Coolmore

Proving yet again that Aidan O'Brien's second string is never to be discounted in pattern races, the 25-1 shot Merrily (No Nay Never--Caponata, by Selkirk) swooped to conquer in Friday's G3 Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket. Anchored in rear early by Wayne Lordan, the relative of Sunday's Arc heroine Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}) was a touch free early in response the switch in tactics from her latest fifth in the G3 Weld Park Stakes. Saving her energy for the finale this time, the $325,000 Keeneland September...

Back in 2010, when Wootton Bassett (GB) registered what would ultimately be his defining success in ParisLongchamp's G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, few would have predicted the considerable impact he would have on the breed. Fourteen years on, the extent to which he has grown in stature during his second career was felt in the same Qatar-sponsored race as his son Camille Pissarro (Ire) stepped up to reward Coolmore's faith and investment in the sire's raw material. Up to seven furlongs and fitted with blinkers for the first time, Ballydoyle's TDN...

Coolmore and Westerberg's G3 Stanerra Stakes victrix Grateful (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}--Tepin, by Bernstein), who hit the board in last month's G2 Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster, made the necessary transition under an inspired ride from Christophe Soumillon to secure a career high in Saturday's G1 Qatar Prix de Royallieu at ParisLongchamp. She became the fourth winner on the card for a dominant Aidan O'Brien. Employing patiently tactics and settled off the tempo for most of this 14-furlong marathon, the 207-10 chance made relentless headway out wide in the straight to...

Ballydoyle's star stayer Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}--Polished Gem {Ire}, by Danehill) went unbeaten through six contests in 2022 and completed an exact replica of that campaign with a pillar-to-post triumph in Saturday's G1 Qatar Prix du Cadran at ParisLongchamp. That 2022 season included an extravagant win in this marathon event, but it was a more straightforward affair this time around. The 1-5 favourite, fresh off a second success in the G1 Irish St Leger, went straight to the front and sent an even tempo for the most part. Gearing up...

Coolmore's G1 St Leger runner-up Illinois (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}--Danedrop {Ire}), by Danehill), winner of Royal Ascot's G2 Queen's Vase back in June, fired the opening salvo of ParisLongchamp's Arc weekend and delivered a battling performance to prevail in the 15-furlong G2 Qatar Prix Chaudenay. The 2-5 favourite, who had also placed in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud and G1 Grand Prix de Paris, went straight to the lead and held sway until turning for home. Under pressure when headed briefly by Trafalgar Square (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) with 300 metres remaining,...

Aidan O'Brien provided a positive bulletin on Ballydoyle star City Of Troy (Justify) after he galloped at Southwell last month. The Coolmore partners' talented son of Together Forever (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is gearing up for start in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic in November. "He's very good. We were delighted with him at Southwell and everything has gone very well with him since," O'Brien told Sky Sports Racing. "He's started his build up now and so far everything seems good." The bay is riding a three-race winning streak, having claimed...

Perfect through two eyecatching wins at Deauville in August and Chantilly last month, 'TDN Rising Star' Maranoa Charlie (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Koubalibre {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) continued his impressive rise with an untroubled pillar-to-post triumph in Friday's G3 Prix Thomas Bryon Jockey Club de Turquie at Saint-Cloud to retain his unbeaten record in style. The 1-5 favourite was swiftly into stride and soon established a clear lead. Tanking along in hand throughout, he was in another parish turning for home and required minimal encouragement in the straight to easily outclass...

Coolmore's Heavens Gate (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}--Itqaan, by Danzig), with a half-dozen prior outings under her belt, was the most experienced of nine contenders entering Sunday's G3 Weld Park Stakes at the Curragh and her ringcraft was a telling factor  in the seven-furlong contest as she delivered a display of power to claim a career high. She had previously hit the board in the G3 Albany Stakes and G2 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes and annexed a valuable pot at Naas in her penultimate start before running fourth in York's G2 Lowther...

Joseph O'Brien trainee Apples And Bananas (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Simannka {Ire}, by Mastercraftsman {Ire}), fresh off a black-type breakthrough in last month's Listed Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l'Elevage at Deauville, continued on a winning roll with a battling victory in Saturday's Goffs Million at the Curragh. The 5-2 second choice was quickly into stride from the stands' side stall and gained an immediate advantage in this seven-furlong test. Comfortable on the front end until scrubbed along with a quarter-mile remaining, he was tackled by 9-4 favourite Antelope Canyon (Ire)...

At €65,000, St Mark's Basilica (Fr) was the most expensive horse to retire to stud in 2022, with a racetrack performance and pedigree that justified the fee. After all, he was the world-champion three-year-old, European champion two-year-old and Cartier Horse of the Year, with a race record that included five straight Group 1 wins, from the Dewhurst at two straight through to the Irish Champion Stakes the following autumn. By Siyouni (Fr) out of the Galileo (Ire) Group-winning mare Cabaret (Ire), he is a half-brother to the Classic winner Magna...

Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes was billed as a heavyweight bout between unbeaten 'TDN Rising Stars' Lake Victoria (Ire) (Frankel {GB}--Quiet Reflection {GB}, by Showcasing {GB}) and Babouche (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) and it was the former who emerged on top with a scintillating performance dropped in trip for the six-furlong test. Lake Victoria had attained 'TDN Rising Star' status in her June 28 debut over seven furlongs at the Curragh before notching a pillar-to-post victory in last month's G3 Sweet Solera Stakes and went postward as the 6-4 favourite...

Abundant rain turned Newmarket's ground to heavy before Friday's action and while it sunk the much-vaunted Formal (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G2 Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Rockfel Stakes, it proved no hindrance to fellow TDN Rising Star Bubbling (Ire) (No Nay Never--Lumiere Noire {Fr}, by Dashing Blade {GB}) as she became the latest Ballydoyle juvenile filly to register a black-type win in 2024. Partnered by Ryan Moore after the stable's Ecstatic (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) was taken out due to the going, the impressive Galway maiden winner and Listed...