Camelot (GB)

Recent G2 Middleton S. heroine Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}) is targeting the G1 Pretty Polly S. at the Curragh on June 29. The Juddmonte homebred, who is trained by Ralph Beckett, was also under consideration for the G1 Coronation Cup on May 31 at Epsom. In 2023, the filly was second in the G1 Irish Oaks and the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. "You're always hoping with a filly like her that she'll improve from three to four, that's not a given but I think we all felt...

Relishing front-running tactics, the Wertheimers' TDN Rising Star Pensee Du Jour (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) returned to winning ways in Monday's G2 Prix Corrida at Saint-Cloud. Never in any serious danger once Maxime Guyon had committed, the Andre Fabre-trained 7-5 favourite who was runner-up in ParisLongchamp's G3 Prix Allez France last month gave generously to score by 1 1/2 lengths from Quantanamera (Ger) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). It was at this track that Prix Rose de Mai started to look like a genuine Classic prospect last Spring when winning the Listed...

Putting another piece in the Derby puzzle on Sunday, Ballydoyle's unbeaten Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}--Frequential {GB}, by Dansili {GB}) marked his return with a workmanlike but promising win in Leopardstown's G3 Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial S. Last seen winning the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud, the 4-5 favourite sat off the tempo set by stablemate Euphoric (GB) (Frankel {GB}) under Wayne Lordan and after getting to the front a furlong out stayed on to beat that rival by a length, with the Dermot Weld trainee Taraj (Ire) (Churchill {Ire})...

Completing the first part of trainer Gavin Hernon's masterplan, Dun Shing Lee's Dare To Dream (Fr) (Camelot {GB}--Debutante {Fr}, by Gold Away {Ire}) made her foray to ParisLongchamp a successful one on Sunday as she captured the G3 Prix Vanteaux. Third behind Ballydoyle's Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the same afternoon's Leopardstown group 3 runner-up Kitty Rose (GB) (Invincible Army {Ire}) in The Curragh's G3 Staffordstown Stud S. when last sighted in October, the 9-1 shot was held up in rear early by Alexis Pouchin. Delivered wide with a surge...

Aidan O'Brien had experienced a famine of sorts since annexing 2010's G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud with Recital (Fr) (Montjeu {Ire}), but he was back in the familiar surroundings of Saint-Cloud's winner's circle after Ballydoyle second string Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}--Frequential {GB}, by Dansili {GB}) prevailed in a blanket finish to Sunday's latest renewal of the 10-furlong feature. The 67-10 chance found the necessary gears late on to register an ultimately impressive debut success tackling nine furlongs at Tipperary at the beginning of last month and was well away to...

The Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita in November is likely on the agenda for Classic winner Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), trainer Aidan O'Brien revealed on Sunday. The Coolmore and Westerberg colorbearer earned a trip to California with his triumph in Saturday's G1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown, a Breeders' Cup Challenge qualifying event for the 1 1/2-mile GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf. "The lads love the Breeders' Cup and he's a lovely horse for it," O'Brien said. "They will decide, but he'd love that ground. He's...

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. Thursday's Insights features TDN Rising Star Alexandroupolis. 18.55 Leopardstown, Listed, €40,000, 3yo, 14fT Coolmore and Westerberg's ALEXANDROUPOLIS (IRE) (Camelot {GB}) followed up his 'TDN Rising Star' performance at Galway last September with a third here in the Apr. 2 G3 Ballysax S. and encounters seven rivals in this Listed...

G1 Irish Oaks runner-up Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}) is likely for the G1 Yorkshire Oaks on Aug. 24, Barry Mahon, European racing manager for owner/breeder Juddmonte, confirmed on Wednesday. Trained by Ralph Beckett, the daughter of 2011 G1 Matron S. heroine Emulous (GB) (Dansili {GB}) has never been off the board in four starts. After breaking her maiden at Salisbury in September, she ran second in a listed at Newbury behind Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) making her 3-year-old bow, and was third behind that filly in the G2 Ribblesdale...

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. Monday's Insights feature a full-brother to high-class racehorse Never Ending Story (Ire), going two furlongs farther than that sibling did on debut last term. 17.20 Killarney, Mdn, €15,000, 2yo, 8f 20yT NAVY SEAL (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}) is introduced by Aidan O'Brien over the longest trip for a maiden in...

Sunday's G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup lived up to the billing and then some, with Ballydoyle's Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) making all and outbattling Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}) in a stirring finish to The Curragh's joint-feature of the day. Having put in one of those on-the-face-of-it underwhelming comeback performances that the stable's kingpins can when fifth in the G2 Mooresbridge S. here at the start of the month, last year's G1 Irish Champion S. hero took the requisite leap forward with Ryan Moore intent on taking no prisoners. Relishing...

High-quality racing across Ireland, France and Germany awaits the racing fraternity on Monday, with The Curragh's G2 Coolmore Stud Sottsass Irish EBF Mooresbridge S. seeing the return to the fray of Ballydoyle's key older campaigner Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). Plagued by muscular issues last term, the 2021 G1 Futurity Trophy winner still managed to upstage Onesto (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}) in Leopardstown's G1 Irish Champion S. on one of his better days in September and connections will be hoping that a clear run can see him...

Providing it survives a morning inspection, with the ground currently heavy and more rain forecast, Leopardstown's intriguing Sunday fixture will see a trio of Classic trials flooded with a big Ballydoyle presence including the exciting 'TDN Rising Star' Alexandroupolis (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). Due to make his eagerly-awaited second career start in the G3 P W McGrath Memorial Ballysax S., the centre of much attention at Rosegreen oozed class when beating his talented stablemate and eventual G1 Criterium International runner-up Espionage (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the extended mile maiden at Galway...