Shadwell

Shadwell had watched the first three races fall their way at York's Ebor Festival on Friday and so there were more than the usual share of nerves as their flagship Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) went to post for the G1 Coolmore Nunthorpe S. In the event, he gave the team their most anxious moments of all the races they conquered on the card as he had to graft to subdue yet another flying filly from Michael Dods's Darlington yard in Que Amoro (Ire) (Es Que Love {Ire}). Finally managing...

On a day when York belonged to the royal blue of Shadwell, the G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack S. played host to one of the operation's youngbloods as the new juvenile sprinting sensation Minzaal (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) cut a dash in the gloom. Sent off the 5-2 favourite coming off an impressive Salisbury novice success over this six-furlong trip Aug. 9, the bay missed the kick and was adrift early but Jim Crowley was oozing confidence and in no mood to hurry. Tanking his way to the lead passing...

While Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) is away, Enbihaar (Ire) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) has been allowed to play stayer and she ably demonstrated her aptitude for the division when taking York's G2 Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup on Friday. In the past two years Before Covid, this was the race that saw her exalted stablemate wrap up the £1million bonus but with that pot unavailable this time and Clarehaven's golden boy set on a different path it was up to Shadwell's imposing mare to help fill a void. Long regarded...

One of Shadwell's plethora of Royal Ascot winners, Hukum (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) took a step forward on Saturday to readily dismiss some seasoned and proficient members of the older brigade in Newbury's G3 Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Geoffrey Freer S. While the G1 St Leger has so far evaded Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, this could be the one after all this time if the head of the empire chooses to channel him in that direction following this emphatic success from one of the operation's most promising young talents. So...

Paul Hanagan is nearing a return to race riding following an extended stay on the sidelines after breaking his back in a fall at Newcastle in February. The two-time champion jockey and retained rider to Sheikh Hamdan is nearing two milestones: his 40th birthday on Sept. 8 and his 2000th winner. He is 24 shy of the latter. Hanagan said he has "been riding out nearly every day for three weeks now." "It couldn't be going better," he added. "I've still not got a date for coming back, but it's...

Introduced in Gowran Park's Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden over a mile on Wednesday, Shadwell's Wuqood (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) overcame a wide draw and some smart rivals to earn TDN Rising Star status on debut. Sent off at 12-1, the homebred son of the G2 Blandford S. winner and G1 Epsom Oaks runner-up Tarfasha (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) was denied cover the whole way but raced like a true professional in fifth under Oisin Orr. Delivered to gain a narrow lead with a furlong remaining, the chestnut toughed it out to...

Last week's G1 Sussex S. winner Mohaather (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) is aiming for the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. on Champions Day as his next big target, with trainer Marcus Tregoning as-yet undecided as to whether the 4-year-old will have another start prior. "His end-of-season target will be the QEII," said Tregoning. "Whether something slots in before that we're not sure yet, but Ascot is his main target. "We could have really done with the [G1 Prix Jacques le] Marois being a week later than it is. There isn't anything...

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Raabihah (Sea the Stars {Ire}), who went untested as a juvenile, was up with the larks for a Jan. 23 debutantes' heat win at Cagnes-sur-Mer and doubled up with an impressive tally in ParisLongchamp's May 14 Listed Prix de la Seine before posting a commendable fourth, despite a troubled trip, pitched into Chantilly's rescheduled July 5 G1 Prix de Diane in her latest outing. Sent off as the 2-5 lock on a retrieval mission in Saturday's G3 Prix de Psyche Sky Sports Racing over...

Goodwood's Qatar Festival has lived up to its "Glorious" tag all week and Saturday sees the culmination with the G2 Qatar Lillie Langtry S. the key race for the staying fillies and mares. Despite there being only four participants, they are all notable performers in the category and last year's winner Enbihaar (Ire) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) will have to be at or near her best to bring up the repeat. Twelve months ago, the Shadwell representative gave a stone and a five-length beating to Manuela de Vega (Ire) (Lope de...

Owen Burrows had enjoyed the limelight last Saturday when Tabdeed (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}) took the G3 Hackwood S. and he had something else to ponder a week on after Albasheer (Ire) (Shamardal) earned TDN Rising Star status at Doncaster. Starting the seven-furlong British Stallion Studs EBF Novice S. as a 17-2 shot, the chestnut was under restraint from David Probert from the break and suffered some barges as he tracked the group racing towards the rear. Shaken up to chase the fellow Shadwell representative Alablaq (Ire) (Lope de Vega...

Sheikh Hamdan's G1 Falmouth S. winner Nazeef (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) looks set to race outside Britain for the first time, with Deauville's G1 Prix Rothschild on Aug. 2 her likely next target. "We're looking at the Prix Rothschild, but we are just going to look at the Nassau as well in case we can't get to France for any reason," confirmed the sheikh's racing manager Angus Gold. "The first priority has always been Deauville, but she'll probably be in the Nassau." He added of the 4-year-old filly, "I'm sure...

A sea of blue dominated winner's enclosures in Britain and France this week, largely owing to the successful season currently being enjoyed by Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation and Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell team. The brothers occupy the top two slots in the owners' table in Britain, and Godolphin is also currently the leading owner in France. While Sheikh Mohammed has a significant number of horses in Chantilly with Andre Fabre, who oversaw the successful return of France's champion 2-year-old of last year, Earthlight (Ire) (Shamardal), in the Listed Prix Kistena, it...