Europe

The Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes, the richest race at Naas, has attracted 209 entries ahead of its running on Bank Holiday Monday, August 3, with €200,000 in prize money on offer.  The Ballyhane Stakes is a six-furlong contest for EBF eligible two-year-olds by a sire with a median price of no more than €75,000. Last year's contest was won by the €38,000 purchase Howd'yadoit, trained by Ger Lyons and ridden by Colin Keane. His owner Sean Jones looks set to mount a strong defence of the title, with nine horses...

With one big puff of the cheeks, Mark Flannery experienced a feeling that most consignors could scarcely imagine at Tattersalls on Wednesday when his Starspangledbanner filly was knocked down to Anthony Stroud for a cool 900,000gns at one of the trickiest Craven Breeze-Up Sales in recent times.  But at around 8pm at Park Paddocks, talk shifted from the war in the Middle East, the uncertain global political landscape or even worse, what the rest of the breeze-up season might look like in Europe. That was thanks to Flannery. For the...

2.30 ParisLongchamp, Cond, 3yo, f, 8fT THE LAST DANCE (FR) (Iffraaj {GB}) puts her Classic credentials on the line in this increasingly important Prix du Louvre conditions event which has hosted the 2021 and 2024 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroines Coeursamba and Rouhiya. Both were beaten in this course-and-distance contest, so Sheikh Omar Esmil Ghrghar, Carlos and Yann Lerner and Antoine Gilibert's impressive Chantilly winner who earned a TDN Rising Star tag remains of interest for next month's Classic as long as she shows up well. Another unexposed Pouliches entry...

That's the ticket. Some black-type action on the Rowley Mile and the scent of Classics on the wind.  It's pleasing to report that there were plenty of happy breeders at the racecourse on Wednesday, perhaps none more so than Graham Smith-Bernal and Craig Bennett of Newsells Park Stud and Merry Fox Stud respectively, who were clearly delighted at the impressive return of the paint-splodged Damysus (Frankel) in the G3 Earl of Sefton Stakes. A return to Group 1 company for Wathnan Racing's colt is plainly on the radar now. Julian...

Thursday, Newmarket, post time: 15:35, BETWAY CRAVEN STAKES-G3, £95,000, 3yo, Open, 8f 0y Field: Avicenna (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), Commander's Intent (Fr) (Victor Ludorum {GB}), Hankelow (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Hawk Mountain (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Hidden Force (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Oxagon (Fr) (Frankel {GB}), Venetian Prince (GB) (St Mark's Basilica {Fr}). TDN Analysis: Ahead of one of the most head-scratcher 2,000 Guineas for some time, a fascinating Craven where nothing can be safely ruled out and which has surprisingly attracted a Group 1 winner in Hawk Mountain. While it is...

Osarus and Arqana have partnered on the La Teste Yearling Sale on September 8-9. This collaboration between the two sales agencies aims to give new momentum to the sale, benefitting French yearling breeders and vendors. Osarus, under the direction of Emmanuel Viaud, will remain the organiser of the La Teste sale. Arqana will contribute the following: providing payment guarantees to vendors, as is the case for its own sales, leveraging its commercial strength to promote the catalogue to buyers, and bringing its resources and expertise in event organisation. Yearling breeders...

Making his 2026 debut on Wednesday, Ballydoyle's The Lion In Winter (Sea The Stars) enjoyed a long overdue confidence-boosting win in Leopardstown's Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Heritage Stakes. Allowed to stride forward from the break by Wayne Lordan, the 11-10 favourite took control two out and saw out the mile test strongly to prevail by half a length from stablemate Expanded (Wootton Bassett). "We're delighted with him and he was just ready to start," Aidan O'Brien said. "The plan was to come here and then go to the Lockinge....

Aidan O'Brien has confirmed that Albert Einstein (Wootton Bassett) is an intended runner in the G3 Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes at Newbury on Saturday. Unbeaten in two starts as a juvenile, Albert Einstein was well beaten on his return to action in the Listed Gladness Stakes at the Curragh, before being mistakenly scratched from the 2,000 Guineas due to what was described by O'Brien as a "computer error". Connections still have the option of supplementing the highly-touted colt for the Newmarket Classic at a cost of...

Causing a 50-1 upset in Wednesday's G3 Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket, Azleet (Tasleet) dented some reputations and cast doubt on some 1,000 Guineas aspirations in the time-honoured trial. Last seen finishing second in the six-furlong Bosra Sham Fillies' Stakes here in October, the Stuart Williams-trained Dullingham Park Stud homebred missed the break under Marco Ghiani and was forced to race on the wing in rear throughout the early stages. Making up ground stealthily as the leaders duelled in the centre, the winner who carries the silks of...

Wathnan Racing's Derby also-ran Damysus (Frankel) was last seen bagging Newmarket's G3 Darley Stakes, going nine furlongs in October, and returned over the same course and distance to rout his five rivals under a penalty in Wednesday's G3 Earl Of Sefton Stakes. "He's not a big horse, but he's more powerful now and when James [Doyle] asked him to go the acceleration was instant," said John Gosden. "I think he will be better this year, he's more mature and anything from a mile to a mile-and-a-quarter is what James feels...

The Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA) and Racehorse Owners Association (ROA) have collaborated with the announcement of a webinar designed to primarily educate and inform racehorse owners and bloodstock enthusiasts considering thoroughbred breeding for the first time. The webinar titled 'From Paddock to Winning Post: Getting Started in Thoroughbred Breeding' will take place on Monday, April 27 at 6pm. Offering a practical and accessible introduction to breeding, it will have a particular focus on owners of fillies nearing the end of their racing careers and featuring guest speaker, multiple Group 1-winning...

By Kit Gow/TTRAusNZ Extreme Choice has done it again with a A$3-million yearling, a Group 1 winner, two Slipper lead-up winners and now a service fee to match the best in the country. Newgate Farm have pegged him at A$385,000 (€233,225) for 2026, equal to the Australian record. "We keep thinking to ourselves how special he is, and he keeps producing it every season," said Bruce Slade, Newgate's director of sales. "He has had another Group 1 winner this season with Apocalyptic, who has been one of the best three-year-old...