Washington DC

Group 1-winning sprinter American Affair is on course to return at the Dante Festival at York, according to trainer Jim Goldie, who is eyeing a repeat win in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot with his stable star. The six-year-old provided the Scottish trainer with a breakthrough Group 1 victory in that race last June before suffering a leg issue. It was hoped he would return for the Breeders' Cup or Champions Day, but Goldie confirmed the son of Washington DC is on schedule with his recovery and...

It feels like just yesterday that the bloodstock world was lauding the record-breaking achievement of Mehmas in 2024, the year that he sired no fewer than 70 individual two-year-old winners in Europe, smashing the previous record tally of 61 which belonged to his neighbour at Tally-Ho Stud, Kodiac. Time waits for no one in this game, however, and so it is that we now head into the 2026 breeding season with three of those 70 having already found themselves a place at stud. They include Ballyhane's new recruit Magnum Force,...

This raft of stallions at the lowest range of the price scale is every bit as important as those at the top. For a start, if we look at Royal Ascot alone in 2025, we find the names Massaat and Washington DC alongside those of two of the week's Group 1 winners. Then there was Rajasinghe, whose offspring made their presence felt in two of the season's most prestigious sprint handicaps. Breeders with mares rated 70 or above could have used Rajasinghe for free this year, such was the desire...

For the latest instalment of the TDN Conversations podcast we took a trip to Oghill House Stud in County Kildare. There, Johnny Hyland represents the fifth generation of his family to be running what has become a notably successful nursery for Thoroughbreds. In recent years the likes of Group 1 winner Marcel, Royal Ascot winners Washington DC and Quick Suzy, and French group winners Romantic Style and Caius Chorister are among some of the top horses to have been bred or raised at Oghill House. The stud will offer a...

For the latest instalment of the TDN Conversations podcast, sponsored by Saracen Horse Feeds, Emma Berry took a trip to Oghill House Stud in County Kildare. There, Johnny Hyland represents the fifth generation of his family to be running what has become a notably successful nursery for Thoroughbreds.

The early part of last week was spent covering the JRHA Select Sale in Japan, a trip that is always illuminating, to an auction that remains extraordinary. Number one of the list of most surprising things from the five days spent in Hokkaido was Teruya Yoshida picking up his guitar to serenade guests with a rendition of John Denver's Take Me Home, Country Roads. An excellent choice of song, well performed. The Shadai Farm principal should be encouraged to form a Travelling Wilburys-style bloodstock supergroup. Bluegrass enthusiast and songwriter Arthur...

It has been a strangely discombobulating week in some respects. It started in Westminster last Monday with the All-Party Parliamentary Group issuing its stark warning of the triple threat to the industry posed by potential betting duty harmonisation, affordability checks and an overdue Levy reform. This came on the back of an industry update in Newmarket the previous week at which the TBA chairman Philip Newton warned of a potential catastrophic collapse in the supply chain of young Thoroughbreds in Britain. Then, stepping through the golden gates of Royal Ascot,...

ASCOT, UK -- There may be cause for concern when it comes to the tumbling number of foals bred in Britain but, with Ascot festooned with the Union Jack, the first three races represented a terrific result for the United Kingdom, falling to horses bred in England, Wales and Scotland.  In front of the King and Queen, first Docklands then Gstaad and American Affair testified to the strength of Thoroughbreds produced in the country, with British-based Irishmen Richard Kent and John McGrandles being the breeders behind the first two Group...

The story of Saturday's Temple Stakes contender American Affair is very much a family affair for Lanarkshire trainer Jim Goldie, with his deep knowledge of the pedigree and the devotion of his granddaughter, Alex, both playing their part in the spectacular rise of a five-year-old who started last season with a BHA mark of just 70. Five wins later, American Affair is now up to a rating of 105 after he coasted to victory in another big-field handicap at York last week, producing the sort of performance which suggests the...

Bearstone Stud has kept the fees for its three stallions at the same price as in 2024, with Dream Ahead at £6,500, Belardo (Ire) at £5,500 and Washington DC (Ire) at £3,500.  "We feel our stallions offer exceptional value in a challenging market, none more so than Belardo, who is the highest-ranked sire standing in Europe under £15,000 by the number of European winners in 2024," said Bearstone Stud owner Terry Holdcroft.  "Further afield US Grade I winner Gold Phoenix added more US black-type to his form, and Fiach McHugh...

Irish racing and breeding has lost a much-loved member of its community with the death on Saturday of Pat Hyland of Oghill House Stud. He was 78. With his brother Hugh and nephew John, Hyland ran the successful Kildare farm which incorporates the family's own broodmare band along with a thriving boarding operation. His brothers David and Paul are also involved in the business and are the breeders, respectively, of G1 Racing Post Trophy winner Marcel (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) and Washington DC (Ire), one of the stand-out performers from the...

NEWMARKET, UK—The popularity of first-season sires is no new phenomenon but it is a feature of the market which apparently gains more and more traction, and three freshmen were responsible for four of the top ten lots as pinhookers wasted no time in assembling their prospective yearling drafts for next season. The first session traditionally represents a quieter start to the four-day auction, which builds towards the better pedigrees on Friday. With shorter sessions throughout the sale this year, there were 135 foals sold on Wednesday, compared to 168 on...