Europe

The likely Ballydoyle runners for Arc weekend, led by G1 Irish Derby hero Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), were unveiled by Aidan O'Brien on Tuesday. Fourth in the G1 Irish Champion Stakes, Los Angeles is one of two probable runners for O'Brien in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, where he will be joined by 2023 G1 St Leger hero and G2 Prix Foy third Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}). "We think the most likely two are Los Angeles and Continuous," he said. "We think the ground probably isn't...

Group winner Symbol Of Strength (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) has been sold to race in Hong Kong, trainer Adrian Keatley confirmed on Tuesday. The juvenile colt was originally raced by Keatley Owners Group, Finneran and Moore. A winner at second asking at Ayr in July, the son of Symbol Of Love (GB) (Shamardal) ran third in the G2 Gimcrack Stakes a month later, before a half-length triumph in the G3 Sirenia Stakes over six furlongs at Kempton on Sept. 7. "Symbol Of Strength has been sold," said Keatley. "There was always...

A total of 151 horses remain in the five QIPCO British Champions Day races after the second entry stage, the highest number in the past six years. The event will be staged at Ascot on Saturday, Oct. 19. The G1 QIPCO Champion Stakes sees G1 Irish Champion Stakes hero Economics (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) square off with Franci-Henri Graffard's G1 International Stakes runner-up Calandagan (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), and Jean-Pierre Gauvin's Iresine (Fr) (Manduro {Ger}). Joseph O'Brien's Group 1 winner Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) remains in the entries,...

A daughter of Blue Point (Ire) (lot 114) took the lead during the first session of Goffs Orby Book 1 when selling for €850,000 to Agrolexica International Trading BV from the consignment of Church View Stables. The filly's dam, the multiple stakes winner Bloomfield (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) who was also second in both the G3 Give Thanks Stakes and the G3 Munster Oaks Stakes, is a half-sister to G3 Athasi Stakes heroine Prima Luce (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). This is the extended family of Cassandra Go (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}).

Walnut Farm secured the G1 Australian Oaks winner Autumn Angel (Aus) (The Autumn Sun {Aus}) for A$1.225 million (€762,599) in a boutique Inglis Digital Online Sale which concluded on Tuesday. Trained by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman, Autumn Angel won four of her 11 starts and earned over A$1.1 million in prize-money during her illustrious career, with her biggest success coming in April this year when she defeated high-class performers such as Zardozi (Aus) (Kingman {GB}) and Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}) to win the Australian Oaks at Randwick. Last week...

Blue Diamond Stud's Frankel (GB) colt out of Tisa River (Ire) (Equiano {Fr}) provided an early highlight as the Goffs Orby Sale got underway when knocked down at €780,000 to Oliver St Lawrence. Offered as lot 10 and bred by Imad Al Sagar, the colt's dam is a half-sister to two Breeders' Cup winners in Order Of Australia (Ire) and Iridessa (Ire), as well as the G1 Belmont Oaks and G1 Beverly D winner Santa Barbara (Ire). A further Breeders' Cup winner, Starine (Fr), features as his third dam. St...

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. Tuesday's Observations features the Goffs Orby Book 1 topper for her debut. 15.40 Cork, Mdn, €18,000, 2yo, f, 8fT MINNIE HAUK (IRE) (Frankel {GB}) made a splash at last year's Goffs Orby Book 1 when topping the charts when selling to M V Magnier for €1.85million and makes her...

The hunt for the next Bay City Roller (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) is on at this year's Goffs Orby Sale, with Henry Beeby saying that he is convinced the sales house has never assembled such a strong group of yearlings to be offered at Ireland's premier yearling sale this week.  Trained by George Scott, Bay City Roller stretched his unbeaten record to three in the G2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster, and his connections harbour genuine Classic aspirations heading into the winter.  Stakes winners Beechwood (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}), She's Quality...

The unbeaten Lake Victoria (Ire) is now Timeform's highest-rated two-year-old filly in Europe, it was announced on Monday. The daughter of Frankel (GB) earned a Timeform rating of 119p for her impressive success in Saturday's G1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket when beating Daylight (Fr) (Earthlight {Ire}) by three lengths. G1 Phoenix Stakes winner Babouche (GB) (Kodiac {GB}), who finished only fourth at Newmarket, remains the best of the rest in this division with a rating of 113. Incidentally, Hooray (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) was the last filly to be...

The Industry Induction Programme, which will set a consistent standard for introducing new stable staff to horse racing, has been launched by Horse Racing Ireland's equuip and the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) as announced via release Monday. The new online course will set a minimum standard of education for all new entrants into the industry and ties in with the continuing professional development and educations objectives of HRI's equuip and the IHRB. It will be mandatory for new recruits, and is a general introduction to the industry with topics...

Following Monday's confirmation stage, 18 horses remain in contention for Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp, including the three-year-old Sosie (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who has topped the ante-post betting since registering his second consecutive victory over the course and distance in the G2 Prix Niel. He also won the G1 Grand Prix de Paris on his previous start. Sosie is one of three potential runners for Andre Fabre, who will be seeking a record-extending ninth win in the Arc. Fabre is also set to...

"It feels like a holiday!" joked Ed Player when discussing the task of showing Whatton Manor Stud's three-strong consignment to potential buyers ahead of Book 1 of the Goffs Orby Sale, a historic offering as the first at this particular sale from an operation with over 40 years of experience in the industry. Player has been the one responsible for overseeing this latest chapter in Whatton Manor's history since taking over at the helm from father Peter, but don't mistake him for a man taking his responsibilities lightly because of...