Sunday’s racing round-up includes the defection of Cesarewitch Handicap favourite…
Pledgeofallegiance, 8/1 favourite with Paddy Power for the Cesarewitch Handicap, has been ruled out of the race after suffering a minor setback. Sir Mark Prescott's charge was aiming to land a hat trick after securing two wins at Goodwood and Ascot, over two miles and two mile four furlongs respectively. The four-year-old has gone from strength to strength this season and his defection leaves Hipop De Loire at the head of the market.
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Rebel's Romance added a sixth Group 1 to his impressive international CV with victory in the Preis von Europa Trophy at Cologne on Sunday. The Godolphin owned-and-bred six-year-old was achieving the lucrative German prize for the second time in his career, becoming the fourth horse in the race's history to do so. In an interview with German TV broadcaster +Wett Star, winning jockey William Buick : "It's great to be back on Rebel's Romance winning this race for the second time. He's a real international superstar and today he showed what a tough horse he is. When we come to Germany, we always respect the local horses, it's never easy, but I thought everything today went very well for him. The track was in good condition and we're all very happy".
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Hong Kong champion Golden Sixty enjoyed a rapturous retirement ceremony at Sha Tin on Sunday. Crowned Hong Kong Horse of the Year three times, the eight-year-old achieved twenty-six wins on the track including ten Group 1s. Hong Kong Jockey Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges paid tribute in his blog: "Golden Sixty was not only a champion racehorse but he also embodied Hong Kong's finest qualities with his determination to win, resilience and world-class attributes, winning races across six individual seasons from a three-year-old to an eight-year-old. Expertly managed by trainer Francis Lui and his staff for owner Stanley Chan, Golden Sixty was ridden in all 31 starts by Vincent Ho and, although bred in Australia, secured out of New Zealand and the son of an American sire, Golden Sixty is very much Hong Kong's hero."
