Europe

The Roger Varian-trained Al Musmak (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) will bid to defy his outsider status when he lines out in the Qipco 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday week. The colt brings smart form to the table with a Listed win in Haydock's Ascendant S. sandwiched between creditable placed efforts behind Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) at Ascot and then on his final start of the year when second to Ghostwriter (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in the Royal Lodge. A return to the Rowley Mile for the opening...

DONCASTER, UK--Royal Ascot dreams abound for the connections of Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), who not only have that unbeaten star to look forward to, but a host of high-class two-year-old prospects as well after Anthony Stroud snapped up speedy fillies by Havana Grey (GB) and Sioux Nation (lot 119) to the tune of £720,000 on behalf of the ownership group at the Goffs Breeze-Up Sale. But Doncaster was dominated by the Derryconnor Stud-drafted diamond by Havana Grey, who led the way at £420,000 to provide top consignor Katie McGivern...

Group 1 winner Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is unlikely to contest the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas and instead be pointed for the May 1 G3 Ascot Commonwealth Cup Trial S., according to trainer Adrian Murray. Murray said of the Amo Racing colourbearer, "Bucanero goes to Ascot, he's in the six-furlong race. It's highly unlikely he will go for the Guineas. "We're going to campaign him as a sprinter, his brother [Wooded (Ire)] won a Group 1 over five furlongs and he shows us an awful lot of speed....

International Federation of Horseracing Authorities' advisor Dr. Roland Devolz has died at the age of 83, France Galop announced on Wednesday. A veterinarian, he joined the Societe d'Encouragement pour l'Amelioration des Races de Chevaux de Courses in the early 1970s when recruited by Jean Romanet. Besides working for the Societe d'Encouragement, he was invaluable in the implementation of a modernized anti-doping control through the creation of the horse racing laboratory, based on the approach initiated by Dr. Yves Bonnaire. Also one of the greatest experts of the Stud Book, Devolz...

White colt Amante Bianco (Jpn) (Henny Hughes) ran out a one-length winner of the Haneda Hai at Oi Racecourse on Wednesday (video). Billed as the first leg of the NAR Japanese Dirt Triple Crown, the 1800-metre race was conducted over a sloppy surface. Second was Ammothyella (Jpn) (Bricks And Mortar), with Hraunfossar (Jpn) (Drefong) another eight lengths back in third. Bred by Northern Farm and raced by Silk Racing, the white colt was winning for the third time in five starts. He'd earlier taken the Cattleya S. in November, part...

1/ST and France Galop have partnered with the aim of increasing international participation, the two companies announced on Wednesday. The new partnership will begin with the $100,000 GIII Gallorette S. at Pimlico Race Course on May 18, Preakness Day. Whichever horse wins the Gallorette, will automatically qualify to run in the €250,000 G1 Sumbe Prix Jean Romanet S. at Deauville on Aug. 18. A travel stipend will also be provided. 1/ST has previously partnered with Ascot Racecourse on Gulfstream Park's Royal Palm Series which targets Royal Ascot's juvenile races, as...

Ballysax S. winner Dallas Star (Fr) (Cloth Of Stars {Ire}) and impressive Newbury maiden winner Hidden Law (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) feature among 69 entries for the G1 Derby at Epsom having been added at a cost of £12,000 at the second entry stage. Trained by Dominic Ffrench Davis as a juvenile, Dallas Star caused a 50/1 upset when making every yard of the running to claim Group 3 honours at Leopardstown on his first start for Adrian Murray. One of 22 Irish-trained entries for the richest race in Britain, Dallas...

The G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches is likely to be the next port of call for Folgaria (Ire) (Due Diligence) following her victory in the G3 Fred Darling S. at Newbury on Saturday, her sixth victory from as many starts following an unbeaten two-year-old campaign in Italy when trained by Stefano Botti. Now in the care of Stefano's brother, Marco Botti, Folgaria was a welcome winner for the team at Prestige Place which has been mourning the death of the stable's former apprentice, Stefano Cherchi, following a fall in Australia...

The UK Tote Group and Singapore Pools have signed a new agreement to commingle pools, made in partnership with Arena Racing Company (ARC) and Racecourse Media Group (RMG) as the media rights holders for British racing's 59 racecourses. The agreement sees both organisations combine liquidity, with customers of Singapore Pools betting into the UK Tote's pools on British meetings, creating bigger UK pools and ensuring an improved financial return to the sport. Simon Leong, chief product officer of Singapore Pools, said, "We are delighted to collaborate with the UK Tote...

A total of £2.3 million will be invested on disease surveillance, veterinary science and education programming by the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) beginning in 2024. In addition to the ongoing Infectious Disease Surveillance Programme, the new activity will include: six major research projects four small research projects one research scholarship. All of the work will be managed by the HBLB's Veterinary Advisory Committee (VAC). Making contributions alongside the HBLB are the British European Breeders' Fund (BEBF), the Gerald Leigh Charitable Trust, The Racing Foundation and the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association...

Veteran jockey Olivier Peslier will make his final rides in the saddle at La Teste-de-Buch on Thursday, the Frenchman announced on Tuesday. A four-time winner of the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, the 51-year-old rider confirmed to Equidia that he had "carefully thought about his decision". Also named the French Champion Jockey four times--in 1996, 1997, 1999, and 2000--Peslier has ridden over 3,700 winners worldwide in his 35-year career. At least 165 victories were at Grade/Group 1 level, including three Breeders' Cup Mile scores aboard the talented Goldikova (Ire)...

DONCASTER, UK--What a difference a year can make. It was at this sale 12 months ago when Gary de Souza left us poor scribes befuddled. Consigning under the imaginatively-named Gary Bloodstock [!], his Sioux Nation filly, who would later go on to be the Group-placed Gunzburg (Ire), rocked the clock before being knocked down to trainer Paddy Twomey and bloodstock agent Mark McStay for £160,000.  But where was de Souza when it came to getting a quote on Gunzburg, who could conceivably be described as a life-changing filly in the...