Europe

1st-NAA, €15,500, Mdn, 10-16, 2yo, c/g, 6fT, 1:19.97, sf/hy. SPIRIT OF VALOR (c, 2, War Front--Stone Hope, by Grindstone), a debut third over this trip at The Curragh one week earlier, raced prominently from the outset of this quick turnaround. Pushed along passing the two pole, the 8-13 chalk quickened to the fore approaching the final eighth and was ridden out in the closing stages to assert by 3/4 of a length from Imagine If (Ire) (Dream Ahead). "It's tough going out there and the ground is softer than we...

2.35 Naas, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, f, 6fT PUPPETSHOW (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) is one of two from Ballydoyle and she is a daughter of the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest third Lesson In Humility (Ire) (Mujadil), a half to the recent G3 Oh So Sharp S. winner Poet's Vanity (GB) (Poet's Voice {GB}) who has already produced the stable's G2 Norfolk S. runner-up Coach House (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}). Also lurking among the debutantes is Moyglare Stud Farm's €350,000 GOFORB purchase Sorelle Delle Rose (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), a Dermot Weld-trained...

Next year's G1 Deutsches Derby hopefuls clash in Sunday's G3 Preis des Winterfavoriten at Cologne, with Klaus Allofs and Stiftung Gestut Fahrhof's Langtang (Ger) (Campanologist) currently assuming the mantle of favourite on the back of a maiden win over this course and distance Sept. 25. Stall Reckendorf's highly-regarded Colomano (GB) (Cacique {Ire}) was second on debut over seven furlongs at Dusseldorf Sept. 11 and is likely to attract support in a renewal lacking an obvious star.

Back to his best when sixth in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly a fortnight ago, Fair Salinia's One Foot In Heaven (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) returns to the venue to bid to gain compensation in Sunday's G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris. After wins in the G3 Prix d'Hedouville at Saint-Cloud May 8 and June 5 G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly, the homebred was a disappointing sixth in the July 3 G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud before finishing last of four in the G2 Prix Foy...

The 3-year-old Full Drago (Ity) (Pounced), third in the G1 Derby Italiano May 25 and a brilliant winner of the G2 Premio Federico Tesio four weeks ago, is the only Italian-trained runner in the field of seven contesting the G1 Gran Premio Del Jockey Club on Sunday. The ground at San Siro is heavy following three days of rain and Full Drago, according the official charts, has never run over ground slower than good-to-soft. Jockey Umberto Rispoli said, however, "forget about the charts; they made a big mistake. When I...

HAMMERING IT HOME Achieving notoriety beyond his own country when conquering a vintage renewal of the G1 Irish Champion S., Ecurie Antonio Caro's G1 Prix du Jockey-Club hero Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) showed up at Ascot on Saturday to confirm superiority over his middle-distance adversaries in the G1 Qipco Champion S. Needing all of the class and pace that had seen him overcome Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) at Leopardstown to free himself from a pocket in early straight, the 11-8 favourite was steered to the front by Christophe Soumillon...

ASCOT STATE OF MIND Bouncing back off a third in a stellar renewal of last month's G1 Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown, Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) provided trainer Aidan O'Brien with a 21st top-level success of the season, returning to the one-mile trip, in Saturday's G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. at Ascot. Racing under a firm grip in a forward third from flagfall, the 7-4 favourite quickened to the fore entering the final quarter mile and would not be denied under a late drive to prevail by a half length...

JOURNEY COMPLETE Runner-up to Simple Verse (Ire) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}) in last year's G1 Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares S., George Strawbridge's Journey (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) returned to Ascot in mean mood to readily brush aside top-class rivals and win the latest renewal by four lengths eased down under Frankie Dettori. Having advertised her wellbeing with an impressive succcess in Newmarket's Listed Princess Royal S. last time Sept. 23, the well-supported 4-1 second favourite who sported a blue hood cruised throughout in second and always had the field...

YOU DA MAN Runner-up to Quiet Reflection (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) in last month's G1 Haydock Sprint Cup, The Tin Man (GB) (Equiano {Fr}) exacted revenge on that rival with a game score in Saturday's G1 Qipco British Champions Sprint S. at Ascot. Finding an immediate rhythm steadied in mid division behind a surprisingly subdued tempo, the 13-2 chance was shaken up to close just inside the two pole and ran on strongly under a late drive to claim a career high by a length from 50-1 outsider Growl (GB) (Oasis...

Coming of age as a stayer when winning the Sept. 9 G2 Doncaster Cup over this trip, Sheikhzayedroad emerged best in a tussle with that race's runner-up Quest For More to continue the momentum into the autumn. Successful in the 2014 G2 York S. over 10 furlongs and GI Northern Dancer Turf S. at a mile and a half at Woodbine before his reincarnation as a marathon performer, the bay had a first try at this trip when sixth in the G2 Goodwood Cup last July before reverting to middle...

Aidan O'Brien's G1 Caulfield Cup contender Sir Isaac Newton (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will carry the colours of prominent local owner Lloyd William's in Saturday's A$3-million showpiece after Williams bought into the 4-year-old late on Thursday, according to Racing.com. Sir Issac Newton has enjoyed his best season on the track this year, winning the Listed Wolferton H. at Royal Ascot and The Curragh's G3 International S. before finishing fourth in both the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. and G1 Juddmonte International. Sir Isaac Newton is not the first...

Very few stayers can manage to get into the frame in the Arc, but Order of St George (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is no ordinary stayer as he bids to underline in Saturday's G2 Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup. As always at this time of year, it is a question of whether exertions earlier in the season have taken their toll, but the 4-year-old seems to have a zest for racing that stands him in fine stead as he turns out for the third time in five weeks. Surprisingly beaten...