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After a low-key opening day, Doncaster's St Leger meeting moves up a gear on Thursday with some highly regarded 2-year-old fillies on display in the G2 May Hill S. Abdulla Al Mansoori's Kilmah (GB) (Sepoy {Aus}) is the pick on form, having won the G3 Prestige S. on her first try at seven furlongs at Goodwood 12 days ago, but that is by no means an unobtainable standard for her less-exposed opponents to aim at. "We are not certain she will stay a mile and we are not certain she...

Following a disappointing effort when seventh in the G2 Hardwicke S., Simple Verse (Ire) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}) returns to the course and distance over which she won last year's G1 St Leger in Thursday's G2 DFS Park Hill S. at Doncaster. Not firing in the first part of this season, Qatar Racing's first Classic winner has been revived since that June 18 Royal Ascot contest and bids to get back on track taking on the smart Abingdon (Street Cry {Ire}). Impressive when winning the Listed Galtres S. over 12...

In the last five years the September Yearling Sale at Tattersalls Ireland has doubled both in turnover and average. Admittedly, it has doubled from relatively modest figures. Back in 2011 the Irish bloodstock market had just begun showing signs of recovery, and the sale posted an aggregate of just over €4.6- million for an average of €10,951. Last year, those figures had jumped to a turnover of €9.8-million and an average of €24,093 from a significantly smaller catalogue. With an impressive roll call of top-class winners from the last few...

Trainer Richard Fahey said he is looking forward to taking on unbeaten G1 Prix Morny winner Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy) with his G2 Lowther S. winner Queen Kindly (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the Sept. 24 G1 Cheveley Park S. after declaring her at the latest scratching stage on Wednesday. A first-out maiden winner at Catterick in June, Queen Kindly was beaten just a half-length when third behind Brave Anna (War Front) in the G3 Albany S. at Royal Ascot two weeks later. She has since won her last two, including...

With trainer Dermot Weld's stable jockey, Pat Smullen, having opted to ride dual Derby winner Harzand (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) in Saturday's G1 Qipco Irish Champion S., champion jockey Frankie Dettori has picked up the mount on dual Group 1 winner Fascinating Rock (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) in the €1.25-million Leopardstown contest. "It's a good ride for a very good trainer," said Dettori's agent, Ray Cochrane. "It's smashing and we're lucky to have him. Frankie's not ridden for Mr. Weld in the time I've been doing his rides." Smullen has...

Lucky Lion (GB) (High Chaparral {Ire}–Lips Arrow {Ger}, by Big Shuffle), who bested Noble Mission (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) in the 2014 G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis Bayerisches Zuchtrennen after finishing second in the G1 Deutsches Derby, will take up stud duty next year at Gestut Graditz, according to Galopponline.de. Gestut Graditz manager Mathias Tandler told that site, "We came to agreement with the Mosca family on all the contract points at the BBAG Yearling Sale and his stud fee will be announced at the Hanover breeders' day on Sept. 26. The cross...

The annual dispersal of Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown Stud provided the top two lots of the Goffs UK September Sale on Tuesday. Taking top billing was lot 153, the Grade 2-winning hurdler Bright New Dawn (Ire) (Presenting {GB}). The 9-year-old gelding was hammered down to Stroud Coleman Bloodstock and Venetia Williams for £56,000. Lot 125, the 6-year-old gelding Cogryhill (Ire) (Presenting {GB}), was next on the sheets at £44,000 after being bought by Adam Potts. The best of the rest of the drafts was lot 141, the two-time winner Imperial Prince...

1st-LEI, £8,000, Mdn, 9-6, 2yo, f, 8f 60yT, 1:48.22, g/s. +CORONET (GB), f, 2, by Dubawi (Ire) 1st Dam: Approach (GB) (SW & GSP-Eng, GSP-US, $187,940), by Darshaan (GB) 2nd Dam: Last Second (Ire), by Alzao 3rd Dam: Alruccaba (Ire), by Crystal Palace (Fr) Coronet was caught dozing at the break, losing significant ground, but an unexacting pace allowed her to recover swiftly from a slumbering start and latch onto the tail of the bunch in this unveiling. The crowd's 11-10 choice inched closer once into the straight and was...

All the expected big names remain in the five Group 1s for this weekend's Irish Champions Weekend after Tuesday's declaration stage. Dual Derby winner Harzand (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and six-time Group 1 winner Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) head 17 still standing for the €1.25-million G1 Qipco Irish Champion S., with the latter getting the antepost nod at 7-4 with Paddy Power. Their tasks will not be easy, however, with Group 1 winners Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), New Bay (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Fascinating Rock (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), Found...

'TDN Rising Star' Seven Heavens (GB) (Frankel {GB}) will race once more this year, according to trainer John Gosden. The Khalid Abdullah colourbearer broke his maiden at first asking at Ascot July 8, and earned the Rising Star tag when easily dismissing of his lone rival in a Goodwood conditions race Aug. 30. "He is tall and has grown a lot," said Gosden. "He was a little boy when he came in. He has grown all year and won two races, which is brilliant." "He was set alight at Goodwood...

2.00 Leicester, Mdn, £8,000, 2yo, f, 8f 60yT CORONET (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) debuts for her breeders Denford Stud and the John Gosden stable and is a half-sister to Midas Touch (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), who was runner-up in the 2010 G1 Irish Derby and G1 St Leger. The dam, who was graded stakes-placed, is a half to Aussie Rules descending from the 1996 G2 Sun Chariot S. and G2 Nassau S. heroine Last Second (Ire) (Alzao). 4.35 Leicester, Mdn, £8,000, 2yo, 7fT JUPITER LIGHT (GB) (Lonhro {Aus}) is a son of...

Unbeaten 3-year-old filly So Mi Dar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and her Classic-winning John Gosden stablemate Jack Hobbs (GB) (Halling) are nearing returns, according to the Newmarket conditioner. So Mi Dar, a daughter of triple Group 1 winner Dar Re Mi (Ire) (Singspiel {Ire}), hasn't been seen since winning the G3 Musidora S. May 11 by four lengths, having been injured in the lead-up to the G1 Investec Oaks. She is entered in Sunday's G2 Moyglare "Jewels" Blandford S. at The Curragh, but Gosden revealed she is likely to wait for...