Ascot

Jadoomi (Fr) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) has been supplemented for £70,000 to Saturday's G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. on QIPCO Champions Day at Ascot. The gelding is undefeated in three starts this season, including the G2 Boomerang S. at Leopardstown on Sept. 10. Likely favorite for the £1.1-million test is MG1SW Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), victorious most recently in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville in August. Also among possible runners for this weekend's feature are: French Classic winner Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), The Revenant (GB) (Dubawi...

Multiple Group 1-winning sprinter Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) is pleasing trainer Richard Fahey in advance of a start in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint at Ascot on Oct. 15. The Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum runner won both the G1 Prix Morny and G1 Middle Park S. at two, and also prevailed in the G3 Greenham S. on his 3-year-old bow. After failing to stay in the G1 2000 Guineas, the colt bounced back to take the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. He was seventh in his...

The recently retired crack stayer Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) will be paraded at Ascot on QIPCO British Champions Day on Oct. 15. Bred and raced by Bjorn Nielsen, the charismatic chestnut retired with the most QIPCO British Champions Series wins in history with 16. Trained throughout his career by John and Thady Gosden, Stradivarius will be joined by fellow retired racehorses Side Glance (GB) (Passing Glance {GB}) and Trip To Paris (Ire) (Champs Elysees {GB}). Anna Kerr, Chief Executive of the National Stud, said, "We are delighted to...

Stradivarius, the three-time Gold Cup winner and the undisputed champion stayer of his generation, has been retired to stud.  Trained by John and Thady Gosden, Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) won three Yorkshire Cups and two Doncaster Cups but will be best remembered for those epic Gold Cup triumphs at Ascot. Owned by Bjorn Nielsen, who told TDN Europe about his intention to support the popular chestnut at stud upon his retirement, Stradivarius will join the roster at the National Stud.  The 8-year-old bows out from the game as...

The Aga Khan's leading 3-year-old Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}) looks set to be seen next in the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, it was confirmed on Wednesday. Winner of the G1 Prix du Jockey Club and G1 Coral-Eclipse, the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained colt was most recently third behind Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) when sent off as favourite for the G1 Irish Champion S. It appeared after that race that Vadeni would swerve the Arc, which has been won by his owner-breeder on four occasions, most recently with Zarkava (Fr)....

Classic winner Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) has exited his G1 Cazoo St Leger victory on Sunday "in good form" according to trainer Roger Varian. The lightly raced KHK Racing Ltd. colourbearer could possibly reappear this season in the G2 Long Distance Cup at Ascot on QIPCO British Champions Day or in the Oct. 23 G1 Prix Royal-Oak at ParisLongchamp. "He's in good form, he's come out of the race very well," said Varian. "I wouldn't rule it out [running again]. I have the option of running him again if...

It may be the least lauded of all the British festivals, but Doncaster's St Leger meeting is arguably the most varied with its cherished feature race still held in the highest regard by its many ardent fans. While Town Moor hosted day one of the festival on Wednesday, the relatively low-key action served mainly as a prologue or appetizer to the major upcoming events. Perhaps this week's jewels are the 2-year-old races, which lean more towards next year's Classics than those at Ascot, Newmarket, Goodwood and York and one of...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features the 2022 Goresbridge top-priced colt. 2.00 Ascot, Novice, £15,000, 2yo, 7fT ROYAL JET (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) made a splash at the Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Breeze-Up Sale in May, when a bid of €260,000 meant that he finished up the auction's top-priced colt. Owned by...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday's Observations features a Ballydoyle debutante. 2.35 Ascot, Mdn, £20,000, 2yo, 7fT PADDINGTON (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) is a rare British debut runner for Ballydoyle on a day when there are no pattern races, with the stable opting to bring two members of its powerful juvenile squad to the Berkshire...

The Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup went to Team Great Britain and Ireland at Ascot on Saturday. They earned 132 points and won five of the eight races. Second in the standings was the Ladies' Team at 81 points, with Team Rest of the World at 72 points and Team Europe at 51 points. Jockey Neil Callan, part of the winning team, was awarded the Alistair Haggas Silver Saddle Award after riding two winners on the day--Orbaan (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in the Dubai Duty Free Full Of Surprises Classified...

The heat was on in Saturday's G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth QIPCO S. at Ascot, a "Win And You're In" for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland in November, and there was no hiding place as Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) proved ruthless to prevail for the William Muir and Chris Grassick stable and jockey P J McDonald. Sent off at 18-1 with a below-par second in the June 3 G1 Coronation Cup last time tempering enthusiasm, last year's winner of that Epsom prize was always...

It seems strange to say that Saturday's G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth QIPCO S., a "Win And You're In" for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, has attracted the best available of the 3-year-olds of either sex without hosting a winner of either Epsom Classic. In Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Ascot's jewel has the two that really count. Both suffered ill fortune of varying degrees in the Derby and Oaks, with the filly in particular a victim of savage circumstance...