Massaat (Ire)

There is always a story at Royal Ascot and this year's meeting opener, the G1 Queen Anne Stakes, delivered an immediate slice of drama as Harry Eustace trainee Docklands (Massaat) provided the Newmarket conditioner with a thrilling first Group 1 triumph, by a pixel, despite Australian rider Mark Zahra dropping his whip in the closing stages of the straight one-mile test. The Queen Anne is a "Win and You're In" for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile at Del Mar this coming November. Last year's runner-up, who annexed the Britannia Handicap...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Sugaree at Keeneland over 1 1/2 miles. Camelot Mare Thrives Over Classic Distance At Keeneland Blue Devil Racing Stable (Holliday)'s Sugaree (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) earned her first American win in her third start there, winning by a half-length at Keeneland on April 23 (video). Trained by Arnaud Delacour, the grey won once in six starts in Ireland. Bred by Pier House Stud, Sugaree...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This column is highlighted by the victory of Granny Budgie in California.   Massaat Filly Sparkles At Santa Anita Mickley Stud-bred Granny Budgie (GB) (Massaat {Ire}) won a Santa Anita contest for trainer Phil D'Amato earlier this month. The 3-year-old filly races in the colours of David Bernsen, Omar Aldabbagh and Jeffrey Lambert (video). Originally an £18,000 Goffs UK Premier & Silver yearling on the bid of JS Bloodstock, the bay won...

Mickley Stud's first-season sire Massaat (Ire) (by Teofilo {Ire}) had his first winner on Thursday as the Australian Bloodstock acquisition Mascapone (GB) prevailed at Chelmsford. Not seen since finishing fourth in Doncaster's Brocklesby Mar. 26, the 7-4 favourite was anchored in rear early by Jamie Spencer in the opening six-furlong maiden. Delivered to the front with 150 yards remaining, the David Simcock-trained bay asserted to score by 1 1/4 lengths from Lady Lavina (GB) (The Last Lion {Ire}). Australian Bloodstock's Jamie Lovett, who purchased Mascarpone privately, told TDN Europe, "He...

In the third installation of our Value Sires series, we will dig into the sire crop with its first foals born in 2020, and therefore with its first yearlings this year. After some two years in waiting since most of these retired to stud, the judges got the chance at the recently concluded foal sales to lay eyes on the first progeny of most of them, and though it is still incredibly early days, their opinions, corroborated through their actions in the ring, will have an impact on the perception...