‘Vacationing’ Nakatani Is a Hit in Europe

Corey Nakatani enjoyed his brief stay in Europe, and America’s leading rider apparently made a good impression while he was there.

The English press was especially kind to Nakatani, who rode in Sweden, France and England between Del Mar’s closing on Sept. 13 and the Oak Tree opener on Wednesday.

“Nakatani--the Name of the New Legend?” was the headline on one of Paul Haigh’s columns in England’s Racing Post.

After the jockey rode Cool Jazz to a 33-1 upset at Ascot on Sept. 24, Haigh wrote: “[Nakatani] did nothing to disprove the theory held by many Americans that he’s the best rider in the world at the moment.”

In the Evening Standard, Christopher Poole wrote about Nakatani’s U.S. success and called him “articulate, approachable and courteous.”

Originally scheduled to ride at Belmont Park after the conclusion of Del Mar, Nakatani, who will turn 25 on Oct. 21, decided to go to Europe after talking with trainer Bobby Frankel and Grant Pritchard-Gordon, the racing manager for Juddmonte Farms.

“It just kind of happened,” said Nakatani, who arrived home on Monday. “It was definitely a good opportunity for me.”

He rode 18 horses and won four times, twice in Sweden and twice in England. He failed to win in France and lost a chance to ride in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe when his mount, Muncie, got sick before the race.

“It was great, and it was different,” he said. “The tracks are very uneven, and it was strange to go up and down hills. The horses have to be very athletic to win a lot of races.

“I didn’t change my style at all. I just had to adapt to the way the horses traveled.”

Most of Nakatani’s time was spent in England. He won the two races in Sweden on the same day. “They treated me very well there,” he said. “It was first-class all the way. I wouldn’t mind going back for more than a one-day stay.”

Nakatani was able to go sightseeing in London and Paris, and spent many mornings working horses for trainers Andre Fabre, John Gosden--who had considerable success in California before returning to his native England several years ago--Criquette Head, Henry Cecil and Pascal Bary.

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Larry The Legend, who recently returned to light training after undergoing knee surgery in the spring, has had a setback, and his future is unclear.

Chips were removed from the colt’s left knee shortly after he won the Santa Anita Derby in April, his fourth victory in five starts, and trainer Craig Lewis noticed a problem in the same knee after a recent gallop by the 3-year-old.

“We’re in the process of having the knee examined by at least a half-dozen veterinarians and surgeons,” Lewis said. “After that, we’ll make a decision regarding the horse’s future. This much is for sure: We won’t compromise with a valuable horse like him.”

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Only five horses were entered Thursday morning for the $250,000-added Goodwood Handicap, one of three stakes Oak Tree is offering Saturday.

The Goodwood, which will be televised by NBC as part of its 90-minute Breeders’ Cup Preview show, features a rematch between Pacific Classic winner Tinners Way and second-place finisher Soul Of The Matter. The Breeders’ Cup is Oct. 28 at Belmont Park.

In the two other stakes, Batroyale, who is unbeaten in four sprint starts, will stretch out for the first time against six other 2-year-old fillies in the $200,000 Oak Leaf Stakes, while Megan’s Interco and River Flyer head 11 entrants in the $125,000-added Col. F.W. Koester Handicap on the grass.

Horse Racing Notes

Apprentice jockey Jose Valdivia Jr., the leading rider at the recently concluded Fairplex Park meeting, escaped injury when What An Order, his mount in Thursday’s second race, broke down. Valdivia, who won the first with favorite Winning Start, returned to ride his remaining five mounts. What An Order had to be destroyed. . . . Chris McCarron was given a five-day suspension by the stewards, beginning Sunday, for a disqualification in Wednesday’s seventh race. Riding Western Trip, McCarron was dropped from third to sixth for altering course and causing interference entering the stretch. . . .