Europe

CHELTENHAM, UK -- Craig Kieswetter has been a top-class sportsman in his own right but the former England and Somerset cricketer was emphatic in his assessment of what mattered most to him after his family's Il Etait Temps (Jukebox Jury) won the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase.  "I'd rather win at Cheltenham than win a World Cup," said the South African-born Kieswetter, who, with his parents Wayne and Belinda and brother Ross, owns Ridgemont Stud in South Africa's Western Cape as well as Barnane Stud in Ireland.  Il Etait Temps,...

A total of 90 lots have been catalogued for the Tattersalls Online March Sale on March 18-19. The sale is headed by the 13-lot Point-to-Point & National Hunt Bumper Session. There are also 62 horses in- and out-of-training, five two-year-olds, three stores, two broodmares, two yearlings, a 1/50th share of Nando Parrado (lot 89) and a breeding right in Invincible Army (lot 90). Some of the highlights are Bon Bon Fizz (Pour Moi) (lot 10), who won a bumper by 15 lengths at Thurles; Aintree Grand National entry Harry Des...

Rocket Man (Vicount), the only Singapore-based horse to win a Group 1 contest abroad, has died.  Bred in New South Wales by Dean Fleming, Rocket Man raced in the colours of Fred Crabbia and was trained by Patrick Shaw. His big day in the sun came when he beat the Bob Baffert-trained Euroears in the Golden Shaheen at Meydan in 2011.  Rocket Man was reported to have died as a result of colic. He was 20.  "It's a very sad day," his former trainer told The Strait Times. "He was...

Japanese Derby hero Danon Decile is the latest to skip the Dubai World Cup night at the end of the month in favour of a target closer to home, Keiba Lab reported on X. Connections have indicated the G1 Osaka Hai on April 5 is his aim. He joins Masquerade Ball (Duramente) and Jantar Mantar (Palace Malice) in defecting from the March 28 meeting due to the ongoing conflict in Iran and surrounding countries. "Danon Decile, the 2024 Derby winner who dominated in last year's Dubai Sheema Classic, will skip...

Racing Australia has confirmed the formation of a Black Type Advisory Group (BTAG) in a statement published on Wednesday. The seven-member panel comprises Barry Bowditch, Sebastian Hutch, Antony Thompson, Andy Makiv, Adrian Hancock, Jon Freyer, and Duncan Grimley. Racing Australia said the group was selected to represent a broad cross-section of the industry and that none of the members serve on the board of Racing Australia, a principal racing authority or a race club. The BTAG will provide independent advice on the programming of black-type races and recommendations on potential...

A ruling from the Supreme Court of New South Wales has found that Racing NSW acted outside its statutory powers in attempting to place the Australian Turf Club under administration. Justice François Kunc declared the proposed appointment of an administrator "invalid and of no effect," concluding the regulator's decision was not authorised under the Thoroughbred Racing Act 1996. The court also ordered Racing NSW to pay the ATC's legal costs. The case, heard across three days in February, examined whether Racing NSW had validly exercised its powers under the Act...

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. Wednesday's Observations features a Godolphin blueblood. 18.15 Southwell, £12,000, Nov, 3yo, 12f 14y (AWT) Godolphin homebred INTO THE LIGHT (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was thrown by a stakes-winning full-sister to G1 1000 Guineas fourth Fireglow (Teofilo {Ire}) and bids to extend Charlie Appleby's red-hot run. Coming back off a 10-furlong...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Indigo Woods at Fair Grounds. Blue Is the Colour Larry Rodgers and Coast Racing's Indigo Woods (Blue Point) prevailed by a half-length and maintained her perfect record in the Allen Black Cat LaCombe Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds on March 7 (video). A winner of a Churchill maiden in October, the Brendan Walsh trainee was bred by Tinnakill House. The 10th foal out...

CHELTENHAM, UK -- Four times a Cheltenham Festival winner and still only seven years old. From the Triumph to two Mares' Hurdles and now the Unibet Champion Hurdle itself, Lossiemouth's love affair with Prestbury Park, the most hallowed ground in National Hunt racing, continued unbroken on Tuesday as the mare landed her 14th win in a career spanning 18 starts - and counting.  The roars of more than 57,000 racegoers carried her home, but in the end it was easy, as Lossiemouth's main danger Brighterdaysahead capitulated between the final two...

It might not be Royal Ascot, but even us die-hard Flat racing fans at TDN Europe are not immune to Cheltenham Festival fever, with four days of top-class sport lying in wait for those preparing to make the annual pilgrimage to Prestbury Park. This year, the action on the track looks as competitive and enthralling as it has been for some time, starting on Tuesday with the Supreme Novices' Hurdle where at least half of the 12-strong field can be given some sort of chance. In fact, the Supreme has...

Cheryl Burton and Julian Lefevre have made it all look so easy. Retire a filly, decide to become breeders, and head to the Cheltenham Festival for a Grade 1 with the mare's very first foal. Whatever happens with future generations, Jax Junior, the seven-year-old son of Jack Hobbs who runs in the Singer Arkle Challenge Trophy, has already given his owner-breeders the thrill of a lifetime. Fourteen runs, six wins, including the G2 Pendil Novices' Chase, and another four placed efforts speak to the level of consistency shown by the...

Alongside the Godolphin duo of Nation's Hope (Ghaiyyath) and Palladas (Lope De Vega), The Last Dance (Iffraaj) recently made an impressive debut at Chantilly to become the third European-trained three-year-old to be named a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' since our Winter Watch run began back in November. It looked a strong race in which The Last Dance debuted on March 3, facing eight other newcomers over 9.5f of the Chantilly all-weather. They included the Wertheimer homebred Maine (Night Of Thunder), a sibling to two winners of the G1...