Coolmore

Four-time Group 1 winner and prolific sire Mastercraftsman (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}-Starlight Dreams, by Black Tie Affair {Ire}) has died age 15 at Coolmore's Castlehyde Stud in Ireland following a suspected heart attack on Friday morning. "Mastercraftsman was a lovely horse to have anything to do with and will be missed by everyone here," said Castlehyde manager Tom Gaffney. "He has sired some wonderful animals and hopefully there will be a few more stars by him to come." Mastercraftsman was bred by Lynch Bages and was the fifth foal out...

Amador Sanchez, a 10-year employee of Coolmore's Ashford Stud, passed away unexpectedly Aug. 8. Sanchez was one of the head stallion handlers at the Versailles nursery. "We are devastated by this loss," the farm said in a statement. "He was an incredibly talented horseman, he has been a valued member of our team since 2011, and we know that he will be missed by all of his colleagues." Sanchez leaves behind his wife, Karla, and four children: Amador (18), Kerry (15), Jamie (13)and Lucas (9). Ashford has set up a...

There were just three of the dozen to contest Sunday's G1 LARC Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville trained in France, but despite extremely tough foreign opposition the home team managed a surprise one-two led by Marianafoot (Fr) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}). Prolific at a lower level of late, Jean-Claude Seroul's 6-year-old had captured the seven-furlong G3 Prix du Palais-Royal and G3 Prix de la Porte Maillot on ParisLongchamp's turning track May 30 and July 1 but was equally at home over the straight course here with Mickael Barzalona burying his mount...

The energy seems to be building by the hour now that the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Sale yearlings are in place as buyers sift through the barns surrounding the famed Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion. There's much to look forward to in this 100th edition of the auction, including a sample of the highly-anticipated first crop of yearlings from Triple Crown champion Justify (Scat Daddy - Stage Magic, by Ghostzapper). With 10 sons and daughters of Justify currently slated to go through the sales ring, these youngsters represent the first book of...

It was tight at the finish of Deauville's G1 Prix Rothschild on Tuesday, but when the going gets tough you can rely on Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) to give her all and that was enough to provide Aidan O'Brien with another highlight in France this year. Admirably consistent since her success in the G1 1000 Guineas at Newmarket May 2, the 19-10 favourite who was a latest runner-up in the G1 Falmouth S. on Newmarket's July Course July 9 was happy to follow the leaders early. When Ryan Moore...

When regally-bred Grade I winner Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy-Leslie's Lady, by Tricky Creek) joined the stallion roster at Ashford Stud in 2019, his half-brother Into Mischief had just received a bump in stud fee from $100,000 to $150,000 at nearby Spendthrift Farm. The next year, as Mendelssohn's first foals were hitting the ground, Into Mischief was represented by GI Kentucky Derby hero and eventual Horse of the Year Authentic. Today, as Into Mischief is now widely regarded as the leading stallion in the world, Mendelssohn awaits the day when his first...

In the battle between the 3-year-old colts and fillies, it was Jeff Smith's Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) who prevailed over Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) with an impressive success in Wednesday's G1 Qatar Sussex S. at Goodwood. Trapped wide throughout the early stages from her wide draw and forced to take back and race towards the rear, the 7-2 second favourite who had annexed the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot June 18 was delivered by Oisin Murphy to cut down Jim Bolger's G1 2000 Guineas and...

Al Shaqab Racing's Armor (GB) (No Nay Never) backed up an Apr. 24 maiden score at Doncaster with a close-up fifth, to the reopposing Chipotle (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}), in Royal Ascot's June 16 Listed Windsor Castle S. and announced his arrival on the juvenile scene with a devastating closing burst to seal an impressive triumph in Wednesday's G3 Markel Molecomb S. at Goodwood. The 6-1 chance was sharply into stride from the stands' side stall and occupied a forward berth in sixth through the early fractions of this five-furlong...

Coming off a dominating performance in the GIII Quick Call S. at Saratoga, 2020 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint champion Golden Pal is pointing towards the G1 Nunthorpe S. on Aug. 20. Trainer Wesley Ward oversaw the 3-year-old son of Uncle Mo's training at Keeneland early this week as the colt prepares for a second trip overseas after a close second last year at Ascot in the G2 Norfolk S. "I think he's really going to move forward fitness-wise from [the Quick Call] to the race in York," Ward...

Two weeks removed from his death at age 23, Galileo (Ire)'s influence was keenly felt in Europe's feature races this weekend. At Ascot, Adayar (GB)-by Galileo's greatest son Frankel (GB)-became the first horse to do the Derby/King George double since Galileo himself accomplished the feat 20 years ago. On the same card, Godolphin's €260,000 Arqana Select purchase New Science (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) stamped himself a 2-year-old to watch with victory in the Listed Pat Eddery S. He is out of a Galileo mare. Up North at York, horses...

It looked straightforward on paper for Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) ahead of Thursday's G3 Japan Racing Association Tyros S. and that was the case as the full-brother to Broome (Ire) justified 1-8 favouritism in Leopardstown's juvenile pointer. Racing in second early after a slightly tardy start, the June 19 Listed Chesham S. winner took control two out and stayed on strongly to register a three-length verdict over Maritime Wings (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}). "He got a lead today, which was nice as in his last two...

Joseph O'Brien trainee Agartha (Ire) (Caravaggio) was winless in four prior outings and went postward for Thursday evening's G3 Frank Conroy Silver Flash S. at Leopardstown as an almost unconsidered 16-1 outsider coming back off a two-length second to the 'TDN Rising Star' performance of Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) tackling this seven-furlong strip at the Foxrock venue earlier in the month. The February-foaled bay had placed behind decent sorts in all races contested to date, including a third to the reopposing G3 Albany S. fourth Prettiest (Dubawi {Ire}) in...