Castle Star (Ire)

The first reported foals for the G3 Marble Hill Stakes winner Castle Star (Ire) have arrived, Capital Stud announced in a statement on Wednesday. A bay colt out of the unraced Al Sultana (GB) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) was the first arrival in mid-January. Al Sultana, who has already produced two winners, is out of the winning Royal Applause (GB) mare Centime (GB), a full-sister to the GI American Oaks Invitational scorer Ticker Tape (GB) and a half to the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest winner Brando (GB) (Pivotal {GB}). Breeder...

The two newcomers to the stallions ranks at Haras de Bonneval, Vadeni (Fr) and Erevann (Fr), have both had their first mares scanned in foal, the operation announced on Wednesday. Trained by Jean-Claude Rouget and carrying the colours of the Aga Khan, Vadeni was among the leading three-year-olds in Europe in 2022 when his wins included the G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly and G1 Eclipse S. at Sandown. He also filled the runner-up spot behind Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on...

Craig Bernick and Antony Beck's Group 3 winner Castle Star (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) will target the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, according to trainer Fozzy Stack. The colt broke his maiden in his third start, the Listed First Flier S. at The Curragh on May 3. He followed that effort with a two-length come-from-behind victory in the G3 Marble Hill S. there later that month. Second in the G2 Railway S. in June, Castle Star was fourth in the G1 Phoenix S. on Aug. 8. He improved to run...

Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Middle Park S. at Newmarket looked a tight affair on paper and although there were just 1 3/4 lengths covering the first seven home, there was ultimately a degree of comfort in the victory of the G1 Prix Morny hero Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}). Freshened up since his success for Christophe Soumillon in the Morny over this six-furlong trip at Deauville Aug. 22, the Richard Fahey-trained bay was one of the last to play his hand under that rider but was a cosy half-length winner from...

Deauville stages the G1 LARC Prix Maurice de Gheest on Sunday, where David Ward's G1 July Cup hero Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) has to tackle testing ground as he bids to put his marker down on the sprinting division. Beaten only once when encountering soft going in Ascot's G1 Qipco British Champions Sprint S., the 4-year-old nevertheless carries significant stable confidence into the 6 1/2-furlong highlight. "He's in cracking form and we're super excited, so fingers crossed," trainer Ed Walker said. "Everything has gone very well since the July...

Already proven at The Curragh, having won the five-furlong May 3 Listed First Flier S., the Fozzy Stack-trained Castle Star (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) made light work of Saturday's G3 GAIN Marble Hill S. over six. Anchored in rear early and a touch detached as Chris Hayes exuded confidence, the 5-2 second favourite cruised down the outer of his hard-ridden peers and after striking the front approaching the final half-furlong quickened clear for an impressive two-length defeat of the well-backed 15-8 favourite Masseto (GB) (Territories {Ire}). "It's not often you see...