Europe

Unusually this year, there's been intense interest in whether or not the two leading fancies for the G1 Investec Oaks, Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and So Mi Dar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), will instead take on the colts in the following day's G1 Investec Derby. Having posted an impressive victory in the G3 Tattersalls Musidora S. at York on Wednesday, it now seems likely that Lord and Lady Lloyd Webber's homebred So Mi Dar will stick to competing against her own sex in the immediate future, despite the fact that she...

Soft ground has scuppered Hugo Palmer's plans to run Home Of The Brave (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) in Saturday's G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury. The winner of his sole start to date this season at Leicester in the Listed EBF Stallions King Richard II S., the 4-year-old colt was recently sold to race for Godolphin but is to remain in training with Palmer. He looks likely to head now to Haydock before a possible tilt at the Queen Anne S. at Royal Ascot. Palmer said. “Newbury looks like being...

3.00 Salisbury, Mdn, £5,500, 3yo/up, f/m, 9f 198yT SOVEREIGN PARADE (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) was purchased by John Warren Bloodstock for 480,000gns at Tattersalls October and is a full-brother to the ill-fated Ballydoyle runner Jamaica (Ire), who was fourth in the G3 Acomb S. two years ago. From the esteemed Aga Khan family of Diamond Green (Fr) (Green Desert), Diamilina (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}) and Diamond Mix (Ire) (Linamix {Fr}), Isa Salman and Isa Abdulla's newcomer represents the John Gosden stable and encounters another unraced jewel in Sir Evelyn de Rothschild's Dubka...

While there is not a Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) or Sariska (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) in Thursday's G2 Betfred Middleton S. at York, there is one of 2015's fastest-progressing fillies in Journey (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). George Strawbridge's homebred daughter of his 2006 G1 Prix Royal-Oak heroine Montare (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) came alive when winning Newmarket's Listed Princess Royal S. by eight lengths over 12 furlongs in September, and proved that front-running masterclass was no fluke when subsequently second to Simple Verse (Ire) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}) in the G1 QIPCO...

Bred out of Juddmonte's very top-drawer and unbeaten so far, Midterm (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) has understandably been made the ante-post favourite for the upcoming G1 Epsom Derby, and he looks to justify that position in Thursday's G2 Betfred Dante S. at York. Brought along with typically tender guidance so far by his master trainer Sir Michael Stoute, who is just one win off joining Sir Henry Cecil on the record of seven in this prestigious contest, the son of the illustrious Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) kept the dream alive...

Darley Flying Start has announced its intake of trainees for its 2016 to 2018 scholarship, as well as a re-brand of the programme. In August, the course's name will be changed to Godolphin Flying Start, with the existing course structure, content and management remaining the same. Darley Flying Start students learn and experience management operations and leadership in Ireland, the UK, the U.S., Australia and Dubai and gain credits from numerous educational institutions, including a Graduate Certificate in Management from the University College Dublin Michael Smurfit Business School. The 2016-2018...

The October Yearling Sale Criterium, a €250,000 race restricted to graduates of Arqana's October Yearling Sale, will be staged for the first time on Arc weekend in 2017 after receiving approval from France Galop. The race will be restricted to 2-year-old colts, fillies and geldings. "The launch of the October Yearling Sale Criterium pursues two objectives, which Arqana and France Galop have in common: to upgrade the owner experience by making it accessible to a wider audience, and to support French breeding," said Arqana Chairman Eric Hoyeau. "The October Yearling...

2nd-NAA, €15,000, Cond, 5-11, 2yo, 6fT, 1:14.89, yl. PSYCHEDELIC FUNK (GB) (c, 2, Choisir {Aus}--Parabola {GB}, by Galileo {Ire}), who prevailed in his debut over this course and distance last time Apr. 25, asserted for an early lead in this one. Nudged along when threatened passing the quarter-mile pole, the 8-11 chalk was driven clear approaching the final furlong and ran on strongly in the closing stages to easily account for Ambiguity (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) by an impressive six lengths. "We knew we had a nice horse, and I'm...

Coming to the fore when winning the Listed Alleged S. over 10 furlongs at The Curragh Apr. 3, Zhukova dealt a blow to the Classic generation here with an emphatic success to suggest a bright future. Allowed abundant time to mature and fill her sizeable frame, the daughter of his late mother Maguerite's G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Nightime (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) still managed to show flashes of genuine talent at three. They came during her maiden success over 10 furlongs at Navan in mid-June and when scoring in the...

1st-NAS, €15,500, Mdn, 5-11, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:14.56, y/s. CUFF (IRE) (f, 2, Galileo {Ire}--Massarra {GB} {SW & GSP-Eng, GSP-Fr}, by Danehill), a debut fourth going five furlongs at Navan Apr. 17, occupied a prominent berth from the outset of this contest annexed by the stable's subsequent G1 Moyglare Stud S. winner Maybe (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in 2011. Nudged into a slender lead inside the two pole, the crwod's 13-8 choice rolled around in front approaching the final eighth and was ridden out to hold on by a short head from...

OH MI!     Her distinguished dam Dar Re Mi (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) was only third in the G3 Tattersalls Musidora S. in 2008, but Lord Lloyd-Webber's So Mi Dar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was in a class of her own on York's Knavesmire on Wednesday as she enhanced her reputation further to set up a clash with Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the June 3 G1 Epsom Oaks. Having warmed up for this time-honoured trial with a defeat of the subsequent listed winners Humphrey Bogart (Ire) (Tagula {Ire}) and Viren's Army...

    In the week that his star stablemate Muhaarar (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) was winning the G3 Greenham S. last April, Magical Memory was finishing only fourth off an official BHA rating of 87 in a handicap at Newmarket's Craven meeting. Progressing fast over six furlongs thereafter, the grey was third behind Twilight Son (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) back there on the 1000 Guineas undercard and here in June either side of a win at Leicester in late May. After earning a rating of 102 when winning a heritage handicap on...