Royal Ascot

In an exhibition of pure sprinting prowess, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum's Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) brought all his power to bear on his rivals on Friday to register back-to-back successes in Goodwood's G2 King George Qatar S. Despite the contrasting ground conditions to the easy turf he encountered 12 months ago and the obvious questions posed by defeat in the June 19 G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot, the bay attracted heavy support as the 8-11 favourite and was in front before he had raced two...

At the last two sales at Arqana, October and December, things got a little simpler at the former Haras de la Reboursiere et de Montaigu, or at least for those English-speaking salesgoers looking to remember the name of the popular French consignor. In October, the farm and consignment reverted to its original name and will now be simply known as Haras de Montaigu. Other changes are afoot as well at the century-plus owned family operation. Montaigu, long known for breeding its own and raising and selling for a select group...

The 17th edition of the Claiming Crown, held Saturday at Gulfstream Park, generated total handle of $10,118,000--up 0.57% from 2014 despite rainy conditions which caused four races to be taken off the turf. Gulfstream was hosting the event for the fourth year. "We're extremely pleased with the success of Saturday's Claiming Crown," said P.J. Campo, General Manager of Gulfstream Park and Vice President of Racing for The Stronach Group. "We had big fields and tremendous participation from horsemen throughout North America. We're confident the numbers would have been even more...

The Coolmore partners' Acapulco (Scat Daddy), the eye-catching winner of last week's G2 Queen Mary S. at Royal Ascot for trainer Wesley Ward, could take the path less traveled by Ward's precocious juveniles and take in the G1 Nunthorpe S. against older rivals Aug. 21. Ward has yet to run any of his Royal Ascot winners in the Nunthorpe, but he admitted the weight allowance--Acapulco would receive as much as 25 pounds from her rivals--makes it tempting. "She's really something," said Ward. "She's always been a big filly; that's why...

The world's greatest week of racing, Royal Ascot, lived up to its billing last week. British-based operations Godolphin, Shadwell, and Juddmonte's Prince Khalid Abdullah each won two races. Moyglare, the Aga Khan, the Wertheimers, and Al Shaqab all got on the scoreboard. American-based trainer Wesley Ward hit the target twice, taking his Royal Ascot total to six winners from 31 runners since 2009, and the Australians had a near-miss when their top sprinter, Brazen Beau, from the first crop of Invincible Spirit's son, I Am Invincible, was just nailed by...

Wesley Ward was no shrinking violet in the build-up to Wednesday's G2 Queen Mary S. at Royal Ascot, and stressed just how well Acapulco (Scat Daddy) had prepared for her date with destiny. Having surprised her trainer by fading into third after attempting to make all tackling 4 1/2 furlongs on the Churchill Downs main track May 8, he reported the imposing chestnut had breezed in eye-popping style in subsequent Keeneland works. Ultimately, the $750,000 OBS March purchase (click here for breeze video) justified every breath of hyperbole, and improved...