Sandown Park Racecourse

Godolphin's G1 Jebel Hatta hero Opera Ballo (Ghaiyyath) was like greased lightning exiting the stalls in Friday's G2 Bet365 Mile and, having stolen a march on his five rivals, made all to defeat G1 Irish 2000 Guineas and G1 St James's Palace Stakes winner Field Of Gold (Kingman) by a mightily impressive three lengths in a stellar renewal of the Sandown feature. "William [Buick] and I were chatting away yesterday and there wasn't a pace angle declared, so we said let him do what his father did and jump and...

Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's Roger Varian trainee Saddadd (Pinatubo), who hit the board in September's Listed Foundation Stakes at Goodwood when last seen, found the necessary gears to claim a career high in Friday's G3 bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown. "He's an absolute darling of a horse and has the most delightful attitude," claimed trainer Roger Varian. "He won here like a really good horse last September and I think he was just over the top in a very strong Listed at Goodwood. I liked the way he put...

John and Thady Gosden trainee Oxagon (Frankel) shaped with a deal of promise when fifth in a hot winner-producing Newmarket maiden earlier this month and delivered a stunning performance in his second start to earn a TDN Rising Star rosette in Wednesday evening's Chasemore Farm EBF Novice Stakes at Sandown. He becomes the 44th Rising Star for his sire and second this season after Treanmor joined the roll of honour in May. The 10-3 third favourite broke swiftly and gained an immediate advantage, setting steady fractions, in this seven-furlong heat...

Ballydoyle's standard had been hoisted just once in Sandown's G3 bet365 Classic Trial during the Aidan O'Brien era and last term's G3 Tyros Stakes runner-up Swagman (Ger) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) doubled that tally with a determined effort in this year's renewal of the 10-furlong feature. Let go at generous odds of 9-2, the €170,000 BBAG September graduate was the only one of five contenders without a ticket to Epsom's Blue Riband and, coming back off a 274-day sabbatical, stalked the leading duo in third for the most part. Easing outside...

Sir Michael Stoute trainee Jonquil (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}--Jovial {GB}, by Dubawi {Ire}) overcame all manner of traffic problems to attain 'TDN Rising Star' status in Friday's Sri Lanka Jewel Of Asia British EBF Maiden Stakes at Sandown. Ryan Moore's mount was well away to race in a close-up third for most of this debut. Caught in a pocket along the far-side rail in the straight, the 11-4 joint-favourite was hampered when attempting to move forward approaching the final furlong and quickened smartly once into the clear to edge...

Ollie Sangster snagged last year's renewal of Sandown's Listed European Bloodstock News EBF Star Stakes with subsequent G1 Fillies' Mile runner-up Shuwari (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) and collected back-to-back renewals of the seven-furlong contest with recent Haydock winner Celestial Orbit (GB) (No Nay Never--Rose Bonheur {GB}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}). Settled off the tempo in seventh until easing closer in the home straight, the 9-1 chance moved to within striking distance with a quarter-mile remaining and was beyond recall once quickening to the fore approaching the final furlong, keeping on...

Godolphin newcomer Ruling Court (Justify--Inchargeofme {GB}, by High Chaparral {Ire}) caused a stir when knocked down for a sale-topping €2.3-million at Arqana's Breeze-up sale in May and made another huge splash with an imperious performance to earn a 'TDN Rising Star' rosette in Thursday's Martin Densham & Peter Deal Memorial British EBF Maiden Stakes at Sandown. The seven-furlong contest has earned its status as an important staging post with recent winners including Arabian Crown (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), Nostrum (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Kameko (Kitten's Joy). Ruling Court becomes the ninth...

St Albans Bloodstock's 4-year-old homebred filly Heredia (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}--Nakuti {Ire}, by Mastercraftsman {Ire}) took seven attempts to make a stakes breakthrough, doing so in last month's Listed Dick Hern Fillies' S. at Haydock, and continued her belated rise up the ladder with a career high in Saturday's G3 Virgin Bet Atalanta S. at Sandown. The Richard Hannon trainee settled into a smooth rhythm after breaking from the outside stall and raced in rear for most of this one-mile test. Making eyecatching headway out wide once into the straight,...

Ollie Sangster trainee Shuwari (Ire) (New Bay {GB}--Lady Pimpernel {GB}, by Sir Percy {GB}) recovered from a slow getaway to snag her June 27 debut at Newbury and stepped forward to register a first black-type success for the freshman conditioner in Friday's Listed European Bloodstock News Star S. at Sandown. The 9-4 second favourite was less than perfect at the break once more and occupied a midfield fifth for the most part here. Making eyecatching headway on the bridle in the straight to join the front rank passing the quarter-mile...

Saturday's G1 Coral-Eclipse is down to just four after one of the main protagonists Anmaat (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) was ruled out at the 11th hour due to a foot abscess. TDN Rising Stars Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Ire}), Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and West Wind Blows (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) are joined by this year's G1 Ranvet and G1 Queen Elizabeth S. hero Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}) as Shadwell's G1 Prix d'Ispahan winner was forced to skip the contest. "It's just a matter of timing, he'll...

Godolphin's Silver Knott (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}--God Given {GB}, by Nathaniel {Ire}), who ran fourth to subesequent G3 Acomb S. victor Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in his July 15 debut at Newbury, graduated by two lengths in an Aug. 3 Kempton novices' heat last time and laid down a marker for next year's Classics with an impressive tally in Saturday's G3 Fasig-Tipton Night Of The Stars Solario S. at Sandown. Held up in touch at the tail of the six-runner field for the most part, the 9-4 second favourite...

Shadwell Estate Company's 4-year-old colt Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) endured his only defeat in six prior starts when a badly-hampered 12th of 13 in Royal Ascot's G1 St James's Palace S. last June and went postward as a strong odds-on favourite for Friday's G3 bet365 Gordon Richards S. at Sandown coming back off a win in October's G3 Darley S. at Newmarket. It was not all plain sailing in the three-runner affair and he was made to earn his corn by King Power Racing's G3 Rose of Lancaster S. winner...