Gstaad

The first two from last month's G1 National Stakes at the Curragh, Zavateri (Without Parole) and Gstaad (Starspangledbanner), feature among 14 confirmations for Saturday's G1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes, along with Distant Storm, one of three potential runners for Charlie Appleby as he seeks a fourth win in the race since 2019. Last seen winning the G3 Tattersalls Stakes over Saturday's course and distance, Distant Storm heads the betting for the Dewhurst at a general 2/1, although his trainer will be keeping an eye on the weather in the coming days,...

Ryusei Sakai is savouring a second tilt at the G1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday, with last year's third Shin Emperor (Siyouni) featuring among 12 horses standing their ground after Tuesday's confirmation stage. Japanese raider Shin Emperor, trained by Yoshito Yahagi, delighted connections in an early workout on Tuesday, with Sakai saying afterwards, "He worked this morning on the Curragh Racecourse with his partner horse and he felt very well, very comfortable. I was very happy with the gallop. He is a more mature and stronger horse...

Sunday, Deauville, France, post time: 15:50, SUMBE PRIX MORNY-G1, €350,000, 2yo, c/f, 6fT Field: Outfielder (Speightstown), Coppull (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), Gstaad (GB) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), Wise Approach (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Imperial Me Cen (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Venetian Sun (Ire) (Starman {GB}). TDN Verdict: TDN Rising Star Outfielder makes his eagerly awaited return, coming back off a 6 1/4-length debut rout at Churchill Downs in May, in a mouthwatering renewal of a race Wesley Ward has already plundered with No Nay Never, Lady Aurelia and Campanelle. All five rivals have black-type wins...

Saturday, Curragh, post time: 16:00, KEENELAND PHOENIX STAKES-G1, €210,000, 2yo, c/f, 6fT Field: Do Bronxs (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Power Blue (Ire) (Space Blues {Ire}), Puerto Rico (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Green Sense (Ire) (Starman {GB}), True Love (Ire) (No Nay Never). TDN Verdict: With Gstaad ruled out by Aidan O'Brien on Saturday morning, True Love holds sway here. Having dominated the Queen Mary, she has followed up in style over course and distance in the Railway and her three-pound allowance with the colts makes her a tough proposition. The...

Sprinters young and old hold sway this weekend, with the juveniles centre stage on Saturday in the G1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes before the hardened category specialists take over in the G1 ARC Prix Maurice de Gheest 24 hours later. In the former contest, Aidan O'Brien looks set to add an 18th renewal with either the Coventry winner Gstaad (Starspangledbanner) or the Queen Mary winner True Love (No Nay Never) having missed out in six of the last seven. Gstaad and True Love's powerhouse performances at Royal Ascot set them apart...

Saturday's G2 Railway Stakes winner True Love has shot to the top of Timeform's two-year-old fillies' rankings following her five-length success, in which she beat three rival colts. The daughter of No Nay Never, who broke her maiden when winning the G2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot, has been awarded a mark of 110p, which puts her just 1lb behind her stable-mate, G2 Coventry Stakes winner Gstaad (Starspangledbanner). Another Ballydoyle runner, G2 Norfolk Stakes winner Charles Darwin (No Nay Never), also has a rating of 110p. "True Love was...

G1 Coronation Cup winner Jan Brueghel (Galileo) is more likely for the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes than dual Derby hero Lambourn (Australia), trainer Aidan O'Brien revealed on Saturday. The Coolmore partners-owned 2024 G1 St Leger hero defeated the Aga Khan Studs' Calandagan (Gleneagles) at Epsom in June and will likely face that rival again. Continuous (Heart's Cry), who won the St Leger in 2023, is also set to participate in the Ascot showpiece. The G1 St Leger route is now under consideration for Lambourn. O'Brien said,...

ASCOT, UK -- There may be cause for concern when it comes to the tumbling number of foals bred in Britain but, with Ascot festooned with the Union Jack, the first three races represented a terrific result for the United Kingdom, falling to horses bred in England, Wales and Scotland.  In front of the King and Queen, first Docklands then Gstaad and American Affair testified to the strength of Thoroughbreds produced in the country, with British-based Irishmen Richard Kent and John McGrandles being the breeders behind the first two Group...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features a half-brother to multiple Group 1 winner Vandeek. 2.35 Naas, Mdn, €18,000, 2yo, 5f 205yT Besides Ballydoyle buzz horse Albert Einstein (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Aidan O'Brien will also saddle GSTAAD (GB) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), a 450,000gns Tattersalls December purchase who is a half-brother to the G1...