Hughie Morrison

Continuing the profiles of the favourite horses of TDN Europe's editorial team in 2023, Heather Anderson selects a bold frontrunner with huge reserves of stamina. At first glance, the admirable Quickthorn (GB), by Newsells Park Stud's perpetually under-appreciated Nathaniel (Ire), had compiled a fairly successful record as a member of the staying ranks throughout his five-year career prior to his Goodwood heroics this August. However, the Lady Blyth homebred elevated his game to another level when taking the G1 Goodwood Cup this summer, and it was the manner in which...

Maybe the fact that it is so demanding means that it can only be a once-a-year thing, but Lady Blyth's Quickthorn (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}--Daffydowndilly {GB}, by Oasis Dream {GB}) is a joy to behold when he delivers his runaway train impression and Goodwood's gathering had a full two miles to appreciate it again on Tuesday as he turned the G1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup into a one-horse show. As he had last August when issuing a 14-length beating to Coltrane (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) in York's G2 Lonsdale Cup over this...

Stay Alert (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who ran second in the G1 Pretty Polly S., will point to the G1 Prix Jean Romanet in France on Aug. 20, trainer Hughie Morrison revealed on Friday. Owned by Ben and Sir Martyn Arbib, the 4-year-old filly won the G3 Legacy Cup S. at Newbury last autumn prior to an unplaced run in the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. at Ascot to end her year. She was fifth to Free Wind (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G2 Middleton Fillies' S. at...

Connections of Stay Alert (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) have lodged an appeal against the decision of the Curragh stewards not to reverse the placings in Saturday's G1 Pretty Polly S. The Hughie Morrison-trained four-year-old was beaten two lengths by George Boughey's Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) in the 10-furlong contest, but the Jamie Spencer-ridden winner hampered a number of rivals in the closing stages. The interference occurred as the field approached the final furlong when Via Sistina hung right into the path of eventual fourth Rosscarbery, with jockey Billy...

Friday's G2 Boodles Yorkshire Cup features two high-class veterans in the G2 Lonsdale Cup winner Quickthorn (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) whose reinvention as a stayer was confirmed with a G2 Dubai Gold Cup success, but it could be that youth counts as Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) makes his seasonal return in the 14-furlong feature. Primed for two major efforts at three when successful in Royal Ascot's G2 Queen's Vase and the G1 St Leger at Doncaster, KHK Racing's flagbearer was only seventh stretching out to...

Group winner Quickthorn (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) will start next in the G1 Prix du Cadran at ParisLongchamp on Oct. 1, trainer Hughie Morrison confirmed on Saturday. Since beginning his 2022 campaign in April, Lady Blyth's 5-year-old gelding was second in the Listed Further Flight S. at Nottingham and filled that position again in the G3 Sagaro S. behind Princess Zoe (Ger) (Jukebox Jury {Ire}) at Ascot at the end of April. The G3 Henry II S. went his way at Sandown one month later and he triumphed in the G2...

Sakhee's Secret (GB) (Sakhee-Palace Street, by Secreto), who bested Dutch Art (GB) in the 2007 G1 July Cup before going on to success as a sire, has died in Italy aged 17. Trained by Hughie Morrison, Sakhee's Secret won five of 11 starts, with his July Cup win the highlight. He stood at Whitsbury Manor Stud in England for six seasons before moving on to Allevamento Si Fra in Italy, where he was champion sire in 2019 and 2020. Sakhee's Secret has sired 13 stakes winners, headed by New Zealand...

John Gosden, alongside fellow Newmarket trainers Sir Mark Prescott, Robert Cowell and David Simcock, will make up one of the dozen teams of the Racing League tournament which begins next summer. Another Newmarket team is comprised of Michael Bell, Ed Dunlop, James Fanshawe and Roger Varian. Clive Cox, Nicky Henderson, Charlie Hills and Jamie Osborne are representing Lambourn. Another team is Mick Appleby, Michael Dods, David O'Meara and Paul Midgley. Mick Channon has joined Paul and Oliver Cole, Eve Johnson Houghton and Hughie Morrison. France will also send a team...

Castle Down Stud's MGSW Telecaster (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) has been withdrawn from Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe after a setback. The Hughie Morrison trainee was set to receive his favoured soft going, as more rain fell in Paris overnight and the forecast calls for more wet weather later this week in the Paris area. The 2019 G2 Dante S. winner relished the heavy going in the G2 Grand Prix de Deauville when last seen on Aug. 30. "It's a real shame, but this is what can...

Castle Down Racing's Telecaster (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), who won the G3 La Coupe on June 25 and the G2 Grand Prix de Deauville two starts later on Aug. 30, is a potential contender for the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, trainer Hughie Morrison announced on Tuesday. The 4-year-old colt also won the G2 Dante S. last term. "It's definitely a possibility that he could go," said Morrison. "Nothing really sprang out of the trials to put us off. The filly who won the [G1 Prix] Vermeille [Tarnawa...

Patience has long been a particular virtue of Hughie Morrison and Sunday's G2 Lucien Barriere Grand Prix de Deauville was testament to his ability to play the waiting game as Castle Down Racing's Telecaster (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) fully came of age. Sent straight to the front by Christophe Soumillon, the 13-10 favourite whose previous foray to France had resulted in a four-length success in ParisLongchamp's G3 La Coupe June 25 was always content untroubled at the head of affairs on this deep surface. Setting down for his plunge up...

The GI Pattison Canadian International winner Cannock Chase (Lemon Drop Kid), who was sold by private treaty in early July, will stand next season at Graham Heal's Vauterhill Stud in Devon. The 8-year-old stallion—a half-brother to this season's Irish Oaks winner Star Catcher (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire})—formerly stood at Worsall Grange Farm in Yorkshire and was offered for sale when his previous owner Killashee House Ltd was placed in administration. A number of broodmares and young stock under the same ownership were sold at the Exeter Livestock Centre through...