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Wednesday’s racing round-up brings the news of a significant jockey booking in next week’s Melbourne Cup…
Laura Pearson enjoyed notable success when guiding Sparks Fly to victory in Wednesday's inaugural Robin Hood Stakes at Nottingham. David Loughnane's popular four-year-old, who was sent off an 8/1 chance for the Listed feature, failed to see a rival when running out a commanding four-and-a-half-length winner under Pearson. Whilst it was the tenth success of Sparks Fly's career, Pearson admitted that this victory tasted that bit sweeter, with it being a first in this class on home soil.
Joe Tizzard confirmed that Jpr One will line up the BetMGM Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter on November 8. The local trainer steered Cue Card to victory in the contest in 2012 for his father Colin, whilst Tizzard also enjoyed his first success as a trainer when saddling Elixir De Nutz to glory. JPR One will be making his first outing at the west country track since he defeated 2024 Grand National victor I Am Maximus on debut in 2021.
Hollie Doyle looks set to ride Sea King in the Melbourne Cup after Harry Eustace's gelding booked his spot in the 'race that stops a nation' by cruising to victory in the Bendigo Cup. Sea King was expertly steered to victory on his Australian debut by Declan Bates, but with the Irish-born jockey unable to do the weight in Melbourne, Doyle has been selected as his replacement. "Declan Bates is unfortunately not able to do the weight in the Cup, so we're lining Hollie Doyle up to take the ride, which would be a great booking," explained Eustace when speaking to Grosvenor Sport. "Based on his run today, if he can repeat that under Hollie, you'd like to think we're going there with a live chance."
Ylang Ylang became the latest big-name Aidan O'Brien runner to be ruled out of a major when she was scratched from the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf due to sickness. The news broke just a day after O'Brien's ante-post Melbourne Cup favourite Jan Brueghel was withdrawn from the race by the Racing Victoria stewards. A statement from Ballydoyle read: ''Ylang Ylang ran a slight fever and didn't eat up. Our vet Vince Baker advised against running her. She never had a pet scan.''
The Irish National Stud has announced the retirement of Invincible Spirit. The son of Green Desert has sired 22 individual Group 1 winners worldwide, including Kingman, Moonlight Cloud and Magna Grecia. A high-class performer on the track, Invincible Spirit's finest day as a racehorse came when landing the Group 1 Haydock Sprint Cup.
