Japanese Triple Crown hero Contrail sired his first group winner when Going To Sky punched his ticked for the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) with a three-quarter length win in the G2 Aoba Sho on Saturday. Stepping up to 2400 metres for the first time, the son of the stakes-winning Tapit mare Goin To The [...]

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Sandtrap at Aqueduct. Lope De Vega Fillies Capture Aqueduct Affairs Named a TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard in her Salisbury debut for Ralph Beckett in September of [...]

You'd have to say the Ka Ying Rising camp is feeling fairly confident, if the reports coming out of Sha Tin are anything to go by two days out from FWD Champions Day. A winner of 19 straight starts, a record for a Hong Kong-trained horse, the son of Shamexpress is coming into the G1 [...]

Last year's G1 Hopeful Stakes hero Lovcen took the G1 Satsuki Sho field pillar-to-post and set a new record of 1:56.50 in the process for the 2000 metres over firm turf on Sunday. The Forest Racing runner brought up a Japanese Guineas double for jockey Kohei Matsuyama, who'd won the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 [...]

Although it is only April, the Classic season starts with a bang, as Hanshin hosts the G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) over 1600 metres on Sunday. The highlight of the race is the 2025 Japanese Champion Juvenile Filly Star Anise (Drefong). She defeated Garavogue (Lord Kanaloa) in the G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies en route [...]

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Heading (Starspangledbanner) at Keeneland. Starspangledbanner Colt Triumphs At Keeneland Gainesway homebred Heading trotted up a 4 1/2-length winner on Keeneland's opening day (video). The Starspangledbanner colt is trained [...]

Last year's G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) hero Croix Du Nord was back to his brilliant best in Sunday's G1 Osaka Hai at Hanshin. The Northern Farm-bred claimed his third lifetime Group 1 in the 2000 metre affair by three-quarters of a length over last year's G1 Takarazuka Kinen victor Meisho Tabaru (Gold Ship). Fellow [...]

Sunday's G1 Osaka Hai attracted a class field of 15, with at least one major entrant swerving a Dubai target thanks to the ongoing conflict in Iran and surrounding countries. Favoured is G1 Hopeful Stakes hero and 2025 G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) victor Croix Du Nord. The son of Kitasan Black claimed France's G3 [...]

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This column is highlighted by the victory of Darya at Santa Anita. Persian King Filly Crowned In Arcadia Darya (Persian King) steamed home a 2 3/4-length winner at Santa Anita in late March (video). Raced by Little [...]

Japan's 2025 Champion Sprinter Satono Reve (Lord Kanaloa) claimed his second consecutive G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen at Chukyo on Sunday. He set a new record time for the race, crossing the line in 1:06.30 for the 1200 metres on firm turf. The course record is 1:06.20. Away in good order, the 2.5-1 favourite perched in midfield [...]

Campaigned exclusively on straight courses for his entire career, Native Approach (Too Darn Hot) ran out a game winner of the G1 Al Quoz Sprint Sponsored by AZIZI Developments. He held a determined Lugal (Duramente) to a neck at the line with Lazzat (Territories) another 1 1/4 lengths back in third for the 1200-metre grass [...]

Ghostzapper's Banishing capitalized on the early exertions of Commissioner King (Commissioner) to run out a 2 1/4-length winner of the G2 Godolphin Mile Sponsored by EMAAR at Meydan on Saturday. The David Jacobson trainee was coming off an eighth-place run in the G1 Saudi Cup for Sharaf Mohammed Al Hariri, Jacobson and Larry Roman. The [...]