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) HARNESS RACING: Home Bed Advantage sentimental favorite
Trainer David McCaffrey feared the worst when Home Bed Advantage, ravaged by colitis and wasted away to skin and bones, was loaded onto a trailer at 3 in the morning to be taken to West Lafayette, Ind., for treatment at Purdue's equine clinic.''The vet told me: 'It doesn't look good, David. He could be dead in a day,''' McCaffrey said of that grim morning in mid-July, when the former Super Night champion and American National winner's life hung by a thread.
''The next three or four days were the worst of my career. You dread when any of your horses gets really sick, but when it happens to [a standout] like Home Bed Advantage, it's particular devastating. The adage 'healthy as a horse' is a huge misnomer because these really are delicate animals.''
Colitis is a life-threatening condition ''marked by dangerously high fever and shooting diarrhea that causes severe dehydration,'' McCaffrey said. More>>
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) PRIX DE L’ABBAYE DE LONGCHAMP BETTING PREVIEW
In stark contrast to here in England, France has been beset with rain recently and, consequently, the going is set to be pretty soft at Longchamp for the Arc weekend. Such conditions are an unknown to current market leader Kingsgate Native, the juvenile who put the older brigade in their places when winning the Nunthorpe at York in August.The colt is, at the time of writing, yet to be supplemented, and I wonder whether connections will risk him under testing conditions. And, even if they do elect to pitch him into this sprint, I wouldn't be confident about him beating the Nunthorpe sixth, HOH MIKE, again. The latter, who hails from the bang in-form Michael Bell yard, is cracking value at 14/1 with Blue Square.
The three-year-old is a frustrating sort, in that he has a propensity to miss the break in his races. More>>
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) A1GP (WASHINGTON DC) - A1 TEAM U.S.A. STATEMENT ON NEW FERRARI PARTNERSHIP
Starting with the 2008-09 season, A1 TEAM USA will be powered by Ferrari and use chassis designed by Ferrari in A1GP World Cup of Motorsport."All of us at A1 TEAM USA and A1GP are thrilled to be associated with Ferrari, the most famous motor racing organization in the world and builder of exquisite road cars," A1 TEAM USA owner Rick Weidinger of Washington, D.C., said. "We are proud to welcome the Prancing Horse to our team and A1GP.
"A1GP has a six-year agreement with Ferrari which includes an exclusive licensing agreement for merchandise. Ferrari will also consult with the constructor selected to build the new chassis. The decision to bring in new cars and engines and the length of our deal with Ferrari shows the commitment A1GP has to the future of the World Cup of Motorsport."
A1GP is in its third season, which continues Friday with the second round at Brno, Czech Republic. More>>
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) Shrewd Rhythm 'Poses Guineas Threat'
David Hayes has declared Shrewd Rhythm his best chance to topple odds-on favourite Weekend Hussler in Saturday's Group One Caulfield Guineas (1600m).Hayes will also line up Husson Lightning and Cecconi in the Group One feature but believes Shrewd Rhythm will be his preferred choice of the trio with a good gate at Tuesday's barrier draw.
Weekend Hussler is dominating the Guineas market at $1.75 with no other contender under double figure odds.
Shrewd Rhythm is on the second line of betting at $11 along with Group Two Stutt Stakes winner Barbaricus and Marching while Husson Lightning is $18 and Cecconi $21.
Hayes said Weekend Hussler was clearly the horse to beat after spectacular wins at his last three starts by an aggregate of 15-1/2 lengths. More>>
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) Best Weekend TV
In the league of Superman: The Movie (1978) and Spider-Man (2002), this superhero saga is not to be missed. Not only is Christian Bale cinema�s definitive Caped Crusader, the intelligent approach of Christopher Nolan (director of Memento) ensures this is not simply an exercise in style. Billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne�s disgust with Gotham City�s corrupt officials leads him to join a shady organisation in Bhutan. Trained in the art of combat, he returns to his fair city � in the familiar suit, cape and cowl � to clean up the streets. Bale�s brilliant work is backed by an extraordinary cast (Cillian Murphy, Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson � even Katie Holmes impresses).Caulfield Guineas Day
WIN/9, noon
For those who have been living under a rock in recent weeks, the outbreak of equine influenza has ripped the heart out of the horse racing industry down the east coast, but thankfully the virus which is causing havoc north of the Murray River hasn�t yet crossed into Victoria. More>>