Europe

Not seen since extending his unbeaten record in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, Evie Stockwell's Hit It A Bomb (War Front) makes his eagerly-awaited return in Thursday's G3 Invesco Pension Consultants Desmond S. at Leopardstown. Also the impressive winner of the Listed Star Appeal S. over seven furlongs on Dundalk's Polytrack, the homebred sets the standard on his Keeneland triumph, but is sure to be ring-rusty off such a lay-off. "He's in good form and is just ready to start," Aidan O'Brien said. "It took a bit of time...

Having failed to stay the mile-and-a-half of the G1 Epsom Derby, Massaat (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire} is back in his comfort zone back over a mile in Salisbury's G3 Totepool Sovereign S. on Thursday. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum's G1 Dewhurst S. and G1 2000 Guineas runner-up was far too free when ninth in the June 4 blue riband, and has perfect conditions encountering older horses for the first time in this class-drop. Also taking on his elders is Cheveley Park's Zonderland (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}), who had the likes...

8.30 Gowran Park, Mdn, €14,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 9f 100yT HIBISCUS (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) makes her belated debut in the Susan Magnier silks for Ballydoyle, having cost 625,000gns at Tattersalls. Her dam is Jacqueline Quest (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}), who achieved fame when being disqualified by the stewards and robbed of glory in the 2010 G1 1000 Guineas before finishing third in the G1 Coronation S.

Galileo Gold (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}) is on course to continue his stellar season with a crack at Sunday's G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois in Deauville. Having started his season in bullish fashion when becoming the first British Classic winner for Hugo Palmer in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas, Galileo Gold has added the G1 St James's Palace S. to his repertoire, as well as finishing second in the G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas and, most recently, in the G1 Qatar Sussex S. at Glorious Goodwood. “I was thrilled with...

The long-awaited comeback of GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Hit It A Bomb (War Front) will come a few days earlier than expected when the Aidan O'Brien-trained colt lines up in tomorrow's G3 Pension Consultants Desmond S. at Leopardstown. Evie Stockwell's homebred was also entered for Saturday's G2 Hungerford S. at Newbury but will remain on home turf in Ireland for the short term. “He goes for the Desmond,” said O'Brien. “Cougar Mountain (Ire) is a possible [for the Hungerford Stakes] but I'm not sure if we'll go with...

Dual Derby winner Harzand (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire} has been the subject of an upbeat bulletin from trainer Dermot Weld, who is preparing the Aga Khan homebred for his next major target, the G1 QIPCO Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown on Sept. 10. “I've had Harzand back in for a couple of weeks and he probably looks better than ever,” said Weld. “The present plan is that he's likely to run at Leopardstown in the Irish Champion Stakes and then the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.” Harzand could be...

Last seen winning the G1 Star Doncaster Mile at Randwick on Apr. 2, star racemare Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) is all set for her seasonal resumption at the Sydney track providing it dries out in time for the G2 Warwick S. a week on Saturday. The 1400-metre contest has been nominated by Chris Waller as his preferred comeback option for the six-time Group 1 winner but Sydney's champion trainer is keeping an eye on the weather forecast in the interim. “I wouldn't run her on a Heavy 10, but...

2.20 Deauville, Debutantes, €25,000, 2yo, c/g, 7 1/2fT SIKANDARI (FR) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) is a half-brother to four black-type performers headed by the 2009 G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner and burgeoning sire Siyouni (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}). Also sharing his dam--who is a half to Slickly (Fr)--with the 2012 G1 Sun Chariot S. and GI E. P. Taylor S. heroine Siyouma (Ire) (Medicean {GB}) and recent G3 Princess Elizabeth S. runner-up Sayana (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}), His Highness The Aga Khan's February-foaled bay is introduced by Alain de Royer-Dupre against nine...

Officials with Al Shaqab have moved to quash rumours about why its three horses with Criquette Head-Maarek were removed from the trainer's yard. Head-Maarek suggested in an interview with Paris Turf over the weekend that her gender may have been the reason, but Khalifa Al Attiya, General Manager of Al Shaqab, said on Monday, "Al Shaqab had never intended for this to be the end of our professional relationship with Criquette Head-Maarek. The decision was taken to move a filly away from her yard due to the virus concerns. As...

Goffs will handle the Wildenstein dispersal--which includes G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches victress Beauty Parlour (GB) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), in foal to Kingman (GB)--at its Orby and November sales this fall. The draft of 110–including mares, foals, yearlings and horses-in-training–will be presented by The Castlebridge Consignment. "Our family has enjoyed tremendous successes at the highest level in horse racing and breeding, and this remarkable draft of horses is the legacy of my grandfather Daniel," said David Wildenstein. "He raced many of the greats, including four Arc winners--Allez France, All Along,...

Wonderful though it is to have a stallion of Galileo's extraordinary achievements, his near-total dominance has prevented several other worthy stallions from adding those magic words "champion sire" to their CVs. Galileo currently seems assured of recording his eighth Anglo-Irish championship in the last nine years, the only blip coming in 2009, when Danehill Dancer earned a well-deserved title. Among the other stallions which have had to play second fiddle to this virtuoso are such gifted individuals as Dansili, Montjeu (twice), Dubawi (twice) and Invincible Spirit, while Galileo's half-brother Sea...

Godolphin's G2 Superlative S. winner Boynton (More Than Ready) will be seen next in action in The Curragh's G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. at The Curragh on Irish Champions Weekend Sept. 11, according to trainer Charlie Appleby. Boynton broke his maiden at first asking at Goodwood June 3 before following up in the Superlative, and lost his unbeaten record when third as the highweight in the G2 Vintage S. July 26 "Boynton is going to go for the National S.," Appleby confirmed. "I think the track will suit him...