Europe

Skiffle could hardly have shaped with more promise on debut when third after a slow break in the 10-furlong Ascot maiden won by the giant Abingdon (Street Cry {Ire}) and confirmed that with a first black-type success in this former Oaks trial which used to be known as the Lupe. Better from the gate to race contentedly with two behind throughout the early stages, the bay needed to thread through rivals in early straight and when in the clear to pursue The Black Princess gave plenty to wear her down...

Protectionist (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), winner of the G1 Melbourne Cup in 2014, has returned to trainer Andreas Wohler in Germany and will make a return to the races in the coming weeks. The now 6-year-old won the Melbourne Cup under Wohler's care before being transferred to local trainer Kris Lees by owner Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock. Protectionist failed to thrive training Down Under, however, failing to hit the board in eight starts in 2015. "He arrived back here in December of last year," said Wohler, who also trained Protectionist to wins...

Chantilly's G3 Prix Vanteaux on Friday features the exciting Maquette (Tapit), Khalid Abdullah's homebred who earned 'TDN Rising Star' status for Andre Fabre over a mile at Saint-Cloud in October. A daughter of the 2011 G1 Prix Jean Romanet winner Announce (GB) (Selkirk), the grey has everything in place for a bright future, but first has to come through this pattern test against some similarly unexposed rivals. Alain de Royer-Dupre supplies two, with His Highness The Aga Khan's Dourdana (Fr) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) successful on her Maisons-Laffitte debut over...

Those unable to believe that Air Force Blue (War Front) can bounce back from such a tame effort in the G1 2000 Guineas three weeks ago and win the G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas at The Curragh on Saturday should bear in mind that when it comes to reviving fortunes in that short turnaround, Aidan O'Brien has previous form. Four years ago, Power (GB) ran a similar race at Newmarket before prevailing here, and that followed the win of the fellow Guineas also-ran Roderic O'Connor (Ire) for the stable 12...

Al Shaqab Racing's Mekhtaal (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), winner of the G2 Prix Hocquart at Deauville on Sunday, is unlikely to be supplemented for the G1 Investec Derby and will instead target the G1 Prix du Jockey Club June 5. Harry Herbert, racing advisor to Al Shaqab, said of the Jean-Claude Rouget trainee, "I think we will probably go for the Prix du Jockey Club with him and keep him in France. He's certainly bred to get further than 10 furlongs in time and he's a very exciting horse."...

G2 Dante S. winner Wings Of Desire (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), as well as Listed Lingfield Derby Trial winner Humphrey Bogart (Ire) (Tagula {Ire}), were entered in the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at a cost of €20,000 at Thursday's second entry stage. Listed Dee S. winner Viren's Army (Ire) (Twirling Candy) and recent Newbury handicap winner Imperial Aviator (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}) were also added, bringing the total of eligible horses to 59 for the June 25 Classic. The Irish Derby will this year be worth a record €1.5...

Anthony Bromley and David Minton's Million in Mind draft produced the two highest-priced lots at Wednesday's Goffs UK Spring HIT Sale at Doncaster. Leading the way was the Grade I-placed Le Prezien (Fr) (Blue Bresil {Fr}) (lot 305), who was consigned by the stable of Paul Nicholls and sold to Frank Berry on behalf of JP McManus for £290,000. The same connections also bought Millions in Mind's listed-winning mare The Organist (Ire) (Alkaadhem {GB}) (lot 304) for £260,000. There was one other lot to breach the £200,000 mark on the...

Private jet company VistaJet and global private network company Select Mobile have become partners in the Goffs London Sale, this year set for June 13 on the eve of Royal Ascot. They join supporting partner Chateau Leoube and title partners QIPCO and Selfridges. "The Goffs London Sale in association with QIPCO is all about offering the very best horses with a top-class service in a stunning location, and the introduction of two such significant high-end companies as VistaJet and Select Mobile is representative of the event," said Goffs Chief Executive...

12.42 Fontainebleau, Mdn, €25,000, unraced 3yo, f, 11fT JOYERIA (Medaglia d'Oro), one of two Godolphin entries for this firsters' test, is out of the 2010 GI Del Mar Oaks and GI Ashland S. heroine Evening Jewel (Northern Afleet), and represents the Andre Fabre stable in a field of nine here. Rivals include fellow Godolphin colourbearer Year of Promise (Gio Ponti), a Henri-Alex Pantall-trained half-sister of MGISW Smiling Tiger (Hold That Tiger) and GI Del Mar Debutante S. heroine She's a Tiger (Tale of the Cat); and Qatar Racing's Freddy Head...

Middleham Park Racing's Viren's Army (Ire) (Twirling Candy) will not be supplemented to the G1 Investec Derby and is set to be entered in the Goffs London Sale June 13. The 3-year-old rose to prominence when upsetting the Listed Dee S. at Chester May 6, but Tim Palin, racing manager for Middleham Park, said the ownership group voted against putting up the £75,000 to supplement for the Derby. "A few of the owners were undecided about supplementing, but they've had their vote and decided not to," Palin said. "It's a...

In this series, the TDN catches up with European expatriats working in the Thoroughbred industry around the world.Today's installment features Royston Murphy, of Sledmere Stud. Hometown? Small village called Kilmeague in Co. Kildare, Ireland. How did you end up where you are now? I came to Australia in '95 to work for Segenhoe Stud. After spending 17 years working there, myself and my wife decided to join forces and take over the running of Sledmere Stud, which was originally owned by my wife Catriona's late grand aunt Ann Raymond. What...

G1 Qipco 1000 Guineas winner and heavy G1 Investec Oaks favourite Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) headlines 24 acceptors for the Oaks at the latest declaration stage on Wednesday. Minding is the 4-7 favourite with Coral for the June 3 Classic and is one of 10 confirmations for trainer Aidan O'Brien, who also left Group 1 winner and 1000 Guineas runner-up Ballydoyle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) eligible, as well as Listed Cheshire Oaks winner Somehow (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). O'Brien trains six of the top seven current betting choices with Coral. Third...