Simon Crisford

It's early-February and already the Flat enthusiasts are getting excited about what stallion will end the season as champion first-season sire. A futile exercise, one would have thought? Not a bit of it. Even the greatest handlers of young stock, Malcolm Bastard, Alan McCabe, Joseph O'Brien, Conor Hoban and Dick Brabazon, men who know better than most the folly that comes with predicting 2-year-old talent, are keen to have their say on which up-and-coming stallion can make the biggest splash this season.  O'Brien is sticking loyal to Ten Sovereigns (Ire)...

Group 2 winner Century Dream (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}--Salacia {Ire}, by Echo of Light {GB}) has been retired and will stand at Norton Grove Stud next year. A stud fee for the G2 Celebration Mile and dual G3 Diomed S. victor will be announced later. Bred by Rabbah Bloodstock Limited, the A. Belhab-raced 7-year-old's best performance was a third in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. in 2018, while throughout his 35-start career, he was also placed another four times at group level. Overall, Century Dream's record stands at 10...

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. Today's Observations features a full-sister to Grade I winner Viadera. 4.25 Naas, Mdn, €15,500, 2yo, f, 5f 205yT SACRED BRIDGE (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) is a full-sister to last year's GI Matriarch S. heroine Viadera (GB), who before joining Chad Brown spent her formative period with this filly's trainer...

MGSW A'Ali (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}) is bound across the Irish Sea and will contest the G1 Flying Five S. at The Curragh on Sept. 13. The Shaikh Duaji Al Khalifa colourbearer a trio of Group 2s as a juvenile, added the G3 Coral Charge S. to his haul on July 5 and was also first past the post in the July 19 G2 Sapphire S. in Ireland. He could only manage fourth to Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the G1 Nunthorpe S. at York on Aug. 21. "He...

Simon Crisford and his son Ed are among the first to take advantage of the British Horseracing Authority's new rule to allow training partnerships; the pair will have their first runners under a joint license shortly after racing resumes in Britain, Racing Post reports. Paul Cole and son Oliver are also set to join forces. "Ed and I have become joint licence holders as well as business partners, something my owners have very much welcomed and are fully supportive of," Simon Crisford told Racing Post. "As well as Gainsborough Stables...

Thunderous (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) and Fantail (GB) (Zoffany {Ire}) are two potential Classic prospects to look forward to this year in the Highclere Thoroughbred Racing silks. A Mark Johnston-trained Night of Thunder colt, Thunderous ended his juvenile season unbeaten in three starts, picking up listed honours in the Denford S. at Newbury in August. Also hopefully in the big-race picture for Highclere is the once-raced filly Fantail, trained by Simon Crisford. Highclere Managing Director Harry Herbert said, "I think we've got some nice horses. Thunderous had a little...

Simon Crisford's Jash (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), runner-up in the G1 Middle Park S. last term, has knocked one of his joints which will restrict him until the latter part of the season. Successful in his 3-year-old bow, the Liste King Charles II S. at Newmarket on May 18, the Shadwell colourbearer ran sixth in the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and has been missing from racecourse action since. "Jash has actually just knocked a joint and has had a hold-up," said owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's racing manager, Angus...

Trainer Chad Brown brings a three-pronged attack in the latest renewal of the GI Fourstardave H., headed by a pair of Grade I winners--Uni (More Than Ready), winner of the GI Matriarch at Del Mar last December and GI Hollywood Derby victor Raging Bull (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) on the same weekend. Since those victories, Uni has added another victory to her resume in Belmont's June 29 Perfect Sting S., while Raging Bull finished fourth in both Keeneland's Apr. 12 GI Maker's 46 Mile S. and the nine-furlong GI Turf...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- While holding court with a small gaggle of media Thursday morning trainer Simon Crisford joked that Ostilio (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) handled the ship from England to Saratoga Race Course for the one-mile GI Fourstardave H. Saturday better than he had. Crisford has made the trip to North America many times during his long tour as Godolphin's racing manager, so he knows the drill, but this was Ostilio's first journey across the Atlantic. If things go well, Crisford said he expects the chestnut colt will become...