Batsford Stud

Shadwell's Erhaab (Chief's Crown--Histoire {Fr}, by Riverman), who won the G1 Derby at Epsom in 1994, died peacefully this week at Batsford Stud. The 30-year-old, the oldest surviving winner of the Blue Riband, had spent the past decade at the Gloucestershire stud. Bred by Sheikh Hamdan's operation in Kentucky, the half-brother to Group 2 winner Oumaldaaya (Nureyev) and stakes winner Hispanolia (Fr) (Kris {GB}) was trained by John Dunlop. In five starts as a juvenile, the dark bay won twice and was also third in the G3 Horris Hill S....

With racing in Britain suspended until at least the end of April, just days before the Guineas would have been run at Newmarket, the one certain thing in an uncertain world is that there will be some disruption to the Classic programme this season. Hopefully that will merely be some date changes. The last time there was a significant change to the British Classics was 25 years ago, when the Derby was moved from its traditional Wednesday slot to a Saturday. It still rankles in some quarters, though in this...