Darley

Francis Graffard representative Samangan (Blue Point), fresh off a stakes breakthrough in last month's G3 Prix Eclipse, went postward as the prohibitively priced 1-5 favourite for Saturday's G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte and never gave connections a moment's worry with a stylish victory in the six-furlong contest. The Aga Khan Studs homebred stalked the pace in third from flagfall. Making smooth progress once past halfway, he eased to the front approaching the final furlong and was pushed out in the closing stages to easily account for Street Show (Showcasing) by 2...

Luca and Sara Cumani put the sugar on top of what has been one of the sweetest success stories of the week at Tattersalls when their Fittocks Stud-consigned Wootton Bassett colt sold to Godolphin for 1.9 million gns on the third and final day of the Book 1 October Yearling Sale.  The Wootton Bassett colt became Fittocks Stud's third seven-figure sale this week and followed on from the 2.2 million gns and 1.3 million gns achieved with colts by Frankel and Dubawi respectively.  All told, Fittocks Stud has sold four...

We have become accustomed to the prevalence of Urban Sea in today's pedigrees, chiefly through her high-flying sons Galileo and Sea The Stars. But another mare whose name pops up on the page of Sea The Stars as well as that of the recently deceased Wootton Bassett is Park Appeal, whose influence should not be underestimated. The daughter of Ahonoora features in the second and third generations respectively of those two stallions, who commanded the highest fees in Ireland in 2025 at €250,000 and €300,000. In the case of Sea...

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's TDN Rising Star Bow Echo (Night Of Thunder) was a perfect two-for-two heading into Saturday's G2 Tattersalls Online Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket and emerged with his unbeaten record intact after dominating his rivals in the one-mile test. "He does look like the best colt we've had at this stage," said trainer George Boughey. "I loved his attitude today, it's the thing that's stood out from the beginning and it was nice to see him get it done. He's always been easy to train and...

Aga Khan Studs representative Samangan shed maiden status with an impressive wide-margin triumph at Deauville towards the end of last month and continued on the upgrade with a black-type breakthrough in Saturday's G3 Prix Eclipse Fonds Europeen de l'Elevage at Chantilly. "He broke slowly and therefore put himself in trouble from the start," reflected trainer Francis Graffard. "He was never really travelling smoothly and didn't look like a winner at halfway. Maybe the [soft] ground is the reason, but I don't know. When he started finding his best stride, the...

Harry Eustace's eyes light up as soon as the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale is mentioned. And why wouldn't they? It was at that sale where the 37-year-old's Group 1 winners Docklands (Massaat) and Time For Sandals (Sands Of Mali) were sourced and the Newmarket-based handler openly admits to having 'kept powder dry' for the action at Fairyhouse next week.  "We've had a lot of luck out of Fairyhouse, particularly with the filly [Time For Sandals]," he explained. "It's a sale that I have always worked hard at because it...

Keeneland September Book 5 opened Wednesday with continued strong trade across the board led by a Midshipman colt (hip 3056) who topped the session at $270,000 to trainer Wesley Ward. Increases were seen on all fronts as 303 yearlings sold through the ring for $15,405,500, up 12.09% from last year's Session 9 gross of $13,744,000 for 308 horses. Average price of $50,843 was 13.94% above $44,623 last year and the median increased 14.29% from $35,000 to $40,000. Cumulatively, Keeneland has sold 2,074 yearlings through the ring for $487,629,500 for an...

Like many of you, I met Stuart Angus through our work (he as an account manager for Taylor Made, and me selling seasons for Darley). That is when I remember meeting him, although he would insist he had met me when he had been to my parents' farm in New York as a part of his job when he was working in New Jersey in the 1990s and I was 10 or 11 years old! Having seen where I grew up was always a common ground Stuart valued, and one...

Edited Press Release Scott Williamson has joined the international team at Metrics Equine, according to a press release from the group.  As part of his role with Metrics, Williamson will evaluate cardio potential, mechanical efficiency, and compatibility with other bloodlines and physical types for yearlings, 2-year-olds in training, and breeding stock in America, Australia, and New Zealand. Originally from Epsom, England, Williamson has developed and honed his skills and experience working in the Thoroughbred industry around the world for more than 25 years. A graduate of Writtle College with an...

2nd-Deauville, €27,400, Mdn, 8-19, unraced 2yo, f, 8fT, 1:44.46, g/s. ZALINA (FR) (f, 2, Pinatubo {Ire}--Lady Baker, by Pioneerof The Nile) broke well and asserted for control after the initial strides of this unveiling. Holding sway thereafter, the 37-5 chance was bustled along turning for home and kept on powerfully under continued urging inside the final quarter-mile to easily account for Persian Grace (Persian King) by three lengths. Zalina is the third of four foals and first scorer produced by a winning half-sister to Group 3-winning G2 German 1000 Guineas...

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's homebred 2-year-old colt Bow Echo (Night Of Thunder), who hails from the family of Dubawi, went postward as the 2-1 joint-favourite for Friday's TPT Fire Supports St Michaels Hospice EBF Maiden Stakes at Newbury and returned with a TDN Rising Star rosette after delivering a mightily impressive wide-margin triumph in the straight one-mile test. "His work had been good at home, I thought he'd take a lot of beating coming here today and that was a taking performance," said winning rider Billy Loughnane. "I've sat...

A nomination to Australian Champion First- and Second-Season Sire Too Darn Hot has been added to the Inglis Digital August (Late) Online Sale held from August 22-27. The son of Dubawi broke the first-season sire earnings record during the 2023/2024 season. Responsible for four-time Australian Group 1 winner Broadsiding, Too Darn Hot has sired the winners of more group races than well-known Australian stallions Snitzel, Fastnet Rock, I Am Invincible and newly crowned champion sire Zoustar, at the same stage of their careers. The sale of the Too Darn Hot...