Ballydoyle

Paying further tribute to his much-missed dam Tepin (Bernstein), Ballydoyle's TDN Rising Star Delacroix (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) showed he had inherited her battling qualities as well as her class to capture the G3 Emirates Autumn Stakes at Newmarket. Runner-up over this mile trip in Leopardstown's G2 Champions Juvenile Stakes last month, the 15-8 favourite travelled with greater zest than on his previous three starts tracking the pace before being committed by Ryan Moore two out. Challenged by the Ralph Beckett-trained Stanhope Gardens (Ire) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) from there, the market-leader was...

Proving yet again that Aidan O'Brien's second string is never to be discounted in pattern races, the 25-1 shot Merrily (No Nay Never--Caponata, by Selkirk) swooped to conquer in Friday's G3 Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket. Anchored in rear early by Wayne Lordan, the relative of Sunday's Arc heroine Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}) was a touch free early in response the switch in tactics from her latest fifth in the G3 Weld Park Stakes. Saving her energy for the finale this time, the $325,000 Keeneland September...

Back in 2010, when Wootton Bassett (GB) registered what would ultimately be his defining success in ParisLongchamp's G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, few would have predicted the considerable impact he would have on the breed. Fourteen years on, the extent to which he has grown in stature during his second career was felt in the same Qatar-sponsored race as his son Camille Pissarro (Ire) stepped up to reward Coolmore's faith and investment in the sire's raw material. Up to seven furlongs and fitted with blinkers for the first time, Ballydoyle's TDN...

Coolmore and Westerberg's G3 Stanerra Stakes victrix Grateful (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}--Tepin, by Bernstein), who hit the board in last month's G2 Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster, made the necessary transition under an inspired ride from Christophe Soumillon to secure a career high in Saturday's G1 Qatar Prix de Royallieu at ParisLongchamp. She became the fourth winner on the card for a dominant Aidan O'Brien. Employing patiently tactics and settled off the tempo for most of this 14-furlong marathon, the 207-10 chance made relentless headway out wide in the straight to...

Ballydoyle's star stayer Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}--Polished Gem {Ire}, by Danehill) went unbeaten through six contests in 2022 and completed an exact replica of that campaign with a pillar-to-post triumph in Saturday's G1 Qatar Prix du Cadran at ParisLongchamp. That 2022 season included an extravagant win in this marathon event, but it was a more straightforward affair this time around. The 1-5 favourite, fresh off a second success in the G1 Irish St Leger, went straight to the front and sent an even tempo for the most part. Gearing up...

Coolmore's G1 St Leger runner-up Illinois (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}--Danedrop {Ire}), by Danehill), winner of Royal Ascot's G2 Queen's Vase back in June, fired the opening salvo of ParisLongchamp's Arc weekend and delivered a battling performance to prevail in the 15-furlong G2 Qatar Prix Chaudenay. The 2-5 favourite, who had also placed in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud and G1 Grand Prix de Paris, went straight to the lead and held sway until turning for home. Under pressure when headed briefly by Trafalgar Square (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) with 300 metres remaining,...

Maintaining the theme of first-season sires having their first black-type winner at Dundalk on Friday evening, Castle Hyde Stud's resident Arizona (Ire) (by No Nay Never) was off the mark in that sphere as his son Right And True (Ire) captured the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Star Appeal Stakes. Off the mark at the fifth attempt over a mile at Listowel last month, the 13-2 shot was in front initially before being steadied by Ronan Whelan to take a lead from fellow Ballydoyle runner Bernard Shaw (Into Mischief). Mastering...

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...

Coolmore's Heavens Gate (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}--Itqaan, by Danzig), with a half-dozen prior outings under her belt, was the most experienced of nine contenders entering Sunday's G3 Weld Park Stakes at the Curragh and her ringcraft was a telling factor  in the seven-furlong contest as she delivered a display of power to claim a career high. She had previously hit the board in the G3 Albany Stakes and G2 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes and annexed a valuable pot at Naas in her penultimate start before running fourth in York's G2 Lowther...

Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes was billed as a heavyweight bout between unbeaten 'TDN Rising Stars' Lake Victoria (Ire) (Frankel {GB}--Quiet Reflection {GB}, by Showcasing {GB}) and Babouche (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) and it was the former who emerged on top with a scintillating performance dropped in trip for the six-furlong test. Lake Victoria had attained 'TDN Rising Star' status in her June 28 debut over seven furlongs at the Curragh before notching a pillar-to-post victory in last month's G3 Sweet Solera Stakes and went postward as the 6-4 favourite...

Abundant rain turned Newmarket's ground to heavy before Friday's action and while it sunk the much-vaunted Formal (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G2 Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Rockfel Stakes, it proved no hindrance to fellow TDN Rising Star Bubbling (Ire) (No Nay Never--Lumiere Noire {Fr}, by Dashing Blade {GB}) as she became the latest Ballydoyle juvenile filly to register a black-type win in 2024. Partnered by Ryan Moore after the stable's Ecstatic (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) was taken out due to the going, the impressive Galway maiden winner and Listed...

Most were expecting that Aidan O'Brien would be welcoming back a 10th winner of The Curragh's G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes on Sunday and that it would be an unbeaten daughter of Frankel (GB), but few would have predicted that it would be Lake Victoria (Ire) and not Bedtime Story (Ire). Like her deservedly much-vaunted stablemate, Lake Victoria held TDN Rising Star status heading into this seven-furlong test having beaten the re-opposing Red Letter (GB) (Frankel {GB}) on debut over this course and distance in June and gone to Newmarket to...