Europe

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...

Twenty-one colts have stood their ground at the latest forfeit stage for the G1 Qipco 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday, May 4. They include the outstanding juvenile of 2023, City Of Troy (Justify), last seen winning the G1 Dewhurst S. on the Rowley Mile by three and a half lengths. City Of Troy is one of four entries left in the 2,000 Guineas for Aidan O'Brien, the most successful trainer in the history of the Classic with 10 wins. The potential challenge from Ballydoyle is completed by Diego Velazquez...

Sam Sangster, Nancy Sexton and Fred Barrelet have all joined The National Stud (TNS) Board, the stud announced on Tuesday. SireCam creator Sangster runs the Manton Thoroughbreds syndicate, as well as a bloodstock agency, while Sexton possesses pedigree knowledge and an astute understanding of the international Thoroughbred market. Formerly clinical director at Rossdale's Veterinary Surgeons, Barrelet is a veterinary delegate for the FEI veterinary committee. Chairman Lord Grimthorpe said, "We are very lucky to have secured three outstanding new members who will bring a wide variety and vital range of...

A new indoor equine therapeutic centre named in memory of Jack de Bromhead will be built this year, ChildVision announced on Tuesday. Based in Drumcondra, ChildVision is a specialist therapy and education centre for children with visual impairment. The new indoor facility will give them access to the best global equine activities all year round, crucially through the winter months and in bad weather conditions. Spearheaded by de Bromhead family friend and well-known racehorse owner Chris Jones--and with the blessing of Jack's parents Heather and Henry--the €1 million donation target...

Nine-time Group 1 winner Anamoe (Aus) leads the 18-strong Darley Australia roster at A$121,000 in 2024, the organisation announced on Tuesday. He is set to be joined in New South Wales by the shuttle Too Darn Hot (GB), who will command a fee of A$110,000, having produced the G1 Champagne S. winner Broadsiding (Aus) from his first Southern Hemisphere crop. New shuttle recruits Native Trail (GB) and Triple Time (Ire) will stand at fees of A$27,500 and A$22,000, respectively. Native Trail is in the midst of covering his first book...

Alflaila (GB), who was last seen finishing fifth behind Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown in September, has been given a clean bill of health by trainer Owen Burrows as he prepares to return to action following an injury-plagued four-year-old campaign. The son of Dark Angel (Ire) was restricted to just two starts in 2023, first returning from nearly 10 months off to win the G2 York S. on the Knavesmire in July and then passing the post only three and a...

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. Tuesday's Observations features the return of GSW Chief Little Rock (Galileo). Ballydoyle's G2 Beresford S. and G3 Autumn S. runner-up CHIEF LITTLE ROCK (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) makes his seasonal debut in this wildcard event which comes with a free entry to June's G1 Derby. His five-strong opposition includes Sheikh...

A new Hong Kong Garden will be in place at Newbury Racecourse when the track hosts five World Pool races on Saturday, May 18, including the G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge S. which headlines the fixture. The Hong Kong Garden will offer themed food and drink, plus a range of entertainment including live performances from Albert Chau, the inaugural winner of Midlife, Sing and Shine, a talent competition run on terrestrial TV in Hong Kong. Mark Leigh, interim CEO at Newbury Racecourse, said, "We're thrilled to introduce the new Hong Kong...

Ten runners came together to raise more than £15,000 for Racing Welfare when participating in the London Marathon, the charity organisation announced on Monday. The group who completed the 26.2-mile course on Sunday included Richard Cosgrave, who has received support from Racing Welfare having sustained a fall four years ago which resulted in a broken neck. He was joined by the likes of Chris Martin, assistant trainer to Archie Watson in Lambourn, Harrison Mills, strategy manager at the Jockey Club, and Sophie Webber, brand marketing assistant at Goffs. Daisy Felton,...

Arqana has strengthened its overseas department with the addition of Ajay Anne, who becomes the company's new thoroughbred representative for the Middle East and India. A graduate of the Darley Flying Start and the Indian Racing Academy, Anne started his career with Darley as their Middle East, Indian and South African bloodstock representative.  Since the creation of his own agency New Approach Bloodstock in 2010, he has guided numerous clients in their purchases both privately and at auction for racing and breeding. Anne has also been a registered steward with UAE...

Ballyhane Stud resident Sands Of Mali (Fr) (Panis) became Europe's latest first-crop sire to get off the mark when his Florian Guyader-trained daughter Hide The Evidence (Ire) shed maiden status with a two-length debut win over five furlongs in Monday's Prix du Medoc at Bordeaux. Bred by Joe Foley's Ballyhane Stud, Hide The Evidence fetched €10,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale when knocked down to Con Marnane. Racing in the colours of Marnane's daughters Amy and Olivia, the filly could be Royal Ascot bound, according to connections. Con...

A person whose job it is to promote horse racing was, rather disappointingly, being sniffy about the Craven meeting on social media last week. I understand that some people don't like racing at the Rowley Mile and, yes, last Tuesday in particular was a little challenging on the weather front. But if you're a Flat racing person, and particularly one who is being paid to tell other people that they should come racing, then you really should appreciate all that is wonderful about these weeks of Classic trials across Europe....