Anthelia

We've seen ebullient yearling markets in Japan, America and France so far this year and now Britain enters the fray with what for many is a favourite sale of the year.  No matter how long it has now been Goffs UK, the sales company formerly known as Doncaster Bloodstock Sales (DBS) will always be Donny. More confusingly for those who are not aware of its history, it will always have its roots in the Scottish Borders rather than Yorkshire, but that's a story for another day. Donny is Donny, and...

The early part of last week was spent covering the JRHA Select Sale in Japan, a trip that is always illuminating, to an auction that remains extraordinary. Number one of the list of most surprising things from the five days spent in Hokkaido was Teruya Yoshida picking up his guitar to serenade guests with a rendition of John Denver's Take Me Home, Country Roads. An excellent choice of song, well performed. The Shadai Farm principal should be encouraged to form a Travelling Wilburys-style bloodstock supergroup. Bluegrass enthusiast and songwriter Arthur...

Think of the West Country and one tends to picture wintry days and the big jumping yards, but amid the rolling hills of Devon sits one of the smaller Flat operations which routinely finds at least one horse a year to ensure the stable punches well above its weight. Step forward, Rod Millman, frontman of a family-run business which includes his wife Louise and sons James - the former jockey who has been an excellent addition to the roster of Racing TV presenters - and amateur rider Patrick. This year,...

Thursday, Newmarket, post time: 15:35, EMPRESS FILLIES' STAKES-Listed, £40,000, 2yo, f, 6fT Field: Anthelia (Ire) (Supremacy {Ire}), Amberia (Ire) (Coulsty {Ire}), Argentine Tango (GB) (Mattmu {GB}), Awraad (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}), Bella Lyra (Ger) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Game Striker (GB) (Sergei Prokofiev), Meelaf (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}), Midnight Tango (GB) (Night Of Thunder {GB}), Miss Piggle (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}). TDN Verdict: Ryan Moore has been booked to ride the impressive Windsor novice winner Bella Lyra and that may provide a clue as to the regard in which she is held at...

Nine years after Almanzor dropped a massive hint that Wootton Bassett might just be a decent sire by winning the Prix du Jockey Club comes the next wave for the stallion whose fee has gone from as low as €4,000 to this year's high of €300,000.  As has been well documented, Wootton Bassett's current crop of three-year-olds are the result of his first season standing at Coolmore in Ireland after one of the biggest transfer deals of recent years saw him leave Haras d'Etreham, where he had made his name...