Europe

Juddmonte's Serenetta (Kingman), a half-sister to Arc heroine Bluestocking (Camelot) and this term's Sussex Stakes hero Qirat (Showcasing), backed up a debut third at Newmarket last month with a decisive victory in Wednesday's Racing TV Fillies' Novice Stakes at Kempton. The Ralph Beckett trainee justified odds-on favouritism and made most of the running to defeat Godolphin's Al Qaysiyya (Dubawi) by 1 1/2 lengths in the seven-furlong contest. "She had a lovely run with Hector [Crouch] the first day and she seems like a smart filly," said winning rider Colin Keane...

In a recent conversation with TDN's very own Sue Finley, I realized that we were facing the same, and admittedly awful, conundrum: where will we eat out in Deauville this December? It is an understatement to say that the eating and drinking scene in the Normandy resort has undergone quite a changeover in the last few years. In fact, most of the venues where racing and bloodstock folks used to gather at the end of a long day on the Arqana sales grounds have either closed or changed hands -...

Widely regarded as one of the most gifted and entertaining auctioneers in the business, John O'Kelly brought the curtain down on his time on the rostrum at Tattersalls during the Sceptre Sessions on Tuesday evening.  And what a way to do it. O'Kelly brought the hammer down at 4.5 million gns to MV Magnier on Donnacha O'Brien's multiple Group 1 winner Porta Fortuna. It was a moment in time for the throngs of people packed into the auditorium as, for many in attendance, they had grown up listening to O'Kelly's...

James McDonald has won the Longines World's Best Jockey title for the second consecutive year and third time overall. The New Zealand-born, Australian-based jockey also won the Longines World's Best Jockey Award in 2022. The awarding of the Longines World's Best Jockey title is based upon performances in the 100 highest-rated Group and Grade 1 races as established for the year by the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings Committee. The scoring incorporates races from December 1 of the previous year until November 30 of the current year. Jockeys accrue 12...

By Emma Berry and Brian Sheerin NEWMARKET, UK -- As the sun went down, the ring filled up and, after the odd false start, the sale-watchers got what they came for: Porta Fortuna, followed by Tamfana, Barnavara, Saqqara Sands and then some as an array of equine jewels combined to bring the highest gross ever recorded in a single day in European auction history. If many had predicted that Porta Fortuna (Caravaggio) would top the sale then they were almost right, and for about an hour she held the record...

Alpha Racing's Barnavara (Calyx) became the new sale topper at Tattersalls December's Sceptre Sessions at 4.8 million gns. She was bought online by Sugar Whiskey Trading, believed to be an associate of Ace Stud. Henry Lascelles, on the phone, was a determined underbidder on the Baroda Stud-consigned filly. Sold as lot 1753, the three-year-old daughter of Calyx captured the G1 Prix de l'Opera this autumn, after taking the G2 Blandford stakes in September for trainer Jessica Harrington. The daughter of Alfea (Kentucky Dynamite) was bred by Andriy Milovonov and V....

MV Magnier shelled out 2.6 million gns for Group 1 winner Tamfana (Soldier Hollow) (lot 1743) later in the Sceptre Sessions on Tuesday. Bred by Gestut Etzean and Hans Helmut Rodenburg, the Menuisier trainee won the 2024 edition of the G1 Sun Chariot Stakes for Quantum Leap Racing VIII and Friends. Tamfana was picked up by Jeremy Brummitt for €20,000 out of the BBAG September Yearling Sale in 2022. Offered by Quantum Leap, the four-year-old was Magnier's third purchase of the day, after the classy Porta Fortuna at 4.5m gns...

Queen of the course and queen of the ring, four-time Group 1 winner Porta Fortuna (Caravaggio) was knocked down for 4.5 million gns to MV Magnier during Tuesday's Sceptre Sessions of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, the daughter of winner Too Precious (Holy Roman Emperor) has the option of racing again. Bred by Whisperview Trading, the four-year-old filly is out of a full-sister to multiple group winner Numerian, second in the G1 Australian Cup and G1 Doomben Cup. Porta Fortuna raced for Medallion Racing,...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Observations features a half-brother to Big Evs. 18.40 Kempton, £11,000, Nov, 2yo, 6f (AWT) Jaber Abdullah's MILLION GOLD (GB) (Earthlight {Ire}) is a half-brother to GI Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint hero Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) and represents the same Michael Appleby yard here. The April-foaled...

Multiple Group 1 winner Hawk Wing has died from colic in Korea. The brilliant winner of the G1 Lockinge Stakes was 26. The son of Woodman claimed the G1 National Stakes at two for Aidan O'Brien and Susan Magnier. At three, he found only stablemates Rock Of Gibraltar and High Chaparral too good in the G1 2000 Guineas and the G1 Derby, respectively. Back in the winner's circle in the G1 Eclipse Stakes, he ran second in both the G1 Irish Champion Stakes and G1 Champion Stakes. At four, he...

Ace Stud put in a dominant performance, spending over 2.5 million gns, with that spend headed by the daughter of Le Havre By Brian Sheerin and Adam Houghton Less than 48 hours on from Calandagan's record-breaking victory in the G1 Japan Cup at Tokyo, it was his year-older half-sister, Caliyza, who enjoyed her turn in the spotlight when knocked down to Ace Stud for 850,000gns during the first of the two Sceptre Sessions at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale. At the close of play on Monday, Ace Stud had signed...

A total of 44 lots have been catalogued for the GoffsGo Online Foal, Yearling & Breeding Stock Sale. Bidding will open at noon on Thursday, December 4 and close beginning at 2:20 p.m. local time on Friday, December 5. Comprising both Flat and NH stock, the sale features six foals, 25 yearlings and 13 fillies and mares. The foal and yearling entries feature progeny of leading sires including Ardad, Dandy Man, Footstepsinthesand, Gleneagles, Golden Horn, Iffraaj, Massaat, New Bay, Phoenix of Spain, Postponed, Sands of Mali, Without Parole Some highlights...