James Wigan

A grey son of Frankel became the first seven-figure lot of the Tattersalls December Foal Sale when selling for 1,150,000gns to MV Magnier. Lot 882 was consigned by West Blagdon Stud and is a son of the G3 Prix de Lieurey heroine Cloudy Dawn (Kodiac). He was bred by James Wigan. Under the third dam is Group 1 winner and celebrated producer Grey Lilas (Danehill). "A great result for James Wigan - he is one of the best breeders there is," said MV Magnier. "It's a great farm and they...

Soft ground at Doncaster on Friday meant that times were distinctly unimpressive, but a filly with a future shone through in Lilt (Lope De Vega). A daughter of James Wigan's star mare Dank (Dansili), the William Haggas-trained newcomer was allowed to saunter along on the front end by Cieren Fallon and when threatened by Hollywell Stream (Lope De Vega) gave more to seal a cosy neck success. "She had given me a nice feel at home and had a freebie there," the rider said of the daughter of the Breeders' Cup Filly...

6th-SA, $60K, Msw, 3-5yo, 6f, 6:33 p.m. ET. Set for his unveiling is $2-million 2023 Keeneland September grad JUDE (Uncle Mo), who was purchased by Zedan Racing and sent to trainer Bob Baffert. Out of winner at 2 Helena Bay (GB) (Johannesburg), the first-time starter is a half-brother to GI TVG Pacific Classic Stakes hero & sire Collected (City Zip) and a current 2-year-old colt in-training by Gun Runner--himself a $700,000 Keeneland September buy for M.V. Magnier and White Birch Farm. TJCIS PPS 8th-BAQ, $85K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6fT, 4:53...

Lot 894 was the second horse to break the 500,000gns-mark at Tattersalls on Friday when selling to Anthony Stroud for 650,000gns on behalf of Godolphin. Consigned by West Blagdon Stud, the son of Camelot (GB) is a half-brother to Lope De Vega (Ire)'s duo of GII Royal North Stakes second Sweet Enough (GB) and the listed-placed Enfjaar (Ire). Bred by James Wigan, the colt is a grandson of a full-sister to dual Grade I winner Photo Call (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). His third dam Theann (GB) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) is...

Aidan O'Brien trainee Surpass (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}--Blending {GB}, by Medicean {GB}) shaped with promise when getting up late to snag his May 29 debut at Tipperary by a neck and returned to the Limerick Junction venue to attain 'TDN Rising Star' status with a powerful display in Wednesday's Glenvale Stud Race over an extended seven furlongs. The G1 Vincent O'Brien National Stakes entry, racing under a three-pound penalty, jumped out in second and was the nearest pursuer of the clear leader through halfway. Looming large going ominously well passing...

Sir Michael Stoute trainee Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}--Hayyona {GB}, by Multiplex {GB}), winless in three Group 1 starts since annexing last term's G1 Champion S., regained the winning thread with a confidence-boosting success in Saturday's G3 Unibet September S. at Kempton. The 8-11 favourite hit the board in both G1 Prix Ganay and G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup earlier in the campaign and went postward this first outing at the 12-furlong trip coming back off a fifth in the G1 Prince of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot. Bay Bridge...

It is a source of regret that the selection of British racing colours has been homogenised to the extent that it comes down to artlessly underwhelming choices such as light blue or dark blue. Eighteen standard colours are allowed in a variety of patterns, but gone, sadly, are the days when an aspiring owner could opt for 'Straw' (The Duke of Devonshire), or 'Apricot' (Lord Howard de Walden). James Wigan inherited his distinctive set from his grandfather, the owner/breeder Charles Gordon, who most certainly would have approved of seeing his...

Caught off guard in Royal Ascot's G1 Prince of Wales's S. and Sandown's G1 Coral-Eclipse, James Wigan and Ballylinch Stud's Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}--Hayyona {GB}, by Multiplex {GB}) made it third time lucky at the highest level when upsetting the hitherto undefeated Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and a stellar field in Saturday's G1 Qipco Champion S. at Ascot. The race is a qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland next month. Having appeared set fair to join the upper echelons when routing his rivals...

Last term's G1 Sun Chariot S. victrix Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}--Falling Petals {Ire}, by Raven's Pass) posted a fourth in Meydan's Mar. 26 G1 Dubai Turf before regaining the winning thread in Royal Ascot's June 15 G2 Duke of Cambridge S. and continued on a roll with a decisive victory in Tuesday's G1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville. The 3-5 favourite was swiftly into stride and held sway in the centre of the track from the outset of this straight one-mile test. Drawing the sting out of her six...

George Strawbridge's 2-year-old colt Epictetus (Ire) (Kingman {GB}--Thistle Bird {GB}, by Selkirk) was the pick of a baker's dozen on breeding, but not so in the betting, for Friday's Weatherbys British EBF Maiden S. at Newmarket and made a mockery of 11-1 odds with a 'TDN Rising Star' display in a heat won last term by subsequent G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere runner-up and G3 Jersey S. victor Noble Truth (Fr) (Kingman {GB}). The 2022 G1 Derby entry was swiftly into a comfortable rhythm behind the leaders and raced on the...

Wednesday's G2 Duke of Cambridge S. offered another episode of stalls drama that seems to have dogged the first two days of Royal Ascot, but by the time Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) had come home alone there was a sense that Sibila Spain (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) would have needed wings had she not been removed from the contest after going down in the gates. Making her European return under a five-pound penalty due to her winning exploits in Newmarket's G1 Sun Chariot S. in October, the Jane Chapple-Hyam-trained...

Sandown witnessed something truly special on Thursday evening as James Wigan and Ballylinch Stud's Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}--Hayyona {GB}, by Multiplex {GB}) brought up a sensational 12th renewal of the G3 Coral Brigadier Gerard S. for Sir Michael Stoute. The way the seasonal debutante hit the line with five lengths to spare over Shadwell's exciting Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who was previously unbeaten here, with Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) another length away in third, it is hard to say that any of the former Freemason Lodge winners of...