Dermot Weld’s Sapphire made a spectacular seasonal debut at Cork yesterday when sweeping to an easy success in the Group 3 Kerry Group Noblesse Stakes.

A British woman has given herself what she believes is the longest name in the world.

REPRESENTATIVES of the weighing room and the training ranks met with British Horseracing Authority officials, including the incoming chief executive Paul Bittar, in London yesterday to discuss the controversial whip rules.

Representatives of the weighing room and the training ranks met with British Horseracing Authority officials, including the incoming chief executive Paul Bittar, in London on Friday to discuss the controversial whip rules.

JOCKEYS’ representatives in Britain will urge racecourse stewards to use more discretion when applying the whip rules when they meet with the British Horseracing Authority on Friday.

The British Horseracing Authority have announced further amendments to the new whip rules, which were originally introduced on October 10.

KEVIN DARLEY, chief executive of the Professional Jockeys Association, wants the new whip rules to be re-examined by the British Horseracing Authority.

Professional Jockeys Association chief executive Kevin Darley has attempted to cool speculation over a possible riders’ strike next week.

OFFICIALS at the Professional Jockeys’ Association gave a guarded welcome to amendments to the new whip rules announced by the British Horseracing Authority yesterday.

Officials at the Professional Jockeys Association have given a guarded welcome to amendments to the new whip rules announced by the British Horseracing Authority today.

THE Professional Jockeys Association yesterday called for urgent progress in amending the new whip rules brought into effect last week.

The Professional Jockeys Association today called for urgent progress in amending the new whip rules brought into effect last week.

A decision on any adjustments to the British Horseracing Authority’s controversial new whip rules is expected by the end of this week.

Representatives of the riding ranks still hope to come up with a revised solution to the new whip guidelines following the conclusion of today's meeting with the board of the British Horseracing Authority.

Jockeys’ representatives confirmed this afternoon that written proposals have been submitted to the British Horseracing Authority as speculation mounts about a potential strike on Monday over new whip rules.

Wins from Jack’s Revenge and Franciscan at Leicester saw Kieren Fallon erode Paul Hanagan’s lead in the jockeys’ championship to seven.

JOHN OXX is to allow Zanughan to take his chance in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown on May 8 following a cosy victory on Sunday.

An attempted murder convict who intimidated a woman who was to give evidence at his trial telling her if she takes the witness stand “she will be put in another box” has been given a six year sentence.

Multiple Group One winner and top-class sire Singspiel has been put down at the age of 18.

Sajjhaa is to leap straight from maiden company to the highest level by taking her chance in the Investec Oaks at Epsom on Friday.

The Professional Jockeys Association would like to see Tony McCoy shortlisted for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award on the back of his famous victory in the John Smith’s Grand National.

OF ALL the investments made in the name of the state during the boom, the 2002 purchase of a controlling stake in a five-year-old stallion, Invincible Spirit, was perhaps the most spectacular.

Australian jockey Kerrin McEvoy registered the 1000th winner of his career at Randwick today when partnering Bright Mind to victory.

THE Francis Flood-trained Slievecorragh got off the mark on the flat when landing the featured Kedrah House Stud Well Chosen Tipperary Perpetual Cup at Clonmel last night.

Yorkshire trainer Richard Fahey made his first trip to a misty Great Leighs a winning one as Darley cast-off Changing The Guard scored on his debut in the Foyle Maiden Stakes.

JOINT British champion jockey Seb Sanders underwent surgery yesterday to have a bone in his left leg pinned that was broken in his fall at Chester over the weekend.

Kerrin McEvoy will return to his native Australia to take up the position as stable jockey for Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley operation.

The biggest bloodstock deal in the history of Australian racing is set to proceed by Friday after Darley’s takeover of Woodlands was given final approval.

Jim Bolger’s unbeaten New Approach has been bought outright by Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley operation and will run in new colours in his three-year-old season.

Kevin Darley was garlanded by his weighing-room colleagues after signing off his riding career at Doncaster.

FORMER champion jockey Kevin Darley has announced he will retire at the end of the Flat season on Saturday.

Blue was the colour at York as Godolphin handler Saeed bin Suroor masterminded a successful trek north from Newmarket to plunder three races with Fairmile, Amarna and Calming Influence.

Godolphin may not have had a representative to match Rio De La Plata or Ramonti at York, but there was no stopping the boys in blue as they enjoyed a fantastic 301/2-1 treble.

Manduro is making good progress at Andre Fabre’s stable after successful surgery on the off-hind cannonbone fracture he sustained when winning the Prix Foy last month.

Sheikh Mohammed’s policy of bolstering his stallion squad has continued with the news that his Darley Stud have purchased a half-share in the exciting New Approach.

Jamie Spencer and Ryan Moore will miss Saturday’s Shergar Cup at Ascot, with Kevin Manning and Kevin Darley stepping up to the plate.

Teofilo will join Darley’s stallion roster for 2008 and stand at Kildangan Stud in Co Kildare.

Kevin Darley is pencilled in for a return to action on Thursday after suffering a nasty-looking foot injury at Yarmouth.

FROM Argentina via Europe to Dubai, and from New York to LA, Saturday night’s Breeders’ Cup Classic truly underscored the meeting’s claim to be the world thoroughbred championships.

Ed Dunlop is “very excited” about the prospect of leasing Gainsborough Stables from his employers and operating from the Newmarket yard in his own right as a public trainer.

Four years ago the partisan crowd at Doncaster erupted when Bollin Eric galloped to victory in the St Leger, providing a local win for Yorkshiremen Tim Easterby and Kevin Darley.

Tax Free shattered the five-furlong course record when he bolted up in the Prestwold Conditions Stakes at Leicester.

Kevin Darley hailed Reverence today after what he described as a “tremendous feat” in securing a Group One double at Haydock.

Baltic King put himself bang in the frame for the Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock next weekend after winning the totepool Beverley Bullet Sprint at the East Yorkshire venue.