Europe

Debuts simply don't come much more encouraging than that of The Publican's Son (Beau Liam) at the Curragh last month - so encouraging that this maiden is now being readied to test his mettle against some of the best sprinting juveniles that Europe has to offer in Saturday's G1 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket. Already highly tried when debuting in the G3 Round Tower Stakes over six furlongs, the 40/1 shot was the slowest of the 10 runners from the stalls there, betraying his inexperience in a race where each...

Thursday, Newmarket, post time: 15:35, THE TATTERSALLS STAKES (REGISTERED AS THE SOMERVILLE TATTERSALL STAKES)-G3, £60,000, 2yo, c/g, 7fT Field: Archer Royal (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), Catullus (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Commander's Intent (Fr) (Victor Ludorum {GB}), Distant Storm (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Northern Champion (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Rogue Supremacy (GB) (St Mark's Basilica {Fr}), Special Dividend (GB) (Ardad {Ire}), Stellar Sunrise (GB) (Space Blues {Ire}), Wechaad (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}). TDN Analysis: This is a kind of Dewhurst trial and sometimes a pointer to the following year's Guineas,...

Stewards will be able to declare a horse a non-runner in any race without starting stalls if they deem that contender has been denied a fair start after a rule change was made by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA). Beginning next Wednesday, the rule change brings both NH and Flat together. There was already a similar rule in place since last May for horses jumping from the starting stalls. Stewards will be able to deem a horse a non-runner if they believe the horse did not get a fair start...

The 1% Club, a new fundraising initiative designed to unite consignors, breeders, and buyers in support of Racing Welfare, was launched on Wednesday. Through the scheme, consignors and breeders are invited to nominate one yearling from their draft at the upcoming Tattersalls October Yearling Sales, pledging 1% of its sale price to Racing Welfare. Participating horses will be highlighted in sales catalogues, signalling to buyers and the wider industry their valuable contribution to the welfare of racing's people. Chasemore Farm has nominated lot 1827, a bay filly by Pinatubo out...

Classic winner Scandinavia will not travel Down Under for a G1 Melbourne Cup engagement in November, trainer Aidan O'Brien revealed. The son of Justify, fresh off consecutive victories in the G1 Goodwood Cup and the G1 St Leger, will head to winter quarters instead with an eye to Royal Ascot's G1 Gold Cup in June. O'Brien told the PA news agency of the Coolmore partners' runner, "He's not going [to Australia], he's finished for the year and will be trained for the Gold Cup next year." Placed twice from three...

FAIRYHOUSE, IRELAND - On a day when even the wildest expectations for the opening session of the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale were exceeded, Peter Nolan enjoyed a result he will never forget when his homebred colt by first-season sire Blackbeard was knocked down to Ted Durcan for €165,000. That result represented a shrewd piece of business for Nolan who went with his gut when deciding not to part with the Blackbeard colt as a foal, thus reaping the rewards for sitting on his hands until the yearling sales.  It...

Goffs has catalogued 75 lots for its upcoming British NH Breeders Showcase, which takes place Friday, Oct. 31. In its third year, the sale will offer 65 NH foals in addition to 10 breeding stock lots, several of which at offered in foal to NH sires. The sale will feature foals by Bathyrhon, Capri, Choeur du Nord, Cracksman, Frontiersman, Jack Hobbs, Jeu St Eloi, Logician, Moises Has, Order of St George, Poet's Word, Postponed, Stradivarius, Subjectivist and Yeats. The breeding stock segment of the sale will follow the foal session....

The boy-made-good story of Wootton Bassett is as time-honoured as life itself. To a degree, it is a rags-to-riches tale, particularly when it comes to the phenomenal trajectory of his stallion career. And it is a story which is ending far too soon. The 17-year-old stallion died on Tuesday at Coolmore Australia in the Hunter Valley after developing acute pneumonia from a bout of choke, a condition in which food blocks the oesophagus, often leading to complications. His passing comes at a time when Wootton Bassett was in his pomp;...

With two races each offering prize-money of £100,000, the British EBF 2yo Series, now in its fourth year, headlines the activities on the Flat for the British European Breeders' Fund, which is supported by the British stallion owners.  Juveniles who took part in more than 170 restricted maiden and novice races in the country are eligible for Wednesday's fillies' final at Goodwood or the colts' final, which is to be run on October 10 at York. With just over £50,000 to the winner, the former has attracted 14 declared runners...

Following the news earlier in the day of his sire's untimely passing, Aidan O'Brien trainee Straight Up (Wootton Bassett) delivered a poignant win for Flaxman Stables and the Coolmore partners in Tuesday's WTW Willis Irish EBF Maiden at Listowel. Stalking the pace in second for most of the seven-furlong contest, the 9-4 favourite inched ahead approaching the final furlong and drew off late to assert by three lengths from King Of Sparta (Dubawi). "To do that without a prior run was a very good performance and Wayne [Lordan] was delighted...

The bloodstock world has been rocked by the news that Wootton Bassett has died in Australia at the age of 17. The son of Iffraaj had suffered a bout of choke, a condition in which a food blockage occurs in the oesophagus, which can lead to inflammation and other complications. In a statement on social media, Coolmore Australia said, "Wootton Bassett, one of the world's great sires, has sadly passed away today at Coolmore Australia having suffered from choke and subsequently developing an acute pneumonia which deteriorated rapidly. "Despite round-the-clock...

Three more wildcards have been added to the Arqana Arc Sale, bringing the total number catalogued for the October 4 auction to 40. The newcomers are led by Zakharova (lot 32), the winner of the Listed Prix Joubert on her most recent start for Francois Belmont trained filly The three-year-old daughter of Zelzal was also was also placed in the Prix de Thiberville and Prix Caravelle. Relaxx, who is also three and a daughter of City Light, will be offered as lot 40. Third in the G3 Prix Bertrand de...