Europe

Shalaa (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) is set to make his eagerly-awaited return to action in the G3 John Guest Bengough S. at Ascot on Saturday. The John Gosden-trained colt won five of his six juvenile starts last season, culminating in successive Group 1 triumphs in the Prix Morny at Deauville and the Middle Park S. at Newmarket. He has not been seen in competitive action so far this year after suffering a pelvic injury earlier in the campaign, but is ready to make his comeback a fortnight ahead of an...

Christophe Soumillon will partner Silverwave (Fr) (Silver Frost {Ire}) for the first time in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly on Sunday. The Pascal Bary-trained 4-year-old won the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in July and returned from a break to land the G2 Prix Foy over the Arc course and distance earlier this month. Maxime Guyon has been ever present in the saddle aboard Silverwave so far this season, but as he is committed to riding G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille heroine Left Hand (GB) (Dubawi {Ire})...

Henry Candy is keeping his fingers crossed for fast ground at Chantilly this weekend to allow Limato (Ire) (Tagula {Ire}) to line up in the G1 Qatar Prix de la Foret. The brilliant G1 July Cup hero has not been seen in competitive action since beating all bar Mecca's Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) over five furlongs in the G1 Nunthorpe S. at York in August. Limato finished runner-up in the Foret at Longchamp 12 months ago and Candy sees the seven-furlong Group 1 as the perfect target for his...

Dual Group 1 winner Alice Springs (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is one of 10 fillies in contention for Saturday's G1 Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot S. at Newmarket. Aidan O'Brien's charge broke her top-level duck with victory in the G1 Falmouth S. on the July Course during the summer and while she disappointed on her next start in the G1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville, she bounced back with a superb display in the G1 Matron S. at Leopardstown on Sept. 10. She could renew rivalries this weekend with the John Gosden-trained...

As Brave Anna and Roly Poly strolled around the pre-parade ring together, it was impossible not to notice the physical similarities between the two, which extend to their facial markings. Perhaps this is hardly surprising because they are bred along similar lines. Whereas the victorious Brave Anna is out of a daughter of Sadler's Wells, Roly Poly--already winner of the G2 Duchess of Cambridge S.--is out of a granddaughter, by Galileo. Bearing in mind that Sadler's Wells, like Danzig, was a son of Northern Dancer, it is understandable that War...

Four days of yearling trade begins today at Goffs with the two-day Orby Sale followed immediately by the Sportsman's Sale. The profile of the Orby has increased dramatically in recent years, a fact which has not escaped the attention of buyers from far and wide. Newcomers to the sale this year include David Ingordo, the team from Zayat Stables and Mike Carpenter among a strong American contingent, as well as visitors from Australia, Singapore and South Africa. After heavy rain over the weekend interrupted some of the early viewing days,...

It would be a dream for most stud farms to breed a Classic winner, but to breed two is quite an achievement. That happens to be the record of Clare Castle Stud, based in Tipperary and owned in partnership by the long term Coolmore managers David O'Loughlin, Harry King, Dermot Ryan and Maurice Moloney. When Authorized (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) won the G1 Epsom Derby by five lengths in 2007, the four colleagues could be forgiven for thinking that was as good as it could get, until Order Of St George...

An early fascination with Thoroughbred pedigrees has led Waterford farmer Gerry Burke to quietly carve out a very successful niche over the last three decades from his Dungarvan-based Glidawn Stud. Pinhooking foals is a pursuit fraught with pitfalls, but it has served Burke extremely well since he began trading bloodstock while still a teenager. Burke, though, is first and foremost a farmer, as he explains, "I'm a full-time farmer, I rear calves but I also try and pinhook about 20 foals a year. I've been doing it since I was...

Two Group 1 winners at 25-1, within 40 minutes and over the same strip of ground, and people still can't see what had been happening all through the meeting? Very rarely do you see so many horses outside their comfort zone, so far out, as in the sport staged on the Rowley Mile this week. Think of the number of times you have watched whole groups of horses finishing off their races over this ancient turf: switched off early, organised through the Dip, and then bounding up to the post....

La Cressonniere (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) has been ruled out of next Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe by trainer Jean-Claude Rouget after returning sore after training on Saturday, according to Jour de Galop. "On Saturday morning, after her canter, we found that the filly was feeling a little discomfort in her hindquarters," Rouget explained. "So we were forced to put her on an anti-inflammatory. Given the time requirements, it is impossible for her to start this Sunday at Chantilly." Rouget said he did not believe the setback...

12.55 Maisons-Laffitte, Debutantes, €27,000, 2yo, c/g, 8fT MANKIB (GB) (Tamayuz {GB}) races in the colours of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum for Freddy Head's stable and is the latest progeny out of the 2007 G1 Cheveley Park S. and 2008 G1 1000 Guineas heroine Natagora (Fr) (Divine Light {Jpn}). In opposition is His Highness The Aga Khan's Valamaz (Fr) (Azamour {Ire}), an Alain de Royer-Dupre-trained son of the dual group winner Vadapolina (Fr) (Trempolino) and a half-brother to the 2014 G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches runner-up Veda (Fr) (Dansili...

Tipperary-based trainer Tommy Stack will retire at the end of this season, handing his license over to his assistant and son Fozzy Stack, according to Racing Post. The 71-year-old Stack began training in 1986 upon conclusion of a successful career as a jumps jockey, highlighted by a victory aboard Red Rum in his third Grand National win in 1977. His first big-race winner was 1988 Cartier Million winner Corwyn Bay (GB) (Caerleon), and his first Classic winner came in 1994 when he saddled Las Meninas (Ire) (Glenstal) to win the...