Churchill (Ire)

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Duvet Day at Grade III level beneath the Twin Spires.   Duvet Day Breaks Graded Duck In Cardinal Stakes Jane Bacharach, William DeBurgh and Richard Schatz's Duvet Day (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) won the GIII Cardinal Stakes at Churchill Downs on November 28 (video). It was the first graded win for the five-year-old mare and first victory since January of 2023 in the Listed Astra...

Andrew Balding has given a positive update on his G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup entry The Foxes (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), who is set to face Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) on Sunday. He won a listed race at Newcastle over Group 1 winner Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}) last month and galloped at Sha Tin on Tuesday morning. "He's got a fair bit to find with Romantic Warrior but I think we are certainly in the mix with the others," said Balding. "He has come...

Breeders' Cup winner Starlust (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) and Grade I runner-up The Foxes (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) have both been supplemented to the Longines Hong Kong International Races, the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) announced on Tuesday. The former won the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint in the colours of Fitri Hay and trainer Ralph Beckett. A winner of the G3 Sirenia Stakes in September of 2023, the colt wound up third in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Santa Anita two starts later. This term, Starlust managed a...

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. Wednesday's Observations features features a half-sister to Group 1 winner Limato (Ire) (Tagula {Ire}). 14.50 Kempton, Mdn, £6,800, 2yo, f, 8f (AWT) William Haggas-conditioned debutante CARLYLE SQUARE (IRE) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is a half-sister to ultra-consistent G1 July Cup and G1 Prix de la Foret winner Limato (Ire) (Tagula...

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Scarlet Poppy during the Belmont at the Big A meeting.   Night Of Thunder Filly Wins In New York Wesley Ward trainee Scarlet Poppy (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) raced to a 2 1/4-length victory as the crowd's pick going six furlongs as the Belmont at the Big A meeting continued on Oct. 25 (video). She races for a partnership between Stonestreet Stables, Mrs....

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. Thursday's Observations features a half-brother to The Autumn Sun (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}). 2.30 Saint-Cloud, Debutantes, €30,000, 2yo, c/g, 7 1/2fT AZIMPOUR (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) starts out for the Aga Khan and Francis-Henri Graffard stable and is a half-brother to Redoute's Choice's multiple group 1-winning sire The Autumn Sun...

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...

Yeguada Centurion homebred Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) has been retired from racing, Paris Turf reported on Friday morning. The 4-year-old daughter of multiple group winner Queen Blossom (Ire) (Jeremy) won a quartet of Group 1s, including the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and Prix de Diane. Trained through her first 12 starts by Christopher Head, the bay won four of her six appearances at two en route to being named the top filly of her year in France. She landed the G3 Prix d'Aumale and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac...

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. Saturday's Observations features a half-brother to Victor Ludorum (GB). 13.35 Newmarket, Novice, £8,500, 2yo, f, 8fT PEARL OF HOPE (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is a notable Godolphin newcomer, being a half-sister to Shamardal's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere-winning sire Victor Ludorum (GB). Charlie Appleby sticks...

Third in the G2 Duchess of Cambridge Stakes and G3 Albany Stakes, Ballydoyle's Heavens Gate (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}--Itqaan, by Danzig) had a class edge in Monday's Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes at Naas and duly collected the valuable prize to return to winning ways. Sent straight to the forefront by Ryan Moore, the 4-6 favourite never looked likely to be caught and hit the line strong with 1 1/4 lengths to spare over Fiery Lucy (GB) (Without Parole {GB}). "She's a straightforward lovely filly who Ryan has always said could get...

Sent off the 11-10 favourite for Saturday's G2 Prix de Malleret at ParisLongchamp, Gerard Augustin-Normand's G1 Prix de Diane runner-up Survie (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) justified that faith to record a notable black-type breakthrough win. Content to follow the pace early, the Nicolas Clement-trained homebred was asked to take control 300 metres from the finish as Candala (Fr) (Frankel {GB}) became ensnared in traffic to her right and needed no second invitation en route to a 1 1/4-length success from Mosaique (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}). Candala, who met with abundant trouble in...

Newmarket's July Festival witnessed some smart performances from big names on the opening day and Friday's action looks set to follow that pattern with Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) the leading lady in the feature G1 Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes. Surprisingly, she has proven adept at this mile despite showing abundant pace as a juvenile when winning the G3 Albany Stakes and G1 Cheveley Park Stakes. Runner-up in the 1,000 Guineas, the filly who races for Steven Weston, Barry Fowler, Medallion Racing and Reeves Racing went to Royal Ascot's G1 Coronation Stakes...