Europe

Fourth in the Oct. 4 G1 Prix Marcel Boussac at Lonchamp after registering a debut win there Sep. 3, Left Hand opened her sophomore campaign with a sixth in a hot conditions event at Maisons-Laffitte Apr. 19 and was just off the board in the May 16 G1 Prix Saint-Alary at this track. The homebred chestnut fared best of the rest when second to the hitherto unbeaten La Cressonniere (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) in the June 19 G1 Prix de Diane at Chantilly last time and justified even-money favouritism with...

3rd-DVL, €25,000, Mdn, 7-30, unraced 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:13.74, gd. +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}) was handily placed within range of the lead throughout this unveiling. Readied for her bid with a quarter mile to go, the 6-4 favourite quickened smartly to seize control passing passing the eighth pole and was pushed out from there to easily account for Pretty Strange (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) by two lengths. First of Spring, a...

1.20 Deauville, Debutantes, €25,000, 2yo, f, 6fT FIRST OF SPRING (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) is the first foal out of the emphatic 2012 G1 1000 Guineas heroine Homecoming Queen (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) who races in the colours of Joseph Allen for the Jean-Claude Rouget stable. The dam, who is a half to Dylan Thomas (Ire) and Queen's Logic (Ire) (Grand Lodge), took some time to find the winner's spot at two before scaling the heights so there may not be huge expectations on this first start. 2.55 Doncaster, Mdn,...

Deauville's month-long festival gets underway on Saturday, when the G3 Prix de Psyche Morocco Cup by Sorec is the feature and has attracted the G1 Prix de Diane runner-up Left Hand (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Just a half-length from La Cressonniere (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) and glory at 50-1 in that June 19 Chantilly Classic, the Wertheimers's homebred was building on a previous fourth in the G1 Prix Saint-Alary over this course and distance May 16 and will be the one to beat here. Seventh in the Diane, Ecurie I M...

This year's Glorious Goodwood meeting has provided more memorable spectacles to sit alongside past highlights, and Saturday's concluding card could prove the perfect climax as Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) aims for a sixth top-level success in the G1 Qatar Nassau S. Two of Ballydoyle's best of this sex in Peeping Fawn (Danehill) and Halfway To Heaven (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) captured this prize in 2007 and 2008, and there is a strong chance that this year's G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Epsom Oaks heroine could eclipse both of those before long....

After winning on his 3-year-old bow over seven furlongs at Newmarket Apr. 12, Thikriyaat followed up in the Listed King Charles II S. over the same course and distance May 14 before finishing second to the subsequent G1 Sussex S. third Ribchester (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) in Royal Ascot's G3 Jersey S. also at that distance June 15. Niggled at early to stay in mid-division as TDN Rising Star Emotionless (Ire) (Shamardal) and Light Up Our World set up a strong pace, the bay needed racing room as Forge was unleashed...

Trainer Chris Waller is just two victories shy of setting a new record for metropolitan wins in a season, and the champion conditioner–who has thus far saddled 165 winners this term–has seven chances to break the record he set three years ago, with 13 total runners in seven of the nine races at Rosehill on Saturday, the final metropolitan meeting of the season. This year, there were nine fewer Sydney metropolitan meetings than when Waller set the record three years ago. Speaking on his website about the possibility of surpassing his...

5th-GOO, £25,000, Mdn, 7-28, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:27.72, g/f. RHODODENDRON (IRE) (f, 2, Galileo {Ire}--Halfway to Heaven {Ire} {MG1SW-Eng, G1SW-Ire & G1SP-Fr, $941,139}, by Pivotal {GB}), a promising second in a decent maiden at The Curragh on debut last time June 24, settled in sixth for most of this second try at seven furlongs. Coming under pressure approaching the final quarter mile, the well-backed 10-11 favourite launched her bid passing the eighth pole and kept on powerfully under minimal urging in the closing stages to score by an impressive 1...

The G1 Qipco Champion S., the showpiece event of Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot Oct. 15, will this year be staged on a newly configured inner course designed with the re-positioning of the running rails. The decision has been made to ensure the best possible ground, and will also see the start moved back about 80 yards, creating a longer run into the first turn of the 10-furlong event and thus potentially reducing the significance of the draw. Nick Smith, director of racing and communications at Ascot, said, "Supported...

Tattersalls Ireland's Ascot October Sale has been cancelled due to its conflict with the opening day of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1 Oct. 4. "It was never ideal to have our Ascot October Sale coinciding with the opening day of Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale and the alteration to our calendar will allow the whole Tattersalls team to concentrate exclusively on Europe's Premier Yearling Sale, which takes place Oct. 4 to 6," explained Richard Pugh, Tattersalls Ireland's director of horses in training sales. Tattersalls Ireland's...

    Taking the G2 Princess of Wales's S. in dynamic fashion at Newmarket July 7 as he had before winning this last year, Big Orange made all under a tactical masterclass from Jamie Spencer to repeat that notable achievement and join an elite brigade of stayers to have won this more than once. His latest performance was arguably his best, as he put the high-class The Grey Gatsby (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) to the sword over a mile and a half at the July meeting and trainer Michael Bell's suggestion that...

Third in the G1 Falmouth S. at Newmarket July 8, Godolphin's Always Smile (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) looks the class act among the fillies lined up for Friday's G3 L'Ormarins Queens Plate S. at Goodwood. Having beaten the smart Convey (GB) (Dansili {GB}) in York's Listed Hambleton S. over a mile May 12, she was third in the G2 Duke of Cambridge S. at Royal Ascot also at that trip June 15 and, despite this drop in trip, trainer Saeed bin Suroor is happy she will adapt. "She is a...