Europe

4.20 York, Mdn, £60,000, 2yo, 7fT VIA SERENDIPITY (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) debuts for Ibrahim Araci and Hugo Palmer in this extremely valuable “Convivial Maiden” which played host to Stravinsky in 1998. A 320,000gns Tattersalls Breezer, the bay hails from the family of Chimes of Freedom (Private Account), Denon and Spinning World et al and meets a Godolphin newcomer in Capezzano (Bernardini), a Charlie Appleby-trained colt whose dam is a half to Speightstown.

Few who recall the dynamic performance of Nemoralia (More Than Ready) in the Listed Michael Seely Memorial S. over a mile here May 13 will look elsewhere as she enjoys a drop in class in Friday's G3 City of York S. After that six-length win, she was runner-up to Qemah (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) in the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot June 17 and fourth in the G1 Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly July 10 and deserves the chance to restore some confidence. Opposing her is the upwardly-mobile 3-year-old...

Without a win since last year's G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, Trip To Paris (Ire) (Champs Elysees {GB}) faces an ideal opportunity to regain that thread in Friday's G2 Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup at York. After a highly respectable comeback third in the 10-furlong Listed Steventon S. at Newbury July 16, the bay who was also second in the G1 Caulfield Cup and fourth in the G1 Melbourne Cup before sustaining a tendon injury in the G1 Japan Cup looks set fair but trainer Ed Dunlop is sounding a...

It is only a furlong difference between the G1 July Cup and G1 Coolmore Nunthorpe S., but for Henry Candy it seems like a grand canyon as he prepares Paul Jacobs's Limato (Ire) (Tagula {Ire}) for the five-furlong speed test at York on Friday. So impressive in Newmarket's six-furlong feature July 9, the 4-year-old who had previously finished fourth in the G1 Lockinge S. over a mile at Newbury May 14 bids to become the first older horse since Cadeaux Genereux (GB) to complete that particular big-race double in 1989....

Abingdon showed that she possessed an engine inside her imposing frame when breaking her maiden at the expense of the G2 Ribblesdale S. runner-up Ajman Princess (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and Listed Height of Fashion S. winner Skiffle (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) over 10 furlongs at Ascot May 6 before following up in the Listed Lord Weinstock Memorial S. over that trip at Newbury June 9. Given too much to do when second in the Listed Chalice S. over this distance at Newmarket last time July 30, the homebred came forward again...

The business of standing stallions has long been perceived to be a practice reserved for the elitist of the elite in the Sport of Kings. Acquiring a colt good enough to materialize into a stallion–not to even mention scooping one up after an accomplished racing career–was out of the financial reach of most stallion masters, and therefore history has seen the most successful stallions concentrated at a small group of farms, whether that be in Kentucky or Europe. A look at more recent sire lists, however, suggest that trend is...

Aidan O'Brien had warned that Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) might be in jeopardy off a break with Seventh Heaven (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in attendance and his warning proved well-founded as the July 16 G1 Irish Oaks winner upstaged her Ballydoyle companion in Thursday's G1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks. While the pair were in line for the most part, fitness told from two furlongs down as Colm O'Donoghue elicited the same dynamic response that had been evident at the end of the Curragh Classic and that was the telling factor. At the...

While a winner for Frankel (GB) was widely expected and duly delivered here, it was Queen Kindly and not Fair Eva who stepped up to provide him with his biggest success to date. Third in the June 17 G3 Albany S. at Royal Ascot either side of confidence-building wins at the provincial track Catterick June 3 and July 13, Jaber Abdullah's beloved homebred emulated her dam Lady of the Desert and second dam Queen's Logic who won this in 2001 and 2009 to provide another highlight for jockey Jamie Spencer...

Roger Charlton will be hoping for better luck the next time he targets a race with Decorated Knight (GB) (Galileo {Ire}). The Beckhampton trainer shipped the Leopardstown Group 3 winner to Chicago for the GI Arlington Million but the horse managed to injure himself the night before the race forcing connections to scratch the colt and return home. "He had an accident at Arlington," said Harry Charlton, the trainer's son and assistant. "Somehow he cut himself overnight. It wasn't serious but it was enough to prevent him from running. It was...

The latest group of Godolphin Flying Start trainees arrived at Kildangan Stud earlier this week to commence their two year international scholarship. The twelve trainees, representing six countries; New Zealand, China, Ireland, UK, Sweden and USA, were welcomed by Godolphin Flying Start and Kildangan Stud management at a lunch in the Cape Cross Centre, on Monday. The first week on the programme has focused on induction training including a stallion show and a tour of some of Godolphin's other farms such as Ragusa, Old Connell and Blackhall Studs. The students...

1st-DVL, €34,000, Cond, 8-18, 2yo, 6fT, 1:12.01, g/s. FIRST OF SPRING (IRE) (f, 2, Galileo {Ire}--Homecoming Queen {Ire} {Hwt. 3yo Filly-Eng at 7-9.5f, G1SW-Eng & GSW-Ire, $458,335}, by Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), who opened up with a two-length score in a fillies-only firsters' test over this course and distance last time July 30, was restrained to race back in the pack after breaking on terms with the front rank here. Urged forward to challenge entering the final furlong, the crowd's 1-2 choice surged clear under whipless coaxing in the closing...

Arqana's one-day V.2 Yearling Sale was the focus of Wednesday's activity in Deauville and it posted a positive set of figures headed by a turnover of €3,481,000, some 14% up on last year. The average price set a new record in the sale's four-year history at €39,897, up 17%. The depth of the buying bench resulted in 30 horses selling for €50,000 or more against only 14 a year ago, which in turn pushed the median price up 13% from €30,000 to €34,000. The clearance rate remained the same at...