Scandinavia

The unbeaten and recently retired Bow Echo is now ranked third at 127 on the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings. Only Ombudsman (Night Of Thunder) and Ka Ying Rising (Shamexpress) are above him at 131. A perfect six-for-six, the son of Night Of Thunder defeated Gstaad (Starspangledbanner) (125) in the G1 Sussex Stakes, with the 124-rated Opera Ballo (Ghaiyyath) and Ten Bob Tony (Night Of Thunder) (121) third and fourth, respectively. Bow Echo raised his rating to 127 from 126 with that effort. Arc hero Daryz (Sea The Stars) and...

Coolmore's G1 St Leger hero Scandinavia (Justify) collected a first elite-level victory in last year's renewal of Goodwood's G1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup and repeated the dose, at the expense of the unlucky-in-running Trawlerman (Golden Horn), to become Aidan O'Brien's third dual winner of the two-mile marathon. "Scandinavia is a great horse and a real, real top stayer," said O'Brien after the four-year-old added to the dual wins of Yeats and Kyprios. "He has a big cruising speed and relaxes when he finds his rhythm. Ryan [Moore] said that the...

After Royal Ascot and Newmarket July, Goodwood grasps the baton on Tuesday as the British summer Festival scene heads south. Barring any unwelcome sea frets that can at times envelop these picturesque Sussex Downs, this week's action at the Qatar-sponsored jamboree should make for some spectacle. Headlining the opening day of what is traditionally termed "Glorious Goodwood" is the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup, now firmly established as a Group 1 and the natural sequel to the Ascot Gold Cup. Part of the old staying triple crown that includes the Doncaster...

Aidan O'Brien has warned any potential rivals to Diamond Necklace (St Mark's Basilica) in the G1 Qatar Nassau Stakes that his unbeaten filly may yet have more to offer, with the Ballydoyle trainer also preparing to bring over Gstaad (Starspangledbanner) and Scandinavia (Justify) as part of a formidable squad for the Qatar Goodwood Festival. A three-time winner as a juvenile, culminating with a first Group 1 win in the Prix Marcel Boussac, Diamond Necklace heads to Goodwood searching for her fourth consecutive top-level success, having kicked off her three-year-old campaign...

Ka Ying Rising (Shamexpress) and Ombudsman (Night Of Thunder) are co-leaders of the latest Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings at 131. The former, currently riding a 20-race winning streak, saw his mark increased from 130 to 131 after a review of his success in the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize, with the subsequent performances of Satono Reve (Lord Kanaloa), Raging Blizzard (Per Incanto) and Comanche Brave (Wootton Bassett). Godolphin's Ombudsman improved his ranking from 125 to 131 off the back of a four-length victory in the G1 Prince of Wales's Stakes...

Back in the days of the old stand at Ascot, a favourite spot for race-watching was to climb up to the fifth floor above the press box for what felt like a bird's eye view of the action. From this vantage point in the first year of the new century, one of the most memorable Royal Ascot moments was imprinted on an impressionable mind as Dubai Millennium made all to win the Prince of Wales's Stakes, holding Group 1 status for the first time that year. It wasn't just the...

The leading owner, trainer, and jockey awards were presented to Coolmore, Aidan O'Brien, and Ryan Moore, respectively, at the conclusion of the 2026 Royal Ascot meeting following a banner week for connections. Various Coolmore partnerships that included Sue Magnier, Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor, Westerberg, Peter Brant and Cayton Park Stud saw the group make eight trips to the winner's enclosure--a record total since the leading owner award was introduced in 2017. The senior O'Brien, collecting his 14th leading trainer title at Royal Ascot, was responsible for seven of Coolmore's winners...

The King must by now be on pretty friendly terms with Aidan O'Brien, the trainer who has spent more time than any in his counting house. On Tuesday he handed him the trainer's prize for the five-furlong sprint named in His Majesty's honour and 48 hours later another was dished out for the longest Group 1 race run in Britain. The Gold Cup, with its 219-year history, is also one of the most cherished races of the week. In these eyes it ranks above all others, and a huge portion...

In one of the very finest of Gold Cups, Scandinavia (Justify) ousted Trawlerman (Golden Horn) to provide a fitting crowning moment for Aidan O'Brien as the Ballydoyle maestro reached 100 Royal Ascot winners. Coming of age in the race that draws unusual sentiment, the 11-8 favourite needed every yard of the two-and-a-half mile trip to wear down the Gosdens' gallant title-holder and for most of it looked unlikely to do so. But, with Ryan Moore at his formidable best, Scandinavia got it done very late to add suitable drama and...

Thursday's G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot will see 11 stayers line up, with Ballydoyle's Scandinavia (Justify) set to tackle last year's hero Trawlerman (Golden Horn) in a clash to savour. Last year's St Leger hero will be the sole runner for Aidan O'Brien as the trainer seeks a record-extending 10th renewal, with Godolphin's Trawlerman one of two for the Gosdens alongside Normandie Stud's stalwart Sweet William (Sea The Stars). Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's Leger runner-up and Yorkshire Cup winner Rahiebb (Frankel), Victorious Forever's Prix du Cadran and Prix Vicomtesse Vigier hero Caballo...

Coolmore's Scandinavia (Justify) has undertaken Ballydoyle's tried-and-trusted route towards next month's G1 Gold Cup and last term's G1 St Leger and G1 Goodwood Cup hero backed up his win in last month's Listed Vintage Crop Stakes on seasonal return with a workmanlike performance in Friday's G3 Saval Beg Levmoss Stakes at Leopardstown. "This was the perfect race to bridge the gap [to Royal Ascot] and we'll get more serious as we go along," said Aidan O'Brien. "He's a big, relaxed horse and we couldn't be happier really. Ryan [Moore] was...

Following the example of stablemate Charles Darwin in the preceding race at Navan on Saturday, Scandinavia (Justify) kept to the script when making a winning return in the Listed Vintage Crop Stakes. Sent off the 11-10 favourite for the 14-furlong contest used by Ballydoyle for many years for their star stayers such as Kyprios, Order Of St George and Yeats, last year's St Leger and Goodwood Cup hero waited behind the leading duo early. Sent forward by Ryan Moore to gain the edge approaching the furlong pole, the leading player...