Babouche

5.10 Naas, Mdn, 2yo, f, 5f 205yT LIVENKA (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) is an important Juddmonte newcomer for the Ger Lyons stable as a half-sister to their Phoenix Stakes heroine Babouche (Kodiac) and her triple Group-winning full-sibling Zarinsk. Having won two of the last six renewals of this maiden, the yard obviously prioritises this, as does Aidan O'Brien, whose four recent winners include the subsequent Cheveley Park Stakes heroine Fairyland. He is represented this time by Victorious (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), a half-sister to last year's G3 Staffordstown Stud Stakes...

With France's Royal Ascot week having failed to lift off so far, all eyes will be on their darling Zarigana (Siyouni) to provide the rescue in Friday's G1 Coronation Stakes. As a granddaughter of Zarkava with a Classic under her belt, there should be very little for her to prove but the Aga Khan Studs representative has been edged out of both her big tests in photo finishes. Awarded a G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches that she may or may not have won had she not suffered interference, she could...

Sunday, Naas, post time: 16:03, COOLMORE STUD IRISH EBF BLACKBEARD FILLIES SPRINT STAKES-G3, €42,000, 2yo, f, 5f 205yT Field: Dawn Romance (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Green Sense (Ire) (Starman {GB}), Lady Iman (Ire) (Starman {GB}), Leblon Beach (GB) (Ubettabelieveit {Ire}), Miami Destination (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}), Saffron Dandy (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}), Signora (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Simply Astounding (Wootton Bassett {GB}). TDN Verdict: Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Simply Astounding takes the Meditate and Fairy Godmother route presumably to the Albany at Royal Ascot and in terms of promise she has it...

Tuesday, Chantilly, France, post time: 15:05, PRIX DE GUICHE-G3, €80,000, 3yo, c/g, 9fT Field: Pure Legend (Fr) (Mehmas {Ire}), Les Petits Princes (Fr) (Bated Breath {GB}), Al Aali (Fr) (City Light {Fr}), Cualificar (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Bulnes (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}), Curragh Camp (Fr) (Romanised {Ire}) and Madero (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). TDN Verdict: Cualificar may have surprised some when winning the G3 Prix la Force over this trip at ParisLongchamp last month, but he's a Fabre project out of the Oaks winner Qualify so should now...

It is nearly 20 years since Speciosa (Ire) became the first Classic winner to emanate from the breeze-up sales. The man who sold her, Willie Browne, had been plying his trade in that sector since 1978, and, as the breeze-ups close in on their 50th anniversary, it is good to see that the Mocklershill maestro is still very much at the top of his game.  In fact, last week's Craven Sale at Tattersalls was a good one for the founding fathers of the breeze-up game. There was Browne turning €70,000...