Godolphin

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Tuesday's Observations features a half-sister to 2,000 Guineas hero Coroebus. 4.45 Newmarket, Mdn, £22,000, 3yo, f, 8fT VICTORY QUEEN (GB) (Kingman {GB}) is another significant runner in the Godolphin blue at the first big European meeting of the year for the operation, being a half-sister to the 2,000 Guineas...

The Dubai Horses in Training Sale was topped by four-time winner Castle Way (GB) (Almanzor {Fr}) on Wednesday. The bay, a half-brother to Group 1 winner and first-season sire Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}), sold to Abubaker Kadoura for AED500,000 (€121,127). A winner of the G3 Bahrain Trophy Stakes in the colours of Godolphin for trainer Charlie Appleby, the 5-year-old gelding is out of Beach Frolic (GB) (Nayef). He was a 425,000gns acquisition by Godolphin out of the Highclere Stud draft during Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale...

Prep season is over, and now it's time to get down to business. A deep field will line up for the GI Kentucky Oaks, led by the undefeated Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro). In most years, she'd be 4-5 or lower, but there are enough quality fillies lining up for the race that you might see 2-1 on her. Since the last installment, La Cara (Street Sense) moved up the charts with a win in the GI Ashland S., Ballerina d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro) nosed out Early On (Union Rags) to win...

Three juveniles shared the fastest furlong time of :9 4/5 during the first session of the under-tack show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training Sunday. A filly by Upstart (hip 75) was first to hit the bullet mark just minutes into the day's session. The dark bay is out of Lovely Marissa (Proud Citizen), a daughter of Grade I-placed Valiant Passion (Lion Heart) and a half-sister to graded-placed Nasty (Street Sense). She was consigned by Grassroots Training & Sales, which acquired her for $60,000...

On a day which traditionally served as the 'after party' to the opening Friday and Saturday of Keeneland's April meet, Verity (Nyquist) claimed the honor of being the graded action opener this year, bounding home in those royal blue silks to take the GII Beaumont Stakes. With torrential rain and catastrophic flooding across Kentucky, the racing world did not escape the bad weather unscathed, as Keeneland was forced to abandon Friday and Saturday racing--now rescheduled for Monday and Tuesday--after Gov. Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency for the entire...

Let go at 8-1 for Sunday's G3 Prix la Force at ParisLongchamp despite his trainer Andre Fabre holding the record of eight successes in the Prix du Jockey Club trial, Godolphin's Cualificar (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) emerged front and centre to extend that tally. Off the mark over 10 furlongs at Saint-Cloud last month, the son of the 2015 Oaks heroine Qualify (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) followed the early pace and had first run on The Aga Khan's Studs' 6-4 favourite Azimpour (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) to score by a...

Godolphin's Ancient Truth (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who was ruled out of G1 2000 Guineas contention with a setback earlier this week, has succumbed to the injury, Godolphin posted on X on Thursday. The G2 Superlative Stakes hero and three-time winner last ran third in the G1 Dewhurst Stakes. He won a Newmarket novice in his debut last May good for a 'TDN Rising Star' badge, and added a similar affair in June, prior to his Superlative victory. "Promising three-year-old Ancient Truth sustained a serious injury earlier this week and, despite...

In racing, the advent of spring doesn't just mean delightful weather and foals capering through fields. It also means a multiplication of the number of graded events across the nation. The month of March boasted more graded races in the U.S. than January and February combined. With GI Kentucky Derby and Oaks preps in full swing, top older campaigners returning from winter breaks, and 2-year-old racing just around the corner, it's an exciting time in the sport. We took a look at trends and notable items from the country's graded...

The last week of preps for the GI Kentucky Oaks is upon us. The GI Ashland Stakes will be run Friday at Keeneland on opening day and Aqueduct will offer the GIII Gazelle Stakes the next day. The Gazelle came up predictably weak, but the Ashland has some intriguing contenders that could crack the top three or four come Friday. Last week, Quietside (Malibu Moon) was a convincing winner of the GII Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn and Five G (Vekoma) never looked back to win the GII Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Park...

It may have come three days later than expected, but Dubai Honour (Ire) claimed his third Australian Group 1, and fourth of his career, in Tuesday's rescheduled Tancred Stakes at Rosehill. The seven-year-old has been a model of consistency for his owner Mohamed Obaida and trainer William Haggas. He's not only won nine times, but he has also been placed nine times, in top-class contests from Ascot to Sha Tin, accruing prize-money in excess of £4.5m. Dubai Honour's sire Pride Of Dubai (Aus), winner of the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes...

We're on the cusp of the one-month mark to the GI Kentucky Derby and this Saturday marks the most important weekend of nine-furlong preps on the Triple Crown calendar, with significant stakes at Santa Anita, Keeneland, and Aqueduct. Next week the Top 12 expands to the Top 20 as the actual field begins to take shape. 1) CITIZEN BULL (c, Into Mischief-No Joke, by Distorted Humor) O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital...

Luan Machado secured his second straight riding title--and fifth overall--at Turfway Park's Winter/Spring Meet, which concluded Saturday. Mike Maker earned his record-extending 24th trainer's title at the Florence, Kentucky oval. Machado finished the meet with 51 wins from 277 starts and more than $2.5 million in purse earnings. "It was a great meet," Machado said. "I'm so thankful for everyone who's helped support me to get to this point. My agent Cory [Prewitt] has worked hard to keep our business going strong. There were so many people on the backside...