from the Associated Press:

A man has been charged with blackmail over a threat to kill 4-year-old colt Conduit before his July 25 victory in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Eng-I) at Ascot.

Ten days before Conduit tries to win his second Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) in a row at Santa Anita, Calif., Manchester, England police said on Oct. 28 the man would appear in court Dec. 1.

The police didn't identify the man but the Guardian newspaper named him as 26-year-old Andrew Rodgerson and alleged he sent texts and e-mails threatening to kill the colt unless he were withdrawn from the July 25 race.

Conduit led a 1-2-3 sweep for trainer Michael Stoute by winning the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. He is a 3-2 favorite with British bookmakers to repeat his Breeders Cup Turf triumph on Nov. 7.

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