Horizon Dore (Fr)

Ascot is really where it all began for Frankie Dettori and after Saturday's opening salvo of QIPCO Champions Day it looked to have already given that farewell gift, but there was one final blessing to be bestowed on its favourite son as Amo Racing's King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}--Eldacar {GB}, by Verglas {Ire}) prevailed in the G1 QIPCO Champion S., a "Win and You're In" for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf. As deep into the feature 10-furlong contest as the final 100 yards, the glorious sign-off looked unlikely to...

As if conjuring the renowned Babet as a personal Tempest for his [probable] European goodbye, racing's true Duke of Milan rides back into his beloved Ascot on Saturday as the eye of the storm for a suitably dramatic instalment of the Qipco Champions Day. While this fixture has fast become a resounding success, despite its mid-October nook being that bit too far into the wet season to deliver a fair playing field, it always needs at least one dynamo per year to power it into the headlines. Officials are lucky...

Storm Babet has decided the final shape of the fields for Saturday's Qipco Champions Day fixture, with the softening ground ruling Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) out of the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. and making up Aidan O'Brien's mind as to where to point Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}). That four-times group 1 winner takes up his engagement in the QEII, leaving a total of nine to take part in the G1 Qipco Champion S. Heading the list for the 10-furlong highlight is last year's winner Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay...

Patrice Cottier trainee Horizon Dore (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}--Sweet Alabama {Fr}, by Enrique {GB}), who prevailed in July's G2 Prix Eugene Adam, doubled his pattern-race tally when snagging this month's G3 Prix du Prince d'Orange at ParisLongchamp and secured a fourth straight success when returning to the Bois de Boulogne venue for a taking victory Saturday's G2 Qatar Prix Dollar. Unhurried and settled back in the field to race several lengths off the clear leader Jack Darcy (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) in seventh until turning for home, the 7-10 favourite made eyecatching...

June's Listed Prix Ridgway victor Horizon Dore (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}--Sweet Alabama {Fr}, by Enrique {GB}) followed up that second black-type victory with a personal best in July's G2 Prix Eugene Adam at Saint-Cloud and added lustre to his palmares with an impressive triumph in Sunday's G3 Prix du Prince d'Orange at ParisLongchamp. Employing patient tactics several lengths off the tempo for the most part, the 3-5 favourite made effortless headway on the bridle in the straight to challenge with 300 metres remaining and powered clear once quickening to the fore...

   With no Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) lurking in Sunday's G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp, the way is clear for Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) to bag that elite contest that his portfolio demands. Having met his match in Ace Impact (Ire) in the 10 1/2-furlong G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly, Yeguada Centurion SL's G3 Prix de Guiche and G3 Prix la Force winner came up short against Cheveley Park Stud's high-class filly in Deauville's G1 Prix Jacques le Marois last month but that form...

Impressive in the Listed Prix Ridgway at ParisLongchamp last month, having chased home Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) in Chantilly's G3 Prix de Guiche, the Patrice Cottier-trained Horizon Dore (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}) showed what he is made of in Saturday's G2 Prix Eugene Adam at Saint-Cloud. Sitting off the early pace set by Knight To King (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), the even-money favourite who sports the Gousserie yellow-and-green brushed the Dermot Weld challenger aside with a 10.51 split from the two to the one and surged to an emphatic...

If there was any doubt who was the Cock Of The North among the French 3-year-old middle-distance colts heading into Tuesday's G3 Prix de Guiche, Yeguada Centurion's Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}--Hardiyna {Ire}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}) provided the emphatic answer with a dominant display at a rain-soaked Chantilly. Compared to Frankel (GB) by the commentary team of Racing Galop afterwards, the homebred first foal out of the owner-breeder's €72,000 Goffs November purchase from The Aga Khan's draft was more Old Vic (GB) as he sliced through...

Patrice Cottier trainee Horizon Dore (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}--Sweet Alabama (Fr), by Enrique {GB}) took his tally to a perfect two-for-two when annexing Monday's Listed Prix Delahante at Marseille-Borely. The gelded 2-year-old had posted a five-length debut win at Salon-de-Provence last month and bounded to another wide-margin triumph on black-type bow in the 8 1/2-furlong juvenile contest. Foiling a Cottier exacta, Harry Way (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) nailed Horizon Dore's stablemate Cambronne (Fr) (Alex The Winner) on the line for second. Monday, Marseille-Borely, France PRIX DELAHANTE-Listed, €60,000, Marseille-Borely, 10-24, 2yo, 8 1/2fT,...