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Roger Varian's G1 Dubai Dewhurst S. winner Belardo (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) was among 10 colts taken out of the G1 French 2000 Guineas at the latest forfeit stage. Well beaten on his return to action in the Greenham at Newbury, connections have decided to wait for the G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas at The Curragh May 23 instead. Godolphin bought a share in Belardo after his Dewhurst win.  "There are likely to be around 20 runners on the round course at Longchamp and that can be a bit of a...

Roger Varian reports Shadwell homebred and G2 Summer Mile S. hero Aljamaaheer (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) to be on course for a shot at the G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge S. at Newbury later this month, May 16. Although the 6-year old has been given an entry in the Listed Pertemps Network Spring Trophy S. at Haydock Saturday, the Newmarket handler still has the Group 1 mile contest as his primary target. Despite tasting defeat on his seasonal return when finishing a close second to Coulsty (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) at Leicester, Varian is pleased...

Trainer Arnaud Delacour confirmed Wednesday that Lael Stable's Divining Rod (Tapit) is still on track for an expected start in the GI Xpressbet.com Preakness S. May 16. The Roy and Gretchen Jackson homebred earned enough points for his impressive win in Keeneland's Apr. 11 GIII Coolmore Lexington S. to have drawn into the GI Kentucky Derby off the also-eligible list, but his connections had already decided to wait for the middle leg of the Triple Crown.  "We weren't sure we had enough points," Delacour explained. "We were on the bubble, and it's...

Chester's May meeting is one of the smallest of the British flat festivals, but its main races are still coveted by the leading trainers and Thursday's G3 Betfair Huxley S. has been a favorite of Sir Michael Stoute who holds the current record of five wins. Today, the master of Freemason Lodge relies on Saeed Suhail's Cannock Chase (Lemon Drop Kid), who was an encouraging third in Sandown's G3 Gordon Richards S. over this trip Apr. 24 on his first start since winning the G3 Tercentenary S. at Royal Ascot last June....

Ballydoyle have already stamped their considerable presence on Chester's May meeting and Thursday's G3 MBNA Chester Vase has been a happy hunting ground of late, with Aidan O'Brien capturing five of the last eight renewals. With the chief candidate Giovanni Canaletto (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) ruled out of the equation earlier this week, it is up to Michael Tabor's Hans Holbein (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}) to fly the flag and he is a typical improver based on his latest maiden win over 10 furlongs at Leopardstown Apr. 15. Godolphin rely on Future Empire (GB) (New Approach...

Second to Spiritjim (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}) in this 12 months ago, Meleagros returned to go one better and register a first pattern-race success to reward the patience of his trainer Alain Couetil. Following his effort here last term, the bay had gone on to be fifth in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in June--a year on from filling fourth spot behind Novellist (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}) in the same race. Winning the Listed Grand Prix de Nantes in October and Mar. 28 Listed Prix de la Porte de Madrid at...

The fourth and final session of the Inglis Australian Broodmare and Weanling Sale wrapped up Wednesday with a clearance rate of 80% and over A$24 million in gross sales for 194 weanlings, 432 fillies and mares and two stallion shares.  "Vendors were rewarded by getting first crack at the weanling market and offering their fillies and mares to breeders wanting to buy at this sale so they can secure spots to the stallions that are quickly booking out at Australia's leading studs," said Inglis' National Bloodstock Director Jonathan D'Arcy. "Good...

The Singapore Turf Club has released the prospective fields for the upcoming G1 Singapore Airlines International Cup and G1 KrisFlyer International Sprint May 17, with three previous winners set to make the 4-hour journey from Hong Kong.  Runners from that jurisdiction have accounted for each of the last two renewals of both races, and defending champions Dan Excel (Ire) (Shamardal) and Lucky Nine (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) will look to defend their titles in the SAI Cup and KrisFlyer, respectively. Lucky Nine, who is looking for his third consecutive victory in the 1200-meter test, will...

Fortnum & Mason will be an official partner to the Goffs London Sale in association with QIPCO, Goffs announced Wednesday. The second Goffs London Sale will offer roughly 60 horses to go under the hammer at the Kensington Palace Orangery on the eve of Royal Ascot, June 15. Guests will be treated to Fortnum & Mason's hospitality including afternoon tea and various refreshments.  "On behalf of Goffs and our title partner QIPCO, I am delighted to welcome Fortnum & Mason as an official partner to the Goffs London Sale," said...

by Ben Massam  Trainer George Weaver is perenially a prominent name on the East Coast racing scene, but this spring is a bit busier than usual for the Louisville native.  With a number of intriguing 3-year-old prospects divided between three strings, the trainer acknowledged that he has much to look forward to in the coming months. He already received a fair dose of excitement Saturday when Tencendur(Warrior's Reward) took control of Aqueduct's GI Twinspires.com Wood Memorial S. entering the stretch and held on to be second behind Frosted (Tapit) at odds...

By T.D. Thornton  It happens just about every year leading up to the GI Kentucky Derby: A journeyman jockey has the call on a top-tier horse, but his lack of experience in the Triple Crown classics sparks debate about whether or not the mount should go to a higher-profile rider.  This year the uncomfortable spotlight is glaring upon Charles "C.C." Lopez, whose future aboard Wood Memorial third-place finisher El Kabeir (Scat Daddy) is in doubt after principal owner Ahmed Zayat of Zayat Stables LLC took to social media after Saturday's race to...

A well-beaten effort in Saturday's GI Central Bank Ashland S. will likely preclude Qatar Racing's Peace and War (War Front) from the May 1 GI Kentucky Oaks, but trainer Olly Stevens still hopes the filly will start at Churchill that day.  “She will stay [at Keeneland] for now and probably have a work in about 10 days,” Stevens said. “We will discuss our options with [Churchill racing secretary] Ben [Huffman] for Oaks Week. She showed a lot of speed [in the Ashland], so the [May 1 GIII] Eight Belles is an option...