Asfoora

Aussie speedball Asfoora has been given the go-ahead by her connections to defend her title in the G1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York on August 21. The daughter of Flying Artie has accrued a trio of European Group 1s over the past couple of seasons, anchored by the 2024 King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot, and the 2025 editions of the Nunthorpe and France's Prix de l'Abbaye. Although winless in five 2026 appearances, the eight-year-old mare was a close fourth in the G2 King George Stakes for trainer Henry Dwyer...

After Royal Ascot and Newmarket July, Goodwood grasps the baton on Tuesday as the British summer Festival scene heads south. Barring any unwelcome sea frets that can at times envelop these picturesque Sussex Downs, this week's action at the Qatar-sponsored jamboree should make for some spectacle. Headlining the opening day of what is traditionally termed "Glorious Goodwood" is the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup, now firmly established as a Group 1 and the natural sequel to the Ascot Gold Cup. Part of the old staying triple crown that includes the Doncaster...

Asfoora is likely to have "one last hurrah" at Goodwood before being retired to the paddocks, according to her trainer Henry Dwyer, who said he cannot put his finger on why the multiple Group 1-winning sprinter ran so poorly at Sandown on Saturday.  "We've not made a decision, we're just going to give ourselves the next couple of weeks," Dwyer told SEN's Giddy Up show. "She's booked to go into quarantine on July 31 so she can't really come home earlier anyway, the race that she can run in here...

Chief executive William Derby is thrilled with the quality of the entries for the Group 1 races staged at York's Ebor Festival in August, with defending champion Ombudsman (Night Of Thunder) and 2024 runner-up Calandagan (Gleneagles) featuring among 30 horses in contention for the £1.5 million Juddmonte International. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, Ombudsman was last seen winning the G1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot for the second consecutive year, while Calandagan is set to return to action in Sunday's G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, having floundered...

Australian native Henry Dwyer is set to ramp up his involvement in European racing having been granted a trainer's licence by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA). Dwyer is best known in this part of the world for his exploits with the high-class sprinter Asfoora (Flying Artie), a regular visitor to these shores in recent years. In 2024, Asfoora announced herself to European racing fans with a first top-level success in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot, while last year she followed a fifth-place finish in the corresponding race...

Forever Young (Real Steel) was a surprise name among a star-studded list of 24 entries for the G1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. The GI Breeders' Cup Classic and dual G1 Saudi Cup hero would be having his first start on turf if lining up at Ascot for trainer Yoshito Yahagi, who is now a regular presence on the world stage with victories in Dubai, America, Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong. Whilst Yahagi is still waiting for his first success in Britain and Ireland, he did...

Calandagan, winner of the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Champion Stakes, has been named Cartier Horse of the Year. He becomes the fourth horse bred by the Aga Khan Studs to be given that honour following Daylami (1999), Dalakhani (2003) and Zarkava (2008).  By Gleneagles, who was himself the Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt of 2014, Calandagan is the first Cartier winner for the operation since the passing of His Highness Aga Khan IV in February. Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, the four-year-old has won three consecutive Group 1 contests...

Sunday, Curragh, post time: 16:25, COMER GROUP INTERNATIONAL IRISH ST LEGER-G1, €290,000, 3yo/up, 14fT Field: Al Qareem (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}), Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Crystal Black (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), Dallas Star (Fr) (Cloth Of Stars {Ire}), Illinois (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Leinster (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Queenstown (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Waldadler (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), Amiloc (GB) (Postponed {Ire}). TDN Analysis: Now that Al Riffa has proven his stamina for this trip with a clear-cut win in the G2 Curragh Cup, he holds obvious claims but last year's St Leger runner-up...

Ryusei Sakai is savouring a second tilt at the G1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday, with last year's third Shin Emperor (Siyouni) featuring among 12 horses standing their ground after Tuesday's confirmation stage. Japanese raider Shin Emperor, trained by Yoshito Yahagi, delighted connections in an early workout on Tuesday, with Sakai saying afterwards, "He worked this morning on the Curragh Racecourse with his partner horse and he felt very well, very comfortable. I was very happy with the gallop. He is a more mature and stronger horse...

Smart juvenile Lady Iman was supplemented for the G1 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes on August 22. She is the first 2-year-old to be supplemented for the York sprint since Kingsgate Native (Mujadil) in 2007. Supplemented by her connections at a cost of £40,000, the G3 Molecomb Stakes heroine is one of 19 set to take part as of Saturday. Trained by Ger Lyons, the bay will be ridden by noted lightweight rider Joe Fanning. Joining the daughter of Starman is the fellow 2-year-old filly and supplement Spicy Marg (Starspanglebanner),...

After Newmarket received a proper drenching on Thursday, Goodwood hopefuls Docklands (Massaat) and Asfoora (Flying Artie) took to the soft turf of the July Course for a spin ahead of their major-race targets next week. Partnered by Ted Durcan, the five-year-old Docklands, hero of last month's G1 Queen Anne Stakes, looked relaxed both pre- and post-work and had an easy stretch over Newmarket's undulations, making the most of a rare chance in an otherwise dry, hot summer to gallop on grass.  "It was as much a mental exercise for him...

With the exception of Ballydoyle's hot prospect 2-year-old Albert Einstein, there are no key figures missing from Royal Ascot's opening card on Tuesday and the scene is set for the first of the week's moments of truth. With the St James's Palace featuring the winners of the 2,000 Guineas, Irish 2,000 Guineas and "French 2,000 Guineas" and the Queen Anne boasting all the elite milers of Europe and a bit extra, the standard has been met again in the year which celebrates the 200th anniversary of the Royal Procession. From...