Classics

If the first half of the Flat season is for graduation ceremonies, this is the bit where Masters and PhDs are handed out. To see Ryan Moore sit so beautifully on City Of Troy - and this year's best horse race round Southwell so fluidly - was to feel a surge of anticipation greater than before his seasonal reappearance for the 2,000 Guineas.  We all love spring and the history-laden game of labelling three-year-olds 'Classic' winners. But sorry, late summer and autumn is when we really get ready to rumble....

Twenty-one colts have stood their ground at the latest forfeit stage for the G1 Qipco 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday, May 4. They include the outstanding juvenile of 2023, City Of Troy (Justify), last seen winning the G1 Dewhurst S. on the Rowley Mile by three and a half lengths. City Of Troy is one of four entries left in the 2,000 Guineas for Aidan O'Brien, the most successful trainer in the history of the Classic with 10 wins. The potential challenge from Ballydoyle is completed by Diego Velazquez...

The Group 1-placed Dubawi Legend (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who carries the silks of Dr. Ali Ridha, will not have a run before a planned appearance in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas on Apr. 30. A winner at first asking at Doncaster in July, the Hugo Palmer trainee ran third in the G3 Acomb S. on Aug. 18 and then was only two lengths behind Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) when second in the G1 Dewhurst S. on Oct. 9. He did not fair well in the draw of the...

There is no doubt that the Flat is back on Sunday, with the action at Leopardstown and ParisLongchamp featuring several Classic contenders jostling for position. In the G3 Ballylinch Stud "Priory Belle" 1000 Guineas Trial at the Foxrock venue, Coolmore hold a strong hand with last year's G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine Shale (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) saddled with just a three-pound penalty despite those exploits. Ryan Moore has picked her over Aidan O'Brien's promising maiden winners Empress Josephine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Joan of Arc  (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), with their...

Did you notice that Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), the big Saudi Cup winner on Saturday, is a member of his sire's first crop? A 4-year-old homebred for Prince A. A. Faisal's Nawara Stud, Mishriff is by the Faisal-raced Make Believe, a Dubawi (Ire)-line stallion at Ballylinch Stud in Ireland. Last year, Mishriff won the G1 Prix du Jockey-Club, the French Derby equivalent, and is one of three first-crop winners of that Classic in the last five years, along with Brametot (Ire) (Rajsaman {Fr}) in 2017 and Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton...

France's frenzied week of high-class action continues on Thursday, with ParisLongchamp again in action with key trials for the middle-distance Classics. First up is the nine-furlong G3 Prix la Force for the colts, with last year's G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud hero Mkfancy (Fr) (Makfi {GB}) looking to build on a solid comeback effort when beaten a length attempting to give four pounds to the smart Waltham (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in the Listed Prix Maurice Caillault over this trip on Chantilly's Polytrack Mar. 9. This rates as the most serious...

Thunderous (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) and Fantail (GB) (Zoffany {Ire}) are two potential Classic prospects to look forward to this year in the Highclere Thoroughbred Racing silks. A Mark Johnston-trained Night of Thunder colt, Thunderous ended his juvenile season unbeaten in three starts, picking up listed honours in the Denford S. at Newbury in August. Also hopefully in the big-race picture for Highclere is the once-raced filly Fantail, trained by Simon Crisford. Highclere Managing Director Harry Herbert said, "I think we've got some nice horses. Thunderous had a little...