Content (Ire)

Wednesday saw the draw made for Friday's two group 1 contests at Royal Ascot, with the 10 fillies set to contest the Coronation S. headed by Ballydoyle's G1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Opera Singer (Justify) and Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's 1,000 Guineas heroine Elmalka (GB) (Kingman {GB}). Opera Singer, who was returning from a setback when third in the Irish 1,000 Guineas, has drawn an outside stall in nine for the mile feature while the Roger Varian-trained Newmarket Classic heroine is in seven. James Doyle takes over from Silvestre De...

Sunday's swathe of European stakes action is headlined by ParisLongchamp's Emirates-sponsored G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains. Both Classics have attracted double-figure fields with 15 distaffers set for the Pouliches and a baker's dozen declared for the colts' equivalent. Godolphin's G3 Prix Imprudence victrix Romantic Style (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), drawn out wide in 14, heads a six-strong overseas challenge in the €550,000 Pouliches. She will be joined by G1 Moyglare Stud S. runner-up Vespertilio (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) and GI Breeders' Cup...

Ballydoyle second string Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}--Mecca's Angel {Ire}, by Dark Angel {Ire}), sent to post as an unconsidered 20-1 chance returning off a sub-par sixth in last month's G3 Weld Park S., stepped forward in style to claim a first stakes triumph in Saturday's G3 Staffordstown Stud S. at the Curragh. The May-foaled bay, who ran second behind the reopposing Kitty Rose (GB) (Invincible Army {Ire}) in Leopardstown's Listed Ingabelle S. on Irish Champions weekend, was the last of 10 into stride and raced under wraps in rear through...

Four-times group 1 winners who boast two editions of Deauville's G1 Prix Jacques le Marois are rare commodities, so Saturday's G1 Sun Chariot S. is all the richer for the presence of Cheveley Park Stud's Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) who could be Frankie's 500th Newmarket winner if all goes to plan. First, they will have to master one of those big improvers that Andre Fabre has aimed at his favourite track, and Baron Edouard De Rothschild's Mqse De Sevigne (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) showed distinct appetite for battle in both Deauville's...

The Irish Champions Festival began with a renewal of Leopardstown's Listed Ballylinch Stud Irish EBF Ingabelle S. which may prove better than its status in time as two class acts dominated proceedings throughout. While Ballydoyle's 13-8 favourite Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) did her thing by going fast in front and keeping at it, Natalia Lupini's Kitty Rose (GB) (Invincible Army {Ire}--Varnish {GB}, by Choisir {Aus}) had too many guns from over a furlong out and stretched to an impressive 2 1/2-length success under Billy Lee. In doing so, the 3-1...

Royal Ascot 2023 winds up on Saturday with the centrepiece the meeting's now-familiar international dash, the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S. These are some of the fastest equine dragsters on the planet, with the 1:11.05 six-furlong course record of Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) potentially under threat as the high pressure continues to build over Berkshire. Australia's Artorius (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) returns a year older and more mature than when a close third 12 months ago as he covered the final three furlongs faster than any. Hong Kong's Wellington...