Ballydoyle

2.00 Navan, Mdn, €16,000, 2yo, 5f 164yT AESOP'S FABLES (IRE) (No Nay Never) is the latest potential Royal Ascot star to appear for Ballydoyle in 2022 and a notable one as a half-brother to that meeting's Listed Windsor Castle S. winner Washington DC (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}). Along with that sire, whose career win total included the G3 Phoenix Sprint S., this February-foaled bay is also a half to the stable's G3 Chester Vase runner-up Sandhurst (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and he meets Peter Brant's Curragh third Midnight Toker (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}),...

Aidan O'Brien has outlined plans for some of his Classic hopes for the 2022 season and indicated that the dual group winners Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) will head to Newmarket for the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas on Apr. 30. Luxembourg will bid to emulate his treble Classic-winning sire by claiming the Newmarket feature on his seasonal debut after winning the G1 Vertem Futurity at Doncaster at two. "Point Lonsdale worked in the same group as Luxembourg on Saturday and that was the first time...

While the ever-resilient bloodstock industry barely flinched in the face of a global pandemic--the return of sky-high prices in the sales ring testament to that--the travel industry slowed to a grinding halt. However, with the news that--whisper it--the world has fully reopened, there's never been a better time to dust off the suitcase and begin planning trips away again. And if it's Ireland you're thinking of, Tipperary might just have the answer, for waiting patiently in the starting stalls is John Magnier's most exciting new prospect. We're not talking about...

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. Today's Observations features a full-brother to multiple Classic scorer Snowfall (Jpn). 1.05 Nottingham, Mdn, £14,000, 2yo, c/g, 8f 75yT KALAHARI PRINCE (IRE) (New Approach {Ire}) is one of five Godolphin representatives lining up for this "Golden Horn Maiden" won 12 months ago by Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), and one...

He may have been niggled along earlier than ideal, but Coolmore and Westerberg's hitherto unraced Star of India (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) produced a finishing burst stamped with class and outpointed his rivals in style to earn 'TDN Rising Star' status in Saturday's Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C & G) Maiden over seven furlongs at Leopardstown. The 5-1 chance broke well to track the leaders in fourth and required mild urging to remain in contact rounding the home turn. Making eyecatching headway out wide in the straight, he quickened in some...

Trainer Aidan O'Brien has "backed off" five-time Group 1 winner St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) after the 3-year-old once again exhibited soreness in the area of a minor injury he sustained this summer. St Mark's Basilica missed the G1 Juddmonte International at York last month after a cut on a hind leg caused by a thrown shoe became infected, and although the dual French Classic and G1 Eclipse S. winner returned to win the G1 Irish Champion S. 10 days ago, he has since been sore in the area...

This year's G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Prix Rothschild winner Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) will be re-routed from next month's Golden Eagle in Australia to the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar on Nov. 6 to take the place of Ballydoyle's dual Grade I winner Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {Ire}), who is likely to miss the meeting after suffering a setback. "Unfortunately Santa Barbara has had a setback," said trainer Aidan O'Brien. "It doesn't look at the moment as if she's going to make the Breeders' Cup. We've now rerouted...

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. Today's Observations features a blueblood from the Moyglare Stud nursery. 4.25 Curragh, Debutantes, €16,500, 2yo, 7fT ECLAT DE LUMIERE (IRE) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) is one of several notable representatives of major breeding operations in this fascinating affair, hailing from the Dermot Weld stable seemingly well-equipped with talented juveniles...

It was tight at the finish of Deauville's G1 Prix Rothschild on Tuesday, but when the going gets tough you can rely on Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) to give her all and that was enough to provide Aidan O'Brien with another highlight in France this year. Admirably consistent since her success in the G1 1000 Guineas at Newmarket May 2, the 19-10 favourite who was a latest runner-up in the G1 Falmouth S. on Newmarket's July Course July 9 was happy to follow the leaders early. When Ryan Moore...

It looked straightforward on paper for Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) ahead of Thursday's G3 Japan Racing Association Tyros S. and that was the case as the full-brother to Broome (Ire) justified 1-8 favouritism in Leopardstown's juvenile pointer. Racing in second early after a slightly tardy start, the June 19 Listed Chesham S. winner took control two out and stayed on strongly to register a three-length verdict over Maritime Wings (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}). "He got a lead today, which was nice as in his last two...

Aidan O'Brien used the word "special" to describe Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) following her stunning success by a record-breaking 16 lengths in the G1 Epsom Oaks, but most would argue that tag did not go far enough to fully quantify what was witnessed on the first Friday in June. Looking more like a freak of nature as she glided by toiling rivals in early straight, the Ballydoyle bombshell out of the portentously-named dam Best In the World (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) probably needs to do no more than she did...

G1 Cazoo Oaks winner Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) makes her much-anticipated first start since that record 16-length romp in Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks at The Curragh, where she will face seven rivals. Also the winner of the G3 Musidora S. in May, Snowfall will be reunited with Ryan Moore after being piloted by Frankie Dettori at Epsom, and they will break from the inside stall. Snowfall will be joined by three Ballydoyle stablemates in Listed Naas Oaks Trial scorer Willow (Ire) (American Pharoah), who exits the outside gate...