to bring to the table along with youth and vibrancy.

“I also understand I am heading to one of the most competitive racing jurisdictions in the world and that’s exciting.”

Eustace’s move to Hong Kong is undoubtedly a gamble, as there is no guarantee he will be as successful without Maher working alongside him.

Annabel Neasham, Lucy Yeomans and Jack Bruce all worked with Maher before heading elsewhere and have found it tough to match his achievements.

However, Maher believes that Eustace has the talent to be a big hit in Hong Kong and has backed him to become one of the top trainers there.

“A man of David’s profile and reputation was always going to be in hot demand,” Maher said. “On a personal level I just want to thank David. He has been alongside me from the early days through thick and thin.

“I know we couldn’t have reached our current position as champion trainers of Australia without him – and his Hong Kong appointment is recognition of that. I am certain he will be very successful there.

“This is not the end of our relationship just a new chapter and both of us are confident that our relationship will continue in some form that will be to the benefit of both operations and their owners.”

The infrastructure in Hong Kong undoubtedly gives Eustace every chance of succeeding, with the world-class facilities likely to play to his strengths.

He will join former Australian handlers David Hayes, David Hall, Mark Newnham and Jamie Richards in Hong Kong, and will be keen to make his mark as quickly as possible.

Eustace is scheduled to head to Hong Kong in January to build relationships with new owners and generate some bloodstock.

He will complete his move in April, before ramping up preparations for the start of the Hong Kong racing season next September.

Given the reputation Eustace has built in Australia, do not be surprised if he is soon delivering plenty of winning returns for punters on the Hong Kong circuit.

Is the Welsh Grand National a credible trial for the Grand National?

Is the Welsh Grand National a credible trial for the Grand National? Nowadays run over 3 miles, 6 furlongs and 130 yards, the Welsh Grand National has been a fixture of the Yuletide programme at Chepstow since 1979. Notwithstanding the fact that the going at Chepstow in late December is often soft or heavy, the marathon distance of the Welsh Grand National and its position in the calendar – three months or so before the Grand National, in late March or early April – ought to make it a reliable trial for the Aintree showpiece.

However, it may surprise you to learn that, since 1979, just four horses have won both races and just two of them did so in the same season. The first of them, Corbiere, trained by Jenny Pitman, fought out a tremendous finish with Pilot Officer in the 1982 Welsh Grand National, eventually winning by a head. In the 1983 Grand National, Corbiere held off Greasepaint by three-quarters of a length, thereby making Jenny Pitman the first woman to saddle a Grand National winner.

In 1997, having returned from a 634-day break at Haydock Park in mid-November, Earth Summit, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, won the Welsh Grand National at odds of 25/1, beating Dom Samurai by 1¼ lengths, all out. The following April, he justified favouritism in the 1998 Grand National, staying on well to beat Suny Bay, who was conceding 23lb, by 11 lengths.

Nigel Twiston-Davies also won the Welsh National and the Grand National with Bindaree, although he won at Aintree in 2002, the year before he won at Chepstow. The other horse to win both races was Silver Birch, who won at Chepstow in 2004, when trained by Paul Nicholls, and at Aintree three years later, when trained by Gordon Elliott.

 

1 … 19 20 21 22 23 … 153