No Nay Never

Joseph O'Brien trainee Caroline Street (No Nay Never--Harvestfortheworld {Ire}, by So You Think {NZ}) was highly tried after notching a July 14 debut score at Leopardstown, with the highlight of three subsequent pattern-race starts being a second to Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in September's G2 Golden Fleece S. back at the Foxrock venue. Lining up for Saturday's G3 Al Shira'aa Racing Irish EBF Blue Wind S. coming back off a sixth in the Curragh's Sept. 22 G3 Weld Park S., she found plenty in the straight to lead...

Craig Bernick and Haras d'Etreham's hitherto untested 2-year-old filly Les Pavots (Ire) (No Nay Never--Sparrow {Ire}, by Oasis Dream {GB}) was hammered down to 5-2 favouritism at the tills for Thursday's €30,000 Prix des Closeaux at Chantilly and returned home with a 'TDN Rising Star' badge after making all for an impressive success in the straight six-furlong newcomers' test. Breaking smartly to seize an immediate lead, she was in command throughout and kept on powerfully under pressure inside the final quarter-mile to easily outclass Freville (Fr) (Gleneagles {Ire}) by 3...

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. Thursday's Observations features a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Sir Dragonet (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). 16.08 Chantilly, Debutantes, €30,000, 2yo, 6fT LES PAVOTS (IRE) (No Nay Never) starts her career for Craig Bernick, Haras d'Etreham and Francis-Henri Graffard and is a half-sister to the G1 Cox Plate and G1...

Monday's email bulletin from the The New York Times told us that Britain is largely apathetic about Saturday's coronation. I guess they'd know, being on the other side of the Atlantic and all, but the bunting had already been strung through various Cambridgeshire and Suffolk villages by Sunday. In the leafy shires at least, the monarchists still hold sway. On Friday at Newmarket, the King Charles II Stakes will be run in honour of the 'Merry Monarch' whose patronage made the Suffolk town famous around the world as an important...

Four withdrawals marred The Curragh's Listed GAIN First Flier S., with the winners and likely favourites Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and Noche Magica (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) among them, resulting in the bizarre circumstance of just five runners with two outings between them. In the event, it was the three newcomers who filled the frame with Ballydoyle's His Majesty (Ire) (No Nay Never--Czabo {GB}, by Sixties Icon {GB}) coming out on top to provide the stable with back-to-back renewals. Looking set to play a bit-part at best...

A colt by No Nay Never (hip 332) turned in the fastest quarter-mile work of the second session of the under-tack show for the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training Monday in Central Florida, covering the distance in :20 4/5. The juvenile was the first of three from an initial pinhooking group owned by Houston Astros third-baseman Alex Bregman to hit the OBS track ahead of next week's auction. Bregman Family Racing made its debut on the racetrack a winning one just last May when the...

Coolmore and Westerberg's hitherto unraced 2-year-old colt Democracy (Ire) (No Nay Never--Ruby Tuesday {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) gave the perfect audition for Royal Ascot and outwitted his four rivals to earn a 'TDN Rising Star' rosette in Sunday's Irish Racehorse Experience At INS Irish EBF Maiden at the Curragh. The even-money favourite broke on the lead before settling in a close-up third after the initial strides of this six-furlong contest. Inching forward on the bridle to launch his challenge going well at the quarter-mile marker, he was shaken up to...

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. Saturday's Insights features a half sibling to Group 1-winning sire Sioux Nation (Scat Daddy). 3.30 Cork, Listed, €42,500, 3yo/up, 6fT TENEBRISM (Caravaggio) makes her seasonal bow in this Cork S. as she embarks on a pure sprinting campaign having tried her hand over a mile for most of last...

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 Bobby Flay homebred Contemporary Art (Dubawi {Ire}) in a 1 1/16-mile turf allowance. Making her first start for Christophe Clement, the 4-year-old came from out of the clouds to win going away in an allowance optional claimer at Gulfstream Park on Sunday (video). Previously a Belmont maiden special weight winner second out last June, the daughter of GIII Autumn Miss S. heroine Cover Song...

Shadwell and Derrinstown Stud report that both Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), the highest-rated turf racehorse in the world for a decade, and Minzaal (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), the highest-rated sprinter in Europe in 2022, have over 30 mares scanning in-foal as the stallions commence covering their first books. Baaeed's in-foal mares include G1 Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares S. winner Eshaada (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}); Seeking Solace (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), dam of 2019 champion 3-year-old sprinter in Europe and joint champion 3-year-old colt in England & Ireland...

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES -- A colt from the third crop of boom American stallion Gun Runner (lot 18) was hammered down to Stephen Hillen, agent for prominent owner Dr Jim Hay, for €543,210 to top Tuesday's second renewal of the Goffs Dubai Breeze-Up Sale, held in the parade ring at Meydan Racecourse. On behalf of the Scotsman, Hillen also acquired the second-dearest offering of the evening, a Justify half-brother to GISW Fog of War (War Front) (lot 2), for the equivalent of €518,519. Following the withdrawal of 10 horses,...

Little Big Bear (Ire) has been named Europe's champion juvenile for 2022 and becomes the 12th European champion 2-year-old to have been trained by Aidan O'Brien. The son of No Nay Never, who was bred by Camas Park Stud and Summerhill, achieved his top rating of 124 for his seven-length rout in the G1 Keeenland Phoenix S. at the Curragh. The victory was the culmination of four straight wins in five starts, including the Listed Windsor Castle S. at Royal Ascot and the G3 Anglesey S. "We always thought from...