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Ron Arculli's Red Verdon (Lemon Drop Kid), the eye-catching winner of a 12-furlong Haydock handicap May 21, will be supplemented to next Saturday's G1 Investec Derby, according to trainer Ed Dunlop. "The decision has been made that, subject to health checks, the horse will be supplemented for the Derby," Dunlop confirmed. "He galloped this morning under Silvestre de Sousa, we were very happy with him and the plan is for Silvestre to ride him at Epsom next week. We still don't know how good this horse is, but he has...

"It was a hobby that got out of a hand," admits Middleham Park Racing founder Tim Palin with a grin as he recounts the tale of one of the great syndicate success stories in British racing. The business that started 21 years ago with just two horses is now nearing 100 on its books, patronising trainers across the country, including Richard Hannon, Richard Fahey, Keith Dalgleish, David O'Meara, Ben Haslam and Nicky Henderson. Bigger names have come in recent years, but the fact that Middleham Park Racing--named after the Yorkshire...

Largely ignored at 16-1 despite her win in the Listed Bosra Sham S. at Newmarket in October, Only Mine who had been third to Washington DC in the Listed Power S. over this six-furlong trip at Navan last time May 15 took a step forward to put that rival in his place in this warm-up for the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot June 17. Genuine and consistent during a busy 2-year-old campaign, the bay had finished runner-up over this trip in the G3 Grangecon Stud S. at The Curragh...

On a day when Ballydoyle underlined their juvenile strength ahead of the Royal meeting, Cuff who had broken her maiden over this course and distance May 11 returned to register a first black-type success with authority under Ryan Moore. Fourth on her racecourse bow at Navan Apr. 17, the chestnut had had to battle to get off the mark last time but there was a distinct air of superiority at the business end of this race which her stable last won with Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) in 2009....

Enjoying notable success in the distinct Helena Springfield silks in France with Zee Zee Top (GB) (Zafonic) and her daughters Izzi Top (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) and Jazzi Top (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), Meon Valley Stud struck again here with another of its talented homebred fillies as Speedy Boarding registered a career-best success. Tried in the G1 Irish Oaks at The Curragh in July after winning the Listed Lord Weinstock Memorial S. over 10 furlongs at Newbury in June, the bay was not disgraced when fifth there before finishing runner-up in...

In a renewal robbed of a significant player when the likely favourite Psychedelic Funk (GB) (Choisir {Aus}) was withdrawn due to a raised temperature, Peace Envoy gave his sire a first black-type success to secure a place on Ballydoyle's Royal Ascot juvenile squad. Off the mark on debut over five furlongs at Dundalk Apr. 8, the bay was second when failing by a half length to give five pounds to Psychedelic Funk's stablemate King Electric (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) who he had beaten on the Polytrack in a conditions race over...

Withdrawn from the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas last Sunday when the weather turned against her, Godolphin's Anamba, who is a daughter of the 2007 G1 Schweppes Oaks winner Anamato, thrived on this livelier surface to open her black-type account. Last seen finishing second to Coolmore (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who she had beaten on her Leopardstown debut, in the G3 C L & M F Weld Park S. over this trip at The Curragh in September, the bay was stuck on the rail in mid-division throughout the initial stages. Closing steadily...

After a debut second to the smart Pai Brandt trainee Etonnez Moi (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) over 10 furlongs here Mar. 12, Highlands Queen was off the mark at the expense of Mango Tango over the same course and distance last time Apr. 3 and took another stride up the ladder with a clear-cut victory in this trial for the G1 Prix de Diane. Anchored in fourth early against the fence by Stephane Pasquier, the blaze-faced bay stayed far side entering the home straight as Christophe Soumillon took Apple Betty...

With the G1 Prix de Diane looming on the horizon, Sunday's G3 Prix Cleopatre at Saint-Cloud is another opportunity for the 3-year-old fillies to stake a claim and Joseph Allen's Apple Betty (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is next in line. The full-sister to Magician (Ire) opened her black-type account over the 10 1/2-furlong Diane trip in the Listed Prix Caravelle at Toulouse Apr. 30 and has experience on her side, unlike Bertrand de Tarragon's unbeaten and unexposed Gargotiere (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}). She beat one of Apple Betty's stable companions War Flag...

Another race enhanced in status with the G1 Commonwealth Cup in mind, Sunday's G3 Bar One Racing Lacken S. at Naas plays host to one of that feature race's possible protagonists in the returning Smash Williams (Ire) (Fracas {Ire}). Sent off favourite for the G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte in October as a result of his impressive win in The Curragh's six-furlong G3 Round Tower S. in August, the chestnut was only third to Donjuan Triumphant (Ire) (Dream Ahead) but was always considered a longer-term prospect by Jim Bolger. Of the...

Having warmed up for Sunday's G2 Grosser Preis der Badischen Wirtschaft with a return success in the G2 Gerling-Preis over 12 furlongs at Cologne May 8, Gestut Schlenderhan's Ito (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) bids to see off all rivals from the front again as he did to such dramatic effect in his career-best performance in the G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern at Munich in November. Forced to carry a six-pound penalty here, last year's impressive winner of this contest is re-opposed by Nightflower (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) who he trailed when...

Saint-Cloud stage the first of the major stayers' races in France on Sunday, with the G2 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier seemingly at the mercy of His Highness The Aga Khan's Vazirabad (Fr) (Manduro {Ger}). On a winning run that has encompassed the G3 Prix de Lutece, G2 Prix Chaudenay, G1 Prix Royal-Oak and G2 Dubai Gold Cup, the 4-year-old had the re-opposing Manatee (GB) (Monsun {Ger}) well behind in both the last two races. There was little in the performance of the sixth-placed Manatee in the Mar. 26 Meydan two-mile contest...