EYDON

Be careful what you read on social media. Or perhaps that should be, be careful how you read what's on social media.  This dim-witted hack got a little over-excited during the week when seeing a post by Ted Voute about Eydon foals. Had Prince Faisal decided to do a Gentleman's Deal with his strapping homebred and cover a few mares while the horse remained in training? Fear not, dear reader, we're on the case. Regrettably, though, instead of bringing you a scoop about Eydon's new dual-purpose career as both stallion...

The connections of the half-dozen European raiders among a field of 11 for Sunday's HK$26-million Longines Hong Kong Vase (2400m) will have been mostly pleased with the outcome of the barrier draw, which was held in the state-of-the-art parade ring at Sha Tin Racecourse Thursday morning. Resolute Racing and Baron Philip Von Ullman's Goliath (Adlerflug) makes a second trip across to Hong Kong in the space of eight months, having finished a disappointing ninth to Tastiera (Jpn) (Satono Crown {Jpn}) at a fairly short price in the G1 FWD QE...

Prince Faisal's Eydon hasn't been the easiest horse to train over the years, but the perseverance of his connections paid off in spades at San Siro Racecourse on Sunday when the six-year-old gained his biggest success to date in the G2 Gran Premio del Jockey Club - S.I.R.E. Trofeo Pio Bruni. Sparingly raced since finishing fourth in the G1 2,000 Guineas won by Coroebus (Dubawi), the son of Olden Times showed that he retains plenty of ability when winning May's G3 Aston Park Stakes at Newbury, before another training setback...

Despite having flown to Lexington as recently as Tuesday, there was never any chance of Ted Voute not being at Deauville this weekend, with the jet-setting adviser to Prince Faisal describing himself as "quietly quite excited" about the prospects of Sajir when the son of Make Believe lines up in Sunday's G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest. After gaining a second Group 3 triumph in April's Abernant Stakes at Newmarket, Sajir was then conceding 2lb to his conqueror, Topgear (Wootton Bassett), when filling the runner-up spot in the Prix du Palais-Royal...

Kalpana might have been missing from Andrew Balding's Royal Ascot squad, but the trainer now heads to the Curragh with his stable star in tow and a spring in his step, buoyed by what was a "fantastic" week in Berkshire which yielded four winners from Park House Stables. Top billing went to the two-year-old Humidity who, having been considered Balding's best chance of a winner at the start of the week, duly delivered with a gutsy performance to land the Listed Chesham Stakes on the final day of the meeting....

Eydon (Ire) (Olden Times {GB}) has been confirmed to start in Saturday's G1 Cazoo Derby at Epsom, according to trainer Roger Varian. "I'm pleased to say the horse is in great form and following discussions with his owner, Prince A A Faisal, we plan to run in the Derby at Epsom on Saturday and not the [G1] Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly on Sunday." Kicking off the season with a runner-up finish going a mile at Newcastle in February, the dark bay took the nine-furlong Feilden S. Apr. 14...

Ralph Becket is a man who knows a thing or two about Epsom glory, given he trained Look Here (GB) (Hernando {GB}) and Talent (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) to win the Oaks, and he will be bidding to make the Cazoo Derby breakthrough with Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who was reported to have had a positive experience at the track on Monday.  Meanwhile, Roger Varian revealed that 2000 Guineas fourth Eydon (Ire) (Olden Times {GB}) was not a certain starter in the Derby, despite the fact the trainer was impressed...