Royal Ascot

Cindy Hutter, who continues her inspiring recovery from a severe brain injury sustained in a training accident in July 2022, has been named the 2023 winner of the Bill Mooney Award for displaying courage in the face of tremendous adversity by the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters. Hutter started riding at a young age before going to work for trainer Bruce Miller after she turned 16. Hutter later worked for D. Wayne Lukas, galloping such stars as Winning Colors, Thunder Gulch, Open Mind and Flanders, and later for Todd Pletcher,...

Undefeated on American soil, No Nay Mets showed promise on debut in taking Gulfstream's Royal Palm Juvenile S. May 13 to earn a spot in the gate for Royal Ascot's G2 Norfolk S. After selling for £800,000 at Goff's London Sale just before the Ascot meet, he was soundly beaten in the Norfolk. The Irish-bred then returned to the East Coast with a dominant win as the heavy favorite in Monmouth's Tyro S. last time out July 30. Despite running over his fourth track in as many starts, No Nay...

Widely considered one of the shrewdest judges of equine talent on an international scale, Robson Aguiar has described Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB) as the best horse he has ever ridden and predicted the colt would be very hard to beat in Saturday's G1 Phoenix S. at the Curragh. It was Aguiar who first spotted the potential in the Adrian Murray-trained Bucanero Fuerte as a yearling last year and went to €165,000 to secure the colt from Etreham at the August Sale at Arqana.  Victory in the first juvenile...

An upset winner at 10-1 in his Gulfstream debut tackling the Royal Palm Juvenile S., No Nay Mets rebounded from a poor performance at Royal Ascot in the G2 Norfolk S. with a nice showing in Sunday's Tyro S. stateside on the Jersey Shore. The popular wagering choice at 4-5, the 2-year-old looked to repeat his Florida effort by again going straight out for the early advantage, quickly opening up a length on the field in this five-furlong sprint despite a minor bobble at the gate. Showing the way under...

In running out an impressive winner of the G2 San Clemente S. at Del Mar last weekend, Anisette (GB) (Awtaad {Ire}) capped a memorable few months for bloodstock agent Mark McStay, who helped source the filly privately on behalf of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners.  McStay had already been provided with one of his biggest kicks in racing this summer when Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio), who he purchased on behalf of a host of American owners, landed the G3 Albany S. at Royal Ascot.  Porta Fortuna could well be aimed at the...

Lope De Vega (Ire) (Shamardal) and New Bay (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) will be available to cover on Southern Hemisphere time this year, Ballylinch Stud's Eoin Fives told TTR AusNZ. They will stand for €60,000 (AU$98,957) and €40,000 (AU$65,971) respectively. In total, Lope De Vega has sired 18 Group 1 winners and 112 individual stakes winners across 12 different countries. From 2011 to 2014, he shuttled to the now-defunct Patinack Farm, and left an indelible stamp on the Australian industry. The result was four elite-level winners of nine Group 1s; Santa...

Charlie Hills confirms that G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S. shocker Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) will be supplemented to Saturday's G1 Pertemps Network July Cup. Whether Royal Ascot partner Jamie Spencer will be available will depend on whether the rider can successfully appeal a careless riding ban from his winning effort aboard Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) in the G1 Pretty Polly S. The massive 80-1 upset came on the heels of a rough trip in the listed British E.B.F. 40th Anniversary Cathedral S. where the Fitri Hay-owned...

Aidan O'Brien says that he is looking forward to seeing what Paddington (GB), the brilliant Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James's Palace S. winner, can do over an extra two furlongs in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on Saturday and says the colt has made rare progress this season.  Paddington provided O'Brien with a record 83rd Royal Ascot victory when slamming the 2,000 Guineas winner Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the St James's Palace. The master of Ballydoyle went on to secure his 85th winner at the royal meeting before passing...

Surprise Queen Anne S. winner Triple Time (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) could bid to prove that Group 1 success at the royal meeting was no fluke when lining out in the Prix Jacques le Marois next month. The Kevin Ryan-trained colt had just a neck to spare over Inspiral at Ascot and a rematch is likely for Deauville. Adam Ryan, son and assistant to the Hambleton trainer, said, "Triple Time has come out of the race absolutely fine and done very well. It was his first run of the year so...

Shock Royal Ascot hero Khaadem (Ire) is likely to be supplemented for the Pertemps Network July Cup S. at Newmarket later this month providing conditions remain dry in the lead up to the race. Charlie Hills' seven-year-old has always threatened to be a high-class speedster and finally landed a long-awaited Group One victory when running out an 80-1 winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at the royal meeting. The son of Dark Angel (Ire) is reported to have bounced out of his Ascot run well and connections now...

Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) has returned home to Gilltown Stud for a well-deserved break after her Royal Ascot heroics and, according to Pat Downes, the triple Group 1 winner could kick-start her autumn campaign in the G1 Matron S. at Leopardstown on Irish Champions Weekend.  Downes, the Aga Khan's manager of the Irish studs, has said that the most impressive aspect of Tahiyra's G1 Coronation S. success was the fact that Dermot Weld's charge was able to win despite the race not being run to suit. Downes said, "We were...

Dual Group 1-winning Australian sprinter Artorius (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) has been retired. He was trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman and, in a career spanning 17 starts for the father-and-son partnership, earned over £1.2 million in prize-money.  Artorius was last seen finishing fourth in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. The End Of An Era Following Artorius' brave fourth placing in Saturday's Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, the decision has been made to retire him to Newgate Farm. He retires the winner of 2...