Straight

For the fourth time in its 33-year existence Gestut Karlshof has been named champion breeder in Germany for 2023. The first title came in 2000, the year Samum (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) won the G1 Deutsches Derby and set the ball rolling for what has become the stud's signature family. Samum's dam Sacarina (GB) (Old Vic {GB}) went on to produce, from repeat matings to Monsun, the G1 Preis der Diana winner Salve Regina (Ger), whose Classic success for Manfred and Edith Hellwig of Gestut Hony-Hof gave the Faust family of...

In the European edition we really shouldn't be overstepping our boundary to encroach on the territory of our American colleagues who did such a fine job in conveying the stories from Belmont Park last week. Racing faces different problems in different jurisdictions and, from an outsider's perspective, it is hard to get fully behind racing in America when a number of its major participants remain overly reliant on medication. But if you read Cynthia Holt's wonderful account of being at Belmont 50 years ago to bear witness to arguably the...

Newbury's G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge S. has been a happy hunting ground for some top fillies in recent times and Saturday's renewal features another as TDN Rising Star Laurel (GB) (Kingman {GB}) takes aim at the colts. Dazzling with her sectionals in a Kempton novice in September, the daughter of Promising Lead (GB) (Danehill) was sent into battle for the G1 Sun Chariot S. by the normally more-reserved Gosdens just days later and justified that risk by beating all bar Fonteyn (GB) (Farhh {GB}) in the Newmarket contest. With a...