Masaaki Matsushima

With the scene set on the final day of Royal Ascot, Saturday's G2 Hardwicke S. produced the inevitable as Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) conjured a 900th group win for Aidan O'Brien. Ryan Moore was the sorcerer once again, as the meeting's leading rider pulled off a front-running tour de force on the 6-1 shot who had already contributed five to that awe-inspiring tally. In many ways, last year's G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud hero and Breeders' Cup Turf runner-up is a fitting horse to bring up the milestone, typifying the...

First time over further than a mile-and-a-half facing a serious rival in Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) meant that Thursday's G3 Ormonde S. at Chester represented a tough ask for Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), but in the end his class told as the Ballydoyle stalwart opened his 5-year-old campaign on the right note. Enjoying a perfect trip on the rail nestled behind the leading duo early, the 13-8 favourite was angled out by Ryan Moore to come around Trueshan on the home bend and began to assert from the furlong pole...

Providing Aidan O'Brien with a 12th renewal of The Curragh's G2 Coolmore Sottsass Irish EBF Mooresbridge S. on Monday, Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) continued his own success story with a third black-type win in 2021. Having taken the Listed Devoy S. at Naas Mar. 28 and the Apr. 17 G3 Alleged S. over this track and 10-furlong trip, the 4-9 favourite was forwardly placed in second by Ryan Moore and ridden to take command approaching the last two furlongs. Pressed by Helvic Dream (Ire) (Power {GB}) from there, he kept...

Racing's star mare Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) will make her keenly-anticipated 6-year-old debut against six rivals in Sunday's G1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown. Her G1 Prince of Wales's S.-winning stablemate Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was not declared by John Gosden, but the field is still strong with Godolphin's impressive G1 Coronation Cup hero Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Ballydoyle's G1 Juddmonte International winner Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) engaged, with the latter set to carry the colours of his part-owner Masaaki Matsushima. Restricted this year as a 4-year-olds and up race,...

French listed winner Helter Skelter (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}-Winna Chope {Fr}, by Soave {Ger}) sustained a fatal injury on the gallops on Wednesday morning, owner Masaaki Matsushima confirmed to Jour de Galop. The colt, an €30,000 yearling at the Osarus September Yearling Sale in 2018 who was purchased by Matsushima after his 3 1/2-length victory in the Listed Criterium du Fonds Europeen de l'Elevage, had held an entry in the June 1 G1 G1 Poule d'Essai de Poulains. He was a last out sixth in the G3 Prix de Fontainebleau...

A half-share in European highweight and 2019 G1 Juddmonte International S. hero Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) has been purchased by Masaaki Matsushima, Racing Post reported on Wednesday. Also a winner of the G1 Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris, third in the G1 Investec Derby and fourth in the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, the Newsells Park Stud-bred was previously owned solely by a Coolmore partnership. Out of a SP daughter of fellow European highweight Saganeca (Sagace {Fr}), the 1.3-million Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling is a full-brother to...