Doncaster

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 Observations features a seven-figure sales graduate. 14.40 Sandown, Mdn, £10,000, 2yo, 7fT Godolphin's RULING COURT (Justify) caused a stir when realising a whopping €2.3-million at this year's Arqana Breeze-Up sale and makes his eagerly awaited debut in a contest won in recent years by Arabian Crown (Fr) (Dubawi...

Unbeaten Regent's Stroll (Ire) (Walk In The Park {Ire}) set a new world record for a NH horse-in-training when the 5-year-old gelding dropped the hammer at £660,000 to Tom Malone and Paul Nicholls at the Goffs Summer Sale on Monday. Regent's Stroll (Ire) (lot 67) is set to remain in the care of Nicholls in Ditcheat after selling to the 14-time British champion trainer and bloodstock agent Malone after a spirited bidding war. Bred by Rita Kent, Regent's Stroll is one of five winners out of the unraced Pretty Puttens...

Aidan O'Brien dominates the entries for the G1 Betfred St Leger, which takes place at Doncaster on Saturday, September 14. Of the 25 entries, O'Brien is responsible for no fewer than 14 of them, headed by G1 Irish Derby hero Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and the unbeaten Jan Brueghel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). They could be joined at Doncaster by two of the stable's Royal Ascot winners in G2 Queen's Vase scorer Illinois (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})--last seen filling the runner-up spot in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris--and Port Fairy...

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 Observations features a returning winner by American freshman sire Maximum Security. 13.40 Clairefontaine, Cond, €34,000, 2yo, 8fT ROSA SALVAJE (IRE) (Maximum Security) is one of very few by her sire running in Europe and got off to the ideal start when winning at Saint-Cloud last month. Ecurie Francky...

Betfred will be the new sponsor of Newmarket's 2,000 Guineas and 1,000 Guineas from 2025 onwards, it was announced on Thursday. The multi-year agreement means the bookmaker will become the first brand to sponsor all five of Britain's Classics--the others being the Betfred Oaks and Betfred Derby at Epsom and Doncaster's Betfred St Leger--at the same time. To mark their sponsorship of the prestigious contests, Betfred have also announced that a £2-million bonus will be on offer to connections of any horse who completes the 'Betfred Triple Crown' by winning...

After the excitement of the Derby, there was a moment of futurity at the start of Doncaster's evening meeting on Saturday as Twafeeg (Ire) (Far Above {Ire}--Disko {Ire}, by Kodiac {GB}) became the latest TDN Rising Star with her impresive success in the 6 1/2-furlong maiden. Sent off at 18-1, the Archie Watson-trained newcomer from the first crop of Starfield Stud's resident tanked her way to the front soon after the start under Connor Beasley. Sent clear passing the two-furlong pole, Sheikh Hamed Dalmook Al Maktoum's 65,000gns Tattersalls Book 3...

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. Saturday's Observations features an expensive juvenile. 17.08 Doncaster, Mdn, £6,800, 2yo, f, 6f 111yT ARABIAN DUSK (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) represents the Shaikh Duaij Al Khalifa and Simon and Ed Crisford connection successful in the G2 Norfolk S. in 2019 with A'Ali (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}). This filly, who...

After three days of selling, the Goffs UK Doncaster Spring Sale ended with horse-in-training Mossy Fen Park (Ire) (Walk In The Park {Ire}) (lot 721) topping Thursday's trade at £235,000. Bought by Henry de Bromhead and Gerry Ahern, the 5-year-old gelding is a winner of both a point-to-point and a hurdle race, and he was second in the G2 Hardy Eustace Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Mar. 31. A part of the Dullingham Park dispersal, the bay is related to a trio of stakes-winning jumpers, with Viking Flagship (Ire) (Viking)...

Impressive on debut at Kempton earlier this month, Michelle Morris and Jan and Peter Hopper's homebred Kind Of Blue (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}--Blues Sister {GB}, by Compton Place {GB}) defied a penalty to earn TDN Rising Star status at Doncaster on Saturday evening. Keen early under Danny Muscutt's restraint behind the leader Ananda (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the card's six-furlong novice won in 2018 by future sprinting bigwig Equilateral (GB) (Equiano {Fr}), the 11-4 second favourite was the only one able to live with that 2-1 market leader. Arriving at...

Henry Beeby has opened the door to Goffs embracing the publication of official times and other data at its newly slated breeze-up sale at Naas racecourse next year but admitted that such a move was unlikely to be met with universal approval from the breeze-up fraternity.  No consignor would be more staunchly against the re-introduction of official times at the breeze-up sales in Europe than Brendan Holland. The Grove Stud operator says official times would create an increased reliance on the clock and would ultimately drive down clearance rates at...

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 pricy auction purchase. 16.00 Cork, Mdn, €12,000, 3yo, 12f 25yT Aidan O'Brien trainee HIGHBURY (FR) (Galileo {Ire}) is a full-brother to the stakes-placed Friendly Face (Ire) out of G3 Prix d'Arenberg victrix and G1 Cheveley Park S. third High Celebrity (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Opposition...

DONCASTER, UK--Royal Ascot dreams abound for the connections of Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), who not only have that unbeaten star to look forward to, but a host of high-class two-year-old prospects as well after Anthony Stroud snapped up speedy fillies by Havana Grey (GB) and Sioux Nation (lot 119) to the tune of £720,000 on behalf of the ownership group at the Goffs Breeze-Up Sale. But Doncaster was dominated by the Derryconnor Stud-drafted diamond by Havana Grey, who led the way at £420,000 to provide top consignor Katie McGivern...