Lazy Griff

Derby runner-up Lazy Griff has been ruled out of next week's G1 Betfred St Leger at Doncaster after suffering a setback. Last seen finishing third in the G1 Irish Derby at the Curragh, the son of Protectionist was a 4/1 shot with the sponsors to provide owners Middleham Park Racing with a first British Classic success on Town Moor, but those dreams have now been dashed. "He's met with a setback," confirmed Middleham Park's Mike Prince. "He was due to do his last piece of work before the Leger on...

It is not beyond the realms of possibility that eight days after this year's BBAG Yearling Sale, the team behind the German sales company could be celebrating a British Classic winner.  Already runner-up in the Derby and third in the Irish Derby, Lazy Griff is now being aimed at the St Leger on September 13. The colt, bred by the Rodde family of Gestut Westerberg, graduated from the BBAG sale of 2023, when bought for €75,000 by Jeremy Brummitt, who was also responsible for finding G1 Sun Chariot Stakes winner...

Owners Middleham Park Racing will have to play the waiting game before firming up riding arrangements for St Leger contender Lazy Griff, with Christophe Soumillon now heading to Leopardstown to deputise for the injured Ryan Moore aboard some of Ballydoyle's leading lights. Soumillon, who was in the saddle when the son of Protectionist filled the runner-up spot in the Derby at Epsom, had been lined up for the ride, but connections have been forced into a rethink as a result of the Belgian-born jockey's recent change in circumstances. William Buick...

G2 Great Voltigeur runner-up Carmers (Wootton Bassett) is one of 15 horses remaining in the G1 St Leger at Doncaster next month at the latest entry stage. Trained by Paddy Twomey, he represents Fiona Carmichael. A winner at Ballinrobe at first asking in May, Carmers added the Listed Yeats Stakes to his haul at Navan later that month before claiming Royal Ascot glory in the G2 Queen's Vase in June. The Great Voltigeur was his first defeat. "We were very happy with him at York last week, finishing second in...

The Coolmore partners' G1 Goodwood Cup hero Scandinavia anchors 11 Ballydoyle nominees for the G1 Betfred St Leger at Doncaster in September. There are 26 horses entered overall in the oldest British Classic, which will be held on September 13. By Justify, the Aidan O'Brien trainee ran fifth to Paddy Twomey's Carmers in the G2 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot, but rebounded to claim the G3 Bahrain Trophy Stakes at Newmarket with Richard Hannon's Nightime Dancer (Ghaiyyath) second, prior to his Goodwood heroics.  Lambourn (Australia), a winner of the G1...

Following Tuesday's confirmation stage, Derby winner Lambourn (Australia) headlines 10 colts who have stood their ground for Sunday's Irish equivalent at the Curragh, which could bring together the first three from Epsom for the first time since Ruler Of The World, Libertarian and Galileo Rock renewed their rivalry in 2013. Lambourn is a red-hot favourite to succeed where Ruler Of The World failed by completing the double for Aidan O'Brien, who could saddle up to five runners in his quest for a remarkable 17th victory in the Dubai Duty Free...

Connections of Derby runner-up Lazy Griff will make a late decision regarding his participation in Sunday's Irish equivalent, with his attempt to go one place better hinging on how much rain falls at the Curragh in the coming days. Trained by Charlie Johnston, 50/1 shot Lazy Griff provided his Middleham Park Racing owners with a huge thrill when finishing second at Epsom, faring best of the rest behind Lambourn (Australia) for the second consecutive start after they also filled the first two places in the previous month's G3 Chester Vase....

A quartet of wildcards, including Love Affair (Study Of Man) (lot 520), have been added to the Arqana Summer Sale set for Deauville from June 30-July 3. The 4-year-old filly is in foal to Good Guess, and she is a half-sister to group winners Lazy Griff (Protectionist) who was second in the G1 Betfred Derby on Saturday, and Lambo (Protectionist). The other three wildcards are as follows: listed winner Maturlo (Starspangledbanner) (lot 397); the 89-rated winner Motion (Lope De Vega) (lot 398); and the stakes-placed Alanya (Le Havre) (lot 519),...

These days, it seems that as soon as the runners have crossed the line in the Derby the crabbing begins about everything that's wrong with the winner, the race and the meeting itself. It's a funny old game when the people who follow the sport, and in some cases whose livelihoods depend on it, seek constantly to undermine the very thing that brings such enjoyment. Obviously there are concerns regarding falling attendances at the Derby, and at race meetings generally in different parts of the world. An ominous weather forecast...

EPSOM DOWNS, UK -- Forty years ago, back in those heady days of the 1980s, Slip Anchor slipped the field under Steve Cauthen to land the Derby by seven lengths and all felt right with the world. A Derby winner by a Derby winner by a Derby winner.  And here we are again. Lambourn, by Australia, by Galileo (and let's not forget Australia's dam, the mighty Ouija Board): an all-the-way Derby winner by almost four lengths. "He'll stay a while," said a smiling Wayne Lordan, so deservedly now a Derby-winning...

For so long now we have been used to the Galileo factor at Epsom, and while none of his final small crop of 13 has made the line-up for the Derby or the Oaks, we still find his name all over the place on the pages of this year's runners, merely starting to shuffle back a bit in the generation game.  Galileo's sons Frankel, Australia and Circus Maximus each have at least one runner in the Derby, and Frankel and Australia also have Oaks runners. Eight of the 19 Derby...