Ascot

Saturday's G1 Qipco Champion Stakes featured the winners of all the big 10-furlong prizes in 2025, but in the end it went to the horse who had still to win over the trip. While Calandagan (Gleneagles) was in danger of being pigeon-holed as a mile-and-a-half performer following his wins in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and King George this summer, The Aga Khan Studs homebred went through Ascot's test with ease under Mickael Barzalona. Swooping wide approaching the final furlong, the 15-8 second favourite powered to the line to beat...

It didn't take long for Ballydoyle to register a winner on Qipco British Champions Day as Mission Central (No Nay Never) came good in the second act of the afternoon at Ascot. Following an eight-length Curragh maiden win with success in the Round Tower, he was sent to the Flying Childers at Doncaster but failed to get into the five-furlong contest dominated by Revival Power. This was much more in his comfort zone and he was always travelling notably strongly tracking the pace before being launched by Christophe Soumillon inside...

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. Saturday's Observations features a full-brother to multiple Group 1 winner and Classic heroine Lake Victoria (Frankel). 4.50 Leopardstown, Mdn, 2yo, c/g, 7f 30yT DRUIDS GLEN (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) is a significant newcomer for Ballydoyle on an intriguing card, being a full-brother to the yard's outstanding Irish 1,000 Guineas, Breeders'...

We should have seen it coming really. Night Of Thunder burst onto the scene in 2019 to be champion first-season sire with seven stakes winners to his name. Not all leading freshmen go on to put themselves into contention for champion sire honours, of course, but six years later this is exactly what the prolific Night Of Thunder has done, and he looks almost certain now to follow the achievement of his own sire Dubawi, who was champion in 2022. Dubawi, who turns 24 in January, took longer to get...

Saturday's G1 Qipco Champion Stakes will feature all the big guns, with Ombudsman (Night Of Thunder), Delacroix (Dubawi), Calandagan (Gleneagles) and Economics (Night Of Thunder) set for a memorable showdown. There will be 11 in the line-up for the feature, where the draw has not been kind to Ombudsman and Economics in nine and 10 respectively but has been to the race's most intriguing runner Almaqam (Lope De Vega) in stall one. There will be 16 lining up for the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, with Juddmonte and the Gosdens'...

QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday is set to feature four of the top ten horses in the world, with Ombudsman (Night Of Thunder), Field Of Gold (Kingman), Delacroix (Dubawi) and Calandagan (Gleneagles) headlining the confirmations for the five Group 1 races made on Monday. The £1.3m QIPCO Champion Stakes looks like being one of the races of the year, with the world's top-rated horse, Ombudsman, leading 15 confirmations for the 10-furlong contest. The Godolphin-owned four-year-old's ongoing rivalry with Coolmore's Delacroix will be settled at Ascot on Saturday...

Friday, Hoppegarten, Germany, post time: 13:20, 35TH WETTSTAR.DE - PREIS DER DEUTSCHEN EINHEIT-G3, €55,000, 3yo/up, 10fT Field: Atoso (Ger) (Guiliani {Ire}), Petit Marin (Ger) (Flamingo Fantasy {Ger}), Quest The Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), Koffi Kick (Ger) (Zarak {Fr}), Delgardo (Ger) (Best Solution {Ire}), Eagle Emblem (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), Santagada (GB) (Soldier Hollow {GB}). TDN Analysis: Stall Salzburg's veteran Quest The Moon, successful seven times at pattern-race level and winner of this event last year, confirmed his well-being with a defeat of Petit Marin, Atoso and Eagle...

Major Dick Hern and Enable have been named as the latest inductees to the British Horseracing Hall of Fame, with their induction ceremony set to take place on Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot on October 18. The brilliant Juddmonte homebred Enable raced for five seasons, garnering 11 Group 1 victories in four different countries. The daughter of Nathaniel made history by becoming the first horse to win the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes three times. She is also one of only eight horses to win the Prix...

The majority of the season's stars have held their ground after the latest acceptance stage for Britain's richest race day, the QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on October 18. In the £1.3-million QIPCO Champion Stakes, the 2024 winner Anmaat (Awtaad) will lock horns with the G1 Princes Of Wales's Stakes/G1 Juddmonte International Stakes hero Ombudsman (Night Of Thunder) and G1 Eclipse Stakes winner Delacroix (Dubawi). Also entered in that contest is the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Calandagan (Gleneagles), 2024 G1 Irish Champion Stakes scorer...

Howden and Ascot have renewed their partnership for another five years until 2030, the racecourse announced on Thursday. The partnership, which began in 2021, underscores both organisations' commitment to excellence in horse racing and the broader equine industry and ensures continued collaboration across all Ascot racedays, with Howden's branding prominently featured around Ascot Racecourse, including throughout Royal Ascot. The Howden Christmas Racing Weekend has also become a highlight of the festive season, featuring prominent races such as the G1 Howden Long Walk Hurdle and the G2 Howden Noel Novices' Chase....

Merely a satisfactory debut for Raaheeb (Sea The Stars) at Ascot on Friday would have sufficed, but Shadwell's brother to Baaeed and Hukum was in the winning mood to earn instant TDN Rising Star status with a certain bright future ahead. Almost certainly still a work in progress if pedigree is any guide, the Owen Burrows-trained 7-4 favourite was asked to take control by Jim Crowley approaching the furlong pole and readily asserted for a 1 1/4-length verdict over Pompette (New Bay). "We liked him at home, but he's so...

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. Friday's Observations features a full-brother to a modern-day great. 2.20 Ascot, Mdn, 2yo, 7fT RAAHEEB (IRE) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is the day's big news, as the ninth foal out of Shadwell's elite broodmare Aghareed (Kingmambo) responsible so far for one of the best to grace the silks in...