Newmarket

4th-Newmarket, £10,000, Novice, 8-22, 2yo, c/g, 7fT, 1:26.43, g/f. MONOCEROS (GB) (c, 2, Dubawi {Ire}--Shirocco Star {GB} {G1SP-Eng, MG1SP-Ire, GSP-Fr, $485,970}, by Shirocco {Ger}), well-supported into 6-5 favouritism, raced under restraint early with Billy Loughnane keen to conserve energy. Staying on strongly to collar the long-time leader I Can Dance (Bated Breath) in the final 150 yards, the 750,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 purchase asserted to record a half-length success. The winner is the seventh and last foal out of the Oaks and Irish Oaks runner-up Shirocco Star, who produced...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday's Observations features the son of a dual Classic-placed mare. 2.35 Newmarket, Novice, 2yo, c/g, 7fT MONOCEROS (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is the seventh foal out of the Oaks and Irish Oaks runner-up Shirocco Star, who produced this colt's classy G2 Challenge Stakes-winning full-brother Al Suhail, the Dante winner Telecaster...

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. Saturday's Observations features a half-brother to multiple Group 1 winner Quadrilateral (Frankel). 16.10 Newbury, £40,000, Nov, 2yo, 7fT Juddmonte homebred SLIGHT OF FOOT (GB) (Kingman {GB}), a Harry Charlton-trained half-brother to G1 Fillies' Mile heroine Quadrilateral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), faces nine in this first go. They include Jeff Smith's...

2nd-Newmarket, £10,000, Mdn, 8-8, 2yo, f, 8fT, 1:41.68, g/f. EVOLUTIONIST (IRE) (f, 2, Night Of Thunder {Ire}--Model Guest {GB} {GSP-Eng}, by Showcasing {GB}), a €600,000 Goffs Orby Book 1 purchase who was too green on debut when fourth at Haydock last month, was an entirely different proposition this time breaking smartly to lead. Staying on powerfully up the rising ground to the line, the 13-8 favourite held Lyrics Of Life (Pinatubo) by a length, with that well-regarded Sangster & Babington-Meehan project in turn 4 1/4 lengths in front of Juddmonte's...

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. Saturday's Observations features the well-bred Hawk Mountain. 1.45 Curragh, Mdn, 2yo, 7fT HAWK MOUNTAIN (IRE) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) debuts for Ballydoyle in a maiden which has been won in recent times by Delacroix, Diego Velazquez, Al Riffa and Thunder Moon and is a key player as a son of...

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. Friday's Observations features a full-sister to a Group 1 winner. 5.55 Newmarket, Mdn, 2yo, f, 8fT RIBBON OF SEA (IRE) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is a significant Godolphin runner for Charlie Appleby's stable on an intriguing "Newmarket Nights" card full of tantalising prospects, being a full-sister to the G1...

When a Sir Mark Prescott newcomer comes in for money, you know it's a classy animal and Moon Target (Cracksman) delivered the gamble in style on debut at Newmarket on Saturday. Prominent throughout under Oisin Murphy, Cheveley Park's 5-2 favourite who hails from the family of Frankel's Inspiral turned the two-year-old fillies' seven-furlong maiden into a procession when scoring by 5 1/2 lengths. Oh, hello .... (Cracksman) dazzles on debut in the @Juddmonte @BritishEBF fillies' maiden @NewmarketRace ⚪️@HeathHouseNkt | @CPStudOfficial pic.twitter.com/cvtKxIVPut — Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 19, 2025 The dam...

After all the will-they or won't-theys leading up to Saturday's G1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai July Cup, it came down to the hardened sprinters and a hardened jockey with No Half Measures (Cable Bay) springing a 66-1 upset under Neil Callan. Campaigned mainly over five furlongs so far, last year's G3 World Trophy winner relished the step up to six to overwhelm Big Mojo (Mohaather) in the last half a furlong and provide Richard Hughes with a first Group One winner as a trainer. "I've got the monkey off my back, that's...

Picked by William Buick from the two Godolphin hopes for Saturday's G2 Superlative Stakes, Saba Desert (Dubawi) justified that call to continue connections' run of success at Newmarket's July Festival. Swooping late to deny the 4-6 favourite Italy (Wootton Bassett), the grandson of the Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Gossamer defied a market drift to 6-1 to prevail by 1 1/4 lengths and deliver a fourth renewal to his sire who won this himself in 2004. "We went to Sandown with a lot of confidence and William said he had felt...

Newmarket's July Festival winds up on Saturday, with the feature G1 Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup the stage for the potential reinvention of Godolphin's Notable Speech (Dubawi). Luckily for him and unfortunately for the rest of us, he has no international heavyweights to deal with in a renewal that looks a bit light on its usual quality. With the main protagonists of the Commonwealth Cup, Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes and King's Stand all absent, this looks one of the most winnable editions for some time and it will...

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. Saturday's Observations features a daughter of Group 2 winner Indie Angel. 1.40 Newmarket, Mdn, £25,000, 2yo, f, 7fT DARKWING (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is one of the key players in this maiden won in recent times by Ballydoyle, Poetic Charm and Desert Flower, being the first foal out of Cheveley...

The European Federation of Thoroughbred Breeders' Associations held its AGM this week in Newmarket where a number of key challenges and potential threats facing the industry were discussed. Major topics of discussion included the European Union's proposed animal transport regulations, mandatory vaccinations and much more.  Commenting on the AGM, EFTBA Chairman Joe Hernon said, "The federation will continue to combat against the serious threats facing Europe's thoroughbred breeding industry, our fellow breeders and their livelihoods, while ensuring equine wellness is at the centre of all our actions and decisions.   "Despite...