Middle Earth

Fully 10,000 miles from their birthplace at Tweenhills Farm and Stud, Qatar Racing homebreds Buckaroo, Middle Earth and Valiant King now face the most important two-mile test of their lives on Tuesday, with a place in history assured should one of them reach its end as a Melbourne Cup winner. From the lush paddocks of Tweenhills to the manicured turf of Flemington, it's been quite the journey, both literally and figuratively. Between them the trio amassed 27 starts in Europe - Buckaroo and Valiant King with Joseph O'Brien, Middle Earth...

Respect. It really is that simple. If we want to be involved with horses in sport we must treat those animals who give us either our pleasure or livelihood - or both - with decency and dignity. There are rogue elements, of course, but it is how the majority of people involved in horseracing feel and act, be they breeders, owners, trainers, jockeys or fans. Perhaps the most touching embodiment of this was witnessed during a recent visit to Sapporo racecourse in Japan, where there is a shrine alongside the...

On this weekend six years ago Roaring Lion got the better of Saxon Warrior (Jpn) to win the G1 Coral-Eclipse Stakes by a neck. This was a truly golden era for John Gosden's stable, with Enable (GB), Stradivarius (Ire), Cracksman (GB) and Too Darn Hot (GB) among Roaring Lion's fellow residents at Clarehaven.  Saxon Warrior had been the only horse to beat Qatar Racing's Roaring Lion in an otherwise spotless juvenile campaign. After winning the G2 Royal Lodge Stakes, Roaring Lion was second to the Ballydoyle star - who would...