Charyn (Ire)

Royal Ascot Tuesday got underway with an admirably professional Queen Anne display from Nurlan Bizakov's Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}--Futoon {Ire}, by Kodiac {GB}) as he finally plundered his Group 1 on the biggest stage. Runner-up in the G1 Lockinge S. at Newbury last month, the grey tracked that race's winner Audience (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) throughout the early stages but whereas he wasn't able to get to him previously this time he was already rolling by with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining. Out in the clear under Silvestre De Sousa chased...

Sunday saw the confirmations for 2024 Royal Ascot's opening day fixture, where the G1 St James's Palace S. is the rightful stage for the coming together of the 2,000 Guineas, Irish 2,000 Guineas and Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroes Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) and Metropolitan (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}). The latter has been supplemented for the mile contest and is joined by fellow French raider Darlinghurst (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), while Ballydoyle rely on last year's G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. hero Henry Longfellow (Ire)...

As expected, Cheveley Park Stud's colours were in the winner's enclosure following Newbury's G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge S. on Saturday but it was aboard the Gosdens' 22-1 shot Audience (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}--Ladyship {GB}, by Oasis Dream {GB}) who uber-excelled in his task of pacemaking for Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Labelled a TDN Rising Star at two, the homebred grandson of the Thompsons' 2006 Lockinge heroine Peeress (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) had shown what he could do when left alone on the lead with ample space to express himself in last year's G3 Criterion...

Following Monday's confirmation stage, Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) and Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) remain on course for a blockbuster clash in Saturday's G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge S. at Newbury. Of the 11 possible runners, Big Rock and Inspiral are the only two who have previously been successful at the top level. Big Rock--who will be having his first start for Maurizio Guarnieri having recently left Christopher Head's Chantilly yard--made the breakthrough in Group 1 company when winning the Queen Elizabeth II S. at Ascot on his final...

Following the latest scratching stage, last year's G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. winner Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) is one of 15 horses who have stood their ground for the £400,000 G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge S. at Newbury on Saturday, May 18, potentially his first start for Maurizio Guarnieri having left Christopher Head's Chantilly yard last week. A French-trained horse hasn't won the Lockinge since Keltos (Fr) struck for Carlos Laffon-Parias in 2002, but Big Rock will certainly bring leading form claims to the table if taking his...

It's a case of all eyes on Doncaster on Saturday with the wheel set to turn once again as the Town Moor track stages the opening act of the British Flat Turf season. Alongside the traditional curtain-raiser of the Lincoln H. for the hardened older milers is the Brocklesby S. for juveniles, the annual show of precocity where the focus will inevitably be on Royal Ascot. First-season sires represented include Mohaather (GB) and Without Parole (GB), with the former's son Dukes Of Haather (GB) from the Adrian Keatley stable looking...

Saturday's European black-type count stands at a baker's dozen, with eight group races in Britain and Ireland alone featuring several movers and shakers towards the elite level kicking off with Juddmonte's TDN Rising Star Nostrum (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in York's G3 Strensall S. and culminating five hours later with the fellow Sir Michael Stoute-trained Passenger (Ulysses {Ire}) in the G3 Weatherbys Global Stallions Winter Hill S. at Windsor. Nostrum was surprisingly beaten by fellow TDN Rising Star Epictetus (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) in Goodwood's G3 Thoroughbred S. last time, but is...

[tdn-newsletter-embed]As expected, Wednesday's G1 Qatar Sussex S. was all about TDN Rising Star Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) who was able to dictate and dominate in Goodwood's heavily rain-softened ground and register a fourth straight top-level success. While his 1 1/2-length verdict over Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) is hardly inspiring stuff, the 4-9 favourite never looked likely to surrender his admirable sequence with Ryan Moore on the stand's rail throughout the closing stages which probably made for more tense watching than the winner's connections had expected. The time of 1:47.16...

In the battle of the 2000 Guineas winners in Tuesday's G1 St James's Palace S., it was the Irish Classic victor Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}--Modern Eagle {Ger}, by Montjeu {Ire}) who proved much the best as he overwhelmed the Newmarket hero Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) to make Aidan O'Brien Royal Ascot's winningmost trainer on 83. Settled behind the leaders from his wide draw by Ryan Moore as Frankie took the Juddmonte representative to the front, the 11-5 second favourite moved to his chief rival with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining and...

Despite losing Frankie Dettori once the gates flew in the G3 Greenham S. on Saturday, Juddmonte's Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) remains part of the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas field. After Tuesday's latest scratching stage, 20 colts are still entered in the first Classic of the British season on Saturday, May 6. A winner of four of his six starts, the G1 Dewhurst S. hero is one of two in the one-mile race for Andrew Balding. Second in the Dewhurst, G2 Richmond S. scorer Royal Scotsman (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) will attempt...

Nurlan Bizakov's 250,000gns Tattersalls October Book 2 yearling Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}--Futoon {Ire}, by Kodiac {GB}) ran third to Roger Varian-trained stablemate Sakheer (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in last month's G2 Mill Reef S. and continued his progression with a career high in Saturday's G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte at Chantilly. He had earlier followed up an Aug. 7 debut triumph at Haydock with a narrow defeat at Newmarket in his penultimate start later that month. The eventual winner was sent forward from an early fifth to track the leaders in...