Europe

The BHA has confirmed a case of equine influenza in a vaccinated thoroughbred in a yard adjacent to Welsh Grand National-winning trainer Mel Rowley in Shropshire, England. The horse came from the Goffs Arkle Sale in Ireland and arrived in the yard on June 12. It was reported to have been transported along with eight other thoroughbreds who were also purchased at the sale that took place between June 9 and 11.  It is understood that the BHA has contacted those responsible for the horses who came into contact with...

The money spoke for Ombudsman (Night Of Thunder) ahead of Wednesday's G1 Prince of Wales's Stakes and by the line the 11-10 odds were looking generous as the Godolphin kingpin romped to glory. Becoming the first to win more than one of this Royal Ascot feature since it was turned into an elite contest, the market-leader turned what had been long touted as a match with Daryz (Sea The Stars) into a one-sided affair with a four-length success. Last year's Arc winner failed to see off the Arc runner-up Minnie...

Last term's G1 Sun Chariot Stakes runner-up Blue Bolt (Blue Point), a rare Juddmonte purchase, is back on the path into elite-level company after breaking Andrew Balding's duck at this year's Royal Ascot meeting with a dominant performance in the latter stages of Wednesday's G2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes. "This has been the plan since she ran so well in the Sun Chariot at the end of last year," said Balding. "Barring her first start at Southwell, she has never run a bad race and we've had this in our...

Kildangan Stud hosted the Godolphin Flying Start graduation on Friday, June 12, where Matthew Daubeney was announced as the top student for 2026 having achieved the highest overall grade.  A total of 12 trainees who had commenced the Godolphin Flying Start scholarship in August 2024 were joined by family, friends and representatives of University College Dublin, Godolphin and Godolphin Flying Start for what proved to be a memorable day. Guests were welcomed by a stallion show hosted by the trainees. The occasion continued with the business plan showcase in the...

Continuing the purple patch of Joseph O'Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle, the progressive Limestone (New Bay) edged the photo at the end of Wednesday's G2 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot. One for the St Leger candidates, the mile-and-three-quarter contest lacked a clear-cut candidate this year and it was only in the dying strides that the colt who races for Valmont, Al Shaqab and Ballylinch Stud put his name on the honour roll ahead of Godolphin's Del Maro (Camelot). The official margin was a nose, with the long-time leader and outsider...

Aidan O'Brien had not won the G2 Queen Mary Stakes until subsequent G1 1000 Guineas heroine True Love (No Nay Never) prevailed last year and the Ballydoyle maestro edged closer to a century of Royal Ascot winners when TDN Rising Star Victorious (Wootton Bassett), who is blind in one eye, produced a telling burst in the closing stages of the five-furlong contest to provide the trainer with a 99th Royal winner. "She's incredible, we knew she was very classy and we've always felt that she'd be very good," O'Brien said....

Qatar Holdings and Investment Company (QIPCO) has extended its sponsorship of Britain's richest raceday, staged annually at Ascot Racecourse in October, until 2028, shareholders of British Champions Day announced on Wednesday. QIPCO has sponsored the race meeting since its inaugural running in 2011, helping to grow the fixture into one of the most prestigious days racing in the world and the only single day of racing in Britain to stage five Group 1 races. In 2025, QIPCO British Champions Day staged seven races for the first time, including the inaugural...

Friday's G1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot will witness a clash of the Guineas heroines as G1 Irish 1000 Guineas victrix Precise (Starspangledbanner) and G1 1000 Guineas winner True Love (No Nay Never) meet for a third time. Ryan Moore will partner the Precise, while Wayne Lordan will be aboard True Love. Nine-strong opposition to the Aidan O'Brien stablemates includes the Donnacha O'Brien-trained GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Balantina (Ten Sovereigns). Earlier on the card, 22 speedsters will go forward for the G1 Commonwealth Cup with Ballydoyle supplying...

Habibi, fourth in Sunday's G1 Prix de Diane, is a new addition to the Arqana Summer Sale from June 30-July 1. Set to sell as lot 400, the daughter of Le Brivido has won two of her four outings as a juvenile. Racing for Jan Romel and Ecurie Nicolato, she was runner-up in the Listed Prix Rose de Mai in March and was also fourth in the G2 Prix Saint-Alary. Currently rated 49 (rating 108), the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained filly is a versatile racing prospect and a granddaughter of G3 Prix...

They walked around the paddock one behind the other, like a little brother following his big brother around. The swaggering Gstaad led the more demure Bow Echo, looking as though at least a year separated them in age.  But when the time came to tussle there was no brotherly love lost as the pair fought with each stride to the line, delivering the battle royal we had hoped to see but perhaps had not dared to dream would happen. Whichever way the photo went, a Guineas winner would be crowned...

The only bad news emanating from Ascot following Tuesday's action is that the rest of the week couldn't possibly be as entertaining. Or could it? There are endless potential storylines just bubbling beneath the surface on Wednesday. We've outlined five below.  Big-Name Breeze-Up Graduates In The Spotlight Given the rise and rise of the breeze-up sales in recent years, and the extraordinary sums that potential Ascot runners can make in that sphere, it is always fascinating to track how some of the high-profile graduates perform on the big stage. Special...

It may have been super-smooth at Newmarket, but Tuesday's G1 St James's Palace Stakes offered a different test to Bow Echo (Night Of Thunder) which he was able to pass and at the same time show his other side. Whereas Billy Loughnane had enjoyed a trouble-free run through the 2,000 Guineas, this was a messy affair with some scrimmaging but the imperturbable rhythm of George Boughey's luminary saw him once again get there in front of Gstaad (Starspangledbanner). At the line, it was a short head this time but that...