Europe

The team at Thoroughbred Daily News is proud to sponsor, in association with the British EBF, the opening race of Yarmouth's three-day Eastern Festival on Tuesday. Nine two-year-olds will go to post for the six-furlong Thoroughbred Daily News EBF Novice Stakes, headed by Division, the sole previous winner in the line-up for James Doyle and William Haggas. A running-on second when making his debut at Windsor last month, the son of Kingman showed the benefit of that experience when justifying short odds at Haydock next time, making all to win...

There was much consternation when only three new Flat stallions retired to stand in Britain for the 2025 season. It remains to be seen whether this was a blip, but if it becomes a trend then obviously it is cause for concern. It is easy to understand why, in an increasingly commercial sphere, breeders would either flock to the proven elite (for those with mares good enough and pockets deep enough) or to the next first-season sire on the block who may be forgiven for a year or two until...

Coolmore boss John Magnier has lost a High Court case over the sale of the 750-acre Barne Estate in County Tipperary.  High Court judge Mr Justice Max Barrett concluded that a sale had not taken place between Magnier and the owner of the Barne Estate, Richard Thomson-Moore. He commented, "I am satisfied that neither the alleged land-sale agreement nor the alleged option agreement were ever concluded. Nor do I see any breach of the exclusivity agreement to arise. It follows that all the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs will be...

Lady Of Spain will put her unbeaten record on the line in either the Sun Chariot Stakes or the Prix de l'Opera, with Roger Varian keen to test the waters at the highest level with the daughter of Phoenix Of Spain.  Both high-class contests take place on the same weekend, meaning the Carlburg Stables handler is able to make a late call with the progressive four-year-old, who delighted her team when making it five-out-of-five in the Group 3 Atalanta Stakes last time. Varian said, "She's in good form and has...

With her winning momentum abruptly halted last time, many would have made the presumption that Barnavara (Calyx) was at a plateau but Alpha Racing's flagbearer was not having any of that on Sunday. Ruthlessly dominant in The Curragh's G2 Moyglare Jewels Blandford Stakes, the 6-1 shot had the notable yardsticks One Look (Gleneagles) and Red Letter (Frankel) trailing in her wake as she registered a third Stakes win under Shane Foley. "She's a fantastic filly and is improving all the time," trainer Jessica Harrington said. "She's a big filly and...

Australian Bloodstock's Al Riffa (Wootton Bassett) was the only Group 1 winner lining up for Sunday's G1 Comer Group International Irish St Leger and as he crossed the line alone at The Curragh it certainly looked like it. Always cruising throughout the generously-paced 14-furlong test under a clinically-judged ride from Dylan Browne McMonagle, the 3-1 shot swamped the three-year-old Amiloc (Postponed) a furlong out before powering to a four-length success. "I was able to take my time and every time I asked him he was there," the rider said of...

In a fairytale ending to one of the key stallion-making races of the season, the judge's photo showed the 35,000gns Without Parole colt Zavateri in front of the 450,000gns buy Gstaad (Starspangledbanner) at the culmination of Sunday's G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes at The Curragh. Having been 18-1 when swooping in Newmarket's G2 July Stakes and 8-1 when following up in Goodwood's G2 Vintage Stakes, Mick and Janice Mariscotti's Tattersalls October Book 2 bargain was 15-2 this time as Charles Bishop waited patiently for his effort in rear. Showing...

Thoroughly deserving of his first Group 1 success on Sunday, AMO Racing Limited and Giselle De Aguiar's Arizona Blaze (Sergei Prokofiev) justified David Egan's call to partner him in The Curragh's Bar One Flying Five Stakes. Taking a lead from the owners' other live contender Bucanero Fuerte (Wootton Bassett), the 11-2 shot stayed on strongly to edge ahead a furlong out and land the five-furlong prize by a length from Nighteyes (Night Of Thunder) with Bucanero Fuerte holding on for third. "I had to go with my gut feeling and I...

As it had 12 months ago, The Curragh's G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes went to Ballydoyle but not to their first string as Precise (Starspangledbanner) emulated Lake Victoria to emerge best of the stable trio under Ronan Whelan. Like Bedtime Story last year, the even-money favourite Composing (Wootton Bassett) cut out the running but faded late, leaving it to Precise and Beautify (Wootton Bassett) to fight out the finish with the former the stronger by 3/4 of a length. "I didn't jump as cleanly as I would have liked, but she...

Sunday Racing Company's G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) hero Croix Du Nord (Kitasan Black), not seen since annexing that Classic in June, became the latest Japanese nominee to lay down a marker for next month's G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with a narrow victory in Sunday's G3 Prix du Prince d'Orange at ParisLongchamp. "I knew the horse needed the race and I am very happy with the result," said trainer Takashi Saito. "Earlier this week he had not worked so well at Chantilly, so I didn't get much sleep...

Monday, Marseille-Boreley, France, post time: 13:27, LA COUPE DE MARSEILLE-Listed, €50,300, 3yo, 10fT Field: Instant Fragile (Fr) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), Aidan's Phone (Fr) (Prince Gibraltar {Fr}), Merano (Swi) (Vanishing Cupid {Swi}), Al Aali (Fr) (City Light {Fr}), Dioptase (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), Lakota Beau (Fr) (Sioux Nation), Master Cath (Fr) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), Paix Des Dames (GB) (Le Havre {Ire}), Thordis (Fr) (Earthlight {Ire}). TDN Verdict: Listed Prix Aymeri de Mauleon victor Instant Fragile and Listed Prix Francois Mathet scorer Aidan's Phone are the only black-type winners lining up in...

Sunday, Curragh, post time: 16:25, COMER GROUP INTERNATIONAL IRISH ST LEGER-G1, €290,000, 3yo/up, 14fT Field: Al Qareem (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}), Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Crystal Black (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), Dallas Star (Fr) (Cloth Of Stars {Ire}), Illinois (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Leinster (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Queenstown (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Waldadler (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), Amiloc (GB) (Postponed {Ire}). TDN Analysis: Now that Al Riffa has proven his stamina for this trip with a clear-cut win in the G2 Curragh Cup, he holds obvious claims but last year's St Leger runner-up...