G1 Gold Cup

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. Tuesday's Insights features the half-sister to G1 Gold Cup hero Courage Mon Ami (GB) (Frankel {GB}). 18.00 Southwell, Nov, £6,600, 2yo, 7f 14y (AWT) John and Thady Gosden trainee DANIELLE (GB) (Cracksman {GB}) is kin to five black-type performers headed by this year's G1 Gold Cup hero Courage Mon...

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...

It's the transfer window over in Europe--and not just because they're between soccer seasons. They have also seen big money paid, both at auction and in private trade, to switch jockey silks at Royal Ascot this week. A couple of the top races have been won by a significant new investor, Wathnan Racing. Apparently, the people involved were eager to maintain a low profile, but it's tricky to remain incognito when the meeting's most storied trophy is being presented by the new King of England while Frankie Dettori, that least...

Burying the unhappiness of his loss on Stradivarius at what turned out to be a controversial Royal Ascot 12 months ago, Frankie Dettori sealed immortality at the track that has done so much to elevate him with a heartstopping G1 Gold Cup victory on Wathnan Racing's Courage Mon Ami (GB) (Frankel {GB}--Crimson Ribbon, by Lemon Drop Kid). Capping a day of days in the history of the distinguished meeting, what amounted to a brilliant piece of placing by the Gosdens saw the untried and raw 4-year-old defy all this great...

If there is a trend for the G1 Gold Cup that can't be ignored, it's the potency of 4-year-olds in recent times and Thursday's renewal features a trio who all carry much intrigue into the contest. In a race void of the benchmark horse Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and 2022's emerging force Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the most open Gold Cup in years is once again there for the young fledgling stayers. Since 2012, there have been nine individual winners and all bar Big Orange (GB) (Duke Of...

Classic hero Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who races for KHK Racing, Ltd., has exited his second-place effort in the G2 Yorkshire Cup in excellent order, and is pointing toward Royal Ascot's G1 Gold Cup. Trained by Roger Varian, the 4-year-old entire won the G2 Queen's Vase during the iconic meeting last year, and, after a fourth-place run in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris, won the G1 St Leger in September. Unplaced in the G2 British Champions Long Distance Cup, Eldar Eldarov was conceding anywhere from two to five...

A winner of the 2021 G1 Gold Cup at Ascot, Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) will point to the 2023 edition without another prep race, trainer Charlie Johnston revealed on Wednesday. Raced by Dr. Jim Walker, the 6-year-old entire has returned to the races after sustaining a tendon injury later in 2021. Unplaced in the G3 Red Sea Turf H. in Riyadh at the end of February, he was much improved when third in the G2 Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan on Mar. 25. He won that Meydan contest in 2021....

Dual Classic runner-up Mojo Star (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is targeting the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in June, Tom Pennington, the racing and operations manager for owner Amo Racing, revealed on Friday. Pennington said of the Richard Hannon trainee, "I saw Mojo Star last week and he looks fantastic. He's working away and, touch wood, he's sound and in great form. "He's moving well and Richard couldn't be happier with him at the moment, so hopefully it's going to be an exciting season for him." Second in...

There has been no shortage of talking points at Royal Ascot this week but, perhaps the most controversial incident of them all came in the opening race on Thursday, when Paul Hanagan received a 10-day careless riding ban for veering halfway across the track en route to victory in the G2 Norfolk S. aboard The Ridler (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}). From that controversy to another forgettable afternoon's work for Frankie Dettori, out of luck aboard Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the G1 Gold Cup and The Queen's 2-5...

Thursday's G1 Gold Cup maintained its place at the heart of Royal Ascot with a thrilling and dramatic finale as Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Ryan Moore outgunned Mojo Star (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) and Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), with the latter falling foul to ill fortune for the second consecutive year. Sent off the 13-8 favourite on the back of his wins in Navan's Listed Vintage Crop S. Apr. 23 and Leopardstown's G3 Saval Beg Levmoss S. May 13, Kyprios who represents the consortium of Moyglare...

If Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) could talk, and by now it's almost as if he can, he would probably sound like Ali as he approaches his own version of the legendary "Rumble In the Jungle" at an Ascot with a suitably high reading on the thermometor. "I'm gonna dance!" he would shout. "There's nothing to be scared of." Whether he's been busy handcuffing lightning or chopping down trees ahead of his great hour fighting to regain his title in Thursday's G1 Gold Cup only connections know, but his...

Group 1 winner Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}), who had been aiming to defend his title in the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in June, will remain benched for 2022, but could still make a comeback in 2023, according to co-trainer Charlie Johnston. The news was first reported by Racing Post. "We felt that to be ready in time for Ascot he'd have to go back into work now and as it's really only eight months since the injury was sustained-we don't feel it's quite long enough," said Johnston. "We've...