Europe

The Goffs UK Doncaster January Sale, which was scheduled to take place on Thursday, January 29, has been cancelled. The event will instead be merged with the British NH Breeders Showcase, with an enlarged sale to be held on a new date of Thursday, December 3. Goffs UK managing director Tim Kent said, "The January Sale was the UK's only dedicated NH foal sale up to 2022 when, following feedback from UK breeders, we introduced a second sale in 2023, the British NH Breeders Showcase, to allow clients an earlier...

The first reported foal by the dual Group 1-winning juvenile Vandeek was born at Mickley Stud last week. The colt is the first foal out of the unraced Alfa Brow (Sergei Prokofiev), a half-sister to the six-time winner and Listed Boadicea Stakes third Alfa Kellenic (Havana Grey). Richard Kent of Mickley Stud described the new arrival as "a beautiful first foal with a good front leg on him". Vandeek, who won both the Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes as a two-year-old, covered 161 mares in his first season at...

Jerome Reynier began the 2026 Cagnes-sur-Mer festival with intent with a one-two in the opener led home by Al Rateel (Violence). Sent off the 7-5 favourite for the 7 1/2-furlong debutantes contest staged on the turf, Mustafa Bousaif's 100,000gns Tattersalls Guineas Breeze Up purchase was soon in front under Antonio Orani. Finding plenty for pressure in the straight, the bay hit the line with 1 1/2 lengths to spare over stablemate Aspire (Zarak). "Al Rateel is a filly that we like a lot--I'd have preferred to start her in the...

Yuesheng Zhang arrived on the Gold Coast on Sunday to inspect horses ahead of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. In late December, it was announced that Gewan, one of the leading contenders for the G1 2,000 Guineas, will race under new ownership from 2026 as part of a group of horses transferred from Yulong Investments to the newly established Forz Europe, the racing arm of Harris Li's Ace Stud. Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch welcomed Zhang's return, noting his strong connection to the sale. "It's great to...

The bookmaker Fitzdares has appointed Hermione Drummond Moray to the position of events and client director. In her new role, Drummond Moray will lead Fitzdares' events strategy and partnerships, working closely with clients to support the brand's growth across sport, racing and lifestyle. Drummond Moray began her career with Coolmore in Australia, before moving into Thoroughbred marketing at the Sydney-based agency Kick Collective. Most recently, she served as senior account manager at Barnes Thompson in Newmarket, where she managed the advertising account for Tattersalls UK. "We are delighted to welcome...

Of late, the chance of spotting a potential luminary at the provincial tracks of France or the all-weather in England has become very real and now that January is nearing the midway point it is essential to pay close attention. Monday sees Cagnes-sur-Mer kick off its six-week flat programme aside the Mediterranean and it begins with the Prix de Caucade which has unveiled a recent jewel. It was in this 7 1/2-furlong three-year-old debutantes race for fillies in 2019 that Jean-Claude Rouget unveiled Siyouni's future E. P. Taylor heroine Etoile...

By Renee Geelen/TTR AusNZ The bad news out of the Victorian bushfire crisis grew on Sunday with Lindsay Park announcing seven horses had died from fire-related injuries. One unidentified person has also been found dead near Seymour. "Lindsay Park can confirm that seven horses have tragically been lost from injuries sustained in the fire," read a press release issued by Lindsay Park. "Five were spelling racehorses and two were retirees. One additional horse remains in a critical condition and is receiving intensive veterinary care. All owners directly affected have been...

Adam Houghton, who joined the team at TDN Europe two years ago as an associate editor, has been appointed deputy European editor, while European and international editor Emma Berry will assume a new role as chief correspondent. "With an encyclopaedic knowledge of racing and as an eagle-eyed sub-editor, Adam has proved to be an outstanding addition to the TDN's line-up in Europe and is thoroughly deserving of this new enhanced role," said TDN's senior vice-president, Gary King. "TDN Europe has gone from strength to strength since its launch in 2016....

As old-fashioned as it may now seem, in this small corner of the bloodstock world a strong personal preference it still held for the Derby above all races. And by that, of course, we are talking about the original version, at Epsom, with that piece of wood at the end of the unique mile-and-a-half challenge which was made famous in a quote from the revered breeder Federico Tesio.  We can't all agree on everything though, can we? That would just be dull. But beyond the stifling and shouty sphere of...

by Kit Gow/TTR AusNZ The Victorian Thoroughbred community has come together over the last three days to evacuate hundreds of horses to safety as a major bushfire in Longwood ballooned in size and threatened to devastate several properties. Several Victorian farms have lost infrastructure, including homes owned by Ben Hayes and Magic Millions' Victoria and Tasmania manager Tim Brown. Fires burning since Wednesday in Victoria's major breeding regions have caused significant losses to several major breeding farms. As of Saturday evening, one person lost their life at Harcourt after being...

A share in Zarak (lot 1) anchors the Arqana Online January Sale catalogue. The sale is set for Monday, January 19 from 3-5 p.m. local time. One of the best stallions in France, the son of Dubawi has sired 11% stakes winners per runners and 72% winners to runners from all his crops. Among his best progeny is the French 2000 Guineas winner Metropolitan, as well as fellow Group 1 winners Haya Zark and Zagrey. Zarak's yearlings sold for up to €1.1 million last term. Another highlight of the sale...

The catalogue for the Goffs February Sale, set for February 11-12, is now online. A total of 416 Flat and National Hunt horses of all ages will go through the Kildare Paddocks ring on that Wednesday and Thursday. Wednesday's session will feature 266 weanlings, while the Thursday session will include juveniles, stores, horses-in-training, and breeding stock. The inaugural Goffs February Point-to-Point Sale will take place immediately after the conclusion of the Goffs February Sale. Its catalogue will be available in the coming days. Some of the Flat weanling sires represented...