Royal Ascot

The first major yearling sale of the autumn in Britain or Ireland, the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale provided entertainment from the beginning to the end, but most importantly, boasted impressive figures. Brian Sheerin was in attendance and discusses the major talking points from the sale. Figures on the up The team at Goffs UK could hardly have wished for a better start to the Premier Yearling Sale. The day one figures were off the charts. Of the 218 lots offered on Tuesday, 199 were sold, representing a clearance rate...

George Boughey is rarely seen without his right-hand man, Sam Haggas, and the pair sat down with Brian Sheerin at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale at Doncaster this week.    From making the Classic breakthrough with Cachet in the 1,000 Guineas, to recruiting Missed The Cut and Inver Park for relatively small money to win at Royal Ascot, Boughey and Haggas provide a fascinating insight to what goes on behind the scenes at one of the most impressive outfits in Britain and Ireland.  Brian Sheerin: I saw this week...

Gainesway Stable's Spendarella (Karakontie {Jpn}), a huge second in the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot June 17, put on a show in Saturday evening's GI Del Mar Oaks. Favored at 6-5 after suffering her first career defeat overseas, the New York-bred stalked the early leaders in third, hit the gas while three wide on the far turn, and kicked clear impressively in the stretch to win for fun by 4 1/2 lengths over Bellabel (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}). Spendarella began her career with three straight victories, including Gulfstream's GIII Herecomesthebride...

Thesis (GB) (Kingman {GB}), the winner of the Britannia S. at Royal Ascot last month, has been sold and will race on in Hong Kong. The Roger and Harry Charlton-trained runner was previously owned by his breeder, Juddmonte. Third to subsequent G2 Queen's Vase second Zechariah (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) when unveiled at Sandown last July, the colt ran second three times at Newbury, Lingfield, and Doncaster from April to June of this year prior to his Royal Ascot heroics. Roger Charlton said, "Thesis has been sold to race in Hong...

The Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup has attracted a star-studded line-up with Frankie Dettori, Kerrin McEvoy and Hollie Doyle committed at this year's team event which takes place on Aug. 6 at Ascot. There will be 10 nations represented across the four teams for the 21st renewal of the Shergar Cup with Dettori, the most successful jockey in Royal Ascot history of those who still hold a licence, captaining the European team. Dettori, who will be making his 11th appearance at the Shergar Cup, said, "It's been a few years...

When Jack Goldthorpe and Ciaran Dunne came up with the Dew Sweepers partnership, the plan was always to buy yearlings, try and get them to Royal Ascot, and then sell them all in the Fasig-Tipton July Horses of All Ages Sale. On Monday, the final step of their plan will go into action when seven juveniles go through the ring in a complete dispersal through the Grovendale Sales consignment. "Ciaran went to Royal Ascot last year and said, 'Goldie, this was some sort of fun. We've got to do it.'...

NEWMARKET, UK--It's not often that a camera crew follows a filly on her way into the ring but the confidence behind Crystal Estrella (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) was well placed at Tattersalls with Sir Michael Stoute's charge selling to Team Valor for 275,000gns on the final day of a record-breaking July Sale. An impressive winner of a 10-furlong novice at Goodwood in May, Crystal Estrella will remain in training with Stoute, resuming her career under the banner of Barry Irwin's operation, who recently stated their intention to concentrate on racing in...

Jessica Harrington has Classic glory in her sights with Royal Ascot scorer Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who is on course for a tilt at the G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh on July 16.  A gritty winner of the G2 Ribblesdale S. at Ascot last month, Magical Lagoon will bid to make the step up to Group 1 company at the Curragh, with Harrington revealing that it's all systems go for the Irish Classic.  "That is the plan," the trainer said on Monday. "She's a very laid back...

Christophe Clement has revealed that his first runners at Royal Ascot did not perform as he had hoped but shared how G1 Coronation S. disappointment Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock) could bid to bounce back to form at Saratoga later this month. Pizza Bianca, whose owner-breeder is celebrity chef Bobby Flay, has returned to America after her eighth-place finish in the Coronation.  Clement admitted that he was "slightly disappointed" with that effort but is confident that there is more to come from his Breeders' Cup winner back on home soil. "Of...

Amo Racing has lodged an appeal against the result of the G2 Norfolk S. during the 2022 Royal Ascot meeting. Their horses Walbank (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and Crispy Cat (GB) (Ardad {Ire}) were second and third in that race to The Ridler (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}). The winner veered abruptly across the course late in the five furlong contest, which impeded Crispy Cat and Brave Nation (Ire) (Sioux Nation), who finished fourth. Jockey Paul Hanagan received a 10-day ban for careless riding aboard the winner. The winning margin was 1...

Just over a week after selling the syndicate's flag-bearer Cadillac (Ire) (Lope De Vega) for a cool £500,000 at the Goffs London Sale on the eve of Royal Ascot, Alpha Racing are concentrated on sending out the stars of the future at the Curragh on Derby weekend, headed by G2 Airlie Stud S. contender It's Showtime Baby (GB) (Showcasing {GB}). A winner of a Dundalk maiden on debut back in April, the Jessica Harrington-trained It's Showtime Baby achieved black type when running third in a Group 3 at Naas last...

Last week at Royal Ascot, The Ridler (Brazen Beau) sprang a surprise in the G2 Norfolk S. when out-performing his odds of 50-1. That wasn't the only odd spell The Ridler cast during the race. Into the final furlong, The Ridler drifted markedly left across the field, hampering the chances of several other runners. Controversially for some, The Ridler kept the race after a steward's inquiry. During a presentation at Wednesday's Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit, Will Duff Gordon, CEO of Total Performance Data,...