Cicero's Gift (GB)

Frankie. Storms. A New King. It's Royal Ascot again, and all the themes and strands of the week will begin to unravel as soon as Charles III has made his way up the straight mile in his first procession as the ruling monarch. Maybe the forecast thunder will get there first, who knows? It's been a while since the meeting enjoyed the promise of clear skies over the five days and it's no safe bet we'll get that luxury this time. Once the opening Queen Anne is underway, the Italian...

Bypassing the 2000 Guineas in favour of another confidence-building exercise in Goodwood's British EBF 40th Anniversary Conditions S. on Friday, Rosehill Racing's bargain 32,000gns Book 3 purchase Cicero's Gift (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}--Terentia {GB}, by Diktat {GB}) rewarded that patience by taking his record to three-for-three with consummate ease to become the latest TDN Rising Star. Sent off the 7-4 second favourite for the mile contest, the Charlie Hills-trained relative of the smart sprinter Cartimandua (GB) (Medicean {GB}) was settled under cover on the rail by Kieran Shoemark throughout the early...

Group 1 winner Dubai Mile (Ire) (Roaring Lion) galloped over the Rowley Mile in Newmarket on Wednesday. The Ahmad Al Shaikh silksbearer is being primed for a possible start in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas over this course on May 6. Trained by Charlie Johnston, the 3-year-old was originally pencilled in for the G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dante S. at York in mid-May, but connections are weighing the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud hero's chances in the run-up to the G1 Betfred Derby on June 3. "We've been having a debate...

4th-Navan, Mdn, 3-29, 3yo, 10fT. GOOLOOGONG (IRE) (c, 3, Australia {GB}--Muwakaba, by Elusive Quality). O-Westerberg, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor, D Smith; B-Capital Bloodstock (Ire); T-Aidan O'Brien. The name of Navan winner Gooloogong has an impeccable Down Under connection, being by renowned sire (and Epsom & Irish Derby winner) Australia. In fact, "Gooloogong is a village located in New South Wales, Australia, population 295", according to Wikipedia. The name of the hamlet also evokes (with a very slightly different spelling) that of Australian tennis phenomenon Evonne Goolagong, who was born...