Doncaster

A colt foal by Walk In The Park (Ire) (lot 7) and a Nathaniel (Ire) filly (lot 38) each brought a sale-topping price of £70,000 during Friday's Goffs British NH Breeders' Showcase. The former, consigned by Swanbridge Bloodstock, Ltd., was sold to Gerry Aherne and is a grandson of Grade 1 hurdle winner Quevega (Fr) (Robin Des Champs {Fr}). His dam is a half-sister to Weatherbys Champion Bumper hero Facile Vega (Ire) (Walk In The Park {Ire}). Aherne, a key member of the Coolmore team, said, "He's a beautiful horse...

It was as tight as it gets between the two Irish colts at the end of Saturday's G1 William Hill Futurity Trophy, with Silverton Hill's G2 Beresford Stakes and G3 Tyros Stakes winner Hotazhell (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}--Azenzar {GB}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}) nosing out Delacroix (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) for the Doncaster feature. Positioned close to the early pace by Shane Foley, the 11-1 shot moved to Ballydoyle's 15-8 favourite passing two out and the two colts with the most pattern-race experience soon had it between them. There was...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday's Observations features a sister to Group 1 winner and sire Cracksman (GB). 2.08 Doncaster, Mdn, £40,000, 2yo, f, 8fT QUEEN OF THIEVES (GB) (Frankel {GB}) is a big-deal runner for Anthony Oppenheimer and the Gosdens in a maiden the stable won two years ago with Frankel's eventual Oaks...

Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}), a three-time Group 1 winner for John and Thady Gosden and owner Imad Al Sagar, has likely danced her last dance on a racetrack.  A winner of over £1.6m in prize-money, Nashwa has been partnered in all 18 of her career starts by Hollie Doyle, with the pair storming to Prix de Diane glory at Chantilly in 2022. However, the sporting decision to keep Nashwa in training as a five-year-old has not paid off and, after trailing home last of the 11 finishers in the Qipco...

A total of 171 horses have been catalogued for the Goffs October HIT & Yearling Sale at Doncaster on Tuesday, Oct. 22 beginning at 10 a.m. Consisting of both Flat and NH stock with an emphasis on horses-in-training, the sale will also feature a 30-lot partial dispersal of trainer John Hanlon, among them unraced stock, pointers and horses to have raced under rules. Some of the sires represented in the yearling portion of the sale include Ardad (Ire), Iffraaj (GB), Invincible Army (Ire), Mohaather (GB), Sergei Prokofiev, Showcasing (GB), Starman...

William Hill is the new sponsor for the G1 Futurity Trophy Stakes, the bookmaker announced on Thursday. The race will now be known as the William Hill Futurity Trophy Stakes, which will take place a Doncaster on Oct. 26. Previously sponsored by the bookmaker in 1976, the race headlines the two-day meeting, where eight additional races will also bear the William Hill name. There have also been five Classic winners produced from the previous seven renewals of the Futurity Trophy, and trainer Aidan O'Brien is currently after his 12th edition...

In an outstanding renewal of Doncaster's G1 St Leger on Saturday, it was the much-missed colossus Galileo (Ire) who had his inimitable stamp on proceedings with his sons Jan Brueghel (Ire) and Illinois (Ire) waging war in a clear demonstration of one of the most common characteristics of his breed. While the eventual winner Jan Brueghel had yet to go into the red zone in a career that only commenced in May, the son of Devoted To You (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) who had already provided a Classic winner in...

Doncaster's G2 Champagne Stakes lost a key actor on Saturday as Cheveley Park Stud's TDN Rising Star Chancellor (GB) (Kingman {GB}) was withdrawn at the start, leaving it to Victorious Racing's acquisition Bay City Roller (Ire) (New Bay {GB}--Bloomfield {Ire}, by Teofilo {Ire}) to extend his perfect sequence in the seven-furlong staging post. Always travelling smoothly tracking the free-running Righthere Rightnow (Fr) (Kodiac {GB}), the George Scott-trained Sandown and Chelmsford novice winner who had been sold by Clive Washbourn after his debut was sent forward by Callum Shepherd to take...

In the history of the G1 St Leger, it is hard to imagine a trainer going into a single renewal with a stronger hand than Aidan O'Brien enjoys on Saturday with his three sons of Galileo (Ire) all perfect candidates for the job. So perfect are the profiles of the trio for Doncaster that it is a shame for the operation that they have all come along at the same time, but in view of the long-term health of the "oldest Classic" it is fortunate for all that they have...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Friday's Observations features a full-sister to Kameko. 16.45 Doncaster, Mdn, £30,000, 2yo, f, 7f 6yT KINGSCLERE (Kitten's Joy), who was due to make her debut at the abandoned Salisbury fixture last week, is instead rolled out on Doncaster's Town Moor with much expectation on her shoulders. She is a...

Friday's action at Doncaster sees a brace of group 2 races of wildly contrasting type, with the hardened stayers battling out the G2 Doncaster Cup over two and a quarter miles preceded by the five-furlong G2 Flying Childers Stakes for the fast juveniles. In the former, the Gosdens have a strong hand with the Normandie Stud-bred pair Sweet William (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) looking to benefit from the absence of Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and enjoy their day in the sun away from...

In deeper than when beating up lesser lights on home soil, Godolphin's TDN Rising Star Desert Flower (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}--Promising Run, by Hard Spun) proved that she had what it takes to continue her winning sequence in Doncaster's G2 Betfred May Hill Stakes on Thursday. Untroubled in two starts on Newmarket's July Course, the Charlie Appleby-trained even-money favourite followed the early pace with William Buick content to play the waiting game. Staying on strongly to take control passing the furlong pole, the daughter of the four-time group 2...