Europe

Grade I winner Magnum Force has his first four mares scanned in foal at Ballyhane Stud. Standing for €7,500 in 2026, the son of Mehmas won the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. Stakes winner Asidious Alexander (Windsor Knot), Sunday Smart (Dandy Man), Gold Vision (Havana Gold), a sister to stakes winner Aqlaam Vision (Aqlaam), and Odessa On My Mind (Saxon Warrior), a half-sister to stakes scorer Most Beautiful (Canford Cliffs), have all tested in foal to the young stallion. "He's had a busy start and has settled into the...

Bloodstock agent Barry Lynch provided a peak behind the curtain about what life as a bloodstock agent is really like in the latest installment of the TDN Conversations podcast.  Lynch is a man who wears many hats. A graduate of the Godolphin Flying Start, he has worked for over 10 years as a bloodstock agent where he can count a hatful of Group winners as well as the dams of Group winners - Venetian Sun, Garden Of Eden and Lusail - as his major achievements. He is also on the...

Arizona Blaze, a winner of the G1 Flying Five Stakes, has his first mares scanned in foal. The Irish National Stud resident stands for €12,500 this year. Elegant Madame (Inns Of Court), a half-sister to G1 Middle Park Stakes-placed Summer Sands (Coach House), is carrying to the son of Sergei Prokofiev. She is from the family of G2 Coventry Stakes hero Hellvelyn. Another in foal mare is Hi Milady (Sir Prancealot), a half-sister to G3 Anglesey Stakes second Hard Yards (Moss Vale), while Alumni Lia (Australia), from the family of...

Tattersalls has released the catalogue for the Craven Breeze-Up Sale, which features 182 juveniles and takes place between April 13 and 15. High-profile graduates from the Craven Breeze-Up Sale include multiple Group 1-winning sprinter Vandeek, 1,000 Guineas heroine Cachet, Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint winner Believing and more. Commenting on this year's catalogue, Tattersalls Managing Director Matthew Prior said, "Al Quoz Sprint winner Believing was the sale's fifth individual Group 1 winner since 2022 and crowned another excellent year on the racecourse for the Craven Breeze-Up Sale, Europe's leading breeze-up...

Following in the steps of Notable Speech (Dubawi) and Opera Ballo (Ghaiyyath), Godolphin's Hidden Force (Frankel) lived up to expectations in providing Charlie Appleby with a third straight "European Road To The Kentucky Derby" Conditions Stakes at Kempton on Wednesday. Languid out of the stalls, the chestnut who had won on debut over here in December was allowed to saunter behind his three rivals throughout the early stages before being cajoled upsides soon into the straight. In front a furlong from home, the 1-4 favourite dismissed Venetian Prince (St Mark's Basilica)...

The air may be full of Cheltenham Festival chatter but, in Rathasker Stud at least, there is only one race on everyone's lips these days: the Derby.  It's not hard to understand why. Pierre Bonnard, the ante-post favourite for the Epsom Classic at odds of 6-1, was bred by Maurice Burns, who jokes that he would love to "level the score" with his brother Seamus, breeder of 2008 Derby hero New Approach. Rathasker Stud is home to the speed influence stallion Bungle Inthejungle along with Coulsty and more recently Aclaim,...

Blue Diamond Stud encompasses approximately 40 mares split between our divisions in Newmarket and Stonereath Farm in Kentucky. In an exciting development, we are also breaking new ground this year by sending Grade I winner Abscond to Japan to visit Kitasan Black. The global operation is overseen by our CEO Ted Voute, with Andrew Rawlin at the helm of our mare division of Blue Diamond Stud and Cian Gahan the stud manager of Stonereath Farm. ABSCOND 9 m Blame - Solitary Life (Grand Slam) Visits KITASAN BLACK Winner of the...

The Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (ITBA) has announced the return of its Ask The Expert Series for 2026. This year's programme, which is set to take place during March and April, features a number of online seminars designed to provide attendees with insight and guidance on a range of areas including HR, health and safety, farm grants, latest updates on West Nile Virus, and pedigree management. The seminars listed below are free to attend but registration will be required. Wednesday, March 18, 3pm: HR & Health and Safety: Cost saving...

Nicky Henderson has confirmed that Constitution Hill will not run in the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival on March 10. A Flat career is now on the cards for the star of the jumping ranks, but his trainer said that racegoers will still have the chance to see him at Cheltenham as Constitution Hill will parade at the course to give his National Hunt fans "the opportunity to say goodbye". Henderson and the nine-year-old's owner Michael Buckley have been mulling over options for the horse since his highly impressive...

Francis Graffard unveiled another exciting prospect on Wednesday when Lord Clover (Siyouni) made light work of the mile maiden on Chantilly's Polytrack. Sent off the 3-5 favourite, the son of the Group 1-placed Lady Frankel (Frankel) did everything right following a tardy break to cruise by outclassed rivals a furlong out under Christophe Soumillon and on to a 6 1/2-length success from Magnus (Footstepsinthesand). The result was a landmark for Soumillon, with the Belgian recording a 4000th victory on the flat in France. The winner, who is engaged in the...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Observations features a relative of Thunder Snow. 7.10 Kempton, Cond, 3yo, 8f (AWT) HIDDEN FORCE (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is the chosen one from Charlie Appleby's armada for this important "European Road To The Kentucky Derby" Conditions Stakes won in the last two years by the stable's future stars...

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 Icona at Gulfstream Park. Kingman Filly Is Iconic At Gulfstream Winless for Joseph O'Brien in a pair of 2024 starts in Ireland, Icona made her second US start a winning one at Gulfstream on February 22 (video). Trained by Brendan Walsh, the Scott Heider-bred filly is a daughter of A New Dawn (Zoffany). By Kingman, the Heider Family Stables-owned filly is the first foal...