Europe

Goffs have released the catalogue for their Sportman's Sale, increased to two days this year Sept. 29 & 30 directly following the Orby Sale. Strong demand from vendors following a successful 2015 edition which saw a 25% increase in average and a 90% clearance rate sees Goffs catalogue 479 yearlings throughout Part I and Part II of the sale. Commenting on the launch of the Sportsman's catalogue, Goffs chief executive Henry Beeby said, “The expanded 2016 Sportsman's Sale will ensure that a trip to Goffs is essential for yearling buyers...

Al Shaqab Racing's prolific juvenile Mehmas (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) will not be asked to take on Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy) in the G1 Darley Prix Morny at Deauville on Sunday. The Richard Hannon trained colt has reportedly scoped badly and connections will wait a while longer before pitching him into Group 1 company. "Unfortunately, he had a dirty scope and we just took a view it wasn't worth taking the risk,” said Al Shaqab's racing manager Harry Herbert. "It's disappointing as we would have loved to have run him, but...

Banishing the disappointment of missing the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. due to an infection, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Postponed (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) made light of a drop back to an extended 10-furlong trip on Wednesday to master his rivals in the G1 Juddmonte International at York. While his prowess over a mile and a half was already firmly established following his emphatic wins in the Mar. 26 G1 Dubai Sheema Classic and June 4 G1 Coronation Cup, the increasingly-predominant European presence still had a question...

Bringing the Harzand (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) standard to this St Leger trial, TDN Rising Star Idaho made his class tell in a performance that had the Doncaster Classic written all over it. Beaten three times by The Aga Khan's champion elect, the bay needed a confidence boost especially as his last two defeats at the hands of that compatriot came in the cauldron events of the June 4 G1 Epsom Derby and G1 Irish Derby at The Curragh three weeks later. On the latter occasion, there was just...

Syphax may have gone under the radar after overcoming a slow start to win with style over seven furlongs at Musselburgh on debut July 8, but the dark bay was the subject of high praise from jockey Tom Eaves then and justified that by providing his locally-based stable with a bright start to the Ebor meeting. With Eaves on the other Kevin Ryan runner Tommy Taylor (Mizzen Mast) this time, it was Jamie Spencer who was on the rollercoaster ride as his mount exhibited the same sluggishness from the stalls...

The Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association in conjunction with Goffs and Tattersalls Ireland have announced that, for the first time, buyers at the upcoming Irish yearling sales can have their purchases tested for piroplasmosis. Although this facility has been available previously in England, discussion between Goffs, Tattersalls Ireland, the ITBA and the Department of Agriculture has lead to its introduction in Ireland. Piroplasmosis is a tick borne disease and the initiative should provide added confidence to both overseas and domestic buyers whose objective is a secondary sale at a later stage....

Royal Ascot winner Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will take the next step up the pattern ladder in Sunday's G2 Galileo EBF Fund Futurity S. at The Curragh. The colt followed his Listed Chesham S. victory with a narrow win over Alexios Komnenos (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}) in the G3 Tyros S. at Leopardstown July 21. O'Brien is mob handed in the race, being responsible for seven of the twelve entrants at this stage and he commented, “Churchill seems to be in good form after Leopardstown and he is the main one...

Michael Bell and owner Bill Gredley suffered a major setback on Wednesday when their progressive 4-year-old Franklin D (Medaglia d'Oro) broke a leg on the gallops and had to be euthanised. The colt rose to prominence recently when landing a sizable gamble in the valuable Betfred Mile at Glorious Goodwood and was being trained for a tilt at the Korea Cup in Seoul next month. "Unfortunately, Franklin D broke a hind leg pastern this morning and couldn't be saved, Bell told The Racing Post. “It is very sad for all...

Snapped up by Godolphin after his impressive debut success at Sandown July 20, 'TDN Rising Star' Best of Days (GB) (Azamour {Ire}) bids to follow in the steps of the likes of Royal Palace (GB), King's Best and Rule of Law, who captured York's G3 Tattersalls Acomb S. en route to Classic glory. Without being asked a serious question, the bay brushed aside his opponents for a six-length success over this seven-furlong trip, and trainer Hugo Palmer is hoping he can cope with this first major test. "He's a gorgeous...

With the St Leger looming on the horizon, Michael Tabor's 'TDN Rising Star' Idaho (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) takes to York on Wednesday to cement his claims for the oldest Classic in the G2 Betway Great Voltigeur S. Third in the G1 Epsom Derby June 4 and runner-up in the Irish equivalent at The Curragh three weeks later, he sets the standard on both pieces of form but particularly on the latter, where he was just a half-length behind Harzand (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). "He's in good form. He's had...

Denied a bid for a repeat success in last month's G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S., Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Postponed (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) faces an altogether different question on Wednesday as he tackles the G1 Juddmonte International at York. Without a win over this 10-furlong trip and dropping back from a mile-and-a-half for the first time since last May's G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup in which he was third, the impressive Mar. 26 G1 Dubai Sheema Classic and June 4 G1 Coronation Cup hero has to show...

The catalogue for Goffs UK's September Sale Sept. 6 is online. The single-session sale will see 135 winners, 30 flat horses rated 75-plus and 30 hurdle/chase horses rated 115-plus offered. The September sale, only in existence since 2014, also includes G3 Craven S. winner Kool Kompany (Ire) (Jeremy) among its graduates. Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby said, "We have enjoyed a very successful year with our horses-in-training sales in 2016, having been well supported by our vendors, and it's pleasing to see that support once again. Having just completed...