Europe

The Cashman family's Rathbarry Stud has acquired two new stallions for 2017. Ajaya (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Kodi Bear (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) will join the roster at the Cork stud with Group 2 winner Kodi Bear being the first son of Kodiac (GB) (Danehill) to retire to stud. Clive Cox trained Kodi Bear, a 62,000gns yearling, to win four of his thirteen starts including the G2 Celebration Mile at Goodwood when he beat Gabrial (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) by three lengths. "Kodi Bear was a pleasure to train and...

South Africa's Mayfair Speculators have already made their presence felt this summer at Arqana's August Sale and they were the dominant buying force at the BBAG Yearling Sale at Iffezheim when signing for eight lots, including the sale-topper at €500,000. Sea The Stars (Ire) has already been responsible for a German Derby winner in Sea The Moon (Ger) and his sole yearling in the auction lot 173 – a half-sister to G1 Preis von Europa winner Empoli (Ger) (Halling) – stole the show when offered through Ronald Rauscher's draft for...

Baden-Baden's action moves up a notch on Saturday, with the G2 T Von Zastrow Stutenpreis featuring some movers and shakers among the female brigade. Heading the home defence is Gestut Fahrhof's Sarandia (Ger) (Dansili {GB}), who was runner-up to Serienholde (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) in the G1 Preis der Diana over 11 furlongs at Dusseldorf last time Aug. 7. She holds the fourth and fifth-placed Kasalla (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) and Parvaneh (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) on that running and sets the standard. Jean-Claude Rouget's groundbreaking season continues apace...

Saturday's G1 32Red Sprint Cup at Haydock offers a telling clash of the generations and sexes, with the older brigade's Limato (Ire) (Tagula {Ire}) and The Tin Man (GB) (Equiano {Fr}) taken on by the 3-year-old fillies Quiet Reflection (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) and Dancing Star (GB) (Aqlaam {GB}). The latter is perhaps the most fascinating contender, having emulated the Stewards' Cup victory of her relative Lochsong (GB) at Goodwood last time July 30. Whereas that stellar sprinter spent the rest of her season in handicaps after that win, trainer Andrew...

Khalid Abdullah's homebred Time Test (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) has been roughed off for the European season and is taking a break back at his owner's Juddmonte Farms in Newmarket. Trainer Roger Charlton was originally hoping to take in both the Irish and English Champion S. with the 4-year-old but he had not been pleasing his trainer in his recent homework. "He lost a bit of condition and I wasn't entirely happy with his work leading up to the Juddmonte International," Charlton said. "He is on holiday at Juddmonte and there...

Not surprisingly Aidan O'Brien will be well represented at both Leopardstown and The Curragh next weekend where he plans to give plenty of his juveniles the chance to increase their profiles over the two days. Absent from the weekend team and probably the remainder of the season will be Caravaggio (War Front) who picked up a minor injury recently. "He's good, he is back cantering," O'Brien said of the unbeaten colt. “We'll probably decide next week whether he will make it back or not this year. There's a good chance...

With ten group races up for grabs over Irish Champions Weekend a lot of trainers and owners are finalising plans for their relative stars and one candidate that will go to Ireland seeking a first victory this season is Queen's Trust (GB) (Dansili {GB}). Cheveley Park Stud's homebred filly is earmarked for the G2 Moyglare “Jewels” Blandford S. at The Curragh next Sunday. Having made a successful juvenile debut last year the Sir Michael Stoute trained 3-year-old has yet to add to that score despite some highly creditable placed efforts...

Clive Cox reports his G1 Prince Of Wales's S. winner My Dream Boat (Ire) (Lord Shanakill) in great shape ahead of next Saturday's G1 QIPCO Irish Champions S. at Leopardstown. A shock winner of that Royal Ascot contest in June, Paul & Clare Rooney's colt is on a retrieval mission following his tame effort when fifth behind Hawkbill (Kitten's Joy) in the G1 Coral Eclipse at Sandown. Following that run Cox decided to concentrate on an autumn campaign with the 4-year-old and feels he has benefited from a mid-season break....

1.45 Fontainebleau, Mdn, €27,000, unraced 2yo, 6fT Godolphin homebred BIRMANO (Elusive Quality), one of a duo from the Andre Fabre yard, is out of the 2007 G1 Eliseo Ramirez heroine Que Piensa Cat (Easing Along), herself a full-sister to Eliseo Ramirez third Simpatica Cat (Arg), and faces seven rivals in this newcomers' test. They include stablemate and Michael Tabor colourbearer Savoir Faire (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), who is kin to six black-type performers including G3 Chartwell Fillies' S. victress San Sicharia (Ire) (Daggers Drawn) and MSW G2 Norfolk S. runner-up...

Eagle Top (GB) (Pivotal {GB}–Gull Wing {Ire}, by In The Wings {GB}), winner of the 2014 G2 King Edward VI S. at Royal Ascot, has been retired, trainer John Gosden told Racing Post. The 5-year-old, campaigned as a homebred by Lady Bamford, was runner-up at Royal Ascot the following year in the G2 Hardwicke S., and recorded perhaps his most memorable performance when second by a nose to Postponed (Ire) (Dubawi {GB}) in last year's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. Eagle Top had failed to hit the board...

Horse racing, in common with any sport, has its share of opportunities and challenges as it fights for the public's attention and support. The world of sport and entertainment has never been more competitive than it is now, and with it being a world that is ever changing and evolving, those sports that fail to adapt to their customers' needs and wants are being left behind. Of all the challenges that horse racing faces in Great Britain and Ireland, one of the biggest dangers is also the one that is...

4th-SAL, £12,000, Mdn, 9-1, 2yo, f, 6f 212yT, 1:28.97, g/f. ARGENTERIE (GB) (f, 2, Archipenko--Sterling Sound {SP-Eng}, by Street Cry {Ire}), third on debut behind the subsequent G2 Debutante S. winner Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and listed-placed Amabilis (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) over seven furlongs at Glorious Goodwood July 28, broke smartly to assume the early lead at a track heavily favouring prominently-ridden horses. Turning the screw passing the quarter pole, the even-money favourite was able to be eased late to register a convincing 3 1/4-length verdict over Interweave (GB)...