Europe

Yesterday's piece with a selection of leaders in the French bloodstock community concluded with a teaser regarding the future stallion career of Daryz, the winner of last year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe for Francis-Henri Graffard and the Aga Khan Studs. Of course, there is a lot of water to pass under the bridge, and more Group 1s to be won, before a decision has to be made, but it will be a conversation all the same as to whether Daryz takes up residence at the Aga Khan family's Haras...

Horse Racing Ireland CEO Suzanne Eade has pointed to Irish racing being "in good health" after statistics released for 2025 showed increases in racecourse attendances, on-course betting and sponsorship. There has also been an upturn in prize-money, field sizes and owner retention. The biggest growth of all the metrics measured came in the combined value of €225.4m for bloodstock sales at public auction, which was up by 14%. Across 390 fixtures last year, attendances rose by 6% to an overall figure of 1.316m. The overall Tote turnover amounted to €81.3m,...

The board of the Gerry Dilger Equine Scholarship Foundation has announced Niamh Carr and Bobby Ring as the two recipients of its 2026 Irish National Stud scholarships. Both will receive full tuition as they embark on the Thoroughbred Breeding Management Course at the famed Kildare stud farm, which has been educating young people in bloodstock since 1971. County Kildare native Carr studied Animal and Equine Science at University College Dublin and has obtained on hand experience at Owenstown Stud in Maynooth. She also worked at Coolmore Stud and gained a...

So much that is good about the French breeding industry was showcased over the course of two days last week, not least the resilience of its practitioners, an oft-heralded quality when speaking to those at the coalface during the 2026 edition of La Route des Etalons. Like so many other leading racing jurisdictions, France is currently facing headwinds that make the pursuit of breeding racehorses, and/or owning them, a less attractive option than in years gone by. Then, in May last year, France Galop announced a €20.3 million reduction in...

Maybe, the former European champion two-year-old filly and dam of 2,000 Guineas winner Saxon Warrior, has died at the age of 17. A report on the Coolmore website stated that the daughter of Galileo had succumbed to "a sudden illness". "She was the loveliest, sweetest mare and will be greatly missed by all of those who took such great care of her during her time here," said Coolmore manager James Mockridge. A €340,000 yearling purchased at the Arqana August Sale from Croom House Stud, Maybe remained unbeaten through her juvenile...

Minzaal has been chalked up at odds as short as 10-11 for first-season sires' championship honours by Paddy Power, whose trader James Ryan said it is the Derrinstown Stud-based stallion's 'title to lose'. Ryan, who priced up the market, also revealed that the firm is happy to lay second-favourite Blackbeard at odds of 6-4. Meanwhile, Baaeed has not gone unsupported at odds of 66-1.  According to Global Stallions, Minzaal has 115 two-year-olds to run for him this year while Blackbeard has the same number of juveniles. Tally-Ho Stud's representative Persian...

It is not just the horses who move fast in the world of racing. The winds of fashion, especially when it comes to stallions, are ever changing. All the while the years gallop on, and a filly you can still picture in the heat haze of an Ascot summer is suddenly the third dam of this year's champion. Drive in through the gates of Mount Coote Stud, however, and it feels as though time is standing still. Set in the famed Maigue Valley where a rich seam of Limerick limestone...

American and Japanese champion Forever Young (Real Steel) and the Longines World's Best Racehorse Calandagan (Gleneagles) lead the nominations for the Dubai World Cup night on March 28. Japan's dirt superstar is nominated for the G1 Dubai World Cup alongside 2024 winner Laurel River (Into Mischief) and 2025 winner Hit Show (Candy Ride), among others. In the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic is Calandagan, alongside 2024 Sheema Classic winner Rebel's Romance (Dubawi), GI Breeders' Cup Turf hero Ethical Diamond (Awtaad), and 2025 winner Danon Decile (Epiphaneia). Croix Du Nord (Kitasan Black),...

Cambridge Stud's lot 513, a son of Sword Of State, topped the second session and took the lead at the NZB National Yearling Sale at NZ$1.1 million on Monday. The bay was purchased by Will Bourne, bidding on behalf of Sanxiong Gao and Ciaron Maher Bloodstock. He is a half-brother to three-time Group 1 winner Ceowulf (Tavistock) out of the mare Las Brisas (Shamardal). "David Ellis is a hard guy to beat, especially here on his home deck. But he's a lovely horse. We got some great support from a...

Consignor Jamie Railton has launched The February Club, a new Flat racing syndicate operating over a defined 12-month period from February to February. The syndicate will focus on purchasing Flat horses already in training, racing them with resale in mind, and selling them privately or through public Horses-in-Training sales within the year. Around four horses are expected to be purchased. "The February Club is deliberately simple," said Railton. "It's a one-year structure that allows owners to be involved in every stage, from purchase through to resale, with a clear plan...

Eva Maria Bucher Haefner inducted into the ITBA's Hall Of Fame at a memorable awards ceremony on Saturday evening Edmond Mahony, Joe Osborne and Eva Maria Bucher Haefner were the big winners at this year's Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association Awards ceremony that took place at The Heritage Hotel in County Laois on Saturday.  The awards kicked off with a passionate speech from ITBA chairman and Irish National stud boss Cathal Beale where he warned the room that, "we can be certain that there is great uncertainty" with a view towards...

Simply Minds was named the Norwegian Horse of the Year title during Norway's annual Oscargalla awards. The son of Belardo was also awarded the Norwegian Champion Miler title. Trained by Hanne Rådstoga, who was awarded the Champion Amateur Trainer title, the seven-year-old won the G3 Marit Sveaas Minnelop in August. Champion Trainer Niels Petersen was represented by the globetrotting Queen Azteca (Sharp Azteca), successful in the G3 UAE Oaks at Meydan. She was later sold to Team Valor International and transferred to the barn of Rodolphe Brisset. The filly earned...