Ballydoyle

Widely considered one of the shrewdest judges of equine talent on an international scale, Robson Aguiar has described Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB) as the best horse he has ever ridden and predicted the colt would be very hard to beat in Saturday's G1 Phoenix S. at the Curragh. It was Aguiar who first spotted the potential in the Adrian Murray-trained Bucanero Fuerte as a yearling last year and went to €165,000 to secure the colt from Etreham at the August Sale at Arqana.  Victory in the first juvenile...

Aidan O'Brien had annexed six of the last 10 renewals of the Curragh's Juddmonte Irish EBF Maiden, among them 2013 winner Australia (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), and he claimed Saturday's latest edition with Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who collected a 'TDN Rising Star' rosette with a taking performance in the seven-furlong test. The eventual winner was steadily away and raced in a close-up third initially and eased into second approaching halfway. Hitting the front soon after passing the quarter-mile marker, the well-backed 5-4 favourite was never seriously threatened thereafter and...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features the well-bred Henry Longfellow (Ire) on debut at the Curragh. 13.30 Curragh, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, c/g, 7fT HENRY LONGFELLOW (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}) wins the award as the day's best-bred runner, being the second foal out of the high-class and versatile Ballydoyle sensation Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features a full-sister to Classic winner Peaceful. 18.20 Leopardstown, Mdn, €16,000, 2yo, f, 8fT ANDROMEDA (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) is one of two Ballydoyle juveniles engaged, with Seamie Heffernan taking the ride on the debutante full-sister to his 2020 G1 Irish 1000 Guineas-winning mount Peaceful (Ire). Ryan Moore...

Aidan O'Brien says that he is looking forward to seeing what Paddington (GB), the brilliant Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James's Palace S. winner, can do over an extra two furlongs in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on Saturday and says the colt has made rare progress this season.  Paddington provided O'Brien with a record 83rd Royal Ascot victory when slamming the 2,000 Guineas winner Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the St James's Palace. The master of Ballydoyle went on to secure his 85th winner at the royal meeting before passing...

7.50 Roscommon, Listed, €40,000, 3yo/up, 11f 154yT ESPIONAGE (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) makes his keenly-anticipated comeback for Ballydoyle in this Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Lenebane S., drawing Ryan Moore to the track for the first time. Earning TDN Rising Star status when beating the stable's subsequent G3 Killavullan S. runner-up Sierra Blanca (Ire) (No Nay Never) over seven furlongs at The Curragh in September, the son of the G2 Ribblesdale S. winner Even Song (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) was second in the G1 Criterium International the following month and rates as...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Insights features the son of G1SW Together Forever, the Justify colt City of Troy. 13.40 Curragh, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo c/g, 7fT CITY OF TROY (Justify) looks a significant member of the contingent for this Barronstown Stud Irish EBF Maiden for colts and geldings, being the chosen Ballydoyle representative...

There was an abundance of pre-race hype surrounding the Aidan O'Brien-trained debutante Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}--Shambolic {Ire}, by Shamardal), who was hammered down to 8-13 favouritism for Friday evening's Kildare House Hotel Irish EBF Fillies Maiden at the Curragh, and she rewarded that faith with a 'TDN Rising Star' display in the seven-furlong test. Relaxed under Ryan Moore during the preliminaries, she was professional on the lead throughout and extended her margin of superiority, keeping on powerfully under mild coaxing, inside the final quarter-mile to easily account for Dollerina...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday's Insights features 1.5-million Tattersalls October Yearling graduate Ylang Ylang. 17.30 Curragh, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, f, 7fT YLANG YLANG (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who debuts for Ballydoyle in the maiden won in the last two years by the subsequent Group 1 performers Never Ending Story (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Discoveries...

It never ceases to amaze how much debate the two-year-old races at Royal Ascot generate each year. A quick scan on racing Twitter over the past few days confirmed as much.  For all the fascinating puzzles that the royal meeting will serve up this week, including whether Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) can cope with Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the St James's Palace, what will reign supreme in the Prince Of Wales's or if any of the Australian sprinters can land a blow in the King's Stand S., it's the...

17.30 Leopardstown, Mdn, €16,000, 2yo, f, 7f 27yT    BUTTONS (IRE) (Kingman {GB}) is the pick of Ryan Moore of the Ballydoyle trio in this always-intriguing maiden, won by the stable's September (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Bracelet (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) in recent times and in which Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was fourth behind Cayenne Pepper (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in an above-average race in 2019. Out of the Listed Cheshire Oaks winner and Oaks runner-up Wonder Of Wonders (Kingmambo) and descended from Urban Sea (Miswaki), the half-sister to the G1...

Coolmore and Westerberg's hitherto unraced 2-year-old colt Democracy (Ire) (No Nay Never--Ruby Tuesday {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) gave the perfect audition for Royal Ascot and outwitted his four rivals to earn a 'TDN Rising Star' rosette in Sunday's Irish Racehorse Experience At INS Irish EBF Maiden at the Curragh. The even-money favourite broke on the lead before settling in a close-up third after the initial strides of this six-furlong contest. Inching forward on the bridle to launch his challenge going well at the quarter-mile marker, he was shaken up to...