Doncaster

Betfred will be the new sponsor of Newmarket's 2,000 Guineas and 1,000 Guineas from 2025 onwards, it was announced on Thursday. The multi-year agreement means the bookmaker will become the first brand to sponsor all five of Britain's Classics--the others being the Betfred Oaks and Betfred Derby at Epsom and Doncaster's Betfred St Leger--at the same time. To mark their sponsorship of the prestigious contests, Betfred have also announced that a £2-million bonus will be on offer to connections of any horse who completes the 'Betfred Triple Crown' by winning...

After the excitement of the Derby, there was a moment of futurity at the start of Doncaster's evening meeting on Saturday as Twafeeg (Ire) (Far Above {Ire}--Disko {Ire}, by Kodiac {GB}) became the latest TDN Rising Star with her impresive success in the 6 1/2-furlong maiden. Sent off at 18-1, the Archie Watson-trained newcomer from the first crop of Starfield Stud's resident tanked her way to the front soon after the start under Connor Beasley. Sent clear passing the two-furlong pole, Sheikh Hamed Dalmook Al Maktoum's 65,000gns Tattersalls Book 3...

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. Saturday's Observations features an expensive juvenile. 17.08 Doncaster, Mdn, £6,800, 2yo, f, 6f 111yT ARABIAN DUSK (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) represents the Shaikh Duaij Al Khalifa and Simon and Ed Crisford connection successful in the G2 Norfolk S. in 2019 with A'Ali (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}). This filly, who...

After three days of selling, the Goffs UK Doncaster Spring Sale ended with horse-in-training Mossy Fen Park (Ire) (Walk In The Park {Ire}) (lot 721) topping Thursday's trade at £235,000. Bought by Henry de Bromhead and Gerry Ahern, the 5-year-old gelding is a winner of both a point-to-point and a hurdle race, and he was second in the G2 Hardy Eustace Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Mar. 31. A part of the Dullingham Park dispersal, the bay is related to a trio of stakes-winning jumpers, with Viking Flagship (Ire) (Viking)...

Impressive on debut at Kempton earlier this month, Michelle Morris and Jan and Peter Hopper's homebred Kind Of Blue (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}--Blues Sister {GB}, by Compton Place {GB}) defied a penalty to earn TDN Rising Star status at Doncaster on Saturday evening. Keen early under Danny Muscutt's restraint behind the leader Ananda (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the card's six-furlong novice won in 2018 by future sprinting bigwig Equilateral (GB) (Equiano {Fr}), the 11-4 second favourite was the only one able to live with that 2-1 market leader. Arriving at...

Henry Beeby has opened the door to Goffs embracing the publication of official times and other data at its newly slated breeze-up sale at Naas racecourse next year but admitted that such a move was unlikely to be met with universal approval from the breeze-up fraternity.  No consignor would be more staunchly against the re-introduction of official times at the breeze-up sales in Europe than Brendan Holland. The Grove Stud operator says official times would create an increased reliance on the clock and would ultimately drive down clearance rates at...

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 pricy auction purchase. 16.00 Cork, Mdn, €12,000, 3yo, 12f 25yT Aidan O'Brien trainee HIGHBURY (FR) (Galileo {Ire}) is a full-brother to the stakes-placed Friendly Face (Ire) out of G3 Prix d'Arenberg victrix and G1 Cheveley Park S. third High Celebrity (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Opposition...

DONCASTER, UK--Royal Ascot dreams abound for the connections of Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), who not only have that unbeaten star to look forward to, but a host of high-class two-year-old prospects as well after Anthony Stroud snapped up speedy fillies by Havana Grey (GB) and Sioux Nation (lot 119) to the tune of £720,000 on behalf of the ownership group at the Goffs Breeze-Up Sale. But Doncaster was dominated by the Derryconnor Stud-drafted diamond by Havana Grey, who led the way at £420,000 to provide top consignor Katie McGivern...

DONCASTER, UK--What a difference a year can make. It was at this sale 12 months ago when Gary de Souza left us poor scribes befuddled. Consigning under the imaginatively-named Gary Bloodstock [!], his Sioux Nation filly, who would later go on to be the Group-placed Gunzburg (Ire), rocked the clock before being knocked down to trainer Paddy Twomey and bloodstock agent Mark McStay for £160,000.  But where was de Souza when it came to getting a quote on Gunzburg, who could conceivably be described as a life-changing filly in the...

Whether it was Roderic Kavanagh working his magic once again, Katie Walsh clearing seven figures on the only two horses she brought to Park Paddocks or Charlie Poste enjoying a dream debut at the first major breeze-up sale of the year, there were no shortage of feel-good stories to emerge from the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale.  However, agent Richard Brown, consignor Mark Grant and trainer Jamie Osborne agreed that, while the top end of the market was arguably stronger than ever, the middle market remained tricky at Tattersalls this week. ...

It's a case of all eyes on Doncaster on Saturday with the wheel set to turn once again as the Town Moor track stages the opening act of the British Flat Turf season. Alongside the traditional curtain-raiser of the Lincoln H. for the hardened older milers is the Brocklesby S. for juveniles, the annual show of precocity where the focus will inevitably be on Royal Ascot. First-season sires represented include Mohaather (GB) and Without Parole (GB), with the former's son Dukes Of Haather (GB) from the Adrian Keatley stable looking...

What do Bradsell (GB), Perfect Power (Ire), Ardad (Ire) and Prince Of Lir (Ire) have in common? Not only did they all taste success at Royal Ascot but they were also sold at the Goffs Doncaster Breeze-Up Sale, one of the go-to sources of top-notch talent. The first glimpse of the potential star graduates of the future were made available on Tuesday with the publication of the eagerly-anticipated 2024 edition of the sale catalogue. Doncaster has proven to be a tried and trusted source of talent with Carla's Way (Ire)...