Europe

More questions than answers have been generated from a shaky start to the breeze-up season and now the focus turns to Deauville, where the Arqana Breeze-Up Sale will provide the clearest barometer yet about the overall health within that sector.  Boutique by design, Arqana boasts a broad international reach underpinned by a stellar roll of honour - last year's 2,000 Guineas winner Ruling Court, the ill-fated champion two-year-old Gewan and even this year's 2,000 Guineas third Distant Storm were all sourced here within the past couple of years.  This is...

The latest rankings are dominated by Amo Racing, with Kia Joorabchian's operation being responsible for three of the five top-rated maiden/novice winners in Britain and Ireland last week. 5. HICKORY LAD (IRE) James Garfield (Ire) - Park Glen (Ire), by Tagula (Ire) Timeform performance rating: 89 Runner-up in the Lily Agnes on the opening day of Chester's May Festival, Hickory Lad was reappearing there just seven days after getting off the mark at Musselburgh on April 29. Facing only two rivals in that 5f novice, he was sent off the...

Three-year-old gelding Lunar Tide topped the Tattersalls Online May Sale at 34,000gns when purchased by George Baker Racing. Sold as lot 91, the Baroda Stud-consigned son of Sea The Moon won over the all-weather going a mile at Gowran Park on April 9. His multiple stakes-placed dam Brassica (Australia) is a daughter of the dual stakes-placed Lasilia (Acclamation), and this is the extended family of multiple Group 1 winner Dream Of Dreams (Dream Ahead). He is rated 77p. George Baker said following the sale, "He looks a nice type who...

Friday, Chester, post time: 14:35, THE DEEPBRIDGE HUXLEY STAKES-G2, £170,000, 4yo/up, 10f 70yT Field: Bay City Roller (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), High Stock (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Ice Max (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), King's Gambit (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), Lambourn (Ire) (Australia {GB}), Royal Rhyme (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Starford (Ire) (Beckford {GB}), Sky Safari (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}), Sparks Fly (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}). TDN Analysis: Last year's Chester Vase and Derby winner Lambourn returns over a trip shorter than ideal with cheekpieces fitted to get him into the groove quicker...

by Dane McLeod/TTR AusNZ The action came to a crescendo late in the Inglis Chairman's Sale on Thursday night, with three of the last five lots selling for seven figures. The best was saved for last when Coolmore Stud prevailed over Yulong to secure G2 Reisling Stakes winner Chayan for a new sales record of A$5.6 million. At A Glance Clearance for the Inglis Chairman's Sale dropped to 73% (87%), and the aggregate was A$39.085 million. 2025 (A$54.4 million) and 2024 (A$35.3 million). From a larger catalogue, 79 horses sold...

Ballydoyle has once again passed its annual check-up with Dr Chester and Aidan O'Brien continued his domination of black-type contests at the Roodeye after TDN Rising Star Jan Brueghel (Galileo) increased the trainer's record haul to eight in the extended 13-furlong stamina test. O'Brien and Ryan Moore, when partnering up, have registered 11 consecutive wins at the track and the G1 St Leger and G1 Coronation Cup hero will defend his title in the latter event, skipping the opportunity of utilising his free ticket to next month's GII Belmont Gold...

'Behind the Bridle' will deliver an immersive raceday experience designed to highlight the journey of the Thoroughbred beyond its racing career at Newmarket's Spring Meeting on Saturday, May 16. Retraining of Racehorses (RoR) has worked closely with Newmarket Racecourses and partners across the industry in supporting the delivery of the day, including contributing to the line-up of former racehorses taking part in the day's activities. Racegoers will have the opportunity to engage with a wide range of demonstrations, educational exhibits and interactive experiences, all designed to deepen understanding of racehorse...

Delayed by an hour due to a course inspection at Chester, the Listed Dee Stakes eventually went the same way of the previous day's Classic trials and fell to Ballydoyle and their exciting colt Constitution River (Wootton Bassett). While the fall-out from the lengthy delay was the withdrawal of winner's key rival Morshdi (Dubawi) as Tom Marquand described the track's home bend as dangerous, there can be no debate about the outcome of the 10-furlong Derby trial with the winner so utterly dominant. Content to wait in third early on...

Racing at Chester on the second day of the Boodles May Festival was delayed by over an hour due to a course inspection. A delegation of officials, jockeys and trainers took to the track to inspect areas of concern after several riders reported that their mounts had slipped during the first race on the card, a five-furlong handicap won by course specialist Roman Dragon. Following lengthy deliberations, it was then announced just before 3pm that racing would continue. However, the William Haggas-trained Morshdi, one of the favourites for the Listed...

The exciting Gethin (Ghaiyyath), who gained his third career success from just five starts when winning the Listed Magnolia Stakes at Kempton last month, has been bought by Wathnan Racing in a deal brokered by the operation's racing adviser, Richard Brown. "We've admired Gethin from afar ever since he made an impressive debut at Nottingham at two," said Brown in a statement. "He's got great form around some serious horses at three and showed his wellbeing when winning impressively at Kempton a few weeks ago. "He's got any amount of...

The 2026 edition of the Inglis Chairman's Sale finished with a bang when Chayan (I Am Invincible), the final lot to go through the ring at Riverside Stables, sold to Coolmore Australia's Tom Magnier for A$5.6 million, a new record price for the sale. The previous record for the Chairman's Sale was held by the multiple Group 1 winner Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai), who was sold to her breeder and part-owner Michael Christian of Longwood Thoroughbred Farm for A$4.2 million last year. The new record also sees Chayan become...

4.38 ParisLongchamp, Cond, 3yo, 8fT ERDENALI (FR) (Caravaggio) created a stir on debut in the omnipresent Aga Khan Studs silks when winning by 6 1/2 lengths without turning a hair at Saint-Cloud in March, earning TDN Rising Star status as a result and he puts that on the line here against experienced rivals. They include the Wertheimers' dual Listed-placed Focus (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}), an Andre Fabre-trained relative of the G1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Queen's Jewel (Pivotal), so we should know a little more about the merit of the Francis Graffard-trained...