Europe

5.20 Curragh, Mdn, €12,000, 3yo/up, 8fT ROSE DE PIERRE (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}) is the first foal to race out of the high-class stayer Profound Beauty (Ire) (Danehill), who was second in the G1 Irish St Leger six years ago for Moyglare Stud and Dermot Weld. Among her rivals is the similarly unraced Motherland (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), an Aidan O'Brien-trained son of the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup heroine Pipalong (Ire) (Pips Pride {GB}).

Now the proud bearer of a G1 Champion S. title, Fascinating Rock (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) returns to race on home soil in Monday's G3 Camelot EBF Mooresbridge S. at The Curragh, where he will be greeted by Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Coming of age when battling to a 1 1/4-length victory over that star Ballydoyle filly in the Ascot showpiece, Newtown Anner Stud Farm's imposing homebred is at a distinct disadvantage this time, with Found having enjoyed a recent sharpener. Last year's GI Breeders' Cup Turf heroine was third...

After Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) had seemingly put the Epsom Oaks out of reach earlier on the card, this performance by Swiss Range in a race won by Taghrooda (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), Talent (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) and Ouija Board (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) at least gave some food for thought ahead of the middle-distance Classics. As a daughter of the G2 Ribblesdale S. winner Spanish Sun, she has the pedigree for those tests and has looked a dynamic force since a hood was fitted after her debut defeat...

5th-NEW, £10,000, Mdn, 5-1, 2yo, 5fT, 1:00.04, gd. +GLOBAL APPLAUSE (GB) (c, 2, Mayson {GB}--Crown {Ire}, by Royal Applause {GB}), who was the subject of notable support into 7-4 favouritism, broke well to race in third on the outside. Looming on the front end passing the quarter pole, the 60,000gns TATFOA weanling and 78,000gns TATOCT yearling win drifted to the stand's rail but his momentum was unchecked as he surged to an authoritative 3 3/4-length success from Hakeem (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). The winner becomes the first winner for his...

Spoken of in glowing terms prior to his first tough assignment in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois last summer, Vadamos was stricken with a virus and therefore missed that engagement but bounced back to win Baden-Baden's G2 Oettingen-Rennen over a mile in September. Ambitiously tilted at the G1 QIPCO Champion S. at Ascot the following month, the dark bay floundered there and faded to be last of the 13 runners but connections kept the faith in the homebred who had been brought along so steadily by Andre Fabre earlier...

MIND GAMES ON THE ROWLEY MILE When you suffer an anti-climax like that provided by Air Force Blue (War Front) in the 2000 Guineas, the best remedy is to return to Newmarket's Rowley Mile and saddle a one-two-three 24 hours later in the G1 Qipco 1000 Guineas S. headed by a filly with claims to the exceptional in Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Left with no cover early as Ryan Moore was forced to race in between two groups, the 11-10 favourite who was so impressive in the G1 Fillies Mile...

Bred to be special, the G1 Hong Kong Vase heroine Daryakana's son Dariyan went through 2015 fitting the typically progressive profile of one of His Highness The Aga Khan's elite youngsters entrusted to the safe hands of Alain de Royer-Dupre. Educated with two conditions wins over 10 and 12 furlongs at this venue last May, the bay ran below expectations when only fourth as the favourite behind the subsequent G1 Grand Prix de Paris winner Erupt (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G3 Prix du Lys over the latter trip at...

Unbeaten in non-black-type company but only seventh when pitched high in the G1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville in August, Usherette overcame some significant home-trained talent here to secure yet another major British prize for Andre Fabre. Never a factor but only four lengths adrift of Amazing Maria in the Rothschild after two wins at Chantilly, the bay was put away for the year and returned to rebuild her confidence with two further conditions wins on the Polytrack at Deauville Mar. 8 and Chantilly Apr. 4. After that latest dismissal of...

By Emma Berry 'Yes, this is where it all began,' proclaimed racing poet Henry Birtles in his ode to Newmarket written to commemorate 350 years of racing in the town. The great East Anglian expanse of heath has in fact been the scene for horses to be pitched in athletic battle for more than 350 years, with the first recorded race in Newmarket stretching as far back as 1622. But 1666, when racing's first great royal patron Charles II returned to Newmarket following the restoration of the monarchy, was the...

As has become customary this week, trainer Willie Mullins once again found himself in the spotlight at Punchestown Saturday, saddling the winners of both Grade 1 races on the festival's final day. Mullins scored with the David Lawlor-owned mare Whiteout (Ger) (Samum {Ger}), who bested favoured stablemate Limini (Ire) (Peintre Celebre) in the Mares Champion Hurdle, before doubling up with Gigginstown House Stud's Apple's Jade (Fr) (Saddler Maker {Ire}) in the AES Champion Four Year Old Hurdle in the next race. Of Whiteout, Mullins said, "She won a claimer in...

On the day that he recorded his first British Classic win with Galileo Gold (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}) in the G1 Qipco 2000 Guineas, trainer Hugo Palmer revealed that his 2015 G1 Darley Irish Oaks winner Covert Love (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) would miss an intended seasonal debut in the G2 Middleton S. at York May 12 after suffering a minor setback in training. "It is nothing serious--and it doesn't affect the longevity of her season, and certainly not her career--but she had some pus in her foot, and has missed...

With Air Force Blue (War Front) putting in a no-show in Saturday's G1 Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, it was left to Al Shaqab Racing's Galileo Gold (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}) to record a commanding success at 14-1 and provide the operation with a first British Classic victory. Initially taking the far-side group along in exuberant fashion under Frankie Dettori before accepting a lead, last year's G2 Vintage S. winner who was last seen finishing third in Longchamp's G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere regained the advantage with two furlongs remaining. Despite...