Godolphin

Three of trainer Brad Cox's Breeders' Cup hopefuls turned in their final works ahead of championship weekend Sunday at Churchill Downs, a day later than originally planned due to rain in the Louisville area Saturday. Aiming for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, Essential Quality (Tapit) went five furlongs in a bullet :59.40 (1/22) and Knicks Go (Paynter) covered the same distance in 1:01.20 (9/22). GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff contender Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) went her five furlongs in 1:00.80 (2/22). "It was a great morning and all three horses put in...

The 2021 Fall Meet at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky, closed Oct. 30, with record all-sources wagering of better than $181 million over the course of 17 days of live racing at the historic facility. When the dust had settled Saturday afternoon, all-sources wagering (not including whole-card simulcasting at Keeneland) totaled $181,009,626, obliterating the previous record of $164,680,229 established during this year's Spring Meet and the previous Fall Meet record of $160,207,916 set in 2019. This year's all-sources wagering numbers represented a 22% increase over last fall's $148,229,708. Keeneland...

A half-sister to 'TDN Rising Star' and GI Breeders' Cup Classic hopeful Essential Quality (Tapit), Ch. 2yo Colt, MGISW, $4,215,144, Famed (Uncle Mo) followed in the latter's hoofprints with a 'Rising Star'-worthy romp of her own in the fall meet finale from Keeneland Saturday afternoon. The dark bay was bet down to 90 cents on the dollar for her much-anticipated debut at Churchill Sept. 26 and was in the thick of it from the start, but ultimately dropped a one-length decision to Sweet Dani Girl (Jess's Dream), who franked the...

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. Today's Observations features a close relative to a Derby winner. 12.45 Newmarket, Nov, £10,000, 2yo, c/g, 7fT Godolphin's homebred YANTARNI (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is kin to G1 Jebel Hatta second Vancouverite (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and G2 UAE Derby and G3 UAE Oaks victrix Khawlah (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), herself...

7th-Belmont, $90,000, Msw, 10-22, 2yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:47.36, ft, 7 3/4 lengths. NOSTALGIC (f, 2, Medaglia d'Oro--Been Here Before {SP}, by Tapit), scratched out of an intended unveiling here about a month ago, showed three easy breezes in the interim and was let go at 9-1 as her second-time-starting stablemate Handbelle (Tapit) took the most tote attention. The Godolphin homebred showed little early foot and sat far back in second last down the backside through splits of :24.02 and :48.50. She sliced through a seam and began to inch...

A wide-open field of 13 sophomore filly sprinters will line up for Saturday's GII Lexus Raven Run S. at Keeneland. 'TDN Rising Star' Souper Sensational (Curlin) enters in good form in her last three starts since receiving a freshening. A powerful winner of Belmont's GIII Victory Ride S. July 10, the Live Oak colorbearer followed with a second-place finish behind likely GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint second choice Bella Sofia (Awesome Patriot) in the GI Longines Test S. Aug. 7 and repeated that same position behind the streaking...

Tattersalls has released the catalogue for its December Mares Sale on Nov. 29 to Dec. 2, with 1168 fillies and mares catalogued including huge representation from Godolphin, Shadwell and Juddmonte, which bring 224 between them. The Tattersalls December Mares Sale catalogue features previously announced headliners like Sunday Times (GB) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) (lot 1810), the dam of Breeders' Cup winner Newspaperofrecord (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) carrying a full sibling; listed-winning and Group 1-placed 2-year-old filly Flotus (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) (lot 1798); and dual Group 1 winner Amazing Maria...

Godolphin homebred Maxfield (Street Sense) will bypass an expected start in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 6 and will instead point for the GI Clark H. at Churchill Downs 20 days later. The story was originally reported by the Daily Racing Form. "He has such a good record at Churchill. We're going to skip California with him altogether," trainer Brendan Walsh told the DRF. "It's very important for him to win a Grade I this year. This probably gives him his best chance to get a Grade I at...

Godolphin homebred Althiqa (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}-- Mistrusting {Ire}, by Shamardal), a dual Grade I winner, has been retired for broodmare duty, trainer Charlie Appleby announced on Tuesday. "We've retired Althiqa," Appleby told Dubai Racing Channel's Michael Adolphson in an interview. "There were no more options for her. She could have gone to Del Mar, there's a Grade II on the card there, but bless her, she owes us nothing. She's pulled up safe and sound and she'll head to the breeding shed." A winner of her only start at...

The catalogue for the Tattersalls Ascot November Sale was released on Tuesday. Slated for Nov. 4, the 99 lots are divided between 27 fillies in/out of training, 57 colts and geldings, four point-to-pointers, five yearlings and six stores. It will be the first sale held at Ascot Racecourse since December of 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the vendors are Bedford House, Beckhampton House, East Everleigh, Godolphin, Jackdaws Castle, Park House, Seven Barrows, Somerville Lodge, The Old Malthouse and West Ilsley. Some of the lots on offer are: Kingdom...

With Britain's flat season championships coming to a close on Saturday, Godolphin earned its 14th champion owner title with more than £5-million in win and place prizemoney accumulated since May 1. Adayar (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Hurricane Lane (GB) (Frankel {GB}) have been Godolphin's leading lights this season, while Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) sealed divisional honours last weekend with a win in the G1 Dewhurst S. Godolphin closed the season on a high with a win by Creative Force (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G1 British Champions Sprint...

Godolphin's G3 Jersey S. hero Creative Force (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) had failed to strike in three outings since registering that June 19 Royal Ascot triumph and went postward for Saturday's G1 British Champions Sprint back at the Berskhire venue coming off a three-length sixth in last month's G1 Sprint Cup at Haydock. Notable as Charlie Appleby's first Champions Day contender, he kept jockey William Buick's jockeys' championship hopes alive with a decisive victory in the six-furlong dash. The €400,000 Goffs Orby yearling had sealed a run of four straight wins...