Europe

Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's Derrinstown Stud in Kildare has bolstered it's stallion ranks with the addition of both Awtaad (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and Markaz (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) for the 2017 season. Awtaad, bred by Sheikh Hamdan out of the winning stakes placed mare Asheerah (GB) (Shamardal), has proved a top class miler for trainer Kevin Prendergast winning the G1 Tattersalls 2000 Guineas and was last seen racing to an authoritative victory in the G2 Clipper Logistics Boomerang S. at Leopardstown on Irish Champions Weekend. Markaz, trained by Owen Burrows, has...

ARC DRAWS SIXTEEN; O'BRIEN TRIO ON THE WING Attempting to halt a run of five straight Group 1 runner-up finishes this term, Aidan O'Brien trainee Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was served no favours during a televised draw ceremony and drew box 12 for Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly. Although faring better than last term's lottery when just two started wider at Longchamp, this year's kinder venue may assist in avoiding a repeat of her troubled trip in that latest renewal and provide O'Brien with just a...

All eyes will be on Chantilly this weekend as it stages the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and all its supporting features amidst ongoing construction at Longchamp Racecourse. One of those supporting features--an increasingly important one at that--is Arqana's Arc Sale, which year-after-year turns out progressive runners that go on to win prestigious races in all corners of the globe. The Arc sale this year takes place Oct. 1 after racing at Chantilly at the Pharis yard, just minutes from the racecourse. The historic yard was once owned by Marcel...

The progeny of Ballyhane Stud's Dandy Man (Ire) (Mozart {Ire}) proved popular during Tuesday's opening session of the Goffs Orby Sale, with his two youngsters on offer selling for an average of €177,500. That the dearest of that duo, the Ballyhane-consigned hip 191, was purchased by Hong Kong-based George Moore (€220,000) was no surprise, given the success of the stallion's son Peniaphobia (Ire), victorious in last year's G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint and twice placed in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai. Thursday saw a shift in selling to...

A total of 1,515 lots have been catalogued for the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale to be conducted Monday through Thursday, Oct. 24-27, a sale whose 12,000gns graduate Jet Setting (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}) landed this year's G1 Irish 1000 Guineas. Billed as the world's largest sale of horses in training, this year's catalogue features almost 90 group/listed performers, including Dick Whittington (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle), winner of the 2014 G1 Phoenix S. and victorious in this year's G3 Ballycorus S. at Leopardstown. He is one of 31 horses to be...

Frankie Dettori's career has somehow always been charted from one public landmark to another: fleeting moments that unmistakably condense and guarantee a lasting impact on Turf history. Of course, these tend to be sooner moments of triumph than crisis, none more so than his defining breakthrough at Ascot 20 years ago this week. But the lows, when they have come, have been no less melodramatic. Hauled from the flames of a plane crash. An excruciating breakdown in his 18-year relationship with Godolphin. A six-month drugs ban. In celebrating the anniversary...

On numbers alone, trainer Chris Waller figures to have his picture taken after the running of Saturday's G1 McGrath Estate Agents Metropolitan S. at Randwick. The trick is determining which of the six entrants has the best chance of emerging victorious. Who Shot Thebarman (NZ) (Yamanin Vital {NZ}) is getting a bit long in the tooth, having recently turned eight years of age, but he appears to retain his zest for racing. Unplaced in his first two runs this preparation over 1400 and 1600 metres, the bay gelding turned in...

Darren Weir has trained the winners of better than 2500 races in a career that peaked with a championship season in 2015-2016. Not one of those victories has come in Sydney, but Palentino (Aus) (Teofilo {Ire}) will attempt to set that record straight as the 126-pound starting highweight in Saturday's G1 TAB Epsom H. at Royal Randwick. Upset winner of last year's G1 Australian Guineas over this 1600-metre journey, the chestnut closed some ground two back to be fifth to the in-form Black Heart Bart (Aus) (Blackfriars {Aus}) in the...

The perfect finale to the 2016 Goffs Orby Sale was provided when the standout of the Wildenstein family's yearling dispersal, a Dubawi (Ire) colt out of Classic heroine Beauty Parlour (GB) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), became the sole yearling to breach the million-euro mark when selling for €1.4 million to John Ferguson. “This has to be the pedigree of the year in Europe,” said Henry Beeby from the rostrum as he urged Ferguson to counter bids from a Goffs representative standing alongside Joseph Allen during a protracted bidding duel for the...

With a list of buyers as diverse as the sires of the best-selling yearlings, the Goffs Orby Sale kicked off in buoyant fashion on Tuesday with an 8% improvement in the average to €109,877 and a leading lady by Galileo (Ire) sold for €900,000. Though nothing breached the million-euro mark during the opening session, the strength at the top end of the market was highlighted by the fact that 64 yearlings sold for €100,000 or more, while across the board the 84% clearance rate seen for the same session last...

2.50 Salisbury, Cond, €15,000, 2yo, 6fT EQTIRAAN (IRE) (Helmet {Aus}) takes a step down in class for the Richard Hannon stable after running third to one of the season's leading juveniles South Seas (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in the G3 Solario S. at Sandown last month. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum's relative of the classy sprinter Majestic Missile (Ire) (Royal Applause {GB}) had previously beaten the subsequent G2 Champagne S. winner Rivet (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) at Ascot on debut in July and should make light work of...

The board of Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) met Tuesday to review matters concerning the reappointment of its Chief Executive, Brian Kavanagh, and elements of the commentary and misunderstandings which have followed. The Board expressed regret that this matter has become the subject of public concern. Suggestions that the Chairman intentionally misled the relevant Government Departments with regard to the CEO appointment process were refuted. Beginning in 2011, the then Board mandated the then HRI Chairman to advance outstanding matters regarding the resolution of the CEO's contract and any related matters....