Simon Crisford

Victorious Forever's 900,000gns Craven Breeze-Up Sale topper Senorita Bonita (Starspangledbanner) entered the mix for this year's Royal Ascot meeting after securing a last-gasp triumph in Wednesday's British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes at Nottingham. The straight five-furlong dash has been annexed by a trio of Karl Burke Royal Ascot-bound contenders in recent years. "Midway through the race, it wasn't looking good," said Simon Crisford.  "We couldn't get the cover that we wanted and I think she's had to do it the hard way. Her turn of foot was exceptional,...

Britain's longest-standing training partnership is coming to an end following the news that Ed Crisford is set to succeed Michael Costa as head trainer at His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Jebel Ali Stables in Dubai. Currently based at Gainsborough Stables in Newmarket, Crisford has shared the licence with his father, Simon, since May 2020 when the British Horseracing Authority first started accepting training partnerships. In the near-six years since, the Crisfords have sent out over 400 winners in Britain, with notable victories including that of Vandeek in...

Members of the racing community in Dubai for Super Saturday now face an anxious wait for the airport to reopen in the wake of the American and Israeli attacks on Iran which resulted in the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Racing went ahead at Meydan on a day when the Fairmont hotel on Dubai's Palm Jumeirah caught fire after being hit during an Iranian air attack. Overnight on Saturday, the Dubai International Airport (DXB), which serves some 250,000 passengers daily, also sustained damage which resulted in injuries to four passengers,...

Trainer Simon Crisford has hailed Choisya as "an absolute pleasure and a real joy to have in the stable" ahead of her appearance at the forthcoming December Mares Sale at Tattersalls. The daughter of Night Of Thunder is set to be one of the star attractions when Park Paddocks plays host to the second of the two Sceptre Sessions on Tuesday, December 2. An eight-time winner from 23 career starts, Choisya registered her career high when winning April's GI Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland, a victory which sets her apart...

Victorious Forever's Simon and Ed Crisford trainee Zanthos (Sioux Nation), a €1-million Arqana Breeze-Up sale graduate, attained TDN Rising Star status in the colours of KHK Racing at Newmarket's July course in August and rebounded off a second behind Touleen (Lope De Vega) earlier in the month to make all for a career high in Friday's G2 BoyleSports Home Of Early Payout Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket. "We just said to Oisin [Murphy] to keep her happy and let her use her stride," explained Ed Crisford. "I thought she was maybe...

Excellent Truth (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), purchased by John Stewart's Resolute Racing for €1.6 million out of last year's Arqana December Sale, was made the lukewarm 3-1 favorite to give trainer Chad Brown a fourth consecutive victory and seventh in the last eight years in Saturday's GI Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland. But Rabbah Blooodstock's homebred Choisya (GB) (Night of Thunder {Ire})--already accustomed to playing the role of spoiler this season--had her own designs and won a sprint to the wire, surviving an objection from the favorite's jockey Flavien Prat...

Mohammed Sultan's Coto De Caza (Ire) (Sioux Nation--Coto {Ire}, by Fast Company {Ire}), last seen finishing third in Ayr's Sept. 24 Listed Harry Rosebery Stakes, stepped forward to claim a career high with a determined effort in Friday's G3 Newmarket Academy Godolphin Beacon Project Cornwallis Stakes. The Simon and Ed Crisford trainee, who posted clear-cut wins at Beverley and Goodwood in July, accepted a tow racing second in the smaller stands' side grouping, and third overall, after a slick getaway in this five-furlong dash. Easing to the fore with a...

Last year's star juvenile Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) will miss his intended engagement in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville after suffering a setback. The news was released by joint-trainer Ed Crisford on X and came just 24 hours after Vandeek was put through his paces on the July course at Newmarket on Saturday. Ed Crisford said, "Unfortunately Vandeek has met with a setback and it is too early to say how much time he will need before resuming full training. It is very frustrating for everyone...

It's early-February and already the Flat enthusiasts are getting excited about what stallion will end the season as champion first-season sire. A futile exercise, one would have thought? Not a bit of it. Even the greatest handlers of young stock, Malcolm Bastard, Alan McCabe, Joseph O'Brien, Conor Hoban and Dick Brabazon, men who know better than most the folly that comes with predicting 2-year-old talent, are keen to have their say on which up-and-coming stallion can make the biggest splash this season.  O'Brien is sticking loyal to Ten Sovereigns (Ire)...

Group 2 winner Century Dream (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}--Salacia {Ire}, by Echo of Light {GB}) has been retired and will stand at Norton Grove Stud next year. A stud fee for the G2 Celebration Mile and dual G3 Diomed S. victor will be announced later. Bred by Rabbah Bloodstock Limited, the A. Belhab-raced 7-year-old's best performance was a third in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. in 2018, while throughout his 35-start career, he was also placed another four times at group level. Overall, Century Dream's record stands at 10...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Today's Observations features a full-sister to Grade I winner Viadera. 4.25 Naas, Mdn, €15,500, 2yo, f, 5f 205yT SACRED BRIDGE (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) is a full-sister to last year's GI Matriarch S. heroine Viadera (GB), who before joining Chad Brown spent her formative period with this filly's trainer...

MGSW A'Ali (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}) is bound across the Irish Sea and will contest the G1 Flying Five S. at The Curragh on Sept. 13. The Shaikh Duaji Al Khalifa colourbearer a trio of Group 2s as a juvenile, added the G3 Coral Charge S. to his haul on July 5 and was also first past the post in the July 19 G2 Sapphire S. in Ireland. He could only manage fourth to Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the G1 Nunthorpe S. at York on Aug. 21. "He...