Europe

2nd-HAY, £6,600, Cond, 8-4, 2yo, 6fT, 1:14.01, g/f. MUBTASIM (IRE) (c, 2, Arcano {Ire}--Start the Music {Ire}, by King's Best), who scored with authority on debut at Yarmouth over six furlongs June 30, was sent off the 4-6 favourite and raced at the back of the tightly-compressed field travelling strongly throughout the early stages. Moving smoothly to lead approaching the furlong pole, the €22,000 GOFNOV foal and 38,000gns TATOCT yearling powered clear to record an impressive 4 1/2-length success from Town Charter (Lonhro {Aus}). The dam, who is a half-sister...

Group 1-winning juvenile Robin Of Navan (Fr) (American Post {GB}), 11th in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club June 5, has recovered from an injury sustained in that Chantilly Classic and will point to the G1 St Leger at Doncaster Sept. 10, trainer Harry Dunlop told At The Races. "He came back from France wrong and was lame behind," Dunlop explained. "It transpired he'd pulled a little ligament running into his hock. Thankfully, we're back on track and he's started back with strong work. Fingers crossed, he seems okay." Robin...

Hong Kong shipper Gold-Fun (Ire) (Le Vie Dei Colori {GB}) made a good account of himself when a quarter-length second in the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot, and the 7-year-old gelding will look to break new ground this Sunday by attempting to become the first Hong Kong-trained horse to win in France in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest. Gold-Fun has been stabled with sprint specialist trainer Robert Cowell in Newmarket since his Ascot exploits. "Post-Ascot he had a 10-day break at a speller's and then he's been...

G1 Prix du Jockey Club winner Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and G1 Coral-Eclipse victor Hawkbill (Kitten's Joy) headline the additions to the G1 Irish Champion S. at the second entry stage. Almanzor's trainer, Jean-Claude Rouget, revealed his plans on Wednesday to run the colt in the Sept. 10 Irish Champion followed by the G1 Champion S. on British Champions Day Oct. 15. Almanzor and Godolphin's Hawkbill are among 38 horses–20 already Group/Grade 1 winners–remaining in the Irish Champion, and those include dual Derby winner Harzand (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire})...

The dispersal of Potensis Bloodstock provided the highlight of Wednesday's Goffs UK August Sale when the Grade II-winning mare Jessber's Dream (Ire) (Milan {GB}) (lot 235) sold to Tom Malone and the new syndicate Ditcheat Thoroughbreds for £190,000. The Potensis draft also produced the second-highest price of the day: the winning hurdler Crin Au Vent (Fr) (Laveron {GB}) (lot 232), who was hammered down to Paul Nicholls for £120,000. Those were the only two lots during the session to reach six figures. Potensis Racing Manager Noel Fehily said, "we were...

Mahmood Al Zarooni has instructed his solicitors to investigate the soundness of the eight-year ban imposed on him by the British Horseracing Authority. The former Godolphin trainer was found guilty of administering anabolic steroids to 15 horses in his care at a BHA hearing three years ago and admitted to all breaches of the rules. Al Zarooni's latest move comes after trainer Jim Best's guilty verdict relating to non-trier charges was quashed after it emerged the chairman of the disciplinary panel at his original hearing, solicitor Matthew Lohn, was engaged...

2.50 Clairefontaine, Mdn, €25,000, unraced 3yo, f, 12fT SPICE TRAIL (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) is a half to last term's G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero and G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe third New Bay (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and represents the Khalid Abdullah-Andre Fabre axis in this newcomers' stamina test. Her 13 rivals include Alain and Gerard Wertheimer's homebred Urban Hill (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), who is a half-sister to MGSW G1 Prix Marcel Boussac and G1 Prix de l'Opera placegetter Legerete (Rahy), from the Carlos Laffon-Parias stable. 5.45 Leopardstown,...

The G1 Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown and the G1 Champion S. at Ascot have emerged as major targets for French star Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). Jean-Claude Rouget's 3-year-old has not been seen in competitive action since he sprang something of a surprise in the G1 French Derby at Chantilly at the start of June, but he is closing in on a return. The Wootton Bassett colt holds an entry in the G1 Juddmonte International at York on Aug. 17, but Almanzor is instead set to reappear at Deauville...

The Moyglare Stud principals enjoyed many a good day at the races courtesy of their game staying homebred mare Profound Beauty--so much so that the multiple group winner was kept in training up to the age of seven. An unconventionally late start to her broodmare career held the obvious consequence of fewer foals out of Profound Beauty, but the mare has rewarded her connections with a stakes-winning filly from her first foal to hit the ground, the three-for-three unbeaten Rose De Pierre (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who won Tuesday's Listed Platinum...

Aidan O'Brien is giving The Gurkha (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) a well-deserved break following his victory in the G1 Qatar Sussex S. at Goodwood last week. That win came just 25 days after his gritty runner-up display in the G1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown and the Ballydoyle trainer wants to give the G1 French 2000 Guineas winner time to recover from those exertions. That means the G1 St James's Palace S. bridesmaid will not take up his engagement in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville on Aug. 14. "The Gurkha...

Ryan Moore appears far from certain to take the ride on ante-post 2017 G1 2000 Guineas favourite Caravaggio (Scat Daddy) at The Curragh on Sunday. Ladbrokes have suspended betting on the jockeys' championship following a flurry of bets on Silvestre de Sousa, as it emerged Moore was to spend time this week on holiday with his family in Portugal. Reigning champion De Sousa had been odds-on to retain his crown and was well-supported on Tuesday despite holding only a narrow lead over Moore and James Doyle. Moore last rode at...

The first Journee de la Reconversion des Chevaux des Course (the Retrained Racehorse Day) will be held at Deauville-La Touques racecourse Aug. 27, announced newly formed charitable association Au-Dela des Pistes (Beyond the Tracks), a joint initiative between Godolphin and The Aga Khan's Studs. The event will promote the varied disciplines that Thoroughbreds have been effectively retrained for, including polo, dressage, show-jumping, eventing, horse-ball, or as a schoolmaster in a riding school. The racecourse will open at 1:30 p.m. local time, and an eight-race card will be on tap, including...