G2 Norfolk S.

Amo Racing's longshot G2 Norfolk S. winner Valiant Force (Malibu Moon) will target the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, trainer Adrian Murray revealed. The colt has already secured a spot in the starting gate at Santa Anita Park in California on Nov. 3 as the race was a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series qualifier for the Future Stars Friday card. "He's probably going to be aimed at the Breeders' Cup now in November," Murray said. "He will more than likely run before then but having talked to the owner he...

All the talk before Thursday's G2 Norfolk S. centred around American Rascal (Curlin) and Elite Status (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), but it was the 150-1 shot Valiant Force (Malibu Moon--Vigui's Heart, by Quality Road) who held sway to provide Amo Racing with a breakthrough first Royal Ascot winner. Runner-up to His Majesty (Ire) (No Nay Never) on debut in the Listed First Flier S., the Adrian Murray-trained $100,000 Keeneland September yearling was discounted by the betting public due to his latest fifth despite having excuses in the G3 Marble Hill...

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...

Midnight Mile (Ire) (No Nay Never) will make her 3-year-old bow in the G3 Musidora S. at York in May, according to trainer Richard Fahey, who also set early season targets for several stable stars. Last seen in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland when she was fourth to Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never), the bay filly was a debut winner at Doncaster in July and followed that with a victory in the G3 Oh So Sharp S. at Newmarket in October. Fahey will have her skip...

The winners of Gulfstream Park's $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile S. and $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies S., both set for May 13, each will earn an automatic entry into one of Royal Ascot's six 2-year-old races. The two five-furlong turf events will be the first-ever U.S. automatic qualifiers for a race at Royal Ascot. Additionally, the connections will receive a $25,000 equine travel stipend. "1/ST RACING is thrilled to announce this new global partnership with Ascot Racecourse," Aidan Butler, Chief Executive Officer, 1/ST Racing & Gaming, said. "Gulfstream Park is...

Amo Racing has lodged an appeal against the result of the G2 Norfolk S. during the 2022 Royal Ascot meeting. Their horses Walbank (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) and Crispy Cat (GB) (Ardad {Ire}) were second and third in that race to The Ridler (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}). The winner veered abruptly across the course late in the five furlong contest, which impeded Crispy Cat and Brave Nation (Ire) (Sioux Nation), who finished fourth. Jockey Paul Hanagan received a 10-day ban for careless riding aboard the winner. The winning margin was 1...

Dreams came true in Royal Ascot's opener on Thursday for Steve Bradley as his homebred The Ridler (GB) (Brazen Beau {Aus}--Colorada {GB}, by Lope de Vega {Ire}) came out on top in the G2 Norfolk S. to gain a 'Win and You're In' berth at the Breeders' Cup. Let go at 50-1, the bay who had hidden his light under a bushel up to this point did not earn it without controversy, however, in a race that is certain to attract heated debate for some time to come. A promising...

Group 2 winner Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) is a likely supplement for the Aug. 8 G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. at The Curragh according to trainer Richard Fahey. Third at first asking at Newcastle near the end of May, the bay graduated at Hamilton on June 9 and clawed out a narrow win in the G2 Norfolk S. at Royal ascot on June 17. However, the Phoenix is not the only race being looked at by his connections, with the G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack S. also under consideration...

Saturday's G2 Railway S. hero Go Bears Go (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) will be pointed to the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. at The Curragh on Aug. 8. Owned by Kia Joorabchian's Amo Racing Limited and P. Waney, Go Bears Go broke his maiden at Ascot on May 8 and was a close second in the G2 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot on June 17. "We were obviously thrilled with the horse, especially after going so close at Royal Ascot," said trainer David Loughnane. "We've got six weeks until the Phoenix...

G2 Norfolk S. hero The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire}) will start next in either the G2 Flying Childers S. at Doncaster on Sept. 11 or the G1 Middle Park S. at Newmarket on Sept. 26. Runner-up by only a short head in the G2 Prix Robert Papin at Chantilly on July 19, the bay was third, promoted to second, in the G1 Phoenix S. at The Curragh on Aug. 9. Qatar Racing purchased The Lir Jet after a winning debut at Yarmouth. Bell said, "He's come out...