Caravaggio

In a race that is longer than the vast majority of Thoroughbred races in the U.S., Thursday's two-mile GII Belmont Gold Cup S. was won in high style by Eclipse Thoroughbreds and The Estate of Albert Frassetto's The Grey Wizard (Ire) (g, 5, Caravaggio--Fancy {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}), who waited until the final moments to close with a rush and nab the narrow victory from Champagne Juan (Justify). With the victory, The Grey Wizard annexed the Golden Ticket for the G1 Melbourne Cup at Flemington Nov. 5. Sent off at...

By Emma Berry and Brian Sheerin On Tuesday the European Pattern Committee (EPC) announced that 42 races are at risk of being downgraded in 2025, including Britain's G1 Commonwealth Cup. Its status will depend very much on its performance in 2024, which will mark the tenth running of the race introduced to the British calendar in 2015 as a readymade Group 1 in order to "create a more balanced programme and better opportunities for high-class sprinters". The Commonwealth Cup, run at Royal Ascot over six furlongs for three-year-olds only, was...

The nominations for the 33rd Cartier Racing Awards, to be presented Thursday, Nov. 9 at the Dorchester Hotel in London, have been revealed with Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}), Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), and Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) named as finalists for Cartier Horse of the Year. Many in contention in other categories made appearances at the Breeders' Cup, including GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf victrix Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) for Cartier Older Horse; Mawj (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) and Warm...

While Newmarket's G1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park S. was stripped of an important runner in the certain favourite Relief Rally (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), whose dirty scope ruled her out of action on the eve of the race, there can be few complaints that Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio--Too Precious {Ire}, by Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) was not ultimately a worthy winner as she again delivered her potent blend of professionalism and class on Saturday. Surprisingly as big as 9-2 as the joint-second favourite given her exemplary record so far, the Donnacha O'Brien...

Multiple group winner Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio), who ran second in the G1 Phoenix S. to Bucanero Fuerte (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), is under consideration for the G1 Moyglare Stud S. on Sept. 10, trainer Donnacha O'Brien revealed on Wednesday. The daughter of four-time winner Too Precious (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) won a maiden race at the Curragh in April, and followed up with Group 3 victories in the Fillies Sprint S. and Albany S. at Naas and Royal Ascot respectively in May and June. The Phoenix was her...

A six-start maiden, Maltese Falcon (Ire) (Caravaggio) was nevertheless dispatched as the public's choice for Sunday's GIII La Jolla H. and duly obliged with a perfect-trip graduation. Neatly drawn in stall three in a field of eight in this final prep for the GII Del Mar Derby, the 105,000gns Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training purchase found a good spot at the fence right on the back of a sedate tempo set jointly by Agency (Bolt d'Oro) and Justin's Legacy (Justify). Juan Hernandez was content to allow Maltese Falcon to bide...

Frankie got going early on Friday as he steered Steven Weston, Barry Fowler, Medallion Racing 2020 LLC and Reeves Racing's Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio--Too Precious {Ire}, by Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) to success in the G3 Albany S. for a landmark 80th Royal Ascot winner. Sent off at 5-1 having garnered Naas's G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint S. last month, the Donnacha O'Brien trainee travelled smoothly over two lengths behind the speed up the centre. Arriving to reel in Matrika (Ire) (No Nay Never) passing the furlong pole,...

Donnacha O'Brien trainee Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio--Too Precious {Ire}, by Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) posted a debut win over five furlongs at the Curragh last month and punched a ticket to Royal Ascot with a determined success in Sunday's G3 Coolmore Stud Irish EBF Fillies Sprint S. Naas. She was positioned within range of the leaders in a close eighth through the early stages and tanked forward once past halfway. Shaken up at the quarter-mile marker, the 8-1 chance quickened smartly to seize control approaching the final furlong and was...

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. Monday's insights feature the reappearance of 'TDN Rising Star' Tenebrism. 18.40 Naas, Listed, €40,000, 3yo/up, 5fT Coolmore and Westerberg's TENEBRISM (Caravaggio) makes a swift reappearance after annexing Cork's six-furlong Listed Cork S. on seasonal debut earlier in the month and takes in this Listed Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital Woodlands...

With her sights set firmly on sprinting in 2023, TDN Rising Star Tenebrism (Caravaggio--Immortal Verse {Ire}, by Pivotal {GB}) issued an early warning to that brigade with a smooth comeback win in the Listed Cork S. on Saturday. Keen initially for Ryan Moore, the 11-10 favourite eventually settled behind the pace and when cajoled to the front approaching the furlong pole showed her familiar surge to take control and register a 1 3/4-length success from the 3-year-old Wodao (Fr) (Showcasing {GB}). "She could go to Naas in two weeks and...

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 Insights features a half sibling to Group 1-winning sire Sioux Nation (Scat Daddy). 3.30 Cork, Listed, €42,500, 3yo/up, 6fT TENEBRISM (Caravaggio) makes her seasonal bow in this Cork S. as she embarks on a pure sprinting campaign having tried her hand over a mile for most of last...

Caravaggio (Scat Daddy--Mekko Hotke, by Holy Bull), the leading European first-crop sire of 2021, has been acquired by the Japanese Bloodstock Breeders Association (JBBA) and is set to continue his stud career at Shizunai Stallion Station, according to multiple published reports. Trained by Aidan O'Brien for Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, Caravaggio was perfect in four runs as a juvenile, including a defeat of Mehmas (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) in the G2 Coventry S. at Royal Ascot and capped by a four-length success in the G1 Keeneland Phoenix...