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Trainer Peter Moody has won four of the last five runnings of the G1 C F Orr S.--the first Australian Group 1 of the year--and the leading Victorian trainer has a good shot to extend his record with early favorite Dissident (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}) in tomorrow's edition. Dissident rose to prominence when taking the G2 Hobartville S. and the G1 Randwick Guineas back-to-back as a 3-year-old this time last year, and he added the G1 Memsie S. over this distance and the G1 Makybe Diva S. over a mile in the Australian...

The Goffs February Sale drew to a close with its mares and mixed bloodstock session yesterday and posted encouraging figures. A total of 180 horses changed hands yesterday for €2,873,600 and a buyback rate of 18.1%, which was down substantially from last year's mark of 36.1%. While the average was down 18.6% to €15,964, it is important to consider that last year's session was boosted by the sale of Jim Bolger's Group 1 winner Night Visit (GB) (Sinndar {Ire}) for €975,000. The median is therefore a more accurate reflection of...

Oriental Art (Jpn) (Mejiro McQueen {Jpn}--Electro Art {Jpn}, by Northern Taste), the dam of Group 1 winners Orfevre (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) and Dream Journey (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}), has died, according to Racing Post. The 18-year-old mare reportedly suffered a perforated uterus after delivering a full-sister to Orfevre and Dream Journey last Wednesday.  Oriental Art visited Stay Gold during her first season at stud in 2003. That mating produced Dream Journey, who was crowned champion 2-year-old after winning the Asahi Hai Futurity and would later earn champion older horse honors after taking the G1...

With a $610,000 KEESEP pricetag and a highly regarded half-brother that earned a record 114 Beyer Speed Figure at first asking on his page, it's safe to say that the bar was set high for Fox Hill Farms colorbearer Kentuckian (c, 3, Tiznow--Forest Music, by Unbridled's Song).  The gray--favored at 3-5 in his Golden Gate unveiling Saturday--certainly did his part by running away with an eye-catching 11-length graduation (video), stopping the clock for six furlongs in a snappy 1:08 4/5. The 'TDN Rising Star'earned a 90 Beyer for the effort.  "He's been our...

Team Valor International's Euro Charline (GB) (Myboycharlie {Ire}), winner of the GI Beverly D. S. last summer, prepared for a tilt at the Mar. 28 G1 Dubai Turf (formerly the Dubai Duty Free) with a one-mile 'mock race' at Chelmsford City last night.  Jockey Ryan Moore partnered the 4-year-old filly in the workout with two stablemates. "I could not ask for anything more; it was a very nice work," he said.  Euro Charline has not raced since the Beverly D., and she will travel to Dubai from trainer Marco Botti's Newmarket base...

Just three trainers are responsible for better than half of the field in Saturday's G1 Queen of the Turf S. at Royal Randwick.  Noble Protector (GB) (Haafhd {GB}) is a fascinating contender and is bidding for a hat trick of wins since being exported to Australia from England for the Melbourne Spring Carnival. Running in the Qatar Bloodstock colors of Sheikh Fahad and trained by Robert Smerdon, the filly is climbing the ladder step by step having won the G3 Matron S. at Flemington Mar. 14 and the G2 Sunline S....

Contributer (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}), the odds-on favorite for Saturday's G1 Queen Elizabeth II S., was reported by Godolphin head trainer John O'Shea to be lame in his off fore leg Friday afternoon and was subsequently scratched from the race. O'Shea commented, “We'll know more in the next few days but we're hoping for a successful Spring campaign with him.” With the dual Group 1 winner out of the A$4 million contest, Japanese raider To The World (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}), runner-up to Sydney Cup favorite Hartnell (GB) (Authorized {Ire})...

Lexie Lou (Sligo Bay {Ire}), who defeated the boys in the 2014 Queen's Plate between victories in two legs of the Canadian Filly Triple Crown, was named the nation's Horse of the Year at ceremonies held Friday evening at Woodbine Racetrack. Having received 156 votes, the Ontario-bred easily outpointed Calgary Cat (Cowtown Cat), who took town the champion male sprinter title, and GII Canadian S. victress Deceptive Vision (A.P. Indy).  Purchased by owner Gary Barber last April, Lexie Lou was a close third in the restricted Fury S. in her first start for the new...

by Emma Berry      Arqana's Breeze-up Sale has been riding the crest of a Classic wave of late, with 2013 graduate The Grey Gatsby (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) winning last year's G1 Prix du Jockey-Club before overturning dual Derby winner Australia (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Irish Champion S.  Brendan Holland's Grove Stud, which consigned The Grey Gatsby, ended last year's sale as leading vendor with offerings including the €750,000 top lot, Cannes (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). While that colt is yet to race, another son of Invincible Spirit sold...

Thursday's scratching of Spendthrift Farm's Beholder (Henny Hughes) has deprived Saturday's GI Vanity S. of a good deal of it intrigue, and it should leave Cal-bred Warren's Veneda (Affirmative) as a prohibitively strong favorite for a second consecutive Grade I victory and fourth win overall.  Winner of the 2013 Cat's Cradle H. at Hollywood Park, the homebred went on a nine-race skid before snapping that dubious streak with a 5 1/2-length score in the Jan. 11 Paseana S. over a wet-fast strip. An easy winner of the GII Santa Maria S. Feb....

by Emma Berry In almost an action replay of last year's Arqana Breeze-up Sale, a late lot though the ring from Grove Stud ensured that the day's trade ended in explosive fashion when Nicolas de Watrigant was pushed to €600,000 for an Oasis Dream (GB) half-brother to G1 Coronation S. winner Maid's Causeway (Giant's Causeway) (lot 132).  From the black type-laden family of Vallee Enchantee (Fr) and Purple Moon (Ire), the colt, who won't reach his second birthday for another fortnight, was yet another Keeneland-sourced breezer to feature prominently in...

Champion trainer Caspar Fownes made an earlier-than-usual appearance at Kranji Racecourse Tuesday morning to check up on Lucky Nine (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Military Attack (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}) as each gears up for another attempt in the G1 KrisFlyer International Sprint and G1 Singapore Airlines International Cup, resepctively.  At the advanced age of eight, Lucky Nine is back in Singapore as he looks to win the KrisFlyer for the third year running. But whereas he carried strong form into his title defense last year, his runs this year have been more lackluster and he...