Europe

Untouchable prior to finding Haydock's six-furlong strip too sharp when third in the May 28 G2 Sandy Lane S., Dr Ali Ridha's Gifted Master (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) is back over what is probably an ideal scenario tackling seven furlongs on Ascot's stiff track in Wednesday's G3 Jersey S. Already successful here in the Apr. 27 G3 Pavilion S. over a furlong shorter, the hard-hitting front-runner stretched as far as a mile when successful in the G3 Autumn S. at Newmarket in October, which came in between scores in that track's...

Had it stayed dry in Berkshire, all assembled for Wednesday's G2 Queen Mary S. would have been quaking at the prospect of taking on yet another of Wesley Ward's unerringly accurate arrows in the 'TDN Rising Star' Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy). Now that the Royal meeting has a distinctly soggy look, the dynamic bay, who scored by 7 3/4 lengths in track-record time over Keeneland's 4 1/2 furlongs Apr. 21, faces the unknown like so many of her compatriots this week. Ward, Royal Ascot's new frontiersman, is remaining in confident...

PERFECT PICTURE Tellingly well-supported into 13-8 favouritism despite the rain seemingly playing against him, Susan Magnier's Caravaggio (Scat Daddy) lived up to his high reputation by surging to an emphatic success on Tuesday to give Aidan O'Brien the outright record of eight wins in the G2 Coventry S. Trapped behind rivals who were adrift of the pace set by the far-side runners initially, the grey was launched out of that pack by Ryan Moore as Mehmas (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) struck for home way across the track with a quarter mile...

She may have come out of the blue, so to speak, when stamping authority on some smart rivals in the G2 Dahlia S. at Newmarket last time, but Usherette (Ire) (Shamardal) is no longer Godolphin's best kept secret as she heads to spot for Wednesday's G2 Duke of Cambridge S. at Royal Ascot. With her only defeat coming when seventh in the G1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville in August, the bay was readied for that nine-furlong test on the Rowley Mile with conditions wins on the Polytrack at Deauville Mar....

NO GETTIN' TEPIN! She may have had much against her in theory ahead of Tuesday's G1 Queen Anne S., but Robert Masterson's Tepin (Bernstein) ripped up the Royal Ascot history books by becoming the first international challenger to prevail against the best of Europe's milers in this prestigious affair. Allowed to slide to 11-2 with more heavy showers blighting the opening hours of the Royal meeting, the bay was forced to make her own running ahead of a small group racing away from the main action which was headed by...

Such was his superiority in the G1 Prix d'Ispahan at Chantilly May 24, Eishindo Co Ltd's A Shin Hikari (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) has drawn just five opponents in Wednesday's G1 Prince of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot and only two who can realistically lay claim to being fully-fledged members of the highest order in European turf racing. One of those is Frank Gillespie's The Grey Gatsby (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), who looks likely to dodge the new star of the Far East with further rain causing relentless havoc on the...

The Princess Royal was presented with the Longines Ladies Award during a ceremony at The Natural History Museum in London June 13. The award, in its fourth renewal, celebrates women who have consistently performed at the highest level and made a significant contribution to the equestrian industry through their work. The Princess Royal competed with the British Eventing team, and was European Champion in 1971 as well as BBC's Sports Personality of the Year. She was also nominated for Sportswoman of the Year. The Princess Royal has served as president...

All eyes will be on the American pair of Drafted and Big City Dreamin here, with the former representing Godolphin along with the home-trained Top Score and Kananee. Drafted got his career off to the ideal start when winning a 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight on the dirt at Keeneland Apr. 27 and trainer Eoin Harty is hoping to do a "Wesley Ward" here. "Drafted is fine and in great shape. He is fit, healthy and happy," he commented. "We are used to fast ground, in America as if it...

G1 Irish 1000 Guineas winner Jet Setting (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}) (lot 43) had every right to be considered the headline act ahead of the Goffs London Sale and she didn't disappoint when equalling the record set at the inaugural Kensington Palace sale in 2014, selling for £1.3 million. Her new owners are members of the China Horse Club and their representative Michael Wallace, who had flown in from New York for the sale, said of their acquisition, "She's a Classic winner and there are very few of them around....

Middleham Park Racing's Viren's Army (Twirling Candy) (Lot 38) became the first lot at the Goffs London Sale to ignite fireworks when selling for £700,000 to John McCormack B/S LLC. Consigned by East Everleigh Stables, the bay son of Blue Angel (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}), a half-sister to G3 Leopardstown 1000 Guineas Trial S. heroine Empowering (Ire) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}), finished third in the G3 Premio Guido Berardelli in Italy last term and captured the Betdaq Dee S. May 6. From the first crop of Twirling Candy, Viren's Army was a $65,000...

Ken Condon is planning an ambitious autumn campaign for Success Days (Ire) (Jeremy) following three creditable efforts in the spring. The soft-ground performer is enjoying a summer break after three placed efforts ending with third spot in the G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh May 22. The Sept. 10 G1 QIPCO Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown in September will be his first major objective, as long as conditions are suitable. "Success Days is very well," said Condon, who is based in County Kildare. "He's probably going to come back...

Trainer Marco Botti is determined to win a Group 1 in Europe with Team Valor's Euro Charline (GB) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) before she heads off to the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita Park Nov. 4-5. Already a Grade I winner in America, she has been second in the G1 Dubai Turf Mar. 26 and in the G1 Lockinge S. most recently May 14, suggesting a top-level prize should be well within her range. If all goes to plan, her chances will come in the July 8...