Europe

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 Thankfulness at Tampa. Mehmas Filly Lands Running In Tampa St. Elias Stable and WinStar Farm's Thankfulness (Mehmas) won at Tampa Bay Downs on Dec. 6 (video). Bred by Brief Moment Partnership, the firster is trained by Miguel Clement. Consigned by WH Bloodstock to Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, she sold to WinStar Farm for 380,000gns.The first foal out of Brief Moment...

Nobody wants to be late to the party. That statement applies to just about every aspect in business and is especially pertinent with a view towards breeding.  Everyone would love to send mares to Mehmas and Starman but, the reality of the situation is that many breeders' mating plans are dictated just as much by their pockets as it is by their head. The trick is cottoning on to the next Mehmas and the next Starman before they go north - and that can be easier said than done.  Luckily...

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, post time: 4:40 p.m., LONGINES HONG KONG CUP-G1, HK$40,000,000, 3yo/up, 2000mT Field: Romantic Warrior (Jpn) (Acclamation {GB}), Bellagio Opera (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), Rousham Park (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}), Galen (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}), Straight Arron (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), Chancheng Glory (Mor Spirit), Quisisana (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}). Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, post time: 4:00 p.m., LONGINES HONG KONG MILE-G1, HK$36,000,000, 3yo/up, 1600mT Field: Soul Rush (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}), Voyage Bubble (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}), Docklands (GB) (Massaat {Ire}), Beauty Joy (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}), Galaxy...

Sunday's G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies brings together a maximum field of 18 over the 1,600-metre trip, with the undefeated pair of Alankar and Margot Love Me featuring among those who will be trying to etch their name alongside the likes of Vodka (2006), Buena Vista (2008) and Liberty Island (2022) on a glittering roll of honour. Trained by Takashi Saito, Alankar followed her debut victory at Fukushima with another dominant performance to win September's Nojigiku Stakes over this course and distance. The Epiphaneia filly is out of the G1 Yushun...

Charismatic Kid (lot 28) headlined Friday's Tattersalls Cheltenham December Sale when bought by trainer Gordon Elliott for £300,000. Consigned by Colm Ryan Racing, the son of Affinisea was an impressive winner of a Navan bumper last week. "He looks a nice horse," said Elliott after outbidding Tessa Greatrex for the gelding. "We were at the races when he won and he won well. Colm has done a great job with him, so fair play to him. The horse won't jump a hurdle this season. We will see if he is...

High-class filly Zarigana, who was awarded this year's Poule d'Essai des Pouliches in the stewards' room after suffering interference from the first past the post, Shes Perfect (Sioux Nation), has been retired from racing. Speaking from Hong Kong, trainer Francis-Henri Graffard told Sky Sports Racing, "She [Zarigana] is retired now. She has been a complicated filly and she has been very frustrating this season. I think she was so talented, but difficult and tricky. She could have won four Group 1s and only managed to win one in the stewards'...

Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, post time: 4:40 p.m., LONGINES HONG KONG CUP-G1, HK$40,000,000, 3yo/up, 2000mT Field: Romantic Warrior (Jpn) (Acclamation {GB}), Bellagio Opera (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), Rousham Park (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}), Galen (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}), Straight Arron (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), Chancheng Glory (Mor Spirit), Quisisana (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}). Sunday, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, post time: 4:00 p.m., LONGINES HONG KONG MILE-G1, HK$36,000,000, 3yo/up, 1600mT Field: Soul Rush (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}), Voyage Bubble (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}), Docklands (GB) (Massaat {Ire}), Beauty Joy (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}), Galaxy...

The 2025 International Conference for the Health, Safety and Welfare of Jockeys (ICHSWJ) was held in Hong Kong on December 11-12. Themed Performance Medicine in Racing - Developing and Protecting the Jockey, the conference took an applied, evidence-based approach, featuring presentations and panel discussions with leading experts in the field. "This conference represents one of the most important conversations taking place within the racing industry today," said Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, chair of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA). "For too long, jockey safety and wellbeing have been discussed with admiration...

Hong Kong is the December place to be for world-class horseracing and Sunday's Longines Hong Kong International Races--offering some HK$130 million (£12.5 million/US$16.7 million) across four races--has once again attracted a veritable who's who from a variety of racing jurisdictions. In a real racing rarity, each of the winners from last year's meeting returns to Sha Tin and each has realistic chances to repeat the dose. Indeed, it would be a complete shock if two of the four--Romantic Warrior (Acclamation) and Ka Ying Rising (Shamexpress)--fail to deliver in the HK$40-million...

A breeding right to Newsells Park Stud stallion Without Parole, the sire of this year's National Stakes winner Zavateri, features among five lots added to the catalogue for the Arqana December Online Sale, which takes place between the hours of 3pm and 5pm (local time) on Tuesday, December 16. In addition to the first 15 lots announced on Wednesday, buyers will also have the opportunity to purchase a breeding right to European champion juvenile and Classic winner Native Trail, who has been represented by his first foals at the sales...

The annual Treo Eile Christmas Show was held at the Emerald Equestrian Centre near Enfield on Thursday, with Team Randox, captained by multiple champion jockey Paul Townend, lifting the Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) perpetual trophy as the winners of this year's Treo Eile Thoroughbred Classic Cup. The feature class on the night, the HRI Treo Eile Thoroughbred Classic is designed to showcase the very best of Ireland's retrained racehorses. Teams of four took part in a timed competition, followed by a jump-off to decide the winners. The tense conclusion saw...

The Betfred Derby will be run for prize-money of £2 million in 2026, making it the joint-richest race in Britain alongside the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. This £500,000 boost in purse from last year is just one of a raft of "significant changes" announced by the Jockey Club for Epsom's Betfred Derby Festival next June. The programme of reinvigoration, with investment of £6 million, includes Coolmore being announced as sponsor of the Coronation Cup, which will be run for £1 million - more than double its previous...