Europe

Boasting a near-faultless tally when the going is not on the quick side, Quiet Reflection (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) has ideal conditions as she bids for a third top-level success in Saturday's G1 Qipco British Champions Sprint at Ascot. Third to Limato (Ire) (Tagula {Ire}) on good-to-firm in the G1 July Cup at Newmarket July 9, the 3-year-old sprinting sensation of 2016 has been beaten on only one other occasion throughout her career when still a raw youngster in the G2 Lowther S. at York last August. Her wins either side...

Saturday's G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. is one of the strongest on the Ascot card, with at least two fillies who would have held major claims in the feature race itself in Seventh Heaven (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Zhukova (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). The latter has long promised to become a significant presence in this company and looked to be building towards a peak when beating the June 4 G1 Epsom Derby runner-up US Army Ranger (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G3 Kilternan S. over this trip at...

One of the bit-players on the miling scene earlier this season, Godolphin's Ribchester (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) has gradually earned the leading role and could even clinch champion status in the category in Saturday's G1 Qipco Queen Elizabeth II S. at Ascot. Third in the G1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket Apr. 30, the bay has gone forward with relentless momentum subsequently as trainer Richard Fahey picked his way through the season's maze. Outclassing solid types in the seven-furlong G3 Jersey S. at Royal Ascot June 15, he was catching The Gurkha...

The sporting public love a trier and a fighter who gives their all, and in Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) they have a filly returning triumphant from Chantilly who will leave nothing behind as she attempts to conquer Saturday's G1 Qipco Champion S. at Ascot. Turning around a series of reversals when securing glory with real authority in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe 13 days ago, the 4-year-old, who was arguably unlucky when runner-up in this last year, may only just be coming to herself. Trainer Aidan O'Brien is...

After the heady business of the past couple of weeks, one knew what to expect from the final session of the October Yearling Sale at Tattersalls simply by surveying the car park: more trainers' than owners' badges, and number plates from some of the sport's more remote European outposts. There was a corresponding ceiling to the bidding through the remainder of Book 3; nonetheless, the close-of-business numbers stacked up very well, and no doubt another gem or two will follow in the footsteps of Delectation (GB) (Delegator{GB}), an unbeaten Group...

3rd-RED, £5,000, Mdn, 10-14, 2yo, 6fT, 1:13.07, g/s. +KHAMAARY (IRE) (f, 2, Tamayuz {GB}--Nufoos {GB} {SW & MGSP-Eng, $133,723}, by Zafonic) was sharply into stride and raced prominently, in an overall third, through the early fractions of this unveiling. Bustled along soon after halfway, the 3-1 second choice delivered her challenge entering the final quarter mile and kept on gamely under a late drive to deny Bithynia (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) by a neck in the dying strides. She is out of MGSP Listed Eternal S. victress Nufoos (GB) (Zafonic) and...

SANS EQUIVOQUE ON TOP AT MAISONS-LAFFITTE Fresh from a narrow verdict going six furlongs in Maisons-Laffitte's G3 Prix Eclipse last month, Sans Equivoque (Ger) (Stormy River {Fr}) repeated the dose in Thursday's G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte back over the same course and distance. Steadied at the tail of the seven-strong field after a level break, the 3-1 second favourite was nudged along to take closer order approaching the final quarter mile and kept on strongly under late rousting to deny the persistent attention of Boos (Fr) (Dream Ahead) by a...

2.50 Redcar, Mdn, £5,000, 2yo, 6fT KHAMAARY (IRE) (Tamayuz {GB}) debuts in the Shadwell silks carried by her G1 Middle Park S. and G2 Mill Reef S.-winning half-brother Awzaan (GB) (Alhaarth {Ire}). Like that unbeaten juvenile of 2009, the homebred--who is also kin to three other black-type performers--represents the Mark Johnston stable.

Smashing the record price for Book 3, Ballyhimikin Stud's smart son of Kodiac (Ire) (lot 1549) was the highlight of a buoyant first session of the sale, with Charlie Gordon-Watson out-trumping Richard Brown at 200,000gns. Out of an unraced sister to the late Danetime (Ire) (Danehill), the late April colt represented a decent pinhooking success for James and Charlotte Hanly, who bought him at Goffs for €25,000. “He's a beautiful colt who did really well. We just loved his pedigree, there's a lot of early speed and hopefully he'll be...

Saturday's G1 Qipco Champion S. has attracted a field of 11 following Thursday's declaration stage for this year's renewal of Ascot's 10-furlong contest. Last year's hero, Fascinating Rock (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus})--who was forced out of his engagement in Chantilly's G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe earlier this month--has been allocated 10, while last year's second Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who overcame a wide gate to claim Arc glory in her most recent go, is drawn widest of all. Her stablemate and G1 Epsom Derby runner-up US Army Ranger (Ire)...

Friday's G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte comes late in the season for the 2-year-old sprinters, but it offers the last chance for the category members to achieve something notable before the curtain comes down. It is a shame that the unbeaten G3 Firth of Clyde S. winner Delectation (GB) (Delegator {GB}) is a non-runner, but the representation from Britain remains typically strong as that country seeks a sixth renewal since 2005. Ibrahim Araci's Koropick (Ire) (Kodiac {Ire}) boasts the best form among them, having followed a second to The Last Lion...

This season's dual Group 1-winning sprinter Limato (Ire) (Tagula {Ire}) has been removed from Saturday's G1 Qipco British Champions Sprint S. at Ascot due to soft ground concerns. The 4-year-old will re-route to the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita Nov. 5. "It's just the ground. He'll go to the Breeders' Cup now," confirmed trainer Henry Candy, who will still saddle Twilight Son (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) in the 1200-metre contest, which also includes sprinting standouts like Quiet Reflection (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), Shalaa (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Mecca's...