York Racecourse

Shorn of its main protagonists Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) in the build-up, the complexion of Friday's G2 Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup may have changed since declaration time, but nonetheless played host to a performance of note as Lady Blyth's 5-year-old gelding Quickthorn (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}--Daffydowndilly {GB}, by Oasis Dream {GB}) stepped into the void, leading his rivals a merry dance throughout, and registered a pillar-to-post victory in the Knavesmire's extended two-mile test. The March-foaled bay, who lined up off victories in the G3...

Five-furlong sprints used to be the dominion of the powerhouse colts and geldings, but recent years have seen a shift in the dynamic and that could hardly be better expressed than the line-up for Friday's G1 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe S. at York. Four of the top five in the betting are fillies or mares and that doesn't even include last year's impressive winner Winter Power (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) who trades around the 20-1 mark which would have been inconceivable following her career-best here 12 months ago. Unusually, position...

Successful in a July 29 extended 12-furlong Wolverhampton novice event in her only prior start, Juddmonte's homebred 3-year-old filly Haskoy (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}--Natavia {GB} {SW-Eng}, by Nathaniel {Ire}) stepped forward to claim a career high on black-type bow in Thursday's Listed British EBF & Sir Henry Cecil Galtres S. at York. The January-foaled bay was positioned at the tail of the field after breaking from an outer gate. Bustled along with a half mile to go, the 13-2 chance made relentless headway racing in isolation on the far side...

Kirsten Rausing's homebred 5-year-old mare Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB}), unbeaten through five tests last term, disposed of esteemed rivals in last month's G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud on seasonal return and maintained her winning streak with a decisive success as the 7-4 favourite in a stellar edition of Thursday's G1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks on the Knavesmire, a "Win And You're In" for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf in November. Successful in the G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin, G1 Preis von Europa and G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern...

Trainer James Ferguson is on the move, not only set to occupy the Kremlin Cottage base recently vacated by Hugo Palmer, but also bound for Australia after Boniface Ho Ka Kui's 3-year-old gelding Deauville Legend (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}--Soho Rose {Ire}, by Hernando {Fr}) put a dent in the G1 St Leger hopes of his rivals with a decisive success in Wednesday's G2 Sky Bet Great Voltigeur S. at York. The March-foaled bay, who followed up a breakthrough score at Windsor in April with a second in June's King...

Juddmonte's 550,000gns Tattersalls December foal Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}--Suelita {GB}, by Dutch Art {GB}) bettered a June 30 debut fifth going six furlongs at Newbury with a July 15  breakthrough upped to seven back there last time and continued on an upward trajectory with a game victory in Wednesday's G3 Tattersalls Acomb S. at York. The 7-2 second favourite settled into a comfortable rhythm in second after the early exchanges and inched to the front at halfway. Coming under pressure approaching the quarter-mile marker, he was far from undone when...

Seven contenders will go forward for Wednesday's G1 Juddmonte International S. at York after final declarations were confirmed Monday morning. Shadwell's all-conquering Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), undefeated through nine starts to date, will seek to take his record to a perfect ten in the £1-million 10-furlong feature and will break from stall six. Guaranteed to start as the odds-on favourite for his first attempt at beyond the one-mile trip, his rivals are headed by Prince Faisal's globetrotting Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), who has not tasted success in...

Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) was making his first start on Saturday and the word was out on the Archie Watson trainee, as he became the first 'TDN Rising Star' for his dual group-winning sire. Racing on the far side of the field, the 2-1 crowd's pick was always part of the early pace discussion less than a length off the leaders. Under a quiet ride from P.J. McDonald, he edged ahead a long way out and put his rivals to the sword by a visually impressive nine lengths without ever...

David Loughnane is firing on all cylinders with his juvenile band this term and added another string to his Royal Ascot bow, and  provided Coolmore sire No Nay Never with a fourth 'TDN Rising Star' of the campaign, when Amo Racing's €300,000 Goffs Orby yearling Queen Olly (Ire) (No Nay Never--Surprisingly {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) routed nine rivals in Friday's £20,000 Frank Whittle Partnership ebfstallions.com Maiden S. over York's straight six furlongs. The February-foaled bay was swiftly into stride and occupied a handy fifth, just behind the front rank, through...

Jon and Julia Aisbitt's homebred 4-year-old filly Lilac Road (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}--Lavender Lane {Ire} {MGSP-Fr}, by Shamardal), whose lone stakes success came in last term's Listed Upavon Fillies' S. at Salisbury, went postward at odds of 15-2 for Thursday's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies' S. at York and displayed a willing attitude at the end of the extended 10-furlong test to continue William Haggas' fine run of form at the Knavesmire venue. She had closed last term with a second to the reopposing Ville de Grace (GB) (Le...

John and Thady Gosden's team has yet to reach the giddy heights of Charlie Appleby and Aidan O'Brien this term, but TDN Rising Star Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}--Hidden Brief {GB} {SP-Fr}, by Barathea {Ire}) provided the Clarehaven stable with hopes of Classic glory after another impressive display in Wednesday's G3 Tattersalls Musidora S. at York. The 60,000gns Tattersalls October Book 2 yearling had opened up with a narrow victory in her Nov. 23 unveiling at Wolverhampton before earning this publication's seal of approval with a 9 1/2-length...

In light of the sexual assault charges against Prince Andrew, the Duke Of York, York Racecourse will alter the name of its G2 Duke Of York S. The race was originally named in honour of another Duke Of York, Prince George, who later became King George V, and York is going through the process to have the race renamed the 1895 Duke Of York S. James Brennan, York's head of marketing and sponsorship, said, "In the current news cycle, it has made the name a distraction. At the current time,...