Falakeyah (GB)

Friday's Royal Ascot confirmations have been made and the clash between the Aga Khan Studs star Zarigana (Siyouni) and Shadwell's exciting Falakeyah (New Bay) in the G1 Coronation Stakes is the highlight of the card. The former, who was awarded the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches last month, will attempt to establish herself at the top of the fillies' pecking order in this mile category with fellow TDN Rising Star Falakeyah dangerously unexposed coming back in trip after her scintillating win in Newmarket's Listed Pretty Polly Stakes. Others of note...

The entries for the Betfred Oaks were released on Tuesday, with 47 fillies in contention for the Classic which is due to take place at Epsom on Friday, June 6. Aidan O'Brien is responsible for no fewer than 16 contenders as he bids for an 11th Oaks success, having won the race seven times since 2012 alone. His formidable squad is headed by the unbeaten Lake Victoria (Ire), who completed a hat-trick of top-level victories as a two-year-old when winning the Moyglare Stud Stakes, Cheveley Park Stakes and Breeders' Cup...

Following on from Sean Cronin's feature published on Thursday, below are my pick of bright prospects from the armada of 'TDN Rising Stars' from 2024. Unsurprisingly, there were several from Ballydoyle among the total of headline-grabbing 2-year-olds breaking their maidens in style and I have chosen one in particular that I feel has the potential to be another of their "special" brigade. Twain (Ire) is a direct descendant of the great Urban Sea (Miswaki) and was one of a clutch by Wootton Bassett (GB) to take off last term. Not...

It was perhaps fitting last week that the inaugural edition of Winter Watch going to print should coincide with the arrival of snow across many parts of Britain, albeit we now find ourselves with one less meeting to report on after the cold snap brought terminal consequences for a certain all-weather track in Nottinghamshire. Consider yourself lucky if you spent that particular Monday evening in the warmth of home, cup of tea in hand ready to find out what this Winter Watch was all about. Meanwhile, all of those involved...

Owen Burrows is renowned for his Sir Michael Stoute-like patience with the yard's leading prospects, but he may not have to wait as long as usual with his exciting new recruit Falakeyah (GB) (New Bay {GB}--Alaflaak, by War Front) lighting up a dour Thursday afternoon at Wolverhampton. A granddaughter of the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Lahudood (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) from the family of the stable's luminary Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and his brilliant full-brother Baaeed (GB), Shadwell's blueblood was a warm order at even-money...