G1 Prix de Royallieu

Is there an adequate Japanese proverb that conveys the nation's unflinching endeavour to win the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe? Perhaps "Ishi no ue ni mo san nen", to sit patiently on a cold stone for three years which relates to the power of perseverance, or "Nana korobi ya oki", to fall seven times and get up eight, or "Mateba kairo no hiyori ari". The latter points to waiting out the unpredictable to choose the right route and ultimately prevail. Since the country's first real go in 1999...

Fiona Carmichael's Carmers (Wootton Bassett) will not be seen again this season, trainer Paddy Twomey revealed. Undefeated in his first three starts including the Listed Yeats Stakes at Navan in May and the G2 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot, the colt ran second in the G2 Great Voltigeur Stakes in August. Tried in the G1 St Leger, Carmers was fifth to Scandinavia (Justify) at Doncaster this month. "He's in good form and came out of it well, but won't do anything else this year," said Twomey. "He's an exciting horse...

Fresh off a game effort to win the G2 Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster, Santorini Star (Golden Horn) will target the G1 Prix de Royallieu on Arc weekend, revealed co-owner Tony Bloom's racing manager Sean Graham. The Bloom and Ian McAleavy runner is searching for a first Group 1 triumph and will be routed accordingly. A consistent sort with six wins from 10 lifetime starts, the William Haggas trainee won a Goodwood handicap in May before running fourth in the Listed Pontefract Castle Fillies' Stakes in June and she filled...

Usually brilliant, sometimes a reluctant star but never dull, Cheveley Park Stud's Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is back on familiar soil as she looks to end her illustrious career in style in Saturday's G1 Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket. Dominant over the high-class yardstick Mqse De Sevigne (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) under Frankie 12 months ago, the homebred who has garnered six at this level including a GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf has failed to make a mark so far this term for varying reasons and will need to...

There has barely been a stronger mile contest all season than Saturday's G1 Royal Bahrain Sun Chariot S., with a division dominated by the fillies set for another re-measuring as Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) goes to war with Homeless Songs (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) on Newmarket's Rowley Mile. While the division's best individual race remains the G1 Queen Anne S. in which Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) mastered Real World (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), the fact is that both have for different reasons subsequently left the building. Those...