Coolmore

Juddmonte's G1 Irish Oaks and G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares runner-up Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}--Emulous {GB}, by Dansili {GB}) had failed to get her nose in front since attaining 'TDN Rising Star' status at Salisbury in September 2022, but bounced back from six straight stakes defeats to outshine all four rivals with a dominant display in Thursday's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies' S. at York. Positioned in a handy third through the halfway mark of this extended 10-furlong contest, the 5-2 second favourite loomed large racing hard...

Peter Harris's 4-year-old Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}--Swirral Edge {GB}, by Hellvelyn {GB}), who ran second to the reopposing Washington Heights (GB) (Washington DC {Ire}) in last month's G3 Abernant S. at Newmarket on seasonal return, stepped forward to claim a last-gasp victory in a dramatic renewal of Wednesday's G2 1895 Duke of York Clipper S. at York. The Jane Chapple-Hyam trainee annexed Deauville's G3 Prix de Meautry and Listed Prix Moonlight Cloud in seven sophomore starts before undergoing a wind operation at the end of last year. Mill Stream...

Having long served as Champion Bore regarding the schism between gene pools either side of the Atlantic, I always find it curious that Europeans so readily shed their inhibitions about American stallions once a 2-year-old is introduced to their domestic market by a compatriot pinhooker. That's presumably because they are nowadays so enslaved by the clock--whatever their contrary claims--that pedigree has almost been neutralized at 2-year-old sales. Functionality is all. Admittedly an elite sire will put a premium on a bullet time. But just as unfashionable local stallions have achieved...

Norman Williamson set a new record for the highest-priced horse sold at the Arqana Breeze-Up Sale when his Justify colt was knocked down to Anthony Stroud on behalf of Godolphin for €2.3 million on what was a banner day for the stallion.  The result came less than an hour after Eddie O'Leary broke his own personal record for the highest priced achieved at a breeze-up sale when his Lynn Lodge Stud-consigned Justify colt went the way of Alex Elliott on behalf of Amo Racing for €1 million before the same...

Coolmore's Capulet (Justify--Wedding Vow {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) followed up an Aug. 15 debut victory at Dundalk with placed efforts in September's G2 Golden Fleece S. and G2 Royal Lodge S., and went postward for Thursday's Listed Boodles Raindance Dee S. at Chester coming back off a third over one mile at Chelmsford, behind the reopposing Bracken's Laugh (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), on sophomore return last month. Sent into an immediate lead by Ryan Moore, the 7-2 chance held sway throughout the extended 10-furlong test and stayed on relentlessly under continued...

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...