Kevin Ryan

The death of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum has been described as "a hammer blow of epic proportions" as those who worked closely with the owner-breeder come to terms with his unexpected passing. Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, a cousin of the Ruler of Dubai and Godolphin founder Sheikh Mohammned bin Rashid Al Maktoum, died in Dubai on Monday. He is believed to have been in his mid-70s. Liam O'Rourke, director of studs, stallions and breeding for the Godolphin and Darley operation, has for many years overseen the broodmare band of Sheikh...

Rosallion and Inisherin, both Group 1-winning grandsons of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's blue hen Reem Three (Mark Of Esteem), will join the Darley roster at Dalham Hall Stud for the 2026 breeding season. Trained by Richard Hannon, Rosallion retires as the winner of five of his 13 starts and over £1.6 million in career earnings. Beaten just once in four starts as a two-year-old, when his victories included the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at ParisLongchamp, he returned the following year with a runner-up finish in the G1 2,000 Guineas...

Last term's G1 Commonwealth Cup hero Inisherin (Shamardal) had failed to fire in two starts since that Royal Ascot career high and, with the benefit of a recent wind operation, bounced back in game fashion to annex Wednesday's G2 1895 Duke Of York Clipper Stakes at York. Well away from stall one to race in a handy third through the halfway mark in this six-furlong dash, the 11-8 favourite came under pressure to make his challenge along the far-side rail approaching the final furlong and kept on resolutely under a...

"Has it really been that long?" queries Kevin Ryan after being informed of an anniversary looming on the horizon, that of it being two decades since Amadeus Wolf (GB) won the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket. "I didn't think it was that long ago," he adds, rubbing his face in apparent disbelief, elbows perched on the kitchen counter of his Hambleton home. "Twenty years--that has soon gone by." That Middle Park in September 2005 was a significant milestone in Ryan's career, as it was the day he joined the ranks...

There's a growing sense of anticipation at Bearstone Stud with less than 11 weeks to go until the start of the British Flat season on turf, with the first foal out of the farm's most notable graduate, Glass Slippers (GB), having recently turned two. The Dubawi (Ire) colt in question will be the third generation of this family to have been bred and raced by Terry and Margaret Holdcroft, who founded the business back in 1979. They bought the colt's great grandam, the winning Fairy King mare Ocean Grove (Ire),...

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. Tuesday's Observations features a half-brother to a multiple Group 1 winner. 12.15 Redcar, Nov, £7,000, 2yo, 7fT Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's hitherto unraced LORD CAPULET (IRE) (Make Believe {GB}) is a homebred half-brother to last term's G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and this term's G1 Irish 2000 Guineas and...

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's G1 Commonwealth Cup winner Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal) heads a field of 16 sprinters confirmed for Saturday's G1 Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock. Rested since his fifth as favourite for the G1 July Cup, the Kevin Ryan-trained homebred returns to the scene of his success in the G2 Sandy Lane Stakes in May with regular rider Tom Eaves retaining the ride. "Inisherin is in great form," his trainer said this week. "We've had an uninterrupted preparation and all his work has gone to plan when we...

Emerging from the 2,000 Guineas to take the crown as Sprint King, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal) put genuine star quality into a division that badly needed it when dominating Friday's G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. Doubts as to whether the long-striding homebred could adapt to this speed test on fast summer ground were instantly dispelled as he moved so comfortably near the front under Tom Eaves. Allowed to coast to the lead two out, the 9-4 favourite, who could be the best that Kevin Ryan...

Kevin Ryan trainee Ain't Nobody (Ire) (Sands Of Mali {Fr}--Burmese Waltz {GB}, by Showcasing {GB}) became his first-crop sire's fourth individual winner when notching a decisive debut victory over Carlisle's stiff five furlongs at the end of last month and registered a first black-type success for the Ballyhane Stud resident in Wednesday's Listed Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot. Drawn alongside Stateside challenger Gabaldon (Gone Astray) and caught in the wash as that rival blazed a trail on the stands' side, the 5-1 third choice emerged as the most serious...

Wednesday saw the draw made for Friday's two group 1 contests at Royal Ascot, with the 10 fillies set to contest the Coronation S. headed by Ballydoyle's G1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Opera Singer (Justify) and Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's 1,000 Guineas heroine Elmalka (GB) (Kingman {GB}). Opera Singer, who was returning from a setback when third in the Irish 1,000 Guineas, has drawn an outside stall in nine for the mile feature while the Roger Varian-trained Newmarket Classic heroine is in seven. James Doyle takes over from Silvestre De...

Group 2 winner Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal) will be supplemented at a cost of £46,000 to the G1 Commonwealth Cup on Saturday, trainer Kevin Ryan has confirmed. The G2 Sandy Lane S. hero, who races for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, has won half of his four starts. He was a solid sixth in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas in May, prior to his Sandy Lane victory. "He is in good form," said Ryan. "He runs in the Commonwealth Cup." The colt will square off with dual Group 1 winner and...

Kevin Ryan has confirmed that Inisherin (GB) (Shamardal) will be supplemented for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot following his dominant victory in the Sandy Lane S. at Haydock. Inisherin became the first horse to take the scalp of Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), who could only manage third, on Saturday. Ryan reports the colt to have come out of the 6f contest in rude health and says it is all systems go for Ascot.  "I was delighted with him on Saturday, he's a horse with a lot of speed,"...