Mandanaba

Classic Q (f, 4, Classic Empire--Lovely Em, by Scat Daddy) is proving classy "to a T." Last seen securing her first graded win on Kentucky Derby Day in the GII Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes, the Gary Barber, Blue Crevalle Racing, and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners colorbearer doubled up on Belmont Stakes Day, capturing the $500,000 GI Just a Game Stakes at Saratoga in front-running fashion. In addition to kicking off the graded action on a stellar day of racing for the much-heralded Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, the Just a...

Saturday's Belmont Stakes is the last of nine top-level events on the weekend and the final of the six highly anticipated Grade I contests scheduled for a bumper card at Saratoga, short, medium and long on both the turf and the main track. A top-quality field of seven is set to face the starter in the GI Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap, for which 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Nysos (Nyquist) is the 9-5 morning-line favorite and 126-pound topweight in the 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders'...

Sunday, Dusseldorf, Germany, post time: 15:40, 167TH HENKEL-PREIS DER DIANA - GERMAN OAKS-G1, €500,000, 3yo, f, 11fT Field: Garden Of Eden (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), Santagada (GB) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), Spirited Style (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Lady Charlotte (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}), Nicoreni (Ger) (Brametot {Ire}), Nyra (Ger) (Isfahan {Ger}), Innora (Ger) (Lord Of England {Ger}), Lips Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Winnyzja (Ire) (Sottsass {Fr}), Starlight Lips (Ger) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}), Raposa (Ger) (Frankel {GB}), Stugardia (Ger) (Tai Chi {Ger}), Meeresbrise (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), Honeybee (Ger)...

Deauville's August-long Festival starts on Sunday, with the G1 Prix Rothschild offering a tantalising clash between some of Ballydoyle and Francis-Henri Graffard's leading ladies. The latter gets ready to saddle White Birch Farm's acquisition Matilda (Soldier Hollow) for the first time following her emphatic 6 1/2-length victory against the colts in the German 2,000 Guineas at Cologne in May. She is joined by Princesse Zahra Aga Khan's Mandanaba (Ghaiyyath), who is back at the mile over which she finished third in the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches after looking to run...

Sunday, Chantilly, France, post time: 16:05, PRIX DE DIANE LONGINES-G1, €1,000,000, 3yo, f, 10 1/2fT Field: Cankoura (Fr) (Persian King {Ire}), Mandanaba (Fr) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}), D'Ores Et Deja (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), Shes Perfect (Ire) (Sioux Nation), Bedtime Story (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Merrily (No Nay Never), Rosa Salvaje (Ire) (Maximum Security), Better Together (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), American Gal (GB) (Kameko), Zia Agnese (Fr) (Romanised {Ire}), Sand Gazelle (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Gezora (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}). TDN Verdict: After two tussles with Zarigana that read like a soap opera, Shes Perfect looks to...

Taken down after the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, Shes Perfect (Sioux Nation) has a second bite of the cherry on Sunday in Chantilly's G1 Prix de Diane Longines. Whether or not the pride and joy of the Basher Watts Racing Club would have mastered Zarigana in the ParisLongchamp Classic had she stayed on a true line is a matter of conjecture, but we know after her two fights with that Aga Khan Studs blueblood this term that she belongs in the top echelon of her generation. While this 10...

Saturday, Sandown, post time: 14:40, THE BETMGM SCURRY STAKES-Listed, £45,000, 3yo, 5f 10yT Field: Coto De Caza (Ire) (Sioux Nation), Kullazain (GB) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}), Marty Hopkirk (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}), Star Of Mehmas (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Hold A Dream (Ire) (Bated Breath {GB}), Pearl Of Wisdom (GB) (Pinatubo {Ire}), Proudly Yours (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Town And Country (Ire) (Earthlight {Ire}). TDN Verdict: Last year's G3 Cornwallis Stakes winner Coto De Caza returns under a penalty for that effort, which might make it tough against some already battle-hardened sprinters in this...

The late Prince Aga Khan IV is the most successful owner in the history of the G1 Prix de Diane Longines with seven wins, and two fillies will carry the family's famous silks in Sunday's affair. Representing his daughter Princess Zahra Aga Khan is Mandanaba (Ghaiyyath), while Cankoura (Persian King) will race in the Aga Khan Studs' colours. Both fillies are trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, with Mandanaba coming off a third in the G1 Prix d'Essai des Pouliches. Mandanaba carries further distinction as the final foal out of Princess Zahra's...

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France, post time: 16:25, EMIRATES POULE D'ESSAI DES POULAINS-G1, €650,000, 3yo, c, 8fT Field: Ridari (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}), Sahlan (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Selenien (Fr) (Mehmas {Ire}), Misunderstood (Fr) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}), Dos Mukasan (Fr) (Golden Horde {Ire}), Aomori City (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Reach The Sky (Fr) (Calyx {GB}), Detain (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Jonquil (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Heybetli (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}), Zarraf (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), Henri Matisse (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Luther (GB) (Frankel {GB}), TIpinso (Fr) (Pinatubo {Ire}), Houquetot (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Hotazhell...

Connections of the runners in Sunday's Poule d'Essai des Pouliches will be able to breathe a sigh of relief when they look around the ParisLongchamp paddock and discover that the Godolphin blue is nowhere to be seen. Their domination of the early-season Classics, on both sides of the Atlantic, had to end somewhere, though it may not be in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains which precedes the fillies' equivalent. The red-hot combination that is Charlie Appleby and William Buick will be represented there by last year's G2 Vintage Stakes winner...

Saturday, Lingfield, post time: 15:35, WILLIAM HILL CHARTWELL FILLIES' STAKES-G3, £90,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 7fT Field: Great Generation (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), Fair Angellica (GB) (Harry Angel {Ire}), Jabaara (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), Spiritual (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Ziggy's Dream (Ire) (Inns Of Court {Ire}), Cathedral (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}). TDN Verdict: Cathedral takes on her elders, getting a significant weight-for-age advantage which could give her the edge despite her inexperience. Second in the G3 Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket in October, she had two of this season's...

It is nearly 20 years since Speciosa (Ire) became the first Classic winner to emanate from the breeze-up sales. The man who sold her, Willie Browne, had been plying his trade in that sector since 1978, and, as the breeze-ups close in on their 50th anniversary, it is good to see that the Mocklershill maestro is still very much at the top of his game.  In fact, last week's Craven Sale at Tattersalls was a good one for the founding fathers of the breeze-up game. There was Browne turning €70,000...