Europe

Matthew Prior, an associate director of Tattersalls since the beginning of 2024, has been appointed to the new role of managing director. Prior joined Tattersalls in the bloodstock sales department in 2012 and has developed into a senior member of the Tattersalls management team, combining yearling inspections and horse recruitment with the position of head of sales at Cheltenham. He has also represented Tattersalls on a number of industry committees, as well as sitting on the Board of Tattersalls Ireland since 2021. "It is an enormous privilege to be appointed...

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. Thursday's Observations features a son Ulysses. 17.45 Chelmsford, £30,000, Nov, 2yo, 8f (AWT) Sporting the famed Mill Reef silks, ITICA (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) is a half-brother to G1 Racing Post Trophy-winning sire Elm Park (GB) (Phoenix Reach {Ire}) and the multiple Group-placed G2 York Stakes runner-up Brorocco (GB) (Shirocco...

Coolmore's John Magnier has donated approximately 14 acres of land to develop a new training facility for the Tipperary Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), RTE reported. The land is adjacent to the Tipperary GAA's current base. The expansion of the Tipperary GAA's Coolmore Morris Park in Thurles will allow for the creation of a new, "state-of-the-art centre of excellence". In a statement, Tipperary GAA CEO Murtagh Brennan said, "This investment represents a watershed moment for Gaelic games in Tipperary and underscores our long-term commitment to nurturing athletic excellence and supporting the...

Strong chance that Willie Browne leaves his Christmas shopping until the last minute. Why? The legendary breeze-up handler played a leading role at this week's Goffs Autumn Yearling Sale - one of the last yearling sales of the year - by spending €160,500 on four horses, which included the top lot by Sioux Nation at €88,000. Peter Nolan and Noel Meade, Spanish bloodstock agent Francisco Bernal along with BBA Ireland agents Mick Donohoe and Adam Potts could well be in a similar boat, as they also contributed to what turned...

Jockey Clifford Lee, who has been hospitalised with a neck injury since a moterbike accident last month, is recovering, according to trainer Karl Burke. The jockey was on holiday while serving a suspension after winning his last four rides, and sustained a neck injury in Scotland. He is slated to be moved from Edinburgh to Middlesbrough in the coming days. Lee celebrated his first Group 1 win aboard Venetian Sun (Starman) in the G1 Prix Morny this year. There have also been several other notable wins this season aboard Royal...

Godolphin's Tornado Alert (Too Darn Hot) has sustained a setback and will not contest the G2 Bahrain International Trophy on November 14, according to trainer Saeed bin Suroor. A winner of the G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis Bayerisches Zuchtrennen in July, the three-year-old colt will instead point toward Dubai targets. He ran fourth in the G1 2000 Guineas, sixth in the G1 Derby and was runner-up in the G3 Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot prior to his German tally. Bin Suroor said, "He has had a small setback, no real problem,...

The catalogue for the Goffs December National Hunt Sale from December 8-10 is now online. Featuring a larger catalogue of 814 lots, there are 745 foals, 58 breeding stock and 11 yearlings and store horses. Graduates that shone this past season include Cheltenham Grade 1 winner Lecky Watson. The sale will begin at 10 a.m. each day. Grade 1 winners with foals selling include Shattered Love (Yeats), who will be represented by a Blue Bresil colt as lot 633; Glens Melody (King's Theatre) has a colt by Poet's Word entered...

A total of 54 yearlings have been catalogued for the Tattersalls Online Yearling Session on November 18-19. The yearlings are by such sires as Acclamation, Churchill, Showcasing, Starspangledbanner, Too Darn Hot, Zoustar, Cotai Glory, Cracksman, Dandy Man, Kameko, Phoenix Of Spain, Saxon Warrior, Ten Sovereigns and Ulysses. There are 11 half-brothers and sisters to group and listed performers and seven yearlings out of group and listed performing mares. Some of the choicest lots include a Zoustar filly out of Group 3 winner Farmah (lot 10) who is also a half-sister...

The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) remains hopeful that Ryan Moore will recover from his leg injury in time to compete in the Longines International Jockeys' Championship at Happy Valley on Wednesday, December 10. Moore is one of 10 jockeys named in the line-up and is one of five former winners, along with Zac Purton, Mickael Barzalona, Joao Moreira and Christophe Lemaire. Moore has been off the track since late August and his participation in the event is subject to his confirmation. Andrew Harding, executive director of racing for the...

A total of nine wildcards, including group winner Half Sovereign (Ten Sovereigns), have been added to Arqana's Vente d'Elevage catalogue. They will be offered on the first evening of the sale on Saturday, December 6. Offered as lot 195 from Consign, Ltd., the G3 Prix Miesque winner is from the same family as dual Group 1 winner Jack Hobbs, as well as group scorers Pollenator (Motivator), Stellaria (Kizuna), and Golden Pond (Don't Forget Me). Arcadia Elevage consigns G3 Prix de Flore second Ginalyah (Chachnak) (lot 205). Rated 106, she is...

Dubawi will remain at a fee of £350,000 for the 2026 breeding season while his son Night Of Thunder, the champion sire-elect in Britain and Ireland, has had his fee raised to €200,000. The fees released for Darley's 23 stallions in Europe include four newcomers. The treble Group 1 winner Rosallion is introduced at £40,000 at Dalham Hall Stud, where he will stand alongside his relative and fellow Group 1 winner Inisherin, whose fee is £12,500. Also new to the roster is Shadow Of Light, winner of both the G1...

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 several bluebloods at Kempton. 14.50 Kempton, £8,000, Mdn, 2yo, f, 8f (AWT) Godolphin homebred ABASHIRI (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is a daughter of G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine Sobetsu (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and thus a full-sister to last year's GI Jenny Wiley Stakes runner-up English Rose (Ire). The...