Europe

The Curragh's G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby has come under fire of late, with a question mark being put on it in terms of overall quality by the European Pattern Committee as recently as 2014 when Australia (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) became the latest to complete the English-Irish Classic double against just four opponents. Irish officials will therefore have been buoyed by the announcement from Dermot Weld on Friday that His Highness The Aga Khan's G1 Epsom Derby hero Harzand (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) will take part in Saturday's...

2.20 Yarmouth, Mdn, £8,200, 2yo, 6f 3yT VIA EGNATIA (Distorted Humor) is a high-profile Juddmonte newcomer, being a son of the 2000 GI Santa Monica H. heroine Honest Lady (Seattle Slew). John Gosden introduces the half-brother to the 2008 GI Forego S. hero and sire First Defence, who is also linked to the operation's flagbearers Empire Maker and Chester House. 2.45 Deauville, Debutantes, €25,000, 3yo, 9 1/2f (AWT) LIWA PALACE (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) debuts for Al Shira'aa Farms and Rod Collet in this intriguing maiden, having cost 330,000 guineas...

The two-day Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale is in the books and records were met or exceeded all around. An overall average of €47,535 represented an increase of 11% on last year's mark of €42,847, while 300 sold for a gross of €14,260,50. The clearance rate was 81.7%, while the median equaled the joint-record figure of €36,000 reached in 2015. Throughout the two-day run, a total of 32 lots reached the six-figure mark, another new record for the Derby Sale. Tattersalls Ireland managing director Roger Casey was understandably pleased Thursday afternoon....

Jockey Silvestre de Sousa was handed an 18-day ban, with six day deferred, for using his whip without giving his mount, Swiss Cross (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), time to respond at Lingfield June 16. That offence warrants a suspension between two and six days, but de Sousa was given a stiffer penalty because it is his fifth offence within six months. De Sousa's agent Shelley Dwyer said, "It's a totting-up procedure, so there are no grounds for appeal and we move on. Worse things happen and it's not the end...

–Newmarket, UK. The first of two annual seminars staged by the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA) was held at Tattersalls on Thursday, with a capacity crowd of breeders, stud managers and vets gathered for discussion on a range of topics from genetic testing to the threat from infectious diseases and current breeding trends. 'We Can't Hold Back The Revolution' Unsurprisingly, the lengthiest question-and-answer session was sparked by the very topical issue of genetic testing. The withdrawal of QIPCO 2,000 Guineas winner Galileo Gold (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}) from this year's Investec...

Dermot Weld gave his most upbeat bulletin on the G1 Epsom Derby hero Harzand (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) on Thursday as His Highness The Aga Khan's homebred was one of nine declared for Saturday's G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at The Curragh. While arguably his biggest threat, US Army Ranger (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is now out of the equation, his handler--who previously won this Classic in 1996 with Zagreb and in 2004 with Grey Swallow (Ire)--remains cautious about his prospects of bouncing back from a major effort just...

There is one week remaining to register eligible yearlings for the Plus 10 owner and breeder bonus scheme, with registration due June 30. Plus 10 is an almost €7 million owner and breeder incentive scheme which pays €12,500 (£10,000) bonuses on top of prize money across more than 550 2- and 3-year-old races in Ireland and Britain each year. Plus 10 Chairman Julian Richmond-Watson said, "Following the scheme's successful first year, where 215 breeders won bonus prize money, it is already clear that breeders benefitted from investing in the Plus...

G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas winner Awtaad (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), a last-out third in the G1 St James's Palace S. at Royal Ascot last week, is likely to bypass Glorious Goodwood in favour of the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville Aug. 14. Trainer Kevin Prendergast said he is satisfied with the Sheikh Hamdan colourbearer's run at Ascot and noted his charge came out of the race in good order. "He came home from Ascot well and he couldn't be in better form," the conditioner said. "He ran...

Saturday's G1 Sky Racing Tattersall's Club Tiara S. at Eagle Farm is the final Group 1 of the season in Australia, and therefore represents the last chance for the 16 fillies and mares assembled to secure all-important Group 1 black-type before the Southern Hemisphere calendar changes. Azkadellia (NZ) (Shinko King {Ire}) already hit that mark when taking the G1 Queen Of The Turf S. at The Championships at Randwick Apr. 9, one week removed from her third-place finish behind Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) in the G1 Doncaster Mile, but...

6.50 Leopardstown, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, 8fT DIODORUS (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) is one of the few Ballydoyle runners to carry the famous Niarchos silks and is a highly significant representative of the family, being a son of the brilliant Divine Proportions (Kingmambo). Beaten only once in her stellar career, she was a five-times Group 1 winner including the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and G1 Prix de Diane 11 years ago.

The first day of the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale was topped by the Saddler Maker (Ire) gelding Defi Bleu (Fr) (lot 50) on a bid of €255,000 to Harold Kirk, agent. Consigned by John Bleahen's Lakefield Farm, who also sold the 2015 topper to Kirk for €320,000, the dark bay, a half-brother to Grade 2 placed chaser Upsilon Bleu (Fr) (Panoramic), was one of three lots to clear the €200,000 mark and one of 15 horses to reach the six-figure mark compared to six last year. Only €5,000 removed from...

Godolphin's Holler (Aus) (Commands {Aus}), seventh in the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot last week, will bypass Newmarket's G1 Darley July Cup and instead return to his native country to prepare for a spring campaign, according to Racing.com. The 3-year-old won this year's G1 Canterbury S. at Randwick, and his main spring target will be the G1 Manikato S. at Moonee Valley Oct. 21. "He's come out of the race well, but he'll have a break now, and we will get him ready for the big races in...