Ulysses

The dual Group 1-winning juvenile Vandeek will stand for the unchanged fee of £15,000 (October 1, Special Live Foal Terms) at Cheveley Park Stud in 2026. A half-brother to this year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero Gstaad (Starspangledbanner), the son of Havana Grey covered 161 mares in his debut season at Cheveley Park, including 34 full- or half-sisters to Group 1 or Group 2 winners. Matthew Sigsworth, Cheveley Park's bloodstock manager and head of nominations, said, "We were delighted that Vandeek was so well supported by many of Europe's...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features a son Ulysses. 17.45 Chelmsford, £30,000, Nov, 2yo, 8f (AWT) Sporting the famed Mill Reef silks, ITICA (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) is a half-brother to G1 Racing Post Trophy-winning sire Elm Park (GB) (Phoenix Reach {Ire}) and the multiple Group-placed G2 York Stakes runner-up Brorocco (GB) (Shirocco...

On the gloomiest of January days when even the snowdrops aren't bobbing their heads with too much enthusiasm, there is however an undeniable sense of excitement at Cheveley Park Stud. The red doors of the immaculate stallion yard give a flash of colour at least, as the one at the end of the row opens to grant access to a new stallion as grey as the day itself.  Vandeek (GB) has already enjoyed some days in the sun and there is now hope of more to come from his secondary...

Dual Group 1-winning and unbeaten champion juvenile Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) will stand for £15,000 at Cheveley Park Stud in 2025. The highest-rated two-year-old in Britain last year, Vandeek rounded off a stellar campaign with victories in the G1 Prix Morny and the G1 Middle Park Stakes.  He is now available to view by appointment and Cheveley Park's Chris Richardson commented, "We are thrilled by the response from breeders, both domestically and internationally, endorsing the decision to stand such an exciting stallion prospect as Vandeek at Cheveley Park Stud,...

NEWMARKET, UK -- It has become the tradition for the Tattersalls February Sale to be preceded by the TBA Flat Stallion Parade and this year's event contained the added incentive of a potential free entry to next year's December Foal Sale. Breeders who booked a nomination to one of the 10 stallions on the day have been automatically entered into a free draw to win one of five places at the 2025 sale for the resulting offspring.  With nine of the 10 stallions stabled in the Left Yard at Park...

John Murphy has described himself as very lucky to have come across Betfred Derby contender White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) and says that his 14-1 chance for Epsom glory is more than worthy of his shot in the line-up for the eagerly-awaited Classic.  White Birch identified himself as a bona fide Derby prospect when streaking to G3 Ballysax S. glory at Leopardstown earlier in the season. From there, he went on to overcome a tardy start to finish an excellent second behind The Foxes (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) in the G2...

We're starting to feel a little long in the tooth in this corner. The racing equivalent to the observation about policemen looking young these days now applies to the weighing-room, and on Saturday one young gun after another came out with a performance that would entitle them to be considered the next big thing.  Benoit de la Sayette has already achieved plenty in his nascent career. Now 20, he had his first ride in November 2020 and became the first apprentice attached to John Gosden's stable in almost 30 years. ...

The mantra of breeding the best to the best can really only be followed by those with access to mares classy enough to be courted by the world's elite stallions. And if you're fortunate enough to be in that bracket, then sending your Oaks winner to a Derby winner could be deemed an obvious place to start.  We lost the most influential Derby winner of the modern era almost a year ago but it will be a while before Galileo (Ire) retreats too far back in pedigrees. In his first...

by Chris McGrath NEWMARKET, UK -- The world certainly looks a different place from when these babies slithered into the straw. A less frightening one, thankfully, to many breeders, who have been relieved by a remarkable strength and depth in all levels of the market after the global economy absorbed the shock of Covid. So while the Tattersalls December Foal Sale opened in the customary low register, business on Wednesday unequivocally maintained the buoyant morale established in other sectors. Indeed, the clearance rate of 84% was a session record, and...

By Chris McGrath NEWMARKET, UK--Well, maybe these guys just don't have radios or newspapers. Maybe they haven't heard about the challenges at least affecting the domestic environment: chronic deficiencies in prizemoney, new volatility in the economic landscape. Or perhaps the international investors who might be relatively immune to such concerns have forced even the local market to new highs by putting such a squeeze into Books 1 and 2. Who knows? Just conceivably, this show of faith in our industry could yet prove the foundation for a sustainable bull run....

3.15 Redcar, Novice, £10,000, 2yo, f, 7f 219y (AWT) WORLD WITHOUT LOVE (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) makes her debut on the card at the Northern seaside venue for her owner-breeder Mascalls Stud and trainer Mark Johnston, who has achieved so much with her half-brothers Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) and Sir Ron Priestley (GB) (Australia {GB}) and half-sister Alba Rose (GB) (Muhaarar (GB}). The dam Reckoning (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) already looked a top producer before the G1 Gold Cup victory of Subjectivist and G2 Jockey Club S. and G2 Princess of...

Agent Matt Coleman of Stroud Coleman Bloodstock has had plenty of success buying decent 2-year-olds from the breeze-up sales, such as G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint S. winner Sands Of Mali (Fr) (Panis) and G2 Norfolk S. winner Prince Of Lir (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}). He gave us his view on what we might expect from the first runners for this year's freshman sires. Coleman said, "I guess Churchill (Ire) is the headline act of the first-season sires and I have heard some good words on his stock from Ireland. He...