Today's Edition

It may have been a quiet 2018 for Aidan O'Brien's Ballydoyle stable by last year's exalted standards, but few establishments would complain about a state of affairs that included three British Classic victories in a calendar year. That is what Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) supplied on Doncaster's Town Moor on Saturday as he punished his rivals with a perfect combination of staying power and speed in the G1 William Hill St Leger. Settled in mid-division early by Ryan Moore, the 3-1 second favourite made up his ground between the...

LEXINGTON, KY - After a week punctuated by frenetic bidding, the Keeneland September Yearling Sale took a one-day hiatus Friday and, while the pavilion may have been quiet for the first time in four days, action at the sales barns was brisk as buyers worked their way through the over 800 head catalogued for the two-day Book 2 which begins Saturday at 10 a.m. "We've been very, very solid," Darby Dan sales director Hunter Houlihan said of action around the farm's sales barn 10. "We're very happy with the activity....

It seemed so typical of the strange fortunes governing our sport that we should have been made to wait so long for a Triple Crown winner, only for another one to turn up three years later in the very same barn. On the face of it, that coincidence will now be compounded as Justify (Scat Daddy) joins American Pharoah (Pioneerof The Nile) at Ashford for his own attempt to parlay historic capacities, on the track, into an equivalent impact on the breed. But of course neither of these convergences are...

Some of the greatest mares to grace American racetracks in recent times have passed through the ring at Fasig-Tipton's November Sale over the past few years, and that firm will be able to add another crown jewel to its honor roll on Nov. 4 when Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy) graces the ring. The European champion 2-year-old filly, dual Group 1 winner and two-time Royal Ascot winner was officially retired from racing in July, and she appears to be settling in to the next phase of her life just as smoothly...

The long-anticipated deal between the owners of Justify (Scat Daddy--Stage Magic, by Ghostzapper) and Coolmore America regarding the unbeaten Triple Crown winner's stallion career has been finalized, it was announced Friday afternoon. A fee will be set for Justify at a later date. "After much deliberation with all the partners, we've decided to accept Coolmore's offer to stand Justify," said Elliott Walden, president, CEO and racing manager of WinStar Farm. "As you can imagine, this is a bittersweet moment for all of us connected to this special horse who gave us the ultimate thrill...

Arguably Newmarket's number one yard at present, John Gosden's Clarehaven Stables is at a peak and the fact that it supplies hot favourites in three of Saturday's major events acts as a barometer of that influence. In the G1 William Hill St Leger, which was the first British Classic the son of the much-respected "Towser" captured back in 1996 with Shantou, the Lloyd-Webbers supply him with the second part of what is very likely to be an afternoon double at Doncaster as Lah Ti Dar (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) looks to...

Two major international tests of the autumn await the dynamic Soldier's Call (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) after the diminutive sprinter dominated Friday's G2 Wainwrights Flying Childers S. at Doncaster. Sent straight to the lead by Danny Tudhope as he had been when winning the June 23 Listed Windsor Castle S. and Sept. 1 G3 Prix d'Arenberg, the 4-1 second favourite had all rivals on the stretch inside the final quarter mile and galloped relentlessly to a 2 1/4-length verdict over Well Done Fox (GB) (Acclamation {GB}). "He's got to go for...

by Jessica Martini, Christie DeBernardis & Brian DiDonato LEXINGTON, KY - The four-session Book 1 of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale concluded Thursday evening in Lexington with a further six yearlings attracting seven-figure prices, led by a pair of Medaglia d'Oro colts bred by Stonestreet. Phoenix Thoroughbreds paid a session-topping $2.1 million for a son of Medaglia d'Oro (hip 899) consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, while Godolphin went to $1.6 million to acquire a son of the Darley stallion (hip 823) from the Gainesway consignment. Through four days, Keeneland...

Jason Mccutchen has been doing his best to watch the yearlings go through the ring at the Keeneland sale, but he's also riveted to The Weather Channel. Mccutchen is the co-owner of Mccutchen Training Center in Kingstree, South Carolina, about 30 miles from the Atlantic Ocean. His training center figures to get pelted by Hurricane Florence. The actual landfall, or when the center of the eye reaches land, is expected to be Friday afternoon. Of the several farms and training centers in South Carolina, none is closer to the ocean...

Jeffrey Hobby was placed in a similar position to many other owners when weighing up whether to add Maid Up (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) to tomorrow's G1 William Hill St Leger S. A £50,000 supplementary fee is not exactly loose change, with a decision having to be made as to whether the Andrew Balding-trained filly might be capable of earning it back at Doncaster. There was also money in the pot courtesy of her exploits this season, which include the G3 March S. at Goodwood among four wins and a lucrative...

In need of a change of ploy after a third straight defeat in Deauville's G2 Prix de Pomone, St Albans Bloodstock's God Given (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) showed the benefit of a switch to hold-up tactics as she registered a career-best success in Thursday's G2 DFS Park Hill S. at Doncaster. Ridden with considerable restraint by Jamie Spencer despite the slow pace up ahead, the 5-1 shot was travelling best in early straight and after joining battle with her G2 Lancashire Oaks conqueror Horseplay (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) got the better...

Bidding started off strongly from the get-go of Wednesday's third session of Book 1 of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale and it remained strong throughout, with seven yearlings summoning $1 million or better. Triple Crown winner American Pharoah topped the day's trade for the second time this week when a colt from his first crop (Hip 729) brought a final bid of $1.4 million from OXO Equine's Larry Best. American Pharoah, who stands at Coolmore's Ashford Stud, is leading sire of the sale so far with 33 yearlings sold for...