Europe

After making sure that Ballydoyle's 1-2 favourite Diamond Necklace (St Mark's Basilica) delivered in Sunday's G1 Prix de Diane Longines at Chantilly, Ryan Moore become the first jockey in history to win every English, Irish and French Classic. This was far from straightforward, with the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroine pushed all the way to the line by the 35-1 outsider Pink Panthera (Chachnak), who nearly stole it for France under Tony Piccone, but Moore was in his usual unflinching mood to hold on by a short neck. Inis Mor (Galiway)...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Cortina d'Amprezzo at Santa Anita. Nothing But Luck Cortina d'Amprezzo (Lucky Vega) got the job done for trainer Phil D'Amato at Santa Anita on June 11 (video). The three-year-old filly races for Hopeless Stables, Little Red Feather Racing, Medallion Racing, McNulty Thoroughbreds, Veranda Stables, and Omar Aldabbagh. Bred by Mountarmstrong Stud, she changed hands for €26,000 as a Goffs Autumn yearling when picked...

Should the Prix de Diane Longines favourite Diamond Necklace (St Mark's Basilica) comply with all established logic at Chantilly on Sunday and deliver, it will be Classic win number seven in 2026 for Aidan O'Brien in a season he is threatening to define. Already one of the six herself, having conquered the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches with the minimum of fuss four weeks ago, Ballydoyle's unbeaten starlet bids to join an elite band by adding this prestige affair to Longchamp's Classic and Prix Marcel Boussac. Remarkably, just a quartet have...

Charlie Appleby trainee Inner City Blues (Blue Point), who was Godolphin's sole purchase during this year's breeze-up season, was making his third pass through a sales ring when becoming the €900,000 top-priced colt at last month's Arqana Breeze-Up sale, having previously sold for €180,000 as a Goffs November foal and 375,000gns as a Tattersalls Book 1 yearling. The grandson of G3 Prix Eclipse victrix Souvenir Delondres (Siyouni) was all at sea during the initial stages of Saturday's Tomahawk Restaurants Supporting Macmillan EBF Maiden at York, but delivered a knockout blow...

G1 Prix Morny heroine Venetian Sun (Starman) is one of 25 horses remaining in the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot on Friday, June 19. She was a G3 Albany Stakes winner at two at Ascot. The Karl Burke trainee failed to stay in the G1 1000 Guineas, but made up for that effort with an impressive win in the G2 Sandy Lane Stakes over Division (Kingman) later in May. Sean Graham, racing manager to part-owner Tony Bloom, said of the filly, "Venetian Sun is in great form and came...

A total of 10 fillies, including Aidan O'Brien's English and Irish Guineas winners True Love (No Nay Never) and Precise (Starspangledbanner), have been entered in the G1 Coronation Stakes on Friday, June 19. The duo face G3 Fred Darling Stakes second Touleen (Lope De Vega) from the Owen Burrows yard. The filly finished sixth behind True Love in the G1 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. "She's well and seems good and it's all systems go for the Coronation," said Burrows. "We thought she had a good draw in the Guineas but...

New information regarding the death of kidnapped stallion Shergar, has been revealed by Princess Zahra Aga Khan, the daughter of the colt's late co-owner, Aga Khan IV. A winner of the 1981 G1 Derby by a record 10 lengths and a brilliant racehorse, the son of Great Nephew is best known for his kidnapping from the Aga Khan's Ballymany Stud in Ireland on February 8, 1983. At the time, the IRA were the main suspects behind the kidnapping, which involved six armed men. The prevailing thought is that his abductors...

Jockey Ryan Moore and noted owner/breeder Kirsten Rausing have both been named in the King's Birthday Honours List. Coolmore/Ballydoyle's retained rider, Moore has been awarded an MBE for his services to racing and British sport. He was aboard Queen Elizabeth II's Estimate (Monsun) when the filly landed the G1 Gold Cup in 2013. Currently he has ridden 92 Royal Ascot winners and also has 18 British Classic victories. Moore has also ridden four Derby winners: Workforce (2010), Ruler Of The World (2013), Auguste Rodin (2023) and City Of Troy (2024)....

Trainer Jamie Osborne has received a three-month suspension of his licence, suspended for six months, after taking a photograph of a woman's 'clothed bottom' at a racecourse last year. The 58-year-old was caught taking the photograph in the paddock before a race at an evening meeting last summer, and was reported to stewards on the day. The Group 1-winning trainer initially denied taking the photograph, but then admitted to doing so when confronted, subsequently deleting the image. Osborne apologised to the woman, referred to in a disciplinary panel ruling published...

2.25 York, Hcp, 3yo/up, 7fT Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum's long-striding EXTREMELY ZAIN (FR) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}), who retains a G1 Sussex Stakes entry, seeks to build upon a TDN Rising Star display at Newbury four weeks ago and will carry a relatively light 130 pounds in this handicap bow. The track's profile should play to the strengths of the William Haggas trainee and he faces 19 seasoned rivals in his first assignment against the older brigades.   4.15 York, Mdn, 2yo, 6fT Godolphin debutant INNER CITY BLUES (IRE) (Blue...

Having shaped with real promise at The Curragh last month, Al Shira'aa Racing's Folsom Blues (Blue Point) showed more of his raw material to become a TDN Rising Star, Presented by Hagyard at Gowran on Friday. Sent off the heavily-supported 4-9 favourite for the seven-furlong maiden won by the fellow Joseph O'Brien-trained subsequent Moyglare Stud Stakes heroine Intricately in 2016, Al Shira'aa Racing's homebred made all for a power-packed 7 1/2-length success. "He's a lovely horse who shows plenty at home and the key was to get him to relax...

Now carrying four stars on his saddle cloth for each lifetime Group 1 victory, Croix Du Nord accumulated the most votes for Sunday's 2200-metre G1 Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin. The 2024 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) victor is riding a two-race winning streak, having defeated the re-opposing Meisho Tabaru (Gold Ship) in the 2000-metre Osaka Hai in April. Upped to 3200-metres for the first time on May 3, he won the G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) as well. The son of Kitasan Black will earn a berth in the GI Breeders' Cup...