Europe

by Renee Geelen/TTR AusNZ Australia's best-credentialled yearlings have been catalogued for the 2026 edition of the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, with 472 lots heading through the ring on March 29 and 30. With 11 yearlings by Extreme Choice and the Snitzel colt from champion mare Winx as headline acts, Inglis is equally thrilled about the depth of the catalogue. Across the catalogue, 259 lots (55%) are the progeny of or siblings to stakes winners, with 80 of those being a half-sibling to or out of a Group 1 winner....

John Connaughton, the hotel owner who bred Group 1 winner Bay City Roller as well as the Group 3 scorer Dunboyne Express, has died almost exactly a year after he was crowned small breeder of the year at the ITBA Awards. He was 93. Connaughton enjoyed a lifetime of success in business and bloodstock. Dunboyne Express was one of the first big names that shot to prominence for the County Westmeath man while Bay City Roller provided Connaughton with a breakthrough Group 1 success as a breeder when landing a...

One of the last sons of Sunday Silence, Daiwa Major died on Tuesday morning, according to Netkeiba. Based at Shadai Stallion Station, the pensioned Classic winner was 25. A two-time champion miler, the son of Daiwa Scarlet (Northern Taste) was bred by Shadai Farm. Successful in the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) in 2005, he landed the Tenno Sho (Autumn) and his first Mile Championship in 2006. He added the Yasuda Kinen and the Mile Championship in 2007. Also at five, he was third in the Dubai Duty Free. Trainer...

Daylight, a winner of the G3 Prix de Cabourg, will visit Siyouni this year, Jour de Galop reported on Wednesday. Also runner-up in the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes and third in the G1 Prix Morny, the daughter of Earthlight raced for Gousserie Racing and Sandrine Gavrois. A consistent performer, she accrued five other placings at stakes level. Bred by Haras du Cadran and Pieter Van Belle, Daylight was originally an €85,000 Arqana August yearling buy. In 2024, she was a €2.1-million buy-back at the Arqana Vente d'Elevage when offered by...

Tony O'Callaghan, David Redvers and Joe Foley have led the tributes to Collegelands Stud's Ciara Eglington, who died following a short illness on Tuesday. She was 59.  Along with her husband Austin Lyons, Eglington churned out a hatful of smart horses from her County Meath base, headed by American Grade I winner Watsdachances. The Group 1-placed Aloha Star was another smart performer that flew that flag for Eglington's operation. O'Callaghan said, "A very good consignor, she was also a very good person and was extremely popular around the sales. We...

Multiple group winner Lastotchka (Myboycharlie) topped the Tattersalls Online January Sale at 60,000gns when selling to Capucines Bloodstock. Sold as lot 59 from Ronald Rauscher's consignment, the seven-year-old mare is a winner of the G3 Prix Gladiateur and G3 Prix Belle de Nuit. Jean-Daniel Manceau of Capucines Bloodstock said, "She has been purchased by Capucines Bloodstock in a new partnership including a few regular breeders from Haras des Capucines. We really liked this mare's profile and we had the chance to inspect her before bidding. She is a nice, well-made...

There are two types of people in life: those who are bowed by adversity and those who stare it in the face and dare it to try to bring them down.  For more than a year Joe Foley has been involved in an ongoing court battle with Steve Parkin. Prior to that the pair had a long and successful run on the track with Parkin's Clipper Logistics operation, which Foley managed. Recent highlights include the homebred Classic winner Fallen Angel, who is now in the ownership of Wathnan Racing. Whatever...

The 14 participants for the 2026 International Jockeys' Challenge in Riyadh during the Saudi Cup meeting, were revealed on Wednesday. Featuring 14 jockeys, seven men and seven women, the four-race contest sees the return of last year's champion, local rider Mohammed Aldaham. Mickael Barzalona, the regular rider of the Longines World's Highest Rated Racehorse Calandagan (Gleneagles) is signed on, as is 2025 Irish Champion Jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle. Panama's Luis Morales is based in Saudi Arabia alongside Aldaham. Other male jockeys set to mark their mark on the contest include:...

A breeding right in Darley's Street Boss stallion Anamoe will be offered in the Inglis Digital February (Early) Online Sale. The nine-time Group 1 winner and first-season sire is hitting on all cylinders with his first yearlings. A total of 31 sold for a gross of A$14.5 million and averaged A$469,000, with a 100% clearance rate. His top lot was an A$1.1-million son of listed winner Secret Trail (Denman), who sold to Ciaron Maher Bloodstock and David Redvers Bloodstock in partnership. The bay stood for A$110,000 in 2025. "The way...

Friday, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, post time: 20:25, AL MAKTOUM CHALLENGE-G1, AED3,680,000, 4yo/up & SH 3yo, 1900m Field: Walk Of Stars (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Imperial Emperor (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Heart of Honor (GB) (Honor A. P.), Tumbarumba (Oscar Performance), Artorious (Arrogate), Remorse (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Kabirkhan (Calilfornia Chrome), Killer Collect (Collected), Masmak (Vino Rosso). TDN Analysis: Walk Of Stars held Imperial Emperor to second in last year's edition for trainer Bhupat Seemar who saddles six here. Those two both step forward again, while Seemar stablemate Kabirkhan exploded to a 4...

Cameletta Vega (Camelot) has been supplemented to the Goffs February Sale, which is set for February 11-12. A National Hunt breeding prospect, she is a daughter of six-time Mares' Hurdle winner Quevega (Robin Des Champs). Also a half-sister to Grade 1 winners Facile Vega (Walk In The Park) and Aurora Vega (Walk In The Park), Cameletta Vega has wins in a bumper and a maiden hurdle on her resume. She was also fourth in the G3 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Feathard Lady Mares Novice Hurdle. Goffs Group chief executive, Henry...

As a trainer, Luca Cumani's name has long been etched in the history books among an elite group to have trained two Derby winners. Along with Kahyasi and High-Rise, other equine stars to have graced his stable over more than four decades include Barathea, One So Wonderful, Gossamer, Alkaased, Falbrav and Zomaradah, who is now better known as the dam of Dubawi. Perhaps one of the most special was the Fillies' Mile winner Shamshir, who carried the colours of Sheikh Mohammed but had been bred by Luca and his wife...