Europe

First Footing For The Arqana Freshmen

DEAUVILLE, France--In Saturday's TDN, we took an in-depth look at some of the first-crop yearlings by the Prix du Jockey Club winners Intello (Ger) (Galileo {Ire}) and Reliable Man (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}) at Arqana's August Sale, which starts tonight at 5.30pm – half an hour later than the time stated in the catalogue after a rescheduling of the day's racing programme. As regards numbers here in Deauville, with 19 yearlings apiece Intello shares top billing with Coolmore's Camelot (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), the colt who has come closer to winning Britain's Triple...

[ Read More ]
Raven's Pass's Richard Pankhurst Causes An Upset In the Hungerford

Coming here having been last of 10 in the G1 Sussex S. at Goodwood July 27, Godolphin's second-string Richard Pankhurst was in a hurry to turn around his fortunes as he upstaged the favourite Home of the Brave to lead home a one-two for the operation in unexpected order. Having caused a stir registering an impressive success in the Listed Chesham S. when still a maiden over this trip at Royal Ascot in June 2014, the chestnut duly went into the Classic notebooks but injury interrupted his story which was...

[ Read More ]
Pomone Glory For Mount Nelson's Highlands Queen

Successful in the 10 1/2-furlong G3 Prix Cleopatre at Saint-Cloud May 29, Highlands Queen had been disqualified and placed last after finishing eighth in the G1 Prix de Diane over that trip at Chantilly last time June 19 but put that disappointment firmly behind her with an authoritative success here. Put in her place on debut by the potentially high-class Pia Brandt-trained Etonnez Moi (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) when three-lengths second to that subsequently-absent rival over 10 furlongs at Saint-Cloud Mar. 12, the bay mastered Mango Tango in a conditions...

[ Read More ]
Frankel Hits Double Figures At Doncaster

2nd-DON, £6,000, Mdn, 8-13, 2yo, f, 8fT, 1:39.86, gd. +ALJEZEERA (GB) (f, 2,Frankel {GB}--Dynaforce {MGISW-US & SW-Fr, $1,086,772}, by Dynaformer), was well away to track the leaders in fifth through halfway in this unveiling. Nudged closer with three furlongs remaining, the 10-11 favourite surged to the fore approaching the final quarter mile and was pushed clear thereafter to easily account for Conqueress (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) by 2 1/2 lengths, becoming the 10th winner for her freshman sire (by Galileo {Ire}). The 450,000gns TAOCT yearling is out of GI Beverly...

[ Read More ]
Famous Name's Escobar Wins the Washington Singer

Off the mark on debut from a subsequent winner over this course and distance July 15, Escobar made the necessary improvement to capture this often-important staging post won in 2014 by Belardo (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and in the more distant past by Haafhd (GB), Lammtarra, Tenby (GB) and Rodrigo de Triano. Anchored last of the four early, the bay was delivered to take the lead from the G2 Superlative S. third Mr Scaramanga with a touch of style with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining and readily asserted from there....

[ Read More ]
Desire Heading Back To York

John Gosden feels dropping down in trip will prove no hindrance to Wings Of Desire (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) when he lines up in Wednesday's G1 Juddmonte International over ten furlongs. It will be the colt's second visit to York this season following his win over subsequent GI winner Deauville (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G2 Betfred Dante S. in May and his trainer is hoping the 3-year-old takes another liking to the Knavesmire next week. "He is in at York and the plan is to run him at this stage....

[ Read More ]
Keatley Setting Sights On Tipperary

Classic winner Jet Setting (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}) is reported to be in good shape ahead of her next intended appearance in the G3 Coolmore Fairy Bridge S. at Tipperary Aug 25. Trainer Adrian Keatley gave the filly a short break after a slightly below par run when favourite for the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot  and she delighted the trainer in a gallop on Saturday. "She's 100 per cent. She did a nice bit of work this morning and everything is on course for Thursday week,” said Keatley....

[ Read More ]
Minimum Trip Beckons For Limato
Minimum Trip Beckons For Limato

Having tried a mile for the first time in his career earlier this season G1 Darley July Cup hero Limato (Ire) (Tagula {Ire}) is to sample another new trip next week when he tackles the five furlong G1 Coolmore Nunthorpe S. at York on Friday. Following a piece of work on Friday morning trainer Henry Candy expressed his satisfaction with Paul Jacobs' 4-year-old and has supplemented him for the York race. "He worked yesterday and is fine and goes to York next week," said Candy. Limato has shown his best...

[ Read More ]
Two Jockey Club Winners Debut at Arqana

The merits of shortening the Prix du Jockey Club from 2400 to 2100 meters in 2005 continue to be debated in France even today, but one thing remains clear: its 12 renewals since that time appear to be producing the same caliber of successful stallion as its earlier, longer distance. Top young sires Shamardal (USA), Lawman (Fr), Le Havre (Ire) and Lope de Vega (Ire), in fact, have emerged from the shortened race in the first six runnings alone. Two winners of the Prix du Jockey Club–Reliable Man (GB) and...

[ Read More ]
Observations On Saturday's European Racing Scene
Observations On Saturday's European Racing Scene

2.35 Doncaster, Mdn, £6,000, 2yo, f, 8fT ALJEZEERA (GB) (Frankel {GB}) bids to give his sire the magic 10 as she debuts in the Al Shaqab Racing silks for Luca Cumani. Out of the 2008 GI Flower Bowl Invitational and 2009 GI Beverly D S. heroine Dynaforce (Dynaformer), it is no surprise that she cost 450,000gns at Tattersalls and she is set to be a warm order for this maiden won in 2010 by the subsequent G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Irish and Yorkshire Oaks heroine Blue Bunting (Dynaformer). Taking...

[ Read More ]
Al Conquering

After a stellar season to date, Jean-Claude Rouget will be hoping his luck stretches as far as Deauville's August meeting and Al Shaqab Racing's Al Wathna (GB) (Nayef) flies the stable's standard in Saturday's G2 Shadwell Prix de Pomone. Carrying a penalty for her success in the G2 Prix de Malleret at Saint-Cloud, the bay who had previously finished runner-up in the G3 Prix de Royaumont also over that 12-furlong trip at Chantilly June 5 will have to improve again but anything seems possible from her particular yard in 2016....

[ Read More ]
Favour The Brave
Favour The Brave

No match for Dutch Connection (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) in Goodwood's G2 Qatar Lennox S. last time, Godolphin's Home of the Brave (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) bids to get back on track in Saturday's G2 Betfred Hungerford S. at Newbury. Beaten 1 3/4 lengths by that rival in the seven-furlong test July 26, the front-running specialist at this trip had previously captured the Apr. 23 Listed Leicestershire S. and G3 John of Gaunt S. at Haydock May 28 and looks to have a more straightforward task than at the Glorious meeting....

[ Read More ]
X

Never miss another story from the TDN

Click Here to sign up for a free subscription.