Charlie Johnston

Derby runner-up Lazy Griff has been ruled out of next week's G1 Betfred St Leger at Doncaster after suffering a setback. Last seen finishing third in the G1 Irish Derby at the Curragh, the son of Protectionist was a 4/1 shot with the sponsors to provide owners Middleham Park Racing with a first British Classic success on Town Moor, but those dreams have now been dashed. "He's met with a setback," confirmed Middleham Park's Mike Prince. "He was due to do his last piece of work before the Leger on...

Owners Middleham Park Racing will have to play the waiting game before firming up riding arrangements for St Leger contender Lazy Griff, with Christophe Soumillon now heading to Leopardstown to deputise for the injured Ryan Moore aboard some of Ballydoyle's leading lights. Soumillon, who was in the saddle when the son of Protectionist filled the runner-up spot in the Derby at Epsom, had been lined up for the ride, but connections have been forced into a rethink as a result of the Belgian-born jockey's recent change in circumstances. William Buick...

G2 Great Voltigeur runner-up Carmers (Wootton Bassett) is one of 15 horses remaining in the G1 St Leger at Doncaster next month at the latest entry stage. Trained by Paddy Twomey, he represents Fiona Carmichael. A winner at Ballinrobe at first asking in May, Carmers added the Listed Yeats Stakes to his haul at Navan later that month before claiming Royal Ascot glory in the G2 Queen's Vase in June. The Great Voltigeur was his first defeat. "We were very happy with him at York last week, finishing second in...

Amo Racing's Tattersalls October Book 1 millionaire Ancient Egypt (Frankel) registered a half-length debut win tackling an extended seven furlongs at Beverley last month and delivered a TDN Rising Star performance, racing under a seven-pound penalty, upped to one mile in Sunday's British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes at Goodwood. "It was a messy, stop-start race, but the benefit was that he had something to aim at," said Charlie Johnston. "He was still a little bit gawky when he did hit the front and it looked to me that there...

Amo Racing's Ancient Egypt (Frankel) had already caused a stir when knocked down for 1,100,000gns at last year's Tattersalls October Book 1 sale and he made a winning debut for the Charlie Johnston stable in Tuesday's EBF Novice Stakes at Beverley. "Nothing but winning would have done today and we'd have been disappointed with second," admitted Mark Johnston. "He got a bit warm and was coltish beforehand, so I was a little bit concerned. The race didn't pan out exactly as planned and it took a little while for the...

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. Tuesday's Observations features an expensive newcomer for Amo Racing. 15.20 Beverley, £7,500, Nov, 2yo, 7f 96yT Amo Racing's hitherto unraced ANCIENT EGYPT (IRE) (Frankel {GB}), a Charlie Johnston-conditioned 1,100,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 graduate, is out of a full-sister to multiple Group 1-winning distaffer Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB})...

EPSOM DOWNS, UK -- Forty years ago, back in those heady days of the 1980s, Slip Anchor slipped the field under Steve Cauthen to land the Derby by seven lengths and all felt right with the world. A Derby winner by a Derby winner by a Derby winner.  And here we are again. Lambourn, by Australia, by Galileo (and let's not forget Australia's dam, the mighty Ouija Board): an all-the-way Derby winner by almost four lengths. "He'll stay a while," said a smiling Wayne Lordan, so deservedly now a Derby-winning...

Gallop Racing's G3 Sweet Solera S. fifth Carolina Reaper (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}--Dark Promise {GB}, by Shamardal) lined up as the 9-5 favourite for Wednesday's 150th Renate & Albrecht Woeste Zukunfts-Rennen at Baden-Baden, Germany's first juvenile Group-race contest of the year, and became the third pattern-race winner for her freshman sire (by Dubawi {Ire}) with a last-gasp triumph in the seven-furlong Iffezheim feature. The March-foaled bay had earlier registered a sixth over the same trip in Royal Ascot's Listed Chesham S., before breaking through at Newmarket in her penultimate...

Robson Aguiar showered Tuesday's Doncaster Premier Yearling Sale-topping Wootton Bassett (GB) colt with praise by comparing him to his Group 1 winner Bucanero Fuerte (GB) and said £200,000 could prove to be good value for the colt in time.  The leading breeze-up handler, who also plays a major role in the Amo Racing operation, flew back to Ireland following inspections but lot 48 clearly made a lasting impression with Aguiar, who saw off stiff opposition for the Highclere Stud-drafted colt remotely. Speaking after the sale, Aguiar said, "He really reminded...

Purchased privately by Nurlan Bizakov following her success in the Newmarket July Festival's six-furlong fillies' maiden, the Charlie Johnston-trained Sacred Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) provided instant justification for the acquisition by making all in Ascot's G3 Bateaux London Princess Margaret S. on Saturday. Electric from her outside stall under Jason Hart, the 16-1 shot who was a £52,000 purchase for original owners the Titanium Racing Club at the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Sale, had pressure throughout but shook it off to go clear inside the final furlong. Veering left...

Group 1 winner Dubai Mile (Ire) (Roaring Lion) sustained an injury to his near-hind fetlock in a piece of work at Martyn and Freddie Meade's on Monday, and has been ruled out for the remainder of the season. "We were preparing him to run in the [G2] Sky Bet York S. when he suffered a conjugal fracture on his near-hind fetlock, so it is an absolute tragedy," Martyn Meade told the Press Association. "We were giving him his last bit of work yesterday on our watered peat moss gallop, which...

Dual Group 1 winner Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}--Reckoning {Ire, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}) has been retired from racing, his former trainer Mark Johnston revealed on Friday afternoon. Stud plans for the 2021 Gold Cup winner are pending. The Dr. Jim Walker-owned 6-year-old is now trained by Mark's son Charlie. In his first start back from sustaining an injury after his Gold Cup victory, the March foal was unplaced in the G3 Red Sea Turf H. in Saudi Arabia in February. He bounced back with two third-place efforts in the G2...