Europe

A full-sister to the 2011 G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine and G1 1000 Guineas third Maybe, who also won this en route, Promise To Be True was a warm order on the back of her taking debut win over 7 1/2 furlongs at Tipperary June 30. Waited with behind the leading trio throughout the early stages, the bay looked as if she might be in trouble inside the last quarter mile but was coaxed into action by Ryan Moore as the final furlong approached. As she had done on her...

In the absence of Postponed (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Saturday's G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot has a more subdued feel with seven declared on Thursday, headed by The Queen's Dartmouth (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Due to start favourite after his defeat of the re-opposing Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in Royal Ascot's G2 Hardwicke S. over this distance June 18, the 4-year-old is also taken on by Lady Bamford's 3-year-old Wings of Desire (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), who was successful in the G2 Dante S. at York May...

DOUGLAS MACARTHUR (IRE) (c, 2, Galileo {Ire}--Alluring Park {Ire} {MSP-Ire}, by Green Desert), a full-brother to the 2012 G1 Epsom Oaks heroine Was (Ire), G1SW-Eng, G1SP-Ire,$496,294, who sold for 1.25million guineas at Tattersalls in October, was a disappointing last of six when the 2-5 favourite for his Leopardstown debut over a seven-furlong trip June here June 9 and was a different proposition here leading from the outset. Stretching his rivals in early straight, the 9-10 market-leader was not fully extended to win by five lengths from the China Horse Club International, Qatar...

The issue of drugs in sport has never been bigger than it is now. There have been so many performance-enhancing drug scandals in recent years that it has bred a culture of scepticism of sporting success amongst the public. Brilliant performances are immediately questioned as being too good to be true, with the trainers/coaches that oversee the success of athletes often coming under as much suspicion as the athletes themselves. Horse racing has not escaped such scrutiny, with both legal and illegal drugs being a constant subject of controversy and...

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed al Maktoum's 2015 G1 Cheveley Park S. winner Lumiere (GB) (Shamardal), who bounced back from a disappointing effort in the G1 1000 Guineas to take the Listed Sir Henry Cecil S. by six lengths at Newmarket July 7, could take up an option in Tuesday's G2 Lennox S. at Glorious Goodwood, or travel to Deauville for the G1 Prix Rothschild next Sunday. "We're not sure whether she'll run at Goodwood or not at this stage," said Charlie Johnston, son of and assistant to trainer Mark Johnston....

This year's English, Irish and French 2000 Guineas winners Galileo Gold (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}), Awtaad (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and The Gurkha (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who filled the first three spots in the G1 St James's Palace S. at Royal Ascot June 14, are on track for another clash in the July 27 G1 Sussex S., with all three among the 14 remaining in Thursday's confirmation stage. English Guineas winner Galileo Gold was beaten by Awtaad in the Irish Guineas, but had that rival back in third, with brilliant...

Prominent partnership Middleham Park Racing has privately purchased this year's G3 Winter Derby and Easter Classic winner Grendisar (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), as well as the dual listed-placed Naadirr (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), from their respective former owners Mohamed Albousi Alghufli and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum. The pair will remain with trainer Marco Botti. "He is a superstar already and has a cult following," said Middleham Park's Tim Palin of the 6-year-old entire Grendisar. "He is an out-and-out all-weather horse. We heard he was for sale and he...

UTAH (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}), an Aidan O'Brien trainee, is out of the stakes-placed Healing Music (Fr) (Bering {GB}) and is thus a full-brother to 2010 G1 Epsom Derby runner-up At First Sight (Ire). The €260,000 GOFORB yearling debuts in a race the stable won with three-time Classic-winning sire and At First Sight's Epsom conqueror Camelot (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), and he faces seven rivals in one of Europe's first mile tests for juveniles. They include the Ger Lyons-trained World War (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a son of Jacqueline Quest (Ire) (Rock of...

Godolphin and Prince A A Faisal's Belardo (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is likely to bypass the G1 Sussex S. at Glorious Goodwood next week in favour of the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville Aug. 14. That mile contest could kick off a three-race end-of-season campaign for the 4-year-old that could culminate in the G1 Prix de Moulin de Longchamp Sept. 11 and the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. on Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot in October, according to trainer Roger Varian. "Belardo is likely to wait...

G1 Commonwealth Cup winner Quiet Reflection (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), third when facing elders for the first time in the G1 Darley July Cup July 9, has come out of that most recent effort in good form and will now target the G1 Sprint Cup at Haydock Park Sept. 3, according to trainer Karl Burke. "She came out of Newmarket perfect and is having a nice break now," said Burke. "We'll bring her back in shortly and start preparing her for Haydock. She definitely won't be going to York for the...

Dual Derby winner Harzand (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) will not look to add a third Classic in the Sept. 10 G1 Ladbrokes St Leger. The Aga Khan colourbearer, last seen winning the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby June 25, did not feature among the 42 entries for the St Leger on Wednesday, and instead looks to continue down the path initially set out by trainer Dermot Weld and point towards the Oct. 2 G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Aidan O'Brien fields 16 of the Leger entries, including...

Leopardstown's G3 Japan Racing Association Tyros S. has been a launchpad for some of Ireland's premier performers of recent times, with Deauville (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Gleneagles (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) the latest in a line of top-level scorers to prepare for the big leagues here alongside Zoffany (Ire), Cape Blanco (Ire), Rip Van Winkle (Ire), New Approach (Ire) and Teofilo (Ire). The first five hailed from Ballydoyle, which is where Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) comes in, and this is probably his last run before some serious Group 1 examinations. Already...