Coolmore

John Stewart's Resolute Racing continued its world-wide buying spree in Australia Thursday when going to A$3.2 million to acquire multiple Group 1-placed Tutta La Vita (Aus) (The Autumn Sun {Aus}) (hip 87) at the Inglis Chairman's Sale. The 3-year-old filly, the second-highest priced lot at the sale, had been campaigned by Kevin and Vikki Payne, who purchased her for A$300,000 as a yearling in 2022. She will continue to be trained by Chris Waller. "We are really excited about buying Tutta La Vita," Stewart said. "We met Chris Waller when...

Coolmore is the new sponsor of the G2 Coolmore St Mark's Basilica German 2000 Guineas, which will be held at Cologne on Monday, May 20, the organisation announced on Tuesday. "German breeders have been great supporters of Coolmore over the years and we have been long-time race sponsors in the country," said Coolmore's Joe Hernon. "We were more than happy to get involved on this occasion." Three of the past 10 renewals of the German Classic have featured winners by Coolmore sires, including the late Zoffany (Ire)'s Knife Edge (Ire)...

Aidan O'Brien trainee Whistlejacket (Ire) (No Nay Never--Adventure Seeker {Fr}, by Bering {GB}) debuted with a runner-up finish in an Apr. 21 six-furlong maiden at the Curragh and made no mistake dropped down in trip for Monday's Listed GAIN First Flier S. back at the Co. Kildare venue. Sharply into stride to race on the front end from flagfall in this black-type bow, the 500,000gns Tattersalls Book 1 graduate was shaken up soon after passing the quarter-mile pole and surged clear under continued urging inside the final furlong to easily...

Aidan O'Brien has suggested that he left City Of Troy (Justify) "too fresh" ahead of what turned out to be a bitterly disappointing return in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday but went on to explain that last season's European Champion Two-Year-Old remains on course to run in the Derby.  City Of Troy trailed home in ninth, beaten 17 lengths by the winner Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), despite being sent off at odds of 4-6 for the 2,000 Guineas. He can now be backed at odds as big...

We could run the numbers, as they say. What they will tell us is that Aidan O'Brien has dominated racing both in his home country of Ireland and its nearest neighbour, where he will this Saturday be inducted into the QIPCO British Horseracing Hall of Fame.  It doesn't end there, of course. He is known and revered around the world, his tally of 419 Group or Grade 1 winners (including National Hunt) having also been chalked up in America, Australia, Canada, Dubai, France, Hong Kong and Italy. No other trainer...

The phrase "we'll never see his or her like again" is poignant, heartfelt, and often not true. To say the all-time greatest in sport has already been and gone traps us in the past. When Frankel won the 2011 2,000 Guineas with radiant ease I called the sports desk of The Observer from the football match I had been sent to cover and urged them to clear the decks for their Newmarket report. "The 2,000 Guineas isn't meant to be won like that," I told my sports editor. A wonder...

St Mark's Basilica (Fr), Churchill (Ire), Starspangledbanner (Aus) and Wootton Bassett (GB) have been confirmed on the Coolmore Australia roster for 2024, although a fee has yet to be revealed for the latter. Wootton Bassett stood for $93,500 and covered 131 mares in 2023, which included Group 1 winners Srikandi and Spright. His return down under has been eagerly-anticipated and he will spearhead the travelling contingent.  "We are delighted to be able to confirm that Wootton Bassett is returning in 2024," Tom Magnier said. "He is now having his first...

Aidan O'Brien annexed the two latest editions of Saturday's Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Navan with subsequent Group 2 winners Aesop's Fables (Ire) (No Nay Never) and River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and he secured the hattrick after 1.25-million guineas Tattersalls Book 1 graduate Camille Pissarro (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) produced a 'TDN Rising Star' display in the extended five-furlong contest. Aesop's Fables and River Tiber also earned Rising Stars in this event and Camille Pissarro becomes Wootton Bassett's seventh Rising Star. Camille Pissarro dwelt slightly as the...

Dual Australian Champion Sire Fastnet Rock (Aus) (Danehill) has been pensioned from stallion duty, Coolmore Australia announced. Bred by Linley Investments, the son of Piccadilly Circus (Aus) (Royal Academy) would go on to race for an ownership group and trainer Paul Perry. His best days on the racecourse were in 2005, where he won the G1 Lightning S. and G1 Oakleigh Plate in succession. Named both Australian Champion Sprinter and Champion 3-Year-Old Colt that year, Fastnet Rock retired to stud with a mark of 19-6-7-2 and $1,312,623 in earnings. As...

Francis-Henri Graffard trainee Calandagan (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}--Calayana {Fr}, by Sinndar {Ire}) finished 3-4-of-a-length behind Bright Picture (Fr) (Intello {Ger}) in Saint-Cloud's Listed Prix Francois Mathet last month and exacted revenge on that rival in Sunday's G3 Prix Noailles at ParisLongchamp. The Aga Khan's homebred gelding was out twice as a 2-year-old, following up an Aug. 12 debut third at Deauville with a facile 10-length tally at Chantilly in October. Calandagan tucked in at the tail of the field after breaking from the outside stall and was urged closer once into...

Alessandro and Giuseppe Botti trainee Gala Real (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) notched an 11-length tally when shedding maiden status at Lyon-Parilly last November and continued on the upgrade with a 'TDN Rising Star' performance in Friday's Prix Durban at Saint-Cloud. The 73-10 chance, who had previously finished last of seven runners in her July 16 debut over seven furlongs at Chantilly, employed patient tactics from flagfall in this 10 1/2-furlong distaffers' test and settled off the tempo in sixth for the most part. Inching closer on the home turn, the daughter...

Fresh off a yet another win in the GI Toyota Blue Grass S. at Keeneland, trainer Chad Brown joined the TDN Writers' Room podcast presented by Keeneland to offer up insight on Sierra Leone's definitive victory and share how he hopes to see the $2.3-million son of Gun Runner progress from here. Brown was this week's Green Group Guest of the Week. While Sierra Leone's come-from-behind Blue Grass win was one of the more visually impressive Kentucky Derby preps of the year, the race left plenty of room for improvement...