Cracksman (GB)

If seeing top-class racehorses in the flesh is the kind of thing you're into, then the inaugural NH Stallion Open Weekend - organised by the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (TBA), in association with the British EBF - had just about everything that you could ask for, with the exception of the muscle-bound sprinters that have proliferated at Flat studs in recent years. A total of 20 stallions, mostly of the more stamina-laden variety, paraded for onlookers across the two days, with seven different farms opening their doors. It was a star-studded...

The dual Champion Stakes winner Cracksman will stand for a fee of £8,500 when he embarks on his first season at Yorton Stud in 2026. The son of Frankel recently relocated to Welshpool following seven seasons at Darley's Dalham Hall Stud, during which time he sired 12 black-type winners on the Flat, headed by the unbeaten Prix du Jockey Club and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Ace Impact. Cracksman, who has also produced a number of talented performers over jumps, including this year's Galway Hurdle winner Ndaawi, will stand...

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 exciting newcomer at Newcastle. 5.45 Newcastle, Novice, 2yo, f 8f 5y (AWT) BRILLIANT STAR (GB) (Cracksman {GB}) is the second foal out of Anthony Oppenheimer's Irish Oaks, Prix Vermeille and British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes heroine Star Catcher (Sea The Stars), who started her...

The dual G1 Champion Stakes winner and young stallion Cracksman is on the move to Yorton Stud for the 2026 breeding season, having been purchased in a partnership with owner Dai Walters. The son of Frankel has been based at Darley's Dalham Hall Stud since 2019 and is perhaps best known in his second career as the sire of the unbeaten G1 Prix du Jockey Club and G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Ace Impact. In total, he is the sire of 11 individual black-type winners, with the others...

Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's Waardah (Postponed), a G1 Yorkshire Oaks entry, notched a black-type breakthrough at Goodwood in June and revisited the Sussex Downs venue to claim a career high with a battling victory in Saturday's 14-furlong G2 Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes. "Callum [Rodriguez] said Waardah switched off great and, in hindsight, he probably got there a little bit too soon," explained Owen Burrows. "She is inexperienced, but very honest, and we are still learning about her. When the runner-up came to her, I thought she was going to get...

When a Sir Mark Prescott newcomer comes in for money, you know it's a classy animal and Moon Target (Cracksman) delivered the gamble in style on debut at Newmarket on Saturday. Prominent throughout under Oisin Murphy, Cheveley Park's 5-2 favourite who hails from the family of Frankel's Inspiral turned the two-year-old fillies' seven-furlong maiden into a procession when scoring by 5 1/2 lengths. Oh, hello .... (Cracksman) dazzles on debut in the @Juddmonte @BritishEBF fillies' maiden @NewmarketRace ⚪️@HeathHouseNkt | @CPStudOfficial pic.twitter.com/cvtKxIVPut — Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 19, 2025 The dam...

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 an offspring of Gossamer Wings. 1.30 Curragh, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, c/g, 7fT ACTION (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) is the third foal out of the G2 Queen Mary runner-up Gossamer Wings (Scat Daddy), whose second is the current Derby and Irish Derby hero Lambourn by Galileo's Australia. Wayne...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victories of Sapphire Beach and Hey Nay Nay. No Nay Never Sires Pair Of Juvenile Debut Winners Sapphire Beach, flying the flag for Three Diamonds Farm, won a five-furlong sprint over a sloppy Churchill main track on May 30 (video). Trained by George "Rusty" Arnold, the Charlie Brooks-bred re-rallied to finish second after being cut off by the winner, and the placings were reversed in...

Anthony Oppenheimer's Queen Of Thieves (GB) (Frankel {GB}), a homebred full-sister to dual G1 Champion Stakes hero Cracksman (GB), was fresh off a recent third on seasonal return at Newbury and shed maiden status in style with an 11-length tally in Tuesday's Weekend Winners On Sky Sports Racing Maiden Fillies' Stakes at Great Yarmouth. Breaking swiftly and holding sway throughout, the 5-6 favourite was untroubled on the front end and powered ever clear under whipless cajoling inside the final quarter-mile, hitting the line with a wide-margin buffer back to the...

Sunday's G1 Grosser Allianz Preis von Bayern, the final Group 1 event of the season in Europe, has attracted a field of 11. The 12-furlong heat marks the return of Charlie Appleby trainee Ancient Wisdom (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}), who comes back off a win in July's G3 Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket. Last term's G1 Futurity Trophy hero finished a well-beaten eighth in Epsom's G1 Derby in his penultimate start. "We had this race pencilled in for Ancient Wisdom for some time, hoping that the ground would be on the soft...

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. Friday's Observations features a sister to Group 1 winner and sire Cracksman (GB). 2.08 Doncaster, Mdn, £40,000, 2yo, f, 8fT QUEEN OF THIEVES (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is a big-deal runner for Anthony Oppenheimer and the Gosdens in a maiden the stable won two years ago with Frankel's eventual Oaks...

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 Observations features 'TDN Rising Star' Ocean of Dreams on his bid to get his season back on track as well as the debuting full-brother to four-time Group 1-winning Ghaiyyath. 15.35 Gowran, Cond, €200,000, 3yo, 9f 100yT OCEAN OF DREAMS (IRE) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) bids to get back on...