Alan Cooper

Classic-placed Piz Badile (Ire) (Ulysses {Ire}) has died after suffering a heart attack while cantering last Monday. Alan Cooper, the Niarchos family's racing manager, confirmed the news to TDN Europe on Thursday. The G3 Ballysax S. winner and G1 Irish Derby runner-up was five. "Very sadly he had a heart attack last Monday doing a regular canter under Gavin Ryan who landed safely on his feet," Cooper said. "No previous indications that this would be likely to happen. He was a lovely individual who everyone liked." A Flaxman Stables homebred, the...

One of the reasons that the Racing League has struggled to catch on is that the organisers have underestimated the attachment that regular racegoers and viewers have to certain sets of silks. We all have our favourites, often depending on when we were born and who the leading lights were at the time.  Some have now faded from everyday use, and for this fan the Ballymacoll Stud colours are much missed. Certain silks have such resonance that one almost doesn't need to have a race card handy to have an...

Antony Beck (Gainesway Farm), Alan Cooper (Niarchos Family/Flaxman Holdings Ltd.) and Bret Jones (Airdrie Stud) were each re-elected to serve a four-year term on the Breeders' Cup Board, the organization said in a release Wednesday afternoon. "We congratulate Antony, Alan and Bret upon their re-election to the Board," said Barbara Banke, Chairman of Breeders' Cup Limited. "We look forward to their continued advice and counsel to the Company in many important initiatives, including critical areas of equine safety and welfare and further enhancing the growth and international impact of the...

The Niarchos Family has had no shortage of Classic success over the years, including at Epsom, where they won a memorably emotional Oaks with the Sir Henry Cecil-trained Light Shift (Kingmambo), but there is to date one omission from their roll call of big-race wins. "We've always dreamt of winning the Derby. We haven't yet, but let's hope that Saturday can go the right way," Alan Cooper, the operation's racing manager, told TDN on Wednesday.  That dream could become reality if Passenger continues to show the level of improvement that...

Historic French stud farm Haras de Fresnay-le Buffard, which has been home to the winners of 45 European Classics, has been put on the market for an undisclosed price by the Niarchos Family. Located in the heart of Normandy, the 205-hectare farm (506 acres) has been under Niarchos ownership since being purchased in 1979 by the late Stavros Niarchos from prominent French owner-breeder Marcel Boussac. Alan Cooper, Racing Manager to the Niarchos Family, said, "It is emotional for the family to say goodbye to Fresnay, but as our racing and...

Connections of leading G1 Cazoo Derby hope Piz Badile (Ire) (Ulysses) have been provided with a massive boost ahead of Epsom after legendary rider Frankie Dettori committed to ride the Donnacha O'Brien-trained colt in the Classic on June 4. Dettori made his Derby breakthrough in 2007 aboard Authorized (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) for Peter Chapple-Hyam as well as partnering John Gosden's Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) to victory in the race back in 2015 and he will bid to win the iconic race for a third time aboard the impressive...

Group 1 winner Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}--Alpha Lupi {Ire}, by Rahy) has been retired after an unplaced run in Sunday's G1 Prix Jacques le Marois according to the Niarchos Family's Racing Manager Alan Cooper. The Jessica Harrington trainee and Niarchos homebred is a half-sister to four-time Group 1 winner Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). "She retires sound and hopefully she'll be a nice broodmare for us," said Cooper. A winner at Galway at second asking at two, the chestnut added the G2 Debutante S. next out and...

Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea the Moon {Ger}), winner of the Coronation S. in June, will not race again this year and instead enjoy some time off. The Niarchos Family runner was runner-up in three consecutive Group 1s following her Ascot score-the July 5 Prix de Diane Longines, the Aug. 16 Prix Jacques le Marois and the Prix de l'Opera Longines on Arc Day, Oct. 4. "She ran another blinder in the Opera," said the Niarchos family's racing manager Alan Cooper of the Jessica Harrington trainee. "She's a tough, honest and...

Group 1 winner Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), who won the G1 Coronation S. for the Niarchos Family and trainer Jessica Harrington in June, is under consideration for the Sept. 12 G1 Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown. A winner of the G2 Debutante S. at two, the chestnut kicked off her season in the Coronation, before runner-up performances in the G1 Prix de Diane Longines at Chantilly and the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville, on July 5 and Aug. 16, respectively. "At the moment, Mrs. Harrington...

G1 Coronation S. winner Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), last seen finishing a short-neck second to Fancy Blue (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 Prix de Diane on July 5, could resurface in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville on Aug. 16 if ground conditions play to her liking. "If all goes according to plan she could go to Deauville, but we just need to keep an eye on the ground," said Alan Cooper, racing manager to owner/breeder The Niarchos Family. "There's very hot weather...

'TDN Rising Star' Highest Ground (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) was eye-catching while keeping his unbeaten record intact when winning a Haydock novice race on Wednesday, generating Derby whispers, but the Niarchos Family's homebred will bypass the July 4 G1 Investec Derby. The Sir Michael Stoute-trained son of Celestial Lagoon (Jpn) (Sunday Silence) is likely to target the G2 Dante S. at York on July 9 next. "The Derby comes too soon in his career," said Racing Manager Alan Cooper. "He's a nice horse in the making. He only ran two days...

While the world waits for better news, a clutch of exciting 3-year-olds wait in the wings for Classics that have now officially been delayed, and one such is 'TDN Rising Star' Highest Ground (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who is ticking over for Sir Michael Stoute. Impressive when winning his sole start at Leicester in September, the Niarchos family's homebred met with a setback afterwards but is reported in fine shape by the owners' racing manager Alan Cooper. It is forty years since the operation prevailed in Newmarket's G1 2000 with the...