Europe

Christopher Head trainee and G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere runner-up Nighttime (Wootton Bassett) may have hit a bump in the road when sixth in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains, but he remains firmly on course for next month's G1 Prix Jean Prat after overcoming eight foes in Sunday's G2 Prix Paul de Moussac at ParisLongchamp. "I am so happy because I love to see sons of Wootton Bassett win Group races at Longchamp," the winning trainer reflected after following up last year's success of Maranoa Charlie, who is also a...

By Dane McLeod/TTRAusNZ The highest-rated juvenile of his generation, G1 Golden Slipper runner-up Wodeton will stand at Newgate Farm in 2026 at a fee of A$16,500 inc GST, with Coolmore retaining a stake in a colt whose talent, pedigree and profile mark him as an intriguing new stallion. A son of the internationally-renowned Wootton Bassett, Wodeton quickly established himself among the most highly-regarded young horses in Australia, competing at Group 1 level during both his two- and three-year-old seasons. He retires to stud with six placings at stakes level, a...

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 Tribalism in Arcadia. No Nay Never Colt Finds His People BR Thoroughbreds' Tribalism (No Nay Never) graduated going a mile at Santa Anita on May 30 (video). The Michael McCarthy trainee was bred by Phoenix Thoroughbreds Limited. Second on debut at Keeneland, Tribalism was a $280,000 buy-back out of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The third foal and first winner for the multiple stakes-placed...

Sunday, Tokyo, Japan, post time: 15:40, YASUDA KINEN-G1, ¥347,280,0000, 3yo/up, 1600mT Field: Lebensstil (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), Long Run (Jpn) (Victoire Pisa {Jpn}), Off Trail (GB) (Farhh {GB}), Sixpence (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), Sakura Toujours (Jpn) (Neo Universe {Jpn}), Stellenbosch (Jpn) (Epiphaniea {Jpn}), Suzu Khalom (Jpn) (Satono Diamond {Jpn}), Champagne Color (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), Water Licht (Jpn) (Drefong), Luxor Cafe (American Pharoah), World's End (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), Sirius Colt (Jpn) (Makfi {GB}), Seiun Hades (Jpn) (Silver State {Jpn}), Gaia Force (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), Dragon Boost (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}),...

Try as they might - and by golly the good folk at Epsom tried - you can't hold back the rain. A day which should have dawned full of hope and expectation after so much attention to detail in improving the Derby Day experience instead brought black clouds and bluster across the Epsom Downs. Good for the farmers, not so for the frolickers. But no amount of rain could dampen the spirits of Tom and Kathleen Whelan, decked out in pink to support their son Ronan riding in the second...

Shapoor Mistry's Thundering On (Frankel) has been rated 124 by Timeform for her G1 Betfred Oaks victory on Friday. The rating is on par with 2004 Oaks heroine Ouija Board (Cape Cross), with only Enable (Nathaniel) and Sariska (Pivotal)--both rated 125--rated higher this century. Timeform's Rory King, said, "We're in a high-class era of middle-distance horses in Europe, and Thundering On has put herself on the fringes of the top echelon of them with her really impressive success in the Betfred Oaks. "It's possible to pick holes in the form,...

Saturday's G1 Betfred Derby had added drama as the 3-1 favourite Benvenuto Cellini (Frankel) was declared a non-runner after finishing 10th. Video evidence reviewed after the start revealed that the Aidan O'Brien-trained Chester Vase winner had his left hind leg on the stalls shelf as the gates opened, effectively putting him at a disadvantage as he began on three legs. After a stewards inquiry, it was deemed that he had been denied a fair start and he had his chance "materially affected at the start" of the Classic. Aidan O'Brien said, "That...

In conditions more akin to the festive period then summertime at Epsom, Ballydoyle's Christmas Day mastered the gruelling test the 2026 G1 Betfred Derby became to provide Camelot with his first Blue Riband. The subject of increased support as every shower rained down on the Surrey venue, the 7-1 shot was sent forward by Ronan Whelan to race second from the outset and when committed in early straight galloped relentlessly to a 2 3/4-length success from Maltese Cross (Sea The Stars). Third was James J Braddock (Zarak), 2 1/2 lengths...

Staged in the relentless drizzle and mirk that arrived with vicious timing to dampen Derby day, Saturday's G1 Coolmore Coronation Cup came down to survival of the fittest with Victorious Forever's Bay City Roller (New Bay) overwhelming his rivals for a 10-length victory. With the 5-4 favourite Calandagan (Gleneagles) unable to raise a leg and Ballydoyle's leading hope Jan Brueghel (Galileo) struggling from the outset in ever-worsening conditions, it was left to Oisin Murphy to enjoy an armchair ride around Epsom on the four-year-old who had already proven his love...

At this point, the participation of Gaia Force (Kitasan Black) in the G1 Yasuda Kinen is pretty much a given. The seven-year-old entire will be running in his fourth edition of the 1600-metre affair, and, after running fourth in both 2023 and 2024, he stepped up to finish second in last year's edition. Maybe 2026 is his year to finally secure the "Win And You're In" for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile at Keeneland in October. Since his second-place run last June, he captured the G2 Fuji Stakes in October...

Saturday, Epsom Downs, post time: 16:00, THE BETFRED DERBY-G1, £2,000,000, 3yo, c/f, 12f 6yT Field: Action (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Alderman (GB) (Study Of Man {GB}), Ancient Egypt (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), A Taste Of Glory (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), Balzac (Ger) (Japan {GB}), Bay Of Brilliance (GB) (New Bay {GB}), Benvenuto Cellini (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Christmas Day (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Item (GB) (Frankel {GB}), James J Braddock (GB) (Zarak {Fr}), Maltese Cross (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Pierre Bonnard (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Poker (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Rebel Rocker (GB) (Cityscape...

Shapoor Mistry is no newcomer to breeding. He's been at the game for 40 years in his native India where he owns Manjri Farm and has won his home Derby on several occasions. But he described winning the Betfred Oaks with his homebred Thundering On as being "like a dream come true".  He said, "It's tough to win big races anywhere in the world and especially tough in England." That may be but Thundering On really didn't make it look tough at all as she motored down the home straight...