Europe

Ombudsman will not race again this season after connections opted out of a Japan Cup rematch with his Ascot conqueror, Calandagan (Gleneagles), in favour of a return to action in 2026 when the Godolphin-owned colt is set to continue his racing career as a five-year-old. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, Ombudsman was bidding for his third Group 1 success of the campaign when he lined up as the 13/8 favourite for Saturday's Qipco Champion Stakes, having already announced himself as one of the world's premier middle-distances horses with victories...

Godolphin Ireland has announced that Jimmy Hyland will take over as head of the organisation, succeeding Joe Osborne. Hyland, who has spent 38 years with Godolphin Ireland, brings extensive experience and leadership to the role, having most recently served as stud director. "I'm honoured to be part of such a dynamic organisation," Hyland said. "I'm excited to continue working with our great people, elite bloodstock and world-class facilities as we pursue further success."

In a landmark achievement for the Henry Cecil Open Weekend [September 20-21] in Newmarket, £107,454 was raised for charity - a 20% increase on last year's total of £89,196. Proceeds will be donated to the Newmarket Housing Trust and long-term charity partner Racing Welfare. Charlie Fellowes, chairman of the Henry Cecil Open Weekend, said, "We're absolutely thrilled with the success of this year's Open Weekend. To raise over £107,000 is an incredible achievement and a real testament to the generosity of the racing community and the public. "It was fantastic...

Royal Ascot hero and prolific Bahrain winner Isle Of Jura (New Approach) has been retired from racing after suffering another setback. The five-year-old enjoyed a stellar 2024 season, notably securing the Bahrain Triple Crown, before returning to Britain to provide trainer George Scott with a first Royal Ascot triumph when beating the subsequent G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Goliath in the G2 Hardwicke Stakes. Isle Of Jura spent 15 months on the sidelines following that landmark success, before returning last month with a runner-up finish in...

Conditions were desperate at Deauville on Wednesday and while there won't be any prizes handed out for time performances Prince Faisal's homebred filly Sindalah (Dubawi) shaped with promise on her winning debut. Allowed her own way in front under Maxime Guyon in the mile debutantes race for fillies, the Andre Fabre-trained half-sister to the international heavyweight Mishriff (Make Believe) held on to prevail by a head from Flash Girl (The Grey Gatsby). A descendant of the Prix de Diane heroine and stellar broodmare Rafha, the winner returned at 4-1. The Aga Khan Studs...

Harry Eustace trainee Docklands (Massaat) exited his fourth-place run in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on QIPCO British Champions Day in good order and is still on target for Japan's G1 Mile Championship on November 23, according to his trainer. A winner of the G1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, the OTI Racing colourbearer will be ridden by Australian Mark Zahra in the one-mile race at Kyoto, which offers over £890,000 in prize-money for first place. After his Royal Ascot tally, the five-year-old ran fifth in the G1...

The prospect of testing conditions for Saturday's William Hill Futurity Trophy Stakes at Doncaster could scupper plans for two of the four entries not trained by Aidan O'Brien, including the Andrew Balding trainee Item, who is set to bypass the final Group 1 of the British Flat season if the ground is heavy. The son of Frankel is unbeaten in two starts to date, having followed up his debut victory at Kempton with a dominant performance at Bath last time, drawing right away in the final furlong to win by...

Northern Farm hosted its mixed sale at the Northern Horse Park on Tuesday which featured a 100 per cent clearance rate for the 66 weanlings offered. These were led by the Kitasan Black colt out of the Listed winner and G1 British Champion Fillies and Mares Stakes runner-up Delphinia (Galileo), who was bought by Louisville Racing for ¥460m (approximately €2.6m). The same buyer had also signed up the first foal through the ring, a colt by Epiphaneia from the champion Argentinean two-year-old filly Carta Embrujada (Storm Embrujada) for ¥220m (€1.25m)....

Group sire The Grey Gatsby will stand for an unchanged fee of €12,000 at Haras du Petit Tellier, Jour de Galop reported on Tuesday. The grey, who covered over 90 mares this term, now has 17 stakes horses--nine of them stakes winners--on the Flat. In the jumps sphere, he is credited with nine black-type progeny including stakes winner Isis d'Inor, who was graded placed. "The Grey Gatsby remains at the same stud price as in 2025 for the 2026 breeding season," said Patrick Chedeville. "He will continue to stand at...

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-sister to Calandagan. 5.07 Deauville, Debutantes, 2yo, f, 8fT CALASITA (IRE) (Zarak {Fr}) makes her debut in timely fashion just days after her illustrious half-brother Calandagan (Gleneagles) sealed European champion status at Ascot. Francis Graffard introduces The Aga Khan Studs homebred against a cast that...

DEAUVILLE, France -- There is no getting away from the name Night Of Thunder right now, whether on the racecourse or in the sales ring. He ruled Arqana in August when his daughter of Prudenzia sold for €3 million and the Darley sire was back in the top spot as the October Sale got underway on Tuesday.  For the colt consigned as lot 86, it was a case of one powerful French-based breeding operation selling to another, with Nurlan Bizakov's Sumbe operation signing for the Al Shaqab-bred son of the...

The Goffs October HIT and Yearling Sale at Doncaster on Tuesday was topped by up-and-coming hurdler Lord, who sold to Donald McCain for £70,000. Sold as lot 58 by trainer Olly Murphy, the three-year-old son of Best Solution is on a three-race winning streak over hurdles after finishing second on his hurdling debut. The dual placed hurdler King John Oliver (Karaktar) (lot 95) was offered by Rahinston Stud and caught the eyes of Olly and Aiden Murphy for £54,000. Rounding out the top three was the bumper-placed Answer That (Holy...