Charlie Johnston

Jaber Abdullah's Timeforshowcasing (Showcasing) finished off the radar in Newmarket's G1 1000 Guineas when last seen, but rebounded in style to lead home French and Irish raiders for an international trifecta in Sunday's G2 Horn & Company 106th German 1000 Guineas at Dusseldorf. "It was a great performance by the filly, Charlie [Johnston] and his team seemed very happy coming into the race and she kept it simple," reflected rider Jack Mitchell. "It was straightforward, she had a nice pace to run at and she accelerated good. I felt the...

Listed heroine Jennifer Jane (New Bay) will not contest the G1 Betfred Oaks on June 5, and instead be pointed toward the Italian version later that month, according to Charlie Johnston. The Russell Trew and Towbraccan runner won at Wetherby last June before running second in the Listed Star Stakes in July. After a fruitless run in the G3 Prestige Fillies' Stakes in August, she was given a break. Making her three-year-old bow in the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket earlier this month, she made all the running to...

The Johnston barn had not annexed Newmarket's Listed Pretty Polly Stakes since Marie De Medicis won in 2010 and bridged a 16-year gap with an impressive front-running performance by Russell Trew and Townbraccan's Jennifer Jane (New Bay) in the 10-furlong Oaks trial at HQ. "I wasn't certain the step up in trip would work, but you have to be adaptable and think on your feet," said Charlie Johnston. "The plan at that point was to start in the [Listed] Michael Seely [Memorial] at York in a couple of weeks, but...

One of Frankel's plethora of TDN Rising Stars, Amo Racing's 1.1million gns Tattersalls October Book 1 purchase Ancient Egypt served notice that he is a genuine Derby contender in Friday's Listed Newmarket Stakes. All at sea when last seen trailing Bow Echo and co in the Royal Lodge here, the Charlie Johnston-trained relative of the brilliant Midday was able to bowl along in front of My Love Is King (Kingman) as they raced apart from the other three. Maintaining the gallop down into the dip and up the other side,...

Derby runner-up Lazy Griff has been ruled out of next week's G1 Betfred St Leger at Doncaster after suffering a setback. Last seen finishing third in the G1 Irish Derby at the Curragh, the son of Protectionist was a 4/1 shot with the sponsors to provide owners Middleham Park Racing with a first British Classic success on Town Moor, but those dreams have now been dashed. "He's met with a setback," confirmed Middleham Park's Mike Prince. "He was due to do his last piece of work before the Leger on...

Owners Middleham Park Racing will have to play the waiting game before firming up riding arrangements for St Leger contender Lazy Griff, with Christophe Soumillon now heading to Leopardstown to deputise for the injured Ryan Moore aboard some of Ballydoyle's leading lights. Soumillon, who was in the saddle when the son of Protectionist filled the runner-up spot in the Derby at Epsom, had been lined up for the ride, but connections have been forced into a rethink as a result of the Belgian-born jockey's recent change in circumstances. William Buick...

G2 Great Voltigeur runner-up Carmers (Wootton Bassett) is one of 15 horses remaining in the G1 St Leger at Doncaster next month at the latest entry stage. Trained by Paddy Twomey, he represents Fiona Carmichael. A winner at Ballinrobe at first asking in May, Carmers added the Listed Yeats Stakes to his haul at Navan later that month before claiming Royal Ascot glory in the G2 Queen's Vase in June. The Great Voltigeur was his first defeat. "We were very happy with him at York last week, finishing second in...

Amo Racing's Tattersalls October Book 1 millionaire Ancient Egypt (Frankel) registered a half-length debut win tackling an extended seven furlongs at Beverley last month and delivered a TDN Rising Star performance, racing under a seven-pound penalty, upped to one mile in Sunday's British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes at Goodwood. "It was a messy, stop-start race, but the benefit was that he had something to aim at," said Charlie Johnston. "He was still a little bit gawky when he did hit the front and it looked to me that there...

Amo Racing's Ancient Egypt (Frankel) had already caused a stir when knocked down for 1,100,000gns at last year's Tattersalls October Book 1 sale and he made a winning debut for the Charlie Johnston stable in Tuesday's EBF Novice Stakes at Beverley. "Nothing but winning would have done today and we'd have been disappointed with second," admitted Mark Johnston. "He got a bit warm and was coltish beforehand, so I was a little bit concerned. The race didn't pan out exactly as planned and it took a little while for the...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Tuesday's Observations features an expensive newcomer for Amo Racing. 15.20 Beverley, £7,500, Nov, 2yo, 7f 96yT Amo Racing's hitherto unraced ANCIENT EGYPT (IRE) (Frankel {GB}), a Charlie Johnston-conditioned 1,100,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 graduate, is out of a full-sister to multiple Group 1-winning distaffer Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB})...

EPSOM DOWNS, UK -- Forty years ago, back in those heady days of the 1980s, Slip Anchor slipped the field under Steve Cauthen to land the Derby by seven lengths and all felt right with the world. A Derby winner by a Derby winner by a Derby winner.  And here we are again. Lambourn, by Australia, by Galileo (and let's not forget Australia's dam, the mighty Ouija Board): an all-the-way Derby winner by almost four lengths. "He'll stay a while," said a smiling Wayne Lordan, so deservedly now a Derby-winning...

Gallop Racing's G3 Sweet Solera S. fifth Carolina Reaper (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}--Dark Promise {GB}, by Shamardal) lined up as the 9-5 favourite for Wednesday's 150th Renate & Albrecht Woeste Zukunfts-Rennen at Baden-Baden, Germany's first juvenile Group-race contest of the year, and became the third pattern-race winner for her freshman sire (by Dubawi {Ire}) with a last-gasp triumph in the seven-furlong Iffezheim feature. The March-foaled bay had earlier registered a sixth over the same trip in Royal Ascot's Listed Chesham S., before breaking through at Newmarket in her penultimate...