thoroughbreds

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. Thursday's Insights features an expensive KEESEP graduate. 3.00 Newcastle, Novice, £8,050, 3yo, 8f 5y (AWT) PITCHER'S POINT (Medaglia d'Oro) is a noteworthy newcomer from the John Gosden stable whose all-weather runners during the winter continue to fascinate. Owned by Godolphin, the February-foaled bay who fetched $800,000 at Keeneland September...

2011 G1 Derby victor Pour Moi (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) will stand at Haras de Cercy in France for 2020, Racing Post reported. The bay will command €3,000. Since 2017, he was a resident of Coolmore's Grange Stud. The G2 Prix Greffulhe winner has sired two Group 1 winners from six black-type winners so far-fellow Derby hero Wings of Eagles (Fr), and G1 JJ Atkins S. scorer Sacred Elixir (NZ). His top filly is G3 Lacken S. heroine Only Mine (Ire) and his oldest runners in the Northern Hemisphere just turned...

Godolphin Group 1 winners Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Dream Castle (GB) (Frankel {GB}) square off in Thursday's grassy 1800-metre G2 Singspiel S., as the Dubai World Cup Carnival enters its second week. Eight races (seven Thoroughbred) are on tap at Meydan. Bearing the coveted blue cap and with Christophe Soumillon in the irons, the former won the 2018 edition of this contest during a profitable Meydan campaign that season, including the G1 Dubai Turf that March. He also took his show on the road with other Group 1 wins...

Lys Gracieux (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), who wrapped 2019 with a trio of Group 1 wins-the June 23 Takarazuka Kinen, Oct. 26 Cox Plate in Australia and Arima Kinen on Dec. 22 back in Japan, was named Japan's Horse of the Year, as the 2019 champions were announced early Tuesday morning, Nikkan Sports reported. The U Carrot Farm runner also earned the Japanese Champion Older Mare award and beat out 2018 Horse of the Year Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in both categories. Lys Gracieux will be honored at...

2019 GI Pegasus World Cup Turf bridesmaid Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})'s connections are leaning toward a start in the $1-million 1 3/16-mile GI Pegasus World Cup Turf at Gulfstream Park Jan. 25, Horse Racing Ireland announced on Tuesday. The Coolmore partners' bay 5-year-old also carries an entry in the $3-million 1 1/8-mile GI Pegasus World Cup over the Hallandale main track, but her connections recently purchased a half-share in MGI1SW Maximum Security (New Year's Day) who was invited for the dirt race. It was later revealed that Maximum Security...

John Dance's MG1SW Laurens (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), a six-time Group 1 winner, will visit the court of Invincible Spirit (Ire) (Green Dancer) in 2020, Salcey Forest Stud announced via Twitter Tuesday morning. The Karl Burke trainee, who captured the G1 Fillies' Mile at two, the G1 Prix Saint-Alary, G1 Prix de Diane, G1 Matron S. and G1 Sun Chariot S. at three and the 2019 G1 Prix Rothschild, was originally due to be covered by Coolmore Stud's No Nay Never (Scat Daddy). "Off she goes... our queen," tweeted the Warwickshire-based...

Finalists for the British Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards were revealed on Tuesday. Of the 203 original nominations, 10 in each of the six award categories were shortlisted in December. All of the finalists will be interviewed by the judges in London on Feb. 24, with the awards held later that day at The Underglobe on London's South Bank. The awards will be hosted by ITV's Ed Chamberlin. The three finalists in each category are as follows: David Nicholson Newcomer Charlotte Cotgrave - Mark Johnston Bradley Harris - Andrew...

English/Irish highweight U S Navy Flag (War Front-Misty For Me {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) sired his first foal, a filly, born on Jan. 2, Coolmore announced on Tuesday. The bay is the first foal out of  Far Fetched (Ire), a Fastnet Rock (Aus) half-sister to SW & GSP Arya Tara (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}). This is the extended family of champion Azamour (Ire) (Night Shift), MG1SW The Autumn Sun (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) and G1 Prix Ganay hero Astarabad (Alleged). "[She] is a smashing filly with a lovely head and...

In this third edition of the TDN's Value Sires series, we examine stallions with their first yearlings in 2020. One fact that stands out when glancing down this list is that, when these young men actually get a racetrack examination in 2021, 2022 and beyond, Galileo's already lofty status as a sire of sires has a real shot to take off into a different stratosphere. Of the top 10 first-season sires by average at last year's foal sales, five were sons of Galileo, and they are all high-class Group 1...

A chestnut filly out of Brigh (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is the first foal for Haras de Saint-Arnoult sire Dschingis Secret (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), Jour de Galop reported on Monday. She was born at Larissa Kneip's Saint-Arnoult operation on Jan. 3. The German/Italian highweight and G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin hero stands for €5,000. As part of a breeding incentive bonus, €5,000 will be paid for the first three Flat and National Hunt winners. €10,000 will be awarded for the first Flat and jumps listed winners and €25,000 for the...

A dozen horses, both stallions and in-foal mares, were stolen from Libya's Al Shaab Stud on Saturday, the stud's General Manager Dr. Amad Eshab announced via Twitter on Sunday. The raid was conducted by militia loyal to the Libyan National Army which opposes the current interim government. The largest Thoroughbred breeding operation in the country, Al Shaab Stud was home to the stallions SW Eavesdropper (Kingmambo)-a half-brother to Horse of the Year and top sire A.P. Indy (Seattle Slew), Australian Group 2 winner Churchill Downs (Aus) (Danehill), G3 Solario S....

Bob Baffert has two strong chances to win his sixth edition of the GIII Sham S. Saturday with Authentic (Into Mischief) and Azul Coast (Super Saver). A $350,000 KEESEP buy, Authentic graduated at first asking sprinting at Del Mar Nov. 9, earning an 87 Beyer Speed Figure in the process. His stablemate Azul Coast also donned cap and gown at first asking, albeit going a mile at Los Alamitos Dec. 8. The Richard Baltas-trained Taishan (Twirling Candy) boasts the second highest Beyer in the field, registering an 81 for his...