New Bay (GB)

The Johnston barn had not annexed Newmarket's Listed Pretty Polly Stakes since Marie De Medicis won in 2010 and bridged a 16-year gap with an impressive front-running performance by Russell Trew and Townbraccan's Jennifer Jane (New Bay) in the 10-furlong Oaks trial at HQ. "I wasn't certain the step up in trip would work, but you have to be adaptable and think on your feet," said Charlie Johnston. "The plan at that point was to start in the [Listed] Michael Seely [Memorial] at York in a couple of weeks, but...

Victorious Forever's Bay City Roller (New Bay) went unbeaten in a three-race juvenile campaign, but was winless in six starts this term, and last year's G2 Champagne Stakes victor powered clear off the front end in Saturday's G1 Grosser Allianz Preis von Bayern at Munich to cap a banner season for Newmarket-based conditioner George Scott. "It couldn't have gone any better," proclaimed Adrie de Vries, whose previous win in the contest came aboard Campanologist (Kingmambo) in 2010. "The trainer was extremely confident in the horse beforehand and that is why...

Bouncing back from two disappointing Derby displays, the Aykroyds' Pride Of Arras (New Bay) showed the benefit of a gelding operation and a return to a track on which he excels to land Wednesday's G2 Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes at York. Sent off at 12-1 despite his impressive Dante success here in May, the Ralph Beckett-trained homebred who had failed to fire at Epsom and The Curragh stayed on powerfully to take control approaching the furlong pole and beat the similarly-penalised Queen's Vase winner Carmers (Wootton Bassett). Where Lambourn...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features Action (Ire), the Frankel (GB) half-brother to Lambourn (Ire) (Australia {GB}). 4.27 Galway, Mdn, €20,000, 2yo, 8f 73yT ACTION (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) could hardly have shaped with more promise on debut at The Curragh last month and looks poised to build on that third placing behind...

Just six runners will line up for Sunday's €600,000 G1 Cygames Grand Prix de Paris at ParisLongchamp after final declarations for the 12-furlong test were confirmed Friday morning. Aidan O'Brien has five prior renewals in the books, some way shy of Andre Fabre's record 14, and relies on G1 Prix du Jockey Club fourth Trinity College (Dubawi), who was last seen annexing Royal Ascot's G3 Hampton Court Stakes. He will depart from stall five. Jockey Club seventh Frankly Good Cen (Frankel) and 17th Leffard (Le Havre) reoppose from stalls six...

Sent off the 6-4 favourite for Sunday's Listed Betfred Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket, Shadwell's Falakeyah showed why with a comprehensive success in this Oaks pointer. Labelled a TDN Rising Star after her Wolverhampton debut win in November, the Owen Burrows-trained daughter of New Bay was allowed to bowl along in front from the outset by Jim Crowley. Killing any sign of a contest by the time she entered the dip, the relative of Baaeed and Hukum stayed on well enough to hold the Gosdens' daughter of Night Of Thunder,...

Richard Hannon trainee Persica (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), who retains an entry in next month's G1 Lockinge Stakes, continued on the upgrade with a first pattern-race triumph in Tuesday's G3 bet365 Earl Of Sefton Stakes at Newmarket. Last term's Listed Doonside Cup victor, who hit the board in February's G3 Winter Derby when last seen, was positioned in second for most of this nine-furlong contest. Relishing the rain-softened ground, the 3-1 chance loomed large going ominously well approaching the quarter-mile marker and powered clear up the hill to account for...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Observations features a pricy auction grad. 16.10 Kempton, Nov, £6,800, 2yo, f, 7f (AWT) Shadwell's ALFAREQA (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is an Owen Burrows-trained daughter of G1 Cheveley Park Stakes victrix Millisle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) and was the top-priced filly when knocked down for 1.6-million guineas at last year's...

Owen Burrows is renowned for his Sir Michael Stoute-like patience with the yard's leading prospects, but he may not have to wait as long as usual with his exciting new recruit Falakeyah (GB) (New Bay {GB}--Alaflaak, by War Front) lighting up a dour Thursday afternoon at Wolverhampton. A granddaughter of the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Lahudood (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) from the family of the stable's luminary Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and his brilliant full-brother Baaeed (GB), Shadwell's blueblood was a warm order at even-money...

There were 11 defectors from an overnight entry of 19 and a field of eight will line up for Saturday's £215,500 G1 William Hill Futurity Trophy at Doncaster, Britain's final Group 1 event of the year, after final declarations were confirmed Thursday morning. Aidan O'Brien last won in 2022 with Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and he is in the mix for a record-extending 12th success in the one-mile contest. O'Brien has trimmed his team from six down to one and relies solely on G3 Autumn Stakes and 'TDN...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Monday's Observations features a half-sister to Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). 17.30 Kempton, Novice, £6,800, 2yo f, 7f (AWT) WILD ANGEL (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) is the 10th foal out of the G2 Challenge Stakes winner Miss Lucifer (Fr) (Noverre), who produced Godolphin's GI Breeders' Cup Mile and...

Doncaster's G2 Champagne Stakes lost a key actor on Saturday as Cheveley Park Stud's TDN Rising Star Chancellor (GB) (Kingman {GB}) was withdrawn at the start, leaving it to Victorious Racing's acquisition Bay City Roller (Ire) (New Bay {GB}--Bloomfield {Ire}, by Teofilo {Ire}) to extend his perfect sequence in the seven-furlong staging post. Always travelling smoothly tracking the free-running Righthere Rightnow (Fr) (Kodiac {GB}), the George Scott-trained Sandown and Chelmsford novice winner who had been sold by Clive Washbourn after his debut was sent forward by Callum Shepherd to take...