Dubai Honour (Ire)

Karl Burke trainee Convergent (Fascinating Rock), who had hit the board in a stellar edition of May's G3 Chester Vase and July's G1 Deutsches Derby, gained his black-type breakthrough in the G3 Kilternan five weeks ago and climbed another rung up the ladder with a career best in Sunday's G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris at Longchamp. "The race panned out exactly how I wanted it to," said winning rider Clifford Lee. "It was a strong gallop, but he's one of those that doesn't want being in front too soon....

Putting some below-par efforts behind him on Sunday, Resolute Bloodstock and Philip Baron Von Ullmann's Goliath (Adlerflug) made all in the G1 Wettstar.de Grosser Preis von Baden to continue his family's rich tradition in the prestigious affair. Sent off the 19-10 second favourite behind the even-money market-leader Dubai Honour (Pride Of Dubai), last year's King George hero saw off that raider in the final two furlongs to score by 1 1/4 lengths under Clement Lecoeuvre. Heading to Arc time, it is notable how much influence the winner's stablemate Calandagan would...

Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), the fourth highest-rated horse in the world in 2024, will spearhead the European challenge on FWD Champions Day at Sha Tin on Sunday, April 27, with a record HK$74 million (£7.4m) on offer across three Group 1 races. Goliath will add a fourth jurisdiction to his record as Resolute Racing's globetrotter lines up in the HK$28 million (£2.8m) G1 FWD QEII Cup. Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, the five-year-old made the breakthrough at the top level when winning last year's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes...

Godolphin's seven-time Group 1 winner and defending champion Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) heads a stellar international entry for Qatar's $2,500,000 H.H. Amir Trophy, which is scheduled to be run over 2,400 metres at Al Rayyan Racecourse in Doha on Saturday, February 15. The seven-year-old Rebel's Romance could face up to five other top-level winners if attempting to repeat last year's impressive victory in Qatar's most valuable Thoroughbred contest, with a total of 69 entries from eight different countries being received. The William Haggas-trained Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai...

Recording his first elite-level success since last year's G1 Deutsches Derby, Liberty Racing's Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) proved too strong for Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}) in Sunday's G1 Grosser Preis von Baden. Anchored in rear early by Rene Piechulek, the Sarah Steinberg-trained 2-1 second favourite surged to the front inside the final two furlongs en route to a 1 1/4-length success from the William Haggas raider.   FANTASTIC MOON takes the G1 @wettstar_de 154. Grosser Preis von Baden🔥🤩 pic.twitter.com/LoZbxuV8BS — Deutscher Galopp (@DeutscherGalopp) September...

Coolmore and Westerberg's dual Derby hero Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) heads a field of nine for Saturday's G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Qipco S. after final declarations were confirmed for Ascot's midsummer showpiece on Thursday morning. Aidan O'Brien trimmed his team from five to three for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf "Win and You're In", sidelining Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) and Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}), and will also saddle Hans Andersen (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). Auguste Rodin, who has hit...

Aidan O'Brien is responsible for five of the 11 possible runners in Saturday's G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes following Monday's confirmation stage, with Auguste Rodin (Ire) set to lead the Ballydoyle team into battle at Ascot as he tries to atone for his disappointing effort in the corresponding race 12 months ago. A four-time winner at the top level as a three-year-old when landing the Derby, Irish Derby, Irish Champion Stakes and Breeders' Cup Turf, Auguste Rodin ran one of his lesser races that season when...

Trainer William Haggas has issued a positive bulletin on his impressive G2 Dante Stakes winner Economics (GB), with a return to the Knavesmire for the G2 Sky Bet York Stakes on Saturday, July 27 among the options being considered for his next appearance. The son of Night Of Thunder (Ire) is only three starts into his career and it was because of his relative experience that his connections resisted the temptation to supplement him for the Derby after his emphatic Dante success which saw him power clear of Ancient Wisdom...

The G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud is often a battle of the stalwarts, those that fall a notch under the elite, and it was the turn of Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}--Mondelice {GB}, by Montjeu {Ire}) to enjoy his moment in the European limelight after Sunday's renewal. Running over a barely-tried mile and a half having finished third over the trip last time in the G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly, Mohamed Obaida's 6-year-old was buried under cover early by Tom Marquand awaiting the instruction. Given the office approaching...

Looking at the history of the G1 Coral-Eclipse, it is clear that fillies and mares have had a hard time against the colts in Sandown's jewel. While the illustrious Pebbles (GB) managed to prevail in 1985 and Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) did so three years ago with the lesser-heralded Kooyonga (Ire) victorious in between in 1992, the list of beaten elite stars among the sex is extensive. It includes Time Charter (Ire), Triptych, Indian Skimmer, In The Groove (GB), Bosra Sham, Ouija Board (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), The Fugue (GB)...

Mohamed Obaida's Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}) defeated dual Group 1 scorer Mo'unga (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}) and nine-time Group 1 winner Anamoe (Aus) (Street Boss) to win the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. at Randwick during the second weekend of The Championships on Saturday. The William Haggas trainee claimed the G1 Ranvet S. at Rosehill in March, and his two top-level victories have his trainer feeling "pretty keen" to add an Australian satellite yard to his operation. Haggas, who would likely share the base with Andrew Balding according to...

Four horses trained by William Haggas are in good form in advance of planned starts in Australia in the coming weeks. Competing on Saturday are Roy and Gretchen Jackson's Lael Stables colourbearer Purplepay (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), who will run in the 1500-metre G1 Coolmore Classic at Rosehill Gardens. "They're lovely people and this filly came to us by accident really," said Haggas, who has already saddled three-time Australian Group 1 winner Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) Down Under. "She was bought to go to the States and then missed her flight...