Doncaster Racecourse

DONCASTER, UK—This, too, shall pass. At a time when we can all benefit from a length of perspective, there are worse places to come than here. True, those who arrive with no knowledge of the town's venerable Turf history must be perplexed by the names chiselled onto posts in the revamped forecourt of the railway station: Blair Athol, Robert the Devil, Ormonde, Hyperion. To those in town for the Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale, however, these and all the other St Leger winners so honoured remind us that our stewardship of...

The Goffs UK Doncaster Breeze Up Sale breezes, which took place at Doncaster Racecourse on Tuesday, are now available to view at on each horse's pedigree page at www.goffsuk.com. Inspections will take place today (Wednesday), with the sale starting at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Apr. 22. There are 177 juveniles catalogued for the sale, which features a Caravaggio half-brother to Group 1 winner Chachamaidee (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) (lot 25) among others.

Saturday was unofficially Jim Bolger day, with his breeding operation excelling with two group 1 successes and a trio of pattern-race wins across three countries. Chief among them was Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), who sported the family silks as he carried off an attritional renewal of Doncaster's G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy. As the ground deteriorated on Town Moor, the race which has so often been a key pointer to the following season's Classics lost a vital player with Ballydoyle withdrawing the likely favourite Wembley (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). What...

In a G1 Pertemps St Leger story of twists and turns, the joy of Tom Marquand counterbalanced despair for Shane Crosse as Galileo Chrome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) battled to glory in the oldest Classic at Doncaster on Saturday. In the fortnight that had passed since his command performance in Navan's Listed Yeats S., there had been a sizeable gamble on the Joseph O'Brien runner from 25-1 into a starting price of 4-1 and a remarkable positive COVID-19 test returned on regular rider Shane Crosse. Marquand, who had suffered some slings...

Rebounding from a rare below-par effort when eighth in the 6 1/2-furlong G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville Aug. 9, Ballydoyle's Wichita (Ire) (No Nay Never) was in battling mood on Saturday as he edged out One Master (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) in Doncaster's G2 bet365 Park S. Well-supported into 11-4 favouritism, the bay who was so close to winning the G1 2000 Guineas was in front of two others racing far side under Frankie Dettori throughout the early stages. Gaining the advantage passing the furlong pole, he had...

Michael Pescod's Chindit (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) was two-for-two and the pick on form entering Saturday's G2 bet365 Champagne S. at Doncaster and he emerged with that tally extended after ousting TDN Rising Star Albasheer (Ire) (Shamardal) for the prize. Successful in a strong renewal of the Listed Pat Eddery S. over this seven-furlong trip at Ascot last time July 25, the Richard Hannon trainee was anchored in rear early by a confident Pat Dobbs with the pace ahead searching and honest. Always travelling best looming down the outside of...

There was a first black-type winner for the Ballylinch Stud-based New Bay (GB) (by Dubawi {Ire}) on Friday as Marc Chan's New Mandate (Ire) got up close home in Doncaster's Listed bet365 Flying Scotsman S. Keen early for Frankie Dettori restrained towards the rear of the group racing up the centre, the Aug. 23 Sandown nursery winner who was sent off at 17-2 found a gap up the far rail to wear down Laneqash (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}) in the final strides for a head success, with the 5-4 favourite...

Tackling near two and a quarter miles for the first time, Team Valor and Gary Barber's Spanish Mission (Noble Mission {GB}) excelled at the trip to win Friday's G2 bet365 Doncaster Cup and stake his claim as a major player in the staying category. Always travelling easily in fifth for William Buick, the 6-4 favourite who had won the Aug. 20 Listed Chester S. after his move to Andrew Balding loomed alongside Selino (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) with purpose having already travelled two miles. Sent into the clear from there,...

Bouncing back from a last-place finish in the G2 Gimcrack S. at York Aug. 21, the July 16 Listed National S. winner Ubettabelieveit (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) edged out Sacred (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) in a thriller to capture Friday's G2 Bombardier Flying Childers S. at Doncaster. Drawn widest, the bay who was sent off at an inflated 40-1 raced in rear of the group racing up the centre early before moving to the fore approaching the furlong pole. Gaining a narrow advantage over that 11-10 favourite with 150 yards...

Proving her stamina for 14 furlongs when winning Leopardstown's Listed Vinnie Roe S. Aug. 13, Scott Heider's Pista (American Pharoah) overcame inexperience to follow up in a competitive renewal of Doncaster's G2 bet365 Park Hill Fillies' S. on Thursday. Anchored in last early by William Buick, the 6-1 shot was delivered towards the stand's side to gain the lead in the final 100 yards and despite running away from the whip scored by 1 1/2 lengths from Vivionn (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), with the 11-8 favourite Believe In Love (Ire) (Make...

Next Tuesday's Goffs UK September HIT Sale will be permitted to proceed despite recent changes to the government's COVID policies. Doncaster Racecourse's St Leger Meeting had been set to welcome a limited number of fans through the weekend as part of a pilot project to welcome spectators back to sporting events, but the project was cut short after just one day on Wednesday by the Doncaster Council after Prime Minister Boris Johnson's announcement of new protocols. Goffs UK said on Thursday that the sale will follow an enhanced set of...

Earning TDN Rising Star status on debut when winning over a mile at Yarmouth Aug. 30, George Strawbridge's Indigo Girl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) made an impressively rapid jump forward to capture Thursday's G2 bet365 May Hill S. at Doncaster. Held up in last early by Frankie Dettori after an awkward start, the 10-3 second favourite was delivered with an eye-catching move stand's side to swamp the long-time leader Dubai Fountain (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining. Despite running green in front, the full-sister to the same connections' group...