Ballydoyle

Coolmore's hitherto untested Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), a half-sister to GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Iridessa (Ire) (Ruler of the World {Ire}), went postward as a 9-2 chance for Saturday's Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden at The Curragh and made a mockery of those odds with a taking display to earn TDN Rising Stardom on debut. Breaking in mid division and remaining there through halfway in the one-mile test, she made eyecatching headway on the bridle along the far-side fence to seize control approaching the...

Much has been made of the ability of the average Galileo (Ire) to endure more than a fair amount of engagement in battle, but there continues to be example after example as the weeks of the flat season roll on. There seems especially to be something in The Curragh's hallowed turf to bring out those mystical qualities from within his charges and on Sunday it was Shale (Ire) who was drawing on it to garner the G1 Moyglare Stud S. Having beaten Pretty Gorgeous (Fr) (Lawman {Fr}) in the G3...

The way that Tiger Moth (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was backed ahead of Saturday's G3 Paddy Power 'Is It 2021 Yet?' S. was a reflection of the regard in which the Ballydoyle representative is held and he did not disappoint with a stirring display in the Leopardstown contest. Last seen finishing runner-up in the G1 Irish Derby at The Curragh June 27, the bay was 5-6 for this race registered as the Kilternan S. and stayed ahead of the main group with Ryan Moore sitting several lengths off the three early...

There was a seventh group 1 success for Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and a second renewal of Leopardstown's G1 Irish Champion S. on Saturday as the remarkable mare downed Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in a sensational renewal of the 10-furlong contest. Intent on keeping close tabs on that 8-13 favourite from the outset, Seamie Heffernan placed Ballydoyle's relentless mare at his flanks and the closer they got to the straight the more it appeared that Godolphin's colossus would struggle to divert her attentions. Ranging alongside the visitor and locking on...

Coolmore's once-raced Monday (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who posted a Sept. 3 debut fourth over this seven-furlong trip at Punchestown in her only prior start, stepped forward to shed maiden status in Saturday's Listed Ballylinch Stud Irish EBF Ingabelle S. at Leopardstown. She was smartly away from an inside gate and dictated at a modest tempo along the fence after the initial strides of this black-type bow. Unflustered until scrubbed along off the home turn, the 12-1 chance refused to buckle and kept on strongly under a final-furlong drive to hold...

G1 Investec Derby winner Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is on course for his first outing since that Classic upset in the Sept. 13 G1 Grand Prix de Paris, with the option of joining stablemate and likely favourite Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe thereafter. "He had two quick runs leading up to the Derby--he'd only run the week before--and after the Derby he was a little bit quiet and a little bit tired and needed a little bit of time, but we always thought...

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. Today's Observations features a half-brother to a standout 2-year-old from 2019. 1.00 Killarney, Mdn, €25,000, 2yo, 8f 50yfT YARRAWONGA (IRE) (Australia {GB}) debuts for Ballydoyle and is a half-brother to last year's G2 Superlative S. winner Mystery Power (Ire) (No Nay Never). The €525,000 Goffs Orby graduate encounters the...

Some stellar fillies have crossed York's Knavesmire down the years, but the G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Epsom Oaks heroine Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is up there with the best after her saunter through Thursday's G1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks. With an epic G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in the offing in six weeks' time, there will be few who will sleep easy with Ballydoyle's leading prospect looming large on the horizon. While her performances in the June 7 Newmarket and July 4 Epsom Classics left none in any doubt...

1.30 Gowran Park, Mdn, €15,500, 2yo, 8fT Aidan O'Brien trainee HARVARD (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}), who is kin to MGISW GI Breeders' Cup Mile and G1 Queen Anne S. heroine Tepin (Bernstein) and MGSW GI Wood Memorial and GI Forego S. third Vyjack (Into Mischief), shaped with a deal of promise when a close-up fourth tackling seven furlongs at Leopardstown on debut last month and gets a second chance to shed maiden status upped in trip for this one. His opposition features Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum's hitherto unraced Wuqood...

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. Today's Observations features a newcomer for the Coolmore/Moyglare Stud partnership. 2.00 Curragh, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, 7fT TIGNANELLO (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) represents a partnership between his breeder Moyglare Stud Farm--whose silks he sports--and Susan Magnier and Michael Tabor and debuts for the Ballydoyle stable. Out of the 2013 GI Del...

Fresh from an impressive tally in Royal Ascot's Listed Chesham S., Coolmore's Battleground (War Front) emulated last year's winner of that contest--Pinatubo (Ire) (Shamardal)--by doubling up in Tuesday's G2 Veuve Clicquot Vintage S. at Goodwood. Employing patient tactics trapped three wide in sixth after a level break in the seven-furlong contest, the 13-8 favourite made smooth headway on the bridle in the straight to challenge at the quarter-mile marker and he was driven out once seizing control soon after to deny G2 Superlative S. runner-up Devious Company (Ire) (Fast Company...

With racemares like Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), there is a sense of point-and-shoot and Wayne Lordan had little trouble in steering her to a sixth top-level success in Sunday's G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh. Sent to the front almost from the outset, the 2-9 favourite merely had to repeat her effort when winning the course-and-distance G1 Pretty Polly S. June 28 and she gave generously to issue another beating to over-matched rivals. Kicking off the home turn, she stayed on strongly as expected as stablemate Sir Dragonet (Ire)...