Death of Theresa Flood

THERESA Flood, wife of the late Gold Cup-winning trainer Francis Flood, died peacefully on Friday. Reposing at St. Paul’s Oratory, Baltinglass today (Saturday) from 5pm, concluding with prayers at 8pm. Removal from there on Sunday to arrive at St Oliver Plunkett Church, Grangecon for 2pm funeral Mass. Burial afterwards in Baltinglass cemetery. Theresa is survived by sons Tom, Francis jnr and Kevin and daughters Brid and Mary.

Arqana catalogue out

THE catalogue for the Arqana August Yearling Sale in Deauville has been published. The three-day sale runs from August 13th to 15th and there are 313 yearlings catalogued, which is 43 fewer than last year.

Ascot loses £12.8m

A PRE-TAX loss of £12.8million for 2021 has been reported by Ascot, with finances affected by the Covid-19 pandemic for a second year. The track sustained a loss of just £200,000 in 2020, a figure which would have been more than £31 million without pandemic insurance and Government support schemes.

However, 2021 proved a challenging year for the racecourse, with no pandemic insurance available and Covid-19 restrictions in place for part of the calendar.

Home Affairs to stud

TOP Australian sprinter Home Affairs has been retired to stud after connections revealed he “wasn’t 100% sound” after his unplaced Royal Ascot run. Trained by Chris Waller, Home Affairs finished 20th in Saturday’s Platinum Jubilee Stakes. He will now retire to Coolmore’s Australian breeding operation as a dual Group 1 winner.

Arcadian Sunrise dies

THE talented dual purpose performer Arcadian Sunrise has been put down due to a mystery illness. Trained by John Queally, the eight-year-old gelding won eight races in his career and was a standing dish at racing festivals, both in Ireland and Britain.His two runs this year saw him finish fourth in the Chester Cup and third in the Ascot Stakes at last week’s Royal meeting. On his return from Ascot the horse took ill and was taken to a veterinary clinic where his condition deteriorated and a decision was taken to end his suffering.

Breeder of the Month

JOHN Bourke of Hyde Park Stud in Co Westmeath has won the Connolly’s Red Mills Breeder of the Month competition for May. He bred Newmarket 1000 Guineas winner Cachet, having bought the dam carrying the classic winner for just 3,000gns.