Europe

Saturday, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, post time: 20:00, ABU DHABI GOLD CUP-Listed, $1,000,000, 4yo/up, SH 3yo, 1600mT Field: Maljoom (Ire) (Caravaggio), Jonquil (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Quddwah (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Comanche Brave (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Aomori City (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Witness Stand (GB) (Expert Eye {GB}), Chicago Critic (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Strauss (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}), Dark Trooper (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Tumbler (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), Crown Board (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Vafortino (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), Andreas Vesalius (Ire) (Caravaggio), Folk Festival (Ire)...

It would have been understandable had Pierre Gasnier felt daunted by the task at hand when he succeeded Georges Rimaud as manager of the French studs for the Aga Khan family at the start of 2025. But then, so eventful a year did it out turn to be, it was probably for the best that he didn't have much chance to stop and weigh up the enormity of his new role. For a start, this week brought with it the one-year anniversary of the death of His Highness Aga Khan...

NEWMARKET, UK -- The racing programme in the Gulf region is becoming ever busier, with this Saturday's $1m Abu Dhabi Gold Cup the latest valuable contest to be enter the fray, followed by a double bill next weekend of Qatar's Emir's Sword Festival and the blockbuster Saudi Cup meeting.  The various horses-in-training sales at Park Paddocks have long been a lure for owners from that part of the world, and the final day of the Tattersalls February Sale proved to be no exception, with the top lot, Space Invasion, going...

Aga Khan homebred Ezeliya delivered her first foal on Sunday, according to a post from The Aga Khan Studs on X. By Dubawi, the 2024 G1 Oaks heroine foaled a chestnut Justify filly. She will visit Sea The Stars at Gilltown Stud in Ireland later this year. The G3 Salsabil Stakes-winning daughter of group winner and G1 Irish Oaks third Eziyra (Teofilo), Ezeliya is a granddaughter of the stakes-placed Eytarna (Dubai Destination). The extended family of Ezeliya features G1 Gold Cup heroine Estimate (Monsun), who raced for the late Queen...

Nominations for the Irish Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, sponsored by Godolphin, will close at 5pm on Friday February 13. Anyone can nominate a friend or colleague for an award and must be completed online at www.itiea.org The nomination process has been simplified for the 2026 awards. In previous years nominators were required to write a detailed profile of their nominee. This year, the nominator will be contacted by a representative of Naas-based Clark People Solutions who will complete the nominee profiles by phone. Sponsored by Godolphin and supported by the...

Connections of Aisling Oscar are eyeing a return to Newcastle for Aisling Oscar, who created a little slice of racing history at Southwell on Thursday when winning his eighth successive handicap. While his previous seven wins for his current connections had all come at Newcastle, trainer Adrian Keatley had to look at Southwell for that record-equalling success in the Win £250,000 With BetMGM's Golden Goals Handicap. Bought by Dan Astbury from Ireland for just 3,200 gns, the five-year-old son of Rajasinghe has risen from a mark of just 42 to 71...

Iberian, a group-winning son of Lope De Vega, has been retired and will stand at Haras du Mazet in France, according to published reports. The G2 Champagne Stakes hero's opening fee is €3,000. Bred by Ballylinch Stud, the five-year-old won the 2023 edition of the Champagne, and was also placed in that year's G2 Vintage Stakes. A winner of three of 13 lifetime starts, the Ballylinch and Teme Valley-campaigned Iberian was also second in last year's Listed Cammidge Trophy Stakes. Out of the stakes-winning High Chaparral mare Bella Estrella, the...

NEWMARKET, UK -- A sale ring as full as any for the Sceptre Sessions greeted first the Retraining of Racehorses showcase and then the British EBF stallion parade for sires yet to have runners. Included in the 10-strong line-up for the latter was Eldar Eldarov, the winner of the St Leger in both Britain and Ireland whose family was back in the spotlight several hours later when his Lope De Vega half-brother Naval Command changed hands during the first day of the Tattersalls February Sale. Sold as lot 105 for...

Saturday, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, post time: 20:00, ABU DHABI GOLD CUP-Listed, $1,000,000, 4yo/up, SH 3yo, 1600mT Field: Maljoom (Ire) (Caravaggio), Jonquil (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Quddwah (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Comanche Brave (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Aomori City (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Witness Stand (GB) (Expert Eye {GB}), Chicago Critic (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Strauss (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}), Dark Trooper (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Tumbler (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), Crown Board (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Vafortino (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), Andreas Vesalius (Ire) (Caravaggio), Folk Festival (Ire)...

Some clarity was provided to the supporters of Sands Of Mali on Thursday after the High Court ordered Steve Parkin's legal team to release covering certificates to the breeders that have sent mares to a stallion who was reported to have sold to Yeomanstown Stud for €8 million in a silent auction held by Tattersalls Ireland back in November.  The order was made by Mr Justice David Nolan as the long-running legal battle between owner-breeder Parkin and his former racing manager and Ballyhane Stud owner Joe Foley wrangled on.  Parkin's...

The Irish Equine Reproductive Symposium was held after a six-year hiatus at Tinakilly Country House in Co. Wicklow on January 28-29 . Put on by the Local Organising Committee of the International Symposium on Equine Reproduction XIV (ISERXIV) in collaboration with the Irish Equine Veterinary Association (IEVA), the symposium combined a half-day of breeders' events and 1 1/2 days of veterinary conference. The programme concentrated around the 'non-pregnant mare'. Ireland will host the 14th International Symposium on Equine Reproduction (ISER XIV) from August 1-6, 2027 in Dublin. For more information...

A pair of debut winners were added to the Arqana February Mixed Sale as wildcards, set for February 17-18. Dante Nonantais (Hunter's Light) (lot 355) won over 1900 metres at Deauville last week. The GI Santa Anita Handicap hero Urgent Request (Rainbow Quest) is a member of the three-year-old colt's extended family. Joining him in the catalogue is Highbourne Karisma (Doctor Dino) (lot 360). The five-year-old mare claimed a 2300-metre win at first asking. She is a granddaughter of multiple stakes winner and G1 Prix Alain du Breil runner-up Katkovana...