In Brief

UK – Michael Watt, the former Tattersalls Chairman and Director, died last Thursday at the age of 77.

Japan – Racing has been suspended until at least Saturday following the Earthquake last Friday. Japan’s bloodstock centre in the northern island of Hokkaido appeared to escape with minimal damage.

South Africa - Al Mufti, a Kentucky-bred son of Roberto, has died aged 26 in his paddock at Ascot Stud in South Africa. The son of Roberto had been retired from commercial breeding duties since 2007. He was the sire of 41 Stakes winners of which 32 were Group winners. Probably the most famous in Dubai was Victory Moon who was second in the 2004 Dubai World Cup

Argentina - PERU saw off the best of South American Racing when Bradock (Jorge Salas/Carlos Trujillo) won the 27^th running of the Gran Premio Latinoamericano in Buenos Aires on Saturday.Peruvian-bred filly Private Affair, runner-up in both the Peruvian Oaks and Derby, took second to complete the victory.

UK - Last year's winner of the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham Binocular was scratched from Tuesday's race. A pre-race blood test found traces of an anti-allergy treatment which the horse had had administered by Nicky Henderson's team and under the guidance of the British Horseracing Authority the favourite to win was not declared for the race.

Singapore -  Better Than Ever had the perfect prep race before the Dubai Duty Free with a record-breaking win at Kranji on Sunday. He broke the track record by 0.55 seconds and after his fourteenth victory in fifteen runs and his first polytrack run the four year old son of French Deputy looks set to be amongst the leading protagonists in a stellar renewal of the Dubai Duty Free.