Epsom

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...

Saturday's fixtures at Epsom in Britain and Eagle Farm in Australia have set a new record for World Pool turnover, with 12 races across the two racedays generating HK$385.2 million (approx. £38.7m/A$74.2m). The previous record for a 12-race composite card came in March of this year when World Pool offered eight races on Dubai World Cup night, alongside two races each from Tancred S. Day and Australian Cup Day, which saw turnover from World Pool bet types of HK$378.1 million (£38m/A$72.6m). The G1 Derby at Epsom itself saw notable growth...

Deira Mile (Ire) could be pointed towards the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby after his fourth-placed effort in the Epsom Classic. The Owen Burrows-trained Camelot (GB) colt was fourth in the Futurity Trophy last season and began this year with a taking four-length victory in a Windsor novice. At Epsom he stepped up to a-mile-and-a-half for the first time and started at 28-1 for the Betfred-sponsored Derby, where he was ridden by Jim Crowley and drawn in stall 14 of 16. Though the running of the race did not favour...

Roger Teal is eyeing up a crack at the Coral-Eclipse for Dancing Gemini (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) who ran with credit to finish sixth in the Derby on Saturday. Having already run a huge race this season to be an unlucky second in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, Dancing Gemini was stepping up to a mile-and-a-half for the first time at Epsom. Drawn in stall 15, Dylan Browne McMonagle had to take his medicine and found himself at the back of the pack before working his way into contention with a...

EPSOM, UK -- This is what vindication looks like: a usually composed superstar trainer with a hint of tears in his eyes, his chest heaving, the emotion a bit too much. City Of Troy was Aidan O'Brien's 10th Derby winner - but this one felt different. It would be ludicrous to say his credibility was on the line, but his words certainly were, and perhaps his judgment, at least in relation to last year's No 1 two-year-old, whose balloon had popped three furlongs out in the 2,000 Guineas. O'Brien has...

EPSOM, UK -- Ryan Moore wouldn't admit to sleepless nights ahead of the Derby despite some intense speculation regarding his mount but he did concede, "It's the one race of the year that you want to win." Moore kept the faith, kept his head, and just like that Coolmore has another enticing stallion prospect.  The legend of Galileo still stalks the Epsom Downs some three years after the horse's death, and there he was again, as the broodmare sire of this year's Derby winner City Of Troy, just as he...

After all the speculation leading up to Saturday's G1 Betfred Derby, TDN Rising Star City Of Troy (Justify--Together Forever {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) gave an emphatic and euphoric answer to grace Epsom's Blue Riband with one of its finest displays. In huge contrast to Newmarket, where Ryan Moore became embroiled in a half-mile drag race, the champion juvenile of 2023 was in a hack-canter from stall one so often a disadvantage but which for this talented colt turned out a blessing. Able to let the pace play out in front...

In it seems no time at all, Coolmore's big horse City Of Troy (Justify) has gone from "our Frankel" to a colt carrying a huge symbolic question mark over a head that appeared poised to carry racing's crown. There have been few greater anti-climaxes in the history of Ballydoyle than that which accompanied his abject 2,000 Guineas performance and, following the roller-coaster experience of last year's Derby, we are unexpectedly back in familiar territory. What occurred at Epsom last June was heralded as a feat of training without equal as...

EPSOM, UK--With squally showers and a freezing wind, it wasn't really the day for a 99, unless you're the Aga Khan.  Ezeliya (Fr), the bonny bay filly from a family replete with class and stamina, made the Oaks her own from a long way out, and in so doing broke the Epsom hoodoo of her sire Dubawi (Ire) in becoming the 99th individual Group 1 winner for her stalwart of a breeder. "Days like this are why we all do it," said a beaming Pat Downes, manager of the Aga...

Continuing a banner year for The Aga Khan, Ezeliya (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}--Eziyra {Ire}, by Teofilo {Ire}) led home a one-two for her sire in Friday's G1 Betfred Oaks and provided her owner-breeder with a first success in the Epsom Classic in the process. Booking her ticket with a win in the 10-furlong G3 Salsabil S. at Navan last month, the Dermot Weld-trained relative of the G1 Gold Cup-winning half-siblings Enzeli (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}) and Estimate (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}) was always travelling with menace held up by Chris Hayes. Admirably straightforward...

As brave as they come, Ballydoyle's Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}--Attire {Ire}, by Danehill Dancer {Ire}) relished a supreme ride from the front by Ryan Moore to register a first mile-and-a-half career success in Friday's G1 Coronation Cup at Epsom. Having set steady fractions for the first half of the contest, the 9-4 second favourite was asked to stretch running to Tattenham Corner and was all heart in response to get to the line a length ahead of the beloved Haggas veteran Hamish (GB) (Motivator {GB}). Denied the chance to run...

Aidan O'Brien will be represented by a trio in Saturday's G1 Betfred Derby, with Ryan Moore staying loyal to last year's champion juvenile City Of Troy (Justify) over the stable's other kingpin Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). As the draw for the Blue Riband took place on Epsom High Street, there was a very public blow to TDN Rising Star City Of Troy's chances as he was handed the dreaded stall one with all its disadvantages, with Los Angeles who will be partnered by Wayne Lordan faring slightly better in...