Ascot Racecourse

Throne Hall (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Strozzi (Ger) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), both consigned by Godolphin, brought identical bids of £50,000 to share joint-topper honours during Thursday's Tattersalls Ascot November Sale. Held at Ascot racecourse for the first time since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the sale grossed a record £603,500 for 77 sold (83%). The average was £7,838 and the median was £4,600. Blandford Bloodstock purchased lot 66, Throne Hall. A dual winner, the 4-year-old gelding is from the family of globetrotting Group 1 winner Flintshire (GB) (Dansili...

The catalogue for the Tattersalls Ascot November Sale was released on Tuesday. Slated for Nov. 4, the 99 lots are divided between 27 fillies in/out of training, 57 colts and geldings, four point-to-pointers, five yearlings and six stores. It will be the first sale held at Ascot Racecourse since December of 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the vendors are Bedford House, Beckhampton House, East Everleigh, Godolphin, Jackdaws Castle, Park House, Seven Barrows, Somerville Lodge, The Old Malthouse and West Ilsley. Some of the lots on offer are: Kingdom...

Unbeaten in five prior starts heading into Saturday's G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. at Ascot, Shadwell Estate Company's Baaeed (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) fought back a stellar field in the one-mile Breeders' Cup "Win And You're In" contest to stay perfect with a commanding performance over the track's straight mile. Backing up a Leicester maiden win and a 7 1/2-length novice rout at Newmarket in June, he went three-for-three with a four-length tally in the July 8 Listed Sir Henry Cecil S. back at Headquarters before producing an explosive...

Godolphin's G3 Jersey S. hero Creative Force (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) had failed to strike in three outings since registering that June 19 Royal Ascot triumph and went postward for Saturday's G1 British Champions Sprint back at the Berskhire venue coming off a three-length sixth in last month's G1 Sprint Cup at Haydock. Notable as Charlie Appleby's first Champions Day contender, he kept jockey William Buick's jockeys' championship hopes alive with a decisive victory in the six-furlong dash. The €400,000 Goffs Orby yearling had sealed a run of four straight wins...

The 2020 financial results were announced by Ascot Racecourse on Wednesday. Total turnover was down by 77% due to COVID-19 restrictions with only two racedays being held with spectators and another 18 run behind closed doors. There were also five lost racedays due to the pandemic and one abandonment due to inclement weather. Pandemic insurance and support from the UK Government through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and business rates relief prevented a pre-tax loss of over £31 million. In addition, the staff were restructured to adjust to pandemic trading...

A pair of wins for Nicola Currie saw the jockey win the Alistair Haggis "Silver Saddle" Trophy and assist the Ladies Team to Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup glory at Ascot. Going into the finale, the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Dash, the Ladies Team had a five-point advantage, but Team Ireland finished first and second with Joe Fanning and Tadhg O'Shea. Currie was third, giving the Shergar Cup to the Ladies Team by three points with 69 points. Ireland was second on 66 points, with Great Britain third with...

The four teams for Saturday's Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup jockey competition at Ascot have been confirmed, with three jockeys comprising each team. This year's Derby winning jockey Adam Kirby will captain Team Great Britain, on which he will be joined by Cieren Fallon and James Doyle. This year's G1 Gold Cup-winning rider Joe Fanning leads Team Ireland, which is also made up of David Egan and Tadhg O'Shea. Hayley Turner, the most successful rider in the history of the Shergar Cup, captains the Ladies Team which also includes Mickaelle...

Saturday's G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco S. at Ascot may have been whittled down to just five following the withdrawal of Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), but it will be remembered as one of the finest renewals since the turn of the century as the G1 Epsom Derby hero Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) became the first since Galileo (Ire) to bring up the cherished double. Placed prominently and racing freely early for William Buick as the slow-starting Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) was gradually cajoled to the...

Entering Saturday's G3 Princess Margaret Keeneland S. off an impressive maiden win over this six-furlong trip at Newmarket June 25, Saeed Al Tayer's Zain Claudette (Ire) (No Nay Never) was produced in the nick of time by the young weighing room talent Ray Dawson to nose out Desert Dreamer (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in a brief rainstorm at Ascot. Held up towards the rear early racing alongside the eventual runner-up, the 15-2 shot came stand's side of the pack while that 9-4 favourite was taken far side in what amounted...

Godolphin's €260,000 Arqana Select yearling New Science (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) backed up a May 28 debut success going a shade over seven furlongs at Great Yarmouth with a seventh-of-10 effort when contesting a stellar renewal of Royal Ascot's June 19 Listed Chesham S. last time. He was sent postward with crowd support for Saturday's Listed Pat Eddery S. tackling the Berkshire venue's same seven-furlong strip and delivered a game display to register a career high. Steadied to settle off the pace in fifth until taking closer order approaching...

There was very little on form between the main protagonists for Saturday's G2 Summer Mile at Ascot, but one who did have some play in his profile was Tilsit (First Defence) and the Juddmonte homebred duly made that class edge tell to prevail for a career-best success. Last seen finishing a head second to Skalleti (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) in the G1 Prix d'Ispahan over an extra furlong and 55 yards at ParisLongchamp May 30, the 4-1 favourite followed Century Dream (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) wide of the other runners throughout...

A provision has been made that will allow officials to move races on the round course to the inner track at Ascot on British Champions Day should the ground have 'heavy' in the going description at morning inspection. The previous rule stated that the inner course, which is normally used only for jumps races, could only be considered in an abandonment situation. The course will be inspected by Clerk of the Course Chris Stickels as per usual on the morning of the race. If he gives "heavy" in the going...