Europe

2nd-NBY, £10,000, Mdn, 5-13, 2yo, 6f 8yT, 1:16.40, g/s. +CUNCO (IRE) (c, 2, Frankel {GB}--Chrysanthemum {Ire} {MGSW & G1SP-Ire, $275,329}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who RNA'd at 280,000gns as a TATOCT yearling and the first runner to represent his sire (by Galileo {Ire}) here, was on edge in the preliminaries and raced in a handy fifth through the early fractions of this straight dash. Coming under increased pressure to close inside the final quarter mile, the 7-2 chance kept on relentlessly for three tender flicks of Robert Havlin's persuader to...

2.00 Newbury, Mdn, £10,000, 2yo, 6f 8yT CUNCO (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) has the honour of being the first runner to represent Juddmonte's icon, with Don Alberto Stable's January-foaled bay being out of the 2011 G1 Pretty Polly S. third Chrysanthemum (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). Introduced by John Gosden in the second division of the maiden won by the Hannon stable's subsequent top-level performers Canford Cliffs (Ire) and Strong Suit (Rahy), he does have some speed in his pedigree with his third dam being the 1999 G3 Princess Margaret S. winner...

This race has been used as a prep for the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot, and there are some smart fillies in attendance again this time, with last year's GI Frizette S. runner-up and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf third Nemoralia heading the list. Only a head behind the latter race's runner-up Alice Springs (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) at Keeneland in October, her profile has been boosted by that rival's subsequent exploits in the G1 1000 Guineas, and she has pleased trainer Jeremy Noseda in the build-up to this...

Sharpened by a run in the G3 Sagaro S., George Strawbridge's Flying Officer (Dynaformer) bids to continue Frankie Dettori's purple patch at York's Dante meeting in Friday's G2 Betway Yorkshire Cup. Third under a five-pound penalty in that Apr. 27 two-mile contest at Ascot, last year's G2 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup winner should be able to reverse form with that race's runner-up Clever Cookie (GB) (Primo Valentino {Ire}) on level terms, particularly as the ground has dried against that rival. He also had Clever Cookie back in second...

3rd-NEW, £8,500, Mdn, 5-12, 3yo, 10fT, 2:06.61, g/f. FIRNAS (GB) (c, 3, Dubawi {Ire}--Crystal Music {G1SW-Eng & G1SP-Ire, $367,336}, by Nureyev) was a 1.6million TATOCT yearling purchase by John Ferguson who said at the time, "We are trying to find the gold mine, the horse who will become a dual-hemisphere stallion." Finishing fifth on his debut behind the subsequent listed winner Tashweeq (Ire) (Big Bad Bob {Ire}) over seven furlongs at Newmarket in August, the bay whose dam was the 2000 G1 Fillies Mile winner before finishing runner-up in the...

Angus Gold was the unanimous choice by the DBS–now Goffs UK–board to receive the Willie Stephenson Memorial Trophy for 2015, and Shadwell's racing manager was awarded the trophy at York Thursday. The Willie Stephenson award, named for the former DBS chairman, recognizes annually a person or persons the board feels made the biggest contribution to the company's success that year. Gold has been a long-time supporter of DBS, and was leading buyer at last year's Premier Sale, with 20 yearlings bought for £2.2 million. Three of Gold's previous DBS purchases–Markaz...

3rd-SAL, £5,500, Mdn, 5-12, 3yo/up, f, 9f 198yT, 2:10.98, g/s. +SOVEREIGN PARADE (IRE) (f, 3, Galileo {Ire}--Dialafara {Fr}, by Anabaa), a 480,000gns TATOCT yearling, found cover in mid division after the initial strides of this unveiling. Shaken up with three furlongs to go, the crowd's 5-6 pick stayed on resolutely under a final-quarter drive and swooped nearing the line to prevail by a length from Julia Dream (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}). Sovereign Parade's second dam, the G1 Prix Vermeille second Diamilina (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}), is a full-sister to G3 Prix Cleopatre...

As the name suggests, the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings reflect the truly global nature of the sport, with  Nyquist (Uncle Mo) having shot into the joint-third slot following his victory in Saturday's G1 Kentucky Derby. Star Australian mare Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) currently shares top billing with a former Kentucky Derby winner and recent Dubai World Cup hero California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) on a mark of 126. Right behind them on 124 is a quartet representing Japan, America, England and Hong Kong. Nyquist, who improved from a ranking...

Tommy Berry, who is currently enjoying a successful stint in Japan, will ride Maurice (JPN) (Screen Hero {JPN}) in the G1 Yasuda Kinen if the 2015 Japanese Horse of the Year lines up to defend his title in Tokyo on June 5. The recent winner of the Hong Kong Champions Mile in a stretch of four consecutive group 1 victories, Maurice is still in quarantine since returning to Japan. His most recent race partner was Joao Moreira, who is currently not licenced to ride in Japan, leaving the door open...

The kinship between the first British and French Classics, already enhanced this year by the transfer of the latter to a straight mile at Deauville, could yet extend to a set of winning silks. Certainly Sheikh Joaan and his team at Al Shaqab Racing are optimistic that the example of Galileo Gold (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}) in the 2000 Guineas can be emulated by one of their runners on Sunday--notably by Qemah (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), whose remarkable performance in her trial qualifies her as one of the favourites for...

HE'S GOT WINGS Successful in a minor 12-furlong maiden at Wolverhampton Apr. 23, Lady Bamford's Wings of Desire (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) had little in the way of form to recommend him for Thursday's G2 Betfred Dante S. at York, but he is a full-brother to the 2014 G2 King Edward VII S. winner and last year's G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. runner-up Eagle Top (GB) and was the pick of Frankie Dettori over the proven Foundation (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). In last early, the 9-1 shot crept into...

TRUE ROMANTIC     Third in Ascot's Oct. 17 G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S., Beautiful Romance (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) returned off that latest effort to claim a career-high win in Thursday's G2 Betfred Middleton S. at York. Settled in fourth after an alert getaway, the 5-1 chance inched ever closer once into the long straight. She came under pressure with three furlongs remaining and was driven out once grinding her way to the front at the eighth pole to deny Koora (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) by 1 1/4 lengths...