Illinois (Ire)
Franking the form of the Listed Lingfield Derby Trial, Ballydoyle's Illinois (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}--Danedrop {Ire}, by Danehill) relished the extra trip of Wednesday's G2 Queen's Vase to justify Ryan Moore's faith and reward him by bringing up his 80th Royal Ascot. Always content on the front end, Ballydoyle's 7-4 favourite veered left in the straight when in command but found the line 1 1/4 lengths ahead of stablemate Highbury (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}), with compatriot Birdman (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}) 3/4 of a length away in third. Aidan O'Brien, who was...
Wednesday's Royal Ascot cards were finalised on Monday, with the feature G1 Prince of Wales's S. made up of 10 runners but not, as expected, White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}). The G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup winner's absence is one less obstacle for Ballydoyle's star colt of 2023, Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), with Cheveley Park Stud's Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Yeguada Centurion's Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) looking the chief threats to the Ballydoyle runner. Blue Rose Cen is joined by compatriots Horizon Dore (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}),...
Relishing the step up to an extended 11 furlongs on Saturday, Ambiente Friendly (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}--Roxity {Ire}, by Fastnet Rock {Aus}) gave the Gredleys something to dream about over the next three weeks with a power-packed display in Lingfield's Listed Derby Trial. Keen initially for Callum Shepherd before enjoying cover behind the early leaders, the 8-1 shot moved to the front with two furlongs to race and left his rivals for dead from there. At the line, the James Fanshawe-trained 80,000gns Craven Breeze-Up purchase who had been fourth in the...
With Chester's Derby and Oaks pointers failing to unearth a dazzling candidate this week, it is the turn of Lingfield on Saturday to potentially provide a clearer picture of how the Epsom Classics will shape up. The Listed Derby Trial, which has produced one Blue Riband hero in recent times in Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), sees Ballydoyle bring across their G3 Ballysax S. second and third The Euphrates (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Illinois (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Ryan Moore keeping the faith in the latter. All the evidence...
Sunday sees a swing in the momentum towards the more meaningful Flat action of 2024, with Leopardstown--which has to survive an early-morning inspection--and ParisLongchamp staging a host of Classic trials. Ballydoyle's wheels are really set in motion at the former venue, with several of their promising 3-year-olds ready to be unleashed in the card's trio of preps including the 10-furlong G3 P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax S. It is in that early Derby pointer that Rosegreen's G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud third Illinois (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and impressive course maiden-winning TDN Rising...
Saint-Cloud stage the key fayre on Sunday, with the G1 Criterium International and G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud offering the juvenile crop a late opportunity to flaunt Classic pretensions. In the 10-furlong Criterium de Saint-Cloud, Ballydoyle look for their first winner since 2010 with the impressive Curragh maiden winner Illinois (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) while the Joseph O'Brien-trained compatriot Islandsinthestream (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) will provide clues as to the merit of his G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. conqueror Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Godolphin's unbeaten Andre Fabre-trained TDN Rising Star Casapueblo...
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. Saturday's Observations features a half to G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Danedream (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}) on debut at the Curragh. 13.10 Curragh, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, 9fT ILLINOIS (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) is the latest progeny out of Danedrop (Ire) (Danehill), whose ground-breaking daughter Danedream (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}) still...